"Balderdash," Godric Gryffindor said gruffly to the portrait of a rather large woman that seemed to be some kind of door. Ava stood on her tiptoes to set herself higher than the towering 7th year boys who had rudely not thought to stand in the back of the large group of Gryffindor students. Beside Ava stood Aidan who, though taller than Ava, had still not reached the peak of his height growth.
"Well, hello Godric! Our very first day in business! I'm so happy. I've been so lonely just sitting in this portrait for the last couple of months with no one here but Lord Cambridge over in the portrait across the hall. He snores Godric! You should tell him to stop!" the fat lady ordered him, pointing her index finger directly at his nose. Ava was sure that if The Fat Lady had been an actual living body, that she would have poked him directly between the eyes.
He gave a great laugh that seemed to shake the floor and gave his reply, "Don't worry Babs. I'll talk to Lord Cambridge about his snoring problem. Though I do not expect him to stop."
"Well…just try dear. That's all I can ask…or maybe I'll just sing at him…" the fat lady thought out loud, trying not to look Godric in the eyes.
"No Babs! No singing. You'll wake up the children when they're sleeping," Godric told her sternly, but with a gentle smile appearing on his face, "Please let us through now. I'm sure these children are very tired and are anxious to be the first ever classes to lay their eyes upon the Gryffindor House Common Room!" Cheers erupted as the portrait hole opened, allowing all the students to run inside the Common Room. Ava could hear lots of "ohs" and "ahs" and a few "brilliants" as she tried to push her and Aidan's way through the group. She, her mouth wide open and here eyes sparkling, stopped abruptly and gazed around the large room. Aidan pulled her arm so they would move out of the pathway of the rest of the Gryffindor students who were still filing into the Common Room.
"Wow," Ava whispered breathlessly, walking forward. The room was rather large and definitely spirited. Most of the fabrics and carpets and paints were the Gryffindor House colors. People laughed as they sat down on the couches half-circling around the brilliant fireplace, which already, in the end of summer, had a blazing fire that crackled and sparked beautifully within the hearth. Ava could feel herself subconsciously smiling, realizing the happiness and wonder of what was before her took over her body completely. Beside Ava, Aidan was observing his surroundings as well, his eyes bulging and his mouth wide.
"Welcome everyone! I am so delighted to finally meet my very first Gryffindor students! I am sure you will have a very exciting year. First, though, I must tell you some ground rules about Hogwarts," his face turned serious and his eyes seemed fixed out the window on what seemed to be a giant mass off black smoke. Instead, she would find out that it was the Dark Forest. She knew right away that it would be off-limits to all students.
"That forest at the far end of the Hogwarts grounds is forbidden to all who do not want to suffer an untimely death," Godric told them, with no sign that he was joking. Aidan gulped and peered down at Ava, who stood a few inches shorter than him. For a moment they met eyes, both a little intimidated by everything in the magical world. It all seemed so dangerous.
"Also, students will be reprimanded if they walk through the corridors at night without a proper escort. It is the same with the outdoors after dark," Godric stopped when he saw all the frightened faces of the students, many of them still glancing nervously out the window at the Dak Forest. He gave the students a warm smile and he seemed to loosen up more, making everyone feel a little more relaxed.
"Children, you will have a wonderful time here at Hogwarts. We have used all means possible to ensure that you are safe within these grounds and I will do all in my power to keep it that way. Any questions?" Ava and Aidan looked all around them, trying to see if anyone would actually ask the Headmaster a question. As expected, one lone boy raised his hanf in the air, slowly but surely. Godric's smile didn't falter as he nodded his head approvingly at the small boy, who seemed to be one of the youngest wizards in the whole Gryffindor house.
"Are we to have a feast as grand as tonight's every evening?" he asked, his voice showing that he had not reached his full manhood. Suddenly, Godric began to laugh, his chest rising and falling immensely, his bellows long and gruff.
"Yes…Albus, is it?...Yes, we will have fine meals here every evening, afternoon, and morning. You shall not be disappointed," Godric reassured him. The young boy smiled devilishly and licked his lips, turning to a boy beside him and whispering in his ear.
"Well everyone, I do believe you all should be off to your bed chambers Your names will be posted on the door of your rooms. Remember that the people you share your bedroom with will stay with you till the end of your Hogwarts run, so please be civil. Goodnight everyone! Don't let the bed bugs bite!" Godric gave everyone a tiny wave and exited through the Fat Lady portrait. Immediately, all the students raced up the stairwells toward the boys and girls dormitories. When they reached the top Ava and Aidan exchanged their "goodnights" before both walking in opposite directions. Ava approached the door and realized that she was the only girl left in the hallway outside the dormitories. She took one last look around her and then opened the wooden door.
"Ohhh!" All of a sudden Ava was pushed to the floor, landing hard on her back. Another girl, about Ava's age fell on top of her, both their legs and arms twisted painfully. The girl's dark brown eyes met Ava's and she immediately jumped to her feet, taking Ava's hand and trying to lift her up from the floor.
"I am so sorry!" the girl apologized, her eyes looking scared and truly regretful, "Are you alright Miss? I did not mean to hurt you. I just forgot my bag and desperately needed my face wash. Please accept my apology. My heart will stop beating if you do not forgive me. I shall be ruined! I…"
"It's alright, I'm fine!" Ava assured her, finally standing on her feet again, "Don't worry about it. Just, please, don't call me Miss again." The girl blushed slightly, forming a nice contrast with her pale skin and beautiful curly, blond hair.
"Well, alright if you say so. My mother always taught me to say Miss to those I do not know personally. My mother likes everything…clean and proper," the girl told Ava, "Including me."
"What's your name?" Ava asked the girl, instantly taking a liking to the girl. With that question, the blond girl's face lit up.
"My name is Emery," she chirped, reaching out her hand, assuming Ava would shake it, "Emery Marrieta. What's your name?"
"I'm Ava Daney," Ava said, reaching down and picking up a bag that sat a few feet from the doorway on one of the sitting chairs, "This must be yours."
"Oh yes. Thank you Mi…Ava," Emery said, "You must be my third roommate. I already met the other two. Their names are Layla and Felicity. They are quite wonderful. Shall we go upstairs? I'll show you where our room is."
"Of course. Thank you Emery," Ava said, giving her roommate a smile, "I can't wait to meet them and see the room. Are you a fifth year?"
"Yes. Though I don't know many other fifth years myself. I have a little brother named Andrew in the second year and an older sister named Elizabeth in seventh year, but I don't know many others," Emery answered her, dragging her bag up each step, one at a time.
"I'm in fifth year as well. I don't really know many people either. I just know my friend Aidan, who is a fifth year in Gryffindor, and my twin sister Tara."
"You have a twin sister?" Emery asked, finally reaching the top of the steps, "Is she in Gryffindor?"
"No," Ava said, her smile falling, "She's in Slytherin."
"Welcome to Slytherin," Salazar Slytherin greeted his students, giving each one a cold stare. Tara twirled her thumbs around each other nervously, glancing about her at the people surrounding her. Unlike Ava, Tara didn't know anyone from the Slytherin house and she wished desperately that she had been sorted into Gryffindor with Ava and Aidan. For a few moments she zoned out, thinking of how horrible her life at Hogwarts would be without her sister with her. Beside Tara stood a really tall boy, who was staring directly ahead at Salazar Slytherin, his lips curling into a tiny grin.
"…Those are the rules everyone. You must abide by them at all times. I expect you are all Half-bloods and pure-bloods in this room. Are there any muggle-borns here?" Salazar asked, his eyes darting from one end of the room to the other. Suddenly, the tall boy standing beside Ava raised his hand slowly into the air. As soon as Salazar's eyes reached the boy's elevated hand, his eyes narrowed and he took a deep breath.
"Fine," Salazar snapped, his nostrils flaring angrily, "Everyone proceed to your dormitories. Hurry! I need my sleep. It's been a…" he glanced at the tall boy beside Tara, "…very long day." The tall boy gulped and tried to dodge Salazar's accusing eyes. In that moment, Salazar Slyhterin whipped around and rushed through the door and into the hallways of Hogwarts, which were still illuminated brightly by the candles that outlined the corridors. Instantly the Slytherin students dashed to the stairwells, some stopping to laugh at the muggle-born boy, whose tan skin couldn't even hide his deep blush. Tara began to turn around and hurry up the stairwell with the other Slytherin girls but decided to stop to talk to the muggle-born boy for a moment. After all, she had never met a wizard who wasn't pure-blood.
"Um…excuse me," Tara said, trying to get the boy's attention, "Are you alright? You seem a little….off." The boy turned and looked down at Tara, his height making him at least 3 inches taller than her. After a few seconds of staring at her, unbelievingly, he gave her a small smile.
"I'm fine. I just don't really like him that's all," the boy glanced nervously back at the door where Salazar had exited and then peered around the common room, "In fact, I don't really like being in Slytherin House at all."
"Me neither," Ava agreed, looking around herself. The Slytherin Common Room just seemed so cold. Large stone pillars held up the walls and there appeared to be very few open windows. The fire in the stone hearth was burning brightly, but not with the normal yellow glow of a warm fire. Instead the fire seemed to be totally blue and green, giving a slight chill to the room and the students standing by it. The couches were a dark black and green, which Tara didn't find as comforting as she wanted.
"It's just so cold in here," the boy continued, walking towards the steps, obviously assuming Tara would follow, "Plus, it's obvious he didn't want any muggle-borns in his house."
"Well I don't mind having you here," Tara told him, making him blush even more, "I do wish I was in Gryffindor House though. I have a twin sister named Ava in that house, as well as one of my best friends. His name is Aidan. He's a really funny boy actually…What is your name?"
"Oh, I'm Bradley Dorrington. I usually just go by Brad," he told her, pausing for a few seconds, "Your name is Tara right?"
"Yes," Tara was taken aback that he knew her name, "How did you know that?"
"I got sorted before you," Brad explained, "I'm a sixth year."
"Oh," Tara turned away for a moment, subconsciously pulling her hair behind her ears, pretending to gaze at the stairway.
"Come on, we should go up to the dormitories," Brad suggested, walking quickly past her but stopping at the bottom of the steps to wait for her.
"Okay, that's probably a good idea," Tara said, walking to keep up with him, "I don't want to get the bed facing the window, do I?"
"No I guess not," Brad laughed, holding out his arm, motioning for Tara to go up the stairs, "Ladies first."
"Why thank you kind sir," Tara joked, flashing him a smile and walking lightly up the steps. Once they both made it up the stairwell, they paused.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow Tara," Brad said, his blush still not disappearing. Tara could feel her face heating up and could almost imagine how red her face must have looked.
"Yes, I'll see you then," Tara said, quietly but not so that she was whispering. At that moment both of them rushed through their separate dormitories, pulling the doors shut behind them. Before heading up to her room, Tara decided to stop and take a breather and reflect on everything that had taken place that day. At last she smiled and walked down the hallway, whispering to herself, "Maybe being in Slytherin won't be so bad."