Just save me

Just Save Me-Chapter 5

    I walked into charms exactly on time, where we would be learning the summoning charm. I focused little during class due to my recent Malfoy encounter. The pillows in which we were supposed to be summoning flew across the room, landing in a variety of locations. Only one pillow, which was mine, remained in the basket.

    I sighed, this being my seventeenth attempt. "Accio, pillow." The pillow floated above the basket, and I smiled with glee, thinking it had worked. The pillow then proceeded to float back down. I frowned, giving up.

    Professor Flitwick hobbled around, checking on the students. He reached me and flicked his wand in enthusiasm, causing a pile of books to slide off his desk. "That one was your best one, Miss Gateway! Keep trying!" He waddled off, leaving me and my failure. I lay my head down, using my arms as a pillow, during the remaining class period.

    I only woke when the bell rang. I groggily grabbed my books, stuffed them in my bag, and shuffled out of the classroom. This is how all of my classes presented themselves-with a blur of groggy sleepiness. I decided to pay slightly more attention in herbology, where I learned what Dumbledore  announced in his welcome speech.

    Today, we had most of our classes with the Gryffindors. In herbology, we would be learning to collect Bubotuber pus then, once we learned, we would try the procedure ourselves...how fun. I sat next to Neville, who did quite well in herbology. I think he was Professor Sprout's favorite students.

    "Did you hear about Dumbledore's speech?" he asked me, while collecting the pus easily.

    "No, what was so special about it?" I reached for my Bubotuber plant as Neville grabbed my wrist with wide eyes. "What?" I asked him.

    "Um, you might wanna put on the dragon-hide gloves," he chuckled with a side grin, "Bubotuber pus can produce large boils if it comes into contact with the skin."

    I laughed as I put on the gloves, "Yeah, I might need these. So what were you saying about the welcome speech?" I squeezed the Bubotuber in disgust, watching as the pus poured all over the gloves. It's a good thing Neville suggested I wear them.

    Neville laughed at my reaction to the pus. "It's not that bad once you get used to it. Anyway, Dumbledore announced that Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year."

    "The Triwizard Tournament?!" I abandoned the Bubotuber plant and stared in shock at Neville. The Triwizard Tournament hasn't been held in, what must be, centuries! I've heard people have been killed in it! Why would Dumbledore want to host it?

    "Yeah, the other two schools will be arriving at the end of the week."

    "People have died in that! Why would they decide to start it up again?!"

    "Shh, Alice, quiet down," Neville laughed, "Truth is, I really don't know. It's the ministry's idea. Dumbledore said a bunch of stuff about interacting with the other schools and creating friendships."

    "So what about the people entering? Surely, he won't let just anyone enter?" I returned to my plant, trying to find a good angle at which to collect the pus.

    "No, no, no," Neville replied, "He's putting an age limit on it. Only those who are seventeen and older are able to enter."

    "Well, that's reasonable," I said, "but I still think it's too dangerous to even have it at all."

    He laughed as he squeezed out his sixth tube of Bubotuber pus.

    "How are you doing that?" I asked, shocked at his herbology skills.