bNOTE:/b If you are coming to this story for the first time, please go
to the final chapter - An Apology and an Explanation - first.
Chapter 1: The Newest Gryffindor
Disclaimer: Much as I wish I could say otherwise, I don't own any of the characters here except for Seona MacGinty. They are owned by the wonderful JK Rowling and I'm just borrowing them for a bit of fun.
Author's Note: Well, this is my first attempt at a fic, so please please give me your thoughts on this. I need the encouragement.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It had been such a dull afternoon. "Should be a law against rainy Sundays," came from a boy with flaming red hair. He was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, a wizard chess board set up on the rug in front of him. His opponent, a slender boy with messy black hair and spectacles, sighed.
"Bet it'll clear up just in time for classes to start tomorrow, Ron." He stared at the board thoughtfully, then moved one of his bishops to take Ron's pawn. Glancing up from the game, he saw other members of his house lounging around the common room trying to make the best of the miserable weather.
A noise behind him caused him to turn, along with most of the other occupants of the room. Professor McGonagall, Head of their house, stood at the entrance to the room. Beside her was a strange girl who was wearing the same school robes as the rest of them. Before anyone could say anything, the Professor cleared her throat. "Attention, all of you. This is Seona MacGinty and she is joining us from Ensbrook school in Australia. She will be in this house, so I trust you will all make her welcome."
The girl, Seona, smiled and gave a little bow. "I'm very pleased to meet you all." Her voice was full of amusement and good humour, and her accent was not one that anyone in the room could place. If it hadn't been for McGonagall telling them she was from Australia, no one would have figured it out. As the Professor left, everyone clustered around the newcomer and began bombarding her with questions.
"When did you get here?"
"Why did you change schools in the middle of the term?"
"How'd you get put in Gryffindor?"
"What's Australia like?"
"What colour underwear have you got on?" Ron leaned over and gave the speaker of this question, a boy with the same flaming red locks, a punch in the arm.
Laughing, Seona climbed onto one of the tables and held up her hands. "Okay, okay, I'll answer your questions in turn. I got here this morning, but I've been in England since Thursday, buying my things. I changed schools because of a little incident with an exploding spell that got out of hand and took out one of the towers." There was scattered applause at this, and some laughter. "I had a meeting with the Headmaster this morning, and he held a private little sorting ceremony with that weird hat, and it said I'm to go here."
She grinned and sank down to sit cross-legged on the table. "Much better. Now, Australia's not that much different to here. Not as green, alternates between being as wet as this and hot enough to melt rock, and people don't sound as good. And I'm not even going to dignify that last question with a response." She attempted to glare at the boy, but everyone could see her eyes dancing with laughter.
Undaunted, the boy stepped up and held out his hand. "I'm George Weasley. This is my brother Fred," he pointed to the boy beside him, who was the spitting image of him. "Oh, and our younger brother Ron, and sister Ginny." He pointed to the other members of his family, all distinguished by their bright red hair. Ron smiled, and indicated the dark-haired boy beside him. "These are my friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." He turned to indicate the girl who had moved up to stand beside him.
As if this had opened the floodgates, everyone began stepping up and introducing themselves until Seona's head was spinning with the effort of remembering names and faces. Eventually, someone asked what year she was in. "Well, this is my sixth year. Back home, we're actually in the middle of the school year, but Dumbledore suggested that I start at the same level as the rest of you sixth years because there are some differences in the way stuff was taught. Turns out I'm ahead of you in some areas, but behind in others." She frowned. "He didn't tell me which ones though. Who of you here's is a sixth year?" A number of hands were raised and she nodded. "Great. Now, anyone know where I'm sleeping?"
"I'll show you." The girl stepped forward and Seona thought for a moment before she put a name to it. Hermione. "You must be in the same room as me, because I don't think any of the other dorms have a spare bed in them." No one seemed inclined to refute this statement, so she followed Hermione up the stairs and into the dormitory.
"Oh! How marvellous!" Seona stood at the door and looked around. The room was simply furnished, but held six four-poster beds with a nightstand beside each one.
Hermione pointed to the bed closest to the door. "That will be yours. It's next to mine." She smiled. "You can hang around with me and Ron and Harry if you like."
"Is he the same Harry Potter who." Her voice trailed off as Hermione nodded. "Cool!" She grinned and they made their way back down the stairs to the common room so she could continue to get acquainted with her fellow house members.
Chapter 1: The Newest Gryffindor
Disclaimer: Much as I wish I could say otherwise, I don't own any of the characters here except for Seona MacGinty. They are owned by the wonderful JK Rowling and I'm just borrowing them for a bit of fun.
Author's Note: Well, this is my first attempt at a fic, so please please give me your thoughts on this. I need the encouragement.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It had been such a dull afternoon. "Should be a law against rainy Sundays," came from a boy with flaming red hair. He was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, a wizard chess board set up on the rug in front of him. His opponent, a slender boy with messy black hair and spectacles, sighed.
"Bet it'll clear up just in time for classes to start tomorrow, Ron." He stared at the board thoughtfully, then moved one of his bishops to take Ron's pawn. Glancing up from the game, he saw other members of his house lounging around the common room trying to make the best of the miserable weather.
A noise behind him caused him to turn, along with most of the other occupants of the room. Professor McGonagall, Head of their house, stood at the entrance to the room. Beside her was a strange girl who was wearing the same school robes as the rest of them. Before anyone could say anything, the Professor cleared her throat. "Attention, all of you. This is Seona MacGinty and she is joining us from Ensbrook school in Australia. She will be in this house, so I trust you will all make her welcome."
The girl, Seona, smiled and gave a little bow. "I'm very pleased to meet you all." Her voice was full of amusement and good humour, and her accent was not one that anyone in the room could place. If it hadn't been for McGonagall telling them she was from Australia, no one would have figured it out. As the Professor left, everyone clustered around the newcomer and began bombarding her with questions.
"When did you get here?"
"Why did you change schools in the middle of the term?"
"How'd you get put in Gryffindor?"
"What's Australia like?"
"What colour underwear have you got on?" Ron leaned over and gave the speaker of this question, a boy with the same flaming red locks, a punch in the arm.
Laughing, Seona climbed onto one of the tables and held up her hands. "Okay, okay, I'll answer your questions in turn. I got here this morning, but I've been in England since Thursday, buying my things. I changed schools because of a little incident with an exploding spell that got out of hand and took out one of the towers." There was scattered applause at this, and some laughter. "I had a meeting with the Headmaster this morning, and he held a private little sorting ceremony with that weird hat, and it said I'm to go here."
She grinned and sank down to sit cross-legged on the table. "Much better. Now, Australia's not that much different to here. Not as green, alternates between being as wet as this and hot enough to melt rock, and people don't sound as good. And I'm not even going to dignify that last question with a response." She attempted to glare at the boy, but everyone could see her eyes dancing with laughter.
Undaunted, the boy stepped up and held out his hand. "I'm George Weasley. This is my brother Fred," he pointed to the boy beside him, who was the spitting image of him. "Oh, and our younger brother Ron, and sister Ginny." He pointed to the other members of his family, all distinguished by their bright red hair. Ron smiled, and indicated the dark-haired boy beside him. "These are my friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." He turned to indicate the girl who had moved up to stand beside him.
As if this had opened the floodgates, everyone began stepping up and introducing themselves until Seona's head was spinning with the effort of remembering names and faces. Eventually, someone asked what year she was in. "Well, this is my sixth year. Back home, we're actually in the middle of the school year, but Dumbledore suggested that I start at the same level as the rest of you sixth years because there are some differences in the way stuff was taught. Turns out I'm ahead of you in some areas, but behind in others." She frowned. "He didn't tell me which ones though. Who of you here's is a sixth year?" A number of hands were raised and she nodded. "Great. Now, anyone know where I'm sleeping?"
"I'll show you." The girl stepped forward and Seona thought for a moment before she put a name to it. Hermione. "You must be in the same room as me, because I don't think any of the other dorms have a spare bed in them." No one seemed inclined to refute this statement, so she followed Hermione up the stairs and into the dormitory.
"Oh! How marvellous!" Seona stood at the door and looked around. The room was simply furnished, but held six four-poster beds with a nightstand beside each one.
Hermione pointed to the bed closest to the door. "That will be yours. It's next to mine." She smiled. "You can hang around with me and Ron and Harry if you like."
"Is he the same Harry Potter who." Her voice trailed off as Hermione nodded. "Cool!" She grinned and they made their way back down the stairs to the common room so she could continue to get acquainted with her fellow house members.