a letter from home

Sage woke up the next morning, she changed into her robe, gathered her stuff for classes, and made her way to the great hall. As she took a seat with Dean and Seamus she quickly learned Harry and Ron weren't on speaking terms and now Seamus and Ron were these new best friends. Seamus was chatting quietly with Dean and Ron.

Sage looked over at Harry who was on the other side of her, "How are you?" She asked.

Harry sighed "I'm fine," he said quietly, "Just really nervous I guess,"

Sage nodded slowly and grabbed some breakfast. She ate silently, listening to conversations around her.

Before she knew it, it was time for her first class, charms. She walked to Defense against the dark arts, which was taught by Professor Moody. Sage took a seat next to Neville Longbottom, who was her desk mate.

"Hello students," Moody introduced as everyone's quiet chatters died down. "The ministry thinks your too young to learn the unforgivable curses. I say different, you need to know! So who knows an unforgivable curse,"

Ron raised his hand and Moody pointed to him "Well there's the imperious curse, my dad told me about that," Ron answered.

"Yes your father would know a lot about the curse," Moody said, "Imperio!" Suddenly a spider lifted into the air. Moody moved it around the room, scaring students, others laughing. "Quite fun right? What else?" The spider landed back on the front table.

Neville raised his hand hesitantly. "Longbottom is it?" Moody asked.

Neville nodded, "Well there the..." Neville trailed off "Cruciatus curse,"

"Yes brilliant! The torture curse," Moody explained. Sage watched intently "Come up here!" Neville stood from his seat and walked over to the front table. "Crucio!"

Sage watched as the spider moved in pain, Neville's face was scarred and upset, he winced at the spell. "Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him! Stop it!" Hermione shrieked.

Moody stopped and took the spider over to Hermione "Miss Granger, care to name the last one?" Moody asked. Hermione shook her head. "Avada Kedarva!" The spider died.

"The killing curse. Only one person has been known to survive it," Moody explained, "He's in this very room," everyone's eyes turned to Harry.

The rest of the class learned a bit more about the unforgivable curses. Soon Moody released them. Neville's head was down as Sage left the room with him. He happened to stop but Sage thought to leave him to his thoughts.

She knew about his parents, why it bothered him, but she didn't wanna make it worse by bringing it up. Her dad always said the Longbottoms had fate worse than death; insanity.

The rest of the day went by in a breeze; before Sage knew it she was on her way to the library to meet with Draco.

He was already sitting at a table again as Sage approached him "Hey," she said softly.

"Hello," Draco greeted.

Sage pulled the chair out and took a seat. "Let's get started," Sage said.

Draco nodded and got some of his homework out. Sage explained it and watched him work on it. "So," Draco said.

"So what?" Sage questioned.

"Defense against the dark arts was interesting?" Draco stated.

Sage sighed and shook her head "Poor Neville," Sage mumbled, "We shouldn't be learning that. I mean we're fourteen,"

Draco shrugged "You know Moody's a bit uh well-" Draco started.

"Insane?" Sage questioned.

Draco nodded "Yeah insane," he mumbled. "Potter got picked for the tournament eh? Your friends right? What do you think of that?"

Sage looked at Draco, his gray eyes sparkling, "Uh, honestly I don't think he put his name in there. To be completely honest I think someone here at school did,"

"What are you going at Lupin?" Draco asked.

Sage looked down at her hands "Nothing. It's all just a misunderstanding," Sage said quickly "That's it for today,"

Sage quickly gathered her stuff and left before Draco could say another word. She walked to her dormitory and set her stuff down, seeing a letter on her bed.

She picked it up and began to read;

My dearest Sage,

I miss you back home, I hope you're having a good time. How is everything? School and all? Well, I've decided to write for that I'm your father and about Harry.

I heard Harry was chosen for the tournament. Do you know anything suspicious that might've happened to make him get chosen? Sirius is worried about him as am I.

Anyways, I love you.

Yours truly,
Dad

Sage sighed at her letter. Harry this. Harry that. Always Harry. She shrugged it off and grabbed a quill and piece of parchment from her bag. She dipped her quill in ink and wrote:

Dear Dad,

I miss you too. It's been a pretty great time, classes are going quite easy right now. McGonagall wanted me to tutor Draco, so I've been doing. It's definitely weird speaking more than 3 words to him a week. But never mind that.

I think Harry is just shaken up, I mean he's competing against several other older kids. But I think he'll be fine. He's smart. I haven't seen anything suspicious.

But there was an odd Defense Against the Dark Arts class today... we learned about unforgivable curses. Moody's acting crazier than usual.

Sage M. Lupin

Sage sighed and gave the letter to her owl as she opened the window and the owl flew out. Sage smiled as she made her way to the great hall for dinner. "Lupin!" The familiar voice called behind her.

Sage turned around to see Cedric Diggory. "Cedric?" Sage questioned, stopping in her tracks to see the mildly attractive boy. "What's up?"

Cedric stopped in front of the girl, "Look, I know this is pretty messed up to ask," he said, "But did Harry put his name in? I know you two are friends, and I wanna know if he found a way to well... cheat,"

Sage sighed "I don't know Cedric, but I doubt it. If you really wanna know talk to him, not me," Sage answered. "I'll see you around Diggory,"

She stepped into the great hall, leaving the Hufflepuff boy behind. She walked over to the Gryffindor table and took a seat with Seamus and Dean. "Hello boys," she greeted.

"Hey Sage," Dean said. Seamus stayed quiet as Sage arrived.

"You know Seamus, the silent treatment is fine," she said, "How're you gonna get homework answers then,"

Seamus stared at her as Dean broke out in laughter. "Fine," Seamus agreed. "I don't need to be blowing myself up again in potions, or charms,"

"Or every other class," Dean teased as a smile formed on his face.

Sage was bad at potions, but not bad enough to blow herself up every other week. The trio gulped down their dinner, talking whilst they do it.

Harry and Ron still not speaking a word to each other, so Hermione was doing most of the talking, which was unusual.

A/N:
I finished this right before school started. I don't know how fast the chapter will be coming out now. Bare with me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope to finish act 1 by at least the end end of November.