Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was nothing like Marie expected.
It was a gorgeous old castle, decorated to the teeth with wonderful,
ancient antiques. Her eyes never ceased to move as they took in each and
every new sight she encountered. It was just all so amazing to her. Now
that she was actually here, she had to overcome another level of belief.
Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, had sent a fellow teacher to usher Marie to his office. It wasn't all that often that the school received an exchange student. In fact, it was extremely rare. Settling down into a large, leather chair, Marie faced Dumbledore.
"Miss Quay, I am extremely pleased to have you attending Hogwarts School this year." The ancient headmaster said with a friendly smile. "I'm sure you'll be the talk of the school. You're the first student here that has come from the United States."
Marie was shocked at this statistic. "I'm sure I'm really going to enjoy it here, Professor. From what my host sister says about her time here, I don't think I'll ever want to leave!"
Dumbledore smiled in delight, his intelligent eyes twinkling. "Ah yes, very good. I hope you kept up your reading this summer and are caught up so that you can start." Marie answered with a nod. With that, Dumbledore rose from his seat and pulled down a tattered, old hat from an upper-most bookshelf. "I'm sure that you do not wish to stand up in front of your classmates, so we'll sort you into your house here." He smiled reassuringly as he placed the hat atop of Marie's brown locks.
"Interesting one this is." Mused the hat upon its perch. Startled, Marie shifted in her seat, her eyes wide in wonder as she felt the movement of the hat. "I haven't placed many in mid-years. I think it will be.Gryffindor!" Grinning from ear to ear, Marie looked up at Dumbledore.
"I will arrange to have your things placed in Lynn's dorm room. Now, if you'll please follow me." Dumbledore gestured towards the door to his office, his elegant robes catching the flickering candlelight against the elaborate fabric. His smile showed that he knew of the reason to Marie's delight for being placed in Gryffindor house.
Following the beloved headmaster, he led her into the Great Hall, which was filled with students, befitted in their school uniforms. Marie observed that there were four long, oak tables, each one for each of the four houses of Hogwarts. All of the returning students were chatting noisily and even some glanced towards Marie in curiosity. Lynn was standing and waving furiously to get Marie's attention, strangely already knowing that her best friend had gotten into her house. With the nod of approval from Dumbledore, Marie settled into the seat next to Lynn.
"Great luck we have, huh Marie?" Lynn grinned with her usual mischievousness as Marie settled onto the wooden bench.
"What else would you expect?"
"Marie.?" A handsome and warm accented voice came from over her shoulder. Marie turned around with a smile upon her smooth, warm lips.
"Oliver.!" She softly exclaimed in delight. Her voicing of his name brought that dashing smile upon his features.
"'ello again, Marie. Did you get my owl.?"
"Of course, thank you! I even finished that Quiddich book you sent me. It answered all my questions."
Oliver was obviously impressed as he grinned approvingly upon Marie. Lynn had obviously set this whole thing up, because Marie was continually jabbed in the ribs by Lynn's finger. Oliver and Marie chatted quietly for a few more minutes before being interrupted by Dumbledore's booming voice. The entire student body of Hogwarts listened as the headmaster presented his welcoming speech. Marie's stomach growled angrily as the Professor drew his welcome to a close.
"Let the feast, begin." Amazingly scrumptious food appeared before the students upon the wooden plank tables. Marie and the first years were the only ones flabbergasted by the taste and unexpected summon of such delicious food. During the delightful meal, Marie and Oliver chatted endlessly, and not just about Quiddich. Of course Lynn was beaming with her genius and continued to input her two-cents into the conversation. At least with Lynn there, Marie wasn't as shy. She didn't mind either way, at least she got to talk to her crush.
Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, had sent a fellow teacher to usher Marie to his office. It wasn't all that often that the school received an exchange student. In fact, it was extremely rare. Settling down into a large, leather chair, Marie faced Dumbledore.
"Miss Quay, I am extremely pleased to have you attending Hogwarts School this year." The ancient headmaster said with a friendly smile. "I'm sure you'll be the talk of the school. You're the first student here that has come from the United States."
Marie was shocked at this statistic. "I'm sure I'm really going to enjoy it here, Professor. From what my host sister says about her time here, I don't think I'll ever want to leave!"
Dumbledore smiled in delight, his intelligent eyes twinkling. "Ah yes, very good. I hope you kept up your reading this summer and are caught up so that you can start." Marie answered with a nod. With that, Dumbledore rose from his seat and pulled down a tattered, old hat from an upper-most bookshelf. "I'm sure that you do not wish to stand up in front of your classmates, so we'll sort you into your house here." He smiled reassuringly as he placed the hat atop of Marie's brown locks.
"Interesting one this is." Mused the hat upon its perch. Startled, Marie shifted in her seat, her eyes wide in wonder as she felt the movement of the hat. "I haven't placed many in mid-years. I think it will be.Gryffindor!" Grinning from ear to ear, Marie looked up at Dumbledore.
"I will arrange to have your things placed in Lynn's dorm room. Now, if you'll please follow me." Dumbledore gestured towards the door to his office, his elegant robes catching the flickering candlelight against the elaborate fabric. His smile showed that he knew of the reason to Marie's delight for being placed in Gryffindor house.
Following the beloved headmaster, he led her into the Great Hall, which was filled with students, befitted in their school uniforms. Marie observed that there were four long, oak tables, each one for each of the four houses of Hogwarts. All of the returning students were chatting noisily and even some glanced towards Marie in curiosity. Lynn was standing and waving furiously to get Marie's attention, strangely already knowing that her best friend had gotten into her house. With the nod of approval from Dumbledore, Marie settled into the seat next to Lynn.
"Great luck we have, huh Marie?" Lynn grinned with her usual mischievousness as Marie settled onto the wooden bench.
"What else would you expect?"
"Marie.?" A handsome and warm accented voice came from over her shoulder. Marie turned around with a smile upon her smooth, warm lips.
"Oliver.!" She softly exclaimed in delight. Her voicing of his name brought that dashing smile upon his features.
"'ello again, Marie. Did you get my owl.?"
"Of course, thank you! I even finished that Quiddich book you sent me. It answered all my questions."
Oliver was obviously impressed as he grinned approvingly upon Marie. Lynn had obviously set this whole thing up, because Marie was continually jabbed in the ribs by Lynn's finger. Oliver and Marie chatted quietly for a few more minutes before being interrupted by Dumbledore's booming voice. The entire student body of Hogwarts listened as the headmaster presented his welcoming speech. Marie's stomach growled angrily as the Professor drew his welcome to a close.
"Let the feast, begin." Amazingly scrumptious food appeared before the students upon the wooden plank tables. Marie and the first years were the only ones flabbergasted by the taste and unexpected summon of such delicious food. During the delightful meal, Marie and Oliver chatted endlessly, and not just about Quiddich. Of course Lynn was beaming with her genius and continued to input her two-cents into the conversation. At least with Lynn there, Marie wasn't as shy. She didn't mind either way, at least she got to talk to her crush.