The castle was illuminated in the distance, giving it a very mystical presence, and the image sent shivers down Jennifer's spine. There were no pictures in Hogwarts, A History, so this was her first picture of the school she would spend a year at. A woman's voice was heard in the distance, "First years, this way," and for a moment Jennifer had no idea where she was supposed to go. She was a fifth year in schooling, but it was her first year at Hogwarts.
Harry and the rest of the members in her compartment walked over to a powder blue carriage; pulled by…well…nothing. She followed after a moment's hesitation, and climbed up beside them. The ride there was filled with small talk, but Jennifer did not participate. Butterflies filled her stomach as she wondered what would happen once she got to the castle. Hermione had said something about being 'sorted', and Jennifer was sure that meant into the four different houses.
At Salem Institute there was the boys and girl's dormitories, but no houses. For several hundred years the Institute had been exclusively for witchcraft, but in the last century boys had been accepted as well. 'Not that it really mattered,' Jennifer thought with a grimace. She had a hard enough time making friends with girls, let alone boys.
'I'm starting over,' she resolved. 'Hogwarts will be different'
The carriage stopped abruptly, casting Jennifer forward, in her daydream state she had been unable to hold onto anything, and found herself grasping Ron's forearms. He blushed straight up to the roots of his hair, and Jennifer let go quickly. "Sorry," she apologized, and he managed a high-pitched squeak in response.
Everyone hopped out and walked up the steps to the castle, Ron still bright red and standing as far from Jennifer as he could. The butterflies that had been expelled by the surprise of stopping came back full force, thudding between Jennifer's ribs, making their existence painfully known. Breathing became difficult and for a split second Jennifer thought she might be having a panic attack. 'Stop it,' she commanded, 'Stop doing this to yourself. Calm the hell down.'
The ceiling was very high, and the halls were covered in paintings that spoke to each other and moved around. She was used to it; although Salem didn't have nearly as many, there were paintings in some hallways and the library. Mr. Jennings of the second floor hallway had become rather helpful during her first year at Salem, often following her to class to make sure she made it on time.
"Jennifer?" Hermione asked, gently touching her arm. Unknowingly she had stopped in front of a painting that resembled her grandfather, but continued walking when she heard Hermione's voice. "Jennifer, don't be nervous. Most everyone is friendly," Hermione tried to comfort her, and she smiled gratefully.
Before they reached a huge doorway that ended the hallway, a rather old looking witch stopped their group. "Jennifer Anderson?" she asked, peering down her spectacles at the frightened girl.
"Yes?"
"Come with me, please." She turned on her heel sharply, and Jennifer hurried to keep up with her. They entered a room filled with young students, first years, Jennifer assumed, by the terrified expressions on their faces. At least a head taller than everyone in the room, Jennifer felt like a giant, and turned to the older witch questioningly.
"Since you are a special case, Jennifer, you will be sorted first. Do you know about the houses of Hogwarts?"
"Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Jennifer listed, double-checking in her mind that she got them all right.
The witch nodded. "Correct. Professor Dumbledore is informing the school of your special case and once you are sorted, we will continue with the first years. Are you ready?"
Taking in a shaky breath, she nodded, and the witch escorted her back into the hallway she started out in, and through two huge double doors into the largest hall she'd ever been it. It was lit by thousands of floating candles, and the ceiling looked exactly like the starry night sky. Four long tables took up the space in the center, and most of the students were already situated there. Dumbledore's voice reached her as she walked, and her stomach began to churn when she realized he was talking about her.
"This year we have a special guest to our school. A fifth year has transferred here from the Salem Institute, and we welcome her warmly. I trust that you will all treat her with the respect that you show your own classmates, and will help show her the ways of Hogwarts."
In front of the teacher's tables was a stool, with what seemed to be a very old and worn hat sitting upon it. The witch motioned for her to sit on the stool, and the hat was placed upon her head. Closing her eyes to block the sight of everyone staring at her, she was surprised to hear a voice inside her ear talking to her. "Well well, an American in our midst. New to Hogwarts indeed. Let us see, Jennifer, there is a very wise mind, and plenty of bravery. Ravenclaw would suit you well, but the courage it takes to come here from so far away, then I think you'd best be in, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Applause broke out, and Jennifer took the hat off. She made her way down to the long tables to find Hermione, Harry, and Ginny waving like mad for her to come sit with them. She slid in between Hermione and Ron, whose face had returned to its normal pallor. "Congratulations!" Hermione squealed, hugging Jennifer excitedly. For some reason, Hermione had been very nervous that Jennifer would be sorted into a different house, and felt immense relief when the sorting hat shouted Gryffindor.
All the first years filed into the Great Hall behind the witch that escorted Jennifer to the hat (Jennifer found out that she was Professor McGonagall from Hermione), and sat sleepily while they were sorted. The fatigue of traveling was beginning to catch up with her, mingling with the hunger to create a wooziness that was not suiting her well.
Once they were done, and dinner was done, Dumbledore stood up to make a speech and introduce some new people, but Jennifer was having a hard enough time keeping her eyes open to pay attention. The food here was wonderful, and had doubled her sleepiness. Her head drooped lower and lower, until she fell asleep.
Ron's eyes widened as Jennifer's head rested on his shoulder, and gestured wildly to Harry with his free arm. Harry just grinned wickedly, and whispered, "Looks like you've got a new friend, mate."
"What am I supposed to do?" he hissed. "This isn't funny!" Harry couldn't help but laugh at how helpless Ron became. Hermione, who had been paying attention to Professor Umbridge's speech, glared at them both.
"Shut it, will you?"
They rolled their eyes at each other, but Ron was distracted for only a second. Luckily for him, the tables were dismissed after Umbridge's lengthy speech, and he poked her arm gently. "Jennifer?"
Opening her eyes quickly, she blinked at the lights. "What?" Her hand came up to rub the sleepiness out her eyes, and she looked into Ron's face, which was too close for his comfort. "Did I fall asleep?" When he nodded, she looked worried. "Did I miss anything important?"
Harry spoke up when Ron's throat wouldn't seem to work. "Not that I could tell, but then again I lost interest. Ask Hermione."
"Hmph. You obviously weren't listening. This is bad, very bad." Three pairs of concerned eyes looked up at her, although Ron and Harry were used to her dramatizations, and weren't exactly worried. "This means the Ministry is trying to take over Hogwarts."
Jennifer felt her stomach sink. If the Ministry was taking over, they were sure to make hell for her, the one that was supporting Dumbledore so openly.
Hermione grabbed Ron's arm suddenly. "Ron! We have to go take the first years. Let's go!" When they rushed off, Jennifer turned to Harry, very confused.
"What was that about?"
"They're prefects, meaning they've got responsibilities." He shrugged it off, trying to sound like he didn't care. "I'll show you the shortcut to Gryffindor Tower, and if you stick with us, you won't get lost, which is very easy to do around here."
She smiled sleepily. "Thanks. I just want to get to bed, I feel like I've been falling asleep all over the place!"
They walked out together, and from behind Jennifer heard a shrill shriek. "Potter and the American! What a cuuute couple!" She could feel Harry stiffen beside her, and she willed him not to turn around. Sniggers were heard from behind as well, but they kept walking.
Out of earshot, Jennifer asked quietly, "Who was that?"
"Slytherins. Let's just say they're not my biggest fans." Harry scowled as he thought of Malfoy and his cronies.
"I'm not surprised," she commented. "Voldemort and all his supporters came from Slytherin, right?"
Harry stopped and turned to face her incredulously. "You said his name!"
She shrugged. "I have no reason to fear him. Why should I fear his name?"
A few stragglers from the Great Hall walked past them, and they continued as well. Harry's mouth was still opened in shock. "You're the only person I've ever met that thinks that way. Everyone has reason to fear Voldemort."
"I've never heard him to target Americans," she replied. "Although, I probably am in danger now, since I've transferred here."
He nodded, it made sense, and he stopped her before a portrait of a huge lady in a pink silk dress. "Um…I don't know the password."
Neville came up behind them and grinned at Harry. "I won't forget the password this year." He pet his cactus lovingly. "Mimbulus mimbletonia!"
"Correct." The portrait swung open to reveal a hole wide enough for someone to get through, and Harry went through without blinking. Jennifer followed, eyes open wide. They entered the Gryffindor common room that was filled with several inviting armchairs and a cozy fire. Harry pointed to a flight of stairs to the right. "That's the stairs to the girls dormitory. Your trunk should be up there already, Hermione too. She'll show you what you need to know."
Nodding, she started to head up the stairs, but before she got far she turned around and came back down. "Thank you," she said loudly, and Harry just nodded. Continuing up the stairs unsteadily, after all, she was still very tired, her head swam with everything that happened.
Before she could go very far, Hermione's head stuck out of a doorway to her right. She looked very relieved. "There you are. You're in here, with the other fifth years."
The room was furnished with six poster beds hung with heavy velvet curtains. Four out of the six's curtains were pulled around the bed, shielding the occupant from view, and Hermione pointed to one that was open. "That's yours. Your trunk is at the end of the bed, and your owl will be in the Owlery."
"Thanks. Night." Jennifer noticed that Hermione was already dressed in her pajamas and robe, and began rummaging through her trunk to find her own.
"Good night. See you in the morning."
Sliding into bed, she felt very warm and comfortable. 'This will be good,' she thought as her eyes closed, 'I will be happy here.' That was her last thought as she drifted off… 'I will be happy'