Lucinda Evans - still in progress

Chapter 17 - Slytherin House

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," Dumbledore starts. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — and a few of our older students ought to know by now too. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door. We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Good thing. That giant is finally disposed of," Draco smirks and his friends join him while a polite round of unenthusiastic applause fills the Great Hall before Dumbledore continues; "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the —"

He is interrupted by a "Hem, hem," of Professor Umbridge standing, instead of sitting, behind the staff table. I first didn't notice the later part since she's not much taller standing than sitting.

Professor Dumbledore looks only taken aback for a moment before he sits back down, looking alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desires nothing better than to listen to her talk. 

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpers, "for those kind words of welcome.  And how lovely to see all your bright happy faces smiling up at me," I look around and see nobody smiling or even look happy, "I'm sure we're all going to be good friends. The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this school, progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited." She ends with a creepy smile on her face and a high, face-sounding giggle before she goes back to her place.

She sits back down and Dumbledore starts to clap. The staff follows his lead and a few students join in, though I'm sure most of them didn't listen to more than just a few words of her speech. 

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," Dumbledore congrats her politely, before continuing where she interrupted him. "Now — as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held this Saturday and Sunday morning. The exact hour will be announced by the Quidditch Captains of your house in the common rooms."

"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," I mumble to myself.

-----

Mer and I say our goodbyes after the feast. Both of us are sad and disappointed we're not in the same house like we were at Beauxbatons. We have all the same subjects so I just hope we have a lot of our classes together. I'll have to wait for tomorrow to get my timetable and see if my prayers have been heard by whoever. 

Mer follows other Ravenclaws to her common room since last year she was staying at the Hufflepuff dorms. I will be in the same dorms as last year so I know the way. Please let me have different roommates than last year.

"So Luce, will you be trying out for Quidditch? I'm sure Merope will," I hear someone ask from the moment I enter the common room. Of course, it's Draco. Who else?

"No, I don't think so. It's our O.W.L. year so I want to focus on my studies," I tell him before I turn back to the book I was reading.

"You need to try out! Our Keeper retired last year and you're really good at it. I really want to win the house cup. And I'm sure father would be proud if I did."

"Draco, I told you I don't want to. I want to focus on my studies. Do I have to remind you that I have taken more courses than you have," I sigh annoyed. Can't he just leave me be? I want to continue reading my book.

"You will try out for Quidditch. We need a good Keeper! Besides, you love playing so I'm actually doing you a favor. You should thank me," Draco states haughtily.

"I'm going to my dorm. Good night Draco," I reply kindly and leave him frustrated, because he didn't get what he wanted, in the common room.

"Don't you think this is over yet, Lucinda! You'll hear about this," he yells at the bottom of the stairs.

I smile while shaking my head. He's such a dummy from time to time. When I reach the rooms of the fifth year I start looking for the room with my name on it. I find a door with my name on it... and Greengrass and Parkinson.

Is it too much to ask for some bloody peace and quiet!

-----

"You don't mind being in Slytherin?"

Mer, Ernie and I are sitting at the Hufflepuff table, just like we used to do last year.

"Wisdom is welcome, where ever it is coming from," I answer Ernie coldly since I'm a tiny bit offended. But I know he can be an idiot from time to time so I forgive him right away. 

"Well, I guess you're still the same person," he shrugs before he continues eating his scrambled eggs.

"Glad you noticed," I reply before turning back to my own breakfast.

"The timetables are here!" Mer proclaims excitedly and sits down next to Ernie handing us our timetables. We all compare ours.

"We almost have all our classes together!" Mer cries out enthusiastically while throwing her hands in the air. I look back at the tables and see we have indeed every class together except for Potions. All the other classes we have at least two of us together.

"Wow, you do have a lot of extra classes. It's even more than you had last year," Ernie states shocked, "How are you two going to manage this all? Some of the courses are at the same time."

"Time-Turners of course," Mer answers in a duh-tone. "But from time to time I just skip some or sleep during courses."

"You do know I'm a Prefect now, don't you? I'll need to get you back into line," Ernie says with a grin all over his face.

"Oh, please. I'd like to see you try and give me detention," Mer replies mocking but also with a hint of the thrill of an upcoming challenge. 

"Come on, Ernie. We've got to get to Herbology. I don't want to be late on my first day," I say while getting up.

"What do you have again, Mer? I already forgot," Ernie asks.

"I've got Divination. So to infini-TEA and beyond," Mer jokes while taking the last sip of her tea before getting up and leaving the Great Hall with us.