New Girl
When Harry and Ron woke up I explained to them that they would never again see Hermione Granger but they would see the new girl Mia Lelie (Lily in Dutch). Because I was pretending to be new I was required to ride to Hogwarts in the boats with the first years. I was one of the last to board so it was only me and a small brunette girl in the boat. Her hands were shaking in her lap and she seemed really scared so I decided to talk to her.
"Hello, my names Mia. What's your name?" I asked her in a gentle voice with a smile.
She looked at me with wide dark blue eyes as if wondering why I would talk to her. She replied hesitantly and somewhat shakily, "M-my name is Ophelia."
"Are you excited Ophelia?"
She looked over at me before shaking her head and whispering, "No, I'm terrified. I don't know anyone. I miss my family. I want to go home. I feel so alone." Her voice nearly made my heart break. I saw in Ophelia a kindred spirit. She reminded me so much of myself when I was in first year. I gave her a big smile before saying, "Its okay to be scared. I'm a little scared too and of course you miss your family but don't worry you have one fried who will never leave you."
"Why are you scared? Big girls are never scared." She said with her wide eyes turned on me.
"Of course we are. Everyone gets scared sometimes that's why you have friends, they help you through."
Ophelia turned to look at me again and whispered so quietly I almost didn't hear her, "I've never had any friends before." I could see tears welling up in her eyes and it made me want to cry, seeing a little child hurt.
"You have a friend now. If you ever need me I'll always be there for you." I told her gently before pulling her into a hug. Ophelia held me tight and I knew she was crying but I didn't care sometimes you just have to let it out.
Before long we had arrived at the castle and we were all standing outside of the great hall waiting to enter and be sorted. Professor McGonagall had already explained the four houses and I could already tell which house some of the first years would be in. Ophelia held securely onto my hand and hid behind me slightly when we were motioned into the hall. Ophelia and I stayed close to the back and out of the way. Professor McGonagall immediately started calling names out and before long most of the students were sorted leaving only me, Ophelia, and another boy I didn't know waiting to be sorted. The next name called was Ophelia White. I pushed her towards the hat a little and gave her a big smile. She sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. It had been on her head for nearly five minutes before it called out, "GRYFINDOOR" I was immediately grateful because I knew that we would be in the same house and I would be able to comfort her more. The next boy went up whose name I learned was Nicolas Zen. He was sorted into Hufflepuff.
Dumbledore then stood up in front of everyone and said, "This year we will have a new sixth year student joining us. Her name is Mia Lelie. I would appreciate if everyone was kind to her. Thank you." He finished by gesturing for me to sit down on the stool. I did and the sorting hat was placed on my head and I heard a voice in my head, "Ah, so you have finally learned the truth about your heritage Ms. Granger or should I say Ms. Lelie. You hide so much yet are aware of the dangers. Well, we both know where you are going to be so might as well let everyone else know, GRYFINDOOR!" Applause immediately started from all but the Slytherin table. I winked at Harry and Ron before going over to sit next to Ophelia.
Food appeared all along the tables and everyone started to eat. People were chatting with their friends new and old while filling themselves with food. Ophelia and I sat side by side in silence and I knew we were both comfortable with that. Before long Prefects started to lead the first years out of the hall and towards the Gryffindor tower so I stood up and me and Ophelia followed them out. Of course I knew where Gryffindor tower was but I played along with the new girl persona. We got to the fat lady and were told that this was the entrance and to remember the password, Unity.
Harry and Ron were sitting on a sofa in the common room when we came in. I started to go over towards them when Ophelia pulled my hand a little. I dropped down to be closer to her height and said, "What is it honey?"
"Mia, when they put that hat on my head it said I was a beast speaker. What's that, Mia?" she asked eagerly but I could see a hint of fear in her eyes. I smiled at her before answering with a question, "Honey, you have a gift. A beast speaker is someone who can feel animals and speak to them. Have you ever had a pet?"
"Y-yes, I use to have a dog. I thought I could talk to it but my brother told me I was being stupid." She told me with tears in her eyes. I wiped away the single tear that fell and pulled her into a hug. "Sweetie, you're special. This is a good thing. Don't be sad." I stood up and grabbed her hand again before walking towards Harry and Ron. Harry looked at me questioningly clearly having seen the exchange between me and Ophelia. I walked up to him and gave him a smile before pulling Ophelia in front of me. "Harry this is Ophelia. Ophelia this is my friend Harry."
Ophelia gave him a small smile before he put caught her hand and kissed it. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ophelia."
She gasped slightly as he let go of her hand and pulled on mine. I crouched down and she whispered into my ear, "Mia, why does he fell like an animal?" I gasped before glaring up at Harry.
"What have you not been telling me?" Harry gave me a guilty look before whispering, "Room of Requirements ten o'clock."
I nodded before Lavender came over and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Lavender. You must be Mia. You're the new girl. That's so exciting. You're going to be sharing a dorm with me. I'll show you where it is." She said before pulling me towards the stairs. I kept Ophelia's hand in mine as Lavender pulled me after her. I let Ophelia go when we got to the first year dorms and followed Lavender up the stairs to the sixth year dorms.