Unexpected

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

My head was buzzing with thoughts about what the twins had said on the way to Herbology. It seemed I was only capable of thinking about that, nothing else.

I was still pondering the possibility when we walked into the greenhouse. Neville was already there with the Hufflepuffs, our new Herbology classmates.

The greenhouse was long, white and full of green. Two long benches with potted plants on them ran down the middle.

"Clara! Hi, how're you settling in?" Neville asked me.

"Yeah, um great." I was still thinking about James, "I mean uh yeah! It's really cool that I'm Gryffindor! Great!"

"You seem... enthusiastic?"

"Me? Yeah, I absolutely adore Herbology." I reached out to pick up one of the plants, "Gotta love these plants, I mean - OW! It bit me!" I shook my hand furiously until it released me, little bite marks left in my palm.

"Oh, yes, probably should've warned you about that... Have a glove." Neville handed me an old, battered looking leather thing.

Behind me, the twins laughed, "Honestly, all you've got to do is this." Harper said, expertly grabbing the plant's stalk and ripping off all the upper leaves.

"Thanks, thanks guys." I muttered as I walked over to join them, "Where's Thyme?"

"Talking to some Hufflepuffs over there," Marie said, inclining her head.

"Oh cool." I replied.

The rest of the lesson was actually alright. As I'd expected Neville was equally as lovely when he was Professor Longbottom.

"He's quite good looking y'know." Marie observed, her twin perched on the edge of the central bench. She was so entranced that she didn't notice she was falling, and went face-down, arms flailing, onto the ground.

Marie and I laughed non-stop for the rest of the lesson.

After Herbology, Thyme, Harper, Marie and I trudged back to the common room.

Settling down onto a sofa, Marie said, "Did you want to borrow Donald, Clara?"

"Donald?"

"Her owl," Harper replied, "Mine's called Mac."

"Mac and Donald? No way!" I started to laugh but was quickly silenced by their confused looks.

"McDonalds, the muggle fast food restaurant? And by the way," I added, "Harper Collins is the name of a Muggle book publisher."

"Whoa," Marie grinned, "We are cool."

That evening, I penned letters to Harry and Ginny, Lily and Hugo, Teddy, Mum and Dad, and Ron and Hermione. They were all sent off with Donald the owl, and I was informed he was very efficient, so I didn't need to worry. I also saw James briefly. He said there were Quidditch trials on Thursday, and was I going because he was. I told him I'd think about that one, and I really did. After all, I didn't think I was really good enough to play Quidditch for Gryffindor.

And that was the end of my first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, something I kept reminding myself as as I fell asleep.