We were very late for charms and all the other classes we had that day. We couldn't go anywhere in the school without getting lost. I almost starved to death as well because we were late to lunch. I quickly grabbed some food before the tables were cleared.
My friends and I spent dinner laughing and eating an enormous amount of food. Near the end of dinner, Al came over to the Ravenclaw table and asked me if I would go for a walk with him. I told him I would. When he turned his back to walk away I pushed my piece of apple pie towards Jane and told her to save it for me for later because I didn't want to keep Al waiting. I can't go without dessert!
I quickly got up and hurried towards the entrance of the Great Hall where he was (he's a really fast walker). We walked around the school in silence. I wasn't sure what to say and I really didn't want to listen to him blabbering on about how nice the Slytherin's were.
"Did you get the letter your mom and dad sent you?" he asked breaking the silence.
I had completely forgotten to check for the letter that mom and dad had promised to send me.
"No, I missed the post at breakfast."
Al frowned. "I went over to your table to get the letter but some Ravenclaw boy said he was going to give you it."
"What Ravenclaw boy?" I asked suspiciously.
"In our year, I think, made a whole show of saying his father fought along mine in the Battle of Hogwarts. His name was Long-something I think?"
"Eric Longford?" I prompted.
"Yeah, I think that's him."
"I don't think he likes me very much." I stated. "We didn't get on well at the start of term feast."
"If you have any problems with him come to me. I'll hex him." Al said evilly.
"Al, you don't even know how to hex anyone yet."
Al ignored me continued.
"I got my letter from home."
"What did it say?"
"That their proud of me and don't care that I'm in Slytherin. The rest of it was them asking was I okay or upset?"
"They worry about you."
"I can handle myself." Albus said sharply.
Then there was silence. I could see through one of the windows in the corridor that it was almost dark. I knew I had to keep an eye on the time since it would take me a while to get back to Ravenclaw tower due to me hopelessly getting lost and all the stairs were really slowing me down. Like, today, when my friends and I tried to get to Herbology but ended up on the other side of the school. Neville was really nice about it when we finally showed up.
I checked my watch and saw that it was coming dangerously close to first year curfew, 30 minutes until it ended (but I needed all the time I could get to get there). Albus suddenly started talking about his Slytherin friends and all the fun they were having. I nodded my head politely, thinking about the small pile of homework I had to do for tomorrow. I wished he would hurry up.
I sneakily checked my watch when he wasn't looking at me and saw it was very, very dangerously close to curfew, 20 minutes before the end of curfew.
"Al." I said interrupting him.
"What?" He asked.
"I have to get back to my common room." I answered.
"Why?" He asked.
"I need to do my homework." I said giving him an excuse less embarrassing than I have an extremely bad sense of direction in this castle so I need extra time to get anywhere.
We both walked back parting ways at the Grand Staircase. I quickly ran up each staircase before they could change and then into a few wrong doors. Finally, with only 10 minutes past curfew I had made it to the Ravenclaw Tower without being spotted by a teacher.
I quickly ran up to the eagle knocker out-breath and it asked me a riddle.
"What jumps higher than a building?"
The answer immediately came into my mind.
"That's easy, everything, buildings don't jump."
The door opened revealing the Ravenclaw common room. As I walked in I scanned the room for Eric Longford, who Albus said had my letter. I spotted him playing exploding snap with two other boys.
I walked over to him and asked.
"Where is it?"
"Where's what?" he answered smirking.
"My letter, my cousin said you took it."
"Oohhh that!" he said obviously playing it thick. "It'll cost you."
"What?" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"I said, it'll cost you."
"Cost me, what?" I asked still in disbelief. "It's my letter."
"Ten Galleons."
"It's my letter." I repeated trying to stay calm.
"It's in my possession now." He snorted. "Ten Galleons."
"But it's my letter, it's from my parents." My voice started to rise.
Eric, still smirking, said. "Ten Galleons, nine if you want me to tell you what was in the letter."
"I don't have ten or nine Galleons." I didn't have any money. I blew it all on sweets on the Hogwarts Express.
"Well, that's a shame, isn't it?" He was about to turn away from me but stopped like he had a great idea. "How about this? If you can beat me at Wizard's Chess I'll give you the letter and ten Galleons."
I was grinning like a Cheshire cat on the inside when Eric said this. I kept my expression still angry in case he changed his mind.
"You're on." I said.
Eric looked at me like he knew he was going to beat me, me, Rose Weasley, not a chance. Wizard's Chess was my favourite game. Ever since I was seven I haven't been beaten by anyone. I could play Wizard's Chess in my sleep. There was no way I was letting this arrogant moron win.
Eric moved to a free table and began to set up a Wizard Chess board. Abby and Jane who had been in the corner of the common room doing their homework came over to me.
"What are you doing, Rose?" Jane asked.
"Just about to wipe the floor with that idiot." I said with total confidence. "I'm going to beat him at Wizard's Chess."
"Yay!" cheered Abby. "What's Wizard's Chess?"
"You'll see." I responded not having time to explain it to her.
"Why are you fighting with Eric Longford?" Jane asked.
"He stole my letter." I explained.
"What a meanie!" Abby said.
"Are sure you can do this, Rose? We could just steal the letter back from him." Jane said worriedly. "If he wins we may not hear the end of it."
I was about to answer when Eric's voice called me across the room.
"Weasley!" he said snidely. "Not having second thoughts are we?"
I walked over to the table where he was sat and sat down across from him. Eric was playing black and I was playing white. Abby and Jane were at my side ready to cheer me on, Eric's friends did the same. I also noticed others in the common room were watching us as well.
"Ready to lose, Weasley?"
"You wish, Longford."
"You start, Weasley."
I cleared my throat and glared into his eyes and ordered,
"Pawn to C5."
The game had begun. Abby and sometimes Jane cooed and gasped through the whole game. The table was soon surrounded by Ravenclaws watching the game. Eric was a good enough player, which kept the game going for a long time.
When Eric was down to his to his last piece he was nervous and sweaty. My six remaining pieces were on his final piece quickly.
I finished the game by ordering my knight to E5 destroying his bishop. Everyone besides Eric and his friends began to cheer.
I asked a shocked Eric to give me my letter and ten Galleons. He couldn't refuse, not with half of Ravenclaw house there, so he slowly went up to boy's dorm to get my prize, his pride wounded.
I stood up to face my friends who jumping up and down in victory. Abby looked on the verge of doing her embarrassing victory dance.
"That was awesome!" Abby cheered. "Beyond anything I thought Wizard's Chess could be!"
"Yeah, Rose, you were bloody brilliant!" Jane cheered.
I feel overwhelmed with all the cheering. Even Victoire came out of the crowd to give me a hug.
Eric was true to his word and gave me my letter (yay!) and ten Galleons (double yay!).
We first years were then told to leave the common room by a prefect because it was eleven o'clock. I felt my grin droop slightly when I remembered I had a small pile of homework waiting to be done in my dorm.
