Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I in any way affiliated or even remotely
involved with anyone who has anything to do with Harry Potter, J.K.
Rowling, or anything else that has to do with Harry Potter. I am just a
fan-girl who writes fan fiction! There may be a few lines from the book in
my fic, considering it's Order of the Phoenix from a different point of
view, but I mean it only to help the story! Without them, it would be
confusing! So don't sue me! Enjoy!
The Sorting Hat gleefully sang its new "sorting song" as the first years ganged up in front of the stairs in the Great Hall.
'I feel like an idiot.' Crystal thought as she squeezed in between some nervous first years that looked up at her uneasily, as she towered above them. 'I'm fifteen, not ten.' she looked around the hall. 'Ew( these uniforms are disgusting. Where's the Donna Karan? Gucci? Tommy? Please, give me some style! If it weren't for Auntie McGonagall(' she sighed and the hat finished its song. She clapped boredly and scanned the hall once more. Her eyes fell upon a very good looking fifth year boy with blond hair who was in Slytherin. Upon spotting him, she waved happily, and he waved back.
"Say," Ron said to Harry as he pointed to Crystal across the hall, "what do you s'pose that girl's doing there? She doesn't look like a first year."
"Who?" Harry asked, craning his neck around to see who Ron was talking about. And he saw her. She had long shiny brown hair and was waving to someone at the other side of the hall. She looked over in the direction of the Gryffindor table and Harry saw that she was very pretty. "I dunno. Never seen her before."
"Maybe she's new." Hermione stated. "Unless we've got another half- giant on our hands."
"Yeah." Ron answered absently. "I hope she gets into our house!" he said hopefully. Harry laughed, but Hermione rolled her eyes.
After a long wait, and a long session of Crystal studying her nails and pawing her hair, Professor McGonagall finally got to her.
"Summers, Crystal." she called.
"Ooh, that's me!" Crystal said, carefully pushing her way through the first years. She walked toward the stool on which the students sat to be sorted, but looked up at the staff table. "Oh, hey, Dumbledore!" she waved to him. He gave a tiny, polite wave and she cheerfully sat down on the stool. McGonagall moved to put the hat on her head. "Ooh, retro! So this school does have a little style!" she said happily. The hat was placed on her head.
"Hm(" the hat mumbled. "Well, you seem to have many different qualities( I suppose I could put you in( Gryffindor!" The Great Hall burst into claps and cheers, primarily from the Gryffindor boys. Crystal hopped off the stool, gave a fleeting goodbye wave to Dumbledore and McGonagall and took a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Ron.
"Hi." she greeted him as she smoothed out her skirt. "I'm Crystal. New here."
"H-hi." Ron stuttered, rather taken aback that she was so quick to speak. "I'm Ron."
"Hi, Crystal." Hermione greeted in a friendly tone. "I'm Hermione."
"Hi! Nice to meet you!" Crystal said cheerfully. She looked at Harry as it seemed he fit in with Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, I'm Harry." he quickly added.
"Oh, Harry Potter, then?" she asked casually.
Harry had fully expected her to glance up at his forehead as everyone who meets him does, but she did not. He nodded.
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you." she continued unconcernedly. "From my aunt."
"Your aunt?" Harry asked.
"Mm hm." she nodded. "Minerva McGonagall. She's my aunt." Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances.
"So, where are you from?" Hermione asked, trying to hide her surprise.
"New York." Crystal answered. "I was in an American Witchcraft and Wizardry School, but( it's kind of a long story. I just( couldn't go back home. My parents are a nightmare. Anyway, they did give me permission to come to school here. I'm boarding with McGonagall out of school, as it is. They'd look for any excuse to shove me off on someone else. But, anyway, how's Hogwarts? Is it fun?"
"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Ron answered. "'specially if you like Quidditch. Do you?"
"Oh, yes! I was on the team at my old school!" she said hopefully. "Ooh, I hope I can get a spot on this team!"
"What position?" Harry asked.
"Seeker!" she cheerfully answered.
"Oh, really?" Hermione asked, interested. "Well, Harry has that position on the Gryffindor team("
"Oh, well, perhaps I can try for a Chaser." Crystal said, non- dispirited. "I'm good at that too! I'll have to see, though( This is our O.W.L. year and I don't want to fall even the least bit behind!" Hermione gave an approving nod. "With the career I want to pursue, I must get top grades!"
"What career is that?" Harry asked. They all figured upon first impression that she would want to be a clothing designer or something to do with looks, something that didn't need very high marks.
"Oh, an Auror." she said cheerfully.
"Us too!" Ron added, gesturing to himself and Harry, very glad that they had something in common.
"Really?" she asked happily. "That's awesome!" Dumbledore made a short speech and food started to appear on their plates. "Ooh, this is cool." she said, impressed and put a small amount of a few different kind of foods on her plate. She began eating and became engrossed in the Great Hall; looking around and surveying her new habitat. She came back to reality and realized that Nearly Headless Nick had been talking to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"(And it wants all the houses to be friends?" Harry asked referring to the Sorting Hat and its song. He glared at the Slytherin table. "Fat chance."
"Well, why not?" Crystal asked innocently, but was shot down by looks of disgust from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Us be friends with Slytherin?" Harry gaped. "I know you haven't been here for long, but you may as well learn now that all the Slytherins are awful people."
"Oh, no. Not all of them." Crystal said with big innocent eyes.
"Yes, all of them." Ron chuckled.
"Well, not Draco." Crystal said. Harry choked on his potatoes and Hermione spit some of her drink back into her cup.
"Wh-whaddo you mean 'not Draco?'" Harry asked, swallowing the remnants of potato in his mouth.
"He's very nice." Crystal said in her usual cheerful tone.
"Well, you haven't known him long enough." Ron assured. "Once you get to know him, he's really a bloody--"
"Oh, no, I've known him for weeks." Crystal said. "I met him over the summer. He's my boyfriend, actually." Ron's heart sank, Harry felt disgusted, and Hermione felt violated.
"Ew." Hermione stated simply, not actually wanting that to slip out.
"Well, he's nice to me." Crystal added. "Anyway, how can you guys stand these uniforms? They're so( identical( Must we wear them all the time?"
"Yes(" Ron said, still disappointed in what he had heard.
"That's too bad." Crystal said. "Well, I'll just have to make a few adjustments(" But before they could ask what she meant by 'adjustments,' Dumbledore stood up and spoke. Crystal paid undivided attention to him as he spoke about Hogwarts common knowledge and other things. She heard Ron, Harry, and Hermione whispering about something a few times, but was too full of respect and curiosity about her new school, that she did not pay them any attention. After Dumbledore finished his speech, they all got up. Ron and Hermione, being prefects, ushered the first years upstairs, leaving Harry and Crystal in the Great Hall.
"Oh, I have to go talk to McGonagall." Crystal informed Harry. "Nice meeting you. See you later, okay?" Harry nodded and Crystal departed. She made her way over to McGonagall at the staff table and talked to her about Hogwarts stuff. They stood at the far left end of the table, out of the way.
"(And stick to the dress code, Crystal," McGonagall rigidly told her. "I know that's a hard one for you."
"I'm just too fashionable for my own good." Crystal dismissed.
"Good evening, Minerva." said a cold, deep voice behind Crystal. She turned around and saw a tall man with greasy black hair and pale skin.
"Good evening, Severus." McGonagall greeted. Crystal looked up inquiringly at McGonagall. "Oh," she hesitated. "This is my niece, Crystal Summers, she's come here from Avadagard's School in New York." He raised an eyebrow. "She didn't get kicked out, if that's what you're thinking." McGonagall rushed, and, clearly, it was what he was thinking. "Family issues. Anyway, Crystal, this is Professor Snape, the Potions teacher."
"Oh, really?" Crystal said cheerfully. "Nice to meet you!" she stuck out her hand and Snape reluctantly shook it. "Potions is one of my favorite subjects!" she beamed. "I want you to know," she assured, "that I received the highest marks in my previous Potions classes. And I look forward to my first Potions class here! I heard at my other school that Hogwarts has one of the best Potions programs and teachers!" Snape looked rather proud to hear this from a Gryffindor; especially one that he had analyzed upon sight to care more for her looks than her schoolwork, but he was apparently incorrect. "I certainly hope that I am up to par on Potions, considering that I have come from another school..." she sincerely looked worried.
"Oh, I am sure you will do fine." Snape assured, flattered, but still not willing to throw in an actual friendly word to a Gryffindor.
"Excuse me for a moment." McGonagall said as she spotted someone she needed to talk to and left them.
"What is it that we are to learn first in your class this year?" Crystal asked Snape.
"The Draught of Peace." Snape answered. "It is likely to come up in your O.W.L.s."
"Oh?" Crystal asked. "Well, I've never tried making one before, but I've read about them." Just then, Draco Malfoy made his way up to them. "Oh, hi, Draco!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Crystal," he said, and then looking at Snape, "Professor Snape."
"Draco." Snape greeted. "Nice summer, I hope?"
"Yes, very." he answered. "And you?"
"The same." Snape replied.
"So I see you've met Crystal here." Draco continued. "Really great girl, even if she is a Gryffindor." Crystal smiled and attached herself onto Draco's arm. "You can approve of her, she's not like Granger and that lot."
"That is a relief." Snape replied. "And so interested in Potions. Shame she's not in Slytherin."
"I think I'll like Gryffindor." she added. "Everyone seems very nice!"
"Professor Snape is the Head of Slytherin, Crystal." Draco said.
"Oh." she felt panicked for a moment. "Well, I'm sure Slytherin is very nice too. I must become acclimated to my surroundings, you know!"
Draco glanced around at the empty hall. "We'd best be off to bed, then."
"Oh, yes, I suppose so." Crystal said. "Nice meeting you, Professor." Snape nodded and Crystal and Draco traipsed off out of the Great Hall. Once at the foot of the marble staircase, they stopped. "Well, Professor Snape certainly is a nice man."
"I think you'll find that knowing the right people can be immensely helpful here." Draco said. "Knowing me will put you on the good side of Snape." Crystal didn't really know what he meant by all of that, but smiled anyhow. She gave him a kiss and made her way up the stairs as Draco departed for the Slytherin Common Room. She suddenly realized that she didn't know where she was going. She saw a brown haired boy trudging up the stairs a flight up.
"Oh, excuse me!" she called to him. "Excuse me!" she hurried up the stairs to him. "Hi, I'm Crystal. I'm new here. I'm in Gryffindor, but I don't know where the Common Room is since I'm, well, new."
"Oh, it's up this way." the boy replied, slightly uneasily. "I'm Neville."
"Hi. What year are you?" she asked curiously as they climbed the stairs.
"Fifth. You?"
"Fifth too!" she replied happily. "That's cool. Hey, what's that?"
"Oh, this is a Mimbulus mimbletonia. It's a sort of cactus. They're really interesting..." he trailed off, thinking he should shut up and that he was just sounding stupid beaming over a plant.
"Oh, wow! Really?" Crystal exclaimed. "That's cool! I've never seen one before! Just read about them! Are we going to study them in Herbology?"
"Er, I hope so." Neville said, slightly taken aback at the fact that she actually thought his plant was cool.
"Oh, I just can't wait until the first Herbology lesson!" Crystal beamed. "And the first... everything, really. I'm very exited to be here at Hogwarts!"
They came to a corridor where there was a painting of a fat lady in a pink dress and before it stood Harry.
The Fat Lady was saying, "No password, no entrance."
"Harry, I know it!" Neville beamed. He ran over to Harry and she heard him say "Mimbulus mimbletonia," apparently being the password. The painting swung open and they all climbed through the portrait hole. Crystal departed to the girls' dormitory after thanking Neville. She introduced herself to all the other Gryffindor girls who seemed to accept her, and she went to bed. Apparently, all the other girls thought she was very cool, especially since she had come from America and Avadagard's Witchcraft and Wizardry School. She fell asleep happily thinking about the fun learning experience that was to come.
Okay, well, that's it for now! I hope you liked it! It'll get better as time goes on! I'm busy, but I'll update when I can! Wingardium Leviosa!
Arg! For some reason, the dot dot dot's show up as this: ( !!! No!! See: ... Bah! Well, it's in my nature to use dot dot dot's, so when you see one of these: ( just use your imagination and pretend it's a dot dot dot. Unless it's starting a parentheses phrase thing... oh, bah!
The Sorting Hat gleefully sang its new "sorting song" as the first years ganged up in front of the stairs in the Great Hall.
'I feel like an idiot.' Crystal thought as she squeezed in between some nervous first years that looked up at her uneasily, as she towered above them. 'I'm fifteen, not ten.' she looked around the hall. 'Ew( these uniforms are disgusting. Where's the Donna Karan? Gucci? Tommy? Please, give me some style! If it weren't for Auntie McGonagall(' she sighed and the hat finished its song. She clapped boredly and scanned the hall once more. Her eyes fell upon a very good looking fifth year boy with blond hair who was in Slytherin. Upon spotting him, she waved happily, and he waved back.
"Say," Ron said to Harry as he pointed to Crystal across the hall, "what do you s'pose that girl's doing there? She doesn't look like a first year."
"Who?" Harry asked, craning his neck around to see who Ron was talking about. And he saw her. She had long shiny brown hair and was waving to someone at the other side of the hall. She looked over in the direction of the Gryffindor table and Harry saw that she was very pretty. "I dunno. Never seen her before."
"Maybe she's new." Hermione stated. "Unless we've got another half- giant on our hands."
"Yeah." Ron answered absently. "I hope she gets into our house!" he said hopefully. Harry laughed, but Hermione rolled her eyes.
After a long wait, and a long session of Crystal studying her nails and pawing her hair, Professor McGonagall finally got to her.
"Summers, Crystal." she called.
"Ooh, that's me!" Crystal said, carefully pushing her way through the first years. She walked toward the stool on which the students sat to be sorted, but looked up at the staff table. "Oh, hey, Dumbledore!" she waved to him. He gave a tiny, polite wave and she cheerfully sat down on the stool. McGonagall moved to put the hat on her head. "Ooh, retro! So this school does have a little style!" she said happily. The hat was placed on her head.
"Hm(" the hat mumbled. "Well, you seem to have many different qualities( I suppose I could put you in( Gryffindor!" The Great Hall burst into claps and cheers, primarily from the Gryffindor boys. Crystal hopped off the stool, gave a fleeting goodbye wave to Dumbledore and McGonagall and took a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Ron.
"Hi." she greeted him as she smoothed out her skirt. "I'm Crystal. New here."
"H-hi." Ron stuttered, rather taken aback that she was so quick to speak. "I'm Ron."
"Hi, Crystal." Hermione greeted in a friendly tone. "I'm Hermione."
"Hi! Nice to meet you!" Crystal said cheerfully. She looked at Harry as it seemed he fit in with Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, I'm Harry." he quickly added.
"Oh, Harry Potter, then?" she asked casually.
Harry had fully expected her to glance up at his forehead as everyone who meets him does, but she did not. He nodded.
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you." she continued unconcernedly. "From my aunt."
"Your aunt?" Harry asked.
"Mm hm." she nodded. "Minerva McGonagall. She's my aunt." Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances.
"So, where are you from?" Hermione asked, trying to hide her surprise.
"New York." Crystal answered. "I was in an American Witchcraft and Wizardry School, but( it's kind of a long story. I just( couldn't go back home. My parents are a nightmare. Anyway, they did give me permission to come to school here. I'm boarding with McGonagall out of school, as it is. They'd look for any excuse to shove me off on someone else. But, anyway, how's Hogwarts? Is it fun?"
"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Ron answered. "'specially if you like Quidditch. Do you?"
"Oh, yes! I was on the team at my old school!" she said hopefully. "Ooh, I hope I can get a spot on this team!"
"What position?" Harry asked.
"Seeker!" she cheerfully answered.
"Oh, really?" Hermione asked, interested. "Well, Harry has that position on the Gryffindor team("
"Oh, well, perhaps I can try for a Chaser." Crystal said, non- dispirited. "I'm good at that too! I'll have to see, though( This is our O.W.L. year and I don't want to fall even the least bit behind!" Hermione gave an approving nod. "With the career I want to pursue, I must get top grades!"
"What career is that?" Harry asked. They all figured upon first impression that she would want to be a clothing designer or something to do with looks, something that didn't need very high marks.
"Oh, an Auror." she said cheerfully.
"Us too!" Ron added, gesturing to himself and Harry, very glad that they had something in common.
"Really?" she asked happily. "That's awesome!" Dumbledore made a short speech and food started to appear on their plates. "Ooh, this is cool." she said, impressed and put a small amount of a few different kind of foods on her plate. She began eating and became engrossed in the Great Hall; looking around and surveying her new habitat. She came back to reality and realized that Nearly Headless Nick had been talking to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"(And it wants all the houses to be friends?" Harry asked referring to the Sorting Hat and its song. He glared at the Slytherin table. "Fat chance."
"Well, why not?" Crystal asked innocently, but was shot down by looks of disgust from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Us be friends with Slytherin?" Harry gaped. "I know you haven't been here for long, but you may as well learn now that all the Slytherins are awful people."
"Oh, no. Not all of them." Crystal said with big innocent eyes.
"Yes, all of them." Ron chuckled.
"Well, not Draco." Crystal said. Harry choked on his potatoes and Hermione spit some of her drink back into her cup.
"Wh-whaddo you mean 'not Draco?'" Harry asked, swallowing the remnants of potato in his mouth.
"He's very nice." Crystal said in her usual cheerful tone.
"Well, you haven't known him long enough." Ron assured. "Once you get to know him, he's really a bloody--"
"Oh, no, I've known him for weeks." Crystal said. "I met him over the summer. He's my boyfriend, actually." Ron's heart sank, Harry felt disgusted, and Hermione felt violated.
"Ew." Hermione stated simply, not actually wanting that to slip out.
"Well, he's nice to me." Crystal added. "Anyway, how can you guys stand these uniforms? They're so( identical( Must we wear them all the time?"
"Yes(" Ron said, still disappointed in what he had heard.
"That's too bad." Crystal said. "Well, I'll just have to make a few adjustments(" But before they could ask what she meant by 'adjustments,' Dumbledore stood up and spoke. Crystal paid undivided attention to him as he spoke about Hogwarts common knowledge and other things. She heard Ron, Harry, and Hermione whispering about something a few times, but was too full of respect and curiosity about her new school, that she did not pay them any attention. After Dumbledore finished his speech, they all got up. Ron and Hermione, being prefects, ushered the first years upstairs, leaving Harry and Crystal in the Great Hall.
"Oh, I have to go talk to McGonagall." Crystal informed Harry. "Nice meeting you. See you later, okay?" Harry nodded and Crystal departed. She made her way over to McGonagall at the staff table and talked to her about Hogwarts stuff. They stood at the far left end of the table, out of the way.
"(And stick to the dress code, Crystal," McGonagall rigidly told her. "I know that's a hard one for you."
"I'm just too fashionable for my own good." Crystal dismissed.
"Good evening, Minerva." said a cold, deep voice behind Crystal. She turned around and saw a tall man with greasy black hair and pale skin.
"Good evening, Severus." McGonagall greeted. Crystal looked up inquiringly at McGonagall. "Oh," she hesitated. "This is my niece, Crystal Summers, she's come here from Avadagard's School in New York." He raised an eyebrow. "She didn't get kicked out, if that's what you're thinking." McGonagall rushed, and, clearly, it was what he was thinking. "Family issues. Anyway, Crystal, this is Professor Snape, the Potions teacher."
"Oh, really?" Crystal said cheerfully. "Nice to meet you!" she stuck out her hand and Snape reluctantly shook it. "Potions is one of my favorite subjects!" she beamed. "I want you to know," she assured, "that I received the highest marks in my previous Potions classes. And I look forward to my first Potions class here! I heard at my other school that Hogwarts has one of the best Potions programs and teachers!" Snape looked rather proud to hear this from a Gryffindor; especially one that he had analyzed upon sight to care more for her looks than her schoolwork, but he was apparently incorrect. "I certainly hope that I am up to par on Potions, considering that I have come from another school..." she sincerely looked worried.
"Oh, I am sure you will do fine." Snape assured, flattered, but still not willing to throw in an actual friendly word to a Gryffindor.
"Excuse me for a moment." McGonagall said as she spotted someone she needed to talk to and left them.
"What is it that we are to learn first in your class this year?" Crystal asked Snape.
"The Draught of Peace." Snape answered. "It is likely to come up in your O.W.L.s."
"Oh?" Crystal asked. "Well, I've never tried making one before, but I've read about them." Just then, Draco Malfoy made his way up to them. "Oh, hi, Draco!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Crystal," he said, and then looking at Snape, "Professor Snape."
"Draco." Snape greeted. "Nice summer, I hope?"
"Yes, very." he answered. "And you?"
"The same." Snape replied.
"So I see you've met Crystal here." Draco continued. "Really great girl, even if she is a Gryffindor." Crystal smiled and attached herself onto Draco's arm. "You can approve of her, she's not like Granger and that lot."
"That is a relief." Snape replied. "And so interested in Potions. Shame she's not in Slytherin."
"I think I'll like Gryffindor." she added. "Everyone seems very nice!"
"Professor Snape is the Head of Slytherin, Crystal." Draco said.
"Oh." she felt panicked for a moment. "Well, I'm sure Slytherin is very nice too. I must become acclimated to my surroundings, you know!"
Draco glanced around at the empty hall. "We'd best be off to bed, then."
"Oh, yes, I suppose so." Crystal said. "Nice meeting you, Professor." Snape nodded and Crystal and Draco traipsed off out of the Great Hall. Once at the foot of the marble staircase, they stopped. "Well, Professor Snape certainly is a nice man."
"I think you'll find that knowing the right people can be immensely helpful here." Draco said. "Knowing me will put you on the good side of Snape." Crystal didn't really know what he meant by all of that, but smiled anyhow. She gave him a kiss and made her way up the stairs as Draco departed for the Slytherin Common Room. She suddenly realized that she didn't know where she was going. She saw a brown haired boy trudging up the stairs a flight up.
"Oh, excuse me!" she called to him. "Excuse me!" she hurried up the stairs to him. "Hi, I'm Crystal. I'm new here. I'm in Gryffindor, but I don't know where the Common Room is since I'm, well, new."
"Oh, it's up this way." the boy replied, slightly uneasily. "I'm Neville."
"Hi. What year are you?" she asked curiously as they climbed the stairs.
"Fifth. You?"
"Fifth too!" she replied happily. "That's cool. Hey, what's that?"
"Oh, this is a Mimbulus mimbletonia. It's a sort of cactus. They're really interesting..." he trailed off, thinking he should shut up and that he was just sounding stupid beaming over a plant.
"Oh, wow! Really?" Crystal exclaimed. "That's cool! I've never seen one before! Just read about them! Are we going to study them in Herbology?"
"Er, I hope so." Neville said, slightly taken aback at the fact that she actually thought his plant was cool.
"Oh, I just can't wait until the first Herbology lesson!" Crystal beamed. "And the first... everything, really. I'm very exited to be here at Hogwarts!"
They came to a corridor where there was a painting of a fat lady in a pink dress and before it stood Harry.
The Fat Lady was saying, "No password, no entrance."
"Harry, I know it!" Neville beamed. He ran over to Harry and she heard him say "Mimbulus mimbletonia," apparently being the password. The painting swung open and they all climbed through the portrait hole. Crystal departed to the girls' dormitory after thanking Neville. She introduced herself to all the other Gryffindor girls who seemed to accept her, and she went to bed. Apparently, all the other girls thought she was very cool, especially since she had come from America and Avadagard's Witchcraft and Wizardry School. She fell asleep happily thinking about the fun learning experience that was to come.
Okay, well, that's it for now! I hope you liked it! It'll get better as time goes on! I'm busy, but I'll update when I can! Wingardium Leviosa!
Arg! For some reason, the dot dot dot's show up as this: ( !!! No!! See: ... Bah! Well, it's in my nature to use dot dot dot's, so when you see one of these: ( just use your imagination and pretend it's a dot dot dot. Unless it's starting a parentheses phrase thing... oh, bah!