Hello everyone! Well this is my first fanfiction and I do hope that you like it. Please review, I am very open to your criticism and will do my best to improve the story. (: And super thanks to Emily (SongBirdAZ) and to Andrew for editing(:
Disclaimer: I do not own any thing recognizable from this story. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
...
Professor Snape hovered over Neville's cauldron, taking a moment to analyze the bubbling turquoise mess before insulting it.
"An unacceptable excuse for a Calming Draught," Snape said turning to walk back up to the front of the classroom, "Ten points from Gryffindor." Neville sighed along with the rest of the Gryffindor house while trying to ignore the snickers coming from the Slytherins.
Then the dungeon doors swung open to reveal Professor McGonagall standing next to a tall boy with short black hair and dark eyes. Everyone turned to look at him.
"My apologies for interrupting," McGonagall said calmly, "this is Alejandro Rodriguez. He is a transfer student from …" she paused and looked at Alejandro, "La Escuela de la Costa Magia. For those of you who did not comprehend a word of that, Costa Magia is a prestigious wizarding school in Central America. I trust you all to welcome him and Professor Snape seeing as it is not too far into your lesson I presume that you will have Alejandro attempt the assignment."
Professor Snape nodded. "You may take the seat next to Draco Malfoy seeing that there are no others available." Alejandro looked at the boy with bright blonde hair who had jerked his head up at the sound of his name. Their eyes met and Alejandro walked over and set his book down.
The dungeon door closed as McGonagall walked out and Snape stood in the front of the classroom. "Mr. Rodriguez, the class has just begun to prepare a Calming Draught. Seeing as you came from a fine school I accept that you will have no trouble performing this task." Alejandro nodded and took out his potions book as the professor swooped away.
Alejandro could see the blonde boy's eyes flicker towards him. "Do you have a problem?" He snapped much too loudly. He was usually a very pleasant person but the first day of Hogwarts had been long and frustrating for the most part.
"Your book is in Spanish," Draco said, though his words wavered a bit.
Alejandro was sure to soften his tone this time, "That doesn't make it wrong. Look," he said flipping through the pages, "it's all the same potions." Draco said nothing more and began adding the ingredients to his cauldron. Alejandro did the same trying to forget about everything that had happened that day, glad that after Potions class it would be over until the following morning. Alejandro tried to keep his mind focused on the potion, but he could feel the occasional glance from students in the room wander his way. He tried to ignore them by paying more attention to the assignment. His book stated that a perfect Calming Draught would be a light yellow and would smell like daisies. His draught, however, was neon purple and stayed that way no matter how he tried to fix it.
"Time is up. Leave a vial of your potion on my desk before you leave." Alejandro knew that he had made a mistake in following the directions but wasn't sure of exactly what had happened. Nevertheless he scooped the draught into the vial and stood in the line that had formed down the length of the classroom. The person in front of Alejandro looked extremely nervous about handing in his draught which was a dark turquoise color. When he handed it to Professor Snape the scowl on his face was obvious.
"Longbottom, this is as always a terrible use of the ingredients. Detention tonight at seven o'clock sharp." Alejandro set his vial down and tried to scoot out of the line of fire. "Same for you Mr. Rodriguez. " Snape said examining the orange liquid in the vial. "You know, coming from the school that you did I must say that I did expect better work from you."
Alejandro followed the one named Longbottom out of the dungeon and was met by a sneering Draco Malfoy. "I heard what Professor Snape said. You had better check that book of yours." Then he turned and went down the corridor followed by two others how had identical expressions of adoration for Draco.
Alejandro turned to go the other way and almost collided with someone who had been standing behind him.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Alejandro said before looking at who he had run into. It was the boy with the turquoise vial.
"O-oh. No it was my fault. So I guess we have detention together." Alejandro looked at him. He was tall, taller than he was, with brown hair and blue eyes.
"I'm Neville Longbottom," he said, sticking out his hand. Alejandro shook it.
"Alejandro Rodriguez," he said trying to be as polite as possible.
"Did you get sorted into a house yet? Most new students come on the first day and get sorted along with the first years. But seeing as we're fifths years and it is a couple weeks into the term…" Neville said quickly, like he was afraid of an answer.
"Dumbledore took me to his office and did a private sorting. I'm in Gryffindor, though I'm not sure exactly what that means. Dumbledore seemed pleased." Alejandro said. Neville let out a giant sigh of relief.
"That's good. Gryffindor stands for bravery and courage. Though I thought you were in Slytherin when I saw the way you snapped at Malfoy." Neville said. "I'm in Gryffindor, too."
"So Slytherin and Gryffindor don't get along?" Alejandro asked. Neville noticed his accent then. It wasn't overly strong but it was enough to get your attention.
"Yeah, something like that. Where are you from?"
"Costa Rica," Alejandro said before adding, "And you?" Neville let out a burst of laughter and Alejandro smiled uncertainly, not sure if he had made a joke or if Neville Longbottom was just plain mad.
"Here, of course." Neville smiled brightly at Alejandro and they both felt as if the had just made a friend within each other. "Well it's about half an hour until dinner in the Great Hall. What do you say we go down together. Then go to Snape's detention?"
Alejandro smiled and agreed. Perhaps the first day wouldn't be so terrible after all.
