Hello everyone! This is a story that I've been planning and working on for a while now! I think that this is going to be my 'baby' for a while :)
The main character is mine, but pretty much all others are JK Rowling's.
I hope you enjoy all of this! It is only chapter one, so don't think it is over!
Have fun reading:
It Won't Be Long
Chapter One: The Arrival
I toss and turn, closing my dark brown, almost black, eyes as I try envisioning my day tomorrow. It is impossible. I don't know what to expect and since I'm anticipating the worst, I know that I will never be able to fall asleep.
But eventually it happens.
And all of the sudden, I am awake. "Hello world," I moan as I speed to the other side of the unfinished room and hear the loud construction from outside my smogged up window.
Automatically my hand slams down on the puke green cell phone, making it stop vibrating underneath the newly sanded and painted brown desk.
For the first time since last night I open my eyes, whispering gibberish while I take in my reflection from the silver and beaded mirror on the plain wall.
I cannot stop staring at those ugly over-night blemishes on the cracks of my small and silver pierced nose. I'm sure that there has to be other traits people will see in me.
Or will they just notice the slight implication of acne, and the overly fixed and parted hair? Am I something else in the eyes of strangers though…?
As I mull this over, I walk back to the side of my new mattress and old pink sheets, grabbing the clothes that lie on the empty petite oak dresser. It had been my changing table as a kid, but now I have it set up with a shimmering dark blue runner and purple candles on top of it.
Slowly, I shuffle over to a wooden door on the opposite wall, throwing it open as I go along.
. . . .
"Jackie! You're late! Breakfast…!" issues from upstairs.
"Good morning to you too, Mom," I mutter as I quickly swipe some black Lash Blast mascara across my eyelashes and then throw that and my other products into the already full makeup bag.
At last I am finished. "Hmmm…" The huge mirror in this gigantic bathroom with these horribly bright yellow lights makes everything about me even uglier.
Since I blow-dried my black and shiny mane of hair a couple of minutes ago, every trace of waves are gone. My silver braces are making my lips jut out even more than they used to so that I look like a definite caveman. The small daisy tattoos that my friend Zena convinced me to get are slightly showing on the right side of my abdomen. I can even sense a panty-line across the butt of my black t-party pants.
"Oh well… here goes nothing!" Sighing, I throw on the Beatles Yellow Submarine t-shirt my grandmother, and then my mother, used to own over the blue and fitted tank top while I head out into the hallway.
It is pitch black because apparently rats chewed away all electrical wiring downstairs and there are no windows since it is underground. I can smell thick mold and dust everywhere as I feel my way threw the tunnel of doom and into a sun patch by the stairs, coming eye to eye with my mom.
"Hi, sorry," I say. She grabs me by the hand and leads me up the new and white carpeted never-ending stairs.
"It's fine. I understand." I look at the back of my mom's red head bobbing up and down as we walk. She has on a light shade of fitted jeans and a white sparkly glue design t-shirt from her old business Ash, Paint, and Company Shirts. As usual she looks ridiculously attractive in the so called 'Mommy Clothes' and messy scarlet hair flying everywhere. "But just don't do it tomorrow because I won't be there to remind you about the time, okay?"
"If I survive until tomorrow, that is," I point out while she raises her annoyed and perfectly shaped dark red eyebrow.
"I do not understand why you've been complaining so much about your new school. You haven't even looked through the books and played with the wand, Jackie!"
She walks across the short entrance hall and onto the linoleum floor of our small kitchen. I sluggishly follow. "Well I do. It isn't as if I'll fit in. And I haven't looked through any of the stuff we got me because I have not had any time since we bought them."
Mom rolls her eyes, pushing some toast at my hands from the fake-marble counter gently. "It's probably ice-cold, but everything is organic and healthy."
"Great…" I say sarcastically.
"I'm glad you agree," she states as she marches past the counter and to our small and circular green dining table, reaching her hand inside one of the brown cardboard boxes that lies there. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, tea-kettle. But don't worry. I'm going to make a nice warm herbal in just a second."
It's my turn to roll my eyes. "Mom, stop changing the subject. I'm freaking out while you just try and befriend the tea-kettle." I look at her, biting my lip nervously as she smiles with her blue eyes shining with excitement.
"You will do great at the school, honey. I know you will. They would not have chosen you if you weren't a good addition to the school, and don't worry just because you're coming in a little later than all the other teens, okay?" Mom tells me convincingly while she rubs my tanned and freckled arms soothingly.
"Six years later-"
"What if a British and obviously magical person walked into King Philip Regional High School. How would everyone react, Jackie?"
I look at her pathetically as I try to chew on a small piece of the burnt toast. Slowly, I swallow. "Probably everyone would want to become his or her friend. But that's in America. All of us want what every other country has! I mean, I've always wanted a British accent and their clothes lines! America is just one big copy-cat, trying to recreate the perfect people from England, Mom!"
"Oh, stop your whining. People here are not considered 'perfect'. Now, let's get going. We still haven't packed up all your stuff, and the teacher from Hogwarts is supposed to be getting you in thirty minutes."
I stick out my tongue. "This is stupid! It isn't even a weekday and they wanted me to arrive. It's easiest to make friends and all when people are forced to sit next to me and stuff, during class."
"Alright. Sure, I agree. This is so stupid. You are the lucky one though, Jackie. Remember that I'm the one who has to live in this beat up house, while you go and get to perform real magic." Mom puts her petite hands onto her small hips and pouts, making her look younger than she already is.
I gulp down a bit of the freshly squeezed orange juice and wipe my mouth with my hand afterwards. "I'm sorry, Mom. I really shouldn't be complaining. I'm sorry!"
She snorts and rubs her eyes tiredly. "It's really fine. I'm just a little jealous of you, but I am even more proud."
"Oh stop, Mom. You're making me blush!" I joke.
"Hey!" Mom glares but I notice the fighting smile. "I am going to go check to see around the house for any objects we may have forgotten to put in the boxes. Finish up breakfast, okay?"
"Alright…" I swallow down the last bit of bread that I'm going to eat sulkily.
I exhale deeply while taking my plate to the sink and turn the water to hot. As I hum and wait for the warm water to actually come, I try to picture Hogwarts.
"Where the hell is it?" I mumble.
Professor McGonagall, the headmistress from the school, told me that I will be living in a castle, but I think she was just joking. Although she looks harsh and strict, she still seems to have a sense of humor.
A month ago she, her colorful robes, witch's hat, and wand had showed up at mine and Mom's apartment in Wrentham, Massachusetts, asking us if I had gotten my acceptance letter.
My mom was a bit taken aback by her outfit, but quickly recovered and offered Professor McGonagall one of the pre-made shirts that were on sale. Mom had no idea who she was, or what she was talking about because I threw away all of the mail from Hogwarts, thinking that they were just jokes made by my friends. I guess I was a little bit mistaken about the situation…
"Oh, finally!" The old sink faucet head now has a lukewarm feel as I squeeze some orange soap onto the blue and rough sponge.
"Hon, stop it. I'll do that when you have deserted me. Right now we need to search for Water!"
"Shit, I thought he was just under my bed. I didn't take it seriously when I woke up alone on my mattress today!" I look at her with concern as I sit the plate and translucent cup at the bottom of the white porcelain kitchen sink and hit the sink faucet off, walking over to where she stands.
"Please don't use that language. And especially when one of your teachers is going to show up, Jackie!" We walk back downstairs and into my room quickly while I try not to look at the unfamiliar and impersonal surroundings.
"Agh! Where is Water?" I bite my lip and glance all along the lines of the small and pretty much empty bedroom.
"I don't- Oh!" Mom laughs as she looks underneath my desk. "Found him… how did he get all the way over here?"
"Bad night's sleep? I don't know… I moved around a lot last night." She hands me my bright blue teddy bear. It's really a sort of mix between cat, bear, and cartoon, but I think that he is an adorable animal. A simple black half-circle stitching is the mouth, and there are two black buttons for his eyes.
"I'm sorry you're so scared, Jackie. Please stop worrying about it though."
I unzip the huge dark green camouflaged duffle bag that my great-grandfather owned in World War II, which lies beside my bed. A few seconds later I stuff my fourteen year old creature in one of the pockets.
"Mom, I've always lived in Wrentham. I've been in the same district through my whole life. I grew up with all of the kids in my community. This past month I have had to adjust to this place in England, and today I'm leaving even here. And it isn't even like I'm just moving to any boarding school. I'm about to attend Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Mom nods in understanding while she helps me with the stuck zipper (the duffle bag's fabric is stretched from all my clothes that are packed inside of it).
"You go and recheck that you have everything while I put on more appropriate clothes."
"There is no need for you to impress anyone, Mom! Stay with me, please!" I catch up to her, blocking the door and putting my hands on her shoulders. "Please?"
"I'm going to miss you so much, Jacqueline!" she tells me as her face gets stretched with sadness and she pulls me closer, into one of her amazing family hugs.
"Me too, Mom!" I say in a high pitched tone. I breathe in deeply, trying not to break down, but it isn't working. A huge and salty drop of water issues from each eye as I lean my head on her shoulder.
"We haven't been apart for any time longer than three days! And now you are gonna leave me for a whole school year!"
"I know! I am so sorry, Mommy!!!" I feel her chest heaving deeply while I'm sure she is crying also. "I just- I wish- Why can't you come, too???"
Mom laughs sadly. "I think we both know the answer to that one, Jackie. I will write to you though. Remember we got you one of those owls, and we'll see each other in a couple of months for Christmas. This is the best for both of us, I'm supposed to be reminding you and me, remember?"
I take a deep breath and let go of her, walking towards the mirror. "Right. Exactly! You are going to do everything that you couldn't do when I was born, and I'm supposed to have a blast performing random sorts of magic."
"Yeah, well… no, Jackie! I'm not going to just try and do all of the things other teenagers did while I raised you! I don't really regret any of that, surprisingly enough," she says sarcastically while wiping away her almost dried tears. "It's more of a 'start an amazing job' movement, so in the summer I can impress you with all of my new mad skills."
"Oh yes of course." I laugh. It isn't as if I will ever be offended if she ever wants to re-due her life. I mean, I would want to if I got knocked up at age fifteen. "I'm honored that you will be showing off some of your new talents in… seven months."
"Ugh…"
"Yeah… that's a long time. But this is the best for both you and me!!!" I remind us quickly. We nod our heads vigorously as we look at each other by the reflection of the small mirror.
"Okay, I'm changing the subject if you don't mind."
"Good idea."
"Let's neaten up our beautiful faces because I think that the person will be here soon." She sighs as she looks at her old black cat clock with the moving eyes and tail that hangs on my wall.
"Well I don't think I can do anything more to my face, but you can while I move everything upstairs…" I look in the direction of where Mom is staring. "Ahhh!!! We have two minutes!!!!" It is almost 2:30 PM (Mom had told me to sleep in as late as possible this morning, because I won't have another chance to do that until the summer)
"But remember that this clock is two minutes slow though, Ja-"
A loud pop comes from upstairs. I spin around and face my Mom with my black eyes huge from terror and her blue ones watery and wide. "Would that be…?"
"Probably!" she squeaks as she speeds through my open door, holding a packing box in each hand. The same exact noise was made a month ago, when Professor McGonagall had arrived.
"Breathe, Jackie, Breathe," I need to remind myself while I heave my duffle bag up and onto my shoulder, following along behind Mom.
"Just be your normal self, Hon. Please? When that McGonagall lady showed up last time, we acted like complete freaks," she whispers in a shaky voice.
I can't respond. I'm just too nervous to do anything but walk up the infinite amount of stairs. I am not even brave enough to look through the banisters to see who is here to pick me up.
"Hello there!" A friendly male's voice says close by, but I keep my eyes focused on my dark purple converse. "I'm Professor Longbottom."
I have to smile and peek up at 'Professor Longbottom' now. My eyes blink a couple of times to make him come into focus because I am not used to the change of light. I try not to act too surprised at his outfit, since I have already seen many witches and wizards dress strangely when I was getting my school supplies at Diagon Alley.
He has on a dark green robe thing, and a sparkling 'wizard's' hat, but what I really notice is his face. He is smiling from ear to ear, as if having a new witch come into Hogwarts is exciting, but every inch of skin that is in sight is covered in different shaped scars. What happened to him? Professor McGonagall had very thin scars across her arms and face, but there must be a reason for both of them to be in such bad shape! When Mom and I shopped in Diagon Alley, I noticed that many of the adults had odd scars bumps on their faces, but I've never seen someone so harmed in my entire life before last month!
I force myself to look into his dark green eyes.
"Hi! Welcome to our home, Professor! I am Ashley Marshall, (You can just call me Ash though) and this is…" Mom looks at me with a convincing smile.
"Jacqueline Marshall," I say firmly, holding out my black nail polished right hand. "It's very nice to meet you Professor Longbottom."
"Why thank you!" He holds my hand and shakes it in what feels like a friendly way. "It is a pleasure to meet you also, Jacqueline, and you too Ash. I will be your Herbology teacher at Hogwarts so we will know each other soon, hopefully!"
"I hope so too, Mr.- I mean Professor Longbottom. You can call me Jackie also if you'd like-"
"It's what everyone really calls her." My mom is smiling sweetly at him as he looks from her long legs to her full and curvy body. No freckles cover Mom's skin, even though it is a rule for red heads to have them. Her long hair is crazy because I am pretty sure she has forgotten to brush it, so it lies along her shoulders and over her back in huge waves of bright shine.
"Well it's true that you both are Americans! That is very interesting! And you are coming in as a sixteen year old. Now that is just wonderful and unusual, Jackie!"
"Wh-what am I going to learn if I am so behind?"
"We are on a sort of… tight schedule because one of the Slytherin first years poisoned a mandrake yesterday, but I promise you that Professor McGonagall will explain everything in detail to you when we get to Hogwarts…" He scratches his head. "Is that alright with you?"
Mom and I sigh and pout. Oh Jesus… we are so automatically childish, it's embarrassing. "Ummm… yes… Professor Longbottom. It's perfectly fine. Let me just get the rest of my stuff."
"Oh no, allow me," he tells us casually while we stare at him. He takes out a long and thin, dark mahogany branch from his robe pocket (his wand) and moves it in a type of weird pattern. In the next instant, my duffle bag, three boxes, a small carry-on, and metal bird cage with my brown pet owl Plato is… floating towards us. Professor Longbottom chuckles while they come to a halt beside him. "My, you have many things, Jackie."
"Oh, well… yes. I guess I do." I smile at him innocently. "Is that okay? The list didn't really specify and personal items, so I guessed that we were just allowed to bring them…-"
"I'm sure it is fine. As long as your roommates allow you to unpack that much." He is joking, but now I'm quite worried.
"Will I get to know who my roommates are?" I ask anxiously as Mom puts her arm around me in attempt to hug.
"Yes, but not right now."
"Oh…"
"I guess I will wait outside and you can say goodbye to your mother, alright?" It didn't sound like a question, but I answered with a 'sure'.
"Mom," I say when our new front door softly shuts behind Professor Longbottom and my luggage.
"Jackie!" Mom leaps at me and kisses both cheeks, and then my lips as I squeeze her tight. "It's a good thing I didn't wear my new lipstick. Your face would be a mess," she jokes.
"Oh, stop! We need to have an official goodbye!"
"Goodbye, Jackie!" We both sigh again. "I love you.'
"I love you too, Mom."
"You will have so much fun that you will forget all about me by the second day."
"I'm sure that's true… most likely you will forget that you have a child by the first week."
"Uh-huh…" Mom muses while hugging me as hard as she can. "Oh, Jackie, I think you need to leave now, but write to me right when you are settled, okay?"
"I will, Mom. I promise!" I say as I kiss her cheek one last time and let go.
"Bye, Sweetheart," she tells me tearfully while I walk backwards, to the front door as I wave.
"Bye, Mommy!" I open the door and turn around. The last thing I see from the other side of the wall before I shut the door is Mom with her eyes closed and her arms crossed, her red hair covering most of her delicate body.
"Hi again! Are you ready, Jackie?"
I look up from the ground and see my new professor's concerned face staring at me. "Yeah, I guess I'll never be ready, so let's just go before I chicken out!"
Professor Longbottom chuckles, but not like last time. It has more of a funeral march to it, although it's probably my imagination. "I just sent your luggage to Hogwarts, and the way weare getting there is by side-apporation."
I laugh. "Err… okay. Let's do it!" I roll my eyes but I hope he doesn't see. When I am sad, I always have a bad temper.
"Here, hold my arm and I am going to spin us around in a sort of circle. This will feel a tad weird, but it gets better after the first time."
"Umm…" I place my hand firmly against his robed arm and before I can think to wave at my mom threw the glass front window, I guess I am apparating.
I feel compacted, like a thousand bricks are pushing down on my chest and my nose is stuffed up to the maximum from a bad flu. My black hair feels as if it is growing backwards and forcing back into my scalp. Owe, this is agony! What is happening???
But it is over in seconds as I hear birds chirping and while a light breeze blows my hair.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry! I should have told you to breathe deeply beforehand! My first time was dreadful, so I just wanted you to get it over with as quickly as possible! I'm sorry!" he says as he holds up all of my weight. I try to remember that I probably should not be clinging to my thirty-something year old teacher, but I think I might pass out if I let go.
"Mmmhhmmm…" I cough and get enough air supply to speak. "No, I'm fine! And it isn't as if you didn't warn me." My heartbeat lessens its loudness and quickness as I breathe in and out deeply. "I'm alright, don't worry."
Slowly, I stand up on my own. Just now I've realized how weird it is that humans are supported by twelve inches long and a couple inches wide bones and skin. It is amazing that we do not fall more often!
"Okay good! Welcome to Hogsmeade. This," He points to around us, where a little cottage street lies. "is where you can hangout with your friends on certain days of the school year. Just don't lose the signed permission sheet that you mother gave you. We cannot apporate into Hogwarts, and this is the closest town to the castle, so everyone always travels here to get to there. Come and follow me this way, alright?"
"It is so picturesque here!" There are tiny shops with funny names, like Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, and The Three Broomsticks. There is a magical buzz all through the leaf fallen streets, and the small wind gives me the smell of sweets from the candy store, equipment from the joke shop, and cream from the café..
"Oh just wait until you see Hogwarts. This will seem just plain stupid when you can look up at the castle."
"So it really is a castle? I thought Professor McGonagall was exaggerating a bit."
"The headmistress never kids," he tells me as we walk along an old red brick path.
"Well that's good. Because then I would get confused very easily." I smile and look up at his face. Oh no, I'm looking at the scars again! "Ummm… Professor?"
"Yes, Jackie?"
"I know nothing about the magical world…" I say slowly.
"You must know something…" He looks at me quizzically while we walk passed the gates of Hogsmeade and onto a plane dirt road.
"Nothing. And I am serious. I've been meaning to look at my school books, but my mom and I have been so busy! I only got them a couple of weeks ago, and then we moved halfway across the world. During the day, we've been unpacking everything, and at night I can't see because rats have cut away all chances of electricity!"
"That is unfortunate, Jackie. I think you will learn more about our world during school hours and from the friends you meet, but I really don't know how to explain anything that has happened in our community on a casual walk to the castle."
"I understand Professor… well, actually I don't, but- Wow!!!"
I have spotted it! Professor McGonagall and Professor Longbottom were both under-exaggerating. Everything is so… amazing? I can't even think of the right possible words for this place. We have entered through tall black and impressive steel gates to a magnificent and… and magical world.
Faintly insight I can see a tip of a tower, but the hill ahead of us blocks every other chance at gawping.
The trees around me are completely different than even the trees in England. They move in a sort of daze next to huge dirt and grass hills. "Wow, Professor!"
We keep walking and I see a lake! Professor Longbottom tells me that it is called the Black Lake. It looks dangerously like and ocean and the water is black. I laugh. "Hence the name."
Across from the stormy and crashing waves, I finallycan see the entire castle. It is huger than I even imagined, and trust me, my imagination went hay-wire this past month.
I've tried to count every tour, but it is impossible. I lost count after I got to fifty, and I got distracted because the professor says to beware of unicorns.
"And why's that?" I ask him casually while I try to picture a horse with a multi-colored horn on its head galloping towards me and letting me pet his silver mane.
"Mating season gets them all worked up. But I don't really know much about animals, so don't ask me anything more about that."
"Oh, alright, Professor."
The rest of the walk is brisk while we head threw the huge red and brown overgrown path that leads to Hogwarts castle in silence. None of it is awkward though, since we are both taking in all of the beautiful surroundings.
Nature is louder than I ever expected as I shut up. I can hear the roaring lake near by, and birds humming, chirping, and singing everywhere. Leaves of every tree around us are swaying and swishing, making their own type of music.
The temperature is in the low 70's, but Professor Longbottom tells me that it used to be freezing in the fall.
"Yeah, it's like this in Massachusetts, too. Global Warming is going to end up making the whole world turn into an ocean. Do you think we'll evolve in to mermaids?" I ask as I imagine myself with fins and a tail.
He laughs, but I can tell that he doesn't really understand my joke. "Well, mermaids are their own species so we wouldn't just change into them, but I get what you are saying. Although, the main reason it is such a different climate than it used to be is because Voldemort left us."
"What's that?" He must be mentioning some type of weather contraption… but then he stares at me pathetically so I know that I am wrong.
"The question is 'Who is he?'. Jackie, you really need to read your history of magic books. Voldemort has affected our whole magical world."
"So was he your… weather god?" I am failing to impress my teacher. Now Professor Longbottom isn't looking at my face, and I think he is trying to hide a smile as we walk up dirt stairs that lead to another path, although this one much smaller.
"Errr, no Jackie," he laughs and scratches his goatee. "Definitely not a weather god. I will just tell you that he was… and still is to this day… everyone's worst nightmare."
"Shi-Shoot! I think that I am in need of some magical history classes, Mr. Longbottom- I mean Professor… sorry…" My face turns red. All of these new terms I am supposed to use are hard to remember. Not only am I supposed to know about British every day words, but I am supposed to know about magical words! Where are the dictionaries when I need them?
We walk around a bend of trees and I come face to face with the castle's huge stone doors. "Oh! I did not see that coming!"
He smiles. "We are going through the back entrance of Hogwarts because this is closer to where your headmistress's office is. Your new classmates can show you around the main building once we have you situated, alright?"
"Umm… okay sure," is all I can really think to say, because at this moment, Professor Longbottom is opening the doors to my new home.
He leads me through the big entrance and into a stone hallway with lit torches hanging on each wall. It is cold and mostly empty in the palace-like place, with no students surrounding it, but I am even more intrigued with Hogwarts now. "How old is the castle, Professor?"
"Oh, no one really knows… around a thousand of years maybe? The four founders of the school are Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. You are going to get selected into one of their houses, Jackie."
"H-how will you know which… house I'll get picked into though? I don't know any magic what so ever, sir!"
"It is nothing to worry about! No one knows anything about magic when they come here. That is what all of us are for, Jackie. I'm supposed to teach you about the magical plants and medicines, but you'll also figure out how to make potions, transfigure objects, do charms, learn to care for animals, and learn how to defend yourself against what is out there. Even without all of this knowledge, Jackie, the trait you excel in could be intelligence, bravery, ambition, or kindness. You might even be a little bit of all of these. Those traits will help the sorter sort you into which ever house you'll go into," Professor Longbottom says soothingly while we echo through the long and hard hall.
I exhale what I have been holding in as my heart slows down. "What house did you go into?"
"There are four that you can get into; they are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, all named after the founders of course. I'm a Gryffindor," he tells me proudly.
"Oh? And what one is that?-"
"Definitely brave," he says while chuckling.
"That seems like the best one! I hope I get into their-" My voice cracks because Professor Longbottom and I are now standing beside a golden eagle statue that is spinning, making a golden staircase emerge.
"This is Headmistress McGonagall's office… be careful not to trip on the stairs. Trust me, they are narrow. I've already fallen down them seven times, and I have only worked here for six years."
I look at his trusting face to the magically moving stairs, sigh, and then move my foot onto the first step. "This is kind of like the escalators at malls… only this is run by magic, not by electricity."
I laugh as he asks what an escalator is. "Oh it's nothing very intere-" I gasp softly while Professor Longbottom and I reach the end of the staircase and he knocks on a light wooden door, making someone's voice from the other side of the door tell us to 'Come in.'
"There is nothing to be scared of, Jackie," he whispers before swinging the door open.
I gulp and nod to him while I walk through the room to where Professor McGonagall smiles up at me. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Ms Marshall! I am so glad you made it here so soon! Was the walk up to the castle alright?" she asks both of us.
"Oh it is magnificent here, Professor McGonagall! And not just the castle, either. It is everything around me that makes the whole place so beautiful!"
"Well I am glad that you like it here," she tells me kindly. "Thank you for getting our new student, Professor Longbottom!"
"Oh, it was a pleasure! Jackie is a very sweet girl, and it was fun to just be able to walk along the path to our castle… but I do have to go-"
"Of course, I am sorry! You should be healing the mandrakes because no one else knows how! You can go now, thank you!" she tells him briskly, but not in a rude way. He smiles to both of us happily and walks through the office door, shutting it on his way out.
Now I am alone with Professor McGonagall. I think I am scared of her, but I am not sure why exactly. Maybe she is too impressive for my small brain?
"You may sit down, Jackie." She waves her head to a padded red and velvet chair.
"Thank you." I was too nervous to look around the room before now. I comfortably sit down on the huge wooden chair across from McGonagall. "This room is amazing," I breathe while I take in the surroundings.
Everything is gold and sparkling, and the room is circular. All around me are bookshelves and drawers and desks, somehow fitting in the small room without it feeling crowded. In the background I can hear gadgets spinning and the gigantic fireplace crackling. A peppermint and chocolate smell wafts through the room and bright sunlight issues through a big square window, looking out into the stormy Black Lake.
"Isn't it? Every Head adds a little to the office, but I think Dumbledore had put in the most." She gazes around the room proudly.
"Now Minerva, I think the room is the neatest it has ever been once you took office years back!" says a jolly voice.
I jump in my seat and look around me. No one is there. "Who-who was that???"
McGonagall laughs as she points to a portrait of an old man with a long white beard and half-moon glasses smiling warmly at us from high up on the wall, behind the main desk and on the opposite side of the room as the door. "I-Is this magic as well?" I ask since the picture and the other ones that surround it are moving freely about their frames.
"Oh yes. I think that you will find everything in Hogwarts grounds are some-what bewitched. That is our last headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore. When the head dies, he or she gets put up onto the wall."
"Hello there, Jackie!"
"H-Hi! I've never talked to a painting before!" I laugh.
"Jackie."
"Yes, Professor?"
"We have to discuss certain things, and I would like us to be finished with all of it by the next hour and a half, when dinner is to be served, okay? We are going to have a feast to celebrate our new arrival!"
I smile and then realize that that she is talking about me. "Alright, thank you!"
She nods her head. "So first I think you should know that we are going to make you learn everything alongside the first years. You can still be considered a sixth year when it comes to dances and older student's privileges, but learning wise, you are at a first year level."
"Okay. That makes sense."
"Even for first year status, you are behind since it is October. You've missed a month of school, but since you are older than the other kids in your new classes, I think you will grasp all of the concepts quicker." I bite my lip, making sure that I do not smile as I imagine myself trying to make a chair float while a bunch of eleven year olds crowd around me.
"I can handle learning with eleven and twelve year olds."
"That's good! I was hoping you wouldn't feel too uncomfortable…"
"I'm perfectly fine with it. As long as I can hang out with people my age…"
"Of course you'll be able to do that, and your sleeping arrangement is going to be with the 6th year girls, too. We will just have to figure out what house you are in first."
"Can I know now?" I ask anxiously.
"Well…" she bites her lip and looks at my begging eyes. "Let me just explain to you my theory as to why you did not get an acceptance letter when you were eleven years old first."
"I have been wondering about that."
"Yes, well your magical abilities did not show up until you were eight or nine, am I right?" I nod my head. "Well usually magical children show sign when they are five to six, but you were late. Last month, I was talking to your mother about when you were younger and learned that you both do not know who your father is."
"That is correct," I tell her embarrassedly.
"Oh it is nothing to be ashamed of! It isn't as if you could help it. Your own mother was raped, Ms Marshall! The only one to blame for the confusing life you have begun to have is your birth father, and since we do not know who or where he is…"
"I was thinking that he might have been a wizard, Professor."
"That is exactly what I am thinking. But something might have gone wrong during conception."
I sink in my chair as my face turns bright red. It is one thing for her to talk about my father, another to be discussing conception, but why should she bring up my unknown birth defect?
"Please don't be embarrassed! I am not saying that you can't think properly or you are a crippled, Ms Marshall. I am just saying that, since during the time you were conceived your mother was forced to take the drug Rohypnol. She told me that she was scared that she could not remember the night before, so she went to the doctor. The doctor tested and found out that your mother took that specific drug," Professor McGonagall tells me. "I have never heard of any wizard to use muggle drugs, and especially for these purposes. We can only assume that the Rohypnol stunted your magical growth. Your magical powers are probably at the range of a first year, but your intelligence and heart are equal to a sixth year's."
I show her a small smile while I feel all of my insides begin to feel relaxed. It is nice to have a theory made by a professor, since I've been wondering about this detail of my life all month. "Thank you for telling me this. I'm glad that we know what happened…"
"But remember, that is just a guess. I will look into this further, but I'm afraid that we won't ever know any of this for a fact."
I nod my head again, but I already sort of know before she says this. I guess if I know why this happened or not, it doesn't make a difference.
"Alright, so I've mentioned everything that you specifically need to know. Now I think we need to sort you into your new house! The way we will know what house you get into is by a hat. The founders of this school created it, making sure that the hat knows what type of witch or wizard goes into which house, according to their traits. I am going to put this," McGonagall gets off of her armchair and walks to one of the small wooden shelves, reaching for a huge a battered brown wizard's hat. "on your head and then it will decide the rest."
"Really? That is so neat!" I say with intrigue while the palms of my hands are slick with sweat. All of the houses sound good to get into, but I am not sure that I am even 'magical' enough to get into one of them.
Before I say anything else, Professor McGonagall walks back over to where I am and places the hat on top of my black hair. It falls way down and past my eyes, making everything around me go away. I am in a complete black universe while I wait patiently for it to decide.
On top of my scalp I can hear a light ripping noise, and the next second is filled with a male's voice saying, "It's a bit early for sorting, isn't? I haven't come up with a song yet…"
"We have a new student though. Can you sort Ms Marshall, please?" Professor McGonagall says to (I guess) the hat. "There is no need for a sorting song. Don't worry."
"Oh alright," what seems to be the hat grumbles in my ear. "Well let's see here… You are a bit –hmmm- and you are definitely –uh huh-. Yes, she would make a good- but what about –well-" it mutters to it's self as it thinks. I can hear a loud buzzing in my ears and my eyes fill with black spots, while I feel close to passing out. I am not very good when it comes to waiting for big news. The buzzing gets louder, but stops immediately when the sorting hat speaks up again, louder this time since it is meant to be heard by Professor McGonagall and I. "Jacqueline Marshall will be best off in Gryffindor."
I smile so big at the last word that my face turns red with embarrassment.
"Congratulations! You are in my house!" she says as she lifts the hat back off me and places it on the shelf again.
"Oh really? Well this is exciting! I wanted to be picked into this house, Professor!" I tell her in relief.
Professor smiles a little. "In my opinion, you are in the best house, Ms Marshall." She looks at the watch on her right and freckled arm. "A sixth year is supposed to meet you by my office at 4:00 to show you to your dormitory, so why don't you go down the stairs and wait. It is 5 till and they may be early. I will send your luggage to your Gryffindor dormitory now that we know where you will live for the next year."
"A-Alright, Professor. Thank you for explaining everything to me then," I say as I shake her hand and walk towards the door.
"Oh, and Ms Marshall?"
"Yes?" I turn around and face her again.
"In the future, you are supposed to wear your uniform when you are not in your own common room or dormitory," she tells me as she looks me up and down.
"Oh," I mumble as I feel my face turning redder and redder. "Yes of course, sorry."
"It's fine. Just remember for tomorrow, on Sunday."
"I will," I say while I wave to her and speed through the door.
Quietly, I walk down the spiral staircase, not bothering to wait for the stairs to move. For the first time since I woke up, I am alone. I breathe in deeply as I try not to feel homesick, but sadly I already am missing my mom.
I am going to have to write to her when I am led to my new room, but first I need to find my 'leader'.
I finally reach the bottom of the staircase so I leap off it and go across the hall. My feet are slipping across the smooth stone ground so I stop walking and put my back against the surprisingly warm wall.
It feels like the longest trip I have ever been on, although it has only been a couple of hours since I have seen Mom. I take another deep breath and close my eyes, leaning my head back and sliding down the wall, meeting the hard ground's surface.
Chapter one is complete! I'm so proud :')
If you see any grammar or misspellings, tell me!!!!!!! It is important!
I've read it four times, but it is kind of long so I end up getting distracted after I am on 5,000 words :) I AM SORRY!
Guess what I am listing to on my newly fixed record player... that just broke!!!!! Meet the Beatles!!!! I love that album so much, it is sad :O
If you liked it, review! If you didn't like it, review and tell me why you didn't like it! If you don't know if you like it or not, REVIEW! :)
-Maia