"The Feast is over. I welcome all the new students once more, and remember, never hesitate to drop by my office; I would be happy to assist you in any way needed as well as all other faculty members. Have a good night; now let us all retire to bed." Dumbledore announced to everyone as uneaten food and untouched cutlery vanished from view and all the students and teachers clapped.
Standing up, the prefect from each house called out to their 1st years to follow them to their dormitories while all others departed for their own rooms. I tapped Grandfather Dumble's arm and cleared my throat as I directed a quick glance over to Blaise. He caught the hint.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," Dumbledore said, a few students stopped in their tracks to listen, "before you all embark your separate ways, I would like to speak with the Head Boy and Girl for a moment, and show them to their new rooms." I recognized the girl with the wild curls from the red table; she stepped aside from the moving crowd, and walked back towards us. She was the one who asked a more...polite question from the others. I could tell she enjoys knowledge a lot just by looking into her curious and intelligent eyes. Blaise and Draco shared a look, then Draco nodded to him, and stared at me from my perceptual vision - that I chose not to acknowledge. He kept his eyes on me even as he was the last to depart from the room, leaving the Heads, Grandfather Dumble, and I alone.
Well, aside from Mrs. Norris who only snuggled deeper into my arms as her loud purrs filled the silent Hall. I'll have to find Argus before heading to bed to return her to his side.
Both the girl and Blaise stared at me, but no one seemed to want o break the silence, and though I could feel their stares I barely noticed; concentrating more on the cat wriggling happily in my arms than those around me. Beside, Grandfather is sure to break the tension soon. As if reading my mind, Dumbledore began to speak to our small group.
"Well now, why don't we make our way to your new shared dorm," he spoke to the Heads before turning to me, "and then we shall see to your room, my dear." I looked up at him and smiled back. Dumbledore made his way to the double doors leading out of the Great Hall and we all followed sweet, the doors closing behind us with a soft thud.
There was a loud silence as we walked on, Blaise walked adjacent to me so that he could watch me curiously without seeming interested. I fixed my gaze on him from the corner of my eye, and allowed that warming sensation to fill my retinas, and his eyes widened significantly but he kept them locked onto mine as he moved closer to me. I saw it as a good sign so I tilted my head slightly to point the reflective surface of my hairpin to see a sliver of his eyes within them if he looked at them. I pointed my left hand towards my temple to each corner of my eyes and it encouraged him to do the same. I then gestured for him to look at my hairpin's reflective surface to see his eyes; because what I saw, made my heart skip two beats.
He looked at his eyes and took in a sharp breath inaudibly.
Even in the dark I could see his pupils dilating, and then they widened slowly, almost like a drop of ink smudged within his eyes.
At that point he went slack-jawed, eyes bewildered, and questioning as he blinked hard a few times.
He froze in place, so I stopped as well. His eyes were glancing toward Dumbledore as he, and the Head Girl continued walking, unaware of our break-off of movement.
I nodded, and he caught my eye again. "Relax. It's nothing to be concerned over." I spoke softly.
Blaise seemed to choke on air for a second, which caught the other two's attention to stop in their tracks to see us a short distance away from where they stopped themselves. I smiled at Blaise reassuringly before walking up to Dumbledore and giving him a look that relayed that I would need to speak with him shortly before retiring to bed tonight. He acknowledged my look and beckoned us all to follow him once again. The girl looked at both Blaise and I suspiciously and inched her way away from me and walked on Dumbledore's other side, Blaise sticking close to my back as he tried to will me to look back at him, shock forgotten as he regained his cool and caught up with us. There was a short silence before Dumbledore broke it, like I knew he would, as we made our way up to the seventh floor.
"Now here we are children." We had stopped in front of a large portrait at the end of a short hall, lined with four windows on both surrounding walls. The portrait was of a griffin and a large serpentine dragon snarling at one another as they circled each other menacingly, and poised to attack. "This shall be the entrance to the Head's common room. The two of you shall have to agree on a password for the door, you each have your own rooms, but must share a bathroom. Also, a reminder that you are allowed friends within your shared space as long as they abide by school curfews - this is mostly associated with the company of the opposite sex - and you may only have two friends stay the night as long as it doesn't affect with their daily school routines." he said with finality.
"Understood, Headmaster." They both had said dutifully.
"Very good children, have a good night." Grandfather shared a meaningful look with me before half turning away from the Head Boy and Girl, as if to lead me off and forgetting the other reason why I accompanied them to their dorm. The brunette girl seemed to notice as well, and said so before we could walk off.
"Um, Headmaster," she gave me a wary look. "You hadn't clarified why…Ms. Daniels has accompanied us to the Head's dormitory, if she won't be living here." Then suddenly, as if being aware of how rude she may have sounded, she blushed ashamedly. "I-I mean, not that it's a problem, I had only assumed that she would be in one of the guest bedrooms within the school; I didn't mean to offend." She corrected.
I smiled. "That's quite alright." I said. Dumbledore chuckled lightly.
"Do not fret, my dear, we had not mistook your meaning for impoliteness. I don't believe you meant any harm with your question, but right you are, Ms. Granger. This old mind of mine has me forgetting often so you must forgive me my fault. You see Ms. Daniels is indeed sleeping in a guest room, located on the fifth floor to be precise, but I wanted her to know her way around if she were to ever need assistance." That being said, he looked at Blaise. "It may be hard for her to adjust to such foreign surroundings, and it would seem better if she knew where to go if she ever had a question. Where better than the private quarters to speak with our Head Boy and Girl without prying eyes to watch, or large ears to be listening." He smiled secretly.
The Granger girl nodded her head. "Yes, of course, Headmaster." She smiled slightly. I noticed Blaise roll his eyes as he muttered something about "teacher's pet" and she glared at him.
"Also, before I show our new student to her quarters, I would like to ask that the both of you divide your time tomorrow and show her around the school." Dumbledore said on a last note.
Granger snapped her attention back to the Headmaster, and seemed about ready to retort if her shocked expression was anything to go by, but Blaise interrupted her. "As our duty as Heads, we'd be happy to do so, Headmaster." He stared right at me. Granger narrowed her eyes suspiciously at us.
"This isn't a problem, is it, Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore eyed the young girl expectantly.
She flushed under all three of our gazes, and shook her head as she diverted her eyes from us. "Not at all, Headmaster Dumbledore. As Zabini said sir, we'd be happy to oblige." She glared at Blaise. He smirked back at her. I did my best not to add insult to injury by laughing.
Grandfather smiled. "How wonderful to hear such enthusiasm to be helpful to a fellow peer; I hope you encourage such to all other students. However, as it may, I'd like for you to see her first thing in the morning, my dear. Young Blaise, you may take over right after lunch until curfew."
The poor witch was shocked to the core; clearly not prepared with an answer. Luckily Blaise stepped in and saved her from sputtering.
"That would be fine, Professor." He said. "We both shall see to making things comfortable here for Miss Daniels in showing her around." He looked at me then. "She'll be well looked after."
"That is exactly the initiative I like to hear from our Head boy." Dumbledore smiled proudly. "It gives me high hopes to hear such things right at the start of the year. This year should be more concentrated on unity and acceptance of the other houses, and I hope to see more of that with both your influences." He looked between Blaise and the Granger girl. They nodded assuredly.
Grandfather Dumble turned to me with a bright smile. "Now that that's settled, why don't I show you to your room, my dear? I'm sure you must be in need of some rest, hmm?"
I smiled kindly. "That would do fine, however I think I'll be up a little while longer. I haven't quite settled in yet so I think I'll organize a few of my belongings before laying down to rest." I stroked Mrs. Norris under her chin and she purred rather loudly in the silent corridor as she snuggled more firmly into my arms. Both young Heads looked at the cat in shock, as if it were such a strange occurrence to see the cat so affectionate. I wondered why that was; after all, she is just like any other feline I've come to know, so I was confused to the wonder in their curious gazes. I'll have to ask about that a later date.
"Of course, of course, we shall not waste another moment in our departure." We said our goodnights to our other company and began our trek back from which we came. "Remember, Miss. Daniels is located on the fifth level, with the portrait of each houses' signified animal. Have a fellow classmate take any respective notes needed for the classes you do not already have with her." We hadn't waited for an answer before we turned the corner and were out of their sight. It was a silent as we took a pair of moving stairs that transferred closer to my room for the school year.
"I take it you found something of interest in Mr. Zabini." It was more a statement, though I'm sure he might have meant it as a question.
I sighed lightly. I found something of interest alright, but I couldn't say I had a definite answer yet. "There is potential, but I need to be absolutely sure before I give any proper introductions." I looked at him then. "I hope to test the waters first, but I'd like more free time on his part so that we may discuss freely without the ever prominent time slots that school permits us."
Grandfather nodded. "I'll see to it that you have all the time you need to prepare him, if he shall be what you seek."
"I appreciate that." And with that we ended the conversation as we reached the entrance to my common room. I had to admire the portrait for its beauty. It had all four house animals painted into a scenic backdrop of what appeared to be a waterfall in a lush forest of oaks and evergreens. The lion, a large snake, were play fighting where the lion chased the snake between parted trees, and they nipped at each other good naturedly. A lovely raven flew just above them acting as a referee, while the badger lay curled up by a boulder near the lake pool's edge napping with one eye open watching the fun.
"If only the rivaling houses could get along just as well as this painting." Came Grandfather's resigned sigh. I smiled at the painting.
"Who knows? Maybe this year things could be different. After all, as far as I know, there has never been a muggle student to attend to Hogwarts. I'm sure before the end of the school year I'll be able to get all four houses to participate in a huge game of tag." That brought the mischievous twinkle back in his eye as he laughed quietly in amusement, which resounded off the walls in the dark corridor.
"That may be asking too much of them, but it would be nice to see the Gryffindors get along better with the Slytherins." he smiled.
"Not to worry, Grandfather. You've got me to lift a little of your burdens this year, and I plan to help as much as I can while I'm here for the time being." I smiled up at him as Mrs. Norris shifted in my arms again.
"Now, now, you shouldn't be worrying yourself over such small matters such as a feud that runs far longer than either of our years." He tried to ease my interest. I shook my head.
It's no trouble. I don't intend to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, I can promise you that." I assured. "However if it were ever to breach the subject with a fellow classmate than I'll give my opinion, or better yet help set an example by encouraging others to see things from an outsiders view. " My smile was gone as a haunting feeling drifted over my body. "I'm actually quite tired of dealing with such animosities."
Grandfather was silent as he observed me openly now.
I paused then. "The more involved I am here to possibly change some people's views the better. It gives me more distractions from my own problems at the given time…and if I can change things here; a place still rather behind in it new customs, then maybe there's hope for…" Grandfather held my hand gently, which I hadn't realized was shaking slightly.
He squeezed in comfortingly. "If you wish to take some of my burdens, then I'll be here to take some of yours. I brought you here to alleviate some of your troubles, not remind you of them." He stroked my hand. "I only want you to relax and try to enjoy yourself here."
I smiled wanly up at him and squeezed his hand back when I felt my hand was steady enough to do so. "You've already done so much for me, Grandfather. Don't worry I'll be alright, and as for my troubles, well…I can't not think about them, but being here makes it easier not to have them control my actions."
I gave him a true smile then as I gestured around us with our conjoined hands. "This place gives me a new sense of wonder that I'm sure will distract me well enough, so thank you for bringing me here. I don't think I'll ever know how you pull it off." I laughed to myself and he joined me.
"No, I don't reckon you will. An old man knows how to keep a good secret." He said.
"Because you're wise through the ways of having someone trick you into telling one?"
"No, because with old age you often forget old secrets; the minds of the elderly are quite minute once you have little to do when you reach such an age." He said sagely with a devilish twinkle in his eye. I almost broke out into hysterical laughter; I knew he was kidding.
Sometimes I fear that I might have been driven mad without Grandfather Dumble there to ease my worries and remind me how to smile.
Another distraction well appreciated in my saddest moments.
I gave him a one-armed hug, being careful not to squish the cat between us. "You're not that old yet, as I've told you a thousand time before, and thank you for bringing my spirits up."
He returned the hug as he stroked an old hand through my dark hair. "Anytime, I'll always be here for you, my dear." We both pulled back and smiled at one another. He bid me goodnight and I did the same as I watched him head back down the short hall to make his way to his own room, another four halls down from my own.
I pat the cat's head one last time before placing her gently on her paws down at my feet. "Go on you silly feline, I'm sure your Mr. Filch is lonely patrolling the halls on his own without you. It's time I get to bed just the same." She blinked her red eyes up at me before nuzzling her little body against me as she circled my legs one last time, then trotted off in the direction of the stairs and left me alone in the empty dead-end hallway.
I admired the portrait one last time before pulling my new pin out of the pocket of my shorts and fed it to the snake. The snake swallowed it and I could clearly see the pin travel down through its body to sit in its gullet, only to see shortly after the raven produce a key for me to open my door. I took the ornately designed key and pressed it into the hidden lock under the badger once he rolled to his side on the rock. I unlocked the door then returned the key to the raven that placed it back in its nest, but before I walked inside I stroked the lion once so that it could step on the snake's tail, and return my pin to me.
It all seemed like a long process but it only took me a minute to complete.
I gingerly took the pin back and placed it back into my pocket as I walked past the threshold and into my room. I felt a familiar security spell caress my skin for a second before it recognized my presence and laid itself to rest back at the entrance. You could never be too careful, which is why I just stood there a moment to observe the room before me to see if anything had been disturbed while I was away.
Everything looked to be fine; the sitting room for where I would do my studies or should I have anyone over was spacious enough to hold a gathering of roughly thirty people, but still intimately small that should there only be three people, we could hear each other perfectly without raising our voices across the room. There was a small brown leather couch with a matching love seat and reading chair circled around a cozy fireplace – floo not included – with dark burgundy pillows with golden tassels settled fashionably on each chair. There was a low; round glass-top table supported by cherry tree wood legs that had a golden orb the size of a tennis ball curled at the feet, while the walls were painted cool beige for tranquility. To balance the room there were two glass windows on opposite walls of each, to the left and right of the entrance, with a door beside each of them and burgundy curtains with gold trimming at the ends and some various vases, scenery paintings, and three potted plants around the room.
Walking straight across the plush carpet with my bare feet I went right across into my room, which Grandfather warded with a charm placed on the inside to keep uninvited guests from entering, or opening the door if it were closed. I had taken the time the day before to decorate my room with the help of Ms. Minerva, and found that the finishing product was well achieved, in tones of blue and green for a peaceful setting. The opposite wall to the door were four paneled windows that had cushioned window seats built into them for a relaxing read, or just to gaze out towards the forest and the vast ocean. My room was located in the perfect direction so that it wasn't likely someone could sneak up to my window from school grounds, and it was one of the few closest to the more dangerous side of the castles walls since it pointed into direct sunlight off the ocean water. I was always an early riser who came up when the sun did, but if I were to ever sleep in I had thick sea green curtains hang across all the windows, but were currently all tied to their sides with silver draw strings hooked against the wall. To my left I had a bookshelf that held both books and a few pictures scattered about them, my writing desk was next to it with a few quills with peacock feather ends and parchment sitting on it as well as a current book I was reading on its surface.
There were four tall vases sitting in my room, two with peacock feathers and another two with dried bamboo trunks in them. The feathers were set on either end of the windows while the bamboo had one pot near the door and the other was next to the bathroom door on the right wall. Also to the right sat my vanity with some of my beauty products, body lotion, blue and green scented candles, moving as well as still pictures on the corner shelves, my hair brush, and decorative clips and jewelry I kept in a music box I got as a gift, right next to my perfume collection. My vanity was parallel to my desk, but dresser was on the same wall as the door leading to the sitting room, although the bedroom already came with a walk-in closet – beside the vanity, closest to the window – I used the closet as holding space for all of my more private sentiments and valuables. Finally the big finish was the large queen sized canopy bed in the center of the room, with silk blue-green curtains that hung down strong black beams that held the top up, attached to the matching bed frame.
Flopping down on my comfortable bed I tossed my shoes towards the closet and unpinned my hair. I lazily stripped myself down to the nude and slunk my body under the thin dark blue sheet. The moment my head hit the large matching colored pillows I instantly relaxed into the mattress. I had planned to unpack a few other trinkets of mine, but since I had completed most of each room I felt I could do all that tomorrow before breakfast. Turning on my side I stared out the windows into the night sky, the star crystal clear in the dark sky. I stroked my necklace fondly as I thought of my family, until I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
May they all have as restful a night as I am. At least ghosts can't chase you in your dreams.
A/N: God it's taken me FOREVER to get past this part! And I finally updated!
I just felt I needed to get a description out before continuing, and I don't intend to do as much again, so sorry if this chapter bored you. Things will move at medium pace for now, and then pick up faster later on, I PROMISE I'm working on updating better, it's just hard when you already know what you want in the middle and end, only to see that you have no real beginning . -_-'
I'M WORKING ON IT SO BE FAITHFUL AND THX FOR BEING PATIENT!
~ LoVeRsOfLiFe
