Chapter 3 – Perfect Start

April's P.O.V

The train was crowded. Many students have been unable to find a place so they were siting on their trunks in corridor and talking excitedly. However, I was sitting comfortably in an empty compartment.

From time to time a student shyly looked into the compartment in search of a place but quickly gave up. In general I did not mind. I sat comfortably under the window with my feet propped on the opposite seat and read the Daily Prophet. On the first page was a photo of Harry Potter. Wizarding world's most famous kid again got himself into trouble. AGAIN.

"I tell you that something is wrong." Came the irritated voice outside the door of my compartment. "Dumbledore never behaved like that. In the ministry didn't even look at me"

"Calm down mate. For sure he had his reasons," the door slid open and appeared red-haired with lots of freckles on the nose and cheeks. "Look. I found free interval. There is just one girl" boy marched and slumped on the couch in front of me.

"Ron. You can not just come in. What if somebody took place." said girlish well-known voice "could first ask her if ..." Hermione entered the compartment, saw me and softly moaned. Slight smirk appeared on my face.

"Hello. Somehow we can not stop bumping at each other"

"Looks like it"

Hermione's collegues looked at us confused.

"I have not seen you before but you are certainly not a freshman." said the black-haired boy. "How do you know Hermione?"

"Harry, you remember how I told you about girl from the ministry?" Hermione interjected. "Meet Miss Rayan"

"Aaaaaa ... soo you are that nasty punk" joined ginger boy and Hermione's cheeks blush appeared"

I laughed.

"That's probably me. My name is April Rayan" I fixed my gaze on Hermione. Do you remember what I said about her being pretty in the elevator? Forget it. It is more beautiful than I previously thought. Now when the sun shone in her auburn curls and brightened her complexion I can safely say that this is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. But oh well. My first impression wasn't very good so I'm not counting on anything.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter. You know Hermione already, and this is Ron Weasley "

There was a silence broken only by the nervous tapping of Ron's huge feet on the floor of the compartment. I went back to reading my newspaper.

I enjoyed the peace and quiet only for about 30 minutes while three friends was whispering with their heads bowed. Okay, the two friends. Ron was looking at non stop me from the corner of his eye.

"Why are you wearing sunglasses?" Asked the redhead

"Ron" girl hissed a warning.

"Come on, Hermione. Aren't you curious why she didn't remove them?"

"This is not an excuse nor your buissnes. Such questions you simply shouldn't ask"

"You're exaggerating. I just want to know. Surely she have some freak weird eyes"

"RON !" This time it was the black-haired boy hissed at a colleague.

I laughed again

"It's okey Harry" assured Harry then turned to the red-haired "I will answer your question, provided that you answer my" He eagerly nodded "Say: why are you carrying your head since apparently you are not using it at all?"

The boy blushed.

"What did you say?" He jumped up from the couch reaching for the wand before Harry could stop him.

I waved my hand calmy and sent the boy back on the seat. Surprised didn't even tried to get up.

"You can use wandless and silent magic? In Hogwart we learn the basics on 7th Year "Hermione for the first time looked directly at me.

"Hello? The girl insulted and pusched me with magic and you delight over her abilities? "

"It's your own fault Ronald" Said Harry

At this point, the train began to slow down and eventually stopped at the station of Hogsmeade. I got up slowly and realase Ron.

I bowed to Harry and Hermione, threw my black leather bag over my shoulder and walked out of the compartment and the train.

The weather was beautiful. The fresh air immediately felt better. I took a deep breath and stretched then walked over to one of the carriages peating on the occasion one of the thestrals. Some students were looking at me with silent amazement. Sometimes I forget that not everyone can see them.

I got into the carriage still observed by prying eyes and we moved towards looming in the distance Hogwart.

A.R-H.G-A.R-H.G-A.R-H.G-A.R-H.G-A.R-H.G-

Hermione's P.O.V.

"I can't believe it. I can't believe that he really has the nerve. "Harry could not calm down after a meeting with Malfoy on the Hogsmeade station and Ron was doing nothing to calm him down. On the contrary - only stoked the fire cursing Malfoy.

Great Hall as always was beautifully decorated and dishes were filled to the brim with food. Poor house-elves. How many of them have to work hard to make all of that.

It was after the ceremony allocation so I bent down to look at all firstyear. This year I will have quite a challenge as Prefect together with Ron. To my left in the middle of the table was siting April in Gryffindor robe. This is a big surprise. I really thought she would be put in Slytherin.

Professor Dumbledore began his annual speech.

"This year Teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be professor Dolores is Jane Umbridge. Professor Umbridge is also here because of the order of the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. "

"That's her." Harry leaned over to me and to Ron, "That's the woman from the hearing. She was the accuser. "

"This year, for the moment of the absence of Rubeus Hagrid a teaching position for the Care of Magical Creatures will take profesor Grubbly-Plank, which I want to ..."

"Ekhem ..." The little pink figure sitting at the staff table coughed softly.

"... welcome. Finally, I also ... "

"EKHEM !" Principal turned and raised his eyebrows. A woman in a pink suit stood up, walked around the table and over to the podium where was speaking Dumbledore. "Can I?"

Dumbledore stepped back to make room for the woman with deep shock on his face.

"I greet you, dear children. My name is Dolores Jane Umbridge, and I am Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic. I'm here as Professor Dumbledore already mentioned beacuse of command of the Ministry of Magic. The reason is one: the minister does not like what is happening in the school and found that its sovereignty has to end. The first step is simple: I will no longer apply the practical use of magic in my classes. This is a completely unnecessary in these peaceful times ... "

I looked around the Gryffindor table. Some looked at the woman as if she totaly lost herm ind and went crazy, and some nodded their head understandingly.

My gaze however stoped on sat upright and firmly gripped her cup. She was pale as a ghost. Even through her dark glasses I could see she was intensely staring at Umbridge.

"We will start with small steps, but this school could use good surveillance. And now I wish you a good evening. "

Dumbledore took woman's place and said a few words still in deep shock that anyone could interupt him and the students began to disperse to their dormitories.

From the corner of my eye I saw April rising from the bench and disappears into the crowd.

"Miss Granger" I turned around and saw behind me Professor McGonagall, "Could we take a walk?"

We moved down the hall toward the Gryffindor dormitory.

"Nice to see you again in school Miss Granger. As you may know as the new prefect of Gryffindor you should own room. Unfortunately because of lack of free rooms I have to propose another solution. Mr. Wesley has decided to maintain its previous room he shared with the Misters Potter and Longbottom. You too can stay in your previous room, or share it with one of our students. "

"I am happy to change my room the professor. You know it's hard to get along with my colleagues from the room. Why this time be any different? "

"Call it intuition, Miss Granger. Here we are"

We stood in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. Professor McGonagall handed me a slip of paper with the password and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Please remember Miss Granger about one thing," I looked at her questioningly, "Do not judge a book by its cover"

"But I do not understand"

"You'll understand soon Miss Granger" The woman smiled warmly "In the meantime I wish you good night"

I walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady and the stairs to the prefects lodging. I opened the door and walked into a spacious room with two beds. By one of one of them was standing my chest so I walked over and opened it.

I heard the floor creak behind me so I turned around wanting to say hello to my new roommate and I just froze.

„You got to be kidding me"