A/N. Sorry it took so long to post, I had to get my wisdom teeth out (blerg! not fun!) and have been fighting not to toss my cookies these past couple days! Special thanx to Uni and my own sister Viv for beta-reading!
Tap, tap tap!
An insistent rapping at Rio's door made her open one eye. Sunlight filtered calmly through the window of the little room, warming her face. "Wumumpht?" Rio said, her usual articulate self.
"Cathriona! You're going to be late if you don't move your lazy arse! And if the aforementioned arse needs convincing, I'll come in there and give it a kick!"
Rio grinned into her pillow. Only Vivianne would use 'aforementioned' when barking someone up a tree. "Right, Viv, I'm moving!"
Fifteen minutes later Rio stepped out of her room. She was completely clueless on what to wear, so she chose a plain, fitted black dress with bell sleeves and wore a Beauxbatons blue scarf around her waist. Rio had to admit, for a makeshift school uniform it wasn't that bad. 'I can't believe I'm showing school spirit,' she thought.
Vivianne was already waiting at the staircase, arms crossed and toe a-tapping. "It's about time, Glacial One."
Rio made a noise like a cat hissing as they moved down the steps. She couldn't help but note the pretty dark purple cape Vivianne was wearing over her Hogwarts robes. 'Bet she's gonna die of heat,' Rio mused. However, "Nice cape," was all she said.
Vivianne smiled. "Thank you, it's new."
They spoke little on the way to the Portkey that would take them to the school, Rio taking everything in as best she could. It didn't take long to reach the medallion necklace Vivianne had left by the Hogsmeade sign that would transport them to Hogwarts. When in a spinning whirl of colour they reached the school, Rio let out a gasp of amazement. "It's just like a fairytale!" she breathed.
"I agree," Vivianne smiled, slipping the medallion around her neck. "While the Beauxbatons gardens are unequaled, I do believe Hogwarts is the most beautiful school in Europe." Vivianne continued to tell about the school and its grounds while Rio gawped at everything in sight. "I'm sorry you won't be able to cross the lake, but you will get to see it from the shore every day. And mind you, Rio," Vivianne's voice had become suddenly stern, "do NOT go into the Forbidden Forest...you will be expelled if you do." Rio muttered something incoherent in French. "What was that?"
Rio met her sister's eyes abruptly as if realizing she were there for the first time. "Yes, naturally." Vivianne rolled her eyes; Rio probably hadn't heard a word she said.
After going through several dimly lit stone corridors, the sisters emerged into the Great Hall. Rio's hand flew to her open mouth as she gazed at the ceiling. "Amazing! What enchantment is this, Viv?" she asked.
But Vivianne wasn't listening; she was striding quickly over to meet a dark-haired witch Rio had never seen before. They greeted each other warmly while Rio continued to trout-mouth at the enchanted ceiling like a five-year-old.
"...and this," Rio heard her sister say, "is my sister, Cathriona."
Aware that she was being addressed, Rio shut her mouth and walked toward the dark-haired witch, who was smiling at her. "Pleased to meet you Cathriona. I'm Professor McGonagall, your Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House."
Rio smiled what she hoped was a comfortable and congenial smile. "Pleased to meet you, Professor McGonagall. My sister has oftentimes spoken of you. I'm glad to have finally met you." 'If this isn't flying overboard I don't remember how to kiss up,' she thought.
Professor McGonagall smiled back and directed her bright gaze back to Vivianne. "If you will come with me Vivianne, the staff meeting is about to begin."
"Is it all right if I bring Ri-Cathriona along to meet the other professors?" Vivianne asked. Rio thought she'd rather stay here and just stare at the ceiling.
"Why of course, they will be delighted to meet you."
Rio put on what she prayed was not a grimace and followed Professor McGonagall and Vivianne's flowing robes. They soon found themselves in a series of corridors like the ones that led to the Great Hall. Left, left, right, left, right, Rio lost count of the turns. It made her think of Gringotts. "I am so lost," Rio whispered, unprepared for the fact her voice would echo, making it perfectly audible to the entire company. A very not-nice word popped into her head instantly after, as Professor McGonagall replied.
"You'll get used to it, I promise. In the meantime, I can have a Prefect escort you to your classes the first week of term."
"Oh, thank you," Rio said meekly. 'Whatever the bloody hell a 'Prefect' is,' her inner voice groused.
Finally they reached a large statue of a wizard whose face was nearly covered by the hood of his cloak. Professor McGonagall caught Rio staring at the statue. "Warwick the Invisible," she explained, "the tenth Headmaster of Hogwarts. He wasn't really invisible, he just thought he was when he pulled his hood over his eyes. Poor Warwick didn't always have his hat on right, if you know what I mean, but he was a well-loved Headmaster in his day."
Rio snorted into her hand, which she tactfully turned into a sneeze at the last possible moment. "Excuse me," she said mildly. While McGonagall gave the password, ("widget") Vivianne shot Rio a look that plainly stated she would hickory-cure her if she put one more toenail out of line. Rio smiled pleasantly back as the statue stepped aside, tripping slightly over the hem of his robes.
Once inside, Rio and Vivianne found themselves in a spacious and lavish staffroom with fluffy chairs, a table of refreshments, and a small desk at the back of the room. Besides these furnishings, there were, of course, the professors themselves.
McGonagall called out above the dull roar of voices. "Our interim Charms professor and head of Ravenclaw House, Vivianne Tessyiur, and her younger sister Cathriona, who has just transferred from Beauxbatons, have arrived. I do hope you will all introduce yourselves to your new colleague and student."
'I don't,' Rio thought as a plump witch with fly-away hair came practically bounding up to them.
"How lovely to have you back, Vivianne dear," she said, beaming. "And welcome to Hogwarts, love," she addressed Rio. "I'm Professor Sprout, your Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff House."
Rio choked back the urge to say, 'Simply corked, but so what?' "Nice to meet you, Professor Sprout."
While Vivianne spoke with Professor Sprout about Vivianne's school days, Rio surveyed the room's occupants. 'I have to smile and behave myself long enough to be interviewed by all these professors? I am going to have a sore grin,' Rio rationalized morosely. Then she saw something that nearly made her scream...
End notes: I owe the world to Prof. Viv, Andrea, Sam, and Sparrow for reviewing! Sam, you need to get on the case of everyone in the Olde Crowd who isn't reading this for me! C'mon peeps, I need crit!!
Tap, tap tap!
An insistent rapping at Rio's door made her open one eye. Sunlight filtered calmly through the window of the little room, warming her face. "Wumumpht?" Rio said, her usual articulate self.
"Cathriona! You're going to be late if you don't move your lazy arse! And if the aforementioned arse needs convincing, I'll come in there and give it a kick!"
Rio grinned into her pillow. Only Vivianne would use 'aforementioned' when barking someone up a tree. "Right, Viv, I'm moving!"
Fifteen minutes later Rio stepped out of her room. She was completely clueless on what to wear, so she chose a plain, fitted black dress with bell sleeves and wore a Beauxbatons blue scarf around her waist. Rio had to admit, for a makeshift school uniform it wasn't that bad. 'I can't believe I'm showing school spirit,' she thought.
Vivianne was already waiting at the staircase, arms crossed and toe a-tapping. "It's about time, Glacial One."
Rio made a noise like a cat hissing as they moved down the steps. She couldn't help but note the pretty dark purple cape Vivianne was wearing over her Hogwarts robes. 'Bet she's gonna die of heat,' Rio mused. However, "Nice cape," was all she said.
Vivianne smiled. "Thank you, it's new."
They spoke little on the way to the Portkey that would take them to the school, Rio taking everything in as best she could. It didn't take long to reach the medallion necklace Vivianne had left by the Hogsmeade sign that would transport them to Hogwarts. When in a spinning whirl of colour they reached the school, Rio let out a gasp of amazement. "It's just like a fairytale!" she breathed.
"I agree," Vivianne smiled, slipping the medallion around her neck. "While the Beauxbatons gardens are unequaled, I do believe Hogwarts is the most beautiful school in Europe." Vivianne continued to tell about the school and its grounds while Rio gawped at everything in sight. "I'm sorry you won't be able to cross the lake, but you will get to see it from the shore every day. And mind you, Rio," Vivianne's voice had become suddenly stern, "do NOT go into the Forbidden Forest...you will be expelled if you do." Rio muttered something incoherent in French. "What was that?"
Rio met her sister's eyes abruptly as if realizing she were there for the first time. "Yes, naturally." Vivianne rolled her eyes; Rio probably hadn't heard a word she said.
After going through several dimly lit stone corridors, the sisters emerged into the Great Hall. Rio's hand flew to her open mouth as she gazed at the ceiling. "Amazing! What enchantment is this, Viv?" she asked.
But Vivianne wasn't listening; she was striding quickly over to meet a dark-haired witch Rio had never seen before. They greeted each other warmly while Rio continued to trout-mouth at the enchanted ceiling like a five-year-old.
"...and this," Rio heard her sister say, "is my sister, Cathriona."
Aware that she was being addressed, Rio shut her mouth and walked toward the dark-haired witch, who was smiling at her. "Pleased to meet you Cathriona. I'm Professor McGonagall, your Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House."
Rio smiled what she hoped was a comfortable and congenial smile. "Pleased to meet you, Professor McGonagall. My sister has oftentimes spoken of you. I'm glad to have finally met you." 'If this isn't flying overboard I don't remember how to kiss up,' she thought.
Professor McGonagall smiled back and directed her bright gaze back to Vivianne. "If you will come with me Vivianne, the staff meeting is about to begin."
"Is it all right if I bring Ri-Cathriona along to meet the other professors?" Vivianne asked. Rio thought she'd rather stay here and just stare at the ceiling.
"Why of course, they will be delighted to meet you."
Rio put on what she prayed was not a grimace and followed Professor McGonagall and Vivianne's flowing robes. They soon found themselves in a series of corridors like the ones that led to the Great Hall. Left, left, right, left, right, Rio lost count of the turns. It made her think of Gringotts. "I am so lost," Rio whispered, unprepared for the fact her voice would echo, making it perfectly audible to the entire company. A very not-nice word popped into her head instantly after, as Professor McGonagall replied.
"You'll get used to it, I promise. In the meantime, I can have a Prefect escort you to your classes the first week of term."
"Oh, thank you," Rio said meekly. 'Whatever the bloody hell a 'Prefect' is,' her inner voice groused.
Finally they reached a large statue of a wizard whose face was nearly covered by the hood of his cloak. Professor McGonagall caught Rio staring at the statue. "Warwick the Invisible," she explained, "the tenth Headmaster of Hogwarts. He wasn't really invisible, he just thought he was when he pulled his hood over his eyes. Poor Warwick didn't always have his hat on right, if you know what I mean, but he was a well-loved Headmaster in his day."
Rio snorted into her hand, which she tactfully turned into a sneeze at the last possible moment. "Excuse me," she said mildly. While McGonagall gave the password, ("widget") Vivianne shot Rio a look that plainly stated she would hickory-cure her if she put one more toenail out of line. Rio smiled pleasantly back as the statue stepped aside, tripping slightly over the hem of his robes.
Once inside, Rio and Vivianne found themselves in a spacious and lavish staffroom with fluffy chairs, a table of refreshments, and a small desk at the back of the room. Besides these furnishings, there were, of course, the professors themselves.
McGonagall called out above the dull roar of voices. "Our interim Charms professor and head of Ravenclaw House, Vivianne Tessyiur, and her younger sister Cathriona, who has just transferred from Beauxbatons, have arrived. I do hope you will all introduce yourselves to your new colleague and student."
'I don't,' Rio thought as a plump witch with fly-away hair came practically bounding up to them.
"How lovely to have you back, Vivianne dear," she said, beaming. "And welcome to Hogwarts, love," she addressed Rio. "I'm Professor Sprout, your Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff House."
Rio choked back the urge to say, 'Simply corked, but so what?' "Nice to meet you, Professor Sprout."
While Vivianne spoke with Professor Sprout about Vivianne's school days, Rio surveyed the room's occupants. 'I have to smile and behave myself long enough to be interviewed by all these professors? I am going to have a sore grin,' Rio rationalized morosely. Then she saw something that nearly made her scream...
End notes: I owe the world to Prof. Viv, Andrea, Sam, and Sparrow for reviewing! Sam, you need to get on the case of everyone in the Olde Crowd who isn't reading this for me! C'mon peeps, I need crit!!
