Crucio: Just Before The War

Chapter Two

I stretched out my arms and legs, letting my fingers and toes peep out each corner of the quilt that was covering me and hearing my joints pop quietly as I twisted in my bed. My eyes slowly fluttered open, the window to my left allowed the overcast sky to light up the wooden floor of the girl's dormitory. I peered over to Hermione's bed on my right which was empty, as expected. She was always up earlier than me ever since first year. Her waking me up every morning for the first three years of school truly did improve my sleeping pattern. My alarm clock was due to go off in about fifteen minutes, allowing me time to stay under the warm blankets.

I went through my class schedule for the day in my head. Divination, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology and Potions; Mondays were very full and busy. I was looking forward to Potions class; it was a strong suit of mine that I rarely had to work too hard on. However, I was not excited to attend D.A.D.A. with Professor Snape being the newfound teacher. He was very strict, almost making his Potions classes quite numbing but luckily, my interest in the subject stuck with me. I couldn't stand to see the way Snape treated some students during study periods and I was nervous he'd be even worse this time in his new position.

I heard a grunt come from across the room, "Mhmm, good morning," Parvati Patil called to me.

I hadn't noticed my alarm quietly going off until Parvati brought me out of my thoughts. I quickly switched it off.

"Good morning," I smiled back at her.

She sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes, "What classes you got on today?"

"Quite a bit. Got Defence and Potions, that'll take up most of the day, I'm sure," I mumbled.

"Damn, I have Charms, Herbology and Astronomy," she responded, "Defence, though. That'll be different."

"Yeah just a bit," I swung my legs over the edge of my bed and stood on the cold floor, "I'll be in Herbology with you, I think. Third period?"

She smiled at me as she slipped out of her bedding, "Yes, good! I'm glad someone good will be there."

I drew the curtain on my bed post slightly to change behind, then tugged on my uniform of a white dress shirt, grey sweater and form fitting dress pants. I gathered my books and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

***

The morning flew by and I had joined Daphne in the courtyard for lunch where we discussed our first few classes, Daphne cracking a few jokes about Professor Flitwick's techniques. Professor Snape took it easy on us in Defence class, providing pages of our books for us to study and copy notes from as he presented.

In Herbology, Professor Sprout had Parvati and I pair up to take notes on the Snargaluff plant. We walked back to the castle together before heading off to our next classes and I made my way towards Potions. I saw Lavender Brown skip through the doors in front of me and all the way to the back of the room.

As I walked in, I noticed Hermione was waiting in the classroom with Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas for others to arrive.

"Welcome, welcome. Glad to have you here," Professor Slughorn greeted the newcomers before looking to me with a smile, "and what was your name, dear?"

"Hello Sir, I'm Grace Gamble," I stuck my hand out to shake his, "It's a pleasure to have you teaching us this year."

"Miss Gamble, I have heard great things," he chuckled kindly.

I smiled at him once more before heading over to stand with Hermione and Neville.

"How was Herbology today?" Hermione spoke softly to me.