It was Sunday afternoon when Rosalina was leaning against the wall waiting for Lily in the common room to go for lunch together. Alice and Dora had left early. Ro sighed mentally when for the thousandth time she decided that she hated waiting. Especially if she had nothing to do meanwhile.
She was wondering if she should take a book out of her bag when a voice startled her.
"Hello."
In front of her was a black haired girl, a head shorter in height.
"Astoria Bells." She smiled brightly holding out her hand.
"Lina Hale." Ro said shaking her hand.
Honestly speaking, she didn't want to talk to this girl. But she also didn't want to be rude.
"I know that. I mean you are the new girl right?" She said chuckling awkwardly.
At Ro's blank expression she continued, "So how do you like Hogwarts so far?"
"It's good?" Ro tried to say but it came out more as a question.
"Great. I'm a fourth year by the way." She said continuing this unwanted conversation.
Lina gave her a blank expression once more. Really, what else was she supposed to do? It wasn't like she had asked her.
"Well, it was nice talking to you Lina." She said sensing the awkwardness and smiled before going towards the portrait hole where a blonde was standing apparently waiting for Bells while giving Ro a suspicious look as if trying to decipher her. Ro could only guess the two were friends.
"They are weird. I agree."
Ro turned her face around to look at Lupin who was leaning against the nearest pillar with his arms folded and an amused look on his face.
At her raised eyebrows, he held out his hand which had a notebook in it.
"Thanks a lot. Your notes are really wonderful."
She took her notebook from his hand saying, "You're welcome."
"Before I leave, let me warn you." Lupin said.
Ro had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at how dramatic that sounded.
"Beware of the weirdos." He smirked.
She so badly wanted to ask him why
doesn't he heed his own advice while eyeing his friends who were sitting on couches nearby throwing cushions at eachother but controlled her urges.
"See you later." He said before sprinting off towards his friends.
Come to think of it, why weren't they going to lunch? The common room was almost empty and Ro doubted they were waiting for someone. None of your business. She told herself.
But then Potter kept on looking this way. Was he waiting for someone or was he just looking at something? None of your goddamn business. She mentally yelled at herself this time. This what you get for standing and doing nothing. Unwanted thoughts corrupt your mind.
Sighing she opened her History of Magic notebook. She was proud of her notes. Seeing them gave her a sense of satisfaction. They were perfect and she knew it. She was unable to understand how people could study from messed notes. She most certainly couldn't even if she tried, just the way she couldn't study or work in an unorganized place. She was sure she was messed up enough inside for her environment to be messed up as well.
The great mystery was solved when finally Lily came down the stairs and Potter abruptly stood up and hesitated a little before taking a step their way.
"I am sorry. I couldn't-" Lily started but when she saw Potter coming their way, she hurriedly said, "Let's go." before moving toward the portrait hole.
Unluckily for her, Potter caught up with them before they could get out.
"Evans, I -"
"Not now, Potter." Lily said harshly as if his mere sight made it the worst day of her life before getting out of the portrait hole with Ro behind her.
Ro didn't miss the flash of hurt on Potter's face before it was quickly masked with disappointment.
They continued to walk in silence toward the Great Hall before Lily broke it.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Maybe, comment on what just happened."
Ro gave her a blank look that asked if she was kidding. Lily continued.
"You know you have changed a lot."
"Wasn't I suppose to?"
"But your sense of humour remains the same. You just don't use it much."
"Although the exterior may change, the foundations remain the same."
"I thought you had changed and then you had to go and say something like that." Lily muttered under her breath.
Ro smirked at her mumbling.
"Do you realize that this might be the first conversation we are having that has not yet involved studies? You don't talk much anymore and stay to yourself."
"Life gets easier when you do that."
"But doesn't it also lose all the spice?"
"I guess I wouldn't know." Ro shrugged.
"Do you remember how close we were?" Lily said after some silence.
"Of course, I do." Ro said as a smile graced her lips at the memories.
"The time when you had sneaked into my room through the window in the middle of the night and woken me up by slapping me hard just because you were bored and wanted to go star sighting with me."
"In my defence, I did try to wake you up decently. It's not my fault you are a heavy sleeper."
"You used to drive your grandmother mad." Lily added vanishing the smile on Ro's lips.
Not noticing her change of expression, Lily continued, "Speaking of your grandmother, how is she?"
"She passed away a month or two after you left." Ro said blankly burying the turmoil of emotions inside her along with the lump in her throat.
"Oh." Lily almost whispered still in shock.
Ro silently prayed that Lily would drop the matter. She couldn't bear listening to anyone's sympathies or the turmoil she had buried a long time ago would tear out of its grave destroying everything that comes in its way.
Her prayer were answered as they reached the Great Hall.
On entering, Ro was surprised seeing Potter and his friends already sitting at the Gryffindor table eating although they left the common room after them.
Lily rolled her eyes at their sight muttering something that sounded suspiciously like show offs.
"How did they get here before?" Ro wondered aloud as they walked towards the table.
"By displaying their knowledge of the secret passages."
Ro could sense a hint of wishful bitterness in Lily's answer but decided to ignore it in the favour of thinking about possible ways to find out about the passages. Looked like another extensive tour of the castle was in order.
Both of them reached Alice and Dora who were sitting opposite to each other. Lily slipped in next to Dora leaving Ro to sit next to Alice. Great, she thought, just what I needed.
It wasn't like she had anything against Alice. In fact, Alice was really nice but Ro was not very friendly with her. It was still slightly awkward between them. The didn't spend much time with each other and the time spent with each other was spent in Lily or Dora's presence.
"Roast?" Alice offered her.
"I'll go with the pasta." The reply was instant.
"You don't like chicken?" Alice asked passing her the pasta.
"It's not that. I am just not very fond of roast."
"Oh."
And then there was an awkward silence. Really, what do people talk about all day, Ro wondered. She had absolutely nothing to talk with Alice about.
She looked around the table thinking of something to say when her eyes spotted Bells along with her friend sitting further along the table. Remembering Lupin's advice, she asked Alice about them.
"Umm... Alice?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know them? Ro asked tilting her head towards the subjects.
"Who?"
"The blonde and the black haired fourth year." Ro added after a pause, "The blonde keeps looking this way."
"Astoria and Diana?"
"Yeah, if the black haired one is Astoria Bells."
"You've met them?" Alice was surprised.
"Bells came to talk when I was waiting for Lily in the common room earlier."
"Of course she did." Alice muttered adding after a pause, "What did she say?"
"Not much." Ro replied.
Alice gave her a I-cannot-believe-that look at which Ro continued, "Well, she looked like she had a lot to say if only I had entertained her."
"That would've been a sight." Alice chuckled.
"Lupin told me to beware of them."
"He is right. They are members of the Clatter Club."
"The what?"
"The Clatter Club or more appropriately the Gossip Group."
At Ro's raised eyebrows, Alice explained further.
"There are clubs at Howarts for extracurricular activities run by students mostly. Like there's the Reading Raid, Duelling Club and so on. In Clatter Club, they share news with each other from the whole school. They also publish a weekly magazine by the name of Hogwarts Horrors distributed by its members."
"Ohh-kay." Ro said slowly taking a moment to digest everything. People gossip. That's natural. But seriously, forming a club for it? You've got to be kidding.
Alice continued, "Astoria Bells and Diana Fortescue are the only two Gryffindors in the Clatter Club. Hence I can bet this very delicious piece of chicken that they are after you on the behalf of their club."
"Me?" Ro was lost.
"You see, everyone is interested in two cousins who suddenly joined Hogwarts in fifth year, both Gryffindor and rumoured to be close to Dumbledore. On the top of it, no one had ever heard about them before where in the Wizarding World, someone knows someone. Don't they sound interesting?"
"When you put it like that." Ro murmured.
"And then they focus on you instead of Dora because she looks like any other girl; shy, beautiful, friendly and harmless. You on the other hand..." Alice stopped as Ro raised her eyebrows.
Smirking Alice continued, "... have that mysterious aura. Everyone knows that you were mistaken for a boy by James Potter, the Quidditch star, on the train. You don't talk much to anyone, keep a straight face and try not to draw attention towards yourself which in itself draws attention towards you. Last but not the least, you are rumoured to be the childhood friend of Lily Evans, the top of her class redheaded muggleborn Gryffindor prefect on whom James Potter has had a crush for 3 years and she still rejects him."
"Wow. I never knew I was that interesting." Ro said dryly.
She was now realising how much of an expert observer and analyser Alice was.
"I don't have a mysterious aura though. I just mind my own business."
"And how many people do you see doing that?"
"Point taken." She added after a minute, "Thanks by the way. Now I know who to come for advice."
Alice smiled at Ro before continuing to eat her meal. It was then that Ro realized that maybe, it was not so difficult to talk after all even though Alice did most of the talking.
Most of the times when Ro was free from classes, she was found in the library. But that changed the second week when Bells was following her along with a few other students. Well, not exactly following but definitely trying to collect information on her. Trying is the key word.
Hence she took refuge in an abandoned classroom on the third floor she had taken liking to. It was spacious with just a few tables and chairs aligned with the walls. Most importantly, it had an excellent view of the Black Lake with a window sill large enough to sit on. In short it was full package of a peace place where no one can disturb you and you can drown in your own world. Or so Ro thought.
Her other favourite place was the Southern Tower. It was not very high but had an open top where one could sit on the banister with their legs dangling. Being on the corner of the castle, it too was deserted and had a breath taking view of the southern grounds with wavelike hills.
On Monday evening in the second week, Ro was sitting on the floor crossed legs in that abandoned classroom on the third floor. She was tired after consecutive classes the whole day and was in no mood of talking to anyone. Hence, she was here instead of the library.
She was solving Arthimancy problems. The other subjects like Transfiguration, Charms and Potions, she had learned from the beginning. She had no difficulty studying them and already knew some of the things being taught in their classes.
Herbology was also fine. She was going with the pace of class if not faster. Plants never interested her much. Same was the case with Care of Magical Creatures. Both of them were Do's forte.
Astronomy was also fine since she was more interested in just seeing the stars rather than studying about them. Still, out of curiosity she had read many astronomy related books when she was younger.
Professor Hayman had only given theory lectures about the First Wizarding War yet. Hence she was not sure what exactly he will be teaching in practical classes.
Her main problems were Arthimancy and Study of Ancient Runes. Arthimancy, she had realized, was a bit like maths which had been her strongest subject in school. She had spent her first week studying from Lily's past two years notes making her own summarized notes working like a machine. Her efforts bore the fruit when today she was completely able to understand Professor Vector in class and was now solving Arthimancy questions with little to no problem. She was a fast learner but only if she wanted to learn.
Only the Saturday had been dedicated to studying the rest of the subjects in the library doing their homework and writing their essays. She was planning to dedicate second whole week to Study of Ancient Runes; it still went over her head. After that she would finally start her self studying. She had an interesting project waiting.
Ro was almost done with her work when she felt a presence in the room. She looked up and what she saw made her hand instinctively move towards her wand as a scream begged to come out of her mouth.
The sight before her was indeed frightening. There was a man tied in chains with blood all over his front staring intently at her.
Blinking twice, Ro realized that it was just Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost. He was indeed intimidating but Ro was not a Gryffindor for no reason.
When he neither moved nor said anything, Ro resumed doing her work. It was not long before she realized that she had lost the track of time doing her work and it was almost dark. There was still some time left before the dinner ended but Ro didn't feel like going there passing through everyone's scrutiny.
After completing her work, Ro breathed a sigh of relief leaning against the wall and closing her eyes for a moment. Feeling hungry she opened her eyes to take a chocolate bar out of her bag. She opened the wrapper and was about to eat it when she realized that the Baron was still in the room facing the window but looking at her out of the corner of his eyes.
Ro put the chocolate in her pocket, a voice like her grandmother's ringing in her ears about how rude would it be to eat in front of someone who cannot eat. She slowly started gathering her things to put in her bag.
"What house are you from?" The hoarse voice of the Baron startled her. He sounded almost sad.
She slowly looked up at Baron and then slowly look down towards her empty collar. Remembering that she had taken off her Gryffindor tie, she slowly looked up at the Baron again.
"Let me guess." He said before she could answer.
"The fact that you neither screamed nor ran away from me makes me think you are either a Gryffindor or a Slytherin. Sitting here alone away from people supports that you are a Slytherin but since I have never seen you in my house, I would say that you are a Gryffindor but no Gryffindor could keep quiet for such a long time or for that matter, sit alone without friends." He ranted about his deductions as Ro stared at him.
"The concentration with which you were studying implies that you are a Ravenclaw but the fact that you avoided eating in front of me and actually care about my feelings declares you a Hufflepuff."
The only thing that crossed Ro's mind after this speech was that was he really thinking about this all this time.
"Merlin, I knew I should have been a Ravenclaw. The hat made a mistake putting me in Slytherin." The Baron sadly whispered.
Is he really sad about being a Slytherin, Ro wondered standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"If you really were a Ravenclaw, you would have guessed the right house." She said before leaving the Baron alone to ponder over her words.