Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter.
Chapter 4: Padma Patel.
7am
Ravenclaw tower was perfectly positioned to receive the morning sunlight and the arched windows that were situated in the common room, shone warm oranges and yellows into the room and especially on the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw on the centre of the concave library.
Padma had been awake since six am and was watching the sun rise from one of the arched windows in the common room. She was thinking about the events of last night, and what the future held for both herself and her twin sister. She had been racking her brain for the last hour on why the Sorting Hat had done what it had, placing twins in separate houses. As she thought this she stroked her freshly pressed new uniform. It had a trim of royal blue on the tie, robes and jumper to denote her house. Ravenclaw. She was just so upset and confused as to the why. She wondered what Pav was thinking, and whether she was up this early too. Padma was looking so intently out the window that she did not notice the other four first year girls from her dormitory come and join her.
Mandy spoke first, "Good morning Padma. How are you today? How long you been up for?"
Pad turned around to face her new house mates. "Good morning. I haven't been up long. Just long enough to see the sun rise. But I also did not have a good sleep from the events of last night." Pad said sadly while a tear came down her cheek. "It's sad that we are not in the same house and such. But I have to move on and enjoy this. We have been looking forward to coming to Hogwarts for so long."
Lisa Tupin spoke up, "We understand why you are upset, if you ever need to talk we are all here as friends. But right now, we all need breakfast so want to come down to the Great Hall?"
Pad smiled. "I could eat a horse. Let's go get some breakfast before the first day of classes."
All the girls walked out of the common room door and down to the Great Hall. As they all entered the Hall, they were shocked and surprised. The sky above was mirroring the morning sky right now, though there was no sun shining, as that was coming in through the windows in many different colours to mirror the stained glass that those windows portrayed. All different colours.
Terry Boot said, "Wow, this is wonderful. The food is equally as amazing! It just appeared on the tables. Look!"
All the first years looked down at their Ravenclaw table to find it full of breakfast. The Ravenclaw first years sat at the front of their table decked in blue placements with an eagle on them and helped themselves to food. Pad looked around. She was searching for Pavarti. She knew where the Gryffindor table was, right next to their table in the middle. But she could not see any first years. Pad deliberately sat on the closer side so she could run at her sister. It didn't take long.
Pavarti walked into the Great Hall minutes later…
Pad stood up and jumped out of the pew and ran towards her sister. Almost colliding with her instead of hugging her.
"Hey Pad, how is your dormitory?"
Pad got herself together before replying, "It's great - all blues, and lots of books for me to read. How's yours?"
Pad could see sadness in her sister's eyes. "Great - mine is all reds and yellows, with a large fireplace to sit around at night. Pad, did you sleep ok?"
"Fine, sis. Got up early to watch the sunrise. Our prefect was right, it is the best place to watch the sun in the morning."
"I was up early too. Gryffindor tower has less windows to watch the sun. But still beautiful. I'm gonna go eat breakfast, we will find out what our classes are after eating, according to our prefects…"
"Ok sounds great."
Pad had sat down again, when Morag spoke up, "This spread is great. Pad, try the eggs, they're so scrambled and tasty. The bacon is so crispy and the juice is fruity." All the first years groaned at the last comment as they knew a dad joke when they heard it.
Pad laughed "Morag, really?"
…
After all the food was cleared away, the four Heads of House went down the line of tables to hand out timetables. Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaw's house teacher, started at the far end of the hall with the seventh years and moved forwards. It took about three quarters of an hour before he reached the first years.
"All first years, your timetables are all the same. As it is not till third year that you get electives, and sixth year that you actually get to pick and choose subjects. There are compulsatory subjects you do. These are Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Astronomy, History of Magic, and you will have flying lessons, though you are not allowed to join the quidditch team until your second year. So here they are." As he said those last words and with a flick of his wand, a stack of parchment appeared to be hovering by his head. And with another flick each piece of parchment floated to one of the first years.
Pad looked down at her did indeed say that she had some of her classes with Pavarti, but she noticed that most of them were with the first year Slytherins. "So, we have Herbology, Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. But Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, History of Magic and flying lessons with all the first year students. Great, so I get to look like an ass on a broomstick."
'Yay Pavarti and I are in same class.' But she realised that she would need to make her own friends as Pav would have made some already. She was the more outgoing of the twins. And the way she was talking to a blonde curly headed girl over breakfast, 'she's fast, at making friends.' Pad thought to herself.
