Amethyst Rosewood and The Joys of Independence by Melissa Nichols (bill gates books recommendations .TXT) 📖

more and more groups of friends come from different Houses. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin is dying, and Slytherin is no longer a House of dark magic and purebloods." The Gryffindor Head Boy pronounced. Amy looked around and could already see the changes, see the groups of friends coming from multiple houses, including her own.

"So, what was it that Melinda began? It started with abolishing the House tables. It allows every student to sit at each table alongside friends. This carried over into classrooms so there will be no seating charts in classes on Monday. This was brought about to increase opportunities for students to mingle, to form new friendships devoid of stereotypes." The Ravenclaw Head Girl's enthusiasm was not lost on Amy, even as Amy was pulled into the Head Girl's vibrant array of colors dyed into her hair. How was it possible to get so many colors onto one's head with such clear lines and no muddiness?

"Another change was a school ball to be held near the end of each school year, after exams and Club Rush Week. This way, the ball will unite the school in good cheer without damaging your study time." The Hufflepuff Head Girl was visibly more excited about her piece of the story. The girl practically bounced on her toes.

"The most important change is one hour daily that the whole student body participates in, devoted to games and exercises designed to build friendship, trust, and comradery, as well as get in some physical exercise. This will provide you with a chance to get to know your fellow students, to see them as people rather than students from a rival House, to make new friends and to help each other. And to drive the point home, please change into street clothes for every meeting henceforth. When we are here, we are not the four Houses. We are simply fellow students." The Gryffindor Head Girl spoke sternly, like what she had to say was more important.

"That is why we are here today, Monday through Sunday from nine o'clock to ten. Now, since today is the first day, we will introduce ourselves to our peers with our names, Houses and years. Tomorrow, the games begin." The Ravenclaw Head Boy gestured to the end of the line, seeming to hand the torch back to the Gryffindor Head Girl, who stood at the head.

"I'm Rimelda Shackleys, seventh year Gryffindor."

"Ravenclaw seventh-year, Georgia MacIntosh."

"Jennie Joan, seventh year Hufflepuff."

"Slytherin Jefferson MacDuff, seventh year."

"Charles Armstrong, Gryffindor, seventh year."

"Ravenclaw Eliza Clearwater, seventh year."

"Hufflepuff seventh year, Alexander Ishaan."

"Angelina Zenka, Slytherin, seventh year."

"How are we going to remember all of these names?" Amy whispered to Albus, who sat to her left.

"I have no idea. Just try your best, I guess."

Meanwhile, the circle of students began reciting their names.

 

"Emmaline Jackson, second year Slytherin." A girl pronounced, drawing Amy's attention. She whipped her head to where the voice had come from, searched the faces she saw and found Emmaline. Amy felt her blood run cold and her heart clenched. Things fell into place and she gulped.

 

"Hey, are you alright?" Albus asked quietly. Amy could only find the strength to nod weakly. She breathed slightly when Albus didn't press her.

 

It wasn't long before it was Rose's turn, as first of their group of friends. When it was Amy's turn to introduce herself, she did so with less fervor than she had thought she possessed, and she could see Emmaline smile in a way that had ice running down Amy's spine.

Before Amy knew it, the bells were ringing again just as the last student was finishing her turn.

"Thank you, everyone." Charles spoke up again. "See you tomorrow, and don't forget to come in your street clothes." As one, the student body stood and made their way back to the castle.

 

"Well, that was fun, huh?" Rose asked as Albus drew close to the rest of the group. Amy unconsciously allowed herself to be pushed to the sidelines.

 

"Yeah! I can't wait for tomorrow!" Mary exclaimed.

 

"I can. It reminds me of Gym class." Amy groaned.

 

"Well, that is half of the point. Students before didn't have anything physical to do except walk to classes, and even that stops being enough after a while." Scorpius piped up.

 

"I think it’s going to be great!" Mary exclaimed. "I've read in a book that students play both Muggle and wizarding games from all over the world, based on what they taught the students. Isn't that cool?"

 

"Yes, it is. But what do we do now that School Games is over?"

 

"We can find our classrooms. How about if we split up into Houses and follow our maps to the classrooms as if we were going to class? That way we'll have an idea of where they are on Monday. After that, maybe we can find the library and Hospital Wing." Mary suggested.

 

"Sounds good to me!" Amy chirped, eager to get off the grass and into the safety of the castle where she could hide in the multitude of rooms. Before they could go their separate ways however, a resounding boom above them grabbed their attention. They looked up to see sections of the staircase moving from one platform to another as students walked.

 

"Ah, yes. The Grand Staircase." Rose stated. "You can see why it's so...unique."

 

"More like fascinating." Amy muttered. "I mean, how often do you see a massive staircase that moves on its own?"

 

"Only at Hogwarts." Scorpius muttered, equally transfixed. "Come on. We should get going. Let's do Monday's classes first, and then meet back here for Tuesday's."

 

The group then dispersed. Amy and Mary went up the stairs to the third floor alone and got off on the right-side corridor. They followed the hall, making the forced turn to the left, and then a right. The Charms classroom was the last door on the left. The map glowed green and changed to give a brief rundown on the class.

 

"Third Period Charms, taught by Professor Newman. Oh, how interesting. We're going to have a class with the Deputy Headmistress! And isn't she the Head of Slytherin? I wonder if we'll have a class with Professor McGonagall."

 

"I doubt it. It's not traditional for the headmaster to teach a class. There's simply too much to do."

 

"Wait, what does it mean by Third Period? This is the first class of the day, isn't it?"

 

"We also have Flying Lessons before now. Maybe that's Second Period, and School Games is First Period."

 

"Yeah, that makes sense. But where's Flying Lessons?"

 

"It'd have to be on the Pitch. Hmm. We're supposed to be in our street clothes for Games, but since Flying is an official class, we'd have to change into our robes. Wait, there are changing rooms down there. Maybe we can bring our robes in our bags and change when we get done with Games, that way we're in uniform when Flying starts."

 

"Yeah, that seems like a good plan! We should do that, at least until we find out if the teacher will let us do Flying Lessons in our street clothes."

 

Next, they set their sights on Fourth Period. The pair divided at the Grand Staircase - Amy went up while Mary went down. Along the way, she found Albus and Scorpius. They followed the map back to the Staircase, and up another two flights. They got off on the right, followed the hallway around a couple of corners, and finally stood before the proper door. The map glowed green again and gave the same information as it had for Charms. This class was Defense Against the Dark Arts, taught by Narcissa Malfoy.

 

"Malfoy?" Amy asked, turning to Scorpius. "Isn't that your last name?"

 

"Yeah, it is. Narcissa's my grandmother."

 

"She's a teacher?" Albus looked puzzled.

 

"Apparently. I don't know why no one mentioned it to me before."

 

"Was she at the feast last night?"

 

"No, she wasn't. I would have pointed her out."

 

"Hmm. Well, I'm sure it will be all right. Come on, let's find the next class." Amy tapped her wand on the map.

 

When they got back to the Grand Staircase, Albus and Scorpius split off, while Amy continued underground to the dungeons. Along the way, she met up with Rose. They followed the map down several corridors and finally found the proper door for their classroom. The map changed once more, displaying the basic information. Fifth Period Potions, taught by Professor Mansley who was the Head of Hufflepuff.

 

 

The pair turned and started heading back to the Great Hall, taking a small detour to locate the nearest bathrooms - which were also nearest to the Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms. They then met the other three at the Great Hall and split off again as if going to class on Tuesday.

 

The first class of Tuesday, what was referred to as Sixth Period, was History of Magic on the fifth floor, taught by Professor Axel and Professor Binns. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws shared this class.

 

Seventh Period was on the grounds, Herbology with Professor Longbottom in Greenhouse 1, between the Hufflepuffs and the Gryffindors.

 

Eighth Period Transfiguration, taught by Professor Marble, was on the sixth floor, with the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.

 

Finally, Astronomy for Ninth Period in the Astronomy Tower classroom with every first year. This class was the latest of the daily classes, taking place from four o'clock to five every day.

 

The group reconvened and walked back down to the third floor, where they found the main entrance to the library. They quickly left to locate the hospital wing; they'd have plenty of time to look around the library later.

 

By the time they had found the rooms they were looking for, lunch was around the corner, so they decided to head to the Great Hall for lunch, and then divide to their respective dormitories to collect study supplies. They would spend the four hours between lunch and dinner reading ahead. Tomorrow they would spend the whole day studying. This way, they would be prepared for the first couple days of classes. And with the syllabi in hand already, they could even target the chapters their teachers would cover first.

 

Lunch was an informal affair. There were salads, chicken breasts, various fruits, and vegetables. The enchanted ceiling showed a cloudless day, a bright blue sky, and a blazing sun. As soon as they sat down to eat, Arcane went her own way. Amy reminded her they would be at the library if Arcane wanted to find them again. Arcane didn't come back before lunch was finished, but Amy wasn't worried. Arcane had been paying attention during the tour so Amy was sure she wouldn't get lost. Also, Arcane had to find those paths that only cats could take to navigate the castle; she couldn't do that from Amy's shoulder.

 

The group talked more about their classes, what they were looking forward to and what they weren't. When every plate was empty, Amy split off from the group to head to the common room.

 

Just as she exited the staircase that took her into the dungeons, she heard a cackling laugh and a crash further up the corridor, out of sight. The sound of screams soon followed and two other first years - both Slytherins - came running.

 

"What?" Amy asked as the girls came toward them. "What is it?"

 

The girls, however, didn't answer and continued running. Amy instinctively retrieved her wand as she advanced.

"What's going on?" A voice came from behind them. Amy turned and found Scorpius and Albus running up to her, wands already out.

"I don't know. I just heard crashing and laughter, and then two first year Slytherins came running away from it."

 

The laughter sounded again, followed by another crash. Amy flinched.

 

"Don't worry." Scorpius said. "I've got a pretty good idea of what this is."

 

"You do?" Amy asked. "What?"

 

"I knew things were a bit too quiet. Do you really reckon...?" Albus asked, his voice trailing off.

 

"Yes."

 

"Then don't we need the Bloody Baron?"

 

"Depends on what he's up to."

 

"Who's the Bloody Baron? What are you talking about?" Amy asked.

 

Scorpius and Albus turned toward Amy. "All right. Here's the plan. Albus and I will creep up and distract him with a couple