The Wild Side

1. Awkward situations never have desirable outcomes.

I was screwed. There was no other way to put it. Late for potions plus the absence of last night’s homework equals detention.

I don’t like detention.

Elephanting my way through the halls of Hogwarts, I turned the corners, ran the corridors and slammed into the walls that would hopefully lead to the dungeon. All the while hanging on to the vain hope that Snape wouldn’t be there and my arse wouldn’t be handed to me on a silver plate.

But knowing my current bad luck, I wouldn’t make it, which is why I cursed loudly when my foot fell into the disappearing stair.

“OW, BLOODY HELL! WHOSE STUPID IDEA WAS IT TO PUT A BLOODY DISAPPEARING STAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STUPID, BLOODY STAIRCASE?!?!”

Luckily for me, Argus Filch, and anyone else who would have frowned upon my outburst, was off teaching classes, or spending their time petting their cat-which is creepy. However, when two people tapped my shoulder, I was sure I was in trouble.

Turning around slowly, well aware of my socks falling down to my ankles, I faced the people, hoping that it wasn’t the ‘high almighty inquisitor of Hogwarts’. I wasn’t faced with pink, cats, or the ugly twisted expression of Dolores Umbridge, instead two grinning idiots faced me, wearing identical mischievous smiles.

“What?” I asked Fred and George Weasley, who both really should have been in class.

“Cain, not in class? Tut. Tut. Tut.” George scolded me, his red hair wild.

“Neither are you, so your one to be talking.” I retorted.

I looked at them both steadily. Already taking in the details of their facial expressions, their lack of books and their familiar smirks.

As another pair of identical twins, Fred and George felt they just had to regularly talk to me and my sister, Sequin,  and believe me, I had told them that I was okay without their conversations. But now, after five years of my schooling life, they had become my reluctant comrades, annoying me whenever they had the chance.

“Newts, my dear,” Fred responded instead of his twin, “It’s called a spare.” I glared at him.

“Unlike you, my time table is full at the moment, and I really have to get to class.”

I stumbled down the stairs, only to still hear words yelled at my back.

“Oi, Maladie!” Fred’s voice carried down to my ears, “Who’s your teacher?” I threw them a glare.

“Snape.”  I turned the corner as a round of ‘ooooos! ‘ followed me. 

Cursing my luck, friends and my teacher, I hurried again through the many twists and turns that made Hogwarts. A trickle of students were left wandering, most of them I presumed were fifth, sixth and seventh years, graced with the freedom of spares.

It was then when I noticed a familiar face, looking lost and confused.

Sabbedora Tonks; New 5th year student, metaphormagus, fiery, determined, owner of a pet bat. Ravenclaw, nice enough.  Related to Tonks, auror, muggleborn and apparently late. 

“Hi,” I walked up to her, “Hogwarts can be a big place, huh?” She raised her eyebrows at me.

“Can be?” She responded, “It’s mass doesn’t change, unlike the stair cases.” I laughed.

“Discovered them already?” I quipped sarcastically, “At least you haven’t fallen through the stair.” 

“I wish I could tell you I hadn’t,” She admitted, clutching her books, “unfortunately; the Ravenclaw tower requires you to walk up stairs.”