That Damn Weasley Charm II G.W

Part 3, Chapter 6- Roam the halls and look at the stars

"Welcome!" Dumbledore says when he steps up to the podium. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."

"It's about the fookin Dementor I can feel it," Emma whispers.

Dumbledore clears his throat, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors from Azkaban, who are here on ministry business." The room breaks into murmurs from all the students. Dumbledore waits till the room is silent again before speaking, "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises... or even invisibility cloaks."

"No secret late-night rendezvous for Violet this year." Walter shoves me with his shoulder jokingly.

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects and our new head boy and girl to make sure that no student runs foul of the dementors."

The room stays quiet. Dumbledore makes sure that he looks at every table carefully before speaking again. "On a happier note. I am pleased to welcome two new professors to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

The room breaks out into polite applause. Professor Lupin, a skinny man, dressed in tattered robes stands up from his chair, waves politely, and sits right back down.

"What's with Snape?" Emma whispers. We all turn our attention to Snape. He looks like he's ready to stab Professor Lupin with his dinner fork. His expression isn't angry, its more than that. Loathing.

"As to our second new appointment." Dumbledore says, "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game keeping duties."

Cheering and clapping fills the hall again, most of the noise coming from the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore finishes his speech with some random words he must have learned over the summer break and the feast begins.

"Hey Violet! Do you feel connected with your mother now that both you and her are surrounded by Dementors?" Clarissa shouts from down the table.

I take a deep breath. It's the first day, and fifth year is important. I can't focus on small people like Clarissa. "Ignore her." Walter whispers to me.

"I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Dementors mistakes you for your mother. Isn't Sirius Black related to you as well? Does your family have a punch card with Azkaban or something? Sentence five Blacks and we'll let the sixth one free?"

That does it for me. I grab my wand from my robe pocket and stand up from my seat. I march down the table to her and stick my wand tip on the back of her neck. "Dumbledore will have to send you home for Christmas break in a match box when I'm done with you. Talk about my family like that again and I'll kill you just like the Dark Lord killed your pathetic excuse for an uncle." I whisper in her ear, so quietly that no one else but her could hear what I was saying.

Clarissa stiffens her posture, clearly uncomfortable. I gently kiss her earlobe for extra effect, "Have a splendid year." I straighten my back and saunter back to my spot.

Emma's mouth is wide open when I sit down again, "What did you say to her? I fully watched her skin go pale."

I shrug my shoulders, "Told her that if she keeps speaking ill of my family I'll send her home in a matchbox. Pass the corn please?"

Walter hands me the bowl of corn and I scoop some onto my plate. "I thought we agreed on keeping the death threats to a minimum this year." Walter says to me, half joking, half very serious.

"I'll stop when people stop pissing me off. It's not that hard to do."

The rest of dinner was thankfully uneventful, and by the time the Prefects lead everyone out of the great hall and into our common rooms I can tell the entire school is completely exhausted. I hug Walter goodnight and Emma and I head for our dorm. I see Draco sitting alone by the fire so I tell Emma to head to bed and I'll be there in a second.

"Hey dude. You okay?" I sit beside Draco on the couch.

"That dementor really freaked me out on the train you know. I just don't want anyone else to know." Draco sighs and looks at me, "When you saw it... did it make you feel totally worthless and made you think that no one was there for you?"

I stay quiet for a moment. I've always known that Draco has the fear that he will never be good enough for anyone, and if he makes a mistake then everyone around him will stop talking to him. It's hard for me to watch honestly, because I know that he's just a kind hearted soul trying to make his father proud. "It made me feel like I had no happiness. I felt empty when it left. Made me wonder how my mother feels in Azkaban. How Sirius Black felt before he escaped."

Draco puts his hand on my knee. "We're pretty messed up huh." He says to me making me laugh.

"Get to bed, new year new habits or whatever the saying is." I get up from the couch and stretch my arms out.

"Did you hear that Harry Potter fainted when he saw the Dementor? Sure I almost cried but at least I didn't faint."

I roll my eyes, "Go to sleep. Have a goodnight dumbass."

On my way to my dorm I feel slight pressure on my forearm, signaling that George is writing to me.

LETS ROAM THE HALLS AND TALK ABOUT THE STARS I'LL TELL YOU WHEN TO LEAVE THE COMMON ROOM. MEET ME IN THE BROOM CUPBOARD AT THE END OF THE HALL.

I pull the quill out of my pocket and write back an 'okay sounds good' type message and open the door ti my dorm. Miriam is already fast asleep. Henrietta is reading on her bed, and Clarissa is... polishing her wand? I dunno what she's doing but I ignore her staring at me and go right over to Emma's bed and sit down in front of her.

"So the French boy?" I say poking fun at the news she shared when we were on the train.

Emmas cheeks flush red and she giggles. "Yeah... We spent the entire summer together pretty much, and at the end, before I had to go back to meet my parents for dinner it happened."

We squeal together, drawing attention from Clarissa. "Wasn't it scary though?"

Emma shakes her head, "A little bit honestly, and it sort of hurt in the beginning. But it was a lot of fun. The difference though, you and George live in the same country, go to the same school. It'll be more fun for you two." Emma dramatically winks at me and we squeal again.

"I'm meeting up with him tonight." I whisper to her so no one else can hear me. "He wants to roam the halls and talk about stars apparently."

Emma's eyes light up, "Never would have thought that one of the schools most notorious pranksters would be so romantic honestly."

I smile and wrinkle up my nose, "Neither did I honestly. I'm still a little shocked that we've been going steady for two years already. It feels like a few months if that."

"Time doesn't exist when you're in loooove." Emma pushes my shoulder and we laugh.

Clarissa clears her throat, "Could you keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep." Not wanting to start anything I say goodnight to Emma and go over to my trunk to get ready for bed.

I don't actually sleep though. I stay wide awake reading my new divination book till about midnight when George writes to me.

HOPE YOU DIDN'T FALL ASLEEP. I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE.