"Naomi Tarkey."
A shaking little girl with straight hair mounted the Great Hall steps. The stool loomed in front of her, but she was even more fearful of the gold-haired man holding a tattered hat. Finally, she reached the stool and sat down. The Hat was placed on her head and the Sorting began.
Hmm . . . Muggle-born, but - the Hat gave a start of surprise and shuddered.
What! Naomi cried out.
You are too strong . . . I cannot sort you! Impossible! Gryffindor? Slytherin? Ravenclaw? Hufflepuff? A great tearing noise sounded; the Sorting Hat had received another hole, adding to its destroyed look.
Naomi felt the hat shaking on her head, I like green colors! Just put me anywhere! Her face burned with embarrassment. She couldn't even be Sorted right.
"Slytherin!" the Hat burst out and loud whoops and cheers sounded from the green and silver table. Naomi released her breath and located an available seat, next to a handsome boy.
"Hello, little Slytherin." He greeted her, his voice emerged in charm and a practical coldness.
"Hi." Her voice was small, squeaking a bit, "What grade are you in?"
"I'm a third year." He smiled, revealing his gleaming white teeth - he was beyond handsome, Naomi thought, borderline beautiful.
"Oi, Tom!" A burly boy captured the third year's attention from Naomi. She felt the sharp sting of annoyance; Naomi had enjoyed holding his stormy gray eyes.
The Sorting ended and the headmaster, a red-nosed, balding man by the name of Armando Dippet, stood and addressed the Great Hall:
"Welcome to Hogwarts, School of Wizards and Witches! Here we are, at the beginning of another year." The corner of Dippet's mouth hinted at a smile, "Remember to abide the rules set by Mr. Branford."
With a wave of his veined hand, he dismissed the tables.
Her first class of the nest day was Potions. Naomi was one of the first to find the dungeons and she waited outside, unsure of what to do. Two other Slytherin first years joined her and then a large Gyrffindor. He looked like a fifth year from his size, probably five feet tall and quite wide.
"Hey, wait, aren't you half-Giant?" One of the Slytherin moved closer to the huge Gryffindor.
"Ye-es." He answered, in a deep bass, his little black eyes scurrying across the empty hall. Probably looking for a teacher.
"What a freak!" The Slytherin crowed with laughter. The poor creature hunched over from the insult.
"Leave him alone!" Naomi shouted. An electric tremor traveled through the floor. Both Slytherins leapt in fright of the power vibrating the ground. They retreated to the corner, anger and confusion lighting their eyes.
"Wow, what was that!" the large boy exclaimed, looking at Naomi, "I'm Rubeus, by the way, Rubeus Hagrid."
"Naomi Tarkey." she smiled easily, "I'm not sure . . . Odd things like that happen to me."
The Sorting Hat's words echoed, You're too strong.
Suddenly, a plump figure appeared, dressed extravagantly in gold and green. "Where's the rest of our class?" the jolly man laughed, "Did anyone set off a charm by accident? I don't expect you to know any charms or spells or such, but you never know what a young wizard or witch might pick up."
All four students shook their head.
"No?" the professor clucked his tongue, "Well the, let's go in."
After a few minutes, the rest of the students appeared, wearing the frenzied expressions of the first day. Naomi noted that each House sat on different sides of the room and quickly scrambled into a seat next to a blond haired boy. The professor raised his wand lazily, flicking it towards the board. White letters appeared.
Get your books out,
Read 'HOW TO MAKE AN ENLARGEMENT POTION.'
Prepare for tomorrow.
"I am Professor Slughorn." Slughorn made a hand motion, a humble bow of his head, "For those who don't know, Potions is one of the most important classes you will take. You will learn to create a truth-telling serum, luck in a bottle, and even the mot deadly poison."
A girl in the back of the room raised her hand.
"Yes, what's your name?" Slughorn pointed towards her.
"Susanna Barnes, sir. Why is Potions so important? You could cast an enlargement charm much more easily."
"Ah, Miss Barnes, what if you find yourself without a wand? There is yet to be a wizard who can perform spells without a wand. But potions do not require a wand. I tis also sneaky. Someone can detect magic, but not poison in their cup."
Susanna Barnes snapped her mouth shut, pushed her glasses farther up her nose, and began to read.
"Anymore questions?" Slughorn settled back into his chair - It groaned in protest. - and placed his fingertips together into a steeple.
The class was silent. Naomi read through the chapter, memorizing the ingredients and instructions and turned to her partner.
"Hi, I'm Naomi." Naomi smiled amicably, poking the blond boy's arm with her sharp quill.
"Ouch!" the boy jumped, rubbing the pink indent in his skin, "What 'cha do that for?" He glared at Naomi with dark aquamarine eyes.
"To get your attention." Naomi laughed, running her fingers through her hair.
The boy watched her, slightly dazed, "Well, I'm Jack Jones."
"Pleasure to meet you, Jack."
"Well, kids, off you go! To your next class!" Slughorn stood up and stretched, his buttons straining against his potbelly.
Naomi walked with Jack to her next class, Charms. A muscular, older gentlemen, with gray streaked hair and five-'o'-clock shadow leaned against the door frame, watching Naomi and Jack enter. They scurried in, dropping their bags into the only available seats.
The man entered, his face set like a soldier, but his walk was graceful, light and gazelle-like. He twirled his wand carelessly between his fingers, but it stayed perfectly straight and balanced. With his light amber eyes and feline balance, Naomi was reminded of a hunting tiger.
"My name is Professor Darnley." His voice was rough with the hint of an Irish accent, "I am here to teach you Charms. Little incantations at first and then larger spells." Naomi's fingers tingled with excitement. She placed her wand on the table readily.
"Now, everyone stand up and greet the person next to you." Darnley put his wand on the table and watched his students stand. "This person will be your test dummy and sparring partner." A clumsy child knocked into a full bookcase. Naomi saw this happening over Jack's shoulder and stuck both hands in front of her, palms out. Darnley watched with pure fascination as the books halted midair before he has even reached his wand. Twenty-one pairs of eyes turned to look at Naomi with her arms still outstretched.
Her wand lay on the table, forgotten.