prithia fjord

I followed the professor through the ancient halls of Hogwarts, her hair held in a tight bun and her dress flowing in step behind her. I wasn't able to catch her name as I had been handed off from Hagrid to the woman.

I had attempted to keep track of the lefts and rights and landmarks we passed, but the halls all looked so similar I lost count after four lefts and seven rights. I struggled to keep up with the professor's long strides. I had always thought of my height as above average until she began walking.

I fought to catch my breath when she stopped in front of a bird-shaped stone gargoyle. She whispered something to the stone creature causing a staircase to begin spiraling upwards. The professor stepped onto a stair and looked at me expectantly.

"Come on, dear." She ushered her wrinkled hand for me to hop on a stair. My heart raced the same way it did when I was met with an escalator as I jumped onto a stair unsteadily. The professor nodded.

The staircase stopped at an old door that was opened by the aged woman. As we stepped inside, I froze in admiration to take in the beauty of the office.

"Ah, young Fjord," a soft voice sounded inside of the large room. I moved my head to where the voice had come from to find an old man with a long beard sitting behind a wooden desk. He looked at me from above his glasses.

"Professor Dumbledore," I whispered in awe. I had heard many tales of his work. He smiled and got up from his desk. He nodded towards the professor behind me. "Thank you, Minerva." She then left without another word.

Dumbledore held out a hand, urging me closer.

"I am glad to welcome you to Hogwarts. I have heard wonderful stories or your success at Ilvermorny." His eyes softened. "I give you my condolences. I'm sure your parents were incredible people." My stomach dropped to the floor. I had tried my hardest to not think about them for many days.

He couldn't know who they were. My stomach churned at him speaking of her parents like he was friends with them. He had no right to speak about them. It took everything in me not to let a tear slide down my cheek. I miss them so much.

Dumbledore led me to an encasing in the wall that housed an old brown hat. He picked it off the stand.

"Normally, you would be apart of the Sorting Ceremony, similar to the one you went through, but given the conditions, we are not able to." I nodded. The ancient man looked at me with anticipation as he placed the hat atop my head.

I jumped when it began talking. "Hmm, these are some unforeseen circumstances... brave, indeed, much Gryffindor in you." I sucked in a breath. I knew all too well of the houses at Hogwarts. It would be an honor to be in Gryffindor. "Oh, look at that, so much ambition, you have high goals and expectations... Slytherin!" My heart skipped a beat. No... It couldn't be.

Dumbledore took the hat from my head and placed it back on the wooden stand. He clapped his hands together and led me to his desk.

"Congratulations. Professor McGonagall will lead you to your dormitory. The password is Pure-Blood. You will find the supplies and uniforms awaiting you." That was her name! McGonagall.

"Thank you," I muttered. He gestured towards the same lady who was just with them. I did not recall her entering again.

I started toward Professor McGonagall. "If you need anything at all, Prithia, do not hesitate to find me." I winced at my full name. My mother was the only one who called me by my entire name.

I found myself, unsurprisingly, failing to keep up with McGonagall's pace while we continued to take many different turns through the halls.

I knew deep down, I am not a Slytherin. What would my parents think about where I am? I had heard many stories of what Slytherin produces and I knew I did not belong in that house.

Lost in thought, I zoned out for the majority of the walk to the dormitory. I had completely forgotten how I had even gotten into the dorms, but there I was. Alone, in a cold, dungeon-like room with six green canopied beds. I had to admit, there was something alluring about the room. I deemed the bed with three trunks and a stack of books piled on top my own.

I looked through her schedule sitting on the stack of books. Charms, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts... oh lord. Starting at a new school in the sixth year was going to be miserable. Surely the curriculum was going to be slightly different at Hogwarts than it was at Ilvermorny, plus, everybody was going to know each other already and have established groups.

I collapsed onto the firm bed and let a few tears slip out. How was I going to make my parents proud when I was at such a disadvantage? I took a few deep breaths. It was going to be okay. I was going to be okay.

Oh no no, I was not going to be okay.

I stood in the large doorway that leads to the Grand Hall in my Slytherin robes. Despite it taking me many wrong turns to find the place, I had made it. But I wasn't sure I was glad to have made it. I expected to walk into the hall, find a secluded spot, eat, then leave in the midst of everyone else. That is not what happened.

All four tables of students stopped in their tracks and looked at me. My cheeks flamed red as I tried diverting my eyes away from them. I self-consciously walked towards the table that housed people with Slytherin robes.

Dumbledore stood from his chair in the frontest part of the Hall, causing the students to face him.

He cleared his throat. "I'd like to introduce our newest transfer Slytherin student, Thea Fjord." A wind of relief washed over me when he used the name that everyone should call me. If I had it my way, that would be my legal name. Not Prithia.

The wave of relief didn't last long because the students whispered amongst themselves, no doubt about me. Normal me would have enjoyed the attention, no parents me did not under any circumstance want a room full of hundreds of students staring and talking about me.

The hall watched as I chose a seat at the farthest part of the table and dished myself a meal. The heat from my cheeks and neck wasn't budging. Thankfully, after a few long moments, students slowly went back to their business. The realization of being alone all year hit me while I ate, forming a knot in my stomach. For the third time that day, I fought with all of my might to keep my tears at bay.

Dinner was long. So long. And so lonely. I missed the few close friends I had. I could no doubt write them, but how much comfort would I get from that?

Once students were ordered to their common rooms, all kids walked back to their dorms. I didn't fail to notice how I practically parted seas. I was like a disease that everyone was afraid of catching. Another knot formed in my stomach but I smashed it away with an iron fist. I could not be seen as weak. My situation would be much worse if I was bullied. I straightened my back, threw my shoulders back, and tossed my chin higher in the air then began making more eye contact.

Furthur ahead of me I noticed a group of three students, two of whom were looking at me with smiles on their faces. A warm soothing feeling went through my body and I gave them a small smile back. The one with black hair and round glasses looked back at his two friends and urged them to follow him as he made his way towards me. My heart pumped a couple of times faster in anticipation of my first student encounter since being there.

He walked with enough purpose to make me internally giggle.

"Hi!" His voice was high pitched but so sweet.

"Hello." I smiled back.

"This is Ron Weasley," he pointed to the redhead standing clueless behind him, "Hermione Granger," then pointed to the girl with wild hazelnut hair, "and I'm Harry Potter." My jaw dropped.

"The Harry Potter?" I asked, baffled. Hermione giggled and nodded. I looked back to Harry and his cheeks burned pink. "S-sorry. I've just heard so much about you. Also, I'm Thea."

He smiled. "It's okay. I'm rather used to it."

"Well, it's nice to meet you guys, but I should probably get back to the Slytherin common room," I said with disappointment. Maybe there was hope. Maybe this wouldn't be terrible.

Hermione scooted in front of Harry, her brown eyes sparkling. "We can walk you! I want to know more about you!" I nodded and followed them hesitantly. I still could not remember where the entrance to the common room was. Hermione walked slightly in front of me while Harry and Ron walked next to each other behind me.

"What's Ilvermorny like? I mean, that's where you came from right?" Hermione's voice warmed my heart with its geniality.

I nodded. "Yes, it is where I came from. It's actually very similar to Hogwarts. A bit newer due to it being built after Hogwarts. Also, much more American." I chuckled.

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "My apologies, but I am not accustomed to what it's like in America."

"Incredible. She doesn't know everything," Ron's gruff voice muttered behind us. Hermione shot him a glare.

For the first time in weeks, I was smiling. Genuinely smiling. The large hole in my heart was never going to be completely sealed, but it would get close to it and I had a strong feeling those three were going to play a part in that.

The three gave me their partings and walked to wherever the Gryffindor common room was. I gave them a smile and went into my own. Still smiling I was met with yet another trio. Huh. Interesting. Trios must be the only way to have friends in this school?

This time, it was three boys sitting on the velvet couches. At the sight of me, they all got up from their spots. A tall platinum-blonde boy stalked ahead of the other two boys toward me with a sneer on his face.

"Making friends with Potter, are you?" He spat as he advanced closer to me. His two friends snickered behind him. I backed away from him until there was no room to back up. The cool touch of the stone flooded through my linen robe. His face was too close. Closer than anybody should ever get to me. But, lord, he smelled so good. I mentally slapped myself.

An unexpected surge of confidence infiltrated my body. I was not going to let a pubescent teenage boy control me. I shoved a hand against his chest, putting a comfortable amount of space between us.

"That's no way to introduce yourself," I stated and stood up as straight as possible. A flicker of astonishment ran across his face but quickly turned into fury.

"Do you know who the hell I am?'" He inched closer. I put my hand back between us, stopping him in his tracks.

I looked defiantly into his harsh blue eyes. "I don't care who you are, you have no right standing this close to me." The two boys who I forgot was standing behind the blue-eyed asshole, laughed at my remark. He back up an inch so my hand was no longer pressed against his chest.

"You need to learn your place. I am Draco Malfoy. Son of Lucius Malfoy and I could ruin your family with a snap of my fingers. You are a loser and an outcast and you will never be anything more." Draco took one more look at me from head to toe and walked into the boys' dormitories with his minions hot on his tracks.

"What a privileged little asshole," I muttered and walked into my own dorm where a small group of girls stared at me as I got myself ready for bed.

Great, I am already in a tough situation, now I get to deal with gossip-hungry girls and no good bullies.