Hogsmeade29/08/2009 12:59:00
Oh fuck my so-called-friends. Now I have to move to this new school Hogwarts. I mean, who names their school Hogwarts?! A fan of pigs, maybe.
Anyway, my name is Astrophel Genevieve Perkins. I'm part English, Scottish and French (you can see as I was named Genevieve). Mum and Dad lives here in England, however Grandma Claudia, insisted that I went to Beauxbatons at France. Although I've spent my whole 14 years there, I still haven't adapted to the French accent, which Grandma Claudia got so upset about.
Yes, my name is Astrophel. It sounds retarded. Mom said it stood for 'love' in some language but I don't give a crap. I never was in love or anything close to it. The French's' loves my name, and used it loads. However Mum, Dad and close relatives just called me Gen(eveieve).
I'm part Veela. Or so Dad says. But apparently my Veela blood is only maybe like ten percent. Some great ancestor who was a Veela. Lucky woman! I'm—I could say, a pretty brunette with medium length hair, bright grey eyes and my body's alright. The Fleur Delacour in my school however, oh wow, everyone simply adored her. I came in second. Which annoyed me.
Last semester, I got expelled from Beauxbatons, due to some girls smoking and drinking heavily in the dormitories. A girl ratted that I was the one who bought it all and gave it to them. I was rather shocked. That 'girl' was my best friend! She was the one who bought it (it's easy to buy cigarettes in France) and told Madame Maxime; and she could not tolerate my nonsense. So she expelled me.
Mom and Dad got rather upset but they knew the truth since they used Legilimens on me. Couldn't convince Madam Maxime since she hated me already—hated my parents, atleast. Something about old-school rivalry.
"Mom, can I please not go to Hogwarts?" I asked. I knew that I would be an instant outcast; no student ever started school at their fifth year.
"No, darling, I've spoken to Dumbledore, our old friend, thankfully, he understood the situation and invited you to Hogwarts."
"Mum. People would hate me. Think I'm weird."
"Tais-toi! Vous êtes très beau!" Grandma spoke. She was speaking French. She said 'Shut up! You are very beautiful!' "Yes she is, Claudia." Mum told her mother-in-law. "Ugh." I grunted.
I already bought everything I needed yesterday at Diagon Alley. I tried on the Hogwarts school robes and they are not as comfortable as Beauxbaton's silk blue uniforms. Never have I looked so.. common in my new robes. I looked normal. But in my Beauxbaton's uniform, I was beautiful. Or so I thought.
I had to go to Platform Nine and a Three Quarters today and I am not looking forward to it. I had already put on a very short spaghetti-strapped blue and white dress (decorated with retro patterns) with black leggings, exposing the color of my skin with my ankle boots. Something I wore everyday, however, Mum told me that I looked over-dressed for school. I had packed loads of high-quality cashmere sweaters, dresses, sundresses, short skirts, and loads of leggings- my favorite. But I do not wear jeans. Sure I kept one or two, just in case we need to do any physical activities, but not for everyday-wear.
I had loaded my trunk. Actually, I had two trunks, one bigger than the other. The bigger one is filled with books, quills, inks and school items and my other trunk is filled with my clothing. I had an owl too—a very delicate snowy owl. I heard it is something like Harry Potters' the famous young wizard who repelled the killing curse by He Who Must Not Be Named.
"Gen! We're going to be late! Let's get a move on!" I could hear Mum shouting from downstairs. I walked downstairs, carrying my two trunks plus my owl—Aura. Mum named her, not me. I would've named her something more normal.. like Lisa or Julie. Unfortunately, Mum loves weird names. Proof? My name.
"Alright, Mum. A bit of help, here?" I asked as she came and took my small trunk and Aura. "Thanks." I muttered.
"Make sure you say goodbye to your grandmother."
"Alright." I sighed. Not in a good mood today.
I walked downstairs and saw Grandma Claudia; I hugged her and kissed her on both the cheeks—French way of greeting and departing—as she did the same to me. "Au revoir, amour." She said; Goodbye, love. "Au revoir, mon amour!" I said; Bye! I love you. Knew I had to force out the I love you.
I arrived at the station clutching the handlebars of my trolley nervously. Mum tried to calm me down. Dad was at work as a Healer. "I'll miss you Mum." I said as I hugged her goodbye. Dumbledore had told mum how to walk through the platforms between nine and ten. As I did, I arrived at a platform with a long train blowing off steam and many students were outside, hugging goodbye to their parents. I didn't know parents could be in here! Oh, whatever. I'll get a move on.
I walked in and had a tough time finding an empty compartment. Everytime I knocked, the students looked amazed by me. Sure, I was new, get over it.
At last, I reached an empty compartment and took a seat there. I put my luggage on top of me, and Aura on the table. I looked at her and sighed. "I wish I wasn't here right now." I muttered.
Suddenly I heard laughter of a few people as they were heading in. A tall, muscular, ginger headed teenage boy opened the compartment door and stopped laughing with his friend, a boy with dreadlocks.
"Oh, wow." The boy with the dreadlocks said.
"I'm sorry. How can I help you?" I said trying to be polite.
"Uh.. You're not.. Uh.. a first year, are you?" the ginger head boy asked. He was quite the look. "Obviously not." I pointed out the obvious. "Er.. Right." Said the one with dreadlocks as they quickly went out and closed the door and the one with ginger hair started shouting. I raised my eyebrows and took out a book out of my pocket robes. Ah yes, my favorite book—Little Women.
I continued reading the whole time I was on the ride. And suddenly the compartment door slid open again. "Oh, hello, dear. Anything off the trolley?" a short stumpy woman in old robes clutching a trolley filled with different sorts of candies. I put my book down gently, got up and searched the lot. They were weird named candies.. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Licorice Wands and much more.
"I'll have the umm.. Licorice Wands please." I said as she gave it to me. I sat down and took a bite out of the sweet licorice. The woman looked at me curiously, standing their waiting. I got up again and walked towards her. "I'm sorry, what is it?" I asked. "You're supposed to pay." She said holding out her chubby fingers. "Oh. Right. Sorry, I didn't know, Beauxbaton's food are free of charge. I wasn't aware, I'm sorry." I said apologetically.
Then I remembered—Mum never gave me any money. Oh shit. I already took a bite of the candy. "Uh.." I started. "It's alright, I got it." The ginger haired boy I met earlier said and he took out a few Knuts and handed it to her. "Why, thank you." I said to him. Of course it wasn't alright. "It's no problem." He said as he walked away and winked. Sigh. Men.
Half an hour later I was still reading as it started to get dark outside. The door opened again and two girls came in giggling.
"Hello there," one of them said. "Hi." I just responded. "I'm Cho Chang and this is Marietta Edgecombe." She said and took out her hand for me to shake. "I'm Astrophel." I said. "How do you spell that?" Marietta asked as Cho gave her a dirty look. "She wasn't serious." Cho added. "Right." I said as I continued reading.
They immediately sat down opposite me and looked at me. I looked up. "Yes?" I said. I'm not so friendly with girls or boys. "So.. since we are very popular around school, and you look very.. lovely indeed, we'd like you to sit with us during meals everday." Cho asked bossily. "I'm sorry? People here at Hogwarts need invitation to sit with each other?" I asked coldly. I knew I didn't like these girls once they asked me to sit with them. "Er.. No. We just want you to fit in, that's all." Cho said. "Thanks for the offer, but no thanks." I said nicely. "You do realize no one has ever rejected us before, have you?" Marietta added. Cho looked like she wanted to strangle Marietta just to shut her up. "So, what's your deal?" she asked. "Excuse me?" I asked curiously. "Oh, new student.. Fifth year, aren't you?" I nodded. "Got expelled at my old school." I said smoothly not caring if they judged me or not. "Oh, wow. What did you do? Sleep with a teacher? I heard French men are good in bed! But I would never sleep with a Hogwarts teacher.. They're all, greasy haired, old and short." Marietta said stupidly. "Nothing like that." I said coolly. I was known to take things and make them all.. relaxed and cool.
"I love your outfit, by the way." Marietta added absent-mindedly. "Oh, by the way, you should get changed. We're arriving at Hogwarts soon." She said as they left the compartment. Thank god.
I got off the Hogwarts Express and had my robes on already. Sad leaving my outfit behind. I saw a huge hairy man shouting "Firs' years, firs' years! Over 'ere firs' years!" he said as little eleven year olds were slowly walking towards him, frightened at the sight of him. "Oh, are yeh Astrofile?" he asked pronouncing my name wrong. "It's Astrophel." I added. "Righ', sorry, yea mate? Anyway, Dumbledore's asked me ter bring yeh along with the firs' years in the boat. He wants yeh ter experience the firs'-year boat rides. Is that fine with yeh?" he asked in a funny accent. "Yeah, sure." I said. As I sat down in a boat with two other first years and the huge man.
"My name is Hagrid by the way. Hagrid the half-giant." He said as I nodded approvingly. "So err. You got expelled?" he asked nicely. "I really don't like talking about it with school staff." I said casually. "Oh, no, no, no, I'm not trying ter offend yeh or anything, infact, I got expelled too!" he said as I lighted up. "Oh, wow! It's great knowing someone else who's gone through what I've had." I said appreciatively. "Yer the only one I know that's expelled." He added brightly as I smiled.
I arrived at the a huge hall with four long tables which were filled with students wearing different colors at different tables, talking to each other. I should've been there but I had to be sorted into my house first, Hagrid said. Whatever this house meant.
Dumbledore had made his speech and a skinny old lady in green dress robes with a pointy hat was holding yet another hat, but it was brown and old, however not torn. Known as the Sorting Hat.
She called out names alphabetical order. The first years didn't look as nervous as I did every time one person got off smiling.
"Miss Astrophel Genevieve Perkins." The old lady announced as everyone in the room quiet down glaring intensively. I nearly ate my heart as I walked up to the stool and sat down waiting for the hat to judge me.
"Hmm." Began the hat as I nearly jumped. It felt weird wearing a talking hat. "You have almost all the qualities of all four houses.. Hard.. Very hard.. Very loyal to friends, but I see you do not want to make friends anymore.. Hmm.. Interesting." It said. Wait, how did it know?!
"Then we have the wise you. Getting an 'O' at every subject.. Ooh yes, very clever. But how can cleverness bring out the best in you? Yes, a mischief you are.. Stubborn, and thinks evil. Oh, very, very ambitious! And OH." He said exaggerating on the last 'oh'.
"Very brave indeed. I see you have done a few things you're not proud of, I assume? Hmm.. This is very hard.. I'm impressed I can't find a house for you.. Do you have any desires on which house you want to go to?" he asked me. Everyone looked severely. "No." I said, not sure what to do.
"Alright then. It's a tie between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Which one shall it be? Hmm… I better make sure.." I sighed as it thought deeply; mine had been the longest, about five minutes already! While some of the students merely took ten seconds.
"I'm sure you would do great in all houses. But I have made up my mind that you'd do best in… Gryffindor!" he shouted as I heard applauses from the table wearing gold and red.
I walked towards the table and I saw there was an empty spot near at the older group instead of the first years. Hell no am I going to sit with the first years.
I plopped down slowly at the empty spot, which I assumed was saved for me. The other houses looked disappointed in not having me. Especially the girl Cho, wearing blue and bronze.
I sat down next to a bushy-haired girl, redheaded boy, jet-black hair boy and another girl with red hair. What is up with people and red hair?
"Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked. "Not at all." The girl with bushy hair said. "I'm Hermione by the way, we're glad to have you in Gryffindor." She added shaking my hand. "Thanks." I said. "These are my friends, Ron, Harry and Ginny." She said nicely. They smiled at her as she smiled back at them.
"Oh yeah, this is Harry Potter!" Ron added.
"..Oh! Wow. Hello, Harry." I added, still a bit.. Shocked, not knowing I would meet him this early in my year. "Heard a lot about you." I said, stifling a fake laugh to enlighten the mood. "We've heard a lot about you too." Ron said. "What?" I asked.
"Oh. You know.. You're new, you're a fifth year, you're—" but before he could continue, the ginger haired boy who winked at her earlier added in and said "Beautiful." He said and took a bite of the food that had appeared minutes ago that I hadn't realized. I blushed at his comment. "I'm Fred, by the way." He added.
"I'm not beautiful." I said modestly. "Oh shut up." Ginny joked and I kept quiet. "I heard you denied Cho's offer to sit with her. Is that true?" Hermione asked. "Uh. Yeah. I'm not sure what's so shocking about that really. She's a bit of a.. Snob." I said in a slow tone. Harry glared at me. I gave a confused look. "Oh don't mind him, he likes Cho." Ron said. "Anyway, I'm sure Cho's just jealous because she's no longer the prettiest girl in school anymore. You are." Hermione said. I nearly gagged but gave a brittle smile in exchange. "So she reckons to have you as a follower instead of an enemy you see, how smart are girls when they're jealous?" Ginny said laughing.
I was starving after they all started to talk to each other. I took a piece of drumstick and put it on my plate next to the mash potatoes I've got. I took a sip out of the Butterbeer and continued slicing the chicken with the cutleries.
"So, who's the new girl?" asked the ginger-haired boy. Not sure what he was talking about… But..
"There are two of you?" I asked. "Yeah, we're twins." Fred said. "What else can you be?" I rolled my eyes. "This is George." Fred said and George gave her a smile in his stuffed mouth. "Nive to 'eet you." He said his mouth too blocked to send out clear messages.
"He said nice to meet you." Fred cleared. "Yeah, I heard." I said smoothly and continued eating. I could feel Fred's eyes on me as I kept on eating gracefully. Grandma Claudia had taught me how to become a lady when I was seven. But now, it just became a habit.
I glanced up to look at Fred who struggled with his fork after that as I just looked tired and asked him "Yes? Is there something on my face?" I asked nastily. I'm not sure what possessed me. "Calm down. I'm trying to study you." He said. "Study me?"
"Yeah, you know.. Just trying to add you up in my head." He said as I didn't reply back which made him struggle a bit more with his fork. He felt more cautious now.
I got up at the girls' dormitories and saw that my luggage, without my owl there. I got confused. I looked around at my roommates and saw three other girls talking to each other while they unpack.
"Um, excuse me?" I asked the nearest one, an African-American girl with long black hair turned around and looked at her. "Yeah?" she replied. "I was wondering where my owl went." I asked. "Oh, your owl. They always send the owls up to the Owlery." She said. "The what?" I asked. "Owlery. Where they.. you know, keep the owls?" she said. "Right. Thanks." I said as I turned back and headed to my bed.
"Your name's Astrophel right?" the same girl asked.
"Yep. You can just call me Gen or Strophe." I added.
"Nah, I like your name—Astrophel." She said admiring it.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't quite catch your name." I asked.
"I'm Angelina, this is Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet." She said as they shook my hands. "Hi, nice to meet you guys." I added to the blonde Katie and the brunette Alicia.
I got back to my bed and laid my head into the comfortable pillow and drifted to sleep. I sighed. Wonder how school's going to be like tomorrow.