4 – A New Batch

The remaining train ride was pleasant, except for the gossip of Harry Potter coming to Hogwarts. I personally didn't know much about him as a muggleborn and I never cared much for reading the paper, so Dana and Leila gladly filled me in. I pitied the boy, but nor for the obvious reasons. Of course, it was horrible for him to lose his parents at such a young age, but even worse was the fact that he was made a center of attention without actually doing anything so any bad memories of the past were brought up over and over. I hated attention and the pressure it brought upon you.

One of the many reasons why I quit being a seeker was how dependent the game was on your performance. At least in that point, Wood was right.

As we entered the great hall to watch the sorting and enjoy the feast, I could hear whispers echoing with my name. I pulled my eyebrows together in despise. Wasn't there anything else people could talk about? They should just mind their own business.

"Isn't that the Gryffindor seeker..?"

"I heard she quit because her feelings for one of the team members wasn't mutual…"

"She quit..?"

"How petty. Gryffindor will go down this season…"

"What's her name again..?"

How bitter I felt. They didn't even know my name but knew everything that was going on inside my head. Yeah, right. Bunch of dimwitted brats. I could relate to how Harry Potter must feel and he wasn't even old enough to properly deal with all the rumors. What a miserable childhood. One could only hope that he would develop one heck of a strong personality to deal with his personal baggage.

I sat down next to Leila at the Gryffindor table with a grim air surrounding me. Leila, as perceptive as always, rested her head on my shoulder and secretly stroked my forearm under the table in a reassuring manner. Halfway through the sorting, I noticed George had sat down beside me and was staring at me apprehensively.

"Spit it out, George." I sighed.

"Kat, it's just that… I think your scaring the first years with the murderous glare you're giving your plate. Whatever it did to you, please tell me because I never want you staring at me like that." He concluded with a nervous chuckle.

I laughed awkwardly, regaining control over my facial expression. "It's empty and I'm hungry."

"Hmm… since I'm an airhead you must hate me, too, ey Kitty?" He said with a pout and batted his eyelashes at me.

I burst into fits of laughter, causing a huge portion of everyone in the great hall to stare at me like I was a lunatic. "Kitty?!" I managed to choke out between the following hiccups. "Georgie, you should really put that creativity of yours to good use. I mean seriously, Kitty?!" I chuckled softly.

"Oi, sunshine, you didn't answer my question." George nudged me a bit flustered.

"Well, since I didn't start screaming profanities at you, I thought that was answer enough."

"I'd like to see you try to use coarse language before me. That would probably be quite amusing." He ruffled my hair playfully.

I lightly punched his arm and shook my head. "You think too highly of me."

"Are you telling me that Katrina Rigby actually swears occasionally? Bloody hell." The shocked look on George's face with his mouth wide open would have been funny enough, but with the last words he leant back as if to sag into the imaginable back of his chair. Only that he overdid it and with a small "umpf" he landed on his back down on the floor.

All of the students sitting around me exchanged glances before we all burst into fits of laughter. I wrapped my arms around my torso and doubled over, nearly knocking over the plate before me. Somewhere close to me I could hear Fred laughing hysterically and even George joined in, making me laugh even harder. Everyone was short of breath before we could stop laughing and I was biting on my lip to stop from grinning.

By then, the sorting had been completed and I contemplated the new first years sitting at our table. With a smile on my face, I turned back to my friends around me. These first years were going to have one of the best years of their lives with the excitingly new magic they would be taught and all the other perks the wizardry school had in store. As if Leila could read my thoughts she prompted Fred.

"New youngsters to corrupt, eh?"

Fred just nodded with a devilish waggle of his eyebrows and the telltale mischievous smile the Weasley twins were known for. "You bet. With one of them being our dear baby brother it will be a piece of cake. We'll have insight information through our little spy."

Both twins placed their elbows on the table, put their fingertips together and stayed in this pose of deep thought for several minutes. We made use of the time of peace and quiet to finish up our meals and listen in on Dumbledore's speech.

Just as we were getting ready to take leave to our dormitories a small paper airplane landed on my empty plate. It came flying from the direction of the teachers' table so I immediately opened it almost fearing that I was in some kind of trouble. I hardly got into trouble but who knows. The note was in a neat cursive hand.

Miss Rigby,

If you could be so kind to stay behind for several minutes, Madame Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and I would like to have a word with you.

Professor A. Dumbledore

I looked up in surprise and found Dumbledore winking at me. So I guess that meant that there were no repercussions to be expected. With Madame Pomfrey present I was pretty sure I knew what to expect of this little meeting.

I stayed in my seat for a while to let the flood of students exit the great hall, telling Dana and Leila to go on without me with a wave. Dana gave me a curt nod and a thumbs up having caught on rather quickly when she noticed the note in my hands while Leila looked a bit confused but gave me a heartening smile all the same.

I made my way towards the back of the great hall cautiously and was beckoned to sit in a simple wooden chair one of the professors must have summoned. Madame Pomfrey smiled at me gingerly, Professor Dumbledore studied me for a short moment with intelligent, bright eyes before he folded his hands on the table and Professor McGonagall was actually cracking a smile. A rare moment of indulgence occurred to me, I think I have never been greeted in such a friendly manner by my professors.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and began. "Miss Rigby, you are without a doubtwell aware of why we wished to speak with you. Your acceptance to the scholarship for future healers makes us fairly proud since such an occurrence is unheard of in the history of this school. You will evidently be in close contact with Madame Pomfrey for your training and Professor McGonagall will help you coordinate your school work et cetera. You may turn to any of us if you have any problems."

Professor McGonagall piped up. "One more thing, Miss Rigby, I was quite concerned by the amount of OWLs you have chosen to undertake this year. Charms, Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts, Muggly Studies, Divination, Arithmancy, Herbology, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures. There actually isn't a subject that you didn't take. We do want to support your ambitions, if you are persistent of taking them..?" She trailed of her sentence with a hint of worry in her voice.

There was a moment of silence until I noticed that it was my turn to speak. "Yes, Professor."

She sighed. "If that is the case, we have come up with a system that allows you to take five OWLs during the Christmas holidays and the rest at the end of the year like your fellow students. The according professors will inform you on what you must study after classes and will support you as much as they can."

Professor Dumbledore lifted his folded hands and set his chin onto them. "But we must warn you, Miss Rigby, aside the added stress you will also have to swear an unbreakable vow that you will not talk about the content of the tests with any of your fellow students. Professor McGonagall may claim that you are an honest person but we must take precautions nonetheless. Are you still willing to pull off this heist?" He asked with a smirk tugging at his lips.

I nodded. In truth, I had expected them to tell me off for choosing so many OWLs since it was a near impossible feat. But I did enjoy a good challenge and I was bent on concentrating solely on my education this year so I knew that I could pull it off.

The headmaster splayed out his arms to the side and concluded. "Then, Miss Rigby, you are in for quite the demanding year. We are positive you will perform outstandingly. Furthermore, Miss Pomfrey will inform you about the compulsory hours you must spend in the infirmary. I believe the first year of your training isn't quite as intense as your school work will be, luckily. Good luck, Miss Rigby, and do try to enjoy yourself as much as possible." He said with another playful wink with which I was dismissed. It only dawned on me that Professor Dumbledore was referring to my outburst of laughter at the feast when I was already before the portrait of the pink lady (I refuse to call her fat, that's insulting) that led to our common room. I knocked since I didn't know the new password yet. The pink lady smiled down at me guiltily but I knew it was only fair that she couldn't let me in even thought she knew me well enough after four years at this school. Dana opened up in her pajamas, stifling a yawn.

"I thought they would never let you go. Leila is already in bed though she wanted to wait for your return."

"Thank you for waiting. You look very tired."

Dana waved her hand, dismissively. "Well, you're here now. I'll live."

As we trudged up the stairs to our dormitory I pondered how I would live through this first year of educational bliss. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? I could only hope that that would be the case.