Never Is Our Always

Enemies Of The Heir... Beware 2

(Minnie pov)

The firelight glowed over the countless squashy armchairs where people sat reading, talking, doing homework or, in the case of Fred and George, trying to find out what would happen if you fed a Filibuster firework to a salamander.

Fred had claimed that he had "rescued" the orange, fire-dwelling lizard from our Care of Magical Creatures class.

"I'm sure you did," I mumbled as it was now smouldering gently on a table surrounded by a knot of curious people including myself.

"I did!" Fred exclaims.

"I believe you," I said doubtfully.

The salamander suddenly whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it whirled wildly round the room.

I cover my ears as I watched in amazement.

The sight of Percy bellowing himself hoarse at Fred and George, the spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from the salamander's mouth, and its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions made my night a little more interesting.

I closed my diary and it locks itself, I shake my head as Percy fell on to the couch and huffed as his brothers cackled immensely.

"Go to bed you two!" Percy yells and they laughed while leaving for their dormitory.

-

(Halloween)

Everyone in school was happily anticipating their Halloween feast tonight; the Great Hall had been decorated with the usual live bats, Hagrid's vast pumpkins had been carved into lanterns large enough for three men to sit in, and there were rumors that Dumbledore had booked a troupe of dancing skeletons for the entertainment.

"I hope the skeleton entertainment is good," Lee said while walking beside me, "what are you looking forward to?"

"Not sure," I answered.

"Reckon Fred and George are going to be pranking everyone even more?" I nod my head.

"No doubt." My eyes whisked around the hall as we walked, I was just making sure that there was nothing suspicious around from those menaces, they're worse than Peeves!

"Do we really... really need to learn from Professor Binns?" Katie whines as she trudged beside me.

"I'd rather Lockhart accidentally turn me into a teddy bear than listen to Professor Binns drawl on," Lee grumbled.

"I'd rather detention," I told the pair glumly, we sat down and ate our lunch.

-

History of Magic was the dullest subject on mine and everyone else's schedule. Professor Binns, who taught it, was the only ghost teacher, and the most exciting thing that ever happened in his classes was his entering the room through the blackboard.

Ancient and shrivelled, many people said he hadn't noticed he was dead. He had simply got up to teach one day and left his body behind him in an armchair in front of the staff room fire; his routine had not varied in the slightest since.

Today was as boring as ever. Professor Binns opened his notes and began to read in a flat drone like an old vacuum cleaner until nearly everyone in the class was in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long enough to copy down a name or date, then falling asleep again.

"Please bell... ring," I prayed as most of us had fallen asleep or are daydreaming out the window.

RIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG!