Hazel MacMillan Yr.2: Chapter 4

Instructions

Next morning, at breakfast, I spotted a surly looking girl at the Ravenclaw table. I had seen her in school before, yet she had not been Sorted. “Who’s that?” I whispered to Elizabeth. My friend tilted her golden head as she tried to match faces. “I think that’s Olivia. They call her Olivia Ravenclaw because no one knows who her parents are. Emily said that Carina told her she arrived late at the ceremony and was Sorted quietly in Dumbledore’s office. She’s a bit….yeah.” Raising an eyebrow, I suddenly saw Auntie Pomona holding a stack of letters, handing one to each second year Hufflepuff in turn. “Oh!” I felt excited. “It’s our first year results!” We tore them open eagerly. I was so surprised to see that I was top of the class, since even though Dad always called me clever before he died, I thought he was just being kind. Elizabeth was second, right behind me. We ran off to class, and saw that Emily seemed occupied. “What’s up?” Daliyla asked. “It’s Carina,” answered Emily. “Her watch from Mum and Dad and her necklace from Draco and me, they’re gone. No way Carina would lose those, no way. She’s devastated now.” For no reason whatsoever, Olivia’s face suddenly popped into my head. I shook it away. At that moment, Carina and Draco appeared, the latter whispering in Carina’s ear. “Draco!” Emily was exasperated. “Please stop telling Carina that Harry Potter took her things, he’s in Gryffindor, not Ravenclaw!” Draco looked ashamed and scuttled off, Carina close behind. An owl swooped in and gave a red envelope to Ruby. Her eyes widened in fear as she recognised one of the worst nightmares of a Hogwarts student…… a Howler. “RUBY BOOT!” a loud male voice boomed out all over the corridor, as Ruby began to whimper. “HOW DARE YOU STAY AT HOGWARTS…urgh! AND NOT COME BACK TO CAMILLA AND ME IN THE HOLIDAYS! WE ONLY TOOK YOU IN BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WANTED A THIEF AND CHEAT IN THEIR HOUSE, AND YOU TELL ME YOU STARTED MAKING FRIENDS THAT WE DID NOT ARRANGE. DO NOT EVER COME BACK AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BURN YOUR STUFF! STAY WITH YOUR PATHETIC FRIENDS! NO LOVE AT ALL, JASPER.” “I’m…n-not a thief o-or…a cheat!” Ruby sobbed, completely broken down. Students were snickering, until they met Emily’s unusually fierce glare, upon which they edged away, still gossiping about how Ruby was….the things Jasper said. Maybe they thought Ruby took Carina’s things! It was true she had no pocket money or anything…but never in a million years would Ruby do ANYTHING like that. “Boot?” a curt voice startled us. “A word, please.” McGonagall steered Ruby into her study, and ten minutes later, she walked back out. “Professor McGonagall said that because of all the rumours, and my crime record, as well as Carina’s stuff’s disappearance, I have to be suspended for two weeks. That means that I can only stay in my dorm, the bathroom, and meals will be delivered up to me. No talking, no lessons.” Ruby’s shoulders heaved as she tried to control her wails. My face hardened. Whoever took Carina’s things was now not only making her unhappy, but also suspending Ruby! I absolutely HAD to get back at him or her.