Snake Charmer Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Class

Lily wondered to her Transfiguration class in the early afternoon reviewing her day so far. History of Magic was the most numbing class in existence. Professor Binns must be the most boring professor ever to grace the halls of Hogwarts. Since he was a ghost it meant that generations and generations of students had to suffer the misfortune of listening to him drone on and on until the end of their OWL year. Fortunately that meant that Lily only had one year left with him because she was definitely not carrying on the subject for her NEWTS. Apparently Professor Binn's had died while he slept in a chair in the staffroom. Lily was half surprised that there weren't ghosts haunting Hogwarts whom had died of boredom in his class. Because honestly, the body could only take so much mind numbing crap!

Fortunately Jess had forgiven her as soon as she had mumbled her apologies because otherwise Lily would have been tempted to throw herself out of the classroom window! So instead of having to listen to Professor Binn's rambling she was able to listen to Jess profess that she found the scene earlier rather entertaining since she was watching everyone's reactions.

Jess told her that the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws who had noticed only looked mildly curious by Lily's little escapade. The Gryffindors had looked slightly more baffled and many of them pointed and stared. Several of them, mainly boys, Jess had told her, had actually got up and exited the hall barging people out of the way. When Lily asked if Eoin McLaggen was one of them Jess nodded and Lily felt a twang of satisfaction.

The Slytherins, as Lily had also noticed had looked livid about the invasion of their territory. Jess announced that the only thing that stopped them from either interrupting Lily and Duanne and forcibly removing her or sending a curse her way was Malfoy's expression. Malfoy had apparently watched the flirtatious interactions of Duanne and Lily with such fierce intensity that Jess had expected the pair of then to shoot up in flames. The only time when he wasn't glaring at them what when he was shooting warning death glares at his fellow Slytherin when they dared to attempt approaching them.

Lily puzzled over this. It was obvious that they wouldn't have harmed Duanne, just Lily. The thought of Malfoy ensuring Lily didn't get hurt was absurd. Jess and Lily agreed that he obviously had an ulterior motive and that Lily should be on her guard. However when Malfoy wasn't in her present vicinity Lily was grateful that Malfoy had gained the respect with the Slytherin house his family had lost after the war.

After History of Magic, Lily had had Potions with the Slytherins. Lily sat in her usual spot with Maggie and Margarita. The twins were in deep conversation. Lily only caught snippets of the conversation although she tried not to overhear their mutterings. Margarita was having boy trouble. This so called boy whom Margarita kept saying that she was in love with showed no sign of acknowledging that she even existed. This was bizarre because she was unbelievably gorgeous and could no doubt be a model if she so wished. Lily thought that the boy in question was either dumb and not worthy of her time, gay or infatuated with someone else. The latter seemed the least likely of the lot since if you could have someone like Margarita or Maggie you definitely wouldn't be obsessing about anyone else, they just wouldn't measure up to the goddesses! She didn't share her opinions with the twins though.

Instead Lily spent most of the lesson discussing the antidote she was working on with the portrait of Severus Snape whom was watching the lesson with only mild interest. He was far more intelligent than their present potions teacher Professor Greengrass. Professor Snape would often stretch Lily's knowledge beyond the limits of the school curriculum and Lily found it rather refreshing. She had always found class too easy since she often read her brothers and cousins textbooks whenever she was bored over the holidays. At the end of the lesson the Professor had reluctantly given her full marks for her antidote. Lily had sent a subtle wink towards her favourite portrait and saw the edges of his mouth curve slightly.

Lunch had passed without incident and so Lily arrived at her Transfiguration class with a full stomach and cheerful presence. Transfiguration was one of Lily's favourite subjects although the teacher was a rather elderly wizard close to retirement and often forgot what he was supposed to be doing halfway through the lesson. A fact that amused all the Hogwarts students.

Maggie caught up with Lily just outside the classroom door. "Sorry I'm late" she muttered to Lily.

Lily's thoughts snapped back to the present, she acknowledged her apology and pushed open the heavy oak door. "That's ok, How's your sister doing?" Lily asked as she made her way to her usual spot. She passed Hugo who sat by himself several rows in front of Lily's intended destination.

Both girls waved at Hugo as the passed him, "she's ok now. I think I've managed to sort her out." Maggie told her as they sat down at their desks at the back of the room. Lily didn't press for further information. Instead they discussed Delia's current absence, the Halloween party tonight and how gutted Lily was that she had to miss it. Luckily Halloween wasn't one of the major celebrations since the party only officially went on until curfew.

The main holidays seemed to be Christmas, Valentines day and May 2nd, the end of war celebrations. Since Lily knew she would be going home instead of attending the Yule ball she only hoped that she'd be able to get out of detention for the other two parties.

Slowly the desks started filling up with Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students however the Professor was yet to make an appearance. The door flung open and Lily automatically looked in its direction. "Finally Delia what took you so long?" Lily exclaimed when Delia came barging through the door looking rather alarmed at her lateness but relaxed when she noticed that the Professor was absent.

Delia glanced towards them and Lily could tell instantly what had taken her so long to arrive. Delia had obviously been in the girls bathroom artily applying make up. It was a good thing that Professor Stuart was half blind or she would be given a detention for looking like that. "Erm well, I'll tell you later I have- yeah." Delia stammered and stopped short of the seat Lily and Maggie had saved for her by several rows.

"Delia what are you doing?" Lily asked and Delia flicked her hand nonchalantly in response.

This caused both Lily and Maggie to gape at her. "Is she ditching us Lils?" Maggie asked gob smacked.

"Who the hell is she ditching us for? That's not very Hufflepuff of her" Lily complained. Since the classroom was now almost full it was difficult to see who Delia sat next to.

"Oh my…" Maggie began but was interrupted by Lily who spotted that Delia sat next to Hugo a second after Maggie.

"No way. She is so not doing that." She complained adamantly completely rejecting what her eyes were telling her. She scrunched up a piece of parchment and chucked it at Delia's head.

"Ouch, watch it." Delia complained turning to face them.

"What do you think you are you doing?" Lily yelled drawing the attention of their classmates.

Delia flushed a deep crimson colour and Lily could see Hugo's ears turning red but he was refusing to look at her. "Oh, Hugo's been tutoring me, I thought you knew!"

"How could I if you didn't tell me?" Lily complained knowing full well that Delia had never mentioned anything about it to her and neither had Hugo. Lily decided she wasn't talking to Hugo anymore and Delia? Well she'd deal with her later.

"Sorry must have slipped my mind" Delia grinned impishly and then professor Stuart shuffled into the room leaning heavily on his cane "I better get to work."

When Delia had turned to face the teacher Lily muttered to Maggie under her breath, "Must have slipped her mind, my arse! He better only be teaching her the ways of transfiguration or I'll kill them both."

Maggie failed to suppress a chuckle at the insinuation in Lily's voice, "You're so dramatic."

Lily rolled her eyes. Of course she was dramatic, life was dull without a little drama to stir things up. She grinned boldly "Would you have it any other way?" Maggie had the good sense to shake her head at that question.

Soon after Professor Stuart started sending an assortment of objects floating through the air landing on students desks and announced that by the end of the lesson they needed to have transfigured it into a living rabbit. Only a handful of students managed it. By the time the lesson ended Lily had successfully transfigured a chair, teapot and a cushion into three rabbits. She considered trying her new ability on Hugo and Delia but Maggie had talked her out of it. Spoil sport!