Chapter One
~ In Gryffindor Tower~
There was a chilly breeze, unusual for the summer season, as Hogwarts students stumbled out of bed. It was the second day of school and Hermione Granger can already be found reading a gigantic volume in the common room. She had been up and dressed an hour ago. After five years you would think, she'll finally give herself a break.
" Hermione, we're all going down to breakfast now, you coming? "
Hermione looked up at the sound of Ginny Weasley's voice and smiled,
" Is your brother and Harry up?"
Ginny's reply was accompanied with a laugh and the rolling of her eyes.
" Those lazy bones? Give them half an hour."
Both girls' laughter spread through out Gryffindor tower. But it stopped when they heard Ron Weasley's sleepy grumble behind them.
" As if anyone could sleep with you two laughing like Banshees. "
"Obviously you haven't heard yourself laugh. It's just like a Banshee's squeal!", his sister shot back playfully. Harry Potter smiled as he walked up to Ron and the girls. The Weasley's sibling banter, amused him. He had never had any fun like that when he was with the Dursleys.
"Well, my stomach was rumbling when I was in the dorm, so why don't we go down to breakfast? "
" Hard to believe you can be hungry after last night's feast."
Ron said, as the four friends descended to the Great Hall.
~ In Dumbledore's office~
In the dimly lit room, two figures can be made out in the flickering candlelight. One, no doubt, was Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore was talking to someone or something, but admist the shadows, it is hard to make out who or what...
~ In the Great Hall~
The sun had penetrated through clouds to shine through the windows of the Hall. Each House, (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin) had their own table with the flags hung respectively behind them, on the wall. At the front sat the staff, enjoying their breakfast and were talking with each other. All were present, excluding the headmaster.
Harry noticed the absence of Professor Dumbledore immediately and was greatly concerned. The Professor was never late to any meal, or any occasion. He turned to ask Ron what he thought had happened to Dumbledore, only to find Ron gaping at something beyond his shoulder. Harry slowly turned around, the rest of the school had quieted and was also looking in that direction.
The doors, at the entrance of the Great Hall had opened and the Professor was coming in. But that was the reason why all the guys were acting like goldfishes and especially not the reason why all the girls were glaring. Beside him was a girl. She was a stunning girl actually.
A girl, with hair which you can not possibly call brown, it was... copper coloured, grown to the waist, swaying with every movement that the girl made. Her eyes were emerald green. As her eyes glanced past Harry, he saw that they were deep like pools of water.
She must be a veela, Harry thought. He assumed she was around sixteen and he wondered what she was doing here. The spell was broken by the Professor walking in front of her leading the girl to the front of the hall. All eyes followed them. All as curious as cats. The staff however acted if it was just the headmaster himself entering the hall, none of them staring at the young girl beside him.
" Good Morning. I see we are all up early for our first day of classes..."
Professor Dumbledore smiles as every student groan when they hear the word 'classes'. Harry however, noticed that Hermione smiled at the comment. Ron too, saw the smile and nudged Harry, rolling his eyes.
"...But as to not shorten too much of your breakfast time, let me introduce you to our new student Dilynn Zenclar from Australia. We have agreed to become sister schools with the 'Academy of Oz for Wizards and Witches'. In doing so, Dilynn is to spend the year at Hogwarts, while one of our students go to Australia."
Whispers started to culminate, as the students tried to discover who was missing from admist them. Hermoine leaned over so that only Harry and Ron could hear her.
" It's Neville. He sent me an owl during the holidays, saying that his grandmother wanted to visit Australia, so he was chosen to be transferred to Oz."
Harry was shocked. A year without Neville, how would that be? How would a year without breaking glass, mistakes in spells and potions be?
Dumbledore continued " This year the student was Neville Longbottom..."
Harry turned at the sound of snickering. He glared. I should of know that it would be Malfoy. Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle were forever teasing and torturing Neville.
" He just couldn't handle it. I knew that Longbottom was a disgrace to our school and society. I bet that's why he got sent out there, to the middle of nowhere!" snickered Draco while Crabbe and Goyle continued guffawing. But one look from Dumbledore and they were silent as rats.
" Dilynn is a Sixth year and I hope all of you treat her as if she has been here since the beginning. Especially the Slytherins as they are her fellow housemates."
All the guys at the Slytherin table started whistling. Dilynn looked at the cheering table and smiled but that smile faltered slightly when she saw the glares from all the girls. She gave a confident shake of her copper hair and walked towards the table. The Seventh years boys had cleared a space for her, so she sat there willingly, away from the scowling witches.
" Ron close your mouth, it's about to drop to the floor!" hissed Hermione, looking disgusted at his behavior. He tore his eyes away and tried to concentrate on his food.
" She's a veela, I can tell."
"Well she's a Slytherin, you know that they're all mean and nasty and if the Sorting Hat put her in there, she must be the same!"
Ginny looked surprised at Hermione's stereotyping. Sure she knew that the Slytherins weren't the nicest people but Hermione's never had anything against all of them just the annoying ones like Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson's group. Then she realized, Hermione was jealous. She was jealous of the way Ron looked at Dilynn.
Whispering to her, Ginny says, " Don't take it personally, he's just extremely weak when it come to Veelas." An assuring smile is also thrown in. Hermione unruffled slightly but still not completely cheered up.
~At the Staff's Table~
" But Albus, why Slytherin? Isn't that just going to torture the girl? " asks Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher and Head of Grythindor.
"Minerva, I trust in the Sorting Hat completely. She'll be fine, look she's made friends already.", he said, pointing out the girl, surrounded with guys, to Professor McGonagall.
"And I'm sure Severus will look after her. Now, would you like some sausages, Minerva? They are absolutely delicious!"
Professor McGonagall sighed profusely and took the dish, passing it on to Hagrid. She didn't agree with the decision, but she knew that Dumbledore was capable of good judgement so she let the matter slip.
~ At the Slytherin Table~
The newcomer sits with a plate of sausages and fried tomatoes in hand. Talking about her home was one of Dilynn's favourite things and she liked talking about it with guys even better. But she was becoming very unnerved by the continuous, hatred filled glares coming from the other side of the table.
" So what was it like in Oz? You got guys like us in that school?"
She smiles, knowing exactly how to handle this kind of question.
"Well that would depend, what are you guys like?"
That question was enough to make the seventh year blush.
"Dilynn...."
" Hey Dilynn what about..."
" Zenclar!"
Her smile is frozen into place as she turns to face Pansy Parkinson.
" Yes?"
" That hair real? "asked Parkinson with a smirk, setting the whole table into hysterics.
Her eyes became smaller. With a different voice, ensuring the fact that she and Pansy will never become friends, Dilynn replied.
" Is that brain really yours or did you buy it? "
Every Slytherin except Pansy's group roared with uncontrollable fits. If Dilynn was planning to make an enemy, she succeeded. By the expression on the opponent's face, it told clearly that she would pay for that comment, dearly.
~ In Gryffindor Tower~
There was a chilly breeze, unusual for the summer season, as Hogwarts students stumbled out of bed. It was the second day of school and Hermione Granger can already be found reading a gigantic volume in the common room. She had been up and dressed an hour ago. After five years you would think, she'll finally give herself a break.
" Hermione, we're all going down to breakfast now, you coming? "
Hermione looked up at the sound of Ginny Weasley's voice and smiled,
" Is your brother and Harry up?"
Ginny's reply was accompanied with a laugh and the rolling of her eyes.
" Those lazy bones? Give them half an hour."
Both girls' laughter spread through out Gryffindor tower. But it stopped when they heard Ron Weasley's sleepy grumble behind them.
" As if anyone could sleep with you two laughing like Banshees. "
"Obviously you haven't heard yourself laugh. It's just like a Banshee's squeal!", his sister shot back playfully. Harry Potter smiled as he walked up to Ron and the girls. The Weasley's sibling banter, amused him. He had never had any fun like that when he was with the Dursleys.
"Well, my stomach was rumbling when I was in the dorm, so why don't we go down to breakfast? "
" Hard to believe you can be hungry after last night's feast."
Ron said, as the four friends descended to the Great Hall.
~ In Dumbledore's office~
In the dimly lit room, two figures can be made out in the flickering candlelight. One, no doubt, was Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore was talking to someone or something, but admist the shadows, it is hard to make out who or what...
~ In the Great Hall~
The sun had penetrated through clouds to shine through the windows of the Hall. Each House, (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin) had their own table with the flags hung respectively behind them, on the wall. At the front sat the staff, enjoying their breakfast and were talking with each other. All were present, excluding the headmaster.
Harry noticed the absence of Professor Dumbledore immediately and was greatly concerned. The Professor was never late to any meal, or any occasion. He turned to ask Ron what he thought had happened to Dumbledore, only to find Ron gaping at something beyond his shoulder. Harry slowly turned around, the rest of the school had quieted and was also looking in that direction.
The doors, at the entrance of the Great Hall had opened and the Professor was coming in. But that was the reason why all the guys were acting like goldfishes and especially not the reason why all the girls were glaring. Beside him was a girl. She was a stunning girl actually.
A girl, with hair which you can not possibly call brown, it was... copper coloured, grown to the waist, swaying with every movement that the girl made. Her eyes were emerald green. As her eyes glanced past Harry, he saw that they were deep like pools of water.
She must be a veela, Harry thought. He assumed she was around sixteen and he wondered what she was doing here. The spell was broken by the Professor walking in front of her leading the girl to the front of the hall. All eyes followed them. All as curious as cats. The staff however acted if it was just the headmaster himself entering the hall, none of them staring at the young girl beside him.
" Good Morning. I see we are all up early for our first day of classes..."
Professor Dumbledore smiles as every student groan when they hear the word 'classes'. Harry however, noticed that Hermione smiled at the comment. Ron too, saw the smile and nudged Harry, rolling his eyes.
"...But as to not shorten too much of your breakfast time, let me introduce you to our new student Dilynn Zenclar from Australia. We have agreed to become sister schools with the 'Academy of Oz for Wizards and Witches'. In doing so, Dilynn is to spend the year at Hogwarts, while one of our students go to Australia."
Whispers started to culminate, as the students tried to discover who was missing from admist them. Hermoine leaned over so that only Harry and Ron could hear her.
" It's Neville. He sent me an owl during the holidays, saying that his grandmother wanted to visit Australia, so he was chosen to be transferred to Oz."
Harry was shocked. A year without Neville, how would that be? How would a year without breaking glass, mistakes in spells and potions be?
Dumbledore continued " This year the student was Neville Longbottom..."
Harry turned at the sound of snickering. He glared. I should of know that it would be Malfoy. Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle were forever teasing and torturing Neville.
" He just couldn't handle it. I knew that Longbottom was a disgrace to our school and society. I bet that's why he got sent out there, to the middle of nowhere!" snickered Draco while Crabbe and Goyle continued guffawing. But one look from Dumbledore and they were silent as rats.
" Dilynn is a Sixth year and I hope all of you treat her as if she has been here since the beginning. Especially the Slytherins as they are her fellow housemates."
All the guys at the Slytherin table started whistling. Dilynn looked at the cheering table and smiled but that smile faltered slightly when she saw the glares from all the girls. She gave a confident shake of her copper hair and walked towards the table. The Seventh years boys had cleared a space for her, so she sat there willingly, away from the scowling witches.
" Ron close your mouth, it's about to drop to the floor!" hissed Hermione, looking disgusted at his behavior. He tore his eyes away and tried to concentrate on his food.
" She's a veela, I can tell."
"Well she's a Slytherin, you know that they're all mean and nasty and if the Sorting Hat put her in there, she must be the same!"
Ginny looked surprised at Hermione's stereotyping. Sure she knew that the Slytherins weren't the nicest people but Hermione's never had anything against all of them just the annoying ones like Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson's group. Then she realized, Hermione was jealous. She was jealous of the way Ron looked at Dilynn.
Whispering to her, Ginny says, " Don't take it personally, he's just extremely weak when it come to Veelas." An assuring smile is also thrown in. Hermione unruffled slightly but still not completely cheered up.
~At the Staff's Table~
" But Albus, why Slytherin? Isn't that just going to torture the girl? " asks Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher and Head of Grythindor.
"Minerva, I trust in the Sorting Hat completely. She'll be fine, look she's made friends already.", he said, pointing out the girl, surrounded with guys, to Professor McGonagall.
"And I'm sure Severus will look after her. Now, would you like some sausages, Minerva? They are absolutely delicious!"
Professor McGonagall sighed profusely and took the dish, passing it on to Hagrid. She didn't agree with the decision, but she knew that Dumbledore was capable of good judgement so she let the matter slip.
~ At the Slytherin Table~
The newcomer sits with a plate of sausages and fried tomatoes in hand. Talking about her home was one of Dilynn's favourite things and she liked talking about it with guys even better. But she was becoming very unnerved by the continuous, hatred filled glares coming from the other side of the table.
" So what was it like in Oz? You got guys like us in that school?"
She smiles, knowing exactly how to handle this kind of question.
"Well that would depend, what are you guys like?"
That question was enough to make the seventh year blush.
"Dilynn...."
" Hey Dilynn what about..."
" Zenclar!"
Her smile is frozen into place as she turns to face Pansy Parkinson.
" Yes?"
" That hair real? "asked Parkinson with a smirk, setting the whole table into hysterics.
Her eyes became smaller. With a different voice, ensuring the fact that she and Pansy will never become friends, Dilynn replied.
" Is that brain really yours or did you buy it? "
Every Slytherin except Pansy's group roared with uncontrollable fits. If Dilynn was planning to make an enemy, she succeeded. By the expression on the opponent's face, it told clearly that she would pay for that comment, dearly.
