Running around... (Lucinda and George)

[Professor George Weasley]

George was furious with himself. He'd gotten so hopelessly sidetracked, talking to the Fat Lady, that he'd completely forgotten about eating in the Great Hall. And with his abysmal school record, he was sure that some of the other teachers would look down upon him for his tardiness. Especially...

Lucius Malfoy. George sneered and ran down the hallway as fast as he could. Maybe if he ran, he'd make it into the Great Hall before the feast started. Messenger bag flopping behind him, George bolted, running up staircases and waving frantically at portraits. The corridors were deserted... great, he was going to be late, and on his second day of work, too...

George kept on running.

[hohum]

Lucinda, cheeks pink from the cold, emerged from the blizzard and into the warm castle. Swinging her broom over shoulder, she headed up the Grand Staircase, tracking snow in her trail. She had just come from a nice broom ride around the Quidditch Pitch. She loved to fly and her father just sent her this new broom, so she had to try it out. Unfortunately, the snow storm raged on to the point where Lucinda couldn’t see anything. She thought she might as well head up to the Gryffindor Tower so she could change and head down to the feast.

She was in the sixth floor by now and was almost halfway dry. Rounding the corner, she didn’t see the figure bounding her way. They collided headlong into each other, sending Lucinda backwards and her broom escaped her hand. It flew in the opposite direction as Lucinda smacked her head against the stone wall. Dazed, she attempted to clear her head and look at the maniac who had just assaulted her.[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George sat up quickly, dazed. He'd just run into something... something small... He gasped. He'd hit a student! Great, exactly what he needed. He panicked for a few seconds before kneeling down in front of her, face flush with embarrassment.

"Hey, are you all right?" George questioned, giving the student a quick glance-over. She appeared all right, although the presence of a broomstick in her hand was a little... suspicious...

"Are you a second year?" George inquired. "Because... first years aren't allowed to have those kinds of things" (meaning the broom) "unless it's approved by the head of house..." George recalled how much of an uproar it was in his third year, when Harry got his broom. He imagined it would be much of the same thing nowadays. "And it's almost time for dinner, anyway. You're gonna want to run."

[hohum]

Lucinda looked up to see a tall figure with shocking red hair. She recognized him instantly as Professor Weasely, the broomstick flying instructor. She would probably get in trouble for having a broom, considering that she was a first year. She was on her way back to Gryffindor Tower anyway. He asked quickly if she was alright, and her suspicions were confirmed as he inquired as to her broomstick.

“I’m fine, Professor,” she said, rubbing the sore spot now imprinted upon her scalp. “As for the broom, I just got it. My dad sent it to me. I can always send it back, I suppose, if it’s a problem.” Lucinda shrugged. She probably wouldn‘t send it back, for she was going to need it for Quidditch Try-Outs. However, she would if she didn‘t make the team.

Professor Weasley suggested that if Lucinda was trying to get to the feast, she had better run. Lucinda laughed. She liked Professor Weasley particularly for his humorous personality. Other teachers would have told her to hurry along or something. Nope, his suggestion was to run.

“I should probably get this illegal contraption back up to the Common Room before I get in more trouble,” she said. Lucinda took out her wand, jinxed the broom, and sent it flying up the stairs. She muttered the Gryffindor password as she heard a confused Fat Lady in the distance. As soon as she knew the broomstick was safe in her trunk, she turned back to Professor Weasley.

“Ready to run?” she asked, smiling.[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George watched, his jaw agape, as the girl jinxed her broom up to the Common Room. All professor-like impulses vanished, and he couldn't help but clap at her display of ability.

"You've got quite a knack for that kind of thing," George noted, smiling widely. He crossed his arms, watching the broom fly up the corridor as if possessed. "That's way beyond first year ability... hopefully you fly a broom as well when you're actually on it." George really did mean it - they needed good blood for the Quidditch team. And George wasn't quiet about being a favortist.

"Just... hide the broom," George offered before his eyes widened again. "Oh great. The Great Hall, eating - come on, little Gryffindor girl, we're gonna be late!" George grabbed by the arm and basically tossed her over the trick stair, while he himself ran around it. "Sorry bout that, but if my watch is right, we have about three minutes to get there and not miss the start of the feast..."

And I don't want to deal with Lucius' smart remarks.

[hohum]

Lucinda never really knew how much she had actually learned from all those lessons in her father's study until she saw the teachers gape at her abilities. This would be one of those times. As the broom went all the way to the Common Room, Professor Weasley just gawked at it. He complimented her on her skills and stated that he hoped she could fly a broom as well she could hex it. Lucinda beamed and then shrugged.

"I suppose I am a good flier," she said, modestly. She didn't like to show herself as someone who was good at everything. "I've had a lot of practice back at home. I'll show you sometime - at try outs? - and you can be the official judge of that."

Professor Weasley seemed amused, but then remembered the feast. He seemed to be in such a rush, which was abnormal for teachers. Lucinda had to admit that Professor Weasley was not an ordinary teacher, but she couldn't help but sense uneasiness out of him.

He grabbed her by the arm and tossed her over a few steps. She noticed that she had avoided the trick step, which was good, because she probably wouldn't have seen it anyway. He apologized and said there were only three minutes left until the feast commenced.

"Why are you in such a rush as not to be late?" Lucinda inquired as she bolted down the stairs along with him. "I mean, you're a teacher. I wouldn't think it made a difference if you were a tad late."[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George could understand why Lucinda was a bit confused. After all, she'd never been in school with a Weasley, and had no reason to believe that their family name was mud. Especially with teachers like Lucius Malfoy running around. Not everyone could be all saintly and kind. Not to mention that the new Deputy Headmistress seemed just as strict as McGonagall had been.

But George couldn't tell a first-year something as ridiculously complex as that.

"Just want to make a good impression," George told her, dashing up another flight of stairs. He was getting jittery; not a good sign. He usually did something really stupid when he was jittery. He bolted past the Fat Lady, who tried to admonish him about acting like such a loon, but he didn't listen. "I'd imagine you'd want to do the same, Miss Chaplin... if Lucius Malfoy is anything like Severus Snape, he'll take points from you for no reason at all. Like being late."

George ran across a corridor, gesturing for Lucinda to follow. "Secret passageway! Come on!"

[hohum]

Professor Weasley seemed to be contemplating on how to best answer the question. This told Lucinda that there was more to the question than a simple answer would cover. Nevertheless, he said he just wanted to make a good impression. It wasn't until he mentioned Lucius Malfoy when it all made sense now.

Her father told her about the Weasleys. They were some of the kindest folk around in the wizarding world. Although they were pure-bloods too, the Malfoy family usually criticized them - especially for being low on money. Lucinda scowled when he said his name. He wasn't the kindest person to the Chaplin's either, giving him more reason to knock off points.

"I bet he's worse that Severus Snape," Lucinda grumbled as he led her into a secret passageway. Lucinda found it funny that Professor Weasley would use a secret passageway, considering he was a teacher and all. But then again, this was George Weasley, co-founder of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Anything was possible with this particular teacher.[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George laughed as Lucinda grumbled about Lucius possibly being worse than Snape. "It's definitely possible," he mused as he ran down a narrow corridor, bowing his head to keep from scraping the roof of it. The passage was obviously designed for short people. "Snape was pretty nasty to me, although he turned out all right in the end. I guess it was just a ruse... I'm not really sure. You'll probably end up studying old Snivelus in one of your classes... tell me what they say about him, I'd like to know -"

George came to a halt at a round room with three doors. George bit his lip. He knew which door led to the floor with the Great Hall... it was buried in the recesses of his brain... if ONLY he had the Marauder's Map, then this would be easier...

But then George smacked himself. He turned to Lucinda. "All right. Go through the door on the right - that leads to the inside of a statue right by the Hogwarts front entrance."

[hohum]

eenThey continued to barrel through the secret passageway, which possessed a low ceiling. Lucinda was forced to duck her head down a bit as she dodged corners, catching up to Professor Weasley. He laughed at her response towards Lucius Malfoy, and agreed with her that he was probably worse than Snape.

"I definitely will, Professor," she said, smiling. She liked his sense of humor and was happy he was amused by all this. "Malfoy, however, is not a fan of my family. Lesson's are not going to be pretty." Professor Weasley halted and Lucinda was able to catch her breath a little. He seemed confused on where to go. He suddenly smacked himself and turned back to Lucinda, directing her onward.

She opened the door and sure enough, she was in the Entrance Hall. She marveled at how well he knew the school and all its secret passageways. She stepped aside and waited for him to come out.[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George was glad that Lucinda trusted his judgement; being smart didn't always mean being trusting. (Exhibit A: Ron's wife Hermione.) George pushed his way into the statue and exited, seeing Lucinda staring, hair a bit frizzy, at him. George nodded at her.

"Now... don't use that to sneak out of class," George said, feeling obliged to say it. But he was grinning widely. It was almost like having Fred back, running through passageways to avoid Filch or Angelina Johnson or Oliver Wood or Hermione Granger or Snape...

A dark shadow clouded George's mind. For a second, he'd had the joy back. But seconds gave way to hours of brooding. He needed to keep that under latch in front of the students, for sure.

"Well... we're here, then, aren't we?" George noted with a sly smile. "So they didn't board up that passageway. That'll be useful..."

[hohum]

Professor Weasley seemed to lapse in memory, and it seemed to be a grim one. Lucinda didn't want to prod, and his next statement was said with sadness. She recalled that he had once had a brother - Fred? Her father had mentioned him once and how he died that night when the Dark Lord returned to the school for an epic battle.

Lucinda felt an old wound reopen at the thought of battles. Her mother had died in a battle with Death Eaters. She was fighting alongside her father that day, and she knew this haunted him to no end. She stood completely still as she recalled this.

She broke her trance and looked back up at Professor Weasley. "Yeah, good thing," she said, absentmindedly. She wanted in some way to comfort him, but how the hell did you comfort a teacher?![/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

George could tell by Lucinda's tone of voice that she'd picked up on his melancholy. He silently cursed before shaking his head.

"Lucinda... I appreciate you trying to comfort me. Five points to Gryffindor for your selflessness, methinks..." George waved his wand and heard the small clink of rubies somewhere off in the distance. Then he put a hand on her shoulder. "Takes a lot to care about something other than yourself."

She's probably in the Order. They always valued those kinds of skills, Fred mused. He then changed the subject as the two of them wandered near the Great Hall. Students were still flooding in.

"Did you sign up for Broom Practice? I don't have a roster, so I'm not... quite sure who I have in my class yet..." George admitted.

[hohum]

Professor Weasley thanked her, for he seemed to realize the difficulty she face when attempting to comfort him. He awarded her five points for being selfless and thinking of others. She shook her head.

"You needn't reward me, Professor," she said sincerely. "It's better to give than receive."

Professor Weasley seemed pleased and mentioned Broomstick Practice. Lucinda doubted she needed Broomstick Practice, for she had been flying since she was little. Still, it would be fun to join his class.

"No, I haven't signed up for it yet," she admitted. "It sounds fun though! I'll go sign up right after the feast, promise." This was exciting - perhaps this would be a good class. She hadn't had any good experiences with her other classes. With Andrea Black, especially.

Lucinda scowled at the thought of that girl. What was wrong with her? It was enough that her friends had to start things, but when she interfered, mayhem broke loose. What was it with the Slytherins and Gryffindors, anyway? There was no real reason for them to hate each other for the sake of what house they were in. There were Aurors from Slytherin, Lucinda knew, and there were also Death Eaters from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. There was no reason why these constant fights must be persued constantly.[/size]

[Professor George Weasley]

"Well... I'm giving points. SOMEONE has to recieve them. You're more perceptive than your age would suggest," George noted before realizing that Lucinda was a bit lost in thought. The mention of flying set of a chain reaction in her brain, obviously.

George then watched her scowl with a bit of a laugh. George could tell that Lucinda was thinking of something particularly irksome by the look on her face.

"Okay, odd scowl," George recognized. "Sorry, didn't realize you aren't that kind of person... not a flyer then? No worries..."