PREPARATIONS AND A FIGHT
Chapter 3
The leaders had been selected and I was one of them! The days that followed were pleasant but somewhat despairing. You might ask why. Well, things weren't too good between Eddie, Marley and me. Marley was terribly jealous of us and we were angry that she wasn't supporting us! This resulted in a big fight. Marley used to keep away from us and we used to ignore her whenever we could. Alora was great though. She helped us build our confidence and our leadership abilities.
And as for our classes, the whole school was learning the toughest spells you could ever imagine! The fifth and sixth years were being taught to do spells without chanting them. It was great fun, but the professors kept our noses to the grindstone!
One day, when the other leaders and I were practicing some spells in the grounds, McGonagall came rushing down with the other professors. We looked at them, perplexed, wondering what they had come for. Professor Penrose said, "Give us a minute leaders." and with that, the professors stood in a formation and began setting protective spells. Not the the flimsy ones of Eleanor, but the tough ones that were extra- protective. "Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, Repello Inimicum" were the spells muttered by the teachers. We gazed at them in awe and admiration as they played their first part of protecting Hogwarts. When they were done, they smiled at each other and went back to their offices.
We practiced our charms for an hour and went for a short break. Eddie and I returned to the Ravenclaw common room, where we described how the teachers set the spells. Our house- mates listened with rapt attention. Only Marley had her nose buried in a book. When we finished, she slammed her book shut and spoke dangerously, "Well, if you have finished your tittle-tattling, leaders, then please keep quiet and let me finish my reading, tell-tales!" she paused for breath. There was a tense atmosphere in the room. All the kids kept looking back and forth at Marley and me.
I was sizzling with anger. How dare Marley called me a tell- tale?! I yelled back at her, "Who are you calling a tell- tale Marley? Yourself? No, that's a wrong word for you. It should be JEALOUS! How can you talk to us like that?! We, we were your friends! And now, you're calling us a tell- tale?! Go and be jealous for all I care, but remember why you weren't made a leader. Because of your hateful nature!" I stopped and immediately regretted saying that. Marley looked shocked, and raced to the girls' dormitory, sobbing hard. I took a look at Eddie and he was shaking his head.
I gave him a beseeching look and tore after Marley.
