/** Author's Note: All characters unfamiliar are FOCs and the rest of the wonderful cast belongs to JKR. I don't own any Harry Potter books so DO correct me if I get any facts wrong! Sorry if this chapter is kinda tedious and long, had to bring out Mic's character. Heh. Words in italics represent thoughts. *grin* Do PLEASE review. This is my first fanfic. Be kind and hope you guys enjoy it. Thankie! ;)   **/

Is It So Hard? - The New Kid

Hush whispers tore across the tables as the figure clad in black closed the door quietly and looked up.

"Blimey, Harry! He looks strange!" Ron had exclaimed instantly, his eyes widening in shock.

Harry nodded his head in agreement.

 "Puh-lease, will you two STOP staring at him as if he's some goblin? Harry has THE scar, how do you like it when people stare at YOU, Harry?" A superior-than-thou voice piped up swiftly, rebuking the two boys.

 "W-ell… I-" Harry's cheeks turned slightly red.

Hermoine rolled her eyes heavenward. Boys. 

"Oh, ignore her Harry! She's blabbering again! Busybody!" Ron said crossly.

"Am NOT!"

"Am TOO!"

"Am NOT!"

"Am –"

"SSHHHH! He's coming!" Harry warned urgently.

The two bickering Gryffindors paused instantly in mid-argument. No further words were exchanged between the three as they looked on in curiosity at the figure making his way toward the front of the Great Hall.

~@~@~@~@~@

Michael had sensed eyes on him the moment he entered the dining hall. Murmurs had started almost immediately. He gave a slight smile but his eyes remained cold. How nice… He thought. Déjà vu... He wasn't surprised or anything for that matter. Why should he? This scenario had taken place many times before. Just like a fucked-up broken record. The students were obviously discussing his appearance, to put it in a nice way. Maroon eyes? He chuckled inwardly. More like the Devil's eyes… No matter. He was indifferent to what the students' view would be of him. He had given up being accepted a long time ago. Since young, Michael was painfully aware of the difference between him and his peers. He had preferred chess and board games while the other kids played simple activities to fetter their time away. He never did join in the craze of latest toys, choosing instead to create his own models.

Ignoring the mutterings, he gripped his knapsack closer and limped slowly forward, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind him. His face grew bleak. Each step he took had caused a sharp pain to shoot up his broken ankle. Closing his eyes momentarily, he steadied his breathing and shoved the pain into a small corner of his mind, promptly shutting it out. He had endured worse before. This was nothing in comparison. With renewed strength and determination, Michael made his way gradually to the front and now stood cold and wet before a wizened old man wearing a lopsided pointy hat with moon and star prints. The sight of the old man would have been amusing were it not for the pain. Standing with his back upright, he looked straight into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

The Headmaster in turn peered thru his half-moon glasses and examined the shivering boy in front of him. It was obvious he was in much pain. Judging from the limp, Dumbledore would not dismiss the boy's wound carelessly.

Michael was unnerved. Not that anybody could tell. If he were nervous, he would not show it. A small tingle ran up his spine as he allowed himself to be appraised. Keeping a straight face, his mind whirled fast as he made his own little evaluation. He concluded without a doubt that he was standing in front of a very powerful man - one not to be trifled easily with. Slightly apprehensive at first, Michael relaxed a little when kind blue eyes looked back at him. His perception of people was never wrong. His insight of people was a double-edged sword. A gift when he relied on it to weed out pretentious people but a curse when it had intimidated many by his forthright discernment of them. Not many fancy hearing the truth about themselves…

Dumbledore watched the boy closely. Their gaze had not wavered one bit as each waited for the other to make the first move. Dumbledore smiled, his eyes crinkling merrily. With that smile, an unspoken question hung in the air between the two. The Great Hall by now was silent.

"Good evening, Sir." Michael spoke up softly, his eyes trained on Dumbledore. "My name is Michael Calanor. I apologise for my lateness. This is my letter of acceptance into Hogwarts." With that, he reached into the inner pocket of his sleeveless black leather vest and drew out a beige envelope.

Dumbledore took the letter and placed it on the table without a second glance. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. Calanor. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of the school. I believe there is a reason for your delay?"

"Yes Sir. I was delayed…" Michael shifted uncomfortably. "…in a bookstore… which resulted in me missing the scheduled train. I had to wait for the next one, which was this morning."

"Ahh…bookstore…Flourish & Botts, perhaps?" Dumbledore gave a smile, his eyes twinkling. "A very nice collection of books they have."

 "Yes Sir. It was that bookstore, Sir." Michael replied gravely. He was not in the mood for conversations. He was cold, hungry and exhausted. Not to mention, his ankle was swelling quite badly and the throbbing was giving him a headache. Even the most saint person would crack under these conditions.

As if reading his mind, Dumbledore briefly went through the speech he had made to the first-years two days ago and gave a quick introduction of the professors seated at the table. Michael studied each face carefully, storing a mental portrait of them. The only two teachers that caught his interest were sitting right next to each other. One dressed in black robes and the other in the gaudiest getup he had ever seen. One had a cold look and the other bore a goofy grin. He learnt that they were his Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) professors, respectively. Sensing a prickling at the nape of his neck, Michael glanced back quickly; only to find a pair of onyx orbs intensively boring into him. Livid, he narrowed his eyes and scowled right back…

To be continued…

A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long! Please read and review! :)