NATURAL SELECTION
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
CHAPTER 16
Sasporilla Bucket wasn't in the great hall when the guest schools arrived for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She was in the kitchens reading a book on wand making that she got from the school library. The house elves were most impressed at how fast miss Sasporilla learned their way of magic and was able to incorporate it with what she was being taught in her classes. Her sense of calm and link to the magic all around her was truly amazing for a non-elf. As she sat reading she used her powers to both wash and dry dishes as well as stir a slow simmering pot of soup for today's lunch.
Some of the house elves gathered at the doorway leading in to the hall. Sasporilla raised her eyes from her book. A small procession of professors lead a young woman with wild red hair , dressed in a shredded blue dress covered in writing and symbols and a leather mask around her mouth, being shoved forward by a very large woman. Professors Sprout and Dumbledor followed up quickly behind. Professor Sprout saw Sasporillas look of concern and pointed to her implying she mind her own business & to get back to work. Professor Dumbledor simply waved his wand shutting the kitchen door.
After dinner Sasporilla returned to her room. She was greeted by her monkey Gooseberry and the 2 played for a few minutes before Professor Sprout interrupted.
"Excuse the intrusion Miss Bucket," Professor Sprout said, "We have a new student and new addition to Hufflepuff house. As I know you've found a room of your own rather lonely I thought who better to place her with than you."
To big hands reached across the doorway and pushed the girl into the room. She lost her balance and would have hit the floor but Professor Sprout caught her robe and steadied the girl.
Sasporilla realized the girl standing before her in a new clean Hogwarts uniform was none other than the girl from the hall by the kitchen. Her wild red hair was unmistakable.
"Really Maddame Maxime?" Professor Sprout protested. "There is simply no need for that kind of man-handling of a student!"
"Ya watch the hands big'ns." The girl sneered.
"You will see very soon Professor Sprout." Maddame Maxime laughed. "But zen she is your trouble now oui?"
Professor Sprout continue to chide Maddame Maxime as they walked away. The girl looked over at one of the other beds in the room. Her trunk and possessions sat 2 beds over from where Sasporilla and Gooseberry sat watching in disbelief.
The girl stood there for moment looking around then she locked eyes on Sasporilla. The 2 girls stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then the girl rushed at Sassy startling both her and Gooseberry. The young witch stood in front of Sasporilla with a look of disgust.
"I don't like that bed." She said motioning to the one she'd been assigned. "Think I'll take yours instead."
Gooseberry started to jump up and down chattering excitedly.
"No." Sasporilla said calmly. "This is my bed and I've grown fond of it. You can't have it."
"Ah!" The girl smiled. "So you do have SOME backbone? Good. A room mate of mine needs it."
The girl flopped back onto the bed next to Sasporillas. "Ya this'll do for couple weeks."
"A couple of weeks?" Sassy asked.
"That's about how long I give them 'till they toss me out of this dump. I've been tossed out a lot of schools. Ilvermorny, Mahoutokoro, Beauxbatons and now the legendary Hogwarts."
The girl turned and sat up on the side of the bed and held out her hand. "I'm Lyra Lee-Ashwolf"
Sassy was taken aback. This girl was all over the place with her moods. From her accent she could tell she was American.
"I suppose proper introductions are in order." Sasporilla said straightening herself and shook the other girls hand. "I'm Sasporilla Bucket."
"Good to meet ya Sassy." Lyra said pulling herself up on the bed post and swinging gingerly from it. "What kind of mischief can we get into?"
"I try to stay away from trouble." Sasporilla said. "Even though it seems to come looking for me quite regularly."
"Not the adventurous kind?" Lyra laughed. "That's ok you'll come around."
"I'm here on a working scholarship so..." Sasporilla began.
"That's why you were down in the kitchens when they brought me in."
"Yes." Sasporilla looked a bit ashamed. "Why were they treating you that way?"
"Don't you know?" Lyra said coming so close to Sasporilla their noses almost touched. "I'm the BOOGIEMAN!"
Sasporillas eyes opened wide. Gooseberry squealed and ran behind her. Lyra fell back on her bed laughing. "Oh the look on your face."
"You're not funny you know?" Sasporilla chided.
"No I'm absolutely hilarious!" Lyra laughed. Wiping a tear from her eye Lyra looked down at the floor. "I get treated that way because I'm honestly the most dangerous kind of person to have around."
Sasporilla could see Lyra was no longer kidding. Serious Lyra was a little scarier than 'funny' Lyra.
"I'm a free thinker and an activist. I fight for human rights against the fascists who exist in our institutions. It's our responsibility to fight injustice to maintain our rights and freedoms. To free the minds who've been clouded by lies as readily as those clouded by a curse. We the few, like me, fight for the rest... how about you?"
"I don't want to cause any trouble." Sasporilla said.
"Ah yes." Lyra said dropping down onto the bed beside her. "But trouble finds you. You said so. What do you do when faced by those who'd take it all away."
"If I have to." Sasporilla thought for a moment. "I fight. Even though to do so displeases my mom."
"Ah yes! The parental units!" Lyra said. "The ones who teach us the rules of the world and how to play the game of Life fairly within those rules." Lyra smiled. "Well let me teach you your first lesson. The rules aren't followed by those with power. The rules are lies, the game is fixed."
"That's a very pessimistic view of the world." Sasporilla said shaking her head.
"It's a realistic view of the world." Lyra said standing. "The question is when you realize the truth will you still try and play by their rules, or by rules of your own?"
The words echoed with a deep truth in the back of Sasporillas mind.
"I don't expect you'll get it as young as you are." Lyra said laying back on her bed. "11 is still pretty young to become a socio-politically conscious rebel. You've got dolls and boys to worry about at your age. Probably still only know the music your parents played at home. Eventually you'll grow to be person with HOPEFULLY your own thoughts and opinions. A product of your actions and your influences. Just got to make sure you get the RIGHT influences."
"I think for myself." Sasporilla insistead.
"Of course you dear." Lyra laughed condescendingly. "By the way. What you wearing to this big Yule Ball. Want to make sure we don't clash."
"Only Fourth years and older are allowed to attend." Sasporilla sighed. "Unless an upper class mate invites you as their date."
"So." Lyra asked. "Which wizard asked you to go?"
"Ya right." Sasporilla scoffed. "Like anyone would ask me."
"Ok then I'll ask you." Lyra said. "Not really as a date but my plus one."
"Can you do that?" Sassy asked a bit amused.
"Just did." Lyra waved her hand as if casting a spell. "If the headmaster has a problem with I'll fight him like no one ever has."
Sasporillas mind turned towards something to wear. Given enough time mom could get anything and fix it up.
"Now child it's past your bed time and I'm bushed." Lyra yawned. "Jammies on, teeth brushed, and into bed chop-chop."
Sasporilla looked at Gooseberry then they both looked at Lyra. The three burst into laughter.
Sasporilla Bucket wasn't in the great hall when the guest schools arrived for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She was in the kitchens reading a book on wand making that she got from the school library. The house elves were most impressed at how fast miss Sasporilla learned their way of magic and was able to incorporate it with what she was being taught in her classes. Her sense of calm and link to the magic all around her was truly amazing for a non-elf. As she sat reading she used her powers to both wash and dry dishes as well as stir a slow simmering pot of soup for today's lunch.
Some of the house elves gathered at the doorway leading in to the hall. Sasporilla raised her eyes from her book. A small procession of professors lead a young woman with wild red hair , dressed in a shredded blue dress covered in writing and symbols and a leather mask around her mouth, being shoved forward by a very large woman. Professors Sprout and Dumbledor followed up quickly behind. Professor Sprout saw Sasporillas look of concern and pointed to her implying she mind her own business & to get back to work. Professor Dumbledor simply waved his wand shutting the kitchen door.
After dinner Sasporilla returned to her room. She was greeted by her monkey Gooseberry and the 2 played for a few minutes before Professor Sprout interrupted.
"Excuse the intrusion Miss Bucket," Professor Sprout said, "We have a new student and new addition to Hufflepuff house. As I know you've found a room of your own rather lonely I thought who better to place her with than you."
To big hands reached across the doorway and pushed the girl into the room. She lost her balance and would have hit the floor but Professor Sprout caught her robe and steadied the girl.
Sasporilla realized the girl standing before her in a new clean Hogwarts uniform was none other than the girl from the hall by the kitchen. Her wild red hair was unmistakable.
"Really Maddame Maxime?" Professor Sprout protested. "There is simply no need for that kind of man-handling of a student!"
"Ya watch the hands big'ns." The girl sneered.
"You will see very soon Professor Sprout." Maddame Maxime laughed. "But zen she is your trouble now oui?"
Professor Sprout continue to chide Maddame Maxime as they walked away. The girl looked over at one of the other beds in the room. Her trunk and possessions sat 2 beds over from where Sasporilla and Gooseberry sat watching in disbelief.
The girl stood there for moment looking around then she locked eyes on Sasporilla. The 2 girls stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then the girl rushed at Sassy startling both her and Gooseberry. The young witch stood in front of Sasporilla with a look of disgust.
"I don't like that bed." She said motioning to the one she'd been assigned. "Think I'll take yours instead."
Gooseberry started to jump up and down chattering excitedly.
"No." Sasporilla said calmly. "This is my bed and I've grown fond of it. You can't have it."
"Ah!" The girl smiled. "So you do have SOME backbone? Good. A room mate of mine needs it."
The girl flopped back onto the bed next to Sasporillas. "Ya this'll do for couple weeks."
"A couple of weeks?" Sassy asked.
"That's about how long I give them 'till they toss me out of this dump. I've been tossed out a lot of schools. Ilvermorny, Mahoutokoro, Beauxbatons and now the legendary Hogwarts."
The girl turned and sat up on the side of the bed and held out her hand. "I'm Lyra Lee-Ashwolf"
Sassy was taken aback. This girl was all over the place with her moods. From her accent she could tell she was American.
"I suppose proper introductions are in order." Sasporilla said straightening herself and shook the other girls hand. "I'm Sasporilla Bucket."
"Good to meet ya Sassy." Lyra said pulling herself up on the bed post and swinging gingerly from it. "What kind of mischief can we get into?"
"I try to stay away from trouble." Sasporilla said. "Even though it seems to come looking for me quite regularly."
"Not the adventurous kind?" Lyra laughed. "That's ok you'll come around."
"I'm here on a working scholarship so..." Sasporilla began.
"That's why you were down in the kitchens when they brought me in."
"Yes." Sasporilla looked a bit ashamed. "Why were they treating you that way?"
"Don't you know?" Lyra said coming so close to Sasporilla their noses almost touched. "I'm the BOOGIEMAN!"
Sasporillas eyes opened wide. Gooseberry squealed and ran behind her. Lyra fell back on her bed laughing. "Oh the look on your face."
"You're not funny you know?" Sasporilla chided.
"No I'm absolutely hilarious!" Lyra laughed. Wiping a tear from her eye Lyra looked down at the floor. "I get treated that way because I'm honestly the most dangerous kind of person to have around."
Sasporilla could see Lyra was no longer kidding. Serious Lyra was a little scarier than 'funny' Lyra.
"I'm a free thinker and an activist. I fight for human rights against the fascists who exist in our institutions. It's our responsibility to fight injustice to maintain our rights and freedoms. To free the minds who've been clouded by lies as readily as those clouded by a curse. We the few, like me, fight for the rest... how about you?"
"I don't want to cause any trouble." Sasporilla said.
"Ah yes." Lyra said dropping down onto the bed beside her. "But trouble finds you. You said so. What do you do when faced by those who'd take it all away."
"If I have to." Sasporilla thought for a moment. "I fight. Even though to do so displeases my mom."
"Ah yes! The parental units!" Lyra said. "The ones who teach us the rules of the world and how to play the game of Life fairly within those rules." Lyra smiled. "Well let me teach you your first lesson. The rules aren't followed by those with power. The rules are lies, the game is fixed."
"That's a very pessimistic view of the world." Sasporilla said shaking her head.
"It's a realistic view of the world." Lyra said standing. "The question is when you realize the truth will you still try and play by their rules, or by rules of your own?"
The words echoed with a deep truth in the back of Sasporillas mind.
"I don't expect you'll get it as young as you are." Lyra said laying back on her bed. "11 is still pretty young to become a socio-politically conscious rebel. You've got dolls and boys to worry about at your age. Probably still only know the music your parents played at home. Eventually you'll grow to be person with HOPEFULLY your own thoughts and opinions. A product of your actions and your influences. Just got to make sure you get the RIGHT influences."
"I think for myself." Sasporilla insistead.
"Of course you dear." Lyra laughed condescendingly. "By the way. What you wearing to this big Yule Ball. Want to make sure we don't clash."
"Only Fourth years and older are allowed to attend." Sasporilla sighed. "Unless an upper class mate invites you as their date."
"So." Lyra asked. "Which wizard asked you to go?"
"Ya right." Sasporilla scoffed. "Like anyone would ask me."
"Ok then I'll ask you." Lyra said. "Not really as a date but my plus one."
"Can you do that?" Sassy asked a bit amused.
"Just did." Lyra waved her hand as if casting a spell. "If the headmaster has a problem with I'll fight him like no one ever has."
Sasporillas mind turned towards something to wear. Given enough time mom could get anything and fix it up.
"Now child it's past your bed time and I'm bushed." Lyra yawned. "Jammies on, teeth brushed, and into bed chop-chop."
Sasporilla looked at Gooseberry then they both looked at Lyra. The three burst into laughter.
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.