Double Double Toil and Trouble // One //

Chapter Fourteen

We all followed McGonagall all the way to her office. Nott went with us to be a witness to our potential expulsion. The journey to the Transfiguration classroom was long and dreadful. I was sure McGonagall took a scenic route just to torture us. When we finally got there, the five of us gathered in front of her desk while she sat down behind it. Nott stood to the side, leaning on a desk and keeping his smirk strong.

I kept my hands behind my back as McGonagall started her lecture. "I'm disgusted!" None of us could meet her eyes, but we knew good and well she was giving us a hard glare. "Nothing, I repeat, nothing gives a student the right to walk about the school at night!" She stopped to take a breath. She started speaking in a calmer tone. "As punishment for your actions, fifty points will be taken."

My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. "Fifty?" Harry gasped. "Each." She added. I knew Harry was about to blow his top. Not only would that take away the points he earned from the last Quidditch match, but it would surely put Gryffindor in last place for the House Cup. "And to ensure it doesn't happen again, all six of you will receive detention." My head shot up. Six?

"Excuse me, Professor," That's when I remembered that Nott was there too. This made me feel a bit better. "Perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said...the six of us." He was now standing next to Ron. "No, you heard me correct Mr. Nott. See, as honourable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention." We all now had smiles on our faces while Nott gave us all dirty looks.

~

One hundred points from Slytherin was one thing. We would've been in first place for the House Cup without it, but it allowed Ravenclaw to pass us up, keeping us in second. But when we realized that McGonagall was taking fifty points from Nott as well, that very much sent us straight into third, almost tying Gryffindor for last. Nott managed to convince all of the Slytherins that Nat and I had threatened him to sneak out with us.

So, not only did my own house hate me for losing so many points that we were behind Hufflepuff, but the fact that I managed it all in just a few hours. They weren't too pleased with Nat either. They added this to the list of reasons that muggle-borns shouldn't be allowed into Hogwarts.

On top of all of that, Draco started avoiding us. When we tried talking to him, he said something about him not wanting his father to hear about him start losing large amounts of house points because of who he chose to spend his time with.
   
This wasn't any easier for Harry. The morning after McGonagall caught us, I noticed him desperately trying to hide behind Ron and Hermione when we walked into the Great Hall. I probably should have as well, but people were going to see us sooner or later. Large groups of Gryffindors and Slytherins were gathered around the large four hourglasses that kept track of the house points, all confused on why they both had one-hundred-fifty points fewer than what they had the day before. It amazed us how fast the story spread: The Potter Twins, the famous Potter Twins had lost all of those points in one night with a couple of other stupid first years.

    We went from being two of the most popular and admired people at Hogwarts to the most hated in mere hours.

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, however, were quite happy with us. Every time we ran into one of them, they would smile at us and call things like, "Thanks Potters, we owe you one!"

If there's one thing you need to know about Hogwarts, it's to get on your classmates' good sides early, otherwise, all you'll want to do is go home.

    Hermione and Nat, who I found to be the most outgoing people when it came to classes, never raised their hands to answer questions. They just kept their heads down and focused on their work.