Chapter 3 Making Friends

Norna shakily stood up and took the hat off her head. She looked at her sister nervously. Victoria rolled her eyes. She grabbed Norna's arm and started dragging her towards the Gryffindor table.

"Vicky! What are you doing?!" Norna whispered-yelled.

"We're going to sit down at a table," she whispered-yelled back.

"But we're not in the same house. We might get in trouble,"

"Let's find out,"

Victoria stopped. Everyone in the Great Hall was watching them.

"Professor Dumbledore, is there a rule that states people of a different house can't sit at another house table?" Victoria asked.

"No, ," he said.

"So my sister can sit at the Gryffindor table?"

"Yes, she may,"

"Thank you, Professor,"

Victoria continued to drag Norna to the reached the table and took their seats. To Nora's left was Hermione, in front of her was Harry, who was sitting next to Percy, one of Ron's brothers, and to her right was her sister. Victoria had Neville sitting next to her, in front of her was Seamus, who had Dean to his left.

" Zabini, Blaise," Professor McGonagall said.

"SLYTHERIN!" the Hat yelled.

The twins clapped loudly. It caught his attention. He looked at them and smiled a little.

"Why did you guys clap for that Slytherin?" Dean asked.

"He's our friend. Why should it matter what house he's in?" Norna asked.

"Because all the dark wizards have come from that house, even He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"

Ron explained.

"So because one very bad person came from that house everyone from that house is bad or going to be bad? That's stupid," Victoria said.

"That's stereotyping the Slytherin house as the bad house," Norna said.

A clanking sound was heard.

"May I have your attention, please," Professor McGonagall said.

Dumbledore got onto his feet and was smiling at everyone with his arms open wide.

"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin I would like to say a few words. And here they: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you,"

The Great Hall burst with sounds of applause and laughter.

"He sure is something else," Victoria said.

"This year is going to be interesting," Norna said.

The platters that were on the table now had food on them.

"Food!" Victoria squealed.

"Vicky, calm down. The food isn't going anywhere,"

"But we haven't eaten all day. We missed breakfast because we woke up late. Dad forgot to give us money so we can buy something off the trolley on the train. I. Am. Starving," Victoria said.

"Well,if-"

Norna's stomach cut her off as it did a whale song.

"I see your point but can you at least try not to dirty your robes,"

"I'm not making any promises,"

Norna sighed.

A head suddenly popped up out of one of the platters, startled gasp were heard.

"Hello, Welcome to Gryffindor," the ghost said.

"I know who you are. My brothers told me about you. You're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ron said

"I prefer Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington," Nick said.

"'Nearly' headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked.

"I agree. You head seems to be on perfectly fine," Norna pointed out.

"Like this,"

Nick grabbed his left ear with his right hand and pulled it. His head hinged to the right.

Victoria gagged.

"That's great and all but can you please get out of the chicken wings? I'm very hungry," Victoria said with a strained voice.

Nicholas let go of his ear and his head fell back into place. He flew off.

After some time, people finished eating their fill. The food from the platters disappeared. Suddenly all sorts of desserts appeared.

Norna grabbed a piece of apple pie and scooped some ice cream on top of it, making apple pie a la mode.

Victoria grabbed seven donuts.

"Seven donuts? Really?"

"Why not?"

Norna just shook her head with a sigh.

The topic at hand was families.

"I'm half and half," Seamus said. "Me dad's a didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."

People around him laughed.

"What about you, Neville?" Ron asked.

"Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch, but the family thought I was a all-Muggle for Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me - he pushed me off the end Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned - but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced - all the way down the garden into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here - they thought I might not be magic enough to come , you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me a toad," Neville explained.

"Wait. So let me get this straight. After you didn't show signs of magic, your Great Uncle took it upon himself to try and bring some out by nearly killing you and your other family members doing nothing about it. Then they proceeded to doubt you being able to go to Hogwarts because they didn't think you had enough magic. And finally buying you a toad to celebrate such occasion. What kind of family is that? I would be beyond upset if any family member of mine thinks nearly killing me is how to bring out my magic," Norna said.

"I-it wasn't that bad," Neville said, trying to defend his family.

"Neville, I understand they're your family and you care about them but what would have happened if you didn't bounce?"

He went quiet.

The air was kind of tense.

"What about you two?" Ron asked.

"Well our Father is a wizard and comes from a wizard family but I can't remember what our Mother was. Do you know Nana?"

"It was the same with Mom,"

"So you guys are pureblood? Wicked,so am I," Ron said.

"Our Father doesn't really care about blood purity even though he is a pureblood. Our Mother …. Well she was a different story," Norna said.

"Did something happen to her? You used was instead of is," Hermione asked,joining the conversation.

"She up and left when we were four," Vicky said.

"We haven't seen her since," Norna added.

"Ouch!" Harry yelled.

"What is it?" Percy asked.

"N-nothing,"

"You just yelped in pain. What's wrong?" Vicky asked.

"Nothing, the pain went away,"

"If it comes back, let us know," Norna said.

He nodded. Harry turned to Percy and asked him a question.

"Who is that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?"

"Oh, you know Quirrell already, do you? No wonder he's looking so nervous, that's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to - everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape,"Percy explained.

The deserts disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall went silent.

"Ahem - Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few or our older students would do well to remember that as well,"

Dumbledore glanced at Fred and George, Ron's other brothers.

"I have also been asked by , the caretaker,to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death,"

Harry laughed and so did a few others. The twins looked at Harry like he was crazy when he laughed.

"He's not serious?"

"Must be. It's odd because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere - the forest's full dangerous beats, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects,at least," Percy explained.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Everyone pick their favorite tune and off we go!"

The Great Hall field with the sound of singing. Though all of the first years didn't really know what the lyrics to the song were. They just sat quietly until everyone else who sang was down.

"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

People started getting out of their seats. Norna got up and so did Victoria. They hugged.

"See you tomorrow," Norna said.

"Yeah,"

The First years follow the Prefects for their specific house. While walking in the group,Norna bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay,"

It was a girl with black hair, dark brown eyes, and light brown skin.

"I'm Norna Raven,"

"I'm Padma Patil,"

"Nice to meet you,"

"Nice to meet you too,"

The walk to their tower was a bit of a journey it was on the fifth floor. They came to a door with just a knocker on it.

"Hello, I'm Penelope Clearwater, one of the six Ravenclaw Prefects. This is the entrance to our common room. In order to get in you must answer a riddle from the eagle knocker. If answered incorrectly you must wait for someone else to get it right. The riddle may change randomly. So be prepared,"

Penelope was blonde with blue eyes and had pale white skin.

"That's a pretty interesting way to get in. Don't you think?"Norna whispered to Padma, who walked beside her the entire time.

Padma nodded in agreement.

Penelope grabbed knocker and knocked. Once she let go a male voice filled the air.

You will always find me in the past.I can be created in the present, but the future can never taint me. What am I?

"That's kind of obvious," Norna murmured.

"Really?" Padma whispered.

"Yeah, think about it. You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, but the future can't taint me. What can you do right now that the future can't mess with? What is always there no matter what in the past?" Norna asked.

Padma thought for a few seconds before it clicked.

"History," Padma said it the same time Penelope did.

The door opened.

They filed into the room. It was quite big,with large windows on the walls. Bronze and blue decorations all over. Bookcases all over.

"This is our common room. The dorms are located by the statute of Rowena Ravenclaw, our House founder. The girl's dorm is right beside the statue and the boy's dorm is across from it. Please make yourselves comfortable. This will be your home for seven years," Penelope explained.

The first years dispersed. Looking at the different things in the common room. Some of the older students were in the common room.

"I'm going to our dorm, you?" Padma asked.

"I'll do the same.I'm quite tired,"

They made their way to the dorms. No one was in there.

"Do you think our stuff is already on a specific bed?" Norna asked.

"Maybe,"

Norna walked over to the bed nearest to the window and looked at the trunk sat the end of the bed. Norna saw her name on the trunk.

"This one is mine apparently. My Father had us put our names on our trunks, my sister and I," Nona explained.

"Mine too, just in case our stuff gets mixed up since we're twins. My bed is next to yours,"

"Great. I think I'm going to sleep. It's been a long day,"

"Agreed,"

They changed into their pajamas and went into their beds. Later on, the other girls came into the room and went to sleep. Norna has yet to fall asleep. She tossed and turned in bed. She sat up and bed. She sighed.

"Since I'm up might as well do something productive,"

She silently opened her trunk and grabbed a few of her books.

Sometime around 4:16 am, Norna fell asleep using an open as a pillow.