Chapter 2
All students, 2nd year and up occupied their usual seats at their House tables. But they immediately noticed something different. There were still many black decorations draping the Dining Room. The Staff table seemed to be closer than before, and the equipment used to keep track of the Houses points was replaced by a small sign that read:
"United we should all stand, in face of great peril"
Professor Dumbledore was standing, which startled the students, for he was normally sitting down. He seemed to have been waiting expectantly for their arrival and seemed anxious even to address them.
"Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts...I know we cannot forget our great loss from last term..." he glanced sadly at the Hufflepuff table, who let out a collective sigh, "But we must commence a new year, full of new experiences and new things you must learn to face...whatever you must"
His voice trailed off a bit. Harry felt his face grow hot as he saw Malfoy muffle the laughter Dumbledore's sad state caused him.
"The reason why I decided to speak with you before sorting the new students is, that will be having a new student join the fifth years..."
Immediately chattering was heard among the students. Dumbledore allowed it to go on for a few seconds before continuing.
"Her name is Sydney Lander. She is a very bright, talented student. Due to circumstances unforseen by us..." he frowned a bit at this and continued "she couldn't join us when she was supposed to. Nevertheless, she is finally here and will be first to be sorted. I want you all to treat her with respect, and be welcoming...."
Dumbledore glanced at Nearly Headless Nick who nodded in understanding, his head wobbling dangerously, and flew away through the doors were everyone knew the First Years were standing behind. He reappeared a few seconds later. The doors opened, a beautiful girl walked in. Her robes seemed to fit differently on her, her hair seemed shinier than anyone else's... the doors closed behind her, not allowing the First Years to enter.
"Miss Lander, this way, if you please" said Dumbledore as the girl walked down the room and into the stool that was waiting for her.
She sat down, looking a bit nervous as Dumbledore lowered the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Hmmmmm...A new girl, but old all the same...Very talented, beauty that shines through. Brave, oh yes. And related to....GOOD LORD!!!" screamed the hat in her head.
She gripped the stool hard. Harry felt almost sorry for her. Her cheeks were very blushed, but she looked determined all the same.
"It would have been easier to sort you then, I am sure. But now, you leave me just one choice....GRYFFINDOR!!!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in loud cheers as Sydney took off the hat and handed it back to Dumbledore. Nervously, she took her seat in the Gryffindor table. People started to shake her hand and talk excitedly to her.
"Why are you here now?"
"How come you chose to come now rather than stay were you were?"
And a lot of similar questions sailed her way. Harry stared at her helpless expression and suddenly heard himself say:
"Come on guys, give the girl a break, she just got here after all! I am sure she will tell us all in due time!"
She looked at him and smiled gratefully as the chattering became less and people limited themselves to smiling brightly to her in welcoming.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dear Daddy:
Hogwarts is unlike anything I had ever pictured before. The Palace in America was lovely. But it had a more modern look to it. Hogwarts is all about antiques. And beautiful ones at that. There are many lovely paintings hanging on the walls, they all talk to you and everything (I hope they help me if I get lost tomorrow!), though there is a nasty poltergeist, someone said his name is Peeves. Nasty little bugger. He can really get on one's nerves if you allow him. But kinda funny sometimes, I believe...
Oh, daddy...I saw HIM!!! He is exactly as we had pictured him. So handsome, and polite...and perfect! I feel I love him already. But it hurts not being able to tell him how I feel, and what he is for me...Maybe one day, when he is ready...
I have to go to sleep for now. I start lessons early tomorrow.
I love you a lot and miss you
Sydney
She rolled the parchment neatly and placed it on her owl's leg.
"Kenny, please take this to my father as quickly as you can...I want to see what his reaction is concerning, you know what" she whispered to her owl as she walked with it to a nearby window and set it free.
She watched it fly away for a couple of minutes before starting to walk back to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione had directed her to the owlery and, on Sydney's request, had returned to Gryffindor, allowing Sydney to be alone with her thoughts. Now she walked back slowly, trying to remember the exact way back to the Tower.
"Was it this way or that....Ahhhh!!!!!" she shrieked loudly as she bumped hard into someone.
"Damn! Watch were you are going, Lander!" said Malfoy angrily, fixing his robes and glaring at Sydney.
"Sorry, but you could be watching out too!" she said sounding very annoyed.
"Who are you to tell me, Draco Malfoy, to watch out?" he asked meanecingly.
Sydney looked straight into his eyes.
"SYDNEY LANDER! And for me that is enough! And some people say that you Malfoys have a lot of wealth, well" she spat on the floor in front of Malfoy's expensive shoes "I spit at your wealth!"
Malfoy stared at her with fury in his eyes.
"You better watch your step, little one. You do not know who you are dealing with!" he threatened softly.
"No..." she said grabbing her wand and pointing it at him so fast he didn't even see it coming "YOU don't know who you are dealing with....petrificus totalus" she said harshly as she watched Malfoy drop helplessly to the ground.
"Miss Lander!!!!" called out Professor McGonagall running towards her.
Sydney turned around and faced the teacher, her face completely expressionless.
"Miss Lander, you are not allowed to do magic on the corridors! Mr Malfoy!" she said doing the counter course and allowing Malfoy to move freely again.
"I am sorry Professor, I did not know I wasn't allowed..." said Sydney softly, looking completely innocent.
Malfoy got up and rubbed the back of his head, trying to mantain his face normal. He didn't want to reveal how much the fall had truly hurt him, especially when the curse had been performed by a girl!
"Alright, Miss Lander, as this is your first day and I am not certain how things work in the American Academies, I will let this one slide, but now you know the rules. Next time, it will be detention" she said softly but firmly as she turned around and walked away, her long robes billowing out behind her.
"You got lucky the Professor came, boy, or you would have been in a lot of pain" she said very softly, so only Malfoy could hear her.
Malfoy looked at her angrily. He had been shamed by a girl, and not just a girl, a commoner! That was unthinkable!
"You will be so sorry, girl!" he said meanecingly.
"Only if you ever decide to be kind to me...you are too much fun trying to be mean....I would be disappointed if that changed" she said in a teasing tone, a small smile crossing her lips. "Now, I am off, hope to 'run' into you later" she said walking away, laughing heartily.
All students, 2nd year and up occupied their usual seats at their House tables. But they immediately noticed something different. There were still many black decorations draping the Dining Room. The Staff table seemed to be closer than before, and the equipment used to keep track of the Houses points was replaced by a small sign that read:
"United we should all stand, in face of great peril"
Professor Dumbledore was standing, which startled the students, for he was normally sitting down. He seemed to have been waiting expectantly for their arrival and seemed anxious even to address them.
"Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts...I know we cannot forget our great loss from last term..." he glanced sadly at the Hufflepuff table, who let out a collective sigh, "But we must commence a new year, full of new experiences and new things you must learn to face...whatever you must"
His voice trailed off a bit. Harry felt his face grow hot as he saw Malfoy muffle the laughter Dumbledore's sad state caused him.
"The reason why I decided to speak with you before sorting the new students is, that will be having a new student join the fifth years..."
Immediately chattering was heard among the students. Dumbledore allowed it to go on for a few seconds before continuing.
"Her name is Sydney Lander. She is a very bright, talented student. Due to circumstances unforseen by us..." he frowned a bit at this and continued "she couldn't join us when she was supposed to. Nevertheless, she is finally here and will be first to be sorted. I want you all to treat her with respect, and be welcoming...."
Dumbledore glanced at Nearly Headless Nick who nodded in understanding, his head wobbling dangerously, and flew away through the doors were everyone knew the First Years were standing behind. He reappeared a few seconds later. The doors opened, a beautiful girl walked in. Her robes seemed to fit differently on her, her hair seemed shinier than anyone else's... the doors closed behind her, not allowing the First Years to enter.
"Miss Lander, this way, if you please" said Dumbledore as the girl walked down the room and into the stool that was waiting for her.
She sat down, looking a bit nervous as Dumbledore lowered the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Hmmmmm...A new girl, but old all the same...Very talented, beauty that shines through. Brave, oh yes. And related to....GOOD LORD!!!" screamed the hat in her head.
She gripped the stool hard. Harry felt almost sorry for her. Her cheeks were very blushed, but she looked determined all the same.
"It would have been easier to sort you then, I am sure. But now, you leave me just one choice....GRYFFINDOR!!!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in loud cheers as Sydney took off the hat and handed it back to Dumbledore. Nervously, she took her seat in the Gryffindor table. People started to shake her hand and talk excitedly to her.
"Why are you here now?"
"How come you chose to come now rather than stay were you were?"
And a lot of similar questions sailed her way. Harry stared at her helpless expression and suddenly heard himself say:
"Come on guys, give the girl a break, she just got here after all! I am sure she will tell us all in due time!"
She looked at him and smiled gratefully as the chattering became less and people limited themselves to smiling brightly to her in welcoming.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dear Daddy:
Hogwarts is unlike anything I had ever pictured before. The Palace in America was lovely. But it had a more modern look to it. Hogwarts is all about antiques. And beautiful ones at that. There are many lovely paintings hanging on the walls, they all talk to you and everything (I hope they help me if I get lost tomorrow!), though there is a nasty poltergeist, someone said his name is Peeves. Nasty little bugger. He can really get on one's nerves if you allow him. But kinda funny sometimes, I believe...
Oh, daddy...I saw HIM!!! He is exactly as we had pictured him. So handsome, and polite...and perfect! I feel I love him already. But it hurts not being able to tell him how I feel, and what he is for me...Maybe one day, when he is ready...
I have to go to sleep for now. I start lessons early tomorrow.
I love you a lot and miss you
Sydney
She rolled the parchment neatly and placed it on her owl's leg.
"Kenny, please take this to my father as quickly as you can...I want to see what his reaction is concerning, you know what" she whispered to her owl as she walked with it to a nearby window and set it free.
She watched it fly away for a couple of minutes before starting to walk back to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione had directed her to the owlery and, on Sydney's request, had returned to Gryffindor, allowing Sydney to be alone with her thoughts. Now she walked back slowly, trying to remember the exact way back to the Tower.
"Was it this way or that....Ahhhh!!!!!" she shrieked loudly as she bumped hard into someone.
"Damn! Watch were you are going, Lander!" said Malfoy angrily, fixing his robes and glaring at Sydney.
"Sorry, but you could be watching out too!" she said sounding very annoyed.
"Who are you to tell me, Draco Malfoy, to watch out?" he asked meanecingly.
Sydney looked straight into his eyes.
"SYDNEY LANDER! And for me that is enough! And some people say that you Malfoys have a lot of wealth, well" she spat on the floor in front of Malfoy's expensive shoes "I spit at your wealth!"
Malfoy stared at her with fury in his eyes.
"You better watch your step, little one. You do not know who you are dealing with!" he threatened softly.
"No..." she said grabbing her wand and pointing it at him so fast he didn't even see it coming "YOU don't know who you are dealing with....petrificus totalus" she said harshly as she watched Malfoy drop helplessly to the ground.
"Miss Lander!!!!" called out Professor McGonagall running towards her.
Sydney turned around and faced the teacher, her face completely expressionless.
"Miss Lander, you are not allowed to do magic on the corridors! Mr Malfoy!" she said doing the counter course and allowing Malfoy to move freely again.
"I am sorry Professor, I did not know I wasn't allowed..." said Sydney softly, looking completely innocent.
Malfoy got up and rubbed the back of his head, trying to mantain his face normal. He didn't want to reveal how much the fall had truly hurt him, especially when the curse had been performed by a girl!
"Alright, Miss Lander, as this is your first day and I am not certain how things work in the American Academies, I will let this one slide, but now you know the rules. Next time, it will be detention" she said softly but firmly as she turned around and walked away, her long robes billowing out behind her.
"You got lucky the Professor came, boy, or you would have been in a lot of pain" she said very softly, so only Malfoy could hear her.
Malfoy looked at her angrily. He had been shamed by a girl, and not just a girl, a commoner! That was unthinkable!
"You will be so sorry, girl!" he said meanecingly.
"Only if you ever decide to be kind to me...you are too much fun trying to be mean....I would be disappointed if that changed" she said in a teasing tone, a small smile crossing her lips. "Now, I am off, hope to 'run' into you later" she said walking away, laughing heartily.