Hufflepuff was now last place in the House Competition, and Samantha couldn't help but feel guilty. Especially since her Fifth Year Prefect, Jane Court, now had the inconvenience of gathering all of the First Year Hufflepuffs to disclose the issue.
They all gathered amongst the Common Room, sitting in a circular shape with Jane in the centre. The natural sunlight of the location seemed to truly highlight her chin-length blonde hair and light tone. Her brown eyes gazed at the students surrounding her.
Samantha was sitting on the middle of the couch, in between Penny and a boy named Diego. "So," Penny chatted, "I've got something to tell you-" She was quickly interrupted.
"Fellow Hufflepuffs," Jane announced, "You all must be aware of the events surrounding the House Competition..."
"Hufflepuff is losing!" shouted a pink haired girl from the back.
Jane solemnly nodded. "That is correct. Which I find truly disappointing if I'm being honest, as we hold the reputation of being known as patient, just, and hardworking."
Jane began walking around the room, locking eyes with the First Years as if she had a deep personal connection with each and every one of them. Samantha could tell that she was trying to be inspirational.
"And it has come to my attention that the ones most responsible for our house losing points... Are the First Years. And so I ask you... Why would you do so?" Jane rhetorically questioned.
Some students began to speak up, but were swiftly silenced by Jane. "Enough is enough." she commanded, "I need you all to focus on your school work and to make up our lost House points. Understand?"
A few murmurs could be heard around the room, something the Prefect couldn't accept.
"I said we have to make up our lost House points! Prove that Hufflepuff is, truly, one of the best Houses! Understand?"
The crowd around her cheered. "Great." Jane grinned, before declaring, "Alright, that's all. Make your way to your classes!"
The students dispersed, leaving Penny and Samantha to head to Charms.
"Welcome, students," announced Flitwick, as his pupils entered the classroom, "Take a seat. Today we will be learning the Knockback Jinx!"
Samantha excitedly sat down, telling Penny, "Oh, I am so ready for this!"
Unfortunately, Flitwick had overheard as his expression turned pensive. "Actually..." he clarified, "You must be excluded. You are excused for now."
Penny shot up, "What? Why, how's that fair?!"
Flitwick gestured her to calm down, "Ms. Haywood, please relax yourself. This matter is between Ms. Sullivan and I."
Samantha frowned, "But... She's right. What did I do?"
Flitwick approached the girl, explaining that, "I am sincerely and genuinely apologetic for this, but I have to - with the trouble that your brothers are getting in, the staff don't know if you can be trusted as well, especially learning an offensive jinx."
Samantha sat up, "But, sir, I'm not my brothers! Please, I'm my own person!" she persuaded, "Merlin's beard, I'm a Hufflepuff!"
The Charms professor paused to contemplate the argument, before stating, "Alright then. But I must remind you that there will be serious consequences if you misuse this Jinx."
"Understood, professor."
Flitwick then returned to his podium to begin the lesson. "As I was saying, class, today we will be studying the Knockback Jinx known as Flipendo. If used correctly, it has the opportunity of launching the target backwards, as so-"
Flitwick got down and aimed his wand at a training dummy. "Flipendo!"
The dummy went backwards, before getting back up. The class applauded, as Flitwick called, "Thank you. Now I hope you took notes on my form and way of casting..."
To Samantha, the lesson seemed to fly by so quickly. Though, she had felt as though she was mastering the jinx efficiently. By the conclusion, Flitwick decided to get some volunteers to demonstrate the spell. "Erm... May I please have Ms. Haywood... Mr. Kidd... And..." Flitwick stared at Samantha.
She knew that he had recognised her natural talent but was thinking about whether or not getting a Sullivan to demonstrate was such a good idea.
"...And Ms. Sullivan."
Samantha smiled, as she, Penny, and a Gryffindor boy called Levi went down to perform. (He was known more infamously as the 'Leviosa Kid', as he had struggled with pronouncing the Levitation Charm when they were learning it).
"Flipendo!" cast Penny. The dummy fell over backwards.
"Flipendo!" Levi shouted. He had knocked the dummy over.
"Flipendo!" cried Samantha. The dummy hadn't simply fallen over, it was launched backwards, sitting the shelf behind it. The room fell silent.
Then burst into praise. Flitwick grinned, "Good job to all three of our demonstrations! For every Jinx cast, ten points to each House are awarded - Ten points to Gryffindor, Twenty points to Hufflepuff!"
Samantha felt great. If she kept up the good work, maybe she could single-handedly support Hufflepuff to win the House Competition. Unluckily, her next class was Potions.
Penny and Samantha quickly rushed to the classroom, as to not be late for Professor Snape. They were the first students there, except for a few Slytherins. "So," gossiped Penny, "Back to what I was telling you earlier, something major happened yesterday..."
Samantha chuckled. She couldn't tell how 'major' this would be - Penny would call almost anything major. She continued.
"So, I was just walking around the Castle, when I bumped into your brother-"
"Which one?"
"The cute one."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Samantha glared at her friend, "Continue."
"Anyways, I bumped into Samson and then we found Snape and Filch investigating..." her voice turned to a whisper, "The Cursed Vaults."
Samantha froze. She was aware that that was the issue that led to the Jacob incident. Suddenly, she heard the slam of books from next to her. She looked up to see the terrible face of Merula, as she took a seat. "What do you want, Snyde?" Samantha growled..
Merula rolled her eyes. "A seat. Obviously."
Samantha grumbled, but her anger quickly subsided when she heard Merula ask, "Now, is it just me or did I hear you two nerds talking about the fabled Cursed Vaults?"
The pair stared at one another, then back at Merula. "Uhh..."
Snyde was deeply unamused. "Drop the act. I know you were. And I know that you know where they are."
Penny snarled, "So what?"
"And so I'm going to find them."
Samantha was aware of the stupidity, but she almost didn't want to warn Merula. Serves her right for all that she's done. First the potion sabotage, then the tormenting of all the other students - Samantha had heard all of the gossip.
Just then, the door swung open, revealing Severus Snape himself. "Enough mucking about. The lesson begins now. Revision on the Cure for Boils. I expect perfection."
Was it just her, or was Snape specifically scowling at her whilst saying that last sentence? It didn't matter - she had to focus. To get Hufflepuff more points and to prove Snape wrong.
Throughout the entire lesson, Merula continued to ask about the Vaults, and throughout the entire lesson, the girls refused to speak to her. She was barely focusing on her potion - and so she stirred the elixir a simple three times. Not the required five.
"Don't remind her..." Samantha muttered to herself, but for some bizarre reason, she began to feel guilty. Even though Merula was, well, Merula, Samantha felt that she would feel bad about not helping out. She was a Hufflepuff, after all.
"Merula," Samantha reminded, "You have to stir the potion two more times for it to work."
Merula stared at Samantha, and then burst out into laughter. "Yeah, right. As if. You must be trying to sabotage me, revenge, I guess. Well- I'm sorry that I ruined your potion. Oh wait - no I'm not."
Samantha gave a look at Penny, one that read, Can you believe this girl? Her hubris was so much that it blinded her. Samantha even sensed a bit of hesitation when she heard Merula admit to ruining the potion. "Focus, Samantha..." she reminded herself.
At the end of the class, Snape came to examine the vials of each student. When he had reached Samantha's table, a hint of surprise managed to appear on his face, before quickly disappearing.
"Amazing work, Haywood, as always..." Snape checked, "And I can see that you've learnt your lesson about powder, Sullivan."
Samantha felt like telling him to shut up or casting Flipendo, but she managed to restrain herself. "Thank you, professor." She announced through grinded teeth.
"Ten points to Hufflepuff." Snape announced, "Though I would advise you not to let it get to your head."
The professor then moved over to Merula's vial - a mess, being nice. "I'm sorry professor, I wasn't paying attention-"
"I can tell, Snyde. I won't be deducting any House points but let this serve as a lesson. I'm disappointed in you."
Samantha studied Merula's face, and it seemed like, to her, that stung more than losing any House points. Snape then strutted over towards the centre of the classroom. "Class is dismissed. You may go."
Everyone grabbed their things and went out the door, going separate ways, although Merula followed Samantha.
She whispered to her ear, "I'm finding the Cursed Vaults. Whether you like it or not. Now stay out of my way."
She shoved Samantha then walked towards her next class. Perhaps there are issues larger than the House Competition...