Effie Edgemore

The misty morning air was giving way to a clear Spring day at Hogwarts Castle. The dew on the grass in the Transfiguration Courtyard sparked in the rays of sunshine peeking through the towers to the East. A house elf silently scrubbed a small part of the wall in the corner. Students lingered under the overhang and by the fountain, chatting amongst themselves in the minutes before class began. The courtyard was alive with the sound of dragonflies buzzing the hedges, the laughter of students, and then suddenly 'ooh's and 'ahh's as a hippogriff passed lower over the castle. An enchanted bell rose into the air by the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower. It dinged diligently for a few moments, signalling that classes were about to begin. The dinging turned to chirping at the end, and the bell suddenly transformed into a tiny finch hovering in the air. It promptly flew down under the overhang and into Transfiguration class as students opened the door. Other students walked towards the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower. A couple of relaxed looking upperclassmen stayed behind, enjoying their free period. The yard began to grow quieter when the doors to the great hall swung open. Effie Edgemore rushed her way through the courtyard while holding a stack of books against her chest. Another book curiously levitated in front of her as she walked, and a quill was writing in it. Effie was muttering something to herself- answers to last night's homework- in a small, worried voice as the quill transcribed her words. "Line 37, muggles afflicted with the Sang Sanctum curse turn into... boggarts, no, vampires..." Another student nearly collided with her as she carelessly rushed through the doors. Peeve's wicked laughter echoed through the halls as Effie skipped up the stairs two at a time to make it to class. She was huffing and puffing more than any Hufflepuff when she finally made it to the door. Professor Hecat greeted Effie with her usual practiced and professional kindness. "Good morning, miss Edgemore." Hecat eyed the student's levitating notebook. "I take it that is your homework?" Before Effie could nod, the professor plucked a sheet from the notebook with the flick of her wand and the page slide into stack on her desk. Effie sat down in her usual spot next to Cressida. While restraining a grim look, Effie smiled to Cressida as she slid her chair into place. Cressida raised her eyebrow. "Not finished?" Cressida asked. Effie whispered back, "No. But at least I made it to question 37." Professor Hecat began her lecture and her third year class sat through as best they could. At the end even Effie was daydreaming. Cressida gave her a nudge. "Effie... hello? Did someone petrify you?" She laughed as Effie turned. "Come on, Lucan said he'd let me try his new Yew broomstick out on the Quad." Together, they made their way out of the Dark Arts tower, through the Transfiguration Courtyard, across the Viaduct path, and finally out to the Quad. Lucan and another student were discussing something at a bench. Cressida called out to them and joined their discussion. Effie 'ooh'ed as Lucan brought out his fresh Yew broom and began boasting of its speed. She noticed the student next to Lucan was someone she hadn't met, or at least didn't know well. During a break in Lucan's story, she introduced herself to the stranger. "Uh, pleasure to meet you. I'm Effie, by the way."