Partner Assignments
Chapter Two - Partner Assignments
September 1st, 1978
It was pouring when they arrived at Hogwarts. Though not an unusual thing this time of year it was still annoying. The horseless carriages didn’t have roofs so the students practically sat in puddles as they drove up the dark winding road to Hogwarts.
Josephine’s carriage was full of second years. Why? She had no idea. It wasn’t particularly annoying or anything but, it really highlighted the fact that she had no other friends to sit with. Every other year at Hogwarts Josie was fine with having no friends in her year. She enjoyed being alone most of the time anyways and in social situations she could just sit with James and his friends. They seemed to like her enough.
Now James was gone and so were his friends. Which meant she had no one to sit with at meals and no one to go to parties with. That was fine. Her NEWTS would most likely take up most of her time anyhow and if she got anxious about having to go somewhere alone she just wouldn’t go. Not the most practical solution but it would work.
The sorting ceremony was short. Many parents hadn’t sent their kids this year because of the war. The majority of the kids that are first years this year are sorted into Slytherin which was no surprise. Maybe that’s why there are so many Slytherin Prefects.
Gideon and Josie only have five new Gryffindor students. Two girls and three boys. “Do you guys play quidditch? My dad tells me the Gryffindor team has always been the best in the school!” asked a small sandy haired boy. His eyes were bright with amazement as they walked up the moving staircases.
“Hell yeah we do! She’s the captain!” said Gideon quite loudly while pointing at Josie.
The small boy's eyes widened, “really!”
“What’s your name?” asked a girl with wildly curly hair who had also been sorted into Gryffindor.
“Josephine Sharpe, what’s your’s?” said Josie, smiling. She didn’t miss the shocked expression that spread across the small girl's face.
“Sharpe? My dad told me about you,” said the boy again.
“Yeah, what did he say?”
“Nothing! Just he knew- he knew you’re mom he said.”
“Who’s your dad?” asked Josie. It was no secret that people knew who her mother was. May Sharpe had had a strong reputation.
“Rudolf Brand!” the boy smiled proudly.
“Rudolf Brand!” exclaimed Gideon from behind Josie. “As in the Rudolf Brand? Heidelberg Harriers Captain Rudolf Brand? Married to Gwendalyn Morgan - the best chaser on the Holyhead Harpies? That Rudolf Brand? Merlin, if he's your dad that means Gwendalyn Morgan is your mum!”
“Yep, I’m William Brand! But people call me Billy!”
“Holy shit,” said Gideon.
“Gideon-”
“Shit- Josie, this kid is gonna be amazing! You should just give him a spot on the team.”
“First years never make their house teams,” said the small girl.
“Regulus Black did,” said Gideon, “I’m sure you could make the team.”
“You haven't even seen him on a broom,” Josie said.
“I’m Demelza Robins,” said the curly headed girl to Billy.
Josie smiled as the two immediately started bickering about first years making the house teams. After bringing the first years to their dorms all seventh years had to report back to the Great Hall to find out their N.E.W.T.s partners and their schedules.
Josie and Gideon walked quietly down to the Great Hall. The other Gryffindor’s in their year would most likely already be there. McGonagall stood at the podium. Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen. Next to her stood the Carrow Twins who looked quite funny. Amycus had his shoulders pulled back in such a way that it had to be uncomfortable and Alecto had her stockings pulled up as high as they could go. McGonagall seemed stressed. Josephine was under the impression that Dumbledore would be the one telling them their partners. Though, he was most likely at an Order meeting.
“Attention, please,” said Professor McGonagall, her voice instantly silencing the group. “As I’m sure you are all aware you will be completing your N.E.W.T.s this year in pairs. The person you are assigned to is non-negotiable. You may not ask for a different partner. When I call you and your partner’s names please come up and get your timetables from the Carrows.”
The room was alive with nerves. Josie didn’t know who she wanted for her partner. She didn’t have anyone that would want to be her partner either. Looking around she could see all of the friend groups clustered together in hopes that they’d get one of their friends. Within everyone of them one wished desperately not to be the odd man out.
McGonagall had begun reading names. After each one there was either a groan or a cheer indicating whether the people would be happy to work together. Josie knew that McGonagall had probably tried her hardest to put people with whom they’d enjoy working with, though she would never admit to it.
“Paisley Parkinson and Gideon Prewett.”
Gideon, who was sitting on top of the Gryffindor Table surrounded by his friends groaned as he stood to collect his times table.
Parkinson seemed mildly annoyed by the match-up but didn’t make any complaints as she got her times table from Alecto. The rest of the Slytherins seemed to care however, booing as Gideon walked by them. To which he promptly flipped them off.
“Josephine Sharpe and Regulus Black.”
Josie didn’t have any external reaction but internally her heart sank to her feet. It wasn’t that Regulus Black would be a pain, he was very smart, it was the things that she had heard from Sirius that deterred her from him. ‘My brother… he was…is a coward. Just wants to make mummy proud. Probably within the inner workings of you-know-who’s master plan.’ Josie hadn’t interacted with Regulus Black since her 5th year. She had been walking with Sirius and Remus to Hogsmeade, they had felt bad she had no plans, when Regulus approached his brother. The two only talked briefly before Regulus had asked if he could speak to Josie, privately. Sirius had said no for her before Josie had had a chance to reply and they continued their walkthrough Hogsmeade Village.
Regulus didn’t have any external reaction either. He made his way silently to the podium and snatched his time table from snickering Amycus Carrow. Josie grabbed her timetable as well, Alecto seemed to hold onto it a little longer than she needed too.
Student Name: Josephine May Sharpe House: Gryffindor Year: 7 (Prefect)
Period One ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall
Period Two ~ N.E.W.T.s Level History of Magic, Professor Binns
Period Three ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Alchemy, Professor Rubedo
Period Four ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Potions, Professor Slughorn
Period Five ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Charms, Professor Flitwick
Period Six ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Herbology, Professor Sprout
Period Seven ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Merrythought
Period Eight ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Arithmancy, Professor Vector
Period Nine ~ N.E.W.T.s Level Astronomy, Professor Sinstra
Of course Regulus Black was also taking all N.E.W.T.s level classes. Most of the other students in their year had opted for only five or six N.E.W.T.s and a couple free periods or random extra curricular classes. Josie assumed that his mother was behind it.
From what she knew from Sirius she was strict and from what Sirius didn’t tell her, Josie knew she was abusive. Josephine didn’t really know what to do now. Should she talk to him about being partners or wait until Monday during their first class.
She decided on the ladder, taking her schedule and walking out of the Great Hall. If Regulus was concerned with their partnership he could follow her.
He didn’t.