"All right, everyone, this way!"

The fifth year Slytherin, Jacob Turnsley, was a very loud fellow. Adrian winced as his sensitive ears were blasted with another wave of Jacob's speech. "Our rooms are downstairs!"

The group entered the common room, a dark place with jars of green fire set into brackets on the wall, bathing the area in a sickly glow. The velvet seating was either black or silver, the ornate rugs shades of green.

"Your rooms are over there," Jacob shouted, gesturing to a door at the end of the room on the right. He flopped down in an armchair beside the fire, making no move to lead them to their dorm.

So the brown-haired first year took it upon himself to lead the way.

On the other side of the door was a circular room with more green torches and another rug. Doors numbered one through seven encircled the space. The newcomers entered the door marked one.

Inside, the room had the same color scheme. There were three beds, all with silver draperies and green sheets. Beside each bed was a small end table, and at the end of the beds were the student's trunks, which had already been brought to the room.

Adrian walked over to the first bed on the left, where his possessions had been placed. He removed his books from his trunk and set them on the end table, where they would be easily accessible tomorrow.

Adrian looked up from his books and noticed a small mirror in front of him. He watched his hand reach up and touch his face, where a long cut, still in the process of healing, stretched down his face. That will leave a scar, he thought.

Meanwhile, the other first year Slytherins were getting to know each other.

"So, we're Slytherins!" said the boy who had led them in. "My name's Sam. What about you?"

"Nonim," said the blond boy.

Sam looked to Adrian, as if he expected him to volunteer his name as well, but Adrian just turned away.

"Um… do you like Hogwarts so far?" Sam asked awkwardly, turning back to Nonim.

"You're pretty friendly for a Slytherin," Nonim joked, raising his eyebrows. Sam looked a bit crestfallen, so Nonim added, "Yeah, I like it."

Sam continued the conversation, looking more cheerful now. "Did you try the apple pie? It was amazing! And the…"

Adrian ignored the rest of the conversation. It was late. He climbed into his bed, drew the draperies shut, and fell asleep.

~DetrimentalStorm~

Adrian awoke to the soft sound of an owl hooting. He opened his eyes and was instantly alert. Any minute now he would hear the harsh laughter, feel the jarring blow dealt to his body. He…

"Is it morning already?" someone moaned.

Adrian froze, then dropped back down from the crouch he had assumed, the tautness in his muscles fading. No one here would beat him like a lame horse, unable to haul in the harvest. He took a deep breath. While school was in session, he knew, he would be safe.

The words had come from Nonim, who was across the room from Adrian. Nonim stood up and stretched, yawning as he did so. As he blinked tears from his eyes he called, "Sam? You up?"

In response Sam rolled out of bed and flopped into a comical sitting position on the floor, eyes still half closed. "I suppose so."

Nonim burst into laughter, and after a pause Sam did as well.

As they were laughing Adrian stood, stretching his arms behind his back. When he was done he stood up straight, head tilted slightly upward, and took a deep breath. This had been a morning routine for him for as long as he could remember. It always helped to calm him down a bit,

Sam and Nonim finally noticed Adrian as he opened his trunk.

'Hi," Sam said in a friendly way.

Again, Adrian ignored him.

"What's his problem?" Nonim muttered.

Adrian felt a sudden flare of anger. He slammed his trunk shut and left the room, clothes in hand.

Once he was dressed he came back to the room. Nonim and Sam were nowhere to be seen. He assumed they had gone to breakfast, but put no further thought towards the matter. He truly didn't care about their whereabouts.

Adrian skipped breakfast. He hadn't eaten in the morning before he came to school and wouldn't be able to once the year ended, so why start now?