BLOODY BUFFOONS!

SEPTEMBER 1992

2nd Year

• • • •

The Weasleys and the Potters rushed across King's Cross Station, hurriedly pushing their trolleys through the train station.

"10:58! Come on! Come on!" Arthur rushed.

"The train will be leaving any moment!" Molly cried.

"Fred, George, Annabelle, Percy you first!" Arthur instructed the redheads, who nodded, running one after the other into the wall.

Annabelle smiled, wheeling her trolley besides the twins, marvelling at how beautiful she forgot the strain and platform was.

"Come on, Love," Fred said, after he, Annabelle and his brothers gave their trunks to the men, "Let's go get a seat." He said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, and leading her onto the train.

***

Annabelle looked out of the window of the moving train, leg bouncing up and down in worry.

"Calm down, Love," Fred said, putting his hand gently on her thigh, stopping her leg movements, "I'm sure they're both fine."

The door to their compartment then opened, and a frustrated Hermione and Cora entered the compartment.

Annabelle stood up, "Did you find them."

"Nope." Hermione huffed, sitting between to George and Ginny.

"Where are they?" Annabelle asked, slumping down in her seat.

Cora - who was sat next to the redhead - looked out of the window, "I think I've found them." She said, everyone following her gaze.

"Merlin's beard!" Hermione exclaimed, as the students rushed up to the window, to see Harry hanging out of Arthur Weasley's flying car, with Ron trying to help him back inside from his seat behind the wheel.

"Those bloody buffoons!" Annabelle cried, watching the scene, wide-eyed.

"Honestly, I don't know why you're surprised." Cora told her.

"Neither do I at this point." The redhead shrugged, letting out a relieved sigh when her brother was pulled safely back into the car by Ron.

"Mum's gonna kill him." George said, as they all sat back down, eyeing the flying car.

"I might just beat her to it." Annabelle muttered, as she and Cora started a game of Exploding Snap.

***

When the boys eventually arrived at the Common Room, Annabelle sure did give them a yelling that Molly Weasley would be proud of, before giving them both a hug and sending a terrified Harry and Ron off to bed.

"I really like both of your new hairstyles, by the way." Annabelle said to Cora and Hermione, when waiting for Herbology to start.

"Thanks." Hermione said with a grin, looking at her less messy locks.

"I think I wanna grow mine out." Cora said, touching her short curls, which now reached just past her face.

"Oh, you should," Annabelle nodded, "You'd look really pretty."

"Really?" Cora asked, smiling.

"Definitely." Both Annabelle and Hermione chorused.

"I think I'm going to cut mine a bit shorter soon." Annabelle muttered, looking at her ginger locks.

"You'd look lovely whatever." The Hufflepuff told her, making Annabelle grin widely at her, and a faint blush sprinkle across both of their cheeks, for different reasons.

Professor Sprout then came in, silencing all chatter, "Morning, everyone! Good morning, everyone!" She smiled.

"Good morning, Professor Sprout!" The second years chorused.

"Welcome to Greenhouse Three, Second Years. Now, gather around, everyone. Today, we are going to repot Mandrakes. Who here can tell me the properties of the Mandrake root? Yes, Miss Granger." Professor Sprout said.

Hermione smiled, "Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used to return those who have been Petrified to their original state. It's also quite dangerous. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it." She explained.

"Excellent! Ten points to Gryffindor!" The teacher awarded, making Gryffindors smile, whilst Draco grimaced, and for Annabelle to give her a congratulatory pat on the shoulder, "Now, as our Mandrakes are still only seedlings their cries won't kill you yet. But they could knock you out for several hours, which is why I have given each of you a pair of earmuffs for auditory protection. So, could you please put them on, right away?" She instructed, all the students quickly doing what they were told, "Quickly! Flaps tight down, and watch me closely. You grasp your Mandrake firmly, you pull it sharply up out of the pot..." She pulled the Mandrake out, the planet letting out a shrill cry, and for the children to put their hands over their ears.

"Aah! Ooh!"

"Got it? And... now you dunk it down into the other pot and pour a little sprinkling of soil to keep him warm." Professor Sprout demonstrated.

"Uhh..." Neville let out, before falling to the floor, unconscious.

"Uh, Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs." Professor Sprout said.

"No, ma'am, he's just fainted." Seamus told her.

"Yes, well, just leave him there," The teacher muttered, "Right! On we go! Plenty of pots to go around. Grasp your Mandrake, and pull it up!"

The students all complied, wincing at the piercing screams that penetrated through their earmuffs, Cora, Hermione and Annabelle looking at each other with grimaces, though they did smirk at the sight of a Mandrake biting Draco's fingers.