how long has it been since i last put out a chapter of this? i don't even know. a number of months i'm sure. anyway i hope you like it, it's on the shorter side, a little over four pages. oh well, onward!!
Chapter 11: Of Breakfast and Schedules
"Good Morning!" a voice called happily and I cracked open my eyes. The sun was just beginning to shine in through the window and I could hear rustling as girls got out of bed and went about preparing for the day. I sat up and ran a hand through my hair and looked around. Chandria was making her bed, still in her pajamas. Hermione was already dressed and ready and a couple girls I had yet to meet were in varying stages of getting dressed. I looked the other way to find Shashi still a-bed, cuddling Othin in her sleep. I slide from under my covers and padded barefoot over to her bed and bent over to say in her ear, "Shashi Yanamari, what is the answer to my question?" in a strange voice.
Shashi bolted up right with wide eyes, causing Othin to tumble to her lap. She cried "1984!" loudly then looked about in confusion. Everyone was staring at her as I laughed and Chandria shook her head.
Shashi sighed and glared at me, "Stop doing your impression of my English teacher when I'm asleep, damn near give me a heart attack."
"But it's so effective!" I responded in an innocent voice. Shashi grumbled and crawled out of bed.
I snickered as she wandered around trying to find her clothes, still grumbling and shooting me glares.
"Should you have done that?" asked Hermione in concern.
"Don't worry, she just begrudges consciousness in the morning, she'll be better by lunch." I dug in my trunk for my school uniform, the skirt, robes, vest, stockings and shoes. My robes had magically attained the Gryffindor badge in the night.
"Snazzy," I said as I straitened my robe when I finished dressing. I turned to Kyrie, who was still curled up in bed determined to sleep. "Don't destroy anything today," I told her and she popped open an eye to look at me. I put my hands on my hips. "I mean it! If anything is destroyed when I get back after classes I'll hex your legs together." Kyrie gazed at me for a moment longer then closed her eyes again and fell asleep. I took that as acknowledgment and grabbed my bag and headed down the stairs for breakfast. Chandria was already waiting in the Common room with Hermione and a small group of other Gryffindors who were asking her questions.
"So you're from America then?" asked a boy with an Irish accent.
"Yes, I was born there."
"So that's why you talk funny."
"I beg your pardon?" Chandria asked and Hermione laughed quietly. Shashi stumbled down the stairs behind me, she was already starting to be more awake.
"Thanks for getting me up this morning, I wouldn't have wanted to miss my first day of classes."
I grinned at Hermione's look of disbelief and mouthed 'told you' and then told said, "No problem Shashi." She yawned and stretched then headed toward the portrait hole.
Just then Harry and Ron came down from the boy's dorms. "Morning Harry, Ron." Neville stumbled down the stairs after the two boys. "Oh, 'g morning Neville," I added.
"Morning Marari, how are you?" asked Neville.
"Little tired, but I'm excited that classes start today."
"I'm not," grumbled Ron and I grinned.
"Well I'm going to head down to breakfast, you all coming?" They nodded and I waved over Chandria and Hermione. "We're headin' down for breakfast, you ready?"
Hermione and Chandria nodded and we all headed to the portrait. Shashi was waiting just outside the passage.
"I...er...forgot the way to the Great Hall," she said sheepishly. I shook my head, laughing, and walked to the end of the hall then paused.
"You know...that would be funnier if I had any idea where I was going..." I said.
Shashi snickered, "You dummy."
"It's not my fault, this place is huge. I mean, it's a castle. And wasn't that portrait on the other side of the hall last night? And those stairs could not have been there before."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville laughed. Hermione stepped up next to me, "Don't worry you'll get used to it after a while. I had forgotten how easy it was to get lost, its been so long since our 1st year."
Shashi's stomach grumbled and everyone laughed again. "Well we'd best be on our way if we want to prevent Shashi's stomach from digesting itself," I said and indicated that the other Gryffindors should lead on. My sisters and I followed the group down several flights of stairs and were relieved when we saw the Great Hall.
"Food!" Shashi cried and hurried down the remaining stairs into the hall. We snickered and followed at a more leisurely pace. By the time we reached the Great hall Shashi was already seated and eating from a heaping platter.
"Marari!" a voice called and someone thudded into my back.
"'Mornin' Neria," I said with a grin.
Neria stepped away and we walked toward the Gryffindor table, "I still can't get over you being here!" she said.
We sat down next to Shashi, including Neria.
"Ah, Neria? Aren't you in ravenclaw?"
She shrugged, "There's no rule against sitting at a different house table, in fact its almost encouraged. Interhouse friendships and all that."
I glanced around and noticed we wezren't the only ones with mixed members, but two tables over sat a large group of both Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, mostly first years, Teva and Tavia in their mist. In fact the only table that did not have students from different houses sitting at it was the Slytherin table. Figures, I thought.
"So you excited to decide which classes you're talking this year?" Hermione asked and I nodded as Neria gasped.
"That's right! I didn't ask you how you did on your O.W.L.s Marari! So how'd you do?"
I opened my mouth to respond but Shashi beat me to it during a pause between bites, "she did bloody perfect of course."
"I did not do perfect Shashi! I got an exceeds expectations in Divination."
"Psh, whatever Marari," Shashi said with a grin as Neria laughed.
"I wouldn't have expected any less," Neria got a twinkle in her eye and she grinned. "Sooooo, how was schooling in Iceland?"
"Oh, it was nice," I responded and sent Neria a look, "There were very small class sizes so we got a lot of one on one work with our teachers, learned a lot in a small span of time..."
Neria rose an eyebrow, "How short amount of time are we talking about?" I glanced around, no one was watching so I mouthed the words 'the summer' to Neria.
"WHAT!?" she cried in surprise and I made calming motions in her direction.
"I'll explain later," I told her and she nodded, glancing around at all the people piling into the Great Hall even as we spoke.
Neria looked toward the front of the great hall and Marari followed her line of sight to the head-table, where some of the professors were standing.
"That's my que to get over to my own table. Time to work out our class schedules. See you around!" Neria stood and smiled then made her way to her own table, and a number of others students were doing the same, anxious to receive their schedules.
Professor McGonagall moved down the Gryffindor table, handing out schedules to the younger students. After she had handed out all the schedules she began going through the N.E.W.T. level students and approving their classes. All of Hermione's choices were quickly cleared and she grinned and headed to her first class with a brief wave. Neville's classes took a bit longer to figure out but soon enough he was also on his way. McGonagall then moved on to a girl by the name of Pavarti, followed by Harry, then Ron. McGonagall continued through the rest of the firth year students, leaving Marari and her siblings for last as they had not turned any applications detailing their interests which classes to continue.
Finally McGonagall turned to Chandria. "So, Miss Chandria. Do you know which classes you would like to continue?"
Chandria nodded and said, "I'd like to continue with Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, and Transfiguration."
McGonagall nodded as Chandria spoke and she scanned over her O.W.L.s results as well. "Let's see, yes, you're good for all of those classes." McGonagall tapped her wand on a blank piece of paper and a schedule appeared. "Here you go." Chandria nodded and took it with a smile.
McGonagall then turned to Marari, "Let's see, Marari Yanamari," she said while shuffling through the papers in her hand then stopping on one and glancing down at the grades. The woman's eyes widened slightly as she went down the list then glanced up at the slightly embarrassed girl before her. "Well, you certainly will not have any trouble getting into which ever class you would like." Shashi snorted behind Marari.
"So do you know which ones you would like to continue?"
"I would like to continue with Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy."
McGonagall nodded and tapped another blank sheet with her wand, Marari's schedule pouring onto it. "Here you are, i am looking forward to having you in my Transfiguration class."
"Thank you Professor!" Marari said and stood, clutching her new schedule and swinging her messenger bag onto her shoulder.
McGonagall turned to Shashi as Marari left the hall via the giant doors at its entrance and she heard her sister's nervous laughter and shook her head and went to join Chandria where she was waiting at the base of the grand stairway.
It was only a manner of minutes before Shashi joined them, her new schedule in hand and grin on her face. "I ended up taking Care, Herbology, Charms, and Defense."
Chandria and Marari nodded.
"Well i haven't a class yet, i'm gonna head back up to our commons and play with Othin, see you later!" Shashi quipped and headed up the grand staircase with a brief wave.
This was shaping up to be an interesting year.
Neria walked out of the great hall and grinned and headed for Marari and Chandria. Marari and Neria swapped schedules and Neria grinned.
"Cool, we're gonna be in Transfiguration and Defense together." Neria handed back Marari's schedule and Marari did the same.
"Well i have to be going to Ancient Runes now, don't wanna be late!" Neria said with a smile.
"You're in ancient runes?" Marari asked with a raised eyebrow at Neria's back as the girl hurried to class.
Neria looked over her shoulder and stuck out her tongue. "Hey, there is a reason i'm in Ravenclaw you know!" Marari laughed and bid her friend goodbye.
"I must be heading to my Astrology class now, see you later Marari," Chandria then said and Marari nodded and glanced down at her own schedule then jumped in shock and began dashing up the grand staircase. Her Arithmancy class began in five minutes and it was on the fifth floor. Despite herself, she grinned happily, flying up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. She could already tell she was going to love it here.
well i hope you liked it.
as always, reviews are very welcome.
have a good day!