Tête-à-Tête
They had done it! After so long away, Harry finally felt like he was at home! They took the carriages to the school, as usual, and him and Luna both patted the horse-like thestrals before loading up. Ron and Hermione joined them later right before the carriages set off, telling Harry and Luna how they could see the thestrals now (only people who have seen death could see thestrals). After this quick discussion, the carriage fell silent the rest of the trip up to the school.
"I'm sorry Harry," whispered Ron into his ear as they walked up to the castle. Harry didn't respond. It wasn't Ron's fault Sirius died. It was Harry's. Night after night he fell asleep crying about his godfather. It was all his fault! If it hadn't of been for Harry, Sirius would still be alive! If only he could have taken the Occlumency classes with Dumbledore! So many things rushed through his head. Not now, not today! shouted Harry at himself in his mind. Don't let this be ruined as well! He was right. It was his first night back at Hogwarts, the safest place Harry had ever known. The place he called his home.
The students walked up through the entrance doors and through the Great Hall. The non-first years took their seats and chatted away while thy waited for the new arrivals to cross the lake in their boats. It was fairly dark outside, the night sky illuminating the Geat Hall as the enchanted ceiling. Thousands upon thousands of candles were lit, flying high above them to light the room.
Ron and Hermione were chatting ferociously about Hermione's house, niether seemed to listen to what the other was saying.
"I loved it! Everything was sparkling clean-" said Ron, chewing on the last of his Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
"My room was messy! I was so embarrassed-" Hermione put her hands on the sides of her face.
"Wish my mum had seen it. She'd be so proud-"
"It was all Crookshanks you know-"
"Where were your parents?"
"He likes to tear things apart-"
"I didn't see them-"
"See what?" Hermione finally realized Ron was staring at her.
"Your parents. I didn't see them."
"Yeah, me niether in fact," Harry chimed in.
"Oh, they went to the store. They had to get some...uh... groceries," Herminoe blushed and bowed her head. Just as Harry was about to ask her why she was embarrassed about groceries, the Great Hall doors opened. In walked Professor McGonagal followed by the first years. They all strayed between the four long tables separating the houses. McGonagal stood in front of the entire school and explained the rules of Hogwarts. After what seemed an hour, she placed the sorting hat on the same stool every Hogwarts students had ever sat upon to be placed in a house. The sorting hat sang its new song for the year and sorted the students all the way from "Agates, Mavrick" to "Zulipana, Nicholas." Once everyone was seated, the tables magically appeared with tons of food including spongecakes, roast, treacle tarts, fried chicken, puddings, and any other imaginable tasty thing that could appear on their plates! Harry just realized he hadn't eaten since...well... he couldn't remember when! It was so long ago, in fact, Harry dived right into the roast, not noticing it burning his fingers, and ate it savagely. He stabbed some pork chops at his left and slammed them onto his plate. He grabbed some mashed potatoes and accidentally flung them across the Great Hall onto a Hufflepuff student, Madeline Boltrode. He then chuckled and slowed down his pace. He was at Hogwarts now. Nothing could get any worse, only better.
After the big feast, everyone, slow paced and eyes weighted, went up to their dormitories. The first years were guided up by their house prefects. The Gryffindor's prefects were Ron and Hermione so Harry was left alone. He wandered arround the corridors for a bit, trying to remember the new password in which he would recite to the fat lady in the portrait. "Luminos Reshlabinad." Once everyone was clear out of sight, Harry slowly made his way up to the Gryffindor dormitory. His footsteps echoed along the stone floor, down the halls and up stairs. On the last flight of stairs though, in mid-step, the staircase moved. Harry just waited for it to stop and continued his way upward. This passageway was in no shape or form connected to the Gryyfindor tower, it was Ravenclaw. He sat down and leaned against a wall, waiting for the staircase to change again. Five minutes passed, then ten, all the while Harry's thoughts moved in and out of him like faded dreams going slow motion through his head. He closed his eyes, pretending not to hear the footsteps trail behind him moving closer and closer until...
"Hi Harry," said a voice Harry recognized immediately.
"Hi Luna," Harry said sleepily.
"What'r you doing up here? Gryffindor is that way," Harry looked up as she pointed.
"The staircase changed. I'm waiting for it to change again. What are you doing outside your dorm?" he asked her, rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses.
"I'm not at all tired. I thought I could do with a walk," she said plainly, "Would you like to join me? You look like you've been smacked on the head with a broomstick." She chuckled. Smiling like an idiot, Harry stood up.
"Shall we?"
They walked along the passageway, turning corners, talking of their summer. Harry was telling Luna about the trip Ron and him had taken, soaring through the air and nearly crashing into that chimney. Luna just laughed.
"So Ron has damaged up that car in 4 weeks, did you say, than a troll could do with a club? Ha! He's a bit strange, isn't he?" Harry smirked at this remark.
"We're all strange. Only the strange people can get the farthest in life. I'm Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Ron's the Weasley kid, who no one really noticed until he was prefect. Hermione," he laughed at this, "everyone thought she was such a snob! But she's turned down her electricity volt a bit. She's fine now. And then there's Neville, who everyone picks on just because... well it's Neville!" They both laughed intently. "And then there's you," Luna turned to face Harry. "You're strange, I must admit. Remember last year when you made that hat in the shape of a lion's head?"
"Yeah, she said suspiciously, "but what does that have to do with anyth-"
"I have to admit that was rather silly, but in a way it was pretty wicked. You know, getting ecstatic over Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw." Luna was about to explode.
"Are you implying-"
"But then again it was against Slytherin so I woudn't blame you. I can sort of see why people call you 'Loony' Lovegood, though that's not very-" Luna had had it.
"I can't believe you can be so insensitive! You are about the last person on earth I thought I'd hear those offensive words from! You are the most disgusting," the hall was echoing with her voice, "malevolent," Harry could hear shuffling outside the Ravenclaw portrait, "thick," some curious Ravenclaws were coming out to see what was going on, "repulsive," the students stared blankly, some with their mouths open, "putrid," Luna looked like her veins were about to pop out, "cruelest scab I have ever met in my life!" She took a breath. "Goodday to you!" And she stormed back through the Ravenclaw portrait, students still staring in awe at Harry.
The staircase started to change and Harry quickly rushed to it, pretending he was the only one there. He didn't like people staring at him for who he was, let alone being chewed out by Luna Lovegood. Why was she so mad? I didn't say anything bad, he thought as he walked up to the fat lady's portrait.
"Password?" she asked him.
"Luminos.. re-ra... i-ish... uh..." Harry stammered. The fat lady just stared at him with a confused look on her face as did Harry. What was that blasted password? Oh! I know! "Luminos Reshlabinad." and the portrait opened to reveal the empty Gryffindor common room. He stepped inside and the portrait closed behind him.
They had done it! After so long away, Harry finally felt like he was at home! They took the carriages to the school, as usual, and him and Luna both patted the horse-like thestrals before loading up. Ron and Hermione joined them later right before the carriages set off, telling Harry and Luna how they could see the thestrals now (only people who have seen death could see thestrals). After this quick discussion, the carriage fell silent the rest of the trip up to the school.
"I'm sorry Harry," whispered Ron into his ear as they walked up to the castle. Harry didn't respond. It wasn't Ron's fault Sirius died. It was Harry's. Night after night he fell asleep crying about his godfather. It was all his fault! If it hadn't of been for Harry, Sirius would still be alive! If only he could have taken the Occlumency classes with Dumbledore! So many things rushed through his head. Not now, not today! shouted Harry at himself in his mind. Don't let this be ruined as well! He was right. It was his first night back at Hogwarts, the safest place Harry had ever known. The place he called his home.
The students walked up through the entrance doors and through the Great Hall. The non-first years took their seats and chatted away while thy waited for the new arrivals to cross the lake in their boats. It was fairly dark outside, the night sky illuminating the Geat Hall as the enchanted ceiling. Thousands upon thousands of candles were lit, flying high above them to light the room.
Ron and Hermione were chatting ferociously about Hermione's house, niether seemed to listen to what the other was saying.
"I loved it! Everything was sparkling clean-" said Ron, chewing on the last of his Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
"My room was messy! I was so embarrassed-" Hermione put her hands on the sides of her face.
"Wish my mum had seen it. She'd be so proud-"
"It was all Crookshanks you know-"
"Where were your parents?"
"He likes to tear things apart-"
"I didn't see them-"
"See what?" Hermione finally realized Ron was staring at her.
"Your parents. I didn't see them."
"Yeah, me niether in fact," Harry chimed in.
"Oh, they went to the store. They had to get some...uh... groceries," Herminoe blushed and bowed her head. Just as Harry was about to ask her why she was embarrassed about groceries, the Great Hall doors opened. In walked Professor McGonagal followed by the first years. They all strayed between the four long tables separating the houses. McGonagal stood in front of the entire school and explained the rules of Hogwarts. After what seemed an hour, she placed the sorting hat on the same stool every Hogwarts students had ever sat upon to be placed in a house. The sorting hat sang its new song for the year and sorted the students all the way from "Agates, Mavrick" to "Zulipana, Nicholas." Once everyone was seated, the tables magically appeared with tons of food including spongecakes, roast, treacle tarts, fried chicken, puddings, and any other imaginable tasty thing that could appear on their plates! Harry just realized he hadn't eaten since...well... he couldn't remember when! It was so long ago, in fact, Harry dived right into the roast, not noticing it burning his fingers, and ate it savagely. He stabbed some pork chops at his left and slammed them onto his plate. He grabbed some mashed potatoes and accidentally flung them across the Great Hall onto a Hufflepuff student, Madeline Boltrode. He then chuckled and slowed down his pace. He was at Hogwarts now. Nothing could get any worse, only better.
After the big feast, everyone, slow paced and eyes weighted, went up to their dormitories. The first years were guided up by their house prefects. The Gryffindor's prefects were Ron and Hermione so Harry was left alone. He wandered arround the corridors for a bit, trying to remember the new password in which he would recite to the fat lady in the portrait. "Luminos Reshlabinad." Once everyone was clear out of sight, Harry slowly made his way up to the Gryffindor dormitory. His footsteps echoed along the stone floor, down the halls and up stairs. On the last flight of stairs though, in mid-step, the staircase moved. Harry just waited for it to stop and continued his way upward. This passageway was in no shape or form connected to the Gryyfindor tower, it was Ravenclaw. He sat down and leaned against a wall, waiting for the staircase to change again. Five minutes passed, then ten, all the while Harry's thoughts moved in and out of him like faded dreams going slow motion through his head. He closed his eyes, pretending not to hear the footsteps trail behind him moving closer and closer until...
"Hi Harry," said a voice Harry recognized immediately.
"Hi Luna," Harry said sleepily.
"What'r you doing up here? Gryffindor is that way," Harry looked up as she pointed.
"The staircase changed. I'm waiting for it to change again. What are you doing outside your dorm?" he asked her, rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses.
"I'm not at all tired. I thought I could do with a walk," she said plainly, "Would you like to join me? You look like you've been smacked on the head with a broomstick." She chuckled. Smiling like an idiot, Harry stood up.
"Shall we?"
They walked along the passageway, turning corners, talking of their summer. Harry was telling Luna about the trip Ron and him had taken, soaring through the air and nearly crashing into that chimney. Luna just laughed.
"So Ron has damaged up that car in 4 weeks, did you say, than a troll could do with a club? Ha! He's a bit strange, isn't he?" Harry smirked at this remark.
"We're all strange. Only the strange people can get the farthest in life. I'm Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Ron's the Weasley kid, who no one really noticed until he was prefect. Hermione," he laughed at this, "everyone thought she was such a snob! But she's turned down her electricity volt a bit. She's fine now. And then there's Neville, who everyone picks on just because... well it's Neville!" They both laughed intently. "And then there's you," Luna turned to face Harry. "You're strange, I must admit. Remember last year when you made that hat in the shape of a lion's head?"
"Yeah, she said suspiciously, "but what does that have to do with anyth-"
"I have to admit that was rather silly, but in a way it was pretty wicked. You know, getting ecstatic over Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw." Luna was about to explode.
"Are you implying-"
"But then again it was against Slytherin so I woudn't blame you. I can sort of see why people call you 'Loony' Lovegood, though that's not very-" Luna had had it.
"I can't believe you can be so insensitive! You are about the last person on earth I thought I'd hear those offensive words from! You are the most disgusting," the hall was echoing with her voice, "malevolent," Harry could hear shuffling outside the Ravenclaw portrait, "thick," some curious Ravenclaws were coming out to see what was going on, "repulsive," the students stared blankly, some with their mouths open, "putrid," Luna looked like her veins were about to pop out, "cruelest scab I have ever met in my life!" She took a breath. "Goodday to you!" And she stormed back through the Ravenclaw portrait, students still staring in awe at Harry.
The staircase started to change and Harry quickly rushed to it, pretending he was the only one there. He didn't like people staring at him for who he was, let alone being chewed out by Luna Lovegood. Why was she so mad? I didn't say anything bad, he thought as he walked up to the fat lady's portrait.
"Password?" she asked him.
"Luminos.. re-ra... i-ish... uh..." Harry stammered. The fat lady just stared at him with a confused look on her face as did Harry. What was that blasted password? Oh! I know! "Luminos Reshlabinad." and the portrait opened to reveal the empty Gryffindor common room. He stepped inside and the portrait closed behind him.