Coral Fernsby ~ Chapter Seven

Instructions

Coral awoke the next morning feeling awful. She hadn’t gotten much sleep and was very tired. During breakfast, Headmistress McGonagall stood up to make an announcement. “All outdoor activities from now on are cancelled. We are to believe the lake is starting to flood. Us teachers are working on this issue currently. A notice will be posted when activities continue.” She sat back down again. Silence followed her speech. “Flooding…?” Said Whitney quietly. “It should be fixed soon, I hope, “ replied Coral quietly. Whitney nodded but then the doors to the Great Hall burst open. The Arithmancy Professor and Professor Sofal hurried inside. “Minerva!” said the Arithmancy Professor, he sounded worrisome. “The lake is going to take forever to stop the flooding! It keeps getting worse and worse!” fretted Professor Sofal. Headmistress McGonagall gave the two teachers stern looks. “How fast is it rising?” She asked. “Quite quickly. I assume it’ll reach the school in one day’s time,” said Professor Sofal. “Lana, teach your students the Bubble-Head Charm, just in case we need it. The walls and doors should hold back the water,” instructed McGonagall to Professor Sofal, who nodded. Whitney and Coral both looked horrified. “I heard the Bubble-Head Charm is kind of complicated,” said Lainey Fariplane, who was sitting across from Whitney and Coral. “And flooding? Hogwarts is flooding?” said Coral, “Why can’t they just do a charm or something and the flooding stops?” “I don’t know if they want to waste all that water, plus there is the gigantic squid and mermaids and stuff that live down there…” Whitney said with a shrug. “That makes sense,” said Lainey thoughtfully. Coral was quiet for a moment. From the Slytherin table, she heard Bella and her friends talking about the same thing. “Who /cares/ about mermaids and squids and whatever? Our lives could be in danger, Lola, I don’t care about freaking sea beasts!” Bella shrieked. “It just a bit of water, Bell,” murmured Lola. Bella screeched, “FLOODS AREN’T JUST A BIT OF WATER, YOU IDIOT!” Whitney must have been listening because she was glaring at the Slytherin table. “Bella is so selfish,” she said. Coral nodded. Lainey, Whitney, and Coral all left the Great Hall to go to their first class, Charms. Professor Sofal looked worried and anxious when the class was settled. Today, they were with the Slytherins instead of only Hufflepuffs. “Hello, class,” she said, “today, instead of working of Hovering Charms, we’ll be doing Bubble-Head Charms….” Coral and Whitney exchanged a glance. “Er—this is if you must go outside for any reason, you are required to use a Bubble-Head Charm. Don’t ask why, that’s just what I was told to tell you…” continued Professor Sofal, “the Bubble-Head Charm is complicated and taught in the sixth or seventh year. I have hope that you first years will be able to understand it.” Lainey was rapidly writing down notes. “Repeat after me—Sanuspirantes,” said Professor Sofal. “Sanuspirantes,” echoed the class. “The Bubble-Head Charm is used to provide clean air as long as the bubble around your head does not pop, which it is quite easy to pop,” Professor Sofal continued, “Now point your wand at your head and say ‘Sanuspirantes’.” Coral watched Whitney and Lainey do theirs first. Lainey said, “Sanuspirantes,” and a bubble—a literal huge bubble—appeared around her head. Whitney did the same. Coral pointed her wand at her face and said, “ Sanuspirantes,” Nothing happened. Coral frowned, and Whitney nudged her. "Coral," she whispered, "Flynn is staring at you!" "Drop it, Whitney. I don't care if he's staring at me, I'm serious, " snapped Coral. Whitney scoffed, “You’re weird…” “I’ve seen the way you look at Scorpius,” Coral giggled. “Don’t you go there—“ said Whitney, laughing. Professor Sofal came over to them, “Focus!” She snapped before walking away again. After class, Whitney and Coral went to their next class, which happened to be with the Slytherins again, Potions. Bella stalked over to them, “Coral, come with me for a moment?” She said in a false sweet voice. “Whatever you have to say can be said right here,” Coral said. Bella cast a shrewd look at Flynn, who was standing behind Coral, Whitney, and Lainey. “This is private,” Bella snapped. She grabbed Coral by the arm and dragged her away. “Coral, have you seen the way Flynn looks at you?” She demanded. “No,” Coral lied. Bella narrowed her eyes, “I don’t believe you! You look at him the same way!” “I-I do?” “Yes, idiot!” Bella let go of Coral’s arm and Coral sprinted back to Whitney and Lainey and the other Hufflepuffs. Whitney was about ask what happened when the door opened and the class filed inside. Coral tried to focus on making her potion, but failed. She was thinking about what Bella said. Did she really look at him the same way? And what about the floods? She couldn’t do a Bubble-Head Charm, so what would happen if the water came up to castle?