Chapter 707 - Rachel Grimond Ⅴ

Seeing all the upper years expectantly staring at him, Slughorn proudly continues, "The first and a portion of the second-year transfer students will be assigned to the fifth years. Naturally, our fifth-year Prefect's and Head Boy are exempt," to the audible relief of Severus, Rowan, and Head Boy Darcy Travers.

Without any concern whatsoever, Slughorn begins to call out names.

Rowan tones out the names until she hears, "Crowley, Quyen and Grimond, Rachel."

Rowan makes a startled face, before glancing over at Quyen. Ever since Quyen Crowley had begun to date Pettigrew, the girl had become nicer. In retrospect, Quyen was probably a good match. A pureblood of good standing and would see to it that Rachel Grimond properly dressed and spoke from now on. And strangely enough, given Rachel Grimond's sullen manner, Rowan had the feeling that Quyen Crowley might be a good match. Who would have ever thought?

After some time, all of the assigned transfers on the list are finished being assigned. There had been more than a few older students, who had not even been given the option to be a mentor. It was all for a very good reason as said individuals were not suitable at all to be mentors such as Hortense Sicca and Gertrude Fowl.

However, to be perfectly honest, Rowan was most worried about Terry's protégé, Jeremy Heskel, (a young werewolf and his family, who had been adopted by an old werewolf by the name of Heskel). She wasn't the only one as Silvia was staring at her betrothed with a pointed stare.

Glaring back rather indignant at their accusing stares, Terry stoutly defends himself. "I do have younger cousins, you know! Really, people!" He crossly puffed before folding his arms over his chest and turned his nose up at them. He was rather irked by his friend's lack of belief in him. He had only toyed with a younger student just once! Fine, maybe, more than once, but he hadn't damaged the boy!

Still, everyone's expressions read as "That's exactly what we're afraid of. You're going to corrupt the poor innocent child." In all fairness, they were Slytherins. Slytherins weren't exactly known for being incorruptible…. even Rowan couldn't argue otherwise.

But before Terry can protest his indignation at his friend's accusatory gaze, Professor Slughorn begins reading down the list for the sixth, and the seventh years. The sixth year's list has the remaining second years and a portion of the third years with the seven-year list be the shortest with the remaining third years. Still, both lists were a sizeable size, and a good portion of sixth and seventh years had a protégé.

With a satisfied expression, Professor Slughorn says, "Well, that is all children. Now off to bed you go. Tomorrow, I expect all of you to properly introduce yourselves to your partners. Our two Prefect Prince's, and Head Boy Travers will naturally inform each student of their mentors."

Rowan, Severus, and Darcy Traver's expressions all darken. While everyone heads off to bed, Rowan, Severus, and Head Boy Travers all collect a list from Professor Slughorn. By default, Head Boy Travers grabs the seventh-year list leaving Rowan and Severus to fiercely battle for the sixth-year list as it was shorter than the fifth-year list. In the end, Rowan wins the fierce rock, paper, and scissors battle.

With a satisfied smirk, Rowan retreats with the sixth-year list leaving Severus grumbling as he takes the fifth-year list and heads off to bed as well. At least that was one less problem off her back, Rowan thought to herself, before going straight to sleep. It wasn't her turn to do patrol, and she wasn't going to get a full night's rest!

Though Rowan would have to find the time to meet with the golden foursome, Regulus Black, Dirk Cresswell, Leticia Bones & Barty Crouch. She'd have a word with them and ask that they keep an eye out for bullying their respective houses. Even with the mentoring system in place that surely would not dissuade the worst of bullies and those were the ones that concerned her the most.

During the Halloween feast, Rowan had overheard Mason Cauldwell, a sixth year, the parent or relation to the yet unborn Owen Cauldwell murmur something about putting up garlic wreaths in the Hufflepuff boy dorms. She had the strong inkling that it was a direct jibe at Lorcan, but very few students should suspect that Lorcan is half-vampire since despite being rather PALE, he didn't have other visible vampire characteristics. (Seriously, there are plenty of purebloods at Hogwarts that are VERY PALE!)

Rowan could only conclude that one of the transfer students must have let it slip out and the Hufflepuffs being the chatty bunch that they are spread the news among them. She hadn't seen other house members give Lorcan much of a glance. So even if the rumors were about Hogwarts not many believed them considering who Lorcan's friends and roommates were. Who knew that having Gilderoy Lockhart would be the best possible alibi? Apparently, even the Hufflepuff's found Lockhart extremely chatty, and if that didn't say something nothing else would.

However, Rowan knew that these types of things tended to escalate she knew from experience. It started with cruel teasing, pointed jabs, and then intensified to physical shoves and tripping only to end up with physical attacks. And with the wizarding world being the way that it was she did not have much confidence at all regarding the treatment of those viewed differently by the members of wizarding society.

Letting out a rather loud sigh, Rowan retreated up the dorm stairs towards the girl's side. Her plans and any idea she might have will have to wait until tomorrow as she knew she was barely running on fumes as it was. Though she did idly wonder how Professor Babbling was going to go about convincing Gryffindor of being mentors. Well, that wasn't her problem.

Elsewhere, in the Gryffindor Tower, the Head of Gryffindor, Professor Babbling is hearing many more protests from her older years, but she will have none of it. Rather she cunningly says, "The Slytherins are implementing it and in fact Professor Slughorn himself even suggested. But I never thought to see the day, where a Gryffindor dared not attempt a feat, while the Slytherins did."

There are cries of outrage and protests as they shout out, "We're just as good as those slimy snakes!" More voices clamored up and eagerly rose to the challenge.

James Potter watched in astonishment and a bit of approval at the clever manipulation of their new Head of House, Professor Babbling. He'd like to protest otherwise, but sometimes that was the only way to about with Gryffindors. That and he had to admit that it wasn't a bad idea either as the Gryffindor common room had never been so cramped as this year.

With a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes, Professor Babbling firmly says, "Good, then I shall begin to announce the pairings."

Much like Slytherin, Gryffindor had the second-largest amount of transfer students. However, it was still much less by a large margin when in comparison to Slytherin. On the other hand, Lupin, and Lily looked like they were going to cry tears of joy at the announcement. Hopefully, this would aid them in keeping the rest of the students in check. Either way, at least the Gryffindor Prefects were thrilled at the announcement.