CHAPTER 4
Annora POV
Upon the realisation that I had no homework to complete and I hadn't written to my parents in what felt like weeks, I came to the decision to write a letter. Grabbing my parchment and quill, I settled myself at the low table near the fire, resting against the bottom of a leather couch.
I tapped my quill against my chin while I thought. Why was it so hard to write a letter to my parents?
Dear Mum and Dad, I wrote. That's a good start.
School is great. It's everything you told me it would be and more. I love the classes and learning so much. My favourite class would be Transfiguration. I know it's hard, but I enjoy the challenge. I did have a flying class the other day, but I'm afraid it's not for me.
Being in Slytherin isn't as bad as you made it out to be, Dad. The common room is very nice to look at – did you know that we can see the lake through the roof?
Anyway, Dad, I know you say that Gryffindor is the best, and I know Mum says Ravenclaw, but I honestly don't think there is a 'best House'. I think it depends on what you value. I enjoy being surrounded by ambitious and clever people.
It's nice having Scorpius with me. He's been such a comfort to me and I think we've grown really close. I definitely count him as my best friend (Sorry Dad!). Believe it or not, he's actually helped me out with my homework!
I do miss home, and the rest of our family, and I can't wait to come home. I have so much to tell you!
Annora.
Satisfied, I put down my quill.
"That's heart-warming," Scorpius said over my shoulder.
"It's rude to read over other people's shoulders," I said without turning as I put my letter in an envelope. Scorpius sat on the couch behind me, placing his feet (crossed at the ankles) on the table.
"Your dad isn't going to like what you said about Slytherin," he pointed out. I shrugged.
"I think Dad has an unfair prejudice towards Slytherin. Besides, he should be happy for me, and proud, regardless of my House."
I turned to give Scorpius a defiant glare, which he ignored.
"Yeah, I suppose." He was looking uneasily at my letter.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Do you… I mean, did you mean what you said about me? You like having me here?"
"Of course," I assured him. "I don't know how much you read –"
"All of it," Scorpius interrupted.
"– But I did write that I consider you my best friend," I continued. "Whether or not you feel the same is irrelevant. I like being with you."
Scorpius was nodding, smiling slightly. He seemed pleased with himself.
Packing up my things, I felt as tingling sensation on the back of my neck. I suddenly felt self-conscious and I realised Scorpius was still looking at me. I met his stare, but his eyes were glazed over. He didn't notice I was looking at him. My amusement quickly turned to discomfort when I eventually grew uncomfortable under his gaze.
"What is it?" I asked curiously. He shook his head a little, as though clearing it, before answering.
Scorpius reached out and twisted a lock of my hair around his finger. "Just... your hair, it's shining," he muttered, looking at it closely. I bit my lip nervously.
"Green?" I guessed. He nodded, still not looking at me. "It's the lake. It makes my hair go weird."
"Matches your eyes," he murmured. He stood abruptly and walked away before I could respond.
I sighed shakily. The intensity of the situation had my knees weak.
Grabbing the letter off of the table, I headed out towards the Owlery. It was chilly, with strong winds continuously blowing, so I picked up my pace. I held tightly to the letter so it couldn't blow away.
In the distance was an odd sight; tall blue mountains with green forests surrounding them, ice-covered lakes next to the Forbidden Forest. The views were odd but beautiful in the way they interlaced with each other.
I reached the Owlery and searched for a nice-looking owl. Trying not to step on too many feathers and droppings, I made my way across the tower to a beautiful chocolate-coloured owl with yellow eyes. It hooted softly as I tied the letter around its leg.
"Ottery St. Catchpole," I told it gently. It hooted again and I pushed it out the window. I watched it get smaller in the sky until it was almost a dot, then a gust of wind blew so strong I nearly fell over.
"Oh, careful there," someone said behind me. I turned quickly and saw an unfamiliar boy with sandy-blonde hair and brown eyes smiling at me. I smiled back.
"I'm sorry, the wind blew and I lost my footing," I explained quickly, gesturing to the window helplessly.
The boy smiled and held out his hand. "Shane."
I took it, hesitating only a second. "Annora."
He shook once. "Nice to meet you."
"What House are you in?" I wondered. "I haven't seen you before."
"Oh, Ravenclaw."
I didn't have any important classes with Ravenclaw's – meaning any class I was actually interested in.
"Do you want me to walk you back? I've just got to send this letter off..." Shane trailed off, sensing his intent was clear.
"Sure," I said after a moment of deliberation. I didn't see any harm in it.
He picked an average-looking owl, with brown and white spots over its chest, and took it to the window. He murmured where to go and turned to me.
"You must be freezing! Here, take my cloak," he ordered, shrugging it off. I put it on gratefully and followed him outside.
"Now you'll be cold," I exclaimed. He shrugged.
"It's only a short walk," he said easily. I smiled at him.
"Thank you," I said genuinely. It seemed my thanks were ignored, however, as he seemed bored with the topic of conversation at hand.
"I've heard about you," he said, changing the subject.
"Oh?"
"Yep. You're smart. And too nice to be in Slytherin. You should be in Ravenclaw."
I narrowed my eyes dangerously at him. "Too nice to be in Slytherin?" I repeated. He looked at me, nodding. He then realised that he had said the wrong thing.
"It's just... Slytherin's have a reputation for being... you know, quite mean..."
"Slytherin is a great House, and if you're pathetic enough to judge people by what House they belong to instead of getting to know them, I don't know why I'm talking to you," I snapped. I took off his cloak and handed it to him. "I can walk the rest of the way by myself," I said fiercely. That wasn't saying much, as I could see inside the doors of the castle clearly, but I didn't care. The point I was trying to make was blatantly obvious. I didn't want to walk with a stupid Ravenclaw.
Shane caught up with me, evidently ignoring my not-so-subtle hint. "Annora, wait. I'm sorry, okay? It was meant to be a compliment."
"Well it was an insult to me."
"I'm sorry."
I didn't say anything, because his apology was certainly not accepted and I couldn't be bothered talking to him.
We walked into the main hall and I turned left to go to the dungeons.
"Aren't you going to dinner?" Shane asked, putting a hand on my shoulder to stop me. I froze.
"Get your hand off me, please," I said as calmly as I could manage. I hated it when strangers thought they had a right to touch me.
Shane took it off immediately; the first smart thing he'd done since we met. "Dinner?" he repeated. I rolled my eyes.
"I have to go back to my common room first. Maybe I'll see you around."
And I walked off without waiting for an answer.
A/N: Okay, so that's a little insight to everyone's first year at Hogwarts! Basically, with Shane and Annora, Shane is persistent with her and waits for her at her classes, follows her, etc. He's a kind of mini-stalker, and Annora wonders why he was put in Ravenclaw because they're supposed to be smart and he won't take a hint. Finally, Scorpius notices and they have a "boy talk" (which means Scorpius hexed him... and got a bit violent) and he left her alone.
Rose keeps her promise to race James around the quidditch pitch every evening in second year, except for when they had quidditch practice, study groups, or when James had detention. They both made the quidditch team, James a Seeker, and Rose became chaser until fifth year when she decided to quit so she could concentrate on her OWLs.
We're skipping forward to Sixth year now. Sorry we've missed a few years, but I don't have a mind creative enough to fill in that much time.