ADVENTURES OF A SLYTHERIN AND A HUFFLEPUFF

Chapter 1

THE VISITOR

It was summer, Arya's favourite season. All other kids had gone to play but she had stayed today to read her 'Solar system and beyond' for the third time. She heard her name being called.

"Arya, we have a visitor for you."

A visitor? She was surprised. No one had ever come to see her in this orphanage. She ran downstairs to the Warden's office and knocked the door.

"Come in" , answers the warden.

Arya entered the office. Her warden was looking at her and there was the visitor, a tall lady who looked too old to be that fit. The visitor looked at her through her weirdly shaped glasses and smiled. Arya returned it but there was a mystery clouding that lady. The warden Mrs Williams then spoke.

" Arya, this is professor Minerva McGonagall. She's from a school for gifted individuals and you've been selected. She's here to meet you."

"But Mrs Williams, I never applied for any school. Why would such a school select me then?"

I couldn't even win a local astronomy competition last year. Then why such a school...

The old lady smiled at her but didn't speak. Mrs Williams spoke again.

"I think professor Minerva could explain this to you better than I can. You can take her to your room."

Finally the lady spoke. She had a calming, motherly but commanding voice.

"Hello Arya, you don't need to be afraid, I'm here to help you and tell you something about yourself. I have a little gift for you."

The lady finished and extended a book towards her, 'Encyclopaedia space' . Arya couldn't believe her eyes. It was the book she wanted for the last five months. How could this lady know. Her suspicions grew a bit and she wanted to know more but she sensed something peculiar. She couldn't hold it anymore and blurted out.

" No offence, Professor , but why did you bring me this book?"

" I thought you might like it and it could be a nice icebreaker."

" I am confused" Arya admitted.

" I know, Miss Jeager. You have many questions and I'll answer everything. But first here's your acceptance letter from Hogwarts."

How could she know . Jeager. I'm pretty sure even Mrs Williams don't know about this stupid sounding name.

Arya was dumbstruck . She had even more questions now. But she shushed her brain and took the letter.

Witchcraft? Wizardry ? A wizarding school? It was incredible but so many things made sense now. She felt like she didn't need to ask many questions now. She looked up and asked, " Are you pranking me, be truthful!"

The professor smiled and said,

" No dear, I'm not pranking you and you are not dreaming either. Now, you had some questions, didn't you?"

" Yes, yes, I did. Din you read my mind Professor?"

" No, child. I found out that you liked this book. I brought this for you so as to start a conversation."

"Thank you, Professor. For the book. You surely did not read my mind, did you?"

" No dear, absolutely not. Why are you so anxious about it. Are you hiding something in there? You can really tell me anything." The lady's voice was concerned.

Arya's face went blank. But she took a leap of faith and decided to tell her everything.

"Professor, some kids did not like me. They called me 'Ary the airy', and said I was light. I did not like it and looked up and added Jeager to my name.

That is when unexplained things began happening around me. Last year I lost a competition and I was sad ...and then ...this boy came after me and teased . He said 'Ary the airy is a loser'. I got very mad Professor, I don't know what happened. I stood up and shouted at him that my name was Arya Jeager. He laughed. But then..."

Arya saw the lady looking curiously at her.

"...then he was in the air for a second and then he fell. His legs were bleeding, and for a moment I liked it... I am a bad person Professor. But then I felt bad. I dropped the nameand told nobody and nobody teased me anymore."

Arya finished, not knowing that she was shaking. The Professor sat beside Arya and with an arm across her, said,

"You have magic in you , Arya. It manifested when you were angry. You can learn to control it and use it for better things. If you feel bad fir hurting that boy and apologize to him, then it's alright. Sometimes good people end up doing bad things unknowingly. You don't need to blame yourself. You will learn."

Arya felt very relieved as if a burden was put off her chest and smiled at the lady.

The professor then said,

" We should be going to Diagon Alley now, to buy your supplies."

"But...professor...I don't have ...money."

" Oh dear, don't worry about that. It will be included in your educational expenses and Hogwarts takes care of students like you. Hurry now, I have to take another student."

They started their journey towards another block. Arya still had so many questions and she asked, "why am I witch Professor?"

"Well frankly, I don't know. While it's possible that either or both of your parents were wizards, but its not a necessary condition. The quilt wrote your name, the name you had picked for yourself, and we contacted you and presented our well kept secret to you. I hope you'll respect our secrecy." McGonagall finished.

"Yes, Professor, I will."