The Scars to Prove It

Farren groaned as she stumbled toward the Gryffindor table on the left side of the hall. It was only the third day of term and she was already ready for break.

Falling gracelessly to be seated between Carina and Lee, Farren rubbed sleepily at her eyes.

Lee chuckled as he watched Farren try to spoon cereal into her mouth and miss repeatedly. She scowled and picked cornflakes out of her dull pink hair.

“Still not a morning person?” Fred asked sarcastically, seated across the table from Carina and safely out of range of Farren’s legs. That didn’t stop Farren from trying, though: a fact made apparent when George howled in pain.

“Bugger, Farren, wrong twin.”

She just shrugged and made a muffled grunt through a mouthful of cereal. Carina translated.

“She can’t very well tell you apart when her eyes are closed, can she?”

Farren managed to pry her eyes open and looked up blearily. She brightened visibly when her gaze landed upon a steaming pot of tea.

“Lee,” she whined, pointing at the pitcher, “would you?”

He grinned, and reached halfway for the pitcher. “Oh, it seems that I can’t quite reach it.”

“George? Fred?” she pleaded after scowling at Lee.

George seized the pitcher obligingly and handed it to her. Farren smiled and poured a cup of tea, grinning brightly.

“Thank you, George.”

“Farren, are you finished yet?” asked Carina.

“Um, no. I just got my tea, and the mail hasn’t even arrived yet.”

“But you promised to hurry, remember?”

Farren opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Fred.

“Why do you need to hurry? Defense isn’t for another twenty minutes.”

Farren smiled. “Carina fancies our new professor.”

“I do not!” she sputtered, her cheeks flushing as she rose from the bench, taking Farren with her.

Fred, George and Lee chuckled together as Farren was dragged from the hall, sloshing her tea all over the floor.



“You’re pathetic, absolutely pathetic. It’s quite sad, really, you used to be such a respectable girl.”

“I am not pathetic. You’re just jealous,” Carina sniffed indignantly, giving the books on her desk a nervous shuffle.

Farren laughed aloud, drawing odd looks from the assembled class. “Jealous?”

Carina nodded, her eyes glued to the door.

“Yes, I’m incredibly jealous some barmy wizard knocked me halfway across Flourish and Blotts. You’ve caught me.”

“He’s not barmy!”

Carina was interrupted by Fred and George who had chosen that moment to come bustling into the classroom.

“Barmy?” asked George as he and his brother squeezed in on each side of Farren, effectively cutting her off from Carina.

“You two talking about Lockhart?” inquired Fred.

Farren nodded her assent while Carina sputtered.

“As I was saying, he’s not barmy! He’s a brilliant wizard who has written several books, has been on the Prophet’s best seller list for weeks, and who happens to be our professor.”

“Really? He’s our professor?” mocked Fred.

“We hadn’t noticed,” began Farren.

“It’s not like you ever mentioned it,” finished George.

Carina was saved replying when the office door burst open with a bang.

The class was shocked into silence, many of them frightened out of their desks.

“Attention class! Attention, please.” The students settled as Lockhart examined his reflection in one of his many mirrors. Satisfied, he turned back toward the group.

“You’re all settled? Excellent! Now, I’m sure most of you know who I am. But for those of you misfortunate enough not to, let me introduce myself. Gilderoy Lockhart: author of eleven best-selling books, seven of which you should have in front of you, winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award, and your new professor.”

Lockhart paused, smiling, as if waiting for applause. The class shifted anxiously before him, not a single soul showing any intention of clapping, except Carina. She looked ready to throw herself at his feet.

His smile exponentially diminished, Lockhart began to hand out a test, explaining to the class that it was to test their knowledge of the assigned material.

Carina began filling it out in earnest, her quill scratching furiously across the parchment. Lee made a paper airplane with his; Fred and George were making schematics for a new prank, and Farren transformed hers into a hummingbird.

Lockhart was soon occupied in fending off the hummingbird that was set on attacking his strictly styled golden locks. The class was let out early.

Carina looked rather put out as the group wound their way toward the lake, collectively deciding to enjoy the lovely day.