So here is Ch. 2. How does Roani fare with the dangerous, cnyical...dun dun dun...JAMES POTTER!
Roani could only stare in awe at the grandiose hall. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the spacious foyer, the loud voices of the passerby echoing off the stone walls. Students congregated here and there, all dressed in the classic black robes characteristic to Hogwarts. They donned different ties depending on the house they belonged to, and Roani was not surprised that they were inclined to stick with members of their own house. Growing up in a very magic-strict environment, she was shocked to see how carelessly it was used here. Some students were transforming benches into animals, while others were conjuring random items to impress their friends. One girl was brandishing her wand threateningly at some unfortunate boy, while a group of troublemakers began to drop fireworks from the top of a grand staircase onto innocent bystanders. The amusements came to screeching halt as a shrill voice broke the relaxed air.
"All students to your classes NOW! Does this look like a circus to you?" Students scattered like bowling pins each which way, rushing to escape the wrath of a stern looking witch with a tall pointy hat. She began to make her way through the crowd, barking orders at the ill-fated students who dawdled. "Mr. Moyer, those benches were not meant to be chickens thank you very much. Miss Lovell, please lower your wand. Yes, I'm quite sure he deserves to be hexed but unfortunately it is not permitted." Finally the woman's unyielding gaze landed on Roani, and she felt herself began to tremble unwillingly under her scrutiny. Opening her mouth to yell, Roani braced herself for the blow.
"MR. POTTER AND MR. RANGER, GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Then, much to Roani's surprise, she gave her a very warm smile.
"Welcome to Hogwarts dear. Professor Dumbledore told me he was expecting you. I am Professor McGonagall, teacher of Transfigura…" she did not finish her sentence as her attention was directed to two boys running down the stairs, whom Roani recognized to be the firework masters themselves.
"Mr. Potter, I must say I am quite impressed with how soon you are able to get into trouble, even after Mr. Black has received detention," she scolded, though not coldly.
"Well, I'm sure Sirius would not want me slacking just because he is M.I.A," the boy said sweetly, plastering an almost believable look of innocence on his face. He had unruly jet black hair that stuck out at all sorts of odd angles, especially in the back. His eyes were a mesmerizing hazel, but were covered by thick glasses. Roani did not fail to notice that you could forgive him almost any wrong when he flashed those endearing pearls. She was so lost in her calculation of this strange boy that she did not even notice him staring at her. Upon becoming aware of this she immediately dropped her head in embarrassment.
"Glad to see you have such an unwavering loyalty to your "duties." If only you could emit the same dedication to your studies." The boy only smiled sheepishly. Before Professor McGonagall could respond there was a loud BANG from upstairs, and a disheveled girl came running to the top of the staircase.
"Professor! Moaning Myrtle is throwing a tantrum again!" Professor McGonagall sighed tiredly and turned back to the boy named Potter.
"You got off lucky this time. I will not give you detention, but ten points will be taken from Gryffindor, and you must escort Miss O'Quin to the headmaster's office. And I'm warning you, she better be in same state of mind that she is in now or you will regret the day you met me," Professor McGonagall warned, her eyes narrowed in a terrifying manner. Then she turned to Roani.
"I'm sorry I can't take you myself dear. Things are just so hectic around here." Roani nodded. With that the Professor gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before grabbing Ranger's ear and heading up the staircase. The two eleven year-olds were left in the deserted hall alone, sizing each other up. Roani made sure to stand up straight, puffing her chest out as to not look like a pushover to this troublemaker. Potter on the other hand was regarding her oddly, his brow furrowed together in concentration, as if trying to see what she was worth. He opened his mouth to speak, and Roani braced herself for the smart comment about her abnormal hair or pale skin.
"Hi! My name is James, James Potter," he beamed, sticking out his hand. Roani's eyes widened in shock at such an unexpected greeting, and she grasped his hand tentatively as if in fear he would hex her. James only chuckled in response to her nervousness.
"I see you noticed my attack on those dirty Slytherins before. Don't worry, I don't pick on girls. Besides, you aren't a Slytherin," he assured her. Roani's forehead creased in confusion.
"How do you know I'm not in Slytherin? I haven't been sorted yet," she asked.
"Trust me; I just know these things. Besides, you don't look like a Slytherin. Your hair isn't greasy, and you don't have frown lines on your forehead. Of course, you will if you continue to look at me like that, and I have to admit, your skin does look like it wouldn't survive one day in the sun. A common trait of those sneaky gits."
With his observation of her constant frowning, Roani relaxed a bit, and chuckled at his comment on her light skin.
"Well you've got one thing right. More than a couple hours in the sun and I'm redder than a tomato," Roani joked. This made James laugh, and he looked at her in awe.
"It's good to have a girl around here who can actually take a joke," he admitted. Before Roani could respond they heard Professor McGonagall's distant yelling. James quickly sobered up, and nodded his head in the direction of the corridor next to the staircase. "Best get you to Professor Dumbledore before I actually do get detention." With that he started off in the direction he had nodded, Roani trailing closely behind with her trunk. He turned around once more and said "Oh don't worry about that. Just leave it there, the house elves will bring it up to your dormitory." Roani was a little skeptical about leaving her belongings in the middle of the hallway, but decided James knew better so she complied with his order.
It was a long way to the Headmaster's office, and they took so many twists and turns Roani began to wonder how she would survive in this school without getting lost. She was quite startled by the moving staircases, to which James laughed and told her she best be careful because they could be quite troublesome when you're late to class. She merely retorted that she didn't plan on being late in the first place.
In spite of her hopes of a quiet trip so she could gather her thoughts, the chatterbox began small talk….she hated small talk.
"So, where are you from exactly?"
"Umm…Ireland," she stated, amused at his complete obliviousness. James merely smiled sheepishly.
"Right…I knew that. Why aren't you there any more?"
"I'm living with a family friend of me mum's now. She's an older woman so it wasn't really optional for her to come stay at my house."
"Ah…do you miss it there?"
"Of course I do. This island…it's not that far but it feels like worlds away," she responded sadly.
"Why didn't you start at the beginning of the year though? I mean, I didn't know Hogwarts took students late or anything."
"Well, I only came to live with Annora a couple of days ago."
"How come?" This boy was such a nosy rosy! He seemed to never grow bored of talking. Roani was not sure how to respond. She had just met him, and didn't exactly feel like dishing out her life's story to him. Yet for some reason she didn't want to lie to him. Oh, what did it matter? The truth was bound to get out somehow.
"Me mum died," she said, her voice wavering. It was blunt, but how do you sugarcoat death? Roani watched James very carefully for his reaction. His eyes got really wide, and he looked rather embarrassed for asking the question in the first place.
"Well…couldn't you have…uh…stayed with your dad?" he asked tentatively.
"No…he died too. A while ago actually," she answered, not nearly as phased by this question.
"I'm…I'm really sorry," James apologized guiltily.
"Don't worry about it. I have to get used to saying it sooner or later," she assured him.
"You know…you could have just lied to me."
"I could I have, but I didn't feel the need to." James face broke into a big smile. Was this boy ever sullen? They had been so busy talking, Roani did not notice they had stopped in front of a giant stone gargoyle. Looking at James expectantly, she was surprised when he spoke to it.
"Booger Beans." Roani quirked her eyebrow in amusement, but she jumped in fright when the gargoyle began to move and steps appeared. James nodded his head up.
"Just go straight up to the wooden door. Don't worry, he's a brilliant wizard…just a little off his rocker," James promised. Roani nodded in thanks and stepped on the landing. As the steps began to move up James shouted "I'll see you in the common room!" What made him so sure she would be in Gryffindor? She didn't have time to think about it though, because she came face to face with a wooden door.
Reviews? Thoughts? Please?