AN: I am making Percy a year older than what he should be just to make the final plot work out. Charlie should be 4 years older, but here he is 3, but it will work out in the end! Promise!
Morning came and the students of the Hogwarts castle slowly rose, none faster than the new exchange student, Zora Archae. She was up and in the shower before the rest of her roommates were even opening their eyes. She showered quickly and dressed in the school uniform, a grey skirt, a long-sleeved white button up shirt, a grey vest with the Ravenclaw emblem and trimmings, and a blue and bronze tie. She went back in the dorm and looked around at her roommates all still tired but were getting ready. Jean went into the bathroom next and Zora sat on her bed, grabbing everything for her classes. "What all do we need to take to Potions and Herbology?" She asked.
Paige answered, "Potions set, book, quill and ink, few spare parchments, book for Herbology and she will give us gloves if we need them." Zora nodded and put the items in her side satchel. Once the other girls brushed their teeth, having showered the night before, and all headed down to the common room, in which they met some boys from their year. Melissa took the initiative to do introductions.
"Kyle, Zach, this is our new exchange student, Zora. Zora these boys are in our year." Melissa explained introducing them to a taller dark haired boy who was slightly heavy with glasses which hid brown eyes, and another boy, roughly the same height, with lightly tanned skin and curly brown hair, his eyes were a crystal blue. They went down to the Great Hall together and all ate breakfast. Afterwards they left and went down a corridor where it got slightly colder as they walked.
"Where are we going?" Zora asked curiously.
"The dungeons, its where Potions is. We will have it with the Gryffindors." Zach explained walking next to her.
A few more minutes and they waited outside the door. When the man she met Friday, Professor Snape, opened the door everyone filed in quickly and sat, taking out parchment, a quill and an ink well. Zora followed their example and waited.
"Today you will be making Swelling Solution. Directions," He waved his wand, "Are on the board. Anything you need is in the cupboard. You may begin."
Zora did her potion and doubled checked everything. Writing down all instructions and what happened after each one. At the end of the class period, Snape walked around and looked at all the potions. "Mr. Weasley looks like you did your usual."Zora looked up, and was surprised she didn't see the flaming red head earlier. That must be one of Charlie's brothers. She thought then continued to observe as Snape passed disinterested around most of them. When he got to hers, he stirred it and wafted the odor to his large and pointed nose.
"Ms. Archae, what is this?"
"It is a Swelling Solution, sir. Is there something wrong with it?" the young girl asked, voice not quaking, but the slight flash of feat in her eyes telling enough.
"Actually no. This is a perfect Swelling Solution. Full marks." He said and cleared her cauldron for her. When he finished he dismissed the class and her friends hurried her out.
"That was amazing! How did you do that? I don't think he has ever given full marks."
Zora was beyond embarrassed, "I just did the instructions. Anyone could've had it happen."
"Wait, Zora!" A voice called from behind them. It was the red head. "Hi, I'm Percy, Percy Weasley." He held out his hand, which she politely took. "You met my brother yesterday, Charlie. He mentioned you to us."
"Nice to meet you Percy. I will talk to you later, but I really need to get to Herbology."
"See you later then." He waved and ran off to the other Gryffindors waiting for him and they walked off together. The Ravenclaws continued outside to the greenhouses.
Once inside the greenhouses, they were met with many pots, all with a few leaves out of it. The teacher, whom I learned later was Professor Sprout, explained what the Mandrakes were, and to be careful.
"Does anyone know the properties of a Mandrake?" All the Ravenclaws raised their hands and a few tentative Hufflepuffs as well.
"Ummm ,yes. New student, what is your name?"
"Ms. Archae." Zora answered proudly.
"Very well, Ms. Archae, properties of a Mandrake?"
"The Mandrake root is a powerful restorative. It forms an essential part of most antidotes, including one for Petrification. The Mandrake Restorative Draught returns people who have been Transfigured or cursed to their original state. Mandrake seedlings are tufty little plants, purplish green in color."
"Very good! 10 points. Now everyone grab a pair of earmuffs and make sure they are on securely and watch carefully." She pulled the leaves and a crying baby, formed from the roots, and put it in a new pot and covered it with soil and fertilizer. When she took off her earmuffs she explained what was to happen and made sure to emphasize the earmuffs. It was difficult to get the seedlings out of their original pots, but once it was transplanted, the plant calmed down. When everyone was done, she announced, "I want a foot and a half essay on Mandrakes due next week." The class filed out and went back to the castle. Since there was so much time before their afternoon double Transfiguration class, they went back to their dorm to switch out their books before lunch. At lunch, the table was less crowded, which was explained due to the fact different classes got out at different times. Lunch went on and Zora was led upstairs to what was the 3rd floor for her Transfiguration class. After a while, there were voices heard down the hall.
"Those would be Slytherins," Melissa whispered to Zora right before a group of 6 came around the corner. 4 boys and two girls.
The door opened after the rest of the class arrived. The class sat down and in front of everyone was a small animal, usually a bird or mammal.
"Today we will be transfiguring the animal in front of you into a water goblet. Watch carefully." She took out her wand. "1,2,3, Fera Verto." And the squirrel in its cage changed into a glass goblet. The class started. In front of Zora there was a crow. Next to her, Kyle had a rabbit. They glanced at each other.
"Ladies first," Kyle said and Zora smiled and turned to her crow. She took out her wand, which was about 10" long and moved it in time to her count."
"1, 2, 3, Fera Verto." And the crow first turned clear then shrank down and took the form of a glass goblet. On the sides there was ornate feather patterning.
"Very good Ms. Archae. Very few students get it on their first try. And this beautiful feather look, just like the crow's. I think this deserves 20 points." The Ravenclaws all cheered while the Slytherins glowered over at the new girl.
The class went on with most people, in both houses, transfiguring their animals correctly. There were a few that still had a patch of fur or feathers, but all were goblets at least by the end of the 3 hour class.
"Class, foot long essay on animal transfiguration for next week. Dismissed." And once again the class filed out. Kyle and Zora waited for their friends then the group made its way to the common room. The statue spoke,
"There are three switches downstairs. Each corresponds to one of the three light bulbs in the attic. You can turn the switches on and off and leave them in any position. How would you identify which switch corresponds to which light bulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs? " They all thought about it before Zach stepped up.
"Keep the first bulb switched on for a few minutes. It gets warm, right? So all you have to do then is ... switch it off, switch another one on, walk into the room with bulbs, touch them and tell which one was switched on as the first one and the others can be easily identified."
"Correct." And the door appeared. They went in and dropped off their bags, before re-adjourning in the common room. They relaxed in a few armchairs and couches and talked the rest of the afternoon. After a few hours the common room was significantly full. Then Don walked over.
"Hey Zora, Charlie wants you to meet him outside the Great Hall after dinner."
"Thanks Don." Zora smiled and looked over at him. He waved and went back to his group.
"How do you know Charlie?" Jean asked with interest.
"He was the one that showed me from Professor Dumbledore's office to the tower." Zora replied.
"What do you think of him?" She pressed. The boys groaned.
"From when I talked to him yesterday, he seemed nice. He offered to give me a tour around the castle."
"Jean is obsessed with him." Zach cut in.
"Am not!" She pouted but blushed.
"How about we go get dinner?" Melissa cut in before a fight could break out. They agreed and headed down to the Great Hall. They took their seats and ate. Paige told Zora that Charlie stood up and planned on meeting him outside, and was surprised when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to meet crystal blue eyes and a mess of red hair.
"Ready?" He asked with a lopsided grin while holding out his hand.
"Of course." She smiled and took his hand. "I'll meet you guys back at the common room." She waved and went with Charlie.
Once outside the Great Hall Charlie turned to Zora and asked, "Any where in particular you want to start with?"
"Not particularly. Whatever is good with you."
"Well let's start with the dungeons then and go up from there?" Charlie suggested.
"Your leading the tour Mr. Weasley. You get to decide."
"Touché. Afterwards, would you mind getting Arget? I would ask now, but then I wont teach you anything."
She giggled. "Of course." And he bowed then offered his arm. She linked hers through his which was a stretch as even though he was stocky, he still easily reached 5'8" and she was only 4' 10". They went to the dungeons and he explained about all the potions labs as well as the Slytherin common room. He headed up and led her around all the classrooms, pointing out where everything was. Once they got up to the Astronomy tower it was getting dark out.
"And this is the Astronomy tower, late nights looking at stars. It really is fun though, Professor Sinistra is a really great teacher." He pulled out two chairs.
"Now to uphold my end." She was silent for a moment then a small pop was heard as Arget appeared. She chirped and lighted on Zora's knee. "Hey there Arget, you remember this guy don't you? This is Charlie." Arget quirked her head and made a noise that was a cross between a purr and a yawn at him. He reached out and scratched under her chin, which she relaxed too. "Charlie, what would you like to know about her?"
"Oh wow, well what does she eat?"
"I try and give her some meat everyday, but she is fine with fruits and breads too. Her favorite thing is peanut butter though."
"Peanut butter?" Charlie was confused.
"Yeah, she likes it best with chocolate."
"I will have to remember that." Charlie laughed. Zora hadn't heard him laugh before, it sounded like wind rusting through the leaves and river running over stones. She decided it was pleasant. "What about fire, can she breath fire?"
"If she can, she hasn't. We feed her stones that, if combined with Hydrogen, is combustible. We know that she produces Hydrogen or else she wouldn't be able to fly." As if to prove what was just said, Arget lifted into the air and glided around. They watched her for a while before Charlie noticed that Zora was shivering. He took off his robe and wrapped it around her. "Thank you." And she pulled it tighter.
He continued to ask questions which she answered to the best of her abilities. "How old is she?"
"I don't know for sure. She hatched for me 3 and a half years ago. But from the specialist that has researched fire lizards for years said that they can stay in the egg for decades. They only hatch once they find someone they think can take care of them."
"So she knew that you were near and hatched?"
"Essentially. Everyone was amazed as I was one of the youngest people in history to have one."
"I wish I could have one. I mean it seems as if you can connect to them, tame them. Dragons, I would never be able too."
"I know what you mean." Zora smiled. Charlie looked at his watch.
"Well Ms. Archae, let's get you back to your common room. I have rounds this evening so I will leave escort you back." Zora smiled and told Arget to go back to her room. Charlie offered his arm again and opened the door for her. Once down to the hallway she gave him his robe back. They continued talking until they got to the statue.
"Thank you Charlie, I had a great time."
"Me too Zora. I will see you tomorrow." He gave her a hug and left. She smiled and answered the riddle before going in. She went over and sat on the arm of the blue couch her friends were at.
"How was it?" Jean asked. So Zora recounted the events leaving out the robe and the hug. They decided to adjourn after that as the first class the following day was double History of Magic, which Zora was told was very long and boring. Although Zora was looking forward to seeing a ghost teacher.
I am posting all my updates at the same time.
Whichever gets the most reviews in a 2 weeks will be the next one I update
Ergo, no reviews for a story, no updates.
I am doing this as it is reaching the last month and a half of the semester and therefore crunch time, more reviews, faster I post.
