Chapter 9: Student Arrival
The morning students were supposed to return, the school was eerily quiet. Dumbledore had warned her that most of the teachers would try to get extra sleep in preparation. He explained that everyone would be very busy during the school year, and the next break wouldn't be until December. Kenna noted that Dumbledore didn't seem to be worried or more tired than usual and wondered if that meant he would be busy too. He walked her down and around the school grounds after breakfast, letting her get some energy out. Kenna was slowly and steadily becoming a healthy child. While the cautiousness was still in her eyes, every day she was eating more and moving more, her energy building every minute.
She noticed most of the adults were not as into running about, but they always encouraged her to. She'd wave to the giant squid in the lake and then watch at the edge of the forest to see if her deer friends were nearby. Usually the closer to afternoon the less likely they were to be in the open fields. When Dumbledore made his way over the crest of the hill that she'd rolled down seconds earlier he had laughed at the twigs in her hair and the grass stain at the bottom of her dress. She ran back to him, chattering in his mind about a creature she had read about, asking if it was possible for them to live in the lake.
This was their new normal. Dumbledore always enjoyed the chatter, even if it wasn't out loud. The child was still reserved when others were around, but alone she had opened up to be like many other 8-year olds. Her voice was still developing, but it never seemed to be able to contain the number of questions she had or the speed of her thoughts. She knew that when she interacted with others, she needed to use her voice, but alone he didn't mind if she projected at him.
He could tell that the potential of having nearly three hundred students return to the school nearer to her age was both daunting to the child. She was savoring the last moments of quiet and his undivided attention. School as an outsider would be a curious thing for her to experience, he imagined. The staff had been excited to have the small member, but he knew they would have to be a little more careful about the students she interacted with.
Dumbledore truly believed that kids were products of their environment, He would be mistaken if he claimed Hogwarts was the safest environment. The kids came from all walks of life, from dangerous and wealthy families to struggling families and orphans. He was concerned about his new daughter's small size and the questions that surrounded her, who her family was, and the struggles she had experienced and rarely spoke about. There had been a few bad days, where her nightmares left her tired and jumpy. He worried a bit about bullying and the lack of filter some children had, as well as his daughter's reactions to them. She seemed to be mild-mannered, but as she had changed over the past few weeks, she could change when she interacted with the new students. Now though, she was totally distracted by the colour of the grass.
I want to see if mooncalves come tonight! She told him. As it went, the new school year also fell on a day with a full moon that was bound to be bright. The weather early in the week had been wet, but it was difficult to see a single cloud in the sky that morning as the mist wore off. It would be a good day for the first years to boat across the lake and see the castle for the first time.
Dumbledore acquiesced to her request to see the mooncalves, not sure if she'd still be awake to see them after the excitement of supper.
Her next request as they made their way across the grounds was to see the train pull into Hogsmeade station, one that he sadly had to deny. She would get a chance to ride the express one day, and he wasn't going to spoil that experience more than living in the castle already did. Instead, he tried to busy her with other tasks.
At the top of the hill, they stood for a few minutes and watched as Hagrid gathered Thestrals into the field behind his home. He had to place the saddles on them to allow them to get used to the feeling before latching them into the carriages for the students. After clarifying that they were Thestrals, Kenna made her way down to the field. Dumbledore paced after her quickly. The 4X markings of the species suggested that they were dangerous, even though they were trained by Hagrid. The old man had a lot of faith in animals and magical creatures, but it didn't make him any less cautious when a child was near them. Even normal horses could be dangerous for someone as small as Kenna.
Hagrid also noticed the young girl making her way down toward him, and quickly finished attaching a saddle before she got within range. Rather than approaching any further, she suddenly stopped a few feet away and put her arm out. The beast shrieked as it watched her, padding the ground with its feet.
Dumbledore couldn't help but note how her interaction with it was extremely similar to that of the deer in the forest, the owls, and even Fawkes. Eventually, the Thestral took a step forward toward her, lowering its head. Hagrid moved to hold its saddle in case he needed to pull it back, but instead, it just nudged the small child. She quickly lifted her hands to pat it over its leathery skin.
Dumbledore and Hagrid both let out a breath.
For the better part of another hour, Kenna helped the Headmaster and Hagrid prepare all the Thestrals for the carriages.
Nonetheless, she didn't seem to realize the significance of looking into their dark eyes and running her fingers over the bony bumps on the back of their necks. He had yet to find a creature that she did not totally enchant in her own way. After her initial encounter, she only had to feed one an apple before all of them approved of her. Dumbledore pondered the things that she had seen in her short years. Where had she seen death? Did she understand it when she saw it? He considered making it a conversation topic for them. She was a curious child, so he wouldn't be surprised if it came up at a later point anyway.
"This is the easiest time I've ever had hooking them in!" Hagrid laughed as Kenna walked two of the horses into positions to be saddled. Dumbledore felt oddly high strung watching her move about them, even when they seemed calm. He wondered if this was how normal parents felt when they had small children. The clips for the carriages wouldn't go on until closer to 5 pm, with the students due to arrive at 6. Kenna made her way between the Thestrals and patting each of them, even approaching those that were not saddled with pats. She was excited to find three young fauns that stuck very close to their mother. Their mother, who, while it practically snapped at Hagrid when he got close, was perfectly fine with Kenna patting it and the little ones.
Perhaps he should contact Newt Scamander to see what the Magical Beasts researcher thought. He was an odd fellow, much like Dumbledore himself, but with their history, Dumbledore was sure that he would see her. Could an affinity for animals be genetic? Or did it have to do with heightened mental awareness? Was being a child part of her skills? What were her skills with animals in the first place?
He pondered what to write in the letter and let her move about, rarely taking his eyes off of her. She clumsily fell twice, but that wasn't abnormal when she was running around. She was a graceful child when she was careful, but when she was enjoying herself her mind overestimated her body sometimes. Hagrid enjoyed telling her all that he knew about the creatures and she listened intently. He even placed her on top of one to ride it, walking it in a few circles. Kenna perched very carefully on it, sliding a few times to one side. The Thestral seemed to be hyper-aware of her breakability though, and always lifted one of its wings or tilted it's body to prevent her from falling off. The scene was one that he wished he had a camera to save.
Perhaps a camera would be a wise investment.
As the afternoon rolled around, he ushered his adopted daughter in for a small lunch of sandwiches. Kenna ate a little, but her appetite was minimal. Wherewith the animals and outside she'd been excited, the closer they got to the children coming the more withdrawn she became. After their meal he let her sit in the chair she had claimed as her own and read more about the creatures she'd seen that day. She watched the pictures in Fantastic Beasts and then broke open a larger picture book she had found on an available shelf, an older look into Magical Creatures. Dumbledore sat beside her with his own book, taking in the quiet of the room. During the school year, the footsteps running about in the corridors and the sound of children yelling outside would echo in his large office. He felt her eyes lifting to look at him every few minutes but elected to let it go.
Just before the train arrived he had her change into a different, non-stained dress. It was a light blue and reached down to her feet. He set her in front of the mirror and took his time braiding the sides of her hair out of her face in a complicated fashion, taking his time as he wound the braids into each and down her back, clipping them together. Rather than practicing their talking, Kenna's lips were glued shut in anticipation. Rather than fidgeting when she got nervous, she had an interesting tendency to stay totally still. When 6 o'clock rolled around, she shut her book and climbed into the window, staring into the distance. The sun was slowly falling over the horizon, but it was easy to see the smoke the train produced, and perhaps even a little bit of red as it rolled in. When the boats and the lanterns emerged on the edge of the lake. He watched her eyes light up when she looked back at him, practically begging to go down to the great hall already.
Dumbledore laughed and offered his hand as they walked to the door.
The photographs on the wall were already whispering in excitement. Summers without students also meant summers without much gossip, but now that they were back it was the photographs jobs to remind each other of what occurred the previous year and their expectations for the coming year. Dumbledore said hello to a few of them as they passed. Rather than entering through the main door of the dining hall, Dumbledore showed her a second entrance that took them around to the head of the hall, and up a few steps to sit at the table in the front of the room. Four other tables had been laid out beyond it. Behind them, the glass seemed to glow with the sunset.
Kenna sat trying not to bounce in her newly assigned chair next to her father as the students slowly rolled into the castle in small groups. She fiddled with the lace on her dress and listened to them on the other side of the door. Minerva would be the last person to sit down at the table for dinner. Dumbledore told her that the woman would oversee the sorting hat and guiding the first years into the castle from where Hagrid left them. Kenna brought a book, (she'd chosen the novel A Wrinkle in Time out of the library, just the previous night at Madam Pince's recommendation) but she hadn't cracked it open, too distracted by the sounds on the other side of the door. Dumbledore left her briefly sitting at the table with her book as he went to check on the House-elves in the kitchen. He returned with a glass of juice for the young girl and a smile. Within minutes the other teachers had seated themselves at the table. Just as Professor Flitwick had adjusted his seat, the door to the great hall swung open and students began trickling in, dividing themselves up between the four tables. Hugs were being passed and even laughter between some of the tables.
Kenna watched them closely to find out which table was which. Hogwarts, A History, had given detailed descriptions on each of the Hogwarts houses, and she was very curious to see them in action alongside the sorting hat. She knew the classes would also be divided up by house for the younger students, but the older ones had more of a mix. Her book was closed, and she moved it a little to the side, closer to Dumbledore. He glanced at it, his new daughter, and slipped it into his pocket, quickly realizing that she was too enthralled with looking at the students.
For the students, the large table held every single one of the teachers at the school and a new, much smaller guest. The brunette sat in-between McGonagall's spot at the table and the Headmaster's, and she seemed to be the one every house table was guessing at. Her eyes seemed to scan every table and look at all the new decorations. She looked too young to be a student, much less an actual professor. So why was she there? No answers came as a line of first years walked up. As soon as they reached a complete stop with the Transfiguration teacher at the head, the Sorting had begun to sing. The song this year had more rhymes than the previous year, for the students, but Kenna swayed back and forth mouthing the words. She had sat next to the sorting hat a few early mornings and helped it practice. She could take a little bit of pride in helping with one or two of the rhymes. The hat claimed that it worked all year on the next year's song, but Dumbledore had whispered to her that it was more of a procrastinator.
The song finished and the first student was called. It took a few moments before Ravenclaw was shouted out into the room, and the young boy went in the directions of the cheers. Kenna couldn't help but turn to the headmaster in between the fifth and sixth sorting, her hand reached out and touched his own, sending a mental message.
Why does that boy have orange hair?
Looking out into the mass of people, Dumbledore was quickly able to spot the young ones at the Gryffindor table, watching the sorting for the first year without being in it. He recognized the hair almost immediately. His mental conversation was rusty, and it took a little more concentration. After clapping for a student moving toward the Hufflepuff table he took her hand in his.
His name is William Wesley. He's the oldest of seven. His hair is that colour because it's the way he was born. She nodded her head and watched another sorting, somewhat entranced by the hat's choices.
But as they got closer to the end of the line, her voice echoed again in Dumbledore's head. Can I make my hair purple?
And why would you want to do that?
Because purple is your favorite colour.
My favorite colour? Why not your favorite colour?
If I do it your favorite colour then you'll like my hair more. Dumbledore paused as he backtracked to follow the young girl's train of thought. As innocent as ever, she glanced back up to him unmoving but also biting her lip, as a habit that gave away her insecurity. He took a moment to decide an answer for her, but when he did he put a finger to her chin and had her look at him. Most everyone was distracted by the sorting, so the small exchange, for the most part was missed by most of the school when he told her silently. Kenna Hope Dumbledore—I love you from head to toe no matter what you look like. You should never have to change to make someone like you more.
Really?
Really.
I like his Orange hair. Do you think he'll be nice?
I'm sure he will be. The Weasley family was known for their kindness and history with the Gryffindor House. Even Molly Prewitt, who had married into the family was an unbelievably strongminded young woman. Her brothers had been as well.
Do you think he'll want to be my friend? I've never had a friend before. The hat, with a distinct amount of finality only seconds after the hat was set on his head, sorted the last child in none other than Gryffindor house. Dumbledore felt his heartache. She was an independent child, but he couldn't imagine how lonely it must be to live for eight years without interacting with other children.
You'll have to find out—but I'm sure he'd like to spend time meeting you.
As the cheering died, Dumbledore stood briefly to announce the start of the meal, mentioning that afterwards a few other words would be said before they were all sent to their beds for the night. The moment he sat down, Minerva placed her hands over Kenna's, making sure they weren't sitting on the table when the food appeared. While most of the staff member's plates were already full of food, Kenna was only given a plate. McGonagall immediately reached forward to grab some of the baked chicken to place on her plate, as Dumbledore put a dollop of mashed potatoes down for her.
The young girl could feel the eyes from the tables below them as kids stuffed their faces but also looked up at the table and occasionally pointed to her or to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. McGonagall kept her busy by talking to her about the most recent book she had finished, a muggle book about a talking lion and with all kinds of creatures and an Ice Witch. Kenna told her about the kids that discovered the land in a wardrobe and slowly ate her dinner. When their conversation tapered off, she looked closer at the tables and their decorations. The blue table was the quietest, but there seemed to be a debate between two or three students happening across the table. The yellow table was constantly erupting in loud laughter. The red and green tables seemed to be somewhere in the middle, and both tables had many students looking up at the head table. She could feel their eyes scanning over her. It was a quiet chatter in her mind but being surrounded by so many people she couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. It was so loud. She distracted herself with the colors in the wave of black.
The sorting hat had spoken to her that morning about the sorting. It said that each House had good aspects and its job was to acknowledge and weigh them all against one another. Dumbledore and McGonagall had both been in Gryffindor, but Severus was in Slytherin. While she had talked to the other professors who had been in different houses, like Flitwick and Sprout, she hadn't gotten the chance to get to know them very well yet. She'd get more time with them once school began. Sprout said she could help with some of the outdoor gardening and moving some of the plants in the first and second warehouse.
Despite the conversations that occurred at the head table, the professors all couldn't help but notice that Kenna's attention was mostly on the students. Dumbledore couldn't help but wonder if she was peeking into the minds of the students, even though he had warned her against it. The room echoed with student voices, and the ceilings sky sparkled with stars. It was as though the castle itself had relaxed it's shoulders now that it was full again. The anticipation had slowly seeped out of the walls and added to the excitement of the new school year.
With the meal trickling down toward the end, the ghosts wandered into the room, surprising many of the newly sorted children. The house ghosts closed ranks to say hello to their students, and the others went to visit the ones they knew. Nicolas seemed to exasperatedly show that his head had nearly been cut off, and one boy at the table spit up some of his food. He was a funny ghost, but some of the others scared her a little. Why was the bloody baron bloody? And if Peeves feared him what did that mean he could do?
While pondering the possible good reasons for separating students by houses and thought about asking for other books on the topic, the food on the table disappeared and was replaced with desert. Prior to term, the food selection tended to be a little smaller, and with so many options, Kenna looked straight to her father to see the snack he went for first. Copying his movements, she picked up the lemon drop. Putting it into her mouth, she immediately spit it back out and scrunched her nose. She placed it on her plate and stared at it. Would he be angry that she didn't like it? Instead of becoming angry, Dumbledore gave her a crinkly side eye as he chuckled to himself, chewing his chosen desert. Kenna turned to McGonagall who was staring at the partially sucked on drop sitting where she'd spit it out on the plate. The elder woman smirked as well and passed the girl a brownie from her side of the table.
The brownie was much better, but she barely had any room for much else. If she was lucky, maybe this would be desert all the time. She was curious as to where the uneaten food went. Did the elves eat it? Did they save it? Hagrid didn't look like he was slowing down on food consumption, maybe he ate it? The young girl couldn't hide her small smile at her thoughts. Hagrid would be much fatter if he ate all the extra food. She felt the eyes of McGonagall flutter over her, but she opted not to tell the woman what she was thinking.
A few more minutes passed, and the kids seemed to be finishing their meal as well, multiple slumping back on their benches and groaning. One Gryffindor boy leaned so far back he fell off the bench all together, causing a bunch of kids around him to laugh and his face to turn a light pink. Kenna's back straightened as she tried to watch him get off the floor. Would people laugh at her if she fell off her chair? She was much higher off the ground and everyone could see her.
As Dumbledore wiped the last of the frosting from the piece of cake he ate off his plate, he dabbed at his mouth and stood up, walking around to stand at the podium. Very quickly, the room went quiet. He began, "Now that we're all ready to roll to bed, I'd like to remind you all of a few things before the term officially starts in the morning. First of all, for the first years, the forest on Hogwarts grounds is forbidden to all students unless accompanied by a professor. Secondly, for the sanity of our caretaker, I'd like to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes or in the corridors, please take caution with your magical items as well. Quidditch trials will be held this year in the third week of the term and please contact your team captain or Madam Hooch if you'd like to play." Dumbledore motioned to the eagle-eyed flight instructor. "I would also like to introduce Professor Markilmiler, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, all the way from the United States." There was a round of applause as the woman stood up and waved to each of the tables and sat back down. "Lastly, I'd like to introduce you all to the smallest addition at the head table, Miss Kenna. She is a new permanent member of the castle until she becomes a student, you all will likely see her on and off throughout the school year and she will be sitting in on some of your classes working on her own schooling." There was a murmur that seemed to spread through the room. Kenna was too shy to stand up or wave, so she just shifted in her seat and looked at McGonagall. Beyond the older woman she could see Hagrid at the end of the table giving her two thumbs up, causing her to nervously bite her lip and give a small smile back.
As a final nod, Dumbledore produced the lyrics to the school song, and everyone joined in for the tune. Kenna wasn't sure what the tune was supposed to be, but she swayed back and forth until the final students had said the last words.
"Alright now, off to bed to each and every one of you aspiring witches and wizards."
Some of the older Hufflepuffs sprinted toward the door with laughter as the Prefects helped arrange the first years to take them to their common rooms for the first time. Hogwarts, a History, had suggested general areas for where the common rooms were, but it wasn't specific enough to give them away. Dumbledore said she'd find out when she was a student, but that wouldn't be for another two or so years. Once the last of the students had left, Dumbledore introduced her to professor Quirinus Quirrell, of Muggle Studies. He had just arrived back from a summer trip to the United States and was the last professor she had yet to meet. He was a friendly man, though a bit jittery. It reminded Kenna of herself. He also seemed to be very smart, which was mentioned when Dumbledore told him Kenna had asked about Muggle Radio.
Dumbledore and he chatted for a few minutes as the students continued to file out of the great hall. Kenna let her eyes wander to slowly moving mass of people. A few students made eye contact with her and offered her a smile, and she couldn't help but smile back and take a step closer to Dumbledore. She hadn't ever interacted with other children. What did other children like? Did they like to read? How did you ask someone to be your friend?
As the last student left the room Dumbledore glanced down to the girl practically attached to his waist. He lifted her up and said his goodbyes and good lucks for the first day of term before walking the two of them out and back toward his office. They passed a small mix of house students saying their goodbyes outside the great hall, and Dumbledore briefly spoke with each of them, knowing them all by name. He gave a gracious smile before climbing the stairs beside a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw. The Headmaster asked them about their holiday, and he asked the Ravenclaw about their elder sibling before they turned off into a different hall to go to his office.
Kenna had been mysteriously quiet for the time that they spoke, and he could tell that all the food and all the excitement of September first was actually getting to the young girl, her eyes drooping with every step they took.
After climbing the staircase to his office and making his way into his private quarters Kenna was fast asleep. He was a little relieved- they wouldn't have to go out searching for moon calves that evening. The next full moon would be another opportunity before it got too cold, the old headmaster figured. Perhaps by then, the excitement of students running about will have worn off. Placing Kenna gently into her bed, Dumbledore gave her a small kiss on her forehead before tucking her stuffed animal in beside her. He left the room with just a small crack in the doorway. Before he walked away he watched her steady breathing as she snuggled further into the mattress, feeling a wave of warmth at the child. The school year was beginning, but so was the rest of her life.
A/N: Happy New Year! Thanks for reading (as always). Reviews and Follows and Favorites make me upload faster. Also if anyone is interested in Beta-ing for me this year... Please?
Lots of love from the Middle of Nowhere Asia!