A start of a new year
A short afternoon preparing the materials for the Potion's practical left the group time to start looking for yearbooks "We are looking for the 1944 to 45 and 1945 to 46 yearbooks. Look for section on prefects.and house Slytherin." Elizabeth said. If it is not here check the section of your house library. I think we will need to map out this guy's time at the school." Elizabeth said at the four boys. Susan had not made the session but Seamus said he could talk to and have her check her house's books. Theo suggested that he talk to Luna Lovegood and ask if she might check the Ravenclaw books. Their search here stalled as the school did not keep yearbooks. Which Elizabeth nodded and knew there was a skunk in the works. That evening she walked into the common room "Well someone get a mop there is mud in the common room. " voice said. Elizabeth turned to the speaker. It was a first year. A weed thin and topped with darker skin. She looked the girl up and down. "Hey Rose there is a firstee with a need for correction." she says aloud. She walks to the in house library. And sees the yearbooks on hand start in the 1960's to current. The rude child steps over and before she starts. "I would expect you to have some sort of manners. So fair warning. Start anything with me and there will be blood." she not finding anything shrugs and walks off. "You better walk away. Mudblood." the child said. " Astoria Greengrass! " a familiar voice says at the child. "Your only warning. Rude words like that I start taking points." Rose said walking in. "I had to take a lot from your sister last year. And I am sure she told you that it did not help her in anyway." she said walking over to Elizabeth. (edited)
"Tomorrow is a first meeting for the year to prepare for the Halloween Dance. I have your word last year to help." She interrupts. "Rose I was planning on being there as Not because of me giving my word but because this events is important to you . And your a friend. And it sounds like fun. Now where and when?" Elizabeth says to her friend. They walk off ignoring the Greengrass girls.
Classes the next day was Transfiguration and McGonagall led the class into Changing one metal into another. Tin turned to Iron. The act had a more than a few explosions. Seamus did the same as her with a first time success. Dean had the first trip to the medical wing for the class.
After lunch it is Herbology. Marlene is a capable teacher sets a good platform for the students to get feedback. And the growth of the Bloodwart begins. It is a plant used in the blood replenishment potion. Neville was doing a great job leading the group here. He seemed certain of his work. So Elizabeth used his steps.
That evening the group sat and status of where they were was read out. The planning for this started a couple weeks after Yule last year The Head Cook a house Elf spoke on the topic of what had been selected and confirmed that the needs would not be a draw on the school supply. This way things would go well. A band had been contracted with the help of Professor McGonagall The Weasley Twins were doing the fireworks. And Angelina Johnson agreed to run the Broadsheet that passed for a school paper. But the dance needed to let Colin Creevy go about and get pictures. And agreed he could also be hired to snap pictures of couple who wanted a picture to remember the night. For a fee. Because Great Hall would be busy on the actual date of the holiday. The dance would be on the 30th. Which was a Saturday so folks could be up a little later and not worry about missing classes the next day.
Defense was the next day. Because they had the mess that been Lockhart the first class was a quiz. to help find where the class was at from last year. While Dorcas graded the quizzes James put the kids into warm ups for Wand practice. Then after the warm up each student was to show their best spells. The ones they were comfortable wit. A lot of stinging hexes a couple were even wandless cast. Theo with his smirk cast Confringo. A Firebolt that had a few eyes raised. Elizabeth had hung back as the target was looking soot covered and dented. She dropped into the crouch that Dorcas had taught her was a good one to start with. "Espíritu " and cast it quickly four times and then as a finishing move. "Espíritu de Muerte" which even the casting had her stall her moving. The four bolts struck in the chest of the target and only the first did not punch past chest plate. But the last spell put a gallon size hole in the head. She got her feet back in place and smiled. She looked up at her teacher .James shook his head. " You and Nott have been studying some really advanced spells. I suspect your both winded and a bit drawn on your magical core. So we know where we need to work with you both." his voice of a man happy to have a more than stinging hexes as a starting point.
"We need to work on the protection spells and detection ones as well Dorcas. I suspect our two glass cannons there will need work on the protection end as I suspect they jump to attack before defense." he said at the woman who had at this point moved up to stand next to James. "Ok Homework. I would like for you to go back over the last three chapters in last years books as the testing shows we should go back over that material. But I also would suggest looking into this years book say the first three as well. Mostly to prepare what questions we will be asking you." James said. "I have ten copies of last year's books. Not that 'stuff' Lockhart was 'teaching' But I ask of those taking the copies share them . So till Friday have a good time." he says dismissing the class. Theo asked if she needed the book. She looked at him. " I have the copy they are working with as I bough all seven years of the Defense textbooks." seeing at him wondering why. "If the teacher changed the text I had both books to refer to for information and possible spells. without them being the wiser."
After Lunch Arithmancy. Lupin seemed happy. He was filling a role he had wanted. They discussed theory and Lupin showed practical uses. She was among the last out. "This is a one of the uncasted types of magic." she says aloud.Lupin smiled at her comments and set about laying out for the class tomorrow.
The preparation for Friday was done. And Thursday was her first runes class. It was a mixed bag. reading the runes was simple. Why the runes were in the order they were in was the confusing part. Professor Babble was ready for Elizabeth both from the girl herself and McGonagall had warned about the girl having that talent for languages. Which might confound the regular methods. Both student and teacher looked forward to the further lessons. (edited)
She took dinner in the great Hall as she was having a meeting with the work teams. Snape walked to the table and talked to an older boy. Who got up. A few eyes came up as snape lead the boy out of the room. "Who?" Elizabeth asks. "Darrin Avery. He is a sixth year." Rose said. That evening Avery was seen packing an overnight bag amd moving to meet with Dumbledore and Snape at the entrance. After they were gone it was quick spread about the common room that Avery's Father had been injured and the family needed him home for a while.