Scarlet Bird

2nd Year-Dueling-11

"Alex."

I nudged her once more, "Alex." She didn't respond.

"By Merlin, why won't you wake up?" I yanked the quilts off her body and even hit her several times in the head but she wasn't budging. I taped my fingers on her bed and scratched my head noticing she was still in her robes. At this rate we would be late to DADA class. 

"She's not waking up because she took a sleeping potion," one girl from our dorm spoke up after seeing my attempts to wake Alex up.

"Why would she do that?"my eyebrows shot up in confusion.

The girl moved closer to where Alex was dead asleep and collected some thrown clothing of the floor beside the bed taking them to a hamper at the far edge of the room. "She came to the dorm late and she couldn't sleep so she managed to get her hands on the potion and well she took it," she answered. Just what was she doing that she needed such a powerful potion to get some rest.

 "Do you happen to know why she came to bed late?," I asked

She shrugged and shook her head before leaving to the bathroom. I'd guess I'd have to ask her myself when she wakes. I reckon the effects of the potion would fully wear of by lunch if my guessing was correct. Regardless whether or not she woke though, I was not going to be late for class so I clutched my things in my hand and bolted out the room. 

Dashing down the stairs too quickly, I tripped on the very last steps and body slammed someone at the end of the stairs. Blushing due to the proximity I was with this person I immidiately stood up tripping on my robes. When I finally managed to get up from the floor I looked up to see Malfoy dusting off his robes and fixing his tie. He glanced at me briefly before collecting his own things from the floor. 

"Malfoy what a delightful surprise," I smiled at him and he retorted coldly, "Delightful? You nearly rendered me unconscious." 

Then in an almost synchronized fashion, we both remembered yesterday's happening and silence fell over us. I so badly wanted to ask about the fish but before I even could, he spoke up in a hushed tone, "I- uh- um.. I saw what you gave me and well-," he stopped looked up at the time making me turn around as well and we both gasped in horror taking me out of my thoughts about the fish. We were ten minutes late!!!

In unison we sprinted out the common room and into the hallways taking twists and turns until eventually stopping in front of the students crowded around a long table. I was thankful class hadn't even started yet and even more so that professor Snape, who was also here, didn't notice our tardiness. 

"Where's that Lenoschvitz by the way," Malfoy said between breaths

"She slept in, " I lied. Thankfully he shrugged it off and we turned our attention to the professor. From atop of the table Lockhart voiced for us to gather around him in a circle and he procceded to continue in his usual proud voice,

"In the light of the dark events of recent weeks, " he was talking about the chamber of course, "Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club." He carried on by telling us it was to prepare the students to defend themselves in the future like he did before throwing his cloak over to some ogling fan girls. I'm just certain this buffoon could only teach us about how to look like a bludgeoning buffoon but nevertheless I show respect.

"Let me introduce my assistant.. Professor Snape, " from the far end of the table Snape appeared, moving to, like Lockhart, at the top of the surface. He briefed us that he would give a small demonstration with Snape about dueling and defense. Certainly this man didn't think he could even pair Snape. He was more of a fool than I thought.