CHAPTER 3
"You're Natalie. Come in, we're playing wizard chess.", he said, sitting down on the floor beside a chessboard.
On the other side of the chessboard sat a redhead boy who appeared to be planning his next move.
"Ron, say hello.", I heard Harry whisper to him.
"Just wait a minute! I've got to move first!", he exclaimed.
I should have been angry, but I laughed. On the other side of the room, girl with brown, bushy hair sat, burying her nose in a book. She gave a smile and a short wave. I returned her greeting, knowing that to Hermione Granger, the book was more important. I nervously sat down by Harry.
"I've never seen wizard chess being played before.", I muttered, trying to gather up some courage.
"Perhaps it's because you live with muggles.", said Ron (not in a snotty way).
"That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask someone a question. Am I a muggle, or a witch?", I wondered aloud.
"You're half and half.", said Harry.
"Oh, okay.", I muttered.
"Natalie, is it?", said Hermione from across the room. I nodded, "Professor McGonagall sent me an owl saying to teach you the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year work".
"Doesn't that seem a little much to learn all in two weeks?", I asked.
"Not really. Everything will come to you quick, I can tell.", she said quickly, and returned to her book.
I blushed at this compliment and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry smile. We spent the rest of the time between then and dinner getting to know each other (Hermione didn't talk much). I took an immediate liking to everyone, especially Harry. He was the most cheerful, kind, good-looking person I've ever met! Then, our thoughts and conversations were interrupted by someone shouting from downstairs. "Dinner's ready!", Mrs. Weasley shouted.
The four of us walked downstairs. For some reason, the room looked bigger than it did before. Everyone else already took his or her seats. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat by each other, Ginny sat by Mrs. Weasley, and Percy sat by Ginny. Hermione sat by Percy, followed by Harry, then Ron.
"Sit here Natalie.", said Mr. Weasley, pulling out a chair next to his.
"Thanks.", I said shyly.
"So, Natalie- ", began Mr. Weasley.
"Where are Fred and George?", asked Mrs. Weasley, dropping here silverware.
"They said they weren't hungry.", muttered Percy with his mouth full.
Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and resumed eating. Ron whispered something in my ear about wizard wheezes or something or other.
"As I was saying, Does your family use electricity?", asked Mr. Weasley with strange curiosity.
"Yeah, we use it for pretty much everything.", I answered.
"Really? Do you have a telephone? What about a television? Can you drive a car?", he asked.
By the time I answered all Mr. Weasley's questions, dinner was over and Mrs. Weasley was encouraging us to go to sleep. I got washed up and put my p.j.s on. I laid down on the bed and snuggled up to a good book. There was a knock on the door and Hermione came in.
"We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow, so then after you get all your stuff we can start practicing charms. Oh, one other thing, I was never to good at it, so Harry's going to teach you broomstick flying."
"Harry?", I asked blushing.
I felt strangely excited.
"Yeah, Harry.", Hermione paused with a sly smile, "Do you like him or something?"
"I confess.", I murmured.
"Well you better stop daydreaming and get some sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow. Sweet dreams, of Harry!", she giggled, and walked out the door.
"You're Natalie. Come in, we're playing wizard chess.", he said, sitting down on the floor beside a chessboard.
On the other side of the chessboard sat a redhead boy who appeared to be planning his next move.
"Ron, say hello.", I heard Harry whisper to him.
"Just wait a minute! I've got to move first!", he exclaimed.
I should have been angry, but I laughed. On the other side of the room, girl with brown, bushy hair sat, burying her nose in a book. She gave a smile and a short wave. I returned her greeting, knowing that to Hermione Granger, the book was more important. I nervously sat down by Harry.
"I've never seen wizard chess being played before.", I muttered, trying to gather up some courage.
"Perhaps it's because you live with muggles.", said Ron (not in a snotty way).
"That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask someone a question. Am I a muggle, or a witch?", I wondered aloud.
"You're half and half.", said Harry.
"Oh, okay.", I muttered.
"Natalie, is it?", said Hermione from across the room. I nodded, "Professor McGonagall sent me an owl saying to teach you the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year work".
"Doesn't that seem a little much to learn all in two weeks?", I asked.
"Not really. Everything will come to you quick, I can tell.", she said quickly, and returned to her book.
I blushed at this compliment and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry smile. We spent the rest of the time between then and dinner getting to know each other (Hermione didn't talk much). I took an immediate liking to everyone, especially Harry. He was the most cheerful, kind, good-looking person I've ever met! Then, our thoughts and conversations were interrupted by someone shouting from downstairs. "Dinner's ready!", Mrs. Weasley shouted.
The four of us walked downstairs. For some reason, the room looked bigger than it did before. Everyone else already took his or her seats. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat by each other, Ginny sat by Mrs. Weasley, and Percy sat by Ginny. Hermione sat by Percy, followed by Harry, then Ron.
"Sit here Natalie.", said Mr. Weasley, pulling out a chair next to his.
"Thanks.", I said shyly.
"So, Natalie- ", began Mr. Weasley.
"Where are Fred and George?", asked Mrs. Weasley, dropping here silverware.
"They said they weren't hungry.", muttered Percy with his mouth full.
Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and resumed eating. Ron whispered something in my ear about wizard wheezes or something or other.
"As I was saying, Does your family use electricity?", asked Mr. Weasley with strange curiosity.
"Yeah, we use it for pretty much everything.", I answered.
"Really? Do you have a telephone? What about a television? Can you drive a car?", he asked.
By the time I answered all Mr. Weasley's questions, dinner was over and Mrs. Weasley was encouraging us to go to sleep. I got washed up and put my p.j.s on. I laid down on the bed and snuggled up to a good book. There was a knock on the door and Hermione came in.
"We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow, so then after you get all your stuff we can start practicing charms. Oh, one other thing, I was never to good at it, so Harry's going to teach you broomstick flying."
"Harry?", I asked blushing.
I felt strangely excited.
"Yeah, Harry.", Hermione paused with a sly smile, "Do you like him or something?"
"I confess.", I murmured.
"Well you better stop daydreaming and get some sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow. Sweet dreams, of Harry!", she giggled, and walked out the door.