Fireplaces, Hot Chocolate, and Marshmallows

Chapter #10

After Britney finished cleaning the Great Hall, she hurried down to Herbology, her second class for the day. She was rather upset that she had to miss Charms, her favorite subject, but maybe she shouldn't have thrown that gravy at Pansy? 'No,' she thought. 'It was worth it.'

As she walked in, she noticed earmuffs lying on the table. 'Mandrakes? Didn't Hermione say they had already did these?' she thought to herself, grabbing a purple pair nearby.

After everyone filed in, Professor Sprout appeared and tapped her wand on the table. "Now class, can I have your attention please? The Ministry of Magic has asked me to grow some Mandrakes. As you have all done this before, I think they will be quite satisfied with their health. However, right now, they just need repotting. Go ahead now, earmuffs on! I'll be right back," she said, waddling out of the room.

Everyone put on their earmuffs, and Neville held his hands to his ears to be sure they were on all the way. Pansy pulled her Mandrake up first. "Hey, look!" she said, catching everyone's attention. "It's Britney 'pms'ing!" Some of the Slytherin girls giggled, but all the guys and the Gryffindor girls frowned with disapproval.

Britney smirked. 'I was going to be nice... but now she's asked for it!' She pulled up her Mandrake. "This is Pansy all the time," she said, then squeezing the Mandrake's head. "And this is Pansy 'pms'ing." The Mandrake squealed as loud as it could, and Neville passed out on the floor next to her. Everyone laughed, except for Pansy. Even the Slytherin girls giggled, that is, until Pansy nudged them to stop. Draco laughed so hard that he had to sit down.

Later, in DADA, Britney and Pansy were at it again. Britney raised her hand. "Professor Moody?" she asked.

"Yes, Handley?" he replied.

"How can you tell that a person is a Death Eater? I mean, this is Aefense against the Dark Arts," she said, winking to Draco.

Professor Moody chuckled softly. "Yes, you're right. Well, I really shouldn't be teaching you about such things, but I suppose your question was simple enough. A Death Eater always has the Dark Mark branded on them; usually somewhere on the arm. Why do you ask?"

Britney shrugged her shoulders casually. "Oh, no reason in particular. Just curious, I suppose," she said, glaring at Pansy, who looked very upset.

At lunch, Britney completely ignored Pansy, who was loudly talking about her over at the Slytherin table. She sat in between Ron and Hermione, and just ate her lunch.

"You've been awfully mean to Pansy all morning Brit," Hermione stated.

Britney swallowed her food and said, "She started it."

Hermione scoffed. "Well, that's terribly juvenile."

Britney nodded. "Yeah, well, she deserves it anyways."

Harry and Ron nodded in agreement. Harry commented, "It's about time she got what's coming to her."

Ron added, "What goes around, comes around."

Hermione frowned. "You can be so mean sometimes," she said, getting up and leaving.

Under his breath, Ron said, "As if she's never been mean."

Britney, Harry, and Ron left for Divination right after lunch. When they arrived, Professor Trelawney said, "Since today is the day before Christmas Break, I've decided to let you do crystal balls today. Only for today, mind you."

Britney sighed as she grabbed a crystal ball from the nearest shelf. They had been doing the influence of the constellations for months now, and she was glad for the break.

She sat down next to Harry, and pretended to act professional. "Ah, yes, I think I'm getting something," she mimicked. Harry and Ron snickered. She looked a few tables over to her left, where Pansy sat. Pansy quickly looked away, and it gave her an idea. "I see... me and Draco, together, at the Yule Ball," she said rather loudly. Pansy glanced, but then turned the other direction as if she didn't hear her.

'Good. At least I have her attention,' Britney thought, as Professor Trelawney stalked over to her.

"My, I believe we have a gifted one," she said, pulling her shawl around her.

Behind her, Pansy said, "I see... a body... it's bruised... like it was beaten... it's being carried out of the castle!" She gasped. "It's... it's Britney!"

Britney said dramatically, "What? Let me see..." She leaned over and pretended to see the scene in Pansy's crystal ball, and gasped. "That's you Pansy! I swear, she looks just like you!"

The whole room gathered around. Lavendar looked and said in a wobbly voice, "She's right. It does look just like you Pansy!"

Professor Trelawney moved next to Britney and gazed into the ball. "Yes, my dear, I 'm afraid it's true."

Pansy whined, "But I saw it! It was Britney!"

Professor Trelawney shook her head. "I'm afraid not, dear. She does have a stronger aura than you. She's obviously right."

Luckily, for them, Pansy was not in their next class, Transfiguration. It was one of the easiest classes they'd had all year: turning flobberworms into quills. In fact, it was so easy, that everyone, even Neville, finished with plenty of extra time to talk and relax. That is, until they had to go to Potions, their next class...(to be continued)