THE FEAST AND THE COMMON ROOM
Once the new students were all sorted out between the four houses, there began a big chattering between all of the students. The new ones making friends, asking the older ones about the school. The older ones welcoming the new ones and telling them stories about the place. That's when professor McGonagall dinged on a cup.
- Your attention, please. - Professor Dumbledore stood up. - Let the feast…begin.
The first years watched in amazement as the empty plates before them suddenly filled with food. There was roast beef, chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak…the feast of all feasts. Everyone started eating. Alex grabbed a couple of chicken wings, some bacon and eggs, and started eating. She was starving. Too many emotions and stuff happened, and it was only day one. Draco, who was sitting on her right, seemed to be having a good time with all that food. He was grabbing everything with his hands, and enjoying. Manners were not an option, and especially not an obligation, like they were back at home.
- Is it good? - Draco was looking at Alex with his mouth full.
- It's not bad… - bullshit, it was amazing! But she was pissed at him for his behaviour, so she didn't want to be nice.
- Oh, c'mon. Are you seriously mad at me? We need to make friends, Alex.
- Yeah, we need to make friends. So maybe don't be a bully with everyone you meet. We're not home, and I don't see your father around, so chill.
- It doesn't have to do with my father! I don't want to be friends with mediocre people or muggle friends.
- Funny, it doesn't have to do with your father, but all I can hear is him talking right through you.
Alex didn't understand him. But neither did Draco. That's what his parents had taught him, but Alex didn't agree. And he knew that no matter how many times he told her or how well he explained himself, she wouldn't agree. So maybe it would be better not to talk about it. He didn't want to argue with her. She was his family, and his friend too. They kept eating, and while Draco talked with Crabbe and Goyle, Alex started talking with a girl whose name was Pansy Parkinson. Suddenly numerous ghosts came pouring from the walls, sailing along. One of them headed to the Slytherin table. He sported a curly powdered wig, fashions closer to the 17th century than the 10th, and carried his sword.
- Look! It's the Bloody Baron - one of the older girls said. The Bloody Baron. It made sense. His robes were covered in silver bloodstains.
- How did he get covered in blood? - Alex was curious. After all, it was the first ghost she saw in her life.
- I've never asked - Gemma Farley, one of the prefects, said.
- Welcome to Hogwarts, young fellas - the Bloody Baron spoke in a hoarse whisper. - You are lucky! You have been sorted out in the best Hogwarts House! We've been winning the House Cup six years in a row! We are unbeatable! Suck it, Nick! - In the distance someone complained saying "you're not unbeatable, you are unbearable". Must have been Nick.
The evening followed its course. When they were all done eating and the feast came to an end, the prefects of the different houses started leading the rest of the students to their dorm rooms. There was a door on the right side of the Entrance Hall. Behind the door was a set of stone steps which descended deep into the dungeons.
- This is kind of creepy…and terrifying - Draco had a weird look on his face.
- I think it's exciting! Looks like an adventure! - Alex was having fun. The castle was enormous, she couldn't wait to explore the whole of it. The fact that their dorm room was in some kind of dungeon made her heart beat, in a good way. She put on a grim face and a baleful voice - Scared, Malfoy?
- Not at all. Besides, if something happens, I'll just push the tough cookie right in front of me to protect me - they both laugh at the same time. That was the Draco she knew.
After walking down for a while, they arrived at the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle. The entrance to their common room was located behind a bare stretch of stone wall. Apparently, a password was required to enter it, whereupon a passage was revealed, leading to the common room. It was a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. This dungeon extended part way under the lake, the same one they had seen earlier in the boats. This gave the light in the room a green tinge. The common room had lots of low back black and dark green button-tufted, leather sofas, skulls, and dark wood cupboards. One of the wooden tables had a Wizard's Chess set on it. It was decorated with tapestries featuring the adventures of famous Mediaeval Slytherins. It had quite a grand atmosphere, but also quite a cold one.
Alex walked around the room while the prefects kept explaining things about the dorms. She was fascinated. She hadn't seen anything from the castle, and yet, she already knew this room was her favourite room in the entire castle. She looked through the windows. They were underwater. She could see fishes swimming around, and if she looked down, she could see the algae swaying with the movement of the water. She had never seen something as beautiful as that. Draco noticed her standing in awe and decided to walk towards her.
- It's not that creepy anymore. Actually, you were right, it's pretty cool - he looked through the window and then back at her. She was smiling widely. Her green blueish eyes were shining. The reflection of the water had that effect. He was happy to have her there. They would find a common ground for their differences towards the other students. That's what they did when she came to live with his family. At first, they wouldn't talk that much. His father didn't like her, so he must have been right. But later on, he found out that she was nice. She made him laugh when he just wanted to cry, and that was something very rare. And he admired her. She always stood up against his father, no matter how scary he could be. Sometimes he wished he could do that as well.
- And that would be all. Boy's dormitories, upstairs and down to your left. Girls, the same on your right. You'll find that your belongings have already been brought up. Have a good night of sleep, tomorrow is the start of the term.
With that said, Gemma Farley went up to the dorm, and so did the rest of the students. Alex and Draco smiled at each other one more time, and she hugged him before going to her dorm. When she entered the dorm, she located her bead thanks to her truck and her cat. "Hey, Eden". She had named her cat like her mother. It could be weird but at least that way she felt her somehow nearer. She put on her pyjamas and went to sleep. She couldn't wait to start her classes.