Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl. Chapter Twenty Eight: Settling In Two
DISCLAIMER: Daria is the creation of Glen Eichler and is the property of MTV Viacom. Harry Potter, its characters, and its setting are the creations of JK Rowling and are the property of JK Rowling, Wizarding World, and Warner Brothers. No, I don't own them and acknowledge that fact. I am writing for my own amusement, not for profit.
This chapter rated "T" for coarse language.
Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl*Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl*Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl.
"So where were you trying to get to?" asked Miss Pichon. "I don't think you were trying to visit us."
"No," said Daria. "I don't know many people in your house. I was trying to make my way over to the entrance for Hufflepuff. I have several friends there."
"Well, you're a long way from where you want to go," said Miss Pichon. "These are the Dungeons. The entrance for Hufflepuff is over by the kitchens. We'll set you off in the right direction."
The girls started walking and Daria hoped they were going to play this straight. She'd already heard rumors that Hogwarts had bullying problems. But judging from their body language, Daria guessed that these girls seemed more amused than being in bullying frame of mind.
"Are you really from Texas?" asked another one of the Slytherin girls.
Oh, great, thought Daria.
"That I am," Daria replied. "Highland, Texas."
"I've never heard of it," said the second girl.
"You aren't missing all that much," Daria replied. "It's a small city of about 40,000 about 250 miles or so west of Dallas. There's not much there."
"Are there a lot of wizards and witches out there?" asked the second girl.
"I'm beginning to think that there might be, at least comparatively speaking," said Daria. "Highland's not a major city, though."
"Could you tell us your name again?" asked the third Slytherin girl, who'd been too awed by the Bloody Baron taking personal interest in anybody, let alone a Ravenclaw firstie.
"Daria Morgendorffer," Daria replied.
"Morgendorffer is too much of a mouthful," said the second Slytherin girl. "I think I'll call you Texas instead."
Daria grimaced. She suspected that "Texas" had now become her nickname around Hogwarts, like it or not. Thank you, Red Baron, she thought sardonically.
The Slytherin girls walked her up several staircases, down a couple of halls, down several other staircases, and dropped her off at the door to Hufflepuff, then went their own way. Daria waited for ten minutes until someone opened the door for her and had just enough time to follow Megan to her next class, which luckily was the same one she was taking.
Classes had started a couple of days before and she already knew her schedule. Unlike Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, Professor Flitwick didn't hand out each students' class schedules himself but delegated the job to his two prefects. Daria quickly surmised that unlike at James Ferguson Elementary School and unlike her erstwhile classmates now at Billy Sol Estes Middle School, she wasn't going to have a lot of free time. She'd have Ancient Runes, Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, History of Magic, Defense Against The Dark Arts, Potion Making, and Herbology.
Professor McGonagall wasn't there when she arrived and took a seat. Instead, a tabby cat with a fur pattern that looked like spectacles sat at the edge of the desk looking like it was going to spend the next period minding the students. Daria wondered if Professor McGonagall was late or had missed her class. That was odd because despite the fact that Daria barely knew who she was, Professor McGonagall struck her as the sort of woman who wouldn't flake out. Besides, her classmates were too quiet and too orderly
She pulled out her pocket-watch to see what time it was and had put just put it down on her desk when the tabby cat leaped off the edge of the desk and transformed itself into Professor McGonagall.
Daria's eyes bulged and she let out a "Whoa!" instead of keeping her thoughts inside her head.
"Good morning," said Professor McGonagall.
The Professor then took roll, noting where everyone was seated. She then read them the riot act: "Transfiguration is some of the most dangerous and complex magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will told to leave and not come back. You have been warned." She then began lecturing about theory and practice of transfiguration and warned students that it wouldn't be as simple as simply waving a wand and making something happen. Daria smiled when she said that. Ms. Bowen had said the same thing back in Highland, that witchcraft was called witchcraft because it wasn't easy-peasy: instead, you had to study and work at it. After Professor McGonagall finished writing points of her lesson on the blackboard, she issued each student some matches and taught them the wand motions and the workings of the charm that would turn them into needles. Daria managed to transfigure several of her matches, but they were larger than sewing needles and still retained their original wood grain. Still, they were metallic and pointy.
She and her fellow first-year Ravenclaws shared Transfiguration class with Hufflepuffs. She'd worried about Cuthbert's progress, but while Cuthbert had buddied with another first-year wizard, he'd had Megan Leeward sitting on the other side of his seat. Megan had helped him with wand movements and helping him visualize transforming his match into something thinner, pointier, and metallic.
Her next class was Herbology. That class had her a little worried. She'd never been much for gardening and the heat and aridity of the South Plains were death on the sorts of magical plants that witches and wizards favored in cooler, wetter climates. She actually like Professor Sprout. She was friendly and outgoing without being smarmy. Even better, she knew her stuff. Thus far Daria thought that she was on Professor Sprout's good side and planned to stay that way.
She was shocked when Professor Sprout looked at her after class, then said: "You, Morgendorffer! Come with me!" Daria followed the herbalist back to her office, wondering what she'd done.
"Sit down, Miss Morgendorffer," said Professor Sprout.
I can't think of anything I've done, thought Daria.
"I've heard that you knew Cuthbert Fink-Nottle before he came to Hogwarts," said Professor Sprout.
"Yes, Ma'am," said Daria. "I knew him back in Texas. He and I went to the same primary school for a couple of years."
"How long has he had that limp?" asked Professor Sprout.
"Since early November of 1989," Daria replied. "He hurt his knee a couple of days before he flew back to the UK from Texas. I remember him hobbling onto the plane at Midland the day he left for home."
"Are these sorts of injuries common in the Muggle world?" asked Professor Sprout.
"Those sorts of injuries happen quite often in American football," said Daria.
Professor Sprout shook her head in dismay at the state of Muggle medicine.
"Why didn't you contact a healer?" said Professor Sprout.
Daria knew what sort of Healer Professor Sprout was talking about: a magical healer, not a Muggle MD.
"I didn't know about the magical world or local resources at the time, so I didn't do anything," said Daria. Watching Cuthbert limp still hurt. "Honest to God, I didn't learn about the wizarding world until a couple of weeks later. And I didn't know for certain-sure that Cuthbert was a wizard until last week when I saw him in Diagon Alley."
Professor Sprout stared at her for what Daria thought was a long time. Despite the fact Daria wasn't usually expressive, the Professor could tell that she wasn't lying.
"I see," said Professor Sprout.
"Well, I'm going to send Mister Fink-Nottle to Madam Pomfrey to see if we can get him properly fixed up."
"You will?" Daria said hopefully. "Do you need me to do anything, Ma'am? Like I do know his parents. I can help you phone them if you want."
"No, but thanks for asking," said Professor Sprout. "And thank you for enlightening me about things."
"Now do you have a class after Herbology?"
"Yes, Ma'am," said Daria.
"Well, off with you, then," said Professor Sprout.
-(((O-O)))—
Daria's next class was Charms. She scrambled but she was still three minutes late. Professor Flitwick looked at her reproachfully.
"I'm sorry, sir," said Daria, and took a seat.
Today's class was about charms theory and the underlying laws and principles governing magical spells, not about actually performing charms. Daria bent to her desk and started writing, grumbling silently about using a quill instead of a ballpoint pen. Charms theory wasn't Newtonian physics, but it had its own set of rules, rules that any aspiring witch or wizards ignored to his or her own peril. To her relief, she realized that she'd learned a little theory working with the ghostly Herr Sackl before she'd left Highland. She was still unsure as to how all of this fit together in the grand magical scheme of things, but despite her usual cynicism, she realized that they just might fit together after all.
She sensed that her classmates were disappointed that they weren't yet doing wand-work. Daria discovered that this morning, at least she wasn't. She knew she could perform magic. She kept writing notes. As she wrote, she realized that some of the things that she'd heard from Herr Sackl earlier in the year now started to make sense, although she wasn't yet able to put it all together into some sort of framework.
-(((O-O)))—
By now, Daria was beginning to get the hang of Hogwarts Castle, enough so that she decided to do a little exploring of the grounds. She found a side entrance, opened the door and stepped outside. It was cool but not bothersome, although she was grateful for her woolen uniform. She thought of the Aldrete sisters wearing their light cotton Instituto uniforms and how they'd feel in the cool Highland air and smirked. She started walking and found herself on a path leading through a cluster of old megaliths that had probably been sacred well before the Romans had set foot in Britain. There was a nice view of the lake, as well as a view of someone's stone hut and a path leading off to some woods which Daria guessed was the Forbidden Forest.
The cabin made her smile, it seemed so unlike the rest of the school, almost rustic. There was a vegetable patch to one side and what looked like some animal pens off in the near distance. There was smoke coming from the chimney. Someone was home.
She was so engrossed in the view that she was startled when a male voice behind her said "Enjoying the view?" She turned around and saw a stocky red-headed boy grinning at her. She'd now been at Hogwarts long enough to read the uniforms: red and yellow trim, Prefect's badge. He was probably a Sixth or Seventh Year.
"Yeah," she said.
"You must be "Texas,"" said the Prefect with a smile. "I'm Charlie Weasley."
"My notoriety seems to be spreading," Daria said sardonically.
"I'm Daria Morgendorffer."
"I'm going down to visit Hagrid," said Charlie. "That's his hut down there. Do you care to come along?"
Daria was tempted to demur, then decided against it.
Why not, she thought. "Sure," she said. Together, they walked down the pathway leading to the groundskeeper's hut.
Charlie Weasley knocked on the door.
"'oo is it?" said Hagrid.
"Charlie," said Charlie. "With a guest."
"Well, come in," said Hagrid. "I've got some tea brewing and you can have a cup."
Charlie opened the door and Daria followed him in. She knew who Hagrid was: Hagrid was the groundskeeper at Hogwarts and ate at the High Table with the rest of the school's senior staff at evening meals, but she didn't know him very well. He was wearing trousers and a long woolen coat festooned with pockets.
"And you've brought company!" said Hagrid with a smile.
"I don' remember all of the students' names, so you're…" said Hagrid.
"Daria Morgendorffer," said Daria.
"The girl from Texas," said Hagrid.
"That's me," said Daria, mentally sighing to herself.
"Are you a farm girl?" asked Hagrid.
"Not really," said Daria. "I visited some friends' ranch a few times, I've been to a couple of rodeos, but that doesn't make me a farm girl."
Hagrid looked disappointed. "I see a couple o' cowboy movies," he said, "and I was hoping ye'd like to pitch in."
"Hagrid's not just the groundskeeper," Charlie cut in. "He also helps Professor Kettleburn with some of the larger magical animals."
"I'm willing to look, but I don't know what good I'd be," Daria said warily. "The most I've done is helped shovel horse droppings from a stable and help sweep up stray wool after the sheep got sheared."
Hagrid and Charlie laughed. "Tha's more'n a lot of the young'uns can do these days," said Hagrid. "Most wizards and witches grew up in town these days."
So did I, thought Daria.
"Still, you look like ye might be able to help."
"I'll think about it."
"So Charlie," said Hagrid, turning his attention to Charlie Weasley, "Wha's life like for ye these days?"
"Busy," said Charlie. "Prefect duties, Quidditch, studying for my NEWTS. Not much time for play these days…"
Daria let Charlie and Hagrid talk to each other and looked around Hagrid's hut, occasionally sipping some of the tea she'd been given. Hagrid's hut was, well—different. It was small, cluttered, and the roof beams and a couple of the walls were festooned with traps and pelts and wooden cages that made Daria think about Farrah's uncle Mr. Skein back in Highland, except that Hagrid's gear all looked like it was still used, and not just décor. It reminded her of Mr. Skein's house and the Penrick ranch. Daria thought of Farrah, Mr. Skein, and the Penricks and her heart twinged. She missed all of them, particularly Farrah, and mourned the aftermath of their falling-out.
"You look thoughtful, Texas," said Charlie.
"I'm thinking of old friends back in Texas," said Daria. "This place reminds me of them more than anyplace else at school. I miss them and I wonder how they're getting along."
-(((O-O)))—
Charlie and the little Ravenclaw girl left a short time later, Bill pleading that he was going to be patrolling the corridors later on as part of his Prefect duties and that he wanted to do a little studying before he started.
The little Ravenclaw was interesting. She wasn't an outgoing girl: she said little and spent much of her time listening to him and Charlie talk and occasionally glancing around his hut. There wasn't that much he could tell about her: the girl was very clever, like most Claws, honest, but kept most of her thoughts to herself. He and Charlie did get her to admit that she was a Barksdale, although from some American branch he'd never heard of. She didn't put on the usual Barksdale airs, which made him wonder how well she got along with the rest of the Barksdale clan.
There was something else about her, something about her mannerisms and the way she moved, something that was very un-Barksdale. He was reminded of someone he'd once known, not well, not recently. Someone he knew back when he was still a Hogwarts student and when Armando Dippet was Headmaster.
-(((O-O)))-
Daria soon learned that there was a class she disliked: the History of Magic. It wasn't the material itself: that was actually interesting. The problem was Professor Binns. It wasn't that Binns was dead: some of the ghosts she'd met back in Highland as well around the Hogwarts grounds were interesting people and she enjoyed listening to them. But Binns was a deadly bore with a dull, dusty, monotone sort of voice that caused her mind to drift off somewhere else or forced her to fight not going to sleep.
She wondered how she'd cope with his class and decided to ask some of the older students. She found the second Slytherin girl in the library a day later. She looked sufficiently distracted from what she was reading that Daria decided to risk talking to her.
"Excuse me," Daria said quietly, and waited for the older student's response.
"What do you want, Texas?" asked the second Slytherin girl.
"I am taking Professor Bin's History of Magic class. Do I have to take notes or can I just read the books?" asked Daria.
The older girl smiled. The auburn-haired Texas witch was being crafty.
"I've suffered through five years of Binns thus far and it took me months to form the question you've just asked me," said the Slytherin. "Professor Binns' lectures seldom depart from his texts. Just study the textbooks and you'll do fine."
"Shh!" said a voice to one side. Daria looked over and saw Madam Pince, the librarian. Madam Pince took the rule about being quiet in the library far more seriously than her counterpart at James Ferguson Elementary School ever did, but sometimes that could be annoying. Daria waited until Madam Pince's attention was diverted, then mouthed "Thanks" to the Slytherin girl.
Daria got a surprise when she returned from the library that evening. Marietta Edgecombe and Simone Willoughby were waiting for her. Marietta Edgecombe's suitcase was on the floor.
"You aren't going home, are you?" said Anahita. "We only just got here."
"No, I'm just changing rooms," said Marietta. She gave Daria a dirty look.
What's her problem, thought Daria. It's not like I peed in her soup tureen. Daria had not made any hard and fast friends in her dorm room except for Dahlia, but she was warming up to Anahita Waring and to her other roommates. She and Marietta had not been on especially good terms. Daria tried to be polite, but somehow she had managed to unintentionally find ways to get under Edgecombe's skin. Marietta didn't like her jokes, her cynicism, her accent, or how often she made references to non-magical culture.
"What I'd like to do is accommodate Miss Edgecombe by having her room with her old friend Miss Chang," said Simone. "She'll trade places with someone from the other first-year dormitory room. Do you have any objections?" She looked at Daria as if to say "You'd better not have any."
There was a chorus of "Nos" from the other girls. "No problem," Daria added, shrugging. It wasn't like any of the girls had had any choice in picking their room mates when they were settled here.
"Excellent," said Simone. "Your new roommate will be here shortly."
A few minutes later Majda Paderewsky knocked on the door frame and said "Can I come in?".
Anahita looked at Majda and smiled. Paderewsky was Muggle-born and Muggle-raised, but all right in spite of that.
"Welcome to the ranch," she said.
Daria put her hand over her mouth in time to conceal her grin at Anahita's snark. She's learning, she thought.