Disclaimer: We (me and my partners) do not hold or claim to hold any rights to the Harry Potter series. All content and characters within are owned under JK Rowling and Time Warner, all rights reserved.
Exceptions include original characters such as Melvin Aguillard, and other characters not affiliated with the original works of the Harry Potter series. We do not claim any further ownership, nor do we intend to profit from our limited ownership.
Chapter 9
The Beginning of Term
Cosette did not feel hungry any longer, even when the desserts appeared. She didn't even bother investigating the food to see if it was safe to eat; she simply sat with her head downcast. She sat in silence for a very long time, the idle chatter around her carefree. She couldn't help but feel that some of the chatter was people talking about her, and felt herself sink lower and wished more than anything that she could just shrink away and disappear.
Harry on the other hand, was having an experience of quite the opposite nature and was boisterously enjoying the company of his new found friends. Ron and he had become almost instant companions since the train, and everyone at Gryffindor was more than happy to be friendly with him because of his famous status.
When the dessert plates were cleaned up, and even Ron seemed to be stuffed, Headmaster Dumbledore stood once again. Everyone in the Great Hall quieted down at his hands.
"I have a few start-of-terms announcements to make," Dumbledore's eyes sparkled from behind his half-moon spectacles.
"First, our caretaker, Argus Filch, would like me to remind all of you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds to all students."
Harry looked over to the corner, where a gangly oily man was standing, holding a tabby cat with fiendish eyes. He had a very unpleasant look in his eyes as he surveyed the schoolchildren. From what the older boys had said, he hated children and was always talking about the old torture methods they used to employ for detention.
"I would also like to announce that the third floor corridor is forbidden to all students who do not wish to die a most painful death," Dumbledore said while wearing a beaming smile.
All of Gryffindor burst into quiet murmurs, and Harry and Ron exchanged nervous, fearful glances. Harry wasn't sure if the Headmaster was being serious or not. This was the man who, at the beginning of the feast, had humorously said a bunch of random nonsense. Surely there wouldn't be anything in the school that could harm, or kill anyone –right?
"School prefects will escort first years to their common rooms. I would like to once again welcome you back to Hogwarts, and I hope you all have a pleasant and eventful year!"
The noise had picked back up after Dumbledore dismissed them all. Percy stood up, and began rounding up the first years. Harry stood next to Ron as the group followed Percy out of the Great Hall. Through the mass crowds of people, Harry couldn't see his sister, and therefore couldn't wish her a goodnight. Percy led them all up the winding, sometimes crooked stairways of the school up to the tallest tower, where Percy had said laid the Gryffindor common room. Along the way, Harry stared at the detailed oil paintings, and how the occupants therein would smile and wave at them in greeting. The stairs themselves were tricky, for they often moved. On different days the stairs led somewhere else, and sometimes to nowhere at all. Some of the steps could turn invisible or vanish, and many people tripped. The ceiling seemed to go on forever, and below the stairs was what looked like a bottomless pit. There were doors that moved and others that disappeared completely. He was positive that if he didn't follow Percy, he would have been lost in the school, and could have been left wandering for days before finding his way back. He couldn't even seem to memorize all the turns and ascensions they made to successfully find his way from the Great Hall to his own common room.
During their journey, they had paused slightly from a ruckus above them. Some invisible force was throwing what looked like pickup sticks at them. Percy glared up at the unseen foe.
"Peeves!"
Harry looked on confused as a giggling entity suddenly materialized. A rather stout, dwarven sized man appeared with a mischievous grin. He was floating, but unlike the ghosts, was completely solid looking and colorful. His stubby legs were crossed midair and in his hands were the offensive sticks.
"He-he-he-he Icky Ittsy-bitty Firsty First years! He-he-ha-ha!" he continued in a joyful manner, still throwing things.
The students ducked and covered their heads.
"Leave now Peeves, before I find the Bloody Baron!" Percy shot over Peeve's laughter.
It seemed to shut him up, as he took a nervous gulp before sticking his tongue out at Percy and disappearing from sight.
"George told me about him," Ron muttered to Harry as they continued their way up. "That's Peeves the Poltergeist. He said he does nothing but pull pranks all day, especially on the first years. Though, George says he's scared to death of the Bloody Baron."
Was there a difference between a poltergeist and a ghost? Harry wasn't sure what exactly made them so different, or why the ghosts were transparent and washed out looking and poltergeists could almost pass for the living. Harry shrugged and didn't dwell on it anymore as they continued on their way. After what felt like a life time, they finally made it to stand before a large oil painting of what appeared to be a large, fat woman in pink robes. She stood there elegantly poised against a pedestal and gazed at all of them.
"Password?" she spoke loudly.
Percy stood up straight.
"Capet Draconus."
The portrait swung open, giving them entrance to the Gryffindor common room.
Inside was a large, ceiling-less room covered in medieval looking tapestries. A large roaring fire was burning in the marbled hearth. Pillars of gold lined the walls and chandeliers hung from above. The whole space was occupied by the warming colors of red and gold and the proud Gryffindor Crest loomed overhead the fire. The wooden floor was covered by thick, intricately woven rugs and thick plush couches of a deep rust color occupied the space in front of the fireplace. Statues of many lions, frozen mid-roared were also decked about. Large multi-paneled glass windows filtered in the moonlight.
Harry's eyes went wide, and he could barely snap himself out of his gaping to listen to Percy.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. You will be spending much of your free time here. Boys' dormitories are through those doors, up the stairs to the right, girls, the same on the left. Don't try anything funny, either. The steps are enchanted to keep them separated," his eyes danced over the bunch as some of the kids gave impish sort of looks.
"You will find that your belongings have already been brought up. Please make sure you get up in time for breakfast at five thirty a.m. sharp."
"Five-thirty!" one student groaned loudly, "What time does breakfast start?"
"It begins at six and ends at seven forty-five."
With that, Percy had disappeared, leaving Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors to run up to their beds to unpack. Harry quickly went up the stairs, finding a dorm room marked 'first year tower'. He entered to find himself in a circular room with many other doors. Each door was a vibrant shade of red and had the names of the occupants of each room on it. Harry noted that a flight of stairs led to more rooms above. He looked at the first few doors, not seeing his name on it. He went to the second floor to find his name printed on the second of the round doors. He entered the room to find himself in another circular room, though this one was much smaller. A window overlooked the grounds on the far side of the room and five beds aligned the walls. There was a small coal stocker that was a gleaming copper color in the center of the wooden floor and aside from this, the room was empty. A second door on the side led to a bathroom which Harry made good note of.
Quickly, Harry had spotted his trunk and made sure to grab a bed next to Ron. He hadn't stayed up long after, even with the noisy chatter of excited first years about him. The whole day exhausted him, and he soon found himself in a restful sleep.
Cosette was very fortunate in one matter. Her common room was much easier to get to than Harry's. One tall browned hair boy, who introduced himself as Charlemagne Nott, told them to follow him. Noting that he was a Slytherin Prefect, she followed the other first years. It was a straight shot from the Great Hall to the steps that descended to the dungeons. It was a bit creepy at first to step deeper into the dark, echoing place, but she quickly got over the initial fear. She was well used to cramped, dark places, having spent the better part of her life under the stairs in the Dursley's home.
From there, they followed the glowing light of torches, making several turns, until they came across one blank wall. Curiously, Cosette observed as Charlemagne stepped in front of it and muttered the word "belladonna." There, just like the wall in the Leaky Cauldron, the bricks shifted and parted, giving way to the common room.
Inside was just as claustrophobic as the rest of the dudgeon. The ceiling was low, and since there were no windows, the only available light source was the enchanted torches and fireplace. Everything in sight had a silver or green accent. Large columns looked to be made of solid black marble. There were silver and green lined Slytherin crests, crushed velvet emerald throws, and deep olive leather sofas. There were grotesques with snarling, rabid expressions and skulls and serpents decorated the walls and furniture. The whole space had a very Victorian Gothic style, and the dark setting could very much be a morbid child's dream. To anyone else, the creepy atmosphere was rather daunting, cold and depressing.
She only half listened as the Prefect told them where their sleeping quarters were, and she seemed suddenly nervous when it was brought to her attention that the common room was actually directly under the Black Lake. While many of the students began mulling about the fire, Cosette silently went to the door leading to the dormitories. As she vaguely recalled the Prefect saying there were indeed two staircases, one leading up, the other leading down. What she didn't remember was which one led to the girls' dorms and which one led to the boys' dorm. This was fortunately answered for her as she saw a boy walk down the stairs on the left. She immediately took the stairs on the right up to a long hallway. She was wondering which door she was meant to take; she saw no indication on where she should go. The hallway was uniform in every way, with tall green doors facing each other on either side. She was unsure of what to do and grew a bit nervous. After pacing the hall a few times she finally spotted a billboard at the stairs which had a large roster pinned to it. She quickly found her name and which room she was assigned. She went to that room immediately.
The room looked very much like the common room. Black marble and low ceiling, though this room was carpeted and green tapestries hung from the ceiling. Enchanted green lanterns festooned the walls. There was a small trap door in the corner, which turned out to lead to a luxurious bathroom, and in the opposite corner was a large marble fireplace, which was at the moment, empty. The room had a presence, much the same way the common room did. It had an old oil painting on the wall of a forest landscape above the mantelpiece as well an old fashioned Victorian clock that sat on it.
Her trunk was already by the foot of one of the four beds in the room, but she moved it, placing it under the bed. There were a few other girls there, but when she approached, they snickered and pointed at her. Cosette's face dropped, avoiding their stares and laughter, hoping that they would ignore her like everyone else. With a few more giggles, the group of girls then turned and walked out of the dorm into the main room.
She let out a sigh and sat on the bed, listening to the happy laughter of the other students echo in the dank space, only wishing that she could go find her brother. She wasn't at all tired in the least bit. She was still terrified to be by herself, and not for the first time, wished that her brother had been sorted into her house. Her brother was strong. He didn't seem to have this dependency on her that she had on him. She relied on him for practically everything. He protected her and cared for her because no one else did. Surely he wouldn't be sitting on his bed moping about. Yet, this was the first time she had ever been alone. She had always slept with her brother by her side, and while she consciously knew that it couldn't always be like that, to suddenly have him yanked away so fast made her feel more than vulnerable.
She already had made an impression, as the Slytherin girls just curled their lips at her and walked off. They were all pretty girls, girls with flowing, neat hair and gorgeous smiles. Cosette picked at the knotty ends of her hair; probably the source of their amusement. She had never had a haircut before in her life, and Aunt Petunia never let her use a brush before. Feverishly, Cosette combed through her hair with her fingers, as if that alone would somehow make it more tamable. It was no use, no matter how much she tried; it still looked wiry, matted and tangled.
Cosette noticed the curtain around her bed, and when she heard the babble of the other students, decided that erecting the curtain would make the perfect defensive shield against any attempts any of them would have of approaching her. It wasn't that she didn't want to make friends— but at the moment, she was too nervous and afraid to do anything but shy away. Maybe tomorrow she'd be strong enough to actually face someone, as long as it wasn't that Melvin kid.
She didn't know how long she sat there, but she could eventually hear the other girls murmur and climb into the accompanying beds. She hadn't even bothered changing her clothes, and she didn't know exactly when it happened, but eventually as she was curled up against herself so that her knees touched her chin, Cosette cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up with a severe stomach ache. At first he didn't know what had caused it, and he let out a groan, grasping his stomach in pain. When he finally opened his eyes and squinted around, he was pleased to see that he was still in his dorm room, and that it hadn't all been a wonderful dream. Harry woke in an instant, any remains of sleep vanished from his mind as he pulled his glasses to his face, quickly turning around to shake his sister awake so she too could see that this was real. He stopped when he remembered that she wasn't there, that since she was sorted into another house, she would be in a completely different part of the castle. He frowned a bit. They had never been separated from each other so long, and he felt a tug of pain at the thought. He just hoped that wherever she was, she was doing alright.
Ron was already up and throwing on his new uniform. When Harry pulled back the curtain around his bed, Ron turned to him with a grin and yanked at his robes.
"Not bad, eh?" he said, pointing out the new gold and red lion's crest on his robe. His tie was also striped with the house colors, like the other students in their house at dinner.
Harry nodded, and then groaned when he got up, his stomach revolting.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron asked with a concerned look on his face.
"I think I ate too much last night," Harry cringed, remembering in detail the rapid procession in which he consumed his food. "I'm not used to eating so much, and I think I went a little overboard."
"You'll be alright to start classes, right?" Ron looked nervous.
"Yeah," Harry assured him quickly. There could never be anything that could impede him from starting his school day, nothing in the world.
"Alright then," Ron nodded. "You better get ready; we'll go to breakfast together. I'll wait for you."
"Thanks," Harry reached for his robes—which were now Gryffindor robes, and headed towards the bathroom to get ready. Hopefully by the time they reach the Great Hall, his stomach would settle.
Down in the dungeons, Cosette was awoken by the quiet murmurs of students and idle noise. She was always a light sleeper—constantly looking out for when the Dursleys called—and so the smallest of sounds roused her. She sighed heavily, her eyes stinging slightly. When she opened her eyes to gaze around, she sat bolt upright in bed. For one terrifying moment, Cosette couldn't remember where she was. When her memory returned, she sagged a bit in relief, and then quickly looked for the time.
Pulling back the curtain, she saw her housemate's mulling about, chatting, fixing their hair and clothes, and strangely, a few even walked around in their underwear. She made a face, not sure what to expect from this; was she expected to take off her clothes and change in front of the other girls, too? Cosette sincerely hoped not. She couldn't deal with it if they poked fun at her bony, gawky body–they already poked fun at her hair.
The clock above the mantelpiece said that she had half an hour before breakfast, the lanterns also changed the color of their light to reflect the time of day, and so Cosette went to go look for her school robes, only to realize that she was wearing one set already. Apparently –and unfortunately—her housemate's seemed to notice this too.
"Did you honestly sleep in your clothes?" one girl snickered.
Cosette turned a dark shade of red, looking down at her wrinkled school robes.
"Well… I… I fell asleep in them…"
The girls sniggered at her, not even listening to her weak excuse.
"That's gross," the girl wrinkled her nose. She had short cropped dark hair and a rather puggish face. The girl next to her nodded in agreement. She was a tall girl with long blonde hair.
"What's your name, anyway?" the blonde asked. She raised a brow, in an accusing sort of way that made Cosette fidget under the scrutiny.
"C-Cosette," she murmured.
"Your last name," she rolled her eyes, as if her first name wasn't good enough, and her last name would impart her own value.
"Potter."
Both the blonde and the dark haired girl stared at her with wide eyes.
"Potter? Did she just say Potter, Pansy?" the blonde asked.
"Yes Camille, she did," said Pansy.
Cosette knew what was coming next before either one even spoke a word. She just wished that she could hurry up to the bathroom to get ready for breakfast.
Camille approached her warily, and Cosette inched back a bit.
"Potter you say? Are you related to Harry Potter?"
"He's my brother," Cosette's lip twitched slightly.
Camille scoffed, sticking up her nose.
"You're lying."
"Why would I lie about that?" Cosette was starting to get annoyed with the girls. Why was it that no one paid any attention to her the minute they learned about her brother?
"Don't get smart with me!" Camille said nastily. "If Harry Potter had a sister, I'd know about it. My father works in a real important place, The Ministry of Magic you know, and I've never heard of you."
It was all a very tiresome fiasco. Her brother was famous, and she was not. No one knew she existed, which normally would make her pleased, but every time someone brought it up, it made her depressed, and a bit angry.
"It doesn't matter to me if you believe me or not," Cosette muttered quietly. "He is my brother."
Pansy rolled her eyes and grabbed her blonde friend, who looked about ready to tackle Cosette in rage.
"Whatever. Nott, she's not worth it. If she has delusions of being related to Potter, then just leave her be. Besides, we don't want to miss breakfast because of her."
The two girls stuck up their noses before sauntering out of the room. Cosette stood there for a while, watching them disappear out the dormitory before she deemed it safe to go to the showers. When she got out, she knew she was running late. The two girls had already held her up some, and Cosette had to get out a different pair of school robes. She had learned that while they were asleep, a House Elf (whatever that was) was supposed to come and magic their uniforms to bare the proper crest of their house. Since she had fallen asleep in one of her pair, she had to send it off and grab a fresh set.
Cosette had made sure to double check every aspect of her robes before exiting the dorm room, making sure there were no wrinkles or loose lint stuck to them. She made sure her green and silver tie was straight, socks were pulled all the way up and shirt properly tucked into her skirt. She was terrified that someone else would point out her embarrassing messed up appearance and she didn't want to give them the ammunition they needed to do it.
The common room was fairly quiet, only some older students there apparently skipping breakfast to talk amongst themselves. When she stepped out, the talking stopped and their eyes turned to her. Cosette made sure her head was down cast so her hair fell into her face, obstructing it in such a way that she hoped would hide her identity. Just when she was about to exit the room, one of the boys stood up and practically flew in front of her.
"Is is true that you're Harry Potter's sister?" he asked.
He looked to be at least fifteen years old and had fair hair. His eyes weren't as mean and scrutinizing as Camille or Pansy's, but there was something in his eyes that made her nervous.
"Y-Yes," she had always had the terrible habit of stuttering when nervous.
The boy turned his head over to his friend.
"You hear that Hal? Potter has a sister! I told you she was here! You owe me ten sickles!"
Cosette heard the other boy curse, and the fair haired boy was grinning broadly, turning away from her and settling back down in front of his friend, rudely dismissing Cosette as if she wasn't there.
Cosette's frown couldn't have been deeper if she tried. Miserably, she walked out of the common room and wandered alone to the Great Hall. She was thankful at least for remembering the way back up.
When she reached the Great Hall, Cosette wasn't in any better a mood. She was thoroughly sure she hated her house completely, and the prospect of eating with them made her stomach revolt. Instead, she turned her head away from the Slytherin table to the table that had the banners of red and gold hanging over them. Her brother. She would go and eat with her brother. Cosette made up her mind and started walking towards it, thinking about how much she had to tell Harry. She needed to be close with him, anyway. He would make her feel better.
Harry and Ron had made three wrong turns before they found themselves in the Great Hall. Hogwarts really was a maze if you didn't know where you were going. They were just lucky they ran into an older student who pointed them in the right direction.
They sat down with a plop and Ron almost immediately piled everything in sight onto his plate. Harry was pleased that his stomach had settled during the walk, because the towering plates of pancakes and plump looking sausages were making his mouth water. If this was what meals would be like everyday here, Harry would be enthralled. He had just managed to fill his plate with six pancakes—it seemed like a reasonable amount— when he heard an awful screeching sound.
"Mail's coming!"
There was a screeching sound Harry was learning to signify to owls. Then, looking up, he spotted owls of all shapes and sizes fluttering in. It was a spectacle to see, and Harry suddenly had the urge to shove his hands out and shield his food. It was only then he noticed that they all had letters or packages in their claws. To his surprise, one owl had dropped a letter in front of him. Frowning, Harry picked up the parchment, wondering if the owl had meant if for someone else.
"Well, go on –open it!" Ron said enthusiastically. He himself had a letter which he turned pink at, mumbling something about his mum congratulating him on becoming a Gryffindor.
"It's from Hagrid," Harry beamed, happy at the fact that the letter was actually for him. "He's inviting me and Cosette over for tea after classes."
"Well, are you going to reply?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded his head rapidly. He would go, and he knew Cosette would want to come too; she had finally warmed up to Hagrid and he knew she liked him. After penning the reply, the owl zoomed off, and Harry was left wondering where his sister was. He had looked for her at the Slytherin table, but didn't see her. Had she slept in maybe?
It was when there was only fifteen minutes left of breakfast that he felt Ron poking his arm.
"Hey Harry, isn't that your sister?"
Harry looked in the direction Ron was pointing, and noticed his sister's mop of red hair walking towards them. Harry smiled brightly, happy to see that his sister was fine. Her robes looked no different than usual, only now they had that awful Slytherin crest on the left breast. They locked eyes, and Harry saw her expression was somewhat grim, but at the sight of him, she smiled. As she approached, Harry was only mildly aware of the murmurs that were starting around him.
By the time Cosette had gotten to them, the murmurs and stares hadn't gotten passed him, but he ignored them as he made room next to him.
"Can I eat with you?" she asked timidly, looking around her, obviously very aware of the looks she was getting.
Harry nodded quickly and she plopped down next to him. When she did this, the space around them grew deathly silent. Harry furrowed his brows in confusion as he noticed the odd glares his sister was receiving. Some were curious, others puzzled, but most –coming from the older students—were unquestionably nasty.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Both Harry and Cosette jumped at the voice. Turning to the source, Harry noted an older student glaring at his sister with a hard, disapproving scowl.
"This is the Gryffindor table," another boy said. "We don't want Slytherins here."
Cosette looked pale, and shirked back, and Harry was momentarily stunned by the harsh comments. They reminded him of the things and looks he got when he approached the Slytherin table the night before.
"I—I just –"
Harry noticed that they had gotten a lot more attention. Almost all sets of eyes were on them, and most of them were angry.
"A Slytherin?"
"There's a Slytherin at our table?"
"Ew! What is that rotten snake doing here?"
"Come to poison us for sure! Hey! No one drink the pumpkin juice! It's poison!"
"Poison!"
"Oooh! Slytherin!"
Harry didn't understand the reaction his house was having on his sister there. They just wanted to eat together. What was their problem? He had expected this reaction from the Slytherins, not the Gryffindors.
"Why don't you beat it, go back to your own table, twerp?" one boy nastily said. He looked about two years older than them.
"Hey! Shove off! That's my sister!" Harry said angrily.
The Gryffindors looked mildly confused about his actions. Harry felt Ron next to him tense and say weakly; "Harry, Slytherins really don't belong at this table."
Harry turned to glare at Ron for not defending his sister— whose face had fallen so fast, he was afraid she would cry.
"She's my sister! I can't let them treat her like this!"
Ron looked guilty, face tingeing pink as he noted that, not only were they now glaring at Harry, but at him as well. A few students were muttering curiously to themselves at the fact that the famous Harry Potter had a sister, who was a Slytherin no less.
"I've got nothing against your sister, Harry. But for her own good, get her away from the table; they'll eat her alive here! Just look at them!"
Harry was turning red, disgusted by how his housemates were glaring at Cosette like he brought over the plague. But before he could say anything else, he sister stood up and dashed from the table. He watched in a blur as her pale, shaking form rushed passed the table—not to the Slytherin table, but out the doors of the Great Hall, head bowed and hands covering her face.
Harry got up to follow her, and Ron gave him a look.
"I have to go after her," he said, and with a livid expression, he glared once more at his house— who all looked suddenly relieved that his sister was gone—before going after her.
He trotted out of the Great Hall, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find her. Knowing all the winding and changing behaviors of the school, he knew it would be fruitless to continue his search with such an abysmal knowledge of the area. He was concerned that Cosette didn't know these things, and had blindly run in a direction and got lost. He felt terrible for what his house did, and wanted to apologize for their behavior. He wanted to march back over to the table and demand them all to apologize, and decided that since he couldn't find her, that that's exactly what he'd do.
Stomping his way back into the Great Hall, Harry took his position standing before his seat and glared at his house.
"I want you to know that you did a really rotten thing!" Harry seethed. His housemates, who were goofing off and talking together, paused and looked at him confused. Angrily, Harry Continued.
"My sister didn't do anything to any of you, she didn't deserve that treatment!"
"She's a Slytherin though," one of the guilty boys said, however, he didn't sound the least bit guilty. "They are all the same."
"She's not like them!" Harry yelled. "And you don't know her at all; you didn't even give her a chance!"
"Cool down there, Potter," one girl said. "You act as if this is a new occurrence."
"Yeah," another boy agreed. "You honestly think the Slytherins are any better? You go sit with them, I dare you. See how they'll react."
"Compared to them, we were downright polite."
"Would've skinned you, I'm sure."
Harry couldn't believe his ears, and it took Ron's hand to keep him from blowing a fuse. He had never been so angry with so many people.
"Harry, come on. Calm down a bit. Forget them."
"But Ron, it isn't right." Harry's eyes were burning.
"I know, I know. But… maybe we can get Percy or McGonagall to do something about it, but right now, just take a breath and sit."
Harry let out a sigh, but eventually sat down like Ron suggested. He wasn't hungry in the slightest though, and soon stood up and excused himself from the table.
"Want me to come with you?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head.
"No, I need some time to think."
Harry walked out of the Great Hall with his head down and a lot on his mind to think about. He hadn't noticed that someone from his own table had gotten up not long after he had and followed him. Harry didn't want to get lost, so he didn't go too far, just turned the nearest corner so that the Great Hall was out of his sight and he couldn't hear the obnoxious noise of the students. How could his day already be so bad off? It had just started, and it was supposed to be the beginning of a great new life. How had things spiraled down so quickly?
Harry was brought out of his depressing thoughts by the sounds of approaching footsteps. Harry looked up, and inwardly groaned as he saw the bushy head of Hermione step up to him.
"Are you alright?" she asked quietly in a voice that gravely differed from her usual bossy one. It was very calm and soft.
"I'm fine." Harry wasn't in the mood to talk to her right now, or anyone for that matter. He just wanted to be with Cosette, but since he couldn't find her, he had to be alone.
"I just wanted to say that…what you did in there…sticking up to all those students for your sister was very noble," she said.
"I didn't do it to be noble," Harry remarked angrily. Hermione had the knack of liking to put her two-cents into everything. She liked to think she knew everything, and in his angered state, he was mad at her for it—and how does he know that she wasn't one of the sneering students that spurned his sister and just feels guilty about it now?
"I know you didn't," she murmured. "I just really respect that you would do that for your sister."
Harry felt slightly guilty for snapping at her and jumping to conclusions. Maybe he had judged Hermione too hard.
"I'm an only child you see," Hermione stared down at her feet, nervously biting her lip. "But I always wanted a sibling. You and your sister seem very close."
"We are," Harry sighed, his head hitting the stone wall he was resting up against. "We're all we have."
Hermione knew that they were orphaned, and so she didn't press any further. Harry was grateful for this, as he really just wanted some time alone.
"I hope that you know that I think what the other Gryffindors did was wrong, and that I don't think that your sister is any of the things they were saying."
Harry looked up at the bushy haired girl and gave a small smile.
"Thanks," he replied. Hermione returned the gesture, giving him a smile. She rubbed his shoulder slightly before turning.
"I think you'd best go back in soon. They're going to hand out our schedules, and I don't think you want to miss your first class."
No, Harry didn't. As he watched her turn and go back to the Great Hall, he was suddenly hit with a thought—did Cosette get her timetable? He didn't know if she stopped by the Slytherin table first before coming over, or not. What if she didn't have it? What if she missed her classes? Harry decided that he needed to notify a teacher of his sister's absence.
Professor McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor house, and so she was the one who handed out their schedules. She had informed him that she would see to it that Cosette had received hers as well. With that small weight lifted off his chest, he followed Ron into their first class. Their first class turned out to be Charms with Professor Flitwick. Harry was excited about the idea of this class; learning enchantments and charms. Professor Flitwick was the Head of Ravenclaw, and he was a dwarf of a man with wild, bushy white hair and a beard. He was told that he was actually part goblin, and Harry immediately saw the resemblance to the workers at Gringotts; just without the nasty glares and sharp teeth, on the contrary, Flitwick had a kind gentle face. He turned out to be a very jolly fellow.
They shared this class with the Hufflepuffs and during roll call, when he had gotten to Harry's name, the man actually fell off the stack of books he was standing on. The class again was full of murmurs, and he was gaped at like a specimen at the zoo. Harry was disappointed to learn that they wouldn't learn how to cast spells right off the bat, but spent the whole lesson writing notes. It soon dawned on Harry that magic was much more complicated than he previously thought and there was a lot of technical theory involved with the actual action. Flitwick spent the lesson explaining aloud to the class different aspects of charms as chalk wrote on the board by itself the notes they were expected to take. It was fairly simple stuff, but none of it seemed to truly explain how to cast magic. When a Hufflepuff girl asked when they would start casting spells, Flitwick replied that it would probably be in about two weeks, though they would be practicing the "Lumos" charm in that time. Harry decided that he didn't particularly care for this class, although he didn't mind the Professor.
After Charms class their schedule said they had Transfigurations with Professor McGonagall and the Ravenclaws. It was here that Harry learned that McGonagall was just as strict as she looked. The class had quieted down with little more than a glance around the room at the students. She gave a quick speech about the rudimentary properties of Transfigurations, and Harry was excited to try and turn random, boring things into others. She did a demonstration where she turned herself into a cat, and Harry's eyes grew wide. Unfortunately, she informed them all that they would not be learning how to do that, and instead gave each student a toothpick and told them to change it into a needle. It was much harder than it looked, and by the end of class, only Hermione had successfully done this. She had smiled so brightly at the teacher's praise, like a puppy that was patted on the head for doing a good job. Ron grumbled under his breath about being a suck up and a show off.
The next period was lunch, and Harry was more than a bit aware by this point that he hadn't seen his sister all day. Since they had yet to have a class with the Slytherins, he hadn't seen her. Though no matter how much he looked during lunch, he didn't see her show up at all. She didn't come. Harry was starting to get nervous and worried. What if something happened to her? Maybe she was alright though, and just didn't feel like coming to lunch after what had happened earlier.
Thinking this must be the reason, Harry looked down at his timetable and let out a relieved sigh. Their next class was Potions in the dungeons with the Slytherins. He would be able to tell just then if she was alright or not.
