Chapter Four

Dear mother and father,

I've arrived at Hogwarts, and I'm doing well. The castle is beautiful, although different from the palace at Beauxbatons. It can be a bit difficult at times to get to classes, but the ghost are helpful, though I've been told to stay away from the poltergeist. Luckily, I haven't met him yet. It baffles me that they would let a poltergeist stay in a school. Nevertheless, I'm sure I'll be able to get to classes on my own by the end of the week.

My new friend told me her father is a friend of yours, as I'm sure you will be pleased to know. Her name is Cobie Leander, she has a brother named Felix. They have been really helpful, I hope you will mention this to their father the next time you speak.

I'm sorry I didn't write to you the minute after my sorting. I was tired, so I went to bed early, and a good thing, too; the first day war very hectic. I've got a very busy schedule this year; I dropped Divination and Care of Magical Creatures like you suggested, and I've decided to drop Astronomy as well. I know I did not discuss it with you, and I'm sorry, but I truly believe that the extra study time will benefit me more than an extra NEWT will.

I've also been sorted into Gryffindor. I know it is not ideal, but I swear it will not affect my academic work. James was pleased, though, as you might imagine.

I hope to hear from you soon.

All my love,

Olivia

With shaking hands, Olivia folded her letter. The adventure of Hogwarts had been so exciting, that she had simply forgotten her family.

"Are you okay, Olivia?" asked Mary from across the table, and Olivia nodded in reply.

Arthur was perched on the pumpkin juice mug, and when Olivia looked him, he cocked his head to the side. He was a beautiful brown owl she got on her twelfth birthday. She could still remember the first time he swooped in during breakfast at Beauxbatons, carrying a note telling her he was hers. In later years, her parents had given her beautiful jewellery, dresses, even the brand new Cleansweep that made James green with jealousy a few years back. But Arthur was her favourite. But in that moment, she wished he would just fly away and never come back. She fastened her letter to his foot, told him to fly safe like she always did, and he was off.

Next to her, Cobie had just finished reading the Prophet. She grinned at Olivia, like she always did, and Olivia had to smile back. Cobie was always smiling, no matter what. She had the gift of being able to see the positive sides of everything, be it a bad mark, rain or a meal you didn't like. An optimist, the kind of person Olivia's father thought to be silly. But Olivia really liked Cobie, because she was far from silly.

"When is your meeting with McGonagall?" asked Cobie.

"During lunch, so I won't be eating with you today."

"What?" Cobie pouted. "I suppose I'll just have to give Mary and Lily some well needed Cobie-time, then. I've been neglecting them, I'm afraid."

Mary and Lily fell into a fit of laughter, which obviously caught James' attention.

"What did I do this time?"

Luckily, Remus told him to shut up and leave the girls alone.

"And how are you settling in, Miss Aubry?" asked Professor McGonagall. Olivia could only smile and tell her she was doing fine.

"Good, then I won't waste any time on that subject. If you have any questions or problems, well, you're a smart girl, you know my door is always open."

Her Head of House was a no-nonsense type of woman, and Olivia had grown to respect her a great deal in her three short days at Hogwarts.

"As you might have figured out, the reason I wished to speak with you is to help you choose your NEWTs. You see, it is custom at Hogwarts that a careers advice session is given to OWL student, and I see no reason to treat you any differently. As I understand, you have chosen to drop three subjects, is that correct?"

"Yes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Astronomy," replied Olivia. McGonagall nodded and glanced down at Olivia's OWL results. They lay on the desk in front of her, next to a jar of biscuits and a mug of tea. The professor had offered her a biscuits when Olivia first sat down, a few crumbs still lay in Olivia's lap.

"I see," said McGonagall. "From your OWLs I can tell you are a very capable student. Do you have any ideas on what you would like to after you have completed your NEWTs?"

"Well," said Olivia, carefully choosing her words. "I suppose everyone's always believed that I would work in the Ministry. Perhaps the Department of International Magical Cooperation would suit me."

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, and her lips were pressed into a thin line. She leaned forward, put her elbows on the desk and folded her hands.

"What is your favourite subject, Miss Aubry?" she asked as she lowered her brow, her face softening a bit.

"Potions," replied Olivia immediately. It was not a question she had to ponder; she had always known the answer, since her first lesson in the subject. She looked at her professor, and noticed her surprised expression. "But I suppose I enjoy Ancient Runes a great deal as well."

"Well, looking at your OWL results, I do not doubt that you would make a fine addition to the Ministry, but have you ever considered doing something else?"

Olivia didn't answer. Instead she looked down into her lap, and brushed the crumbs from the biscuit away. She could feel the professor's eyes on her. Of course she had thought about doing something else, she did every time she thought about her future.

Olivia didn't look up until she heard the sound of paper sliding across the desk. It was a pamphlet with a brown and green logo, with the words "Do you have what it takes to be a Healer?" written underneath it in golden letters. Olivia looked up at Professor McGonagall, who was giving her a rare smile.

"You should take a look at that," she said with a gentle voice that Olivia wouldn't hear again whilst still attending Hogwarts. But the tone changed, as the professor decided it was time to talk Transfiguration.

After lunch she had her first Transfiguration class, so she simply walked with McGonagall to the classroom. She kept the pamphlet, just in case, she might need it someday.

As she entered the classroom, she recognized most of the faces, and though Edgar and Drew waved her over to sit behind them in an empty seat, she decided that Remus where he was sitting, behind Mary and Lily, and across the aisle from James and Sirius, who seemed to be doubling over in laughter.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked politely, and couldn't help smiling when Remus' face lit up.

"Not at all," he said through a grin. "I was afraid I'd have to sit alone all year."

"Why?" asked Olivia. "Where's Peter?"

"He hates Transfiguration," Remus replied. "I think McGonagall scares him sometimes. It's a shame because it's one of his better subjects.

"What about you? Any good?" she asked, thinking about what McGonagall had told her about the curriculum, how Hogwarts were ahead of Beauxbatons.

"I'm not bad at Transfiguration, but if we're using nonverbal spells, then I don't know…"

The lesson did indeed include nonverbal spells, but Olivia quickly learned that Remus was just being humble, because at the end of the lesson he had managed a successful nonverbal transfiguration. No matter how many times he argued that it had been a fluke, Olivia still laughed at him and told him that it was a lot better than her attempt.

"May I remind you that I gave my guinea pig an asthma attack?" she said as they excited the classroom. Her comment was overheard by James, who nearly keeled over in laughter. Sirius even sniggered, and Olivia decided that the snigger would be her good deed of the day.

"Sit with us at Dinner?" asked James, once he managed to speak properly again.

"Well…"

"Come on, Liv! We haven't had the chance to talk since forever!" James said, and gave her the "you-love-me-so-give-me-what-I-want-look" he gave his mother whenever he wanted something. He'd yet to learn that it didn't work.

"James, it's been two days, I think you will survive a little while longer."

"Now you're just being mean, right Siri- where did he go?"

James looked around, but couldn't find his friend. He'd not noticed that Sirius had left with Remus right after James asked Olivia to sit with them. Olivia shook her head as she watched James looking everywhere for his friend, even though the hallway was clearly empty and they were the only two left.

"Let's go, Potter," she said. "Or there won't be any dinner left for us."

"Don't call me Potter," he said, his mood clearly dampened. "And now you have to sit with me."

They walked to the Great Hall together, and sat down together at by end of the Gryffindor table. Because they were a bit late, the table was a bit crowded, and right next to them sat a group of giggly third years.

"How did your parents take the news?" asked James as he helped himself to the mashed potatoes, obviously getting right to what he wanted to talk to her about.

"I forgot to owl them…" said Olivia, a sheepish smile covered her face. "I'm still waiting for the verdict."

After a brief pause, James let out a sharp snort.

"Can't wait," he said through a grin. "How do you think they will take it?"

"With enough rage to challenge the Dark Lord, I suppose," she joked. "I wouldn't be surprised if I got a howler. Either that, or no acknowledgement at all. Perhaps I'll get the full on silent treatment."

"Wouldn't that be grand," said James, with his mouth full of mashed potatoes "Peter, mate!"

Olivia looked up from her sausages. Her eyes fell on Peter, who was making his way over to them, looking dishevelled and tired.

"Just woke up," he said curtly as he sat down across from James. "Had a free period."

"Good thing you woke up, then," said Olivia kindly.

"Oh, I don't know," said James. "There might not be enough food left for us, Liv." James gave a cheeky grin, trying to get Peter so smile back, but Peter merely stared tiredly at him for several awkward seconds.

"Just joking, Pete."

The awkward continued, and after dinner was over, Olivia vowed to never eat alone with James and Peter again.

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