A/N- These disclaimers get a bit annoying when you have to write one for the fourth time...oh well...Don't own any of the usual characters. Don't own some of the wording (I can't make Dumbledore say things at the feast that he really didn't say so some of his words, some of the food, and the school song are the same) I do own Leah-Jade, Godric, Magentra, Pimpernel, Jambasia, Vella, and Edward Parkhurst III, but this is the only time I shall ever name them since the list shall only get longer. Ah well, you lucky J.K. Rowling you get the credit :( however... Oh, well, enough chitter chatter. Enjoy the chapter anyways.
Chapter 4
Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet I'd like to say a few words. And here they are- Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak! Thank you!
Everyone clapped and cheered at Dumbledore's short and insane speech. Magentra looked over at Harry and laughed at his extremely baffled expression.
Suddenly before them, the empty dishes that had been forlornly sitting empty in the middle of the table were filled with food of all sorts. Both Harry and Magentra gasped, they'd never seen so much food in all their lives.
There was roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, fried chicken legs, sausages, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, green beans, spinach salad, maize, gravy, ketchup and strangely enough, peppermint humbugs.Pitchers of pumpkin juice, water and iced tea were passed around. Percy insisted Magentra try the pumpkin juice and filled her goblet with the sweet, orange liquid before she could say anything likewise.
The Hogwarts' resident ghost began to arrive as they dug in. Magentra overheard the Gryffindor's house ghost, nicknamed Nearly-Headless-Nick for his badly not-quite severed head, telling Harry he hadn't eaten in 400 years. Magentra was now sitting between Alicia and Fred as Percy'd been so excited to have Harry in Gryffindor he'd nearly wet himself and Magentra figured she'd give them some space. Alicia warily eyed the Weasleys and leaned over to whisper in Magentra's ear.
"Watch out for Fred and George. Those two are tricksters. Their mum's gotten more owls from Hogwarts about them then the rest of the other Weasleys put together. Filch gets a grey hair every time he sees them. They're down in his office every other day getting yelled at over something. They're quite cracking though if you let them get to you."
Magentra watched as the Twins took an icecube from a pitcher of pumpkin juice and dropped it down Ron's shirt. She grinned, "I think I'm going to like it here," her whispered voice speaking to no on in particular.
Fred tapped her on the shoulder, "So've you had the smashingly pleasureful experience of meeting any of your teachers yet?"
Magentra looked up at the table where Professor Dumbledore was brightly telling a joke to a short, white haired teacher who was chewing on a chicken leg.
"Not really, the only ones I know are Dumbledore and Mcgonagall," she replied.
"Well," said Fred, pointing to each teacher as he named them "You'll have Quirrell for defense against the dark arts," he pointed a pale, skinny man wearing a purple turban. "He's a jittery fellow. Hasn't been quite the same since we dropped those frogs into his bed and he accidentally kissed one thinking it was his pet cat...brushed his teeth for weeks. How he got the job I don't know." Next he pointed to the short, white-haired teacher that had been joking with Dumbledore, "That's Flitwick, the charms teacher. Jolly good teacher he is, even showed us how to make our own tricks. Laughed when we set that firework off in his class didn't he George," Fred poked his brother who chuckled.
"Yeah, Flitwick's a nice one. Jolly good fellow he is...absolutely spiffing."
Fred continued, pointing to a dumpy witch with frazzled grey hair and a bright smile "That's Sprout, she teaches herbology. Great sense of humour, but don't try to play practical jokes on her or she'll have you hanging upside-down in the greenhouse til midwenter."
George nodded in experienced agreement, "Did that once to Fred and I. We were missing for four days before she remembered to bring us down. Funny one she is, practical joker in her own right."
Fred pointed to Mcgonagall, "Mcgonagall teaches transfiguration. Don't let her catch you doing anything though or you'll have points taken off before you can say "cadswallop." She's a great supporter of Quidditch though..." Fred looked at the other teachers, "Oh," he pointed to the last one on the very end, "Snape."
Magentra looked in the direction of a dark greasy-haired, sallow faced teacher with a look of death on his face.
"That's Severus Snape, the potions teacher. Stay away from that one. He's a nasty one, favours Slytherins, head of that house he is. He'll have you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeon just for the fun of it. He's gotten more students expelled from Hogwarts than any other teacher in history."
Magentra did a double take and gasped, "S-s-severus Snape teaches at Hogwarts?"
Fred looked at her confused, "Do you know him?"
"No," the startled girl recovered, looking away, "Never seen him in my life." Her connection with Snape was not a secret her new friends needed to know.
When Magentra had been born, her mother was already realising there was more to Tom Riddle than his charming personality and good looks. Wanting to protect her daughter, Vella Potter had named Remus Lupin, an old friend, as her Godfather. Magentra's father had other ideas and named a close colleague, Severus Snape, as her godfather and guardien.
Studying the pale face, stern eyes and greasy black hair Magentra shuddered, she wished he'd gone to Azkaban with the rest of her father's supporters. Instead she had to endear potions classes with him. This was going to be a most interesting year.
Once everyone was done eating the plates appeared to be wiped clean. A moment after, blocks of ice cream in most every flavour you could thing of, fruit pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs, jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jello, rice pudding and more desserts then one thought there possible to be. Magentra was staring into space when George's voice cut through her thoughts.
"What are you?"
"Huh?"
Percy, George and Fred laughed, "We're asking if you come from a wizarding family or if your parents are Muggles," Percy explained. All three stared curiously at the newcomer, waiting for an answer.
"My mum was killed when I was young and my dad disappeared but as far as I know they where both wizard born. My aunt and uncle were wizards. Voldemort-" they gasped, "-I mean you-know-who," she continued slowly, "Killed them too..."
Percy, George and Fred looked as if they were sorry they'd asked. Magentra avoided Harry's piercing gaze, as he stared at her intenly looking quite curious.
"Well, who do you live with now?" asked George, taking a large bite of an eclair.
"My godfather. He's a wizard too, though we live in a Muggle neighborhood so we don't do much magic."
"Don' do magic?" Ron echoed, "Bloody hell. That must be terrible."
"Ron watch your language," Percy shot across the table, annoyed.
George and Fred snickered and started mimicking their fatherly older brother.
"It's actually pretty interesting, the way Muggles live without magic..." Magentra trailed off. The desserts had disappeared and Dumbledore stood to his feet again. Everyone fell silent. Magentra didn't want to be rude but she couldn't help staring at the ceiling, enchanted to look like the sky. Candles floated near the ceiling, liting the entire hall.
"Stop staring at the ceiling, Dumbledore's about to say something," Alicia hissed, elbowing Magentra in the ribs.
"Ahem," He cleared his throat, "I have a few start of term notices to give you. First of all, first years should not that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. A few of our older students would do to remember that as well."
His eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"Also, I have been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term. All those interested should see Madam Hooch. Finally, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Magentra looked at Percy curiously. He simply shrugged and shook his head.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song," Dumbledore announced, flicking his wand. A gold ribbon flew out of the wand's end and twisted itself into words. Magentra though she saw the other teachers cringe.
Fred leaned over and whispered, "This is the best part. We get to sing in whatever tune we like, but George and I need a female voice for our funeral march."
Magentra grinned, "I'm in."
"Everyone pick their favourite tune," Dumbledore continued, "and off we go!"
The twins and Magentra, whom they already called Mage for short, started bellowing their very, VERY, slow funeral march.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy, Warty Hogwarts, teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling, with some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing, bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest, and learn until our brains rot."
Everyone finished at different times. Their trio drew everyone's attention as they were last to finish. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he conducted the last few lines with his wand. When they finished Harry and Ron laughed loudly while everyone else applauded. Dumbledore wiped his teary eyes and dismissed them.
All the Gryffindors were instructed to follow Percy, though only the first years seemed to pay attention to that rule as they were the only onces that didn't know where the Gryffindor common room was.
Magentra followed him anyway, since it was technically her first year too. As they were walking out into the hall and up the huge staircase, the Ravenclaw students joined them, as their dorms were in the same general direction.
Mage soon found herself walking next to Leah-Jade, the Ravenclaw student who, like her, was bringing up the back of the line.
Magentra noticed she was a bit taller then the girl, and while Magentra was tall, a bit tan, hand dark brown hair, green eyes and a medium build, Leah-Jade was a bit shorter, had dirty-blonde hair, and was on the skinnier side. Before she could muster up anything to say, Leah-Jade beat her to the punch.
"Where're you from?" she asked brightly, with a touch of shyness.
Mage grinned, "My name's Magentra-Rose, but most people call me Mage. I'm from London."
LJ smiled brightly, "Where'd you live before Hogwarts? I've lived in an orphanage all my life. Dumbledore's been sending a letter every year to Miss Craquerjet, the orphanage headmistress, and finally she relented to let me come this year. I was afraid I'd be behind but Dumbledore says everything I don't know, I'll learn soon enough."
"You're an orphan too?"
"Yeah..." Leah-Jade looked confused, "You mean you're an orphan too?"
Magentra nodded wistfully.
"But I never saw you. I've lived at the only non-muggle orphanage in Britain all my life."
"I live with my Godfather, Remus Lupin," she replied, hopping over a dissappearing step as she did so.
"I envy you, I haven't got anyone," Leah-Jade drifted off.
By then they'd reached the top of the staircase and the line of students split, leaving them only enough time to say quick farewells.
Percy led the Gryffindors up a couple staircases, down a few more, through several doors and down halls, until, finally, they were all standing in front of an immense oil painting of a fat lady in a pink dress. She opened her mouth to reveal two rows of immense white teeth and spoke.
"Password?"
"Carput Draconis," Percy replied.
The painting swung forward to reveal a round hole. Percy scrambled through it leaving the others to follow in a likewise fashion. Inside they found the Gryffindor common room, richly decorated in they Gryffindor house colors of crimson and gold and filled with overstuffed couches and chairs surrounding a large fireplace. Tables for studying and eating were scattered throughout the room. Staicases branched off, leading to the different dorms.
"Your luggage has already been delivered to your rooms. Good night!" Percy addressed them.
Magentra followed Anjelina and Katie to the third years bedroom.
Feeling as if her legs had turned to lead, Magentra surveyed their room, a circular dorm with five, four-poster beds. She found her trunk in front of one and flopped down on to the bed's soft covering. Her endless barrage of dreams attacked her before she hit the pillow.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!! Constructive criticism's cool. Flaming's not. Thanks so much :)
Gabrielle-Thanks for the review, love ya' muchly---Tris