CHAPTER THREE: Irresponsible Driving
Packing our trunks, I pulled everything from my draws; throwing them over my shoulders into the full case. Drizella walked over to the trunk, dropping her teddy bear on top of a pile of t-shirts.
Kissing her head, I picked up my trunk, guitar and my broom, that was fastened to my bag.
Drizella followed down the stairs to the kitchen, Neville already had his coat on with his Gryffindor scarf loosely around his neck. It was cold for September; a light frost had settled last night.
Throwing my denim jacket over my blue jumper, I rested the scar over my shoulders underneath the collar.
Sitting in the fire, Drizella looked at us ready to go. I lifted my trunk onto the logs – leaning my bags on the top, freeing my right hand to take a handful of floo powder.
"Kings Cross."
Burning out, I twisted through the Floo system to the fireplace in King Cross station. Drizella jumped out, running in circles as I pulled my luggage out and throwing it onto a trolley. I jumped on the handles of the trolley; Neville materialised - adding his trunk and Trevor to the trolley at the same time; gran manifested in the train station behind us.
Pushing the trolley through the station, we stopped at the third arch between platforms' nine and ten
Turning to Neville, holding my fist out - he did the same, on the count of three, we hit our fists against our palms.
Rock breaks scissors.
Sticking my tongue out at him, I ran at the wall accessing Platform Nine and three- quarters.
At the back of the train, our trunks are strapped to the wall. Drizella staying by my side, Gran is standing by the back wall – making it easy to spot her.
She held my cheeks in her hands, staring me down," If you dream anything, and I mean anything – tell Dumbledore."
"You are really making me regret telling you." I rolled my eyes," It's just a dream."
She squished my cheeks," That's what Muggles say when they can't explain things 'it's just 'something – you are a witch Celyn, this means something."
Prying her hands from my cheeks," I will tell someone, if you promise to stop squishing my cheeks."
"I'm your grandmother." She pinched my nose, "I'm not promising that."
"Bye Gran!" I yelled, turning around to the train.
Hermione waved out of her window, frantically gesturing me to join her, Hadleigh sitting reading the end of her book. Drizella took the normal position of her head on the seat next to me, whilst I removed my scrapbook of music sheets from my guitar bag – resting the instrument on my knee. Neville pulled out his book on Herbology, the page marked on different healing plants.
The Weasley Twins pulled the door open followed by Adrian and Robert. Seamus and Dean soon joined us as the train left the station – they took a seat next to us to Hadleigh's annoyance as she closed her book.
"Has anyone seen Harry or Ron?" I asked, looking out the door to see if they had followed the Twins.
Dean shuck his head," They're probably pigging out in another compartment."
"Probably eating the last box of fudge he owes you." George laughed.
Fred smirked," mum was so annoyed about it, she said thank you for not holding the original bet, but she's more furious than the time we set a stink bomb off in Bill's room."
The old lady opened the compartment door, a smile present on her face as she pushed her cart. She always seemed to smell like butterscotch and freshly baked pumpkin pasties.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" She asked.
Taking my purse from my back, taking out five galleons," a bag of bon-bons and two bags of droobles and some Berty Botts?"
Taking the order from her cart, she put the galleon's in her pouch – passing over the sweets to Seamus, as he was closest to the door.
Opening the large bag, he shared them out between the others – Neville took a few, not taking his eyes from his book.
Strumming away, I saw a blue Ford Anglia out of my peripheral vision, I stood up, leaning into the window. Driving the Anglia, was Ron with Harry in the passenger seat.
"Oh they are that stupid," Hermione whispered to no one particular.
Watching from the compartment window, Ron lost control of the car, driving under the bridge.
Harry suddenly fell out of the car, holding on by the inside door handle, I just started hitting Neville as I was too scared to look away.
"What!" he hissed then I felt him lean on me, looking out the window, "Oh."
"Ya don't say." Seamus rolled his eyes.
Everyone in the compartment pressed their faces up to the window. Ron was able to get Harry back into the car, slamming the door shut. Neville watched Harry, giving us all uneasy looks.
Ron established a steady grip of the car wheel, flying far away from the engine.
"Did I just see my Seeker almost fall out of a car?" Oliver Wood shouted from behind us.
Fred still had his head pressed to the window, "No Oliver, you saw our brother drive the car -
"that almost killed your seeker." George smirked," For once Freddie, we are not in trouble."
"Think you're right Georgie.".
Sitting back down, I picked up my guitar again - Don't you [forget about me] instantly coming to mind. Fred and George looked confused as Dean and Seamus screamed the lyrics – their eyes squeezed shut.
Closing in on the station, Fred and George left to find their friends, on their way out, we kicked the guys out so we could change. I pinned Hermione's tight curls, keeping it out of her face as she tied her tie around her neck.
Exchanging places with the others, we stood outside the compartment – Malfoy sat with his goons, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. Through the glass, Blaise gave us a wave before turning back to his fellow Slytherins.
Going back to the compartment - the older ones leaving to find their own friends from their year and houses. Curling up, the five of us sat around the mini table playing exploding snap for the last leg of the journey to school.
The train started to slow, the screeching breaks echoing from the wheels under us – Neville opened the compartment door. With Hogsmeade platform coming into view, I stuffed my belongings into the bag - throwing it on my back. Gently shaking Drizella awake, her eyes pierced through mine with an unmistakable annoyance at being woken up before she was ready.
Walking through the open platform, the dark carriages took us all the way to the front gate – the lamps on the carriages and the streetlamps being the only light source down the road. Drizella lay on the floor, still unhappy about being woken up – if she was a puppy, I would've carried her, however she was now taller than me on her hind legs.
"What do you think they will do about Harry and Ron?" Dean asked.
Hermione shrugged," They'll be lucky if they aren't expelled."
"Suprised they ain't dead yet." Hadleigh mumbled, her head on Dean's shoulder with her eyes closed," with the amount of stuff they do."
I laughed," They won't die, fate always has a plan - even if we don't like it."
"You believe in fate?" Seamus asked.
"Yep, I mean why not? if unicorns exist, so should fate."
"I hate you." Hadleigh groaned as Hermione slammed her book to wake her up.
Hermione shrugged," somehow I don't believe you."
In rows, we pulled up to the front door opposite the bridge - the large clock almost at eleven. Climbing out of the carriages, behind us, a few lanterns could be seen approaching the castle from the bridge that went across the gauge. At the front door, we left our stuff with the ever-growing piles of bags.
"Drizella, stay – someone will take you to the dorms." I told her, Drizella then tilted her head, lowering her ears," no, don't you give me that sad puppy look."
Pursing my lips, not looking her in the eyes. Next, to me, she put her paw on my knee.
"Fine." I gave in, running a hand through my hair.
Hadleigh raised an eyebrow," really?"
"I can't, look at her baby eyes."
Rolling her eyes, she pulled my sleeve as we followed Neville to the Great Hall, at the entrance – I wrapped my arms around my brother, turning to sit at the Ravenclaw table. The last few people hurrying to their tables, the extraordinarily large doors closing behind them.
Padma sat with two extra seats, her face brightening when she saw us appear.
"There you are!" she shouted," The shorting is about to begin."
I looked at Drizella who sat next to the bench with a paw on the seat," I was overcome with Drizella's cuteness."
Hadleigh nodded," took her five minutes to battle her 'puppy face.'"
Padma laughed rubbing the back of Drizella's ears," she's a sweetie."
Professor McGonagall came to check if it was ready. The stool was on the small raised area with the Hat neatly in the middle – tassels flowing down the back. The Oak doors swung open. Professor McGonagall leading them in, the parchment in her hand with her large brim bottle green hat resting on the bun at the back of her head.
They were admiring the beauty of the Great Hall, Similar to us, the ceiling charmed to resemble the sky and the non-drip candles acting like stars. Gathering them all at the front of the stool, gasps echoes when the hat moved, opening what I assume is its mouth.
I may be old and frayed
but don't let that betray you
stitched and bewitched
over a thousand years ago
The four greatest witches and wizards of the time
United by one single desire
The wish to inspire
and help young minds.
So a place of education
was the creation.
The founders four
Helga Hufflepuff of valley broad
Rowena Ravenclaw from the glen
Godric Gryffindor of wild moor
Salazar Slytherin from the fen.
From these noble names
four houses were born.
Gryffindor which houses the bold and brave,
Ravenclaw selected those filled with cleverness,
Hufflepuff welcomed the loyal who loved to toil
Slytherin choose only those who are pure.
Their differences are what defined them
Together they stood, never to be divided
but what brought them together
soon sought to tear them apart.
Battles were fought
over Hogwarts
soon the time had come
for one to depart
So four became three
Which house will it be?
Put me on and I will see.
"Alton, Thomas"
The boy walked up, sitting on the stool – his eyes looking over the four tables as the hat talked directly to him.
"Hufflepuff."
He walked over to the table dressed in yellow, his face taking everything in.
Drizella tapped her nose against my arm, rolling my eyes – I took the spare ball I had, playing a small game with her. Adrian smiled at me, leaning back to nodded at the dog I was entertaining.
"Yaxley, Cedrella" Professor McGonagall called the last name.
Head held high she sat on the stool – she had her family's infamous white hair. The Yaxley's have been known to dabble in the dark arts – during the first war, Corban Yaxley is rumoured to be a Death Eater in You-Know-Who's inner circle.
"Slytherin."
Cedrella skipped over to the table, her face holding it's unemotional stare.
"A new year at Hogwarts, first years please note the dark forest is out of bounds," He looked directly to the Weasley Twins who gave him a smile," All toilet seats must be returned by the end of the year – I would like to welcome, Professor Lockhart who will be taking the role of Defence against the dark arts -"
He stood up, laughing like a maniac and flipping his gelled hair - around us, girls and guys swooned as Gilderoy posed at the head table.
"It's a privilege to be here again." He giggled," an utter privilege."
Dumbledore nodded," Well now that's done with - dinner?"
He waved his hands and plates of food appeared; steam still coming off the freshly cooked food.
"Do you think Harry and Ron are ok?" I asked Hadleigh as I piled my plat up with roast potatoes.
Hadleigh shrugged," no idea, but they didn't care for you or the rest of the people they dragged into last year's mess so leave them to do their thing and just talk to Hermione."
Padma nodded taking a bite from the food on her fork," Harry seems lovely and all, but he has a serious ego sometimes – just sometimes."
Drizella's head popped up like a meerkat looking for food, we took a burger and put it up into pieces – putting it on a saucer on the bench.
The first years finished first. Dumbledore tapped the side of his Chrystal glass; the food layout changed to dessert. Towers of ice cream didn't melt, and cake decorations shimmered in the moving firelight.
Hadleigh took the cake knife, flipping a slice of apple pie on to her gold plate – she passed it to me, my eyes scanned the options in front of me. Making a choice, I transferred a wedge of red velvet cake on to my plate with a scoop of raspberry ice cream.
"Cel and Friends!" Robert yelled he pointed at Victoria," Head girl!"
Victoria threw a cherry at him," Shut up Hillard."
He smirked," Someone misses Charlie."
"I will take away points, right now if you don't shut up." She smirked.
His eyed widened," you wouldn't"
"Try me." Victoria crossed her arm - a challenging smile on her face.
Robert held his hands in surrender," Fair game Scamander, fair game. Anyways - Celyn, are you trying out for the team next week?"
Adrian gave a sly smile as he leaned in to join the conversation," Ya know ya want it."
"Fine, only if you," I pointed at Adrian with my fork," stop smiling like that."
"Atta girl!" Adrian Hi-fived Robert before turning back to Roger.
Dumbledore stood from his seat at the centre of the table," Prefects take the first years back to their dorms. Everyone else hangs back five mins before we start exiting you all-out safety."
Robert stood up from his seat, leading the first year Ravenclaw's from the Great Hall – turning around I scratched the top of Drizella's head.
" Girls catch up night?" Padma asked.
Professor Dumbledore waved his hand, "Second years, off you go."
Getting up from the bench, we nodded – running through the school up to Ravenclaw Tower. Robert had left the door open, the first years still looking around the room. Drizella ran in, taking up the whole blue sofa in front of the blue flame fire.
Isobel smiled," good to be back?"
nodding, I looked at her," yeah, naturally better than a normal school."
"Defiantly," Isobel smiled," could you imagine it – not coming to Hogwarts every year?"
Hadleigh nodded," yes, I did it frequently."
Isobel nodded," Muggle-born?"
she nodded," yeah, and?"
"No, no," Isobel stuttered," I'm not prejudiced, I'm a half-blood anyways."
Hadleigh nodded slowly.
I clapped my hands," Right, It's wonderful to see you, Isobel."
Grabbing on to Hadleigh's sleeve, I dragged her up the stairs – halfway up, I gave a quick wave to the others on the team.
"Hi!" I yelled, "Bye!
Padma had set up the room, with different sweets on the floor, a huge smile on his face.
Taking the opportunity, I took a shower scrubbing off the smell of dinner to a soft mango.
I open the door, my towel in my hands – Hadleigh and Pada are rolling around laughing on the floor.
"Do not want to know." I shuck my head going to my bed closing the curtains.
Pulling the curtains open in my fuzzy Pyjama bottoms and a yellow tank top, I joined Padma and Hadleigh on the floor.
Our door opened, Mandy, Sue Li, Isobel and Lisa poked their heads around the corner.
"We heard you from across the stairs." Sue smiled," can we join you?"
Padma nodded," sure."
Covering our floor in duvets and pillows, the sweet boxes quickly emptied, and the clock chimed one.
"Last one." Isobel smirked," What do you think will happen this year?"
Sue laughed," Malfoy will be a cocky twit and the Hufflepuffs will be horribly happy."
Many checked the clock on Padma's bedside table," we should do this again, but I'm going to bed."
Her roommates agreed, picking up their duvets and pillows, waving goodbye and the walked across the stairs.
Yawning, I threw my stuff onto my bed, curling into my blankets.
"Wake me up in the morning."
A soft pillow hit my face, I opened my eye to look at Padma," Always do."
Groaning, I turned over, burying my head in the pillow.