Everything was normal.
People were rushing about; trying to make their way into the Great Hall in time for the Welcoming Feast without getting lost in the crowd.
The chatter was always louder than normal at this time of year. It's something to be expected, really. Students were always excited to be able to see their friends again after months of being home.
And of course, for people like Lucinda Sparrow, relief came at the mere fact that they're back home. There was something about the old castle that just makes Lucy feel like she belongs – something she's never felt about the stupid dingy orphanage she grew up in.
Although despite her relief, she makes sure to keep a careful eye on her surroundings. One can never be too careful, especially after last year's welcome prank brought to the students by the infamous group of rowdy boys her best friend was a part of.
Of course, they spared her from most of the embarrassing pranks they did – being Sirius Black's best friend had its perks, after all. Especially since they knew how much she absolutely loathes being the butt of their stupid jokes. But they always made sure they did something to her that would annoy her greatly, something simple and would not provoke her to freak out – just so that she knew that she wasn't completely immune.
It started with last year's Halloween feast, when they made her plate, silverware, and goblet stick to the table before she started eating. Then released it suddenly when she was pulling on her goblet – leading to her smacking her lip with the damn thing. (It cut her lip open, for God's sake!) After being so amused at her reaction, the boys always made sure to do something to annoy her every chance they got.
And somehow, they've only gotten her during gatherings at the Great Hall. Probably because it was harder to be aware about everything when there's this many people at one place.
This is the reason why she took the time to observe everything around her before even doing anything. Especially when the feast officially started after the sorting.
When she deemed it safe, she let herself relax and actually enjoy the food being served.
She took a sip from her pumpkin juice and before she could set it down, Millie Lancaster – her dorm mate and her best girl friend – cleared her throat, catching her attention.
"Er... Lucy, your, um, nails..."
The brunette places her goblet down and sees her nails changing color.
Red and gold.
She huffed before narrowing her eyes at the boys a table away.
It was James who first noticed her stare, and upon seeing it, started nudging his friends. Once they were all looking at her, she narrowed her eyes.
As expected, it did nothing to deter the four boys as they all burst out into another round of boisterous laughter.
A few moments later, when she was sure they were not paying her any mind anymore, she grabbed her wand from where it was sticking out from her pocket and whispered, "colovaria" to their direction.
She watched from her seat as they all noticed it at the same time.
She couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction as they all freaked out over each other's hair color changing – slowly but surely – to blue.
YOU ARE READING
after dark || James Potter
Fanfiction"You are the light in the darkest parts of me," she whispers, holding onto him so tightly - afraid that if she let go she might lose him forever. or in which Lucinda Sparrow falls head over heels for the boy that radiated sunlight from his very core...
