Chapter Three: The Halls of Hogwarts
Classes had begun at Hogwarts, and Arathyn had yet to see Witchr in the halls or at breakfast. She would have asked other students, but they still avoided her like the plague, all except Ginny. Ginny remained by her side through the whole awkward first day of term and despite the American girl's thick shield of indifference it was obvious she was anxious. Ginny and Arathyn's first class was Charms with the tiny Professor Flitwick, and to everyone's surprise, including Professor Flitwick, Arathyn excelled at casting Charms. As the two girls packed up their things Ginny heard two Hufflepuffs whisper amongst themselves, "She does come from a Dark family they probably taught her loads of spells."
Ginny looked to her friend and saw a visible cloud of gloom surrounding the girl, as if sensing Ginny's concern, Arathyn turned to her.
"Doesn't matter, I'm used to it." Arathyn replied with low tone and an annoyed expression in her eyes.
The next class they had was Potions with Professor Snape, Ginny immediately understood why her brothers called him a "slimy git". He looked as if he hadn't washed his hair in ages, the black strands were so greasy that they gleamed in the low candle light of the dungeons. His large hooked nose and beady eyes glared down at each first year with distaste, the exception being his precious Slytherins. Everything about him was dark and cold, just like the dungeons he had the nerve to call a classroom. His beady eyes remained frigid towards everyone until Ginny flipped her red locks over her shoulder in annoyance and there was a small flash of soft emotion within the professor's stern gaze, but she immediately shook that from her mind. The youngest Weasley turned to see a very eager Ipswich leaning on the edge of her seat and trying desperately to take in everything being said by the menacing Snape.
Arathyn stared curiously at her Potion's professor, absorbing every word that came from his mouth. What little Grandfather had told her about Potions during her studies had always interested her, the whole idea of wandless magic in a pro-wand society was fascinating! As the dark haired wizard continued to talk down to the other students more, Arathyn muttered a spell beneath her breath, "Mobiliar" and stared at her immobile quill. As if an invisible hand had suddenly gripped the thin object, the quill stood at attention and begun to write down everything the professor said on a roll of parchment. Unlike its wand counterpart, "Mobiliarbus", this was a charm that allowed the caster to control an object without the direct use of their wand, but rather their mind. As the quill scurried along the paper, occasionally stopping to coat its' tip with jet black ink, Arathyn begun to notice some curious gazes around her and, judging by Snape's suspicious stare, so was the professor. Arathyn quickly snatched up the quill when the teacher turned to investigate what had captured his student's attention. Seeing nothing but a young witch taking copious notes, Snape sneered and continued his spiel.
"Tomorrow I expect all of you to have read through the first five chapters of Magical Drafts and Potions, and have a roll of parchment explaining basic ingredients, where to find them, and their purposes. I will not baby step you through this class, if you fail to perform admirably it will either lose you house points or earn you detention. There will be no second chances, do I make myself clear?" With that final note the students cleaned up their things, making their way to their next class.
Herbology was taught by Professor Sprout, a dumpy old witch who was too easily impressed by simple things. The class wasn't as fascinating as Potions according to Arathyn. Afterwards, as the two girls gave their two cents about the class Arathyn turned to Ginny.
"My mom loves studying magical plants, she even enchanted willow trees for my bedframe on my fifth birthday. I don't know how she likes Herbology it's so boring."
"It's not that horrid, Potion's was dreadful."
"I didn't think it was so bad." Arathyn protested.
"That was right awful! I've seen livelier ghosts!" Ginny had begun to get more and more excited.
"Oi' Ginny!" The redhead's ears flushed pink as she turned around to see who had called out her name.
To her surprise and mortification two gangly gingers were walking leisurely towards the two girls. These two were none other than Ginny's older brothers Fred and George, the infamous set of Weasley twins. Arathyn suddenly felt uncomfortable and shuffled behind Ginny in an attempt to make herself scarce, but the twins just kept coming.
"Hullo, Ginny!" Both chimed.
"How's our favorite little sister?" The one on the right asked.
"I'm your only sister." Ginny grumbled.
"Not true, we've still got ole Ickle Ronniekins." Ginny laughed at that.
"Not much of a competition though." The other twin commented. Arathyn, feeling rather uncomfortable, contemplated slinking off and heading to History of Magic on her own.
"Oh, sorry Arathyn. Fred, George this is Arathyn. Arathyn these are my brothers Fred and George." Ginny was nervous about introducing Arathyn to her brothers, but Ginny knew Fred and George rarely took the things their mum and dad said seriously.
"So you're from the legendary Ipswich family?" The one on the left that she guessed was Fred asked. There was an awkward tension in the air both girls could feel it, but Arathyn was in no mood for anymore alienation from her peers. Breathing deeply and mustering up any courage she had, Arathyn replied sarcastically.
"I know, terrifying, right?" Both twins stared down at her, until eventually large, identical grins stretched across their faces.
"Yup, real scary." George replied sarcastically.
"Quivering in our boots, we is." Fred chimed in.
Arathyn grinned softly, from what she could tell Fred and George's lack of prejudice was something Ginny also shared and with the possibility of making some more friends on the horizon, Arathyn felt all her previous nervousness dissipate.
"What are you lot doing?" A voice called from behind Fred and George.
All four of the young wizards turned to see another redhead make his way towards them, in step with that girl, Hermione, from the train and another queer looking boy in glasses. Few, except for Hermione and Arathyn noticed Ginny's flushed face and pink ears as the trio neared. Arathyn squirmed slightly beneath the redhead's hateful gaze, but was drawn towards the boy with untidy raven coloured hair and glasses.
"Oh nothing Ickle Ronniekins, just socializing." Fred or George replied. A furious blush crept across Ron's freckled face, "What are you doing?"
Judging by his unsubtle eye gesture he was talking about their association with Arathyn. The boy beside Ron allowed his eyes to flicker curiously between the strange girl and his ginger friend.
"Ron, don't be rude!" Hermione scolded, arms tightly crossed, mimicking a disappointed mother.
"Arathyn this our other sister, Ronniekins, and her friends Hermione Granger and the infamous Harry Potter, the boy who lived."
"Harry Potter?" Scrunching her brow, Arathyn searched the young wizard's face for the legendary mark: the lightning bolt scar. Harry blushed at her focused expression, took pity on her and brushed away his unkempt hair revealing the infamous scar. The young witch opened her lips in an inaudible gasp.
"See Harry you leave even the Yank starstruck." Fred joked. Hermione decided to step in and break the awkwardness for a bit.
"So Arathyn where are you and Ginny headed?"
"History of Magic with Professor Binns." The boys groaned while Hermione seemed rather excited.
"Poor bloke he didn't deserve to be murdered because he was a bloody awful professor." George groaned.
"It was a tragedy really." Fred replied solemnly.
"He was really murdered?" Arathyn asked wide-eyed.
"Don't listen to them Arathyn they're only pulling your leg, Professor Binns died in his sleep." Hermione glowered at the foolish twins.
Ginny and Arathyn decided to leave and head to class with Ginny muttering embarrassed apologies for her "stupid brothers". Towards the end of the day after Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts and Flying Ginny and Arathyn shared their favorite classes.
"Flying was amazing I can't wait till tomorrow." Ginny confessed excitedly.
"I really did like potions despite what you think." Arathyn revealed. When the two thought of their least favorite class both girls groaned at the thought of another day in History of Magic. The two of them worked on their Potion's assignment then climbed up the stairs to the dormitories and fell asleep.