Everyone has heard the term "Hogwarts is my home." To me, it's more my home than anyone can even begin to understand. It's not just my home for the school year, it's my home year round. To my parents the decision of living at Hogwarts was easy. Both of them teach there, it's their alma mater, there was no contemplation, Hogwarts is our home. I've never had a problem with living in the castle, I've made many friends within the grounds. There was only one problem for me, I couldn't use magic. Not wouldn't, couldn't. I was one of those poor kids who had two magical parents who spawned a squib. I've come to terms with what I am, although the sadness of it does slip within my mind on occasion. Being a squib has its upsides, I'm able to learn all about the magical world even though I don't have any sort of magic myself. Although my father is still hell-bent on the idea that I have magic within me, somewhere.
Ever since I could walk I've explored the grounds of Hogwarts to every last chamber, I've visited Hagrid's hut countless times, tended to Aberforth's goats on more than one occasion, and discovered the password to each house every year. I'm known to be a myth at the school of Hogwarts, often times I've heard students talk about "the squib girl who lives in the walls," or, "camps out in the forbidden forest, only allowed to come into the castle when everyone is asleep." They even went as far as saying that I lived in a broomstick cupboard, but I found that to be way too similar to Harry Potter's story. In reality, I roam about the castle during the school year just as much as I do when the students are gone. I've come to a strategy that works very well, which allows me to roam about the castle with no questions asked by anybody. Each day I pick a different uniform, and a different look. Usually when I put on my glasses and tie my hair up into a high bun, it means I'll be putting on my Ravenclaw uniform that day. On the days I choose to wear my Hufflepuff uniform, I'm found in tight long braids that fall to the middle of my back, that are usually accompanied by a ribbon or head band. When I choose to wear my Slytherin uniform I ask my mother to fix my hair using a shortening charm. I've found my Gryffindor days to be my lazy days, I don't wear any sort of disguise, my usual black hair falls lightly to my lower back, little to no make-up is applied, and I choose to keep my eyebrow scar for everyone to see. Most days, depending on the uniform that I dressed in, I got hello's from students who recognized me, but didn't know my name.
I was having a Hufflepuff day that I quickly wished I'd made a Gryffindor day when I created my first name. I began walking out of the restricted section with two piles of highly stacked books in my arms, just high enough for me to get a slight glance to see where I was walking when I abruptly ran into another person whose books tumbled to the ground as quickly as mine did.
"Oh gosh, I'm sorry, really. How could I be so stupid?" A girls voice rang out from beyond the pile of disoriented books.
"It's fine, I was carrying way too many books anyways, it's my fault." I replied trying to sort through which books were mine. I was just about to grab my copy of Masters of Death when a hand came out to grasp it at the same time.
"Whoops, that's yours isn't it?" She said as I looked up to recognize Hermione Granger.
"I think so…" I trailed off putting the book onto my pile.
"Masters of Death? Do you mind me asking where you found that book? I haven't come across it in the library and I've just about finished all the death books we carry." she said tossing me a confused look.
"Oh, it's in the re-" I stopped myself, I didn't need questions about how I was able to get into the restricted section. "It was a gift. If you want to borrow it, you could, I've already read it about ten times."
"Really? You don't mind? That would be great actually, I'm studying death in ancient runes right now and I haven't been able to find anything about it that would even relate to the subject. I'm actually at quite a loss." She said.
"Yeah, it's no problem," I said grabbing the book off the pile and handing it to her. I picked up my books, trying to balance them a little better than I had before. Hermione did the same.
"Do we have any classes together?" She asked as we walked towards the exit.
"I don't think so." I replied, trying to balance my books a little better as I went through the door.
"I could have sworn…" She trailed off in thought. "Anyways, what's your name?"
"Uh…I-I'm Aife."
"Nice to meet you Aife, I'm Hermione."
"You too, I'm headed this way," I said pointing in the opposite direction of where she began to walk. "I'm sorry about running into you. It was nice meeting you."
"You too, wait!" She exclaimed just as I was about to walk away. "I want to return your book to you at some point, should I just drop it off in the huffl-"
"No!" I shouted a little too aggressively.
"I'm sorry?" She said.
"No, sorry, um how about I just meet you in the great hall sometime?" I replied, trying to act calm.
"Oh, Alright. My paper is due on Friday, so I suppose I could just meet you there around four?" She smiled.
"Sounds good, see you then."
"Thank you, again!" She shouted back to me as I continued to my intended destination, the Muggle Studies room. As I walked along the corridor I wondered how I'd come up with that name, I'd never been asked my name, probably because I'd never really talked to anybody. Just as I was about to turn the last corner towards Professor Burbage's room I heard shouting coming from a room further down, a study room that I rarely visited due to its lack of comfortable seating.
"And what makes a Mudblood like yourself think that you have any right to hit on a Pureblood?" A foul voice shouted from the room. I crept up to the door only daring to look around the corner enough to see a boy who looked to be a third year being held up against a wall, suspended in air by nothing but a flick of Draco Malfoy's wand. Malfoy's followers were standing beside him, chuckling and throwing insults at the boy.
"H-hit on? I-I just wanted to know if-" The boy started to explain wearily.
"Save it," Malfoy commanded releasing his wand as the boy fell to the ground. There was a Slytherin girl among Malfoy's group with thick silver hair that flowed straight down to her shoulders, she was laughing and whispering into Crabbe's ear. Malfoy flicked his wand one last time only to result in a small gash spreading across the boys cheek. "Don't let me catch you again." The boy just held onto his cheek and lay there on the floor as Malfoy started heading for the door. I quickly straightened up and walked as if I intended on going into the study all along. Just as I was nearing the door the group of Slytherin's started to pile out. Goyle first, followed by the girl, and then Crabbe who was shuffling a little, a small smirk spread across his face. Malfoy was behind them walking slowly and confidently, as if he'd just won the House Cup. I kept my eyes down and walked towards the door.
"and what do you suppose your doing?" Malfoy sneered turning around just as I put my hand on the door knob.
"Who, me?" I asked, my voice high.
"Who else would I be talking to?" He snapped gesturing towards the empty corridor, his friends had disappeared. I didn't say anything back to him, just continued to open the door. "Don't ignore me." He commanded indignantly, stepping closer to me as if it was a threat.
"I don't see how you are in any position to know my business." I snapped. I could see his face growing red with each step closer to me.
"What did you just say?" He steamed, only a step or two and our noses would be touching.
"You heard me." I whispered, fully opening the door and slamming it in his face.