Chapter 4- Enter the Common Rooms
They wandered the castle, following close behind the boy in front of them yelling, "Gryffindor's follow me!" They were being followed by other houses, all eager to see the whole castle. They walked up staircases, jumping every time they moved.
"Be warned, the staircases move without warning." the boy in the front called. They soon learned to respect him because he was what they called a Prefect. The Head boy or girl were who they really respected. Then the Professors and then the Headmaster.
They arrived at the common room, right to a big portrait. The portrait was huge, let alone the lady in it. The lady was dressed as an opera singer. She stood there, watching them. Then she spoke.
"First Years? Do they know the password yet, Jake?" she said kind of coolly. She nodded to the Prefect.
"No, but I was just about to explain the house system. If you hadn't interrupted me…" he said, glaring at the picture.
"Now, this is the doorway to the Common Room. You will have to provide a password to enter. No one but our house knows the password. Now everyone listen and don't forget this password," He turned around to face the portrait. "Audire dicete," he said. The portrait lady watched him as she swung open. It revealed a room filled with the Gryffindor colours. There were lions, crimson and gold banners, and even crimson red couches and arm chairs. They filed into the center of the room. They looked around, amazed at the grandness. They saw a staircase in the back of the room.
"Alright," Jake began, "this is your common room. This is the only place Gryffindor's will be separate from the rest of the school. You will study here if not in the study hall. Boys will sleep in the dormitory to the left, girls on the right. Now remember the password and tell no one unless they are in this house."
After that, everyone scrambled up to their dormitories to claim their beds, but Jess and Toroun were held back. Jake sat them down, then sat them down on the couch.
"We won't have enough beds for you two. I'm not sure why, but you two were nominated to sleep out here. I can't even say why you two, but the headmaster said, so, You really have no choice." Jake said sympathetically. Toroun looked at Jess, and her at him, both not believing this.
"But, how? Are we supposed.. to… to…" Toroun stopped, noticing everyone staring around the corner, listening to every word they were saying. When he turned to look at them, they disappeared around the corner, thumping up the stairs like elephants.
"Yes. You both have to sleep out here, whether you like it or not." Jake said back, ignoring the kids who had left.
They both sighed. So they'd have to sleep out here together. Jess didn't care, and neither did Toroun. Or did they care?
Creak. The couch that Jess had got was the best one, but the creakiest. Every time she moved, it would creak. Creak. Of course, it was comfy. Creak. That time it wasn't her, but she supposed it was Toroun, even though he never moved.
Creak. Creak. Creak. It sounded as though someone was walking towards her, every creak growing louder. Some one was walking closer.
Creak. Creak. Cre- It stopped some where behind her. She looked over the back of the couch to find another first year there, staring at her enviously. She jumped, falling off the couch and landing in a thump on the floor. Toroun jerked awake to find Jess sprawled on the floor.
"What happened? Did you fall off?" he asked groggily. He was to sleepily to realize that his question was a stupid one, but Jess knew that so she never answered in her smartass way.
"Yeah. But only because there's a first year watching me." she said quietly, but only found the girl back to staring over the edge of the couch at her. She lept to her feet, wondering why this person was there, watching her… Them! What was she expecting?
"I'm sorry… It's just… I thought you guys were asleep and… I don't know why I did come out here, but don't tell anyone I was down here… They'd laugh…" the girl began apologizing, almost in tears. Jess felt so sorry for her, but was still disturbed. Toroun got up and crossed to the girl. He hugged her, not conscious of what he was doing. Jess's face turned red, almost in anger.
'Wait, why am I getting upset? It's not like I'm his girlfriend or anything. But still…' Jess thought to herself, calming her colour. She looked at the two and the girl began to blush. 'Is she… Enjoying it?' thought Jess, totally enraged.
The girl saw Jess and pushed Toroun away. She blushed and immediately looked apologetic again.
"I'm sorry… I'm Kassie. I didn't mean to startle anyone but… I'm… I'm…" She collapsed, crying on the floor. Jess just watched her as Toroun collapsed on his couch, snoring.
'Who does this kid think she is? She's practically begging for Toroun…" Jess wasn't mad, but just plainly disgusted. She went to the girl, who seemed to have cried herself to sleep, and took her upstairs. She was small and light, with very dark hair. It was too dark to tell if it was brown or black, just that it was dark. Jess laid Kassie on her bed, then went back down to her creaking couch to finally catch her first wink of sleep in this wonderous castle, unknown of what was to come of next.
I'd like to thank Sean for helping me with the name for Kassie. It's not that big of a thing, but you've now earned hero in my books.