I wrote this one-shot a couple weeks ago for my very sweet friend and pm buddy, Kel. I hope you like it Kel! You mean a lot to me and I love having you as a friend!!
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Birds of a Feather
Tap tap tap!
Kel looked up from her writing. A fluffy, brown owl was perched on the windowsill of the Ravenclaw common room. She recognized the bird at once. It belonged to her friend, Chelsea. Kel opened the window, took the letter from Jiles, (she never could understand why Chelsea named him that) and watched him fly away. She sat back down and tore open the envelope.
Dear Kel-Belle, (Chelsea always called her that.)
Hey! I haven’t seen you at all today. You writing an article?
It was a Saturday and generally, when she didn’t go down to the Great Hall for meals, Kel was writing and Chelsea knew this. Kel was an avid writer and had great expectations of being published.
Please come down from the tower soon! I’m going berserk! There is nobody to talk to and I’m simply aching to see you!!!
Yours ever,
Chels
Chelsea had somehow charmed the letter so her name flashed different colors. Kel looked down at the postscript.
P.S. Have you seen the notice board? There’s going to be a trip to Hogsmeade next week. It’s about time.
Kel stood up and stretched her arms. Then she gathered her papers, stacked them neatly and stashed them away in her bag.
A few minutes later, Kel strode into the Great Hall. The room was rather empty aside from one main figure. Kel stifled a laugh and walked over to the Gryffindor table. Chelsea was spread out on the bench, lying on her back with a book covering her face, her arms on her stomach. Kel touched one of Chelsea’s feet. Chelsea jumped up with a yell and sent her book flying.
“Kel!” she exclaimed excitedly. Chelsea was a tall girl with long brown hair that she had trouble keeping in order, bright blue eyes and glasses. Kel took in her usual unmatching clothes, various bracelets and infamous sneakers. They were red high-tops with gold checkers colored in by Chelsea herself with the word ‘Gryffindor’ written all over. She pushed her messy hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. Chelsea gave her friend a hug.
Even though Chelsea was in her sixth year and in Gryffindor, and Kel was in her third year and in Ravenclaw, they were best of friends. They had met by chance in the library one day and had become inseparable ever since. Age didn’t matter to them in the slightest. They sat down together at the table. “So you were writing?” Chelsea inquired.
“Yeah,” said Kel. “Another article for the Prophet.” She looked across the table and grabbed a copy somebody had left there. “Look at this!” she cried, pointing to an article on the front page. “If Cynthia Dunn can get an article on the under population of toadstools published, why won’t they publish mine?! It’s complete rubbish. Nobody wants to read about toadstools! My articles are fresh and new; just what people want to read.” She threw it aside.
“They’re bound to publish you at some point, Kel. All of your articles are good. They just haven’t realized it yet.” She put a comforting arm around her. “Oh,” she said. “Here’s the Hogwarts Portfolio, if it interests you.” She unfolded the school newspaper and handed it to Kel.
Kel glanced at it and set it down. “You’ve got to give yourself a little more credit. After all you are the founder and editor of the newspaper. It gets so many other people involved. It’s great,” Chelsea insisted.
“But only the other kids in school get to read it,” Kel said.
“It’s a step though. You’ll get to the top, I know it. Anywhoo, did you ever send in that latest article on Hogwarts, ‘From the Student Perspective?’” she asked.
“Yeah, this morning. That had to be one of my best. I hope they take it. I’m getting tired of all the notes, “Dear Miss, we’re sorry, but the Prophet cannot use the article you have written at this point in time. . . blah blah blah.”
“Thanks for interviewing Oliver in there. It gave me a chance to talk to him. I know you only did because of me,” Chelsea giggled.
“It was all for you,” Kel agreed smiling. “But I felt like I should anyway. He writes all the quidditch information for the Portfolio. I don’t know who would if he didn’t. And that’s what the boys in the school seem interested in these days.”
Chelsea nodded in agreement. “So, want to go to Hogsmeade together on Saturday?”
Kel looked at her dismally. “And why would I want to go with you?”
“Hmm, no idea,” Chelsea responded. Kel playfully punched her shoulder.
“Of course I want to go with you,” she smiled. “If I didn’t, I’d have to be ill.”
***
The week flew by and before the girls knew it, Saturday was on them. Kel dashed down the stairs to the entrance hall to see Chelsea skipping in. “Hello, dear!” Chelsea hugged her.
Kel’s eyes sparkled like always and her smile had the power to make anyone else smile, too. She had her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She had glasses like Chelsea and the frames looked very much like hers. The friends engaged in conversation as they walked down the path with the rest of the students down to Hogsmeade. They laughed most of the time. It was what they did best. The first shop they went to was Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. Chelsea said she needed to get something. She hid what she was buying from Kel until they were outside.
“Here,” she said, handing her the bag.
Kel reached inside. It was a quill.
“It’s for your collection,” Chelsea explained.
“And what color does this one write?” Kel asked, placing the quill in her bag with about 12 others.
“None. That’s what’s so cool. It just came out. It’s invisible. On the package it says there’s a certain spell you have to use to read it.”
“That is cool!” Kel said.
They went into the Three Broomsticks, ordered some butterbeer, drank it and chatted for ages. When the room got too crowded they walked outside. They didn’t go anywhere in particular, they just strolled around.
“Kelly!” someone called.
Chelsea looked at Kel and noticed her frown. “Kel,” she said.
They turned to see Oliver Wood run up to them. “Oh sorry. I forgot, Kel.” he emphasized. Chelsea stared at him wide-eyed. “Well, I just wanted to congratulate you on your article.”
Kel’s eyes opened wide too. “What article?” she asked.
“The one in the Prophet,” he said holding out the paper to her. Kel grabbed it from him. Sure enough on the front page was her article. ‘Hogwarts: From A Student’s Perspective.’ Chelsea let out a scream, as did Kel. Chelsea hugged Kel and Kel hugged Chelsea. They spun around giggling and screaming.
“Look!” Chelsea cried pointing to the page. “There’s the part where you interviewed me!”
“Yeah, I’m in there too!” Oliver said excitedly. “Thanks by the way.”
Kel smiled proudly down at her article.
“I told you!” Chelsea squealed. “I told you they’d publish you!!”
They broke into wild screams again. “Thanks for showing me, Oliver,” Kel said before he left. “I had no idea!”
“No problem,” he said. “You deserve the front page.” He turned to leave. “Oh and Chelsea,” he said. Chelsea stared. “Nice sneakers.”
Chelsea looked down at her feet. “Thanks,” she said. Then she and Kel burst into uncontrollable giggles again.
Oliver shook his head. “You two are so alike,” he smirked and walked away.
“We’re birds of a feather,” Kel beamed.
“That we are, dear. That we are,” Chelsea smiled.
The two silly friends linked arms and skipped up the path to the castle, laughing all the way, while Kel smugly brandished the Daily Prophet with her article on the front page.
***
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think here! I love feedback!
-Chelsea