Young Writers Society

The bells rang, signaling the hour and Alice jumpped, "bloody hell! I'm going to be late for charms!"

She picked up her bag and started to go but Calder gripped her arm, "its Saturday."

She gave him a coy smile, "but its more fun this way isn't it?"

She took off running, she did, in fact, have to go talk to professor Flitwick about her reducto charm, and how she could make it less powerful if she wanted to.

"Alice," Garrets voice was cold, and it stopped her in her tracks.

"Made up your mind yet?"

"Yes, I choose option "c""

"There is no option 'c' its option 'a' or 'b' or not at all. No high way option."

He stepped closer and she gripped her wand, "I beg to differ, you see Alice, I'm not going down without a fight."

Alice whipped her wand out of her cloak and pointed it at his neck, "nor am I, now I suggest you take a step back."

"Or what?"

"Or you'll be in sevear pain Garret," a new voice said.

Kate

It started to get dark but I wasn't ready to go back in yet so I angled my broom towards hogwarts and landed on the roof.

"Here looks as good a place as any," I mumbled before laying on my back, broom in my right hand, and gazing up at the many stars that were just beginning to wink into existance.

"Pretty isn't it?" A tall, presumably seventh year student asked from a section of the roof slghtly to my right.

"What are you doing up here? And how did you get up here..." I stared at him, noting the lack of broom.

"I'm an animagus. Isn't that obvious? Somewhat illegally I'll admit..." The boy grinned and then crawled closer so that I could see he was dressed in Ravenclaw robes and he could see my Slytherin robes. His grin faltered but I was too intrigued to notice.

"Oh wow. What bird?" I asked and after a moment's hesitation he grinned again.

"You just assume I'm a bird? I could be an insect or something good at climbing walls."

"Are you?"

"Nope. I'm a phoenix. Same as my patronus and my name. Well not really. My mother called me Gary but I'm changing it."

"Wow. Can you teach me how to do that?"

"It's really difficult. You look a little young. I only learnt it this year..."

"Please. I'm a fast learner. Please let me try."

"Okay then. You got your wand?" I nodded. "Well put it away. You don't need it. This is a special kind of magic."

Hope that doesn't screw you up, Alice

Adam held his wand steady at Garret. What are you doing! You cant take him.

"You think you can take me, second year," mocked Garret.

"Leave my friend alone," Alice threatened, pushing her wand a little harder. "I still cant tone down my Reducto charm you know."

**Its okay i was just waiting for ANYONE to put themself there**

Garret swallowed hard.

"Ha, not so brave now are you?" Alice teased, all her self control gone.

"If you hurt me-"

"What? You're 'friends' will seek revenge?"

"You'll get detention, or be expelled."

"Fine," Alice said lowering her wand. But she was just messing with him, quickly she whipped her wand to his chest and said, "stupefy!"

I was walking down the hall, humming when I heard Alice shout and a bang. I ran around the corner to see Adam and Alice holding their wands out and Garret in a heap against the wall. I couldn't control myself and I ran to Garret.
"Are you ok Garret?" I asked, holding his hand.
"I'll be fine." He tried to get up but just groaned. I turned to face Alice.
"What did you do to him?" I screamed.
"Why do you care?"
"Answer me!"
"I just used stupefy, but Linds-"
"You could have killed him with that beater you call a wand!" I turned back and held back tears. "Hold in there Garret. I'm going to get Madame Promfy(?)." He looked at me like a poor lost puppy. I didn't know what I was doing. "Actually, I'll take you to her. Think you can make it?"
"With your help I can." He smiled weakly and I laughed. I took his arm and put it around my shoulders and helped him up. I turned to Alice and glared at her.
"You're no better than he was. At least he had a reason."
"Lindsay! Listen to me!"
"I don't want to hear it." I said.

"It was self defence!" Alice shouted, "in a way."

"What do you mean?" Lindsay said as she haulted.

"I mean I was going to see professor Flitwick about figuring out how to control my reducto charm and he comes out of no where and scares the crap outta me!"

"She's right," Adam said, "he was threatening her."

I almost dropped Garret, since I believed them, but he put his face to my ear.
"She's lying." He whispered, I could feel his hot breath on my ear. "I was trying to tell her I wanted to join you guys. I care about you too much to have you hate me. Even if you do like that Sedry kid." I thought he was lying. I knew he was lying. He hated Sedry.

"You're lying." Alice looked satisfied untill she realized I was talking to her.
"What is wrong with you?!" She shouted.
"I could ask you the same thing." I said, almost like a robot. I felt a cold chill go up my spine, it was Garret's hand on my back.
"You're feeling better Garret?"
"I still feel unbalanced, but I can move a bit more."
"That's good. Come on, I still want you checked out.

When Lindsay went around the corner Alice almost slammed her head against the wall. "Sedry's going to kill me. I mean, I barely hurt him! My stupefy is like my weakest spell!" She leaned against the wall and sank to the ground, "If Sedry doesn't kill me, Garret will I'll bet. I wouldn't doubt he didn't know the killing curse."

"And land himself in Azkaban."

"Garret will find a way to get himself out of it, he's clevar enough. I mean, he fooled Lindsay didn't he?" she sighed and leaned her head against the wall, "Sedry's going to hate me, and then Calder's going to hate me." Tears welled up in her eyes and Adam sat next to her.

"Well, even if everyone else hates you, I won't."

"Thank you Adam."

"Of course! I can smell bad stink a mile away. And he's covered in it." How anyone could look past the darkness in Garret's heart was beyond him. With a last goodbye to Allz, Adam wandered back to his dormitory.

Lot's of homework. I need to write that bloody potions essay.

Kate

It was a long, tiring night and by the end of it, I was barely any closer to becoming an animagus.

"How do I make them go away?" I asked when we decided it was time to go to sleep.

"Just reverse the process when you're ready. But first, what animal do you think that is?" I gazed at the claws on my right hand with interest.

"I'm not sure," I replied, quite relieved to see that they were longer and more elegant that a badger's.

"I'm thinking something big and fierce. That would fit a Slytherin," Phoenix grinned.

"Yeah..." I hesitated as I retracted the claws and then smiled across at him. "Thanks by the way."

"No problem. In fact, if you keep practicing what I showed you, you'll be an animagus in no time. It took me almost a week to get that far."

"Well bye then. Perhaps I'll see you around, Phoenix," I climbed onto my broom and waved as I kicked off.

"Bye..."

"Kate," I replied.

Alice walked back to the Griffondor common room, determined to tell at least Calder what really happened before Garret corrupted anyone else.

When she reached the portrait hole she saw Sedry and Calder going in, Lindsay couldn't have gotten to them already.

"Guys!" she shouted, "I have to talk to you!"

They stopped and waited for her, she walked with them to the common room.

"What's up Alice?" Calder asked.

"Garret, scared the crap out of me today and...I stunned him, now Lindsay hates me." SHe looked down shamefully as she spoke and tears started to build up in her eyes. "I didn't even hurt him, my stunning spell has half the power of a normal one and I just wanted him to take a step back so he wasn't towering over me anymore."

She plopped down on a sofa next to Calder and buried her face in his shoulder, "please don't hate me guys, I-I-I can't stand it when people hate me."

Garret and I were in the Hospital Wing getting him checked out.

"You seem fine to me." Madame Pomfry(?) said.
"Want to tell me what happened?" She asked.
"Well this-" Garret started.
"He tripped on the stairs. That's all. I just wanted to make sure he was ok." I said, cutting him off.
"Well that's sweet of you, Lindsay. How is Alice doing?" Garret looked at me and I was scared to answer.
"She's..." Garret shook his head. "I um...haven't talked to her in a while."
"Oh? I thought I saw you two the other day."
"I was giving her back something is all."
"Oh, sorry to hear." She frowned at us.
"Well get to bed you two." She ushered us out. We walked down the hall and Garret stopped me. He put his arms around me and got really close. I started to freak out.
"Thank you so much for standing up for me." He whispered.
"You- you were hurt. Why else would I?"
"I dunno. I thought maybe you decided to like me." He was so close I could feel his breath on my neck.
"Garret. I like Sedry, you know that."
"You sure?" I felt a hold on me snap.
"Yes I'm sure!" I shouted, making him move back, but he was still holding me.

I smiled at Alice. "Your being silly, there is no possible way that i could hate you! I dont care if the world turned against you, ill be right next to you the entire time." I kissed her and said,"I owed you that from this morning, but you left to quick so i didnt have a chance!" she laughed, and became more calm.

After taking a few deep breaths she leaned against Calder, the tears stopping. Calder's comforting arm around her was so safe.

"So did you ever go see professor flitwick?"

She shook her head against his shoulder, "nope, never made it. I guess I'll just have to deal with my reducto as it is."

"Oh dear god," Calder feigned fear.

Alice playfully smacked his shoulder, "be nice, I won't aim it at you."

"Lets hope not, I wouldn't stand a chance."

Alice giggled, "nope."

Adam closed his potions book and stared down at the essay. It looked passable. The uses of Fire Seeds.

The dormitory door opened and some of his fellow second years came in. There were only four of them all together. They ignored Adam as they got ready for bed.

"So I made a few new friends and your all gonna turn on me?" No one answered. "Fine, So much for the Kindness of Hufflepuffs."