The Other Witches

9. La dee da... OOH CAKE TIME!

If the whole school wasn't in the Great Hall right now, I swear they would have thrown us in the Hospital Wing.

I stand there, stiff as a board, as the real truth of Lucy's statement washes over me like a tsunami. Okay.....calm down...there's only a slight chance that the Goblet will choose us....no need to worry......everything's going to be fine....

"WHAT THE FUDGE WERE YOU THINKING?" Ella flips out. She grabs Lucy's collar and shakes her violently. "WE COULD BE DUMPED INTO AN ARENA OF DEATH AND LEFT TO STARVE!"

"Why?" says Von, "Just....why?" Her duel seems to be forgotten.

Lauren is leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, shaking her head. "Let's just let Lulu here explain herself, shall we?"

Ella releases Lucy's shirt, and Lucy clears her throat.

"Well," she begins nervously, "I was in the Hall, near the Goblet, practicing my Summoning, when this group of Gryffindors, McFleeble included, barged in. They seemed to have made a team, 'cause McFleeble had a scrap of paper in his hand. Anyway, he drops it in, there's great ceremony, and then he turns to me," her eyes cloud with anger, "and proclaims that hanging with eagles, badgers, and snakes has made me a soft little coward, unworthy of the Gryffindor name! So what do I do? I tear a piece of parchment, write our names down, and yell, 'In your face, McFleeble!' and I...drop it in."

"Okay then," Ella says, "you're saying that he challenged your pride, so you proved him wrong with  an act of reckless bravery? Sounds legit."

"Yeah, I guess it's a Gryffindor thing," I add, "to go any length to prove you aren't a coward. Nice move, but still super risky. And hey, thanks for standing up for us! That's also kind of helping your position here."

"Thanks guys," Lucy looks relieved, and goes on, "Only besties would understand the awesomeness that is not me."

"Did I hear someone say 'awesomeness'?" a voice calls, and who should poke his head through the doorway, but none other than PJ McFleeble, whom I decide to nickname Stalker Supreme. To our poker faces he replies, "No matter, I have other things to attend to," and then unexpectedly turns his head. "Although I'm pretty sure Miss Nova here is obviously obsessed with me," and flashing a smile at Ella, turns and leaves the Owlery.

"THAT was weird," Lauren exclaims as soon as he turns the corner. "Wouldn't you say, Ella?"

Ella, blushing furiously, can only get out a squeaky "Meh".

We head back down to the Hall, where our names float around somewhere in the invisible depths of that Goblet, hopefully never to return. A voice to my right yells, "OOH! CAKE TIME!!" I turn just in time to see Lucy shove half of an enormous chocolate cupcake in her mouth at once. It's just something she does.

"Oh, that reminds me! I've got, like, two minutes before I have to meet Scorpius and Incendio his sorry butt off! See you later!" Von says, running off towards the lakeside door.

I wander off to a tall window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Von duelling in a very epic fashion, but I guess they haven't gotten to that yet, because all I see is a small black cat with tiny white spots on its back racing towards the forest. Oh well.

I dig in my book bag for a purple-bound book titled The Mystical Arts by an anonymous author. I haven't gotten to start it yet, but it looks quite interesting. I scroll my finger down the list of contents: Cassandra and the Art of Seeing, An Animagus Attraction, Legilimency and its Dangers, The Secret Metamorphagus, An Assessment of the Deathly Hallows......lots of cool stuff.

Oop, that would be Von. I turn to face the window, and am greeted with the sight of Scorpius running in circles, one of his pants legs on fire.

"....Seers have been persecuted throughout the ages, mostly through the effects of Cassandra's curse. Yet some seers have made prophecies that have been proven to be true. But it is the fate of most seers to not be believed by those who do not possess the second sight...."

Wow. This stuff is intense.

I sit in my bed, book on my lap, translucent blue curtains drawn. The other Ravenclaw girls seem to be having an animated conversation in which I'm not really interested. That is, until questions are directed at me.

"So, are you excited?" a girl with straight, white-blonde hair asks me.

I'm confused. "About what?"

"About the subject we've been talking about for the last half-hour! Goodness knows you need to be prepared for the Yule Ball."

Oh. The Yule Ball. Right.

"Um, not particularly, at this moment."

"Oh, don't worry, you'll be hyped in no time," a girl with curly black hair says. "And nervous. Who knows if any of us will have partners? It'd be scandalous not to have one."

Eh. Boring.

I turn to my notebook with my slate-colored quill. Come in, Ella.

A second later, Ella responds. Ha! Your notebook-charm-thingy worked!

You got anything good to talk about?  I scribble.

Well, all that's happening here is a big gossip circle about the Yule Ball.

Why am I not surprised?

OMG SCORPIUS MIGHT ASK LULU OUT!

wut

eh, I'm pretty sure my fellow Hufflepuffs are trustworthy

I don't believe that, but they can think what they want. I'm going to bed.

byeeeeee!

Stupid rumors. They defy logic. I lie down on my cobalt-blue pillow, and seconds later, I'm fast asleep.

Hello wattpandas,

I don't like math midterm study guides. They prevent me from writing chappies.

-RedV