Some Badgers like Snakes

Elle

How was it Monday already?!
The weekend had flown by so quickly I almost forgot that it had happened at all.
"Elle, get up!" Abby shook my shoulders forcefully.
"I'm getting up, I'm getting up." I rolled back over and tried to sleep.
My usual morning routine began after that.
About fifteen minutes later I was walking towards Potions, an extra spring in my step as it was slowly becoming one of my favourite classes. Don't get me wrong, I hated learning about potions, but the company wasn't all that bad.
"Hey, Elle." Jacob pulled out my chair and I took a seat. I smiled at him, but didn't know what to say.
"Did you do anything interesting yesterday?" He asked intently.
"I hung out with you." I elbowed him and he blushed.
"Yeah right, I just meant... like after that."
He was so goofy, that's the only word I could think of. The way he got all awkward about, well everything, was honestly kind of cute.
"Not much, pretty much just tried to catch up on some readings. You?"
He seemed a little taken back by my question.
"Same, actually." He smiled a bit, I felt like he was lying but didn't bother to press him.
Potions class was a let down. There was too much work to leave time for talking, I had to leave for Charms before me and Jake really got to have a conversation.
My usual Charms seat had been taken again so I sat in the back next to the Ravenclaw girl.
I felt kind of bad referring to her as "Ravenclaw girl" after we'd had however many years of classes together. Normally I was pretty good with names, yet I felt like I barely recognized this girl.
I suffered through the day's lesson until we had to get up and practice.
"Everybody partner up with someone next to you." Flitwick called from the front of the class as students began to stand up.
I saw Ravenclaw girl look over to me at the same time I looked to her.
This was probably going to be a disaster, I sighed to myself.
Elle, that's no way to stay positive! I scolded myself for thinking so negatively, remembering how this girl had helped me last class.
Taking my signature deep breath and smile I turned to her.
"I'm Elle. I guess we're partners." I grinned, sticking out my hand.
Her lips didn't move.
"Clarisse." She said dryly, taking my hand.
I gulped, maybe negative me had been right, this girl was clearly not into the whole kindness thing.
"So, uh we should get started then." I replied, trying to keep the mood light.
Without saying a word she pulled out a stack of notes and slid them towards me.
"These might help." She said quietly.
"I have my own notes actually." I snapped back, did this girl honestly think I was too stupid to read my own notes or that hers would be better than mine?! The nerve!
Still she looked kind of hurt as she slid them back across her desk.
"But thank you anyways. I wouldn't want you to have to work without help." I finished, trying to make my last retort sound more polite.
She smiled a little bit, "Oh, ok. Thanks. I just like to take notes on the stuff he doesn't always say, thought you might want to see some of them. It's fine though." She added the last part a little hastily as she piled them together again and shoved them to the corner of her desk.
She was making me feel bad, I couldn't take it. I stood up and started trying today's charm.
She stood in front of me, her fists curled up nervously.
"Don't worry, I've been practicing." I assured her, or was I assuring myself?
I was actually terrified at the thought of preforming a charm on somebody, even if it was just a happiness charm.
I squared my feet, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, before opening my mouth to speak.
"Don't do that!" She cried!
My eyes fluttered open, "What?!"
She looked almost as scared as I was.
"Do not close your eyes! It breaks your concentration because you can't see your target, not to mention you need to be alert incase something were to go wrong." She explained quickly.
I looked at the ground. I knew this obviously, it was basic Charms knowledge, so forgetting it was so embarrassing.
She walked over to me and looked at me curiously.
"May I?" She asked softly, reaching for my wrist.
"Uh...I guess." I didn't really know what she was asking permission for.
She grabbed my wrist and pulled it a bit higher, then moved to my elbow and straightened it.
"Your arm needs to be forceful, don't bend it or let it flop around." She instructed. "But at the same time you need to stay relaxed, if your body is tense your spell will almost always come out the same. You need to keep your mind in control at all times."
She adjusted my wrist so it was a bit looser.
"Think about it. If you're putting all your energy into being afraid, you're not thinking about the charm."
She stepped back satisfied and stood back in position.
"Ok, try it now. And please keep your eyes open." She laughed a little.
I smiled and tried to concentrate on her tips. Relax, force, be deliberate, calm... I did it.
I looked up and she was grinning from ear to ear.
I laughed, "Was I really that good?" I asked blushing a little at her enthusiasm.
"You must have been, your happiness charm clearly worked." She pointed to her face.
"Oh yeah." I giggled, I guess Charms weren't so hard.
"Your turn." I said cheerily as I took my stance, shoulders square, standing still.
She raised her wand and her smile grew wider. Speaking in the most perky voice I'd ever heard she recited the spell with perfect precision.
I could feel a grin taking over my face, a thousand strawberry bubbles leaped up into my stomach, filling me with so much warmth and happiness.
I let out a loud giggle, than went to cover my mouth in embarrassment.
Clarisse laughed at me, beaming with delight.
"Very good ladies. Excellent work." Professor Flitwick patted us both on the back as he walked around the class.
"Thank you sir." We both grinned up at him and then dissolved into a fit of charm induced giggles.
"So tell me about yourself Clarisse." I sat crisscross across from her like a kindergartener.
"Oh, you can call me Claire! I like books, music, food, films..." she listed a bunch of hobbies in a bubbly almost delirious voice.
"I like those too! We could be twins! I especially like food!" I giggled.
She laughed back!
We talked for the rest of the class as the Charms slowly started to wear off.
I waved goodbye to my new friend as I stepped out of the class.
"Ugh, I'm glad that's wearing off! My cheeks feel like they've been on a stretcher!" Abby groaned rubbing her face and scowling.
Lavender was smiling but not grinning as widely as she had been before.
"See Lav, you obviously didn't cast a strong enough charm. My 'happiness' faded way before everyone else's." Abby informed Lavender.
Lav smiled but I could tell she was rolling her eyes inside.
"Oh Abbs, always a delight." I chuckled, sharing a knowing glance with Lavender.
The rest of class was boring, as usual. I just wanted to go back to the dorm and read, or eat, or sleep, and not work.
Eventually lunch time came and I was put out of my misery for a few blissful, food filled minutes.
We sat eating for a little while before something from across the room caught my attention.
Jacob was eating alone.
I don't know why it suddenly felt like a big deal because Jacob almost always sat alone. Still, today it mattered to me.
He was sitting there poking at his food and looking so downright depressed I just had to do something.
Before my brain could protest I felt myself stand up and march across the great hall. I could feel people's stares burn into my back but I kept walking. What was I actually going to do?
What did I hope to accomplish?
I was just going to make a fool of myself!
I took a deep breath and smiled as I slid into the Slytherin's bench next to Jacob.
As he looked up so did just about every Slytherin at the long banquet table. I felt a rough estimate of a bajillion eyes on me, their stares burning into my like fire but at the same time chilling me down to the bone.
"Hi." I croaked, trying to sound cheerful and casual.
"Uh....hey." Jake looked at me as if I were insane, which I very well might have been.
We stared at each other in silence, as the usually noisy hall around us fell silent except for the uncontainable whispers of on lookers.
"Would you maybe...want to come sit with us?" I asked awkwardly, playing with a strand of my hair.
I could feel myself blush as the whispers and looks surrounding us grew more intense. Some people (mostly Slytherins) had dirty looks, dripping with distain, those were the ones that I could feel clawing into me like razors, wondering why I was crossing into their territory. Most others were just in awe or more likely confused, no one had ever gone to another table, at least never that I could remember.
"You mean, like with you and your friends? At the Hufflepuff table?" He asked slowly, he was whispering almost like he couldn't believe it for himself.
"Yeah." I smiled cautiously, suddenly aware of all the eavesdroppers beside us.
He looked at me for a few seconds, blinking in disbelief. I suddenly felt very nervous that he was going to say no and I'd have to the most awkward walk of shame in history back to my table.
To my relief he just smiled and picked up his plate, "Sure, why not."
I grinned and walked with him back to my friends.
The whole dining hall gawked at us as we walked past, even Abby and Lavender looked a little stunned as we sat down.
"This is Jacob." I introduced him to the group as we sat down.
"Hi." He waved awkwardly and timidly as I made room for him on the bench.
"Hey." Lavender smiled back at him, I sent her a thankful look for trying to be so friendly.
"So...Jacob, tell us a bit about yourself." Abby's voice cut through my thoughts as she looked him up and down.