1. Harry Potter (Panda's version) -Featuring Janet Hayden - Chapter 34

     Ernie caught up with Janet when she was leaving the Great Hall with Lisa and Su.

     “Hey!” Ernie tapped Janet on the shoulder to stop her. Janet stopped and turned around. “How did you get yourself in detention?” Ernie asked.

     “We’ll see you in class,” Lisa quickly excused herself and dragged Su along, leaving the two of them at the corridor.

     Janet stared at Lisa and Su with disbelief as they hurried away while giggling, “Some friends you two are!” she mumbled, hoping that the message will somehow get through and reach them.

     Ernie waited till Lisa and Su disappeared at the staircase and asked, “How did you get yourself in detention?”

     “We need to get to class,” Janet tried to avoid answering Ernie’s question because Mandy just walked pass and was smirking, she must have heard the detention part and was smirking because she remembered how Janet got into detention. Feeling embarrassed, Janet picked up the pace.

     “Hey, wait up,” Ernie called while trying to catch up with Janet.

     Janet knew that Ernie will not stop cornering her if she did not explain, she slowed down for Ernie to catch and said, “I… I was late for class.” Janet plunged her hands deep inside the pockets of her robes to hide from the cold. The November weather was extremely cold here in Hogwarts. Janet always find her hands freezing when the temperature decreases; they are always ice cold to the extent that Janet sometimes couldn’t feel them.

     “How could you be late for class?” Ernie questioned in a slightly demanding tone. He was too focused looking at Janet expecting an answer that he lost track of where he was heading and bumped into a boy that was standing in front of him.

     “Hold on there, Ernie,” the boy said, holding Ernie’s shoulders in arm’s length distancing him away.

     “Oh.” Ernie looked up, face red with embarrassment, “I’m so sorry, Ced. I didn’t see you.” Ernie apologized to the boy.

     Janet looked at the boy, he was tall with grey eyes, brown hair and a charming smile.

     “You didn’t see me? You weren’t even looking,” the tall boy said jokingly. “Too engrossed with your friend here, eh?” He turned and smiled at Janet.

     “Oh Ced, this is Janet Hayden. Her dad was dad’s best friend when they were in Hogwarts. Janet, this is Cedric Diggory.” Ernie introduced both of them to each other.

     “Hi Janet. Nice to meet you.”Cedric Diggory greeted and held his hand out politely.

     “Hi,” Janet replied, awkwardly shaking Cedric’s hand hoping that he did not mind that it was ice cold.

     Cedric’s eyebrows raised unconsciously when he touched Janet’s hand but he ignored the coldness of Janet’s hand and said, “Hey, I would really like to stay and talk but I’ve got class. Will be seeing you around soon.”

     “We should be heading to class too,” Ernie said, looking at his watch, checking how much time they have left.

     Cedric waved and hurried off the opposite direction while Ernie and Janet headed to the dungeons.

     “This Cedric Diggory, you knew him for a long time?” Janet asked out of curiosity with a slight hope that it will distract Ernie from asking further about her detention.

     “Yeah, since I was four. Dad used to work with his dad in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures before he transferred to the Department of Magical Transportation. They would come over for dinner sometimes and we would also occasionally stop by their place too.” Ernie explained. “Cedric taught me how to fly and play Quidditch. He’s like a brother to me, maybe more.” Ernie said, smiling. He was really fond of his relationship with Cedric. He is someone he would turn to when he had problems and he will give him advice and help him.

     “Flying and Quidditch,” Janet mumbled. Lisa had explained Quidditch to Su and her, it was actually just to SU because she was a foreigner and Quidditch was not that popular in China. Janet was just seizing the opportunity to listen at that time since she too has no idea about Quidditch. However, she finds it hard to imagine since it does not really resemble and muggle sport in particular that she knew.

     “Quidditch season is starting soon though,” Ernie continued. It seems like he has been distracted from Janet’s detention issue. “I heard Harry Potter made it into the Gryffindor team but Quidditch tryouts aren’t open for first years since we are not allowed our own broomsticks in school. So, I am not believing it completely yet. We’ll see when the season starts whether if he is playing or not.” The both of them have reached Professor Snape’s dungeon.

     Janet quickly separated herself from Ernie and slipped between Lisa and Su. The temperature in the dungeons seems to droop another ten degrees compared to the temperature outside the dungeon. Janet shivered and rubbed her ice cold hands but it did not made them warm so she plunged them back into her pockets. This was the first time she hoped that Professor Snape will start the class soon so the classroom will warm up slightly after everybody got their cauldrons heated up.

     “Were we right on leaving the two of you alone after lunch?” Lisa asked playfully.

     “Speaking of which, why did you do that? He’s never going to stop about me getting into detention, and I thought you could make a good diversion.” Janet hissed back. “Well, that was before you ditched me.” Lisa did not reply because Professor Snape has arrived to the dungeons.