A/N: This chapter is very short, but it is far from over. After I write some more and finish it out, I will post it as Part 2 (this being Part 1 of this chapter). I will try to finish it up ASAP and post it for you guys. I hope I haven't lost many writers. But, no doubt I would deserve it for being such a cliff-hanging jerk. Haha! But, I hope you guys enjoy what little I have. If you have any comments, ideas, reviews, or suggestions, feel free to leave them! I would like to know if I still have readers or not to be quite honest lol. But, I hope you all enjoy. I shall see you all soon :)!
-VS
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the characters, locations, or cleverness. It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios.
The feast in the Great Hall dwindled down as the students finished filling themselves to the brim with delectable desserts and sweets of all sorts. Headmaster Armando Dippet rose from his place at the staff table and held up his arms to silence the chattering.
"What a wonderful evening it has been, indeed. But, alas, all good days must come to an end, no? Now, off to bed with you!" He exclaimed in a jovial tone before retiring through the side exit near the staff seating area.
Immediately the students clamored up from their seated positions as the prefects began leading their groups out into the hallway to make headway for their respective dormitories. Hermione craned her neck to see over the crowd of red, green, yellow, and blue.
"All Ravenclaws, follow me! First years, don't dawdle, and stay in line!" She heard a boy's voice call out ahead as he sent out the prefect commands. Hermione quickly fell into the throng of bronze and blue as the houses separated—going four different directions.
A slight tingling of anticipation filled Hermione as the Ravenclaws climbed staircase after staircase. She had never seen the Ravenclaw common room before. Luna had always spoken of its drafty towers and beautiful views. She had always said you could always smell the coming of snow before it fell upon the school grounds.
After climbing a tight, narrow staircase, the mass of students approached a large wooden door with a bronze eagle-shaped knocker. The conversations dimmed into hushed whispers as the knocker came to life, releasing a prolonged yawn—craning its neck, and ruffling the artisan feathers.
"Ah, good afternoon, young ones," the deep voice bellowed from the knocker, "I hope your evening has been enjoyable." The older students smiled and nodded as the first years stared in awe. "I hope you've kept your mind sharp and your wit at the ready over the summer; I've been longing to try out this riddle.
"What is once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a thousand years?" The knocker questioned the students. Immediately the hall was filled with mumbles and quizzical looks. Hermione, too, began to ponder the possible answers.
"Is it true love?" a shy-voiced first year said while anxiously playing with her pigtail.
"No, unfortunately that is not the answer." The girl shrank, casting down her head in embarrassment. The knocker appeared to be thinking momentarily, before glancing back at the girl. "Hm… Try not to think too hard on this one. Logical doesn't always mean there is a deep answer required. Sometimes simplistic knowledge is enough," the knocker said in a semi-hushed tone, comforting the girl.
The girl's eyebrows furrowed as she bit her lip in deep thought. "Is it the letter 'M'?" she asked with slight trepidation. The hallway was silenced as they waited for a response from the doorkeeper.
The eagle head chuckled deeply, "We have a bright one on our hands for sure. That is the correct answer, you may enter." The door swung open and the students filed in—the little girl smiling to herself all the while.
Hermione stared, open-mouthed in awe, at the sight before her. The door opened to reveal a wide, circular room with an expansive amount of books upon shelves and graceful arched windows. The spaces that were not occupied by the numerous tomes and vaulted windows were draped with shimmering banners of bronze and blue. Hermione turned her gaze upward. The domed ceiling was painted with stars that echoed against the midnight-blue carpet. Her eyes trailed to the dark blue furnishings draped with elaborate, decorative quilts and throw pillows.
As Hermione walked further into the room, the students dispersed. Many of the first years ran to the windows to stare at the grounds below as the older students plopped onto the seating or went to the bookshelves. Hermione walked aimlessly around the room, taking in the scene that unfolded before her.
She continuously turned about—a grin on her face—to exam the room in its entirety. Turning once more, she came face to face with a large, marble statue standing between the two dormitory doors. The tall, lean carved figure of Rowena Ravenclaw stood in the half-light by the gloriously lit marble hearth. Hermione's eyes examined the statue. Her intricately carved diadem was placed upon her head beautifying the artisan designed dress of stone. The statue of Rowena Ravenclaw was modeled in a way that made it appear that she, herself, were looking upon whoever stood at the base of her pedestal. Hermione stared deeply into her eyes, almost if she were waiting for her to spring to life any moment.
"Hermione Sivad is it?" A girl to the right of her piped in, causing Hermione to jump from her trance in response. "Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." Hermione turned to the girl.
She had short blond hair that seemed to be cut in disarray; pieces of thin, light hair hung down unequal in length sticking out at different angles. Her eyes were bright and her expression cheerful against her fair complexion. Her nose pointed upward slightly and light freckles dusted her nose and cheeks. She was clearly an upperclassman—despite being notably shorter than Hermione.
"I am Aviela Goldstein," the girl spoke, holding out her hand. "I am a sixth year—though I doubt I look it," she smiled sheepishly, "I thought I should introduce myself and welcome you to Hogwarts!"
Hermione immediately grasped the girl's hand and smiled warmly.
"Thank you for the welcome, Hogwarts truly is a magnificent sight. It's quite difficult to take it all in at once actually," Hermione said as she looked around the expanse of the circular common room.
"It can be, but I am sure you'll adjust in no time. At least you didn't cry overwhelmed like my brother did at the beginning of term," Aviela shook her head in clear embarrassment.
"Perhaps, but we all tend to be quite dramatic as first years," Hermione said in defense of the girl's non-present sibling.
"Oh, I was referring to his fifth year start of term actually…" the girl trailed off awkwardly. But almost as if on command, the two girls began giggling uncontrollably at the notion of a nearly grown boy crying. After the laughter subsided, the girl continued, "We are twins, but you would never recognize it unless someone told you. In comparison to me, his height makes him stand as tall as a mountain troll. But, despite that, he is a very fearful one; his anxiety and skittish nature reminds me of that of a turtle!"
The girl laughed once more before pointing to a very tall boy with disheveled blond hair, standing next to the fireplace. In the same moment, a student accidentally knocked a book from a shelf causing to hit the floor with a bang. The wide-eyed boy jumped with a yelp and stammered back a few feet before turning around and releasing a breath of relief and going back about his normal stance of staring at the fire.
"Has he always been like that?" Hermione asked, her eyebrow arched in confusion.
"For as long as we can remember. It makes no since really, but that's Christopher for you," she laughed sheepishly again. "Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself as I was told we would be dorm mates from here on out," Aveila said with a smile.
"That sounds absolutely wonderful—and thank you again for your warm welcome. Hogwarts will take time to get used to, but I have a good feeling about it," Hermione smiled before turning to look out the nearest window.
Everything was going so smooth and ideal, but Hermione knew deep down that this would not last for long. Her smile slowly faded as she pondered the things to come. She made her way up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. She paused and glanced back at the students laughing merrily throughout the hearth-lit room. The dark clouds were upon them all and it was only a matter of time before the storm begun.
Hermione woke early the next morning after having a bout of strange dreams she couldn't remember. Having told Nyoka that nothing was wrong despite her knowing hisses, she convinced the small snake to stay behind in the dorms for her first day so that she may get her bearings without slight disturbances. The snake showed her disdain by biting holes in Hermione's sheets, before slithering back under her pillow.
By the time the other students had awoken, she had washed up, dressed, and read a few chapters from a random tome sitting on one of the common room shelves. She offered kind smiles to those who passed through the doorways.
Breakfast approached quickly and Hermione joined the congregation and made her way to the Great Hall. She quickly spotted the Goldstein twins and sat down just as the feast begun.
"Good morning, Hermione," Aviela said with a perky tone. Unlike Hermione, she was clearly a morning person. "Oh, and Christopher, this is Hermione Sivad. She is my new dorm mate for the year."
"Hello Christopher, it's a pleasure to meet you," Hermione smiled as she reached across the table to shake the boy's hand. Startled, the awkward boy dropped the serving spoon in his hand, causing it to fall into the gravy bowl and splatter all over his new robes. He blushed heavily, and kept his hand down as he shook her hand and mumbled a quiet "hello". Hermione and Aviela giggled as he attempted to clean himself up with a napkin to no avail.
Hermione pulled out her wand and looked at Christopher for permission. He seemed uneasy as he looked over to his sister who only smiled at him. He gulped and gave a firm nod. Silently casting a cleaning charm on him, Christopher's robes were soon spotless and—perhaps—cleaner even before the gravy had encountered them.
"Silent magic? You can cast spells silently? Wow…" Aviela said with wide eyes, "We weren't due to study that until later this term. Your last academy must have been very advanced." Hermione was quite surprised that they weren't already studying the various forms of casting spells without using speech, but then again, time had progressed in her era.
"I had previously attended Beauxbatons, but I have done much research and practicing in that area on my own. Just for my personal studies, you know…" Hermione trailed off bashfully as she realized the students at the Ravenclaw table were turned in her direction with interested eyes.
"That's really neat… Thanks… for that," Christopher coughed as he thanked Hermione for her help.
"You're welcome," Hermione replied in earnest, indirectly dismissing the event and turning back to breakfast with the rest of the students.
Her actions did not go without further notice, though. Tom Riddle's dark eyes had been trained on her all morning. He was slightly surprised by her magical aptitude she had shown only moments ago.
"She seems quite talented," Abraxas Malfoy spoke as he caught the tail end of the event.
"I doubt there is much talent to be found, but she has potential, that is certain," Riddle scrutinized. Malfoy chuckled recognizing his colleague's shrouded compliments and continued to fill his plate.
Aside from Tom Riddle, another wandering eye had seem to catch the action in progress. Albus Dumbledore's eye twinkled as he saw an example of her magical abilities. He very much began to look forward to seeing what his new young student's full capabilities were.
With numerous sets of eyes unknowingly trained on her, Hermione finished her meal with unease and stood up to begin what she knew would be a long day ahead of her.
A/N: If you have any reviews, corrections, questions, ideas, or suggestions, feel free to leave them or message me! I'll see you guys again soon with Part 2! Best of wishes!