Chap. 2
Disclaimer on opening note
"Just a moment," the old man said before Ruby went to sit down. "Attention," he bellowed and the whole hall faced him. "This, as you now know, is Ruby Kennedy, a student all the way from Hawaii. She is technically in her second year, but will be placed in classes as her needs see fit. I hope you will make her feel welcome." Ruby didn't even turn pink, although she felt sick to her stomach. "You may take your seat. Let the feast begin!"
"Over here, you can sit here," said a girl with bushy hair.
"No, Hermione," whispered two boys across from her. "She seems really odd."
"Nonsense," she answered," here, Ruby, you must be tired from your trip, eat something."
"Thank you."
"My name is Hermione Granger. This," she pointed across the table, "is Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan."
"Hello," Ruby said, not cracking a smile. Neville and Seamus nodded.
"And," continued Hermione," Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are suppose to be here. I guess you'll meet them later."
"Yeah, said a red haired boy," if they don't get expelled."
"But you have to admit," started another red haired boy (they looked exactly a like); "it was bloody brilliant."
"Hey, it's not that brilliant," shouted another boy with short brown hair from a few seats away, "especially if I have to train a new Seeker!"
"Well, maybe this new girl can do it," One of the two red haired boys answered back. "Then it would be equal, three boys, and three girls."
"Yeah, George, we could all have dates!" The two exploded into laughter. The boy a few seats away didn't seem so amused.
"Twins," Ruby asked Hermione. "Yeah, Fred and George Weasley, the jokers. If they don't make you laugh tonight, don't worry, they'll get you. Their brother, Percy is a Gryffindor prefect," she pointed to someone, but Ruby could only see another red haired boy. "And then Ginny," she pointed to a shy girl sitting to the side," just started Hogwarts, and Ron is in our grade."
"Who is that down there?"
"That is Oliver Wood. He is the captain of the Quidditch team."
Since Hermione seemed very knowledgeable Ruby continued to ask questions. Hermione told her all the names of the teachers, including Dumbledore, and what each taught.
As the feast came to an end, the students started to head towards their dorms. McGonagall came over and told Ruby to come to the front table.
"Thanks for the seat."
"Don't mention it," Hermione smiled warmly.
"Come, my dear," Dumbledore said. Ruby stood in front of the table. "We are going to ask you some questions every student should be able to answer upon entering their second year here at Hogwarts. Prof. Flitwick." A tiny man stood on his chair and Ruby turned her attention to him, although she almost missed him.
"Do you have your wand, Miss Kennedy?"
"Yes," Ruby brought out her wand, a ten and a quarter inch, holly, with unicorn hair.
"Will you levitate this feather?"
Ruby stepped forward, feeling all the other teachers' eyes on her. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said with a swish and a flick. The feather floated into the air then Ruby landed it softly back on the table.
As the questions continued, Ruby found herself being placed in all the normal second year classes, even in Herbology, which she only read about.
Just then, a door to the side opened, and a man, all in black, swiftly came through and sat hard in the seat that had been empty the entire night.
"Just in time, Severus," said Dumbledore.
"My apologies."
"No need. Ruby Kennedy, this is your potions teacher Prof. Snape." They looked at each other with utmost indifference.
"Alright, Miss Kennedy, we will see how book smart you are on potions tonight, but the really test will come in the classroom. I can change which class you are in within a day if necessary, understood." It was more of a statement then a question. Ruby nodded, knowing that even if she didn't understand, he would not explain it to her.
"Tell me where can I find a Bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat." Snape seemed surprised at how quickly she answered, and then fired the next question.
"What ingredients make the draft of the living ..."
"Asphodel and Wormwood," Ruby interrupted.
"Well, Prof. Snape, it seems young Ruby knows her potions," Dumbledore remarked. "Let's finish with Defense against the Dark Arts. Prof. Lockhart?" Lockhart smiled like a ken doll and looked nothing like a real wizard.
"Hello, Ruby." Now it was even worse, he was talking to her like a kindergarten teacher. She was feeling exasperated. "Now, my question is, what is your favorite book of mine?"
"What!?"
"Your favorite book. You did get the collection required didn't you?"
"Yes, but..."
"Don't tell me you haven't read them yet."
"I have..."
"You will be completely behind! This is unfortunate..."
"Stop!" The teachers looked at Ruby, a little surprised. She had spoken so softly the rest of the time, that the outburst even surprised her. She composed herself and answered reluctantly, "Holiday with Hags."
"Oh, well why didn't you say so before." The other teachers look as exasperated as Ruby did. "It is an excellent book isn't..."
Ruby cut him off," Can anyone else give me a dark arts question?" The table fell silent. Ruby couldn't believe she had asked for a better question. It was rude to put down a teacher; she knew that, but really, favorite book?
"What is the unforgivable curse that no person can fight?" The question came from Snape. Ruby couldn't believe that the table could get any quieter then it had, but it did.
"Prof. Snape, that question is inappropriate. No one entering their second year would know that." Snape muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Well, she asked."
"Ruby," Dumbledore said, "You will get your schedule tomorrow at breakfast with the rest of the students. You may retire to the dormitories." Dumbledore smiled. Ruby looked at him and nodded. Then she walked over to Snape. "The answer is Arvada Kadarva. And one person has overcome the curse, but only one," Ruby answered as if she was only answering that two plus two was four. She turned to walk out, and then quickly spun back around. "Where is the dormitory?"
***
McGonagall took Ruby to Gryffindor tower, commenting on the moving stair cases and paintings. They arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Wattlebird," McGonagall said and the portrait flew open. "Goodnight, Miss Kennedy." Ruby stepped through the portal into chaos. There was plenty of commotion in the common room, but she really didn't care. She just wanted to go to bed.
"Ruby," Hermione called and came up from behind.
"Where are the dorms?"
"Up this way." Hermione took her to a room with five beds. "Your bed is here next to mine." Ruby saw all her things next to the bed.
"I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight and Ruby..."
"Yeah?"
"It's ok to smile, or not to smile. This is really different for you."
"Thanks, Hermione."
*Hope you are all enjoying it so far. Leave comments or questions!
"Just a moment," the old man said before Ruby went to sit down. "Attention," he bellowed and the whole hall faced him. "This, as you now know, is Ruby Kennedy, a student all the way from Hawaii. She is technically in her second year, but will be placed in classes as her needs see fit. I hope you will make her feel welcome." Ruby didn't even turn pink, although she felt sick to her stomach. "You may take your seat. Let the feast begin!"
"Over here, you can sit here," said a girl with bushy hair.
"No, Hermione," whispered two boys across from her. "She seems really odd."
"Nonsense," she answered," here, Ruby, you must be tired from your trip, eat something."
"Thank you."
"My name is Hermione Granger. This," she pointed across the table, "is Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan."
"Hello," Ruby said, not cracking a smile. Neville and Seamus nodded.
"And," continued Hermione," Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are suppose to be here. I guess you'll meet them later."
"Yeah, said a red haired boy," if they don't get expelled."
"But you have to admit," started another red haired boy (they looked exactly a like); "it was bloody brilliant."
"Hey, it's not that brilliant," shouted another boy with short brown hair from a few seats away, "especially if I have to train a new Seeker!"
"Well, maybe this new girl can do it," One of the two red haired boys answered back. "Then it would be equal, three boys, and three girls."
"Yeah, George, we could all have dates!" The two exploded into laughter. The boy a few seats away didn't seem so amused.
"Twins," Ruby asked Hermione. "Yeah, Fred and George Weasley, the jokers. If they don't make you laugh tonight, don't worry, they'll get you. Their brother, Percy is a Gryffindor prefect," she pointed to someone, but Ruby could only see another red haired boy. "And then Ginny," she pointed to a shy girl sitting to the side," just started Hogwarts, and Ron is in our grade."
"Who is that down there?"
"That is Oliver Wood. He is the captain of the Quidditch team."
Since Hermione seemed very knowledgeable Ruby continued to ask questions. Hermione told her all the names of the teachers, including Dumbledore, and what each taught.
As the feast came to an end, the students started to head towards their dorms. McGonagall came over and told Ruby to come to the front table.
"Thanks for the seat."
"Don't mention it," Hermione smiled warmly.
"Come, my dear," Dumbledore said. Ruby stood in front of the table. "We are going to ask you some questions every student should be able to answer upon entering their second year here at Hogwarts. Prof. Flitwick." A tiny man stood on his chair and Ruby turned her attention to him, although she almost missed him.
"Do you have your wand, Miss Kennedy?"
"Yes," Ruby brought out her wand, a ten and a quarter inch, holly, with unicorn hair.
"Will you levitate this feather?"
Ruby stepped forward, feeling all the other teachers' eyes on her. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said with a swish and a flick. The feather floated into the air then Ruby landed it softly back on the table.
As the questions continued, Ruby found herself being placed in all the normal second year classes, even in Herbology, which she only read about.
Just then, a door to the side opened, and a man, all in black, swiftly came through and sat hard in the seat that had been empty the entire night.
"Just in time, Severus," said Dumbledore.
"My apologies."
"No need. Ruby Kennedy, this is your potions teacher Prof. Snape." They looked at each other with utmost indifference.
"Alright, Miss Kennedy, we will see how book smart you are on potions tonight, but the really test will come in the classroom. I can change which class you are in within a day if necessary, understood." It was more of a statement then a question. Ruby nodded, knowing that even if she didn't understand, he would not explain it to her.
"Tell me where can I find a Bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat." Snape seemed surprised at how quickly she answered, and then fired the next question.
"What ingredients make the draft of the living ..."
"Asphodel and Wormwood," Ruby interrupted.
"Well, Prof. Snape, it seems young Ruby knows her potions," Dumbledore remarked. "Let's finish with Defense against the Dark Arts. Prof. Lockhart?" Lockhart smiled like a ken doll and looked nothing like a real wizard.
"Hello, Ruby." Now it was even worse, he was talking to her like a kindergarten teacher. She was feeling exasperated. "Now, my question is, what is your favorite book of mine?"
"What!?"
"Your favorite book. You did get the collection required didn't you?"
"Yes, but..."
"Don't tell me you haven't read them yet."
"I have..."
"You will be completely behind! This is unfortunate..."
"Stop!" The teachers looked at Ruby, a little surprised. She had spoken so softly the rest of the time, that the outburst even surprised her. She composed herself and answered reluctantly, "Holiday with Hags."
"Oh, well why didn't you say so before." The other teachers look as exasperated as Ruby did. "It is an excellent book isn't..."
Ruby cut him off," Can anyone else give me a dark arts question?" The table fell silent. Ruby couldn't believe she had asked for a better question. It was rude to put down a teacher; she knew that, but really, favorite book?
"What is the unforgivable curse that no person can fight?" The question came from Snape. Ruby couldn't believe that the table could get any quieter then it had, but it did.
"Prof. Snape, that question is inappropriate. No one entering their second year would know that." Snape muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Well, she asked."
"Ruby," Dumbledore said, "You will get your schedule tomorrow at breakfast with the rest of the students. You may retire to the dormitories." Dumbledore smiled. Ruby looked at him and nodded. Then she walked over to Snape. "The answer is Arvada Kadarva. And one person has overcome the curse, but only one," Ruby answered as if she was only answering that two plus two was four. She turned to walk out, and then quickly spun back around. "Where is the dormitory?"
***
McGonagall took Ruby to Gryffindor tower, commenting on the moving stair cases and paintings. They arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Wattlebird," McGonagall said and the portrait flew open. "Goodnight, Miss Kennedy." Ruby stepped through the portal into chaos. There was plenty of commotion in the common room, but she really didn't care. She just wanted to go to bed.
"Ruby," Hermione called and came up from behind.
"Where are the dorms?"
"Up this way." Hermione took her to a room with five beds. "Your bed is here next to mine." Ruby saw all her things next to the bed.
"I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight and Ruby..."
"Yeah?"
"It's ok to smile, or not to smile. This is really different for you."
"Thanks, Hermione."
*Hope you are all enjoying it so far. Leave comments or questions!
