Chapter 30: Ch. 30 A bet
The next morning was even more eventful because Harry and Ron stole the car and were seen driving it by muggles. The ministry had to work hard to keep it all under wraps and make it seem like it never happened. I wonder if the other times people claim to see spaceships were just wizards or are they really out there?
Well conspiracy aside Snape and McGonagall were very angry at them and at the very beginning of the year, both of them lost 50 points each and also got detention. Hermione was very pissed at them for this, she was hoping to win the cup this year…
Some of the more idiotic people, mostly Gryffindor students had a very twisted sense of pride as to what both of them had done. I couldn't understand why they praised the lot for endangering their lives and also losing the precious house points.
It was a pretty normal day for me. Waking up at 6 before most of the people and, going out for a run doing push-ups, crunches and squats. All the basic exercise, though I have increased the amount of reps and distance in my program from the year before.
After my exercise was done, I got back to my room and took a bath and got ready. It was still too early, so I waited for my friends in the common room... no one in my group wakes up early. I have tried to recruit Ted, but he had outright rejected me. The girls would make annoying faces whenever I would bring this up. So I kind of gave up. I do wish I had an exercise buddy, it would help my training.
After like an hour they found me at my usual place in the morning. On the Sofa but this time I had my Game Boy with Tetris. So I was fine waiting for them. I didn't get bored at all.
I saw them walking up to me and got up and greeted them all "Good Morning everyone." They greeted me back, and we proceeded to the Great Hall for breakfast.
In the Great Hall, we all sat down and were talking and having breakfast. Today was a Wednesday, so it was Herbology with Gryffindor. Most of the Slytherin weren't stoked about having the first class of the school year to be with them and I think the Gryffindor shared the same sentiment.
After having our breakfast we went to the greenhouse. I was standing there talking to Ted. He told me he was having troubles with his father because of me.
I sighed and patted his shoulder and said, "I am sorry to hear that Ted." Being a death eater's son is not easy when you have liberal values.
Prof. Sprout came in and gave formal introductions "Welcome to Greenhouse three, second years. Now gather around everyone. Today we are going to hear how to re-pot a Mandrake."
She then firmly clasped her hands and asked, "Now, who can tell me about the property of Mandrake root?"
Hermione's hand shot up with the speed of light and Prof. Sprout looked at everyone and said, "Anyone... Anyone at all... Yes, Miss Granger." In actuality, many of us knew the properties but didn't bother, why? Well because Hermione is going to answer it anyway so let's just hang back and relax.
She puts her hand down and said "Mandrake or Mandragora is used to return those who have been petrified to their original state. It's also quite dangerous. Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it." Not going to lie that's like a ton of foreshadowing, like not subtle at all.
Sprout nodded and said "Excellent 10 points to Gryffindor"
She then said "Now as our Mandrakes are still only seedlings their cry is still not fatal but could knock you out for several hours… This is why I've provided you with Earmuffs for protection."
Sprout then put on her earmuffs, and we put on ours as well. She slapped the earmuffs confirming the fit, "Now put on these earmuffs for your safety, now we are going to uproot the mandrake...." She pulled a naked looking mole baby looking plant who was shrieking ".....and place them in a new pot in front of you and pour sprinkle soil in the pot."
Neville fainted and Sprout said "It looks like Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs" Some people laughed, it was mostly from Slytherin.
But Seamus shook his head and said, "No mam he just fainted."
She was surprised a bit, but she sighed and said, "Well, just leave him there he will be fine." "Now there are plenty of pots. Remember to grasp your Mandrake and pull it up sharply."
We pulled it up and not going to lie upfront it is uglier it looked like Deadpool but in vegetable form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the Herbology classes were over we headed towards Great Hall for lunch. In the Great Hall, Harry got his photos clicked by the fanboy and Gryffindor table got an incoming owl that crash-landed on their table. It was time for that scene to occur. Let's see how does it go for Ron.
He got the letter and everyone was confused as to what was happening and then someone said, "Ron's got himself a howler." it was from his mother. He had a look of absolute terror on his face. The letter opened itself in front of everyone and Ron got utterly humiliated. In my opinion, a very foolish thing to do.
Even Daphne chuckled a little at Ron's predicament. After Herbology was Transfiguration and Double Potions.
Transfiguration was my favorite class and because this year we can use more "advanced" spells than before and required less assistance from prof. So, I was excited. Most of the first lectures were mostly theory-based so nothing of interest happened.
The last class was of Gilderoy Lockhart. Before our group went in I said to the girls "Do you want to bet that his class is going to be disappointing?"
The girls were very confident and said, "Okay, What do you want to bet?"
I smiled and said, "One no questions asked favor from each of you. How about that?" they discussed that amount themselves and said "Deal!" I smiled and shook their hands
Ted looked at me and asked, "Are you sure about this?"
I gave a smile and said "A hundred per cent."
We went inside the class and I decided to sit with Tori because it is going to be fun. I was having so much fun that I was constantly smiling, and she noticed that and asked, "Why are you smiling like that you never smile like that?"
I leaned closer and whispered into her ears "You are going to lose that is why." I moved away, and she looked away and said "We will see about that." I saw her ears get red. She is not going to be okay when she loses.
Lockhart entered the class and in full showmanship introduced himself "Let me introduce you to your new DADA teacher ME Gilderoy Lockhart."
He started to descend the stairs and every girl was swooning over him even Daphne was making a weird face. I didn't like the guy one bit but had to put up a face.
He looked at Harry and waved his hand as to say how are you Harry replied in kind.
He then continued while descending down "the Order of Merlin, third class, an Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and the five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award." and at the end gave a pretty good charming smile the man was a good hype man, have to give him credit there.
And continued "But I don't like to talk about that I didn't get rid of Bandon Banshee by smiling at them." and at this point, every girl was swooning over him and every guy had made him a common enemy like at this point the boys were united under the common hatred of Lockhart even Malfoy and Ron.
Then he handed out a quiz that was about him and gave us a thirty-minute time limit to answer the question there were about 40 questions I answered about 31.
He was impressed with Hermione because she knew what was his ultimate goal "To rid the world of evil and launch his own hair product line."
I asked Tori "How do you feel about his lecture now?"
She was worried and said "It is still good… I think…" She was getting a little nervous now.
I chuckled and said, "We will see about that."
He then said, "Now! be warned it is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind." He touched the cage which was covered with maroon cloth. The cage started to shake and everyone was getting nervous… but I knew what was under there so I was pretty calm.
"You may find yourselves facing your worst nightmares in this room." Tori kind of held onto my robe I said in a low calm voice "Everything is going to be fine." She relaxed a little but didn't let go of the robe.
Lockhart continued "Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. I must ask you not to scream, it might provoke them!" He unveiled the cage, and we found Pixies underneath it. Tori was now relieved that it wasn't something dangerous and let go of my robe.
Seamus chuckled and said "Cornish Pixies?"
Lockhart continued "Freshly picked" Everyone was now sort of laughing. But he still continued "Laugh all you want Mr Finnegan, but pixies can be devilishly tricky little blighters, let's see how you all handle them" As then opened the cage and I used the shielding charm around my group of people Tori, Daphne, Olivia, Ted and me.
The pixies started to attack the students and while everyone was having trouble I was laughing my ass off. Neville got a wedge from pixies and the dragon skeleton got destroyed.
Some people tried to enter the barrier I created but couldn't. Lockhart fled the class and Hermione was the one who stopped the pixies I then didn't say anything and just looked at Tori.
She gave an annoyed face and said "Fine you win the Bet."
I smiled and said, "Thank you milady."
While I was busy with Tori everyone gave me glares and Harry said "Why didn't you help us?"
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I am not obligated to help any of you." When I said that most of the people understood what I meant because I was ostracized by almost everyone I wasn't under any obligation to help any of them I only helped the people who were close to me that is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the class ended a little abruptly my group left the DADA class. We were the only students that were untouched. We then went to the common room to relax because we didn't want to, so we just relaxed in the common room.