Chapter 3
Moonlit Shadow
The next day, Rin awoke and walked down to the Slytherin Common's room. Rin was as happy as can be. She liked Hogwarts much more than Durmstrang. Ever since Kakaroff had left, there hadn't been very interesting classes or anything. The new headmaster was not a fan of the Dark Arts. Rin, however, knew much anyways. She sat down in a chair that looked as if made with solid gold, and had a scuplture on the top of it, of a snake. Pulling out her list of classes, Rin saw that first she would go to the Care of Magical Creatures class. Rin was an animal lover, so she thought that might be interesting. Yawning from exhaustion, Rin practically fell asleep in the chair.
Soon, it was time for Rin to set off for her Care of Magical Creatures class, which was taught by Hagrid. Rin walked down to the bottom floor of Hogwarts castle, and ran down to Hagrids hut. The class was held behind the hut, so Rin walked back there. When she came around the corner, she gasped. A Hippogriff!! Rin said, amazed. She realized that she was the first one there, and very early. Rin ran toward the Hippogriff, and jumped the fence it was behind. The Hippogriff was tied to a post. Rin approached it, and smiled. The Hippogriff immediatley bowed to her.
Hagrid came running out of his hut, towards Rin. He looked stunned. Rin suddenly realized what she was doing and turned towards Hagrid. I'm.. sorry! I shouldn't have...* Hagrid cut her off mid-sentence. Tha' was amazing! Where?.. How..? He said. Rin realized what he was talking about, and laughed. It's a gift I've had since I was a small child.. animals always obey me. Rin said and turned back to the Hippogriff. Tha' little guy's name is Eagle Hagrid said, and smiled at the hippogriff. Hello Eagle! Rin laughed and petted Eagle on his beak. Hagrid leaned towards Rin. I'll let you ride Eagle if you don't tell no one. Hagrid whispered. Rin's eyes lit up, and she walked to the side of Eagle. Rin had always had an easy time getting onto creatures, so there was no problem in her mounting Eagle.
Hagrid watched Rin with an awed look on his face. If you don't mind me askin'.. how did yer get into Slytherin? Hagrid asked. Rin shrugged. I don't know... just fate I suppose. Rin grinned, as Eagle flew into the sky. Hagrid smiled. Rin and Eagle flew around for a while, until Hagrid spotted the students coming down to the hut from Hogwarts castle. Rin easily landed Eagle, and tied him back to the post. She jumped back over the fence, and landed right next to Hagrid just as the students arrived at the hut.
* * *
After Care of Magical Creatures (in which they learned about Unicorns), came potions. Although she was a Slytherin, Rin did not like Professor Snape. Luckily for Rin, however, Snape seemed to favor her and the other Slytherins over the Gryffindors. Gryffindors and Slytherins had potions and Care of Magical Creatures together, which Rin enjoyed. She soon figured out that she would have enjoyed being in Gryffindor more than Slytherin. Rin also found out that she was a bit more experienced in the potions than most of the other students, so she got along really well with Hermione Granger. At first Hermione had ignored and disliked Rin, because of her being a Slytherin. Rin, however, had proven that she was smart and nice. Hermione had become friends with her, and introduced Rin to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
Immediatley Rin knew who Harry was... for everyone in the wizarding world did! Even though it was Rin's first day in potions, she met a lot of new people. Rin had also gotten to like Harry and Ron, both of which accepted her because of Rin's friendly nature. How the hell did you get into Slytherin? Ron asked her after having a conversation with her in the halls. Rin had shrugged like she did to Hagrid.
After a good day of potions, Rin went to her next class... divination. That first day it took Rin about five minutes of class to realize she hated it. The room's incense gave her a huge headache, and Professor Trelawney's teaching all based on as Rin had put it. Professor Trelawney had attempted to read her palm. My dear girl... She had said in a sorrowful tone. You are not going to have a happy year! Here is the image of a snake, which means decievement. You will be decieved by a close friend! Oh... and the griffin. Ah, now this is bad. This means the death of a loved one. Rin just rolled her eyes and laughed. Thanks professor.. I'll be sure to remember you when it happens. The entire class had cracked up.
Rin was happy when divination ended, and she could go to her other classes. She was really looking foward to being in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Unfortunatley, a poisionous plant had pricked her and she was sent to the hospital wing. Rin was upset when the nurse told her that she had to miss her last class of the day. When Rin was finally cured from the plant's poision, she decided that (even though it was against the school rules) she wanted to have a look around the Hogwarts school grounds.
Rin reached the outside of Hogwarts castle, and immediatley felt the chill of the night. It was freezing, so Rin wrapped her arms around herselft, and began to walk towards the lake. Suddenly Rin stopped. She looked at the ground, and saw her shadow trailing behind her. It was silver, like a pool of moonlight. Rin sighed. Why am I so different? I never asked for this.. people are going to begin to question me... and I won't know the answers. Tears began to roll down Rin's face. I don't want to be really different... Rin began to really cry. Ever since she was a small child, whenever a full moon came out Rin's shadow would turn silver.
Rin was exhausted from the day, and too sad to really want to wander around the school grounds anymore. She ran up the steps to Hogwarts Castle, and made her way through the hallways. Unfortunatley for Rin, Professor Snape had suddenly decided to appear out of nowhere. Ms. Serpens? His greasy voice sliced the silence. Rin froze and turned towards him. Er.. hello Professor. She said as nicely as she could. Snape smiled a thin smile. What are you doing walking through the halls this late at night? He questioned her. Oh! Ummm... well, you see... I just got out of the hospital wing. Then I got lost. She said in a convincing tone. She knew this wasn't the absolute truth, but it was close enough. Snape nodded. Okay Miss Serpens.. be on your way. He said, then he seemed to have seen something on the floor, because Snape kept gawking at something.
Rin looked down too, and blushed. Her silver shadow seemed to appear in the lighted halls also. What is that? Snape asked without thinking. Rin bowed her head. It's my shadow. She choked down tears. Snape seemed rather interested. Snape said, with an odd look on his face. I'm...er... just a little strange, that's all. Different' is the word I use Snape nodded. Yes, well you'd better be off to bed. Don't want to get caught again. Sleepily, Rin began to wander off to where the Slytherin common room was.
