Friday, October 14, 1994

Fourth Floor: Luna's Project Room

Jessica Collins, POV

I have to say. Hermione and I really did a number on this room. After Percival and Luna left, Hermione and I stayed back. We finished tidying the room and cleaning up the mess all over the desks. Then Hermione spotted that some of the books were not arranged properly, so she begged me to stay and help her.

We arranged the books on the bookshelf in alphabetical order by the surnames of the authors. She then saw the journals were just lying around, so we burned the midnight oil to arrange the journals in chronological order. How did we arrange it in chronological order, you might be wondering? As brilliant as Pandora Lovegood was, she was equally egotistical, I would say. She signed off all the pages with a timestamp and signature.

Sometimes, I really do hate her. She could be so... so hard-headed, stubborn, and downright annoying. But I know it comes from a good place. She and Harriet Potter had a falling out recently, which I heavily attribute to how extra annoying she was, but they've made up now. And I really hate... hate is not right. It's a bit too strong for my liking in this situation. I despise both of them.

Hermione had told Harriet about Luna's project, and Luna is currently in my arms, upset. Harriet was constantly trying to ask Luna questions. I am at the tipping point. Someone please!!! Shut this girl up!

"For the love of God, will the actual 'F' please?" Sarah shouted abruptly. That stunned the room into silence. "Finally, some silence."

The bushy-haired girl and the girl who lived looked at Sarah as if they saw a ghost. I gave the handmaiden an incredulous stare, while Pricilla gave a wry smile. I was disappointed at her outburst, and yet I was relieved that the two younger girls were now quiet. And here she goes again.

"I didn't know you could speak English? Why were you ignoring my questions when you clearly understood me? Can you speak any other languages?" Harriet asked.

"Please be quiet," Sarah said, struggling to keep her calm. "Speak once more, and I'll make sure you can't speak ever again."

"Sarah, c'est assez! Je pense que les jeunes filles ont appris leur leçon. Je souhaite aussi qu'elles cessent de parler tant, mais votre dernier commentaire était inutile," Fleur said. {Sarah, that's enough! I think the young girl has learnt her lesson. I also wish they would stop talking so much, but your last comment was unnecessary.}

"Pardonnez-moi, ma dame. Je ne m'y risquerais plus à nouveau," the handmaiden replied. {Forgive me, my lady. I wouldn't do it again.}

"Cesse de plaisanter. Nous savons tous les deux que tu le referas à chaque fois que quelqu'un te fera enrager," Fleur said as they both started chuckling. {Stop joking. We both know you'll do it again every time someone makes you mad.}

"Comment s'est déroulée cette excursion, ma dame? Était-elle à la hauteur de vos attentes?" Sarah asked. {How did this excursion go, my lady? Did it live up to your expectations?}

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"Ça a dépassé mes attentes. Je dirais même que j'ai été surpris...," Fleur replied. {It exceeded my expectations. I would even say that I was surprised...}

"Can you speak English?" Harriet said abruptly. "You are in England, after all, so you should speak our language. Not whatever you speak."

"Quelle sale petite cochonne sans culture. Elle devrait vraiment apprendre à se taire," Sarah said. {What a little uncultured swine. She should really learn to shut up.}

"Ugh, forgeiners."

"Calme-toi, Sarah. Ne fais rien de stupide," Fleur said, trying to hold back her friend. {Calm down, Sarah. Don't do anything stupid.}

"Listen here, you little dip-shit. I understand that your little, pea sized bird brain can't comprehend being able to speak more than one language that you can't understand. I find it easier to speak French, rather than your half-ass mashup of a multitude of languages. If I were speaking to you, I'd speak in a way that can get my message drilled across your forehead and actually stay in your head."

"Ladies, ladies, calm down. We don't want to go at each other's throats. Sarah, I suggest you tone it down a little. Little Miss Potter, over here, could have one word with the right people, and the Dalcoures would have a hard time retaining your services," Percy said to Sarah before turning to Harriet. "As for you, learn some fucking manners. Because one day, I swear to Morgana's saggy tits, you're going to rub someone the wrong way, and they're not going to be afraid of taking your parents place and disciplining you. Now make up. I don't care if you shake hands, say sorry, or snog each other in a broom closet, but bury the goddamn hatchet and focus on what we're here for."

To say the room was shocked is an understatement. Sarah looked over to Fleur, and all she gave was a disappointed shake of her head. Harriet, on the other hand, looked for Hermione to back her up. Hermione didn't, and I could feel the betrayal Harriet felt towards Hermione. Oh, they were going to have another squabble later, and we probably had to deal with it.

Someone, please help me! However, I do have to say, I quite like this new side of Percy. If it were him two weeks ago, he would try for a peaceful resolution. This new Percy knows where it hurts the most, and he hones in on it like a dog on a bone. But he has to take his own advice and pop a chill pill or two.

"Allez et excusez-vous. Même si elle est un cochon incultivé, vous devez être la plus grande des femmes dans cette situation," Fleur said as she nudged Sarah. {Go and apologize. Even if she is an uncultured swine, you must be the bigger woman in this situation.}

Sarah stepped forward and cleared her throat. "I am sorry for using such unseemly language."

"You didn't apologise for actually saying it," Harriet said.

"Why should I apologise for something I'm not sorry for?" Sarah replied.

"I should have expected anything better from the children of Death Eaters," Harriet said as she glared at Sarah and me. "Come on, Hermione, let's leave before we start acting like one of those xenophobic, pompous asses."

Harriet turned and walked out the door. Before she left the room, she turned and found that Hermione wasn't following her. She glared at her best friend before storming off.

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked as I gave a slight nod.

"We can't choose our parents, can we?" I said it with a depreciating smile.

"I'm sorry about my friend. I'm sure she didn't mean it," Hermione said, before she was shut down by a glare sent from the handmaiden.

"Now that we have gotten rid of that unpleasant element, should we go back to the reason why we are here?" Fleur said.

"Yes, that's right," Percy said as she flicked through his notepad. "We have some good news and some bad news. Which one do you want to hear first, Luna?"

"Mother always told me to take the bad news first before we savour the good news," Luna said as her dreamy smile plastered her face.

"Bad news first, mon coeur," Fleur said, gesturing for Percy to step forward.