I eventually came to a standstill near the trophy cabinet on the second floor. I'd walked for what seemed like forever, but I hadn't seen anyone, nor had I felt any inkling to where was meant to be. with the acceptance of being lost, I began to browse the many trophies and awards in the cabinet. Tom Riddle, Special services to the school, Delga Gonson, Special Services to the School, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, special services to the school. I smiled as I saw that one, in the centre of the cabinet, a moving sculpture of the three of them, from a picture which I recognised from Uncle Ron's living room. Neville Longbottom, special services to the school, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood and Seamus Finnagan and Dean Thomas, special services to the school
I wandered down the trophy room, looking at house cups, commendations for certain subject, I saw Harry's tri-wizard cup- with his name glowing like the eyes of the horntail he faced. Dad said it was one of the coolest things he'd ever seen, especially when the dragon almost killed the teachers stand. He said Fred laughed too. I think I would have liked my uncle Fred; he seemed like a joker. Dad always said he used to be the brains of the outfit, but he seems so serious, I can't imagine him being a joker. Dad even gave up running the shop- I see pictures of it all the time, and I visit my uncle Ron there so I know that Dad used to run it, him and Fred broke out of school to start it, but Dad quit working when i was a baby. I'm glad it's still in the family, it means I get free stuff, and it's really cool!
I didn't even realise it was getting cold, which meant it was getting later... I was kind of sleepy too- travelling always gets me sleepy. I turned, and walked out of the trophy room, and then... where?
"Merlin only knows where I'm meant to be..." I thought, as I began to walk in a vague direction away from the great hall.
"Ro- you all right?" I heard a familiar voice say behind me
"Neville!" I said, relief rushing through me like a powerful wind. I ran and gave him a hug
"Ro, are you okay?" it's late, and blimey Ro, you're freezing"
"I didn't follow the prefects, and I didn't know where I was, so I didn't know where to go. I found the trophy room though, and I saw everything- it's really cool – your special award, Ron Harry and Hermione's special awards, ginny's award. Its weird to be here, and think of what happened here. Everyhting here seems so safe."
"indeed, Hogwarts is safe, but, the world isn't Ro, remember that." Neville said, an ominous look on his face, as his eyes faded to times long since past. "but for now, let's get you to your common room shall we, I'm sure you'd like to see your room, and meet all your housemates."
"yeah." I shuffled my feet with anticipation, a wave of nervousness hit me as I thought of my common room- every weasley had been a Gryffindor, why wasn't i?" Neville, if he noticed this, made no indication and with his right arm around my little shoulders he guided me to my common room.
we weaved through the corridors, down staircase after staircase. we passed a painting full of fruit, which Neville told me was the kitchen, and then, just along from that there were tens and tens of barrels lining the walls.
"this is where I must leave you, as a Gryffindor it's not my place to know how to get into other people's common rooms. Take care Ro, and I'll see you in Herbology"
"thanks Neville!" I said. i always got on well with Neville, and Hannah, his wife. She'd been a Hufflepuff actually, so they couldn't be that bad.
"professor Longbottom" Neville corrected me, with a smile, and a wave.
"professor Longbottom" I echoed.
I stood, alone again in the corridor, staring at the barrels. where was the door? is there a password? In my anxiety I absentmindedly started tapping one of the barrels with my foot, waiting for something or someone to come and tell me what do to.
a dousing of vinegar was not what I had in mind.
sopping wet, and smelling like a chip, I wasn't happy. But clearly, it was something...
I crouched down, trying not to be overwhelmed by the smell of vinegar to examine said barrel. no indications at all. damn it! I thought. just when I thought I was getting into the common room.
abandoning hope for despair, I sat, with my head on my knees, my soaked robes sticking to the floor, and my back, my ginger hair doused in vinegar. before long, though it might have been a while I heard footsteps, though I had no energy, nor motivation to move.
"what's this?" one said,
"ickle first year I bet" said the other "looks like a half pint"
"mhmm." the figure on the right then turned and addressed me " you all right kid?"
I looked up, and gestured at the barrels "I didn't know how to get in"
"aha, how comes the prefects didn't show you? after dinner?"
"oh, I was talking to my cousin, and I got lost." I replied meekly.
"no worries, it's simple. you just gotta tap the barrel," he pointed at one "in the rhythm of Hel-ga-Huffle-puff" he tapped it out as he said it, "and then crawl through. After you. he said, pointing to the barrel.
I have to crawl through a barrel to get into my common room... classy?
I cautiously stood up, and crawled through the barrel. as I stood up in a midst of yellow and black hangings, the walls lined with a ton of weird, but I'm sure interesting plants and doors here there and everywhere my jaw dropped. "wow"
"impressive isn't it." the guy who had shown me how to get in said to me. "how come your all wet by the way?"
"I kicked the barrel" I said flatly...
"ah, vinegar. I wondered what it was. simple, yet effective defence mechanism dont'cha think." he replied with a smirk.
"come on John, we got her in. Job done, didn't Greg say something about new exploding snap effects on the train..."
"oh yeah" john, as I presumed his name was, said. Turning away, he offered a customary "catch ya around" and then ran off following his friend.
I stood alone in the common room, not knowing what to do. I could see groups of people, all looking at me. I was still covered in vinegar... I needed to get changed really. and to sleep. perhaps tomorrow this will all have been a dream, and I'll wake up, get on the train, and be sorted into Gryffindor.