Chapter 14

Professor Moody released the twins' ear as soon as they were standing near the castle's entrance. He took a swig from the bottle he always had with him. Sage stood next to the twins, wondering how much trouble they were in. She didn't want another detention; she had just had one the day before. A few students walked by. The attractive Durmstrang boy from the first day of school was one of them. He smiled at Sage who blushed and smiled back.

"Olliver, stop your flirting," Moody growled at Sage. She blushed, embarrassed. Moody's strange eye didn't miss anything. Next to her, George stiffened. Moody noticed that too.

"Got your knickers in a twist, Weasley?" he asked George. George shook his head slowly, trying to relax.

"Interesting prank you lot pulled back there," Moody said, looking at all three of them. No one spoke, expecting punishment to be dropped upon them at any moment. Moody continued talking.

"Now, see here, the teachers sent me to catch the students who were the cause of such chaos," he growled. "I'm supposed to 'severely punish' whoever did this to poor Pansy. But seeing as that Pansy is an annoying prat, I won't be punishing anyone." Fred, George, and Sage gawked at Moody.

"Sir, why did you bring us out here, then?" asked Sage. Moody's eyes flicked to her.

"Don't call me 'sir'. And I brought the lot of you out here only to make a show. That girl probably had it coming anyways. McGonagall wanted me to give detention, but I believe that geniuses such as yourselves don't deserve it. Not for doing that to such a despised girl. And Weasleys, I'll need something to cure that nosebleed of hers. I've heard tales about your Nosebleed Nougats." After Fred and George turned over the other half of the Nougat, Moody let them go.

"Alright, run along, you three. Try not to pull anything like that again, you hear? And if anyone asks, you got hell from me," he said. They all started to walk back to the Great Hall when Moody spoke again.

"Sage," he said. Sage turned around. The twins also stopped. "Go talk to that Durmstrang fellow you seem to be fond of." Getting advice like that from a professor was strange, but sage smiled and nodded her head. She turned away and went back to the Great Hall, practically skipping. Fred and George were whispering behind her, but she couldn't hear. She didn't exactly care either. She was in a great mood.

The Great Hall was nearly empty when she returned. Stacy wasn't there, so she walked back out, planning to go look for her. As she rounded a corner, she collided with a tall boy who had been walking the other way.

"So sorry!" Sage apologized. The boy helped her up. To her pleasant surprise, it was the Durmstrang boy.

"It's alright," he said, a dazzling smile on his face. He stuck out a hand.

"I'm William," he said, a cheery smile on his face. Sage noticed his accent was similar to that of Viktor Krum's. She took his hand and shook it.

"Sage," she said, returning the smile. After a few moments, they let go of each other's hands, reluctant. William had green eyes and a perfect smile. He was extremely tall, maybe a little over six feet. It seemed there was plenty of muscle under his long-sleeved shirt. William was a dark-haired package of perfect.

"Well Sage, we finally officially meet," William said. "I've been wanting to know you since my first day here."

"And I've felt the same!" Sage exclaimed. It was a bit of a lie; George had occupied her thoughts for the first few weeks, but William didn't need to know that.

"Soul mates!" William joked. Sage laughed. Together, they walked outside, where the weather was perfect. They got to know each other a little. William asked about Hogwarts life, and Sage asked about Durmstrang life. They had several laughs,  until Sage realized she was about to be late for class. Not just any class, either. Potions. With Professor Snape. Sage jumped up.

"I'm so sorry, William, but I have to go. I'm going to be late for class!" she exclaimed. "But I'll see you later, okay?" she asked, hopeful. William stood up.

"I'm about to be late too," he smiled as if this was an extremely hilarious inside joke between the two of them. "As for seeing me later, well, you can bet that you will." Sage blushed.

"May I walk you inside?" William asked courteously. Sage smiled and nodded. After a final goodbye, they split up at the stairs, Sage to the Gryffindor dormitories and William to wherever he needed to be. Sage grabbed her potions items and ran to Professor Snape's classroom, where class had already begun.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Olliver," said Snape. Sage sighed and took her seat. She wanted to tell Stacy, who was sitting next to her, all about William, but she was fearful of Professor Snape's wrath, so she kept to herself until class was over. As soon as class was dismissed, Sage grabbed Stacy and told her everything about William. They squealed together over William's promise that she would see him later. Giggling, the girls linked arms and headed towards Defense Against the Dark Arts. The day was just getting better and better for Sage.