Since Athena read maps like musicians read music, she led the first years to their Charms class within minutes.
"Sit down, sit down, quickly, please," Professor Flitwick said. "I would like to get started." The Hufflepuff first years started entering the room. They were a very friendly group.
The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw groups started to mix as everyone settled in, much to Athena's surprise. As Athena watched, a tiny Hufflepuff girl sat down next to her. She had waist-length, light brown hair and wore glasses. As the girl turned to talk to her, she noticed the blue gray eyes behind the lenses.
"Howdy," the girl said in a cheery voice. "Mah name's Torene. What's yers?
Athena was surprised that someone wanted to talk to her, and even further surprised at the words she heard coming from her own mouth. "I'm Athenaia Smith, but my friends call me Athena," she said in a fairly pleasant voice. "How are you today?" Why am I being so cordial? She thought, but her instincts told her that she could trust Torene.
"Ah'm fine," she said as the bell signaling the start of class rang. Athena looked at Torene. There was something about her. She had a peculiar accent. Suddenly it dawned on her. "You're American, aren't you?" she asked.
Torene looked at her with a cheeky grin. "Not anymore," she replied. Moved ta London a coupla months ago."
Athena was about to ask why, but Professor Flitwick intervened. "Is there something you two would like to say?" Both girls shook their heads no. "Good, now pay attention. You might miss something important." The tiny professor went back to his lecture.
Professor Flitwick was talking about the first charm they would be learning, Wingardium Leviosa. Shady, who had followed Athena, jumped up onto the table just as Professor Flitwick was looking for a way to show them what exactly Wingardium Leviosa did. His eyes lingered on the cat a few moments before he said, "I think we have our first volunteer. Watch my wand."
He used the swish and flick motion that they were supposed to be mastering and suddenly lifted Shady up into the air. He flew her toward the ceiling, around the room, and settled her in Athena's lap where she dug her claws in fiercely, hissing.
"Professor," Athena said slowly. "I don't think Shady liked that very much."
"I'm sorry I scared her," Professor Flitwick told Athenaia. "Neville Longbottom's toad, Trevor, liked flying a few years ago, so I thought that I'd try a cat this year."
The bell rang, scaring Shady yet again. She jumped back up onto the desk. Torene reached out and scratched Shady right behind the cheek. To Athena's surprise, Shady calmed down.
Shoving all of her things into her bag and waving goodbye to Torene, she picked up Shady and followed the other Ravenclaws to the Great Hall for lunch. After eating as many pork chops and mounds of mashed potatoes as she could, Athena looked around for the other Ravenclaws. They were all huddled together, looking at the maps, trying to figure out where to go. Orla rushed over to Athena.
"Athena," she whined, "can you figure out where our Transfigurations class is?"
Athena looked at her map. "Just follow me," she answered and took off out of the room. Within minutes, they were looking at a door upon which was written,
Transfiguration
Professor Minerva McGonagall
"Here we are," Athena announced.
Just then, the door opened and Professor McGonagall stepped out of the room. "Hello, Ravenclaws," she said in a strict voice. Seeing their maps she added, "I see the prefects are taking every precaution of getting you to the right classes on time. Everyone, come inside and take a seat Now, where are the Slytherins?"
A few minutes later, a troop of first years came into the room led by a pale skinned boy with thick, black hair.
"We're here, Professor McGonagall!" he said, "Have we missed anything important?"
"No," she responded crossly, "but you might want to make it to class promptly next time. Come in and sit down."
"Before we begin, I would like to start by telling you this is probably one of the hardest forms of magic that you will learn here in your time at Hogwarts." To the amazement of the class, she waved her wand and transfigured her desk into a rhinoceros and back. "You won't be starting with this difficulty of transfiguration yet, though. Miss Keiys, Miss Domash, Miss Novatsky, Miss Salaza, I would be able to instruct you better if you weren't talking."
Professor McGonagall had only begun explaining what they were supposed to do when the same two back tables started talking again.
"Stop talking at once," Professor McGonagall said, straining to keep her face level. Athena knew that she was starting to get very angry at them.
Professor McGonagall continued with the lesson, "I will be giving you all match sticks..."
She was cut off by a loud burst of laughter from one of the girls.
"Do you have something to tell the whole class, Miss Domash, or do you just want to keep your discussion for your free time?"
"I think I'll keep my discussions to myself," the dark-haired, swarthy girl retorted crossly.
"I better not catch you four you chattering again," Professor McGonagall warned, "Now, where were we? Ah yes, you will be given until the rest of... Twenty points from Slytherin!"
Professor McGonagall yelled so loudly that Shady, who had followed Athena throughout her classes, hissed her protest.
McGonagall didn't hear her. Instead, Evita, who had medium brown hair, but almost the same pale skin as her brother, started to argue.
"We weren't doing anything!" Evita protested.
"You can still teach your dumb old class," Rachael, a brunette with dark, snake green eyes, added.
This was the last straw. Red-faced with anger, Professor McGonagall yelled at the pair, "Fifty points! We will discuss why you should listen to me when I tell you to stop talking during detention! Miss Keiys and Miss Salaza, would you be so kind as to come up here at once! For the rest of you, you have the rest of the class time to attempt to turn this match stick into a needle." With a flick of her wand, Professor McGonagall made the match sticks zoom across the room and each one landed on the table in front of a different student.
Athena decided to combine two lessons into one and use the swish and flick motion that she had just learned in Charms. As she did this, and concentrated hard on the shape of a needle, the match stick started to thin out and become pointy. Athena tried again, concentrating even harder on what a needle looks like. Swish, flick, and a small puff of smoke appeared. When it cleared, Athena's match stick had turned into a needle.
Professor McGonagall stood up. "Look everyone!" she exclaimed with wide eyes, "Miss Smith has done it! Fifty points to Ravenclaw! Never in all my years of teaching has anyone turned the match stick into a perfectly proportioned needle on their first day! Not even Hermione--" The bell rang, saving Athena the embarrassment of having Professor McGonagall praise her work.
Athena grabbed her bag and wand and turned to go out of the classroom. When she got out into the hall, Rachael Keiys and Evita Salaza were waiting for her.
"You know what happens to those who outsmart everyone in a single class period?" Evita asked.
"I wasn't trying to outsmart anyone," Athena stated her eyes on the floor. "It was just luck. I don't even like Transfiguration that much."
"We'll see about that," hissed Rachael, and they left without another word. A few moments later, Athena felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Stewart.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she mumbled.
"Don't let them get to you," he told her. "They just want to push you around because you're better at Transfiguration then they are. Just ignore them. They don't even know how to stop talking during class."
"Thanks," Athena smiled at him. "We had better go put our books away and get ready for dinner." They walked together down the corridor to the common room.
After Athena put her bag on her bed, she turned and looked at her reflection in the little mirror. Smiling, Athena brushed her hair and pulled it back up. Turning around and picking up her hat before Shady could curl up in it, Athena walked out of the dormitory into the common room. As she got down the stairs, Orla and Emma rushed up to her with mischievous grins on their faces.
"What was that all about?" Orla asked her.
"What was what about?" Athena asked puzzled.
"You and Stewart," Emma grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Orla looked at Athena innocently. "You were seen walking here from Transfiguration, alone, with Stewart."
"So?" Athena was still confused.
"Is there anything going on between you and Stewart?" Emma clarified.
So that's what this is all about. Athena thought. "There's nothing going on between Stewart and me."
"Whatever," Emma sighed, and both of the girls left for dinner.
Athena ignored them and walked down to the Great Hall. When she got there she glanced around the Great Hall at everyone. At the Hufflepuff table, Torene was standing on her chair and talking to a little thing flying around. Torene was so tiny that her head was only a few inches above the seventh years' when they were sitting. The little flying thing landed on the head of a girl sitting next to Torene, who tried to duck away from it. Athena laughed and walked over to join her friend. As she neared the table, a tiny owl zoomed at her and landed on her head, causing the Hufflepuff first and second years to laugh histerically. Torene jumped down from her chair, laughing the whole time, and waved.
"Phaerie, come 'ere!" she called to the tiny owl. Phaerie hooted loudly and zoomed over to hide in Torene's hair. "Howdy, Athena!"
"Hi!" Athena called back.
Torene ran over, "Can ya eat with us taday?"
"That's why I came over here, to ask if I could." Athena replied.
"I'm pretty sure it's Ok," said an older student, a prefect.
Athena sat down in between Torene and Eleanor. Torene decided to introduce everyone that she knew to Athena.
"This here's Eleanor Branstone," Torene began, pointing to the girl sitting next to her. "That's Owen Cauldwell." The boy sitting on Torene's other side waved. That's Laura Madley an' Abigail Higgles," Two girls chatting on the other side of the table smiled and waved. "An' over there's Douglass Oswald an' Kevin Whitby, playin' Explodin' Snap." She smiled at the two boys and called out, "Who's winnin'?"
"Douglass," both of them called back simultaneously.
Torene laughed and started to introduce the others. "An' that there's Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, an' Susan Bones." The four fourth- years continued talking about the Triwizard Tournament, ignoring Torene. "And this 'ere's Cedric Diggory," she said pointing to the prefect.
"So, now that you know us," Cedric began, "what's your name?"
"I'm Athenaia Smith, but call me Athena." she responded.
"An' last but not least," Torene added, pulling the owl out of her hair, "This little dear's Phaerie. She's an elf owl." Phaerie chirped in response, then, eyeing Shady, zoomed around the cat's head once and flew back into Torene's hair and collecting more giggles from the Hufflepuffs. "She's somewhat of a show-off," Torene explained.
Just then, the food popped up on the tables. Mountains of baked potatoes, ham, turkey roast, peas, and carrots filled the serving plates. In between mouthfuls, Torene and Athenaia got to know each other a little better.
"Ah was born in Big Bend, Texas," Torene began. "Mah Ma's a witch an' mah Pa's a muggle. He knew bafore they got hitched though. Ah got a big bro who's a muggle, only a year older'n me, but he keeps goin' on 'bout Quidditch as though he's the best player in the world. He can't even fly. Phaerie here, she came ta me. Ah called out ta her an' she came. She always listens ta me. Soon's ah got mah letter from the Salem Witches Academy, mah Ma said we're comin' ta London. She wanted me ta come ta Hogwarts, like her. What 'bout ya?" She turned to Athena. "Wha's yer family like?"
"Well," Athena told them, "I have lived in London my whole life. It's nothing that special. I have wizarding parents, and a younger brother and sister, Ares and Artemis. My parents love muggle mythology. They're gonna get their letters in a few years. Mine came at the World Cup."
Suddenly a loud "Yesssss!" came from the direction of Kevin and Douglass. "Who won?" Torene asked them.
"Me! Finally!" said Kevin. All of the first years at the table burst into applause.
"Kevin has been trying to beat me since the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross," Douglass explained. The Hufflepuffs burst into laughter.
At long last, Professor Dumbledore stood up and told everyone to go back to their common rooms. Suddenly, Athena remembered her birthday was tomorrow. How could I have forgotten? She questioned herself.
"Torene," she said, turning back to the Hufflepuffs. "Do you have a free afternoon tomorrow?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Tomorrow's my birthday, and I was hoping that I could have a friend to celebrate with."
"Tomorrow's yer birthday!?! Why didn't ya say so!?! Ah course we'll celebrate with ya! Ah'm sure we can find someone ta nick food from the kitchens."
"Thanks," Athena felt relieved. "I'll meet you down here after lunch, I'm most likely going to have to eat at my own table."
"See ya tomorrow!" Torene called as Athena left the table. Athena wove her way through all of the people leaving the Great Hall and walked to the Ravenclaw common room.
"How did thee like thy first day at Hogwarts?" Calvan asked as she arrived.
"It was fun," Athena told him. "I met a lot of Hufflepuffs. They're really nice."
"The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, they be nice ones," Calvan warned. "Ye must watch out for the Slytherins, they wilst do anything to get whatever they desire."
"I somewhat figured that out too," Athena said. "I had Transfigurations today with them."
"They be an evil lot," Calvan told her. "Not a single witch or wizard that ever went into that house stayed good. Thou hast better stay away from them."
"Thanks for the warning," Athena yawned, "but I'd better get to bed before I fall asleep."
"Thou dost not want to stay awake for thy party?" Calvan asked.
"Party?" Athena questioned. "Oh! The start-of-term party!"
"Aye, that be the one," Calvan acknowledged.
"Well, I may stay awake for a little while," Athena stated. "Tiddley winks."
Calvan swung open with a chuckle, and she crawled inside.
Athena grimaced at the loud burst of noise that assaulted her as she walked into the common room. The other Ravenclaws had managed to find banners displaying the Hogwarts crest and the Ravenclaw eagle. It seemed as though Lisa and Mandy had nicked extra food from the kitchens.
Kel came up to Athena and grabbed her arm, saying, "Come on, Athena, you'll miss all of the fun!"
Laughing, Athena joined the chaos. There were all sorts of sweets. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Custard Creams, Toothflossing Stringmints, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and many more. They also had managed to get a hold of a few cases of butterbeer. Athena grabbed some Pumpkin Pasties and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and sat down in a chair at the corner of the room to watch everyone else. One of the Reed twins came up to her, Michal (Mike).
"Why don't you come join the party?" he asked.
"I'm more of a loner," she replied.
"Come on," he beckoned, "or Matt and I will drag you over there."
"You wouldn't!"
"We would." Mike looked so menacing that Athena believed him.
"Then I guess I'll have to go to bed, where you can't get me," Athena said and stalked out of the room, leaving Mike dumbstruck.
"What am I going to do about all of the people here?" she asked Shady, who looked at her and yawned. "Good idea, sleep," she told her cat, and crawled under the covers.
"Sit down, sit down, quickly, please," Professor Flitwick said. "I would like to get started." The Hufflepuff first years started entering the room. They were a very friendly group.
The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw groups started to mix as everyone settled in, much to Athena's surprise. As Athena watched, a tiny Hufflepuff girl sat down next to her. She had waist-length, light brown hair and wore glasses. As the girl turned to talk to her, she noticed the blue gray eyes behind the lenses.
"Howdy," the girl said in a cheery voice. "Mah name's Torene. What's yers?
Athena was surprised that someone wanted to talk to her, and even further surprised at the words she heard coming from her own mouth. "I'm Athenaia Smith, but my friends call me Athena," she said in a fairly pleasant voice. "How are you today?" Why am I being so cordial? She thought, but her instincts told her that she could trust Torene.
"Ah'm fine," she said as the bell signaling the start of class rang. Athena looked at Torene. There was something about her. She had a peculiar accent. Suddenly it dawned on her. "You're American, aren't you?" she asked.
Torene looked at her with a cheeky grin. "Not anymore," she replied. Moved ta London a coupla months ago."
Athena was about to ask why, but Professor Flitwick intervened. "Is there something you two would like to say?" Both girls shook their heads no. "Good, now pay attention. You might miss something important." The tiny professor went back to his lecture.
Professor Flitwick was talking about the first charm they would be learning, Wingardium Leviosa. Shady, who had followed Athena, jumped up onto the table just as Professor Flitwick was looking for a way to show them what exactly Wingardium Leviosa did. His eyes lingered on the cat a few moments before he said, "I think we have our first volunteer. Watch my wand."
He used the swish and flick motion that they were supposed to be mastering and suddenly lifted Shady up into the air. He flew her toward the ceiling, around the room, and settled her in Athena's lap where she dug her claws in fiercely, hissing.
"Professor," Athena said slowly. "I don't think Shady liked that very much."
"I'm sorry I scared her," Professor Flitwick told Athenaia. "Neville Longbottom's toad, Trevor, liked flying a few years ago, so I thought that I'd try a cat this year."
The bell rang, scaring Shady yet again. She jumped back up onto the desk. Torene reached out and scratched Shady right behind the cheek. To Athena's surprise, Shady calmed down.
Shoving all of her things into her bag and waving goodbye to Torene, she picked up Shady and followed the other Ravenclaws to the Great Hall for lunch. After eating as many pork chops and mounds of mashed potatoes as she could, Athena looked around for the other Ravenclaws. They were all huddled together, looking at the maps, trying to figure out where to go. Orla rushed over to Athena.
"Athena," she whined, "can you figure out where our Transfigurations class is?"
Athena looked at her map. "Just follow me," she answered and took off out of the room. Within minutes, they were looking at a door upon which was written,
Transfiguration
Professor Minerva McGonagall
"Here we are," Athena announced.
Just then, the door opened and Professor McGonagall stepped out of the room. "Hello, Ravenclaws," she said in a strict voice. Seeing their maps she added, "I see the prefects are taking every precaution of getting you to the right classes on time. Everyone, come inside and take a seat Now, where are the Slytherins?"
A few minutes later, a troop of first years came into the room led by a pale skinned boy with thick, black hair.
"We're here, Professor McGonagall!" he said, "Have we missed anything important?"
"No," she responded crossly, "but you might want to make it to class promptly next time. Come in and sit down."
"Before we begin, I would like to start by telling you this is probably one of the hardest forms of magic that you will learn here in your time at Hogwarts." To the amazement of the class, she waved her wand and transfigured her desk into a rhinoceros and back. "You won't be starting with this difficulty of transfiguration yet, though. Miss Keiys, Miss Domash, Miss Novatsky, Miss Salaza, I would be able to instruct you better if you weren't talking."
Professor McGonagall had only begun explaining what they were supposed to do when the same two back tables started talking again.
"Stop talking at once," Professor McGonagall said, straining to keep her face level. Athena knew that she was starting to get very angry at them.
Professor McGonagall continued with the lesson, "I will be giving you all match sticks..."
She was cut off by a loud burst of laughter from one of the girls.
"Do you have something to tell the whole class, Miss Domash, or do you just want to keep your discussion for your free time?"
"I think I'll keep my discussions to myself," the dark-haired, swarthy girl retorted crossly.
"I better not catch you four you chattering again," Professor McGonagall warned, "Now, where were we? Ah yes, you will be given until the rest of... Twenty points from Slytherin!"
Professor McGonagall yelled so loudly that Shady, who had followed Athena throughout her classes, hissed her protest.
McGonagall didn't hear her. Instead, Evita, who had medium brown hair, but almost the same pale skin as her brother, started to argue.
"We weren't doing anything!" Evita protested.
"You can still teach your dumb old class," Rachael, a brunette with dark, snake green eyes, added.
This was the last straw. Red-faced with anger, Professor McGonagall yelled at the pair, "Fifty points! We will discuss why you should listen to me when I tell you to stop talking during detention! Miss Keiys and Miss Salaza, would you be so kind as to come up here at once! For the rest of you, you have the rest of the class time to attempt to turn this match stick into a needle." With a flick of her wand, Professor McGonagall made the match sticks zoom across the room and each one landed on the table in front of a different student.
Athena decided to combine two lessons into one and use the swish and flick motion that she had just learned in Charms. As she did this, and concentrated hard on the shape of a needle, the match stick started to thin out and become pointy. Athena tried again, concentrating even harder on what a needle looks like. Swish, flick, and a small puff of smoke appeared. When it cleared, Athena's match stick had turned into a needle.
Professor McGonagall stood up. "Look everyone!" she exclaimed with wide eyes, "Miss Smith has done it! Fifty points to Ravenclaw! Never in all my years of teaching has anyone turned the match stick into a perfectly proportioned needle on their first day! Not even Hermione--" The bell rang, saving Athena the embarrassment of having Professor McGonagall praise her work.
Athena grabbed her bag and wand and turned to go out of the classroom. When she got out into the hall, Rachael Keiys and Evita Salaza were waiting for her.
"You know what happens to those who outsmart everyone in a single class period?" Evita asked.
"I wasn't trying to outsmart anyone," Athena stated her eyes on the floor. "It was just luck. I don't even like Transfiguration that much."
"We'll see about that," hissed Rachael, and they left without another word. A few moments later, Athena felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Stewart.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she mumbled.
"Don't let them get to you," he told her. "They just want to push you around because you're better at Transfiguration then they are. Just ignore them. They don't even know how to stop talking during class."
"Thanks," Athena smiled at him. "We had better go put our books away and get ready for dinner." They walked together down the corridor to the common room.
After Athena put her bag on her bed, she turned and looked at her reflection in the little mirror. Smiling, Athena brushed her hair and pulled it back up. Turning around and picking up her hat before Shady could curl up in it, Athena walked out of the dormitory into the common room. As she got down the stairs, Orla and Emma rushed up to her with mischievous grins on their faces.
"What was that all about?" Orla asked her.
"What was what about?" Athena asked puzzled.
"You and Stewart," Emma grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Orla looked at Athena innocently. "You were seen walking here from Transfiguration, alone, with Stewart."
"So?" Athena was still confused.
"Is there anything going on between you and Stewart?" Emma clarified.
So that's what this is all about. Athena thought. "There's nothing going on between Stewart and me."
"Whatever," Emma sighed, and both of the girls left for dinner.
Athena ignored them and walked down to the Great Hall. When she got there she glanced around the Great Hall at everyone. At the Hufflepuff table, Torene was standing on her chair and talking to a little thing flying around. Torene was so tiny that her head was only a few inches above the seventh years' when they were sitting. The little flying thing landed on the head of a girl sitting next to Torene, who tried to duck away from it. Athena laughed and walked over to join her friend. As she neared the table, a tiny owl zoomed at her and landed on her head, causing the Hufflepuff first and second years to laugh histerically. Torene jumped down from her chair, laughing the whole time, and waved.
"Phaerie, come 'ere!" she called to the tiny owl. Phaerie hooted loudly and zoomed over to hide in Torene's hair. "Howdy, Athena!"
"Hi!" Athena called back.
Torene ran over, "Can ya eat with us taday?"
"That's why I came over here, to ask if I could." Athena replied.
"I'm pretty sure it's Ok," said an older student, a prefect.
Athena sat down in between Torene and Eleanor. Torene decided to introduce everyone that she knew to Athena.
"This here's Eleanor Branstone," Torene began, pointing to the girl sitting next to her. "That's Owen Cauldwell." The boy sitting on Torene's other side waved. That's Laura Madley an' Abigail Higgles," Two girls chatting on the other side of the table smiled and waved. "An' over there's Douglass Oswald an' Kevin Whitby, playin' Explodin' Snap." She smiled at the two boys and called out, "Who's winnin'?"
"Douglass," both of them called back simultaneously.
Torene laughed and started to introduce the others. "An' that there's Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, an' Susan Bones." The four fourth- years continued talking about the Triwizard Tournament, ignoring Torene. "And this 'ere's Cedric Diggory," she said pointing to the prefect.
"So, now that you know us," Cedric began, "what's your name?"
"I'm Athenaia Smith, but call me Athena." she responded.
"An' last but not least," Torene added, pulling the owl out of her hair, "This little dear's Phaerie. She's an elf owl." Phaerie chirped in response, then, eyeing Shady, zoomed around the cat's head once and flew back into Torene's hair and collecting more giggles from the Hufflepuffs. "She's somewhat of a show-off," Torene explained.
Just then, the food popped up on the tables. Mountains of baked potatoes, ham, turkey roast, peas, and carrots filled the serving plates. In between mouthfuls, Torene and Athenaia got to know each other a little better.
"Ah was born in Big Bend, Texas," Torene began. "Mah Ma's a witch an' mah Pa's a muggle. He knew bafore they got hitched though. Ah got a big bro who's a muggle, only a year older'n me, but he keeps goin' on 'bout Quidditch as though he's the best player in the world. He can't even fly. Phaerie here, she came ta me. Ah called out ta her an' she came. She always listens ta me. Soon's ah got mah letter from the Salem Witches Academy, mah Ma said we're comin' ta London. She wanted me ta come ta Hogwarts, like her. What 'bout ya?" She turned to Athena. "Wha's yer family like?"
"Well," Athena told them, "I have lived in London my whole life. It's nothing that special. I have wizarding parents, and a younger brother and sister, Ares and Artemis. My parents love muggle mythology. They're gonna get their letters in a few years. Mine came at the World Cup."
Suddenly a loud "Yesssss!" came from the direction of Kevin and Douglass. "Who won?" Torene asked them.
"Me! Finally!" said Kevin. All of the first years at the table burst into applause.
"Kevin has been trying to beat me since the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross," Douglass explained. The Hufflepuffs burst into laughter.
At long last, Professor Dumbledore stood up and told everyone to go back to their common rooms. Suddenly, Athena remembered her birthday was tomorrow. How could I have forgotten? She questioned herself.
"Torene," she said, turning back to the Hufflepuffs. "Do you have a free afternoon tomorrow?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Tomorrow's my birthday, and I was hoping that I could have a friend to celebrate with."
"Tomorrow's yer birthday!?! Why didn't ya say so!?! Ah course we'll celebrate with ya! Ah'm sure we can find someone ta nick food from the kitchens."
"Thanks," Athena felt relieved. "I'll meet you down here after lunch, I'm most likely going to have to eat at my own table."
"See ya tomorrow!" Torene called as Athena left the table. Athena wove her way through all of the people leaving the Great Hall and walked to the Ravenclaw common room.
"How did thee like thy first day at Hogwarts?" Calvan asked as she arrived.
"It was fun," Athena told him. "I met a lot of Hufflepuffs. They're really nice."
"The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, they be nice ones," Calvan warned. "Ye must watch out for the Slytherins, they wilst do anything to get whatever they desire."
"I somewhat figured that out too," Athena said. "I had Transfigurations today with them."
"They be an evil lot," Calvan told her. "Not a single witch or wizard that ever went into that house stayed good. Thou hast better stay away from them."
"Thanks for the warning," Athena yawned, "but I'd better get to bed before I fall asleep."
"Thou dost not want to stay awake for thy party?" Calvan asked.
"Party?" Athena questioned. "Oh! The start-of-term party!"
"Aye, that be the one," Calvan acknowledged.
"Well, I may stay awake for a little while," Athena stated. "Tiddley winks."
Calvan swung open with a chuckle, and she crawled inside.
Athena grimaced at the loud burst of noise that assaulted her as she walked into the common room. The other Ravenclaws had managed to find banners displaying the Hogwarts crest and the Ravenclaw eagle. It seemed as though Lisa and Mandy had nicked extra food from the kitchens.
Kel came up to Athena and grabbed her arm, saying, "Come on, Athena, you'll miss all of the fun!"
Laughing, Athena joined the chaos. There were all sorts of sweets. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Custard Creams, Toothflossing Stringmints, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and many more. They also had managed to get a hold of a few cases of butterbeer. Athena grabbed some Pumpkin Pasties and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and sat down in a chair at the corner of the room to watch everyone else. One of the Reed twins came up to her, Michal (Mike).
"Why don't you come join the party?" he asked.
"I'm more of a loner," she replied.
"Come on," he beckoned, "or Matt and I will drag you over there."
"You wouldn't!"
"We would." Mike looked so menacing that Athena believed him.
"Then I guess I'll have to go to bed, where you can't get me," Athena said and stalked out of the room, leaving Mike dumbstruck.
"What am I going to do about all of the people here?" she asked Shady, who looked at her and yawned. "Good idea, sleep," she told her cat, and crawled under the covers.
