A/N: No single review??? Well, no review means also no flame… ::shrugs:: Today I read that fairies can't speak with humans – well, in my story they can, and have a higher intelligence than usual. Would be boring else.
Additional Disclaimer: You'll find phrases and dialogues used by Rowling. For example Dumbledores speech. I just couldn't see why I should change that stuff. I only changed "first-years" to "new students" so that Ruby is included, too. So please don't sue. As always this disclaimer is of course for ALL chapters.
A/N 2: Please excuse it when I make mistakes concerning geograhy and such stuff (for example "Washington Station"). It really wasn't my fav subject at school….
Oh, and here I have a picture I've drawn of Ruby:
http://de.geocities.com/rubyfrumblefoot/Galerie/RubyWitty.jpg
And for anybody who's interested:
http://de.geocities.com/rubyfrumblefoot/Galerie/WeasleyTwins.jpg
~*~
The Hat sat neatly on Ruby's head and for a moment nothing happened. She nervously kneaded her blue school hat in her hands waiting for the Hat to announce her house as she suddenly heard a quiet voice talking to her.
"Aaah, an older student you are, yes? And American, too, as I see. Welcome to Hogwarts!"
It was the Hat! Ruby nearly fell off the stool in fright. She heard some laughter coming from the students at the tables but couldn't make out who it was. She scowled into the crowd while the Hat spoke on.
"Well, let's have a look. I see, problems with learning out of books but hard working. I know where that is valued. Yes, you will best fit into HUFFLEPUFF!"
The last words were shouted into the Great Hall and Ruby could see Hufflepuff table erupt with cheers though most of their faces wore confused expressions (obviously about the fact they got a new fifth-year student). She replaced the Sorting Hat by her own and stalked over to the table. There was a free seat opposite the girl who had been first to be Sorted – Hannah Abbott when her memory didn't trick her. Right and left of Ruby were sitting two first-year boys whose names she had forgotten but didn't care either.
Then a tall wizard with a long white beard who had been sitting in the middle of the teachers' table (so it was probably Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster) got to his feet and looked at them with a delighted expression on his face. Ruby prepared herself for an endless and boring start-of-term-speech as Professor Corners, the Headmaster of Salem Institution, held every year.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore said "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words." Ruby's mind began to drift away as they usually did during Corner's speech. She was quite good at dreaming while listening with a half ear and pretending to be very interested. "And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you!"
And with that he sat down again. Ruby was stunned. Dumbledore was said to be ingenious but a bit unconventional – "odd" may have been the better word. However she liked it this way for she was very hungry. By the way – where was the food? The boy on her left side gasped and Ruby turned back to the table – which was now laden with food! There was everything a hungry stomach could dream of. Even mint humbugs where there. She loved these! She looked around – there were no House Elf waitors to be seen.
"Has any of the teachers conjured that up?" she asked more to herself than to anybody else.
However the stout boy to her right who had been helping himself to roast beef had heard her.
"Of course the food wasn't just conjured! It would vanish in our stomachs later, wouldn't it?" he seemed to be in a rather bold mood now that the Sorting was over.
"That was my fear."
"Oh really! Do you listen to what you're saying? They can't let us starve here!" the boy shook his head.
"So where does the food then come from?" Ruby asked trying to distract that little brat. But he just exclaimed
"It's sent up from the kitchens below, of course!" and on Ruby's bewildered expression he added "Phew! You aren't really on the brainy side, are you?"
Ruby's jaw dropped at that cheekiness. At Salem Institution youngsters usually had more respect against the older students. She thought about a possible answer that would put him in his place as the girl next to Hannah Abbott (Susan Bones Ruby thought) butted in.
"Ernie, right? Better hold your tongue! She is older than you as I might remind you!" she said sternly.
"Yeah!" Hannah now said "My brother is Hufflepuff Prefect. And when you don't watch what you're saying I'm telling him about you."
That seemed to shut him up and he leaned over his meal again. Ruby now began to fill her plate, too, thinking about how she could nick some of the veggies for Witty. The food was different from her school's but nevertheless delicious. Her mother used to cook English food quite often and she was good at it – but her cooking was nothing against THIS!
"So – where are you from? And why do you start here so late?" Hannah asked her.
Ruby looked up her mouth full with Yorkshire pudding.
"I'm from the United States. My parents want me to graduate at Hogwarts like my Mom had."
Hannah looked truthfull interested. She seemed to be eager to hold up the conversation about which Ruby was somehow thankful for she had a question.
"Erm…Hannah, right?" the girl nodded "May I ask you a question?" again she nodded "You said that your brother was – er – a Perfect. What's that?"
Hannah snickered a bit but answered promptly.
"It's Prefect! And Prefects are students who are responsible for the other students in their houses. They help sorting out problems especially first-years have. Y'know, schedule and homework and so. And they keep an eye on the behaviour and order in both houses and corridors. They even are allowed to take points from students. Don't you have the likes at your school? … I mean, you WERE at a school before weren't you?"
"Of course I was! Otherwise I wouldn't be in fifth year, would I?" that had been rather harsh as Ruby could see in Hannah's face so she quickly went on "Well, we had no points or "Prefects" but Floor Inspectors and tutors. The Floor Inspectors, or more commonly known as Students on Patrol," Ruby couldn't help but grin "are responsible for the order on their floors. They are named by the teachers and act in their name. That's good, for so we don't have teachers going up and down the floors all the time. And quite every student, except the first-years of course, is a tutor for one of the younger ones. They help them with homework and the likes."
'What am I doing here?' she thought 'Socialising with first-years or what?' But the long and silent travel had been really dull for her who normally couldn't stop babbling. It was a relief to know that she actually still was able to talk. And it was nice to tell them something about Salem Institution.
"Floors? Don't you have houses, too?" Susan asked curiously.
"Well, sort of but not in the same way as you have here. There are three dorm houses, two with three floors and one with only one floor. Each floor is for one year with dorms and common rooms. It's the best to be seventh year, then you have a whole house for yourself!" Ruby dreamed. Being in seventh year at last was the big aim of every Salem student from first year on. They made the best parties and had the most fun of all.
"So you move every year?" Susan asked, Ruby nodded.
"And you aren't in one house during all the school time?" Hannah asked, Ruby nodded again.
"Isn't that dull?" the boy on Ruby's right side, Ernie, tried to take part in the conversation. He apparently wanted to be on good terms with his fellow students after all.
"No, it isn't!" Ruby opposed. "I mean, you have your houses, we have our floors. They don't have any names, just First-year Corridor and so on. Well, the Students on Patrol tend to give the floors their own names but nobody actually even THINKS of using these names. Especially as there are always 5 till 10 Inspectors. We can't give the floors so many names, can we?"
"So many? Why are there so many Inspectors?" it seemed to be beyond Ernie why so many students were required.
"Because there are so many students in each year. Salem Institution, that's the name of my school by the way, covers whole 11 states! That's pretty much though some of these are rather small so that there aren't too many of us living there… But all in all the school's really big – even bigger than Hogwarts! And better." She added very quiet.
The others hadn't heard the last thing for at that statement the plates and bowls were wiped clean and the sweet appeared. There was ice-cream in every flavor Ruby could think of and apple pies and fruit and much more. Ruby could feel Witty stir excitedly in her pocket – she could smell the ice-cream and fruits, Ruby gave her a small nudge and hoped that nobody had seen her robes move. But everybody was much too busy with eating and the rest of the meal went on silently. When all had finished everything was wiped clean again and the Headmaster stood once more up and all the talking in the Hall stopped.
"Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
'Oh great,' Ruby thought, 'well, at least he bothers us with that stuff when we are all full and satisfied'
"The new students should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils." Ruby listened intently. Looks as if she had found a first way of breaking the rules. Ideas were welling up in her head. "And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.
I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
'What? That's mean!' Ruby was a bit furious so she didn't really notice what was said next.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Ruby came back to her senses. What did he just say? Must have been something serious for there were some concerned faces around her but she didn't dare to ask and so reveal that she hadn't been listening.
"And finally I want to solve a small riddle that maybe has occupy some of you during the evening. As you have seen we have a new fifth-year student."
Oh no! Ruby's face fell. She had dreaded something like this to happen all evening.
"Ms Ruby Riders has found her way from the American Salem Institution for Magical Education to Hogwarts to spend the rest of her school time with us. She was kind enough to show us all her school's uniform but I'm sure she will wear Hogwarts robes as soon as lessons start." at that he gave her a sharp look. Ruby blushed and looked down at her sleeves. She was very fond of her robes: navy blue with embroidered golden stars and half-moons at the borders (A/N: can be seen on my drawing). However Dumbledore continued "I'm sure you will all give her a warm welcome and make sure she will feel like home."
Ruby felt hundreds of eyes looking at her and noticed a reamarkable heat fighting its way up to her face and ears.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"
Ruby looked up again, there were golden words written in mid-air (probably Dumbledore had connjured them up).
"Everyone pick their favourite tune, and off we go!"
The Hall echoed from the hundreds of voices, quiet and loud, high and deep, melody and unmelody. Everybody was so concentrated on themselves that nobody noticed that Ruby sang quietly the text of Salem's school song. (A/N: you don't expect me giving you a text, d'you? *g*) Everybody stopped at different times. At the end there were only two voices left. They came from the next table, Gryffindor. Ruby turned around (she had her back to them): it were the red-haired twins. They sang the text to a very slow funeral march. Ruby couldn't help but grin. They seemed to like being in the center of attention. Finally they, too, ended and Dumbledore spoke again.
"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime! Off you trot! The new students will please go with their Prefects."
Ruby could hear several voices in the Hall calling out "First-years follow us, please!"
She stood up and followed the other first-years out of the Hall. The rest of the school waited in their seats to let them get to their houses in peace. In the Entrance Hall the groups divided. Ruby could see two students wearing shiny badges with the letter "P" on it and calling the Hufflepuffs to follow them. One of these stopped and waited for Hannah who was walking next to Ruby to come up. He then walked right next to her exclaiming
"Well done, Hannah! Hufflepuff, too! Mum'n'Dad will be proud"
Ruby could immediately tell they were siblings. They had the same blue eyes, the same fresh color in the face and the same blonde hair – though he had no pigtails of course. Now he turned to Ruby.
"So you're American, eh? I've seen you down at the station and was wondering if you've taken the wrong train." he laughed "But as you were following the first-years… Oh, by the way I'm Franklin Abbott, call me Frank. I'm also fifth-year and Prefect. So when you have questions just ask me. I will help you getting along with everything. First days at Hogwarts can be rather confusing." Franklin was saying this with an amazing speed smiling all the time. Ruby decided then that if she ever would have questions to NEVER ask Franklin Abbott. He looked like he would talk her to death as answer for "Where's the toilet?"
So Ruby just nodded nonchalantly and then looked around her not sure if she would ever find that way alone, too. Franklin seemed to have read her thoughts.
"Aaah, don't care, you will remember the way to Hufflepuff Gardens pretty soon. But in the first time better don't go alone for there are..." he said but was interrupted by Ruby:
"Erm, excuse me – Hufflepuff GARDENS? You don't live outside do you?"
"At first – there is no 'you', just a 'we'. You are a Hufflepuff now, better feel like one, too.
And at second – of course we don't live outside, we have a floor for ourselves. But our house teacher is Professor Sprout, Herbology teacher. So there are plants everywhere, we take care of them, y'know. And from every window you can see the Hogwarts gardens and the green houses. So it's called Hufflepuff Gardens. It's really green in there. You have to be careful with some of the plants but most of them are…" he again had begun to talk endlessly and most of the first-years around them were listening intently. Ruby however wasn't. She rather tried to retain the way – but failed miserably. They passed a painting picturing a witch tending her garden. She waved at them but Ruby felt so helpless she just scowled at her while the Muggle-born kids gasped in awe.
Finally they reached what Ruby had never expected INside a castle: a wall full with ivy. She looked at it surprised. Was that the entrance of their house? Not really unnoticeable, was it? The second Prefect now turned to them saying
"Here we are. That's the entrance of our common room. You really don't have to look so worried, it's bewitched evergreen ivy. There is no way coming into it than saying the password. It is changed from time to time, you will find the new passwords on the notice-board. Please don't give away where our entrance is and what the passwords are." Then she turned to the wall and said loud and clearly
"Great Expectations!" (A/N: I know that's the title of a book. I've never read it but I thought it to be a good passwort for the beginning of a school term.)
The ivy began to move until a passage was open. The first-years (and Ruby - though she wouldn't have admitted it) were reall impressed by that – and the common room itself. It really was obvious that an Herbology Professor was their Head of house. There were plants everywhere (Ruby thought about how the common room might look with a History of Magic teacher as Head of house) and huge windows (there must have been much light during the day) and tables and chairs with comfortable looking yellow pillows on them and benches with the same pillows, and there was one big fire place (without any plants near it for they could burn) with yellow settees around it. Ruby liked the place. It looked much like the park of her school.
They all gathered around the Prefects and now Franklin spoke to them.
"Welcome to our common room. Let's make it short as you surely want to go to bed soon. The door on the left side of the room leads to the girls' corridor, the door on the right to the boys'. Please be informed that visits to the other sex's dorms aren't allowed–"
"Who would like that anyway?" Ernie asked loudly receiving some snickers. Franklin looked at him smiling.
"You will understand later I daresay." then he looked at Ruby and winked as if saying she knew what he meant. Ruby looked at her feet. At her school that hadn't been such a big deal. Girls and boys shared the same floor though living in different rooms, of course. They often had made secret parties together on the floors and in the common rooms after persuading the Students on Patrol to join them. Ruby grinned again as she was following the girl Prefect who was showing them their dorms.
"I'm Alice and in sixth year. The dormitory for the first-years are over there, d'you see the number one on it? And fifth year is here, Ruby, there is a new bed in there for you. You will all find your luggage in your rooms already. And additionally there are scarfs and winter gloves in the house colours. Wear them with pride. I hope I will never have to take off points from any of you. Now, have a good night."
Ruby heard the other students file into the common room and quickly entered her new dorm. There were huge windows again with yellow curtains. She apparently was sharing it with 7 other girls for there were 8 four-poster beds standing in there. The velvet bed hangings were of the same yellow as were the curtains and had been the pillows on the chairs and benches. 'Must be the house color' Ruby thought and found that theory supported by the scarf hung over her trunk: it was black and yellow. Again she felt a movement at her chest and was immediately remembered of Witty. She scrambled into her bed and closed the hangings. Then she pulled off her robes and let Witty soar happily out of the pocket but had to silent her immediately for her room-mates seemed to have entered the room. She could hear them talking and laughing together.
Ruby fought down the tears which were coming up at the memories of her fellow dorm-gang (Edith, Carey, Rosie and Delana) and left her bed to get her nightgown out of the trunk. There were seven girls each standing at their four-posters now staring at her. Then suddenly Ruby was surrounded by them and overthrown with introducings and questions.
"Hi, I'm Tracey. Welcome at Hogwarts."
"Fine you're a Hufflepuff, too. My name's Elizabeth but call me Liz. And they're Violet and Myra."
"How are you? It's so cosy here, don't you think? It's good to have a new fellow Hufflepuff."
"We can never be enough."
And so on. Ruby was overwhelmed by their friendliness but didn't feel like talking so she pretended to be tired changed into her nightgown and then scrambled back to Witty who was expectingly facing her. Ruby had managed to smuggle two grapes and a strawberry out of the Hall: it was a feast for tiny Witty. She ate them in no time being exceptionally hungry then laid down on the pillow next to Ruby who was already fast asleep and dozed off soon after.
~*~
So what do you think? PLEASE tell me. Every review makes my day smile.
Additional Disclaimer: You'll find phrases and dialogues used by Rowling. For example Dumbledores speech. I just couldn't see why I should change that stuff. I only changed "first-years" to "new students" so that Ruby is included, too. So please don't sue. As always this disclaimer is of course for ALL chapters.
A/N 2: Please excuse it when I make mistakes concerning geograhy and such stuff (for example "Washington Station"). It really wasn't my fav subject at school….
Oh, and here I have a picture I've drawn of Ruby:
http://de.geocities.com/rubyfrumblefoot/Galerie/RubyWitty.jpg
And for anybody who's interested:
http://de.geocities.com/rubyfrumblefoot/Galerie/WeasleyTwins.jpg
~*~
The Hat sat neatly on Ruby's head and for a moment nothing happened. She nervously kneaded her blue school hat in her hands waiting for the Hat to announce her house as she suddenly heard a quiet voice talking to her.
"Aaah, an older student you are, yes? And American, too, as I see. Welcome to Hogwarts!"
It was the Hat! Ruby nearly fell off the stool in fright. She heard some laughter coming from the students at the tables but couldn't make out who it was. She scowled into the crowd while the Hat spoke on.
"Well, let's have a look. I see, problems with learning out of books but hard working. I know where that is valued. Yes, you will best fit into HUFFLEPUFF!"
The last words were shouted into the Great Hall and Ruby could see Hufflepuff table erupt with cheers though most of their faces wore confused expressions (obviously about the fact they got a new fifth-year student). She replaced the Sorting Hat by her own and stalked over to the table. There was a free seat opposite the girl who had been first to be Sorted – Hannah Abbott when her memory didn't trick her. Right and left of Ruby were sitting two first-year boys whose names she had forgotten but didn't care either.
Then a tall wizard with a long white beard who had been sitting in the middle of the teachers' table (so it was probably Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster) got to his feet and looked at them with a delighted expression on his face. Ruby prepared herself for an endless and boring start-of-term-speech as Professor Corners, the Headmaster of Salem Institution, held every year.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore said "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words." Ruby's mind began to drift away as they usually did during Corner's speech. She was quite good at dreaming while listening with a half ear and pretending to be very interested. "And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you!"
And with that he sat down again. Ruby was stunned. Dumbledore was said to be ingenious but a bit unconventional – "odd" may have been the better word. However she liked it this way for she was very hungry. By the way – where was the food? The boy on her left side gasped and Ruby turned back to the table – which was now laden with food! There was everything a hungry stomach could dream of. Even mint humbugs where there. She loved these! She looked around – there were no House Elf waitors to be seen.
"Has any of the teachers conjured that up?" she asked more to herself than to anybody else.
However the stout boy to her right who had been helping himself to roast beef had heard her.
"Of course the food wasn't just conjured! It would vanish in our stomachs later, wouldn't it?" he seemed to be in a rather bold mood now that the Sorting was over.
"That was my fear."
"Oh really! Do you listen to what you're saying? They can't let us starve here!" the boy shook his head.
"So where does the food then come from?" Ruby asked trying to distract that little brat. But he just exclaimed
"It's sent up from the kitchens below, of course!" and on Ruby's bewildered expression he added "Phew! You aren't really on the brainy side, are you?"
Ruby's jaw dropped at that cheekiness. At Salem Institution youngsters usually had more respect against the older students. She thought about a possible answer that would put him in his place as the girl next to Hannah Abbott (Susan Bones Ruby thought) butted in.
"Ernie, right? Better hold your tongue! She is older than you as I might remind you!" she said sternly.
"Yeah!" Hannah now said "My brother is Hufflepuff Prefect. And when you don't watch what you're saying I'm telling him about you."
That seemed to shut him up and he leaned over his meal again. Ruby now began to fill her plate, too, thinking about how she could nick some of the veggies for Witty. The food was different from her school's but nevertheless delicious. Her mother used to cook English food quite often and she was good at it – but her cooking was nothing against THIS!
"So – where are you from? And why do you start here so late?" Hannah asked her.
Ruby looked up her mouth full with Yorkshire pudding.
"I'm from the United States. My parents want me to graduate at Hogwarts like my Mom had."
Hannah looked truthfull interested. She seemed to be eager to hold up the conversation about which Ruby was somehow thankful for she had a question.
"Erm…Hannah, right?" the girl nodded "May I ask you a question?" again she nodded "You said that your brother was – er – a Perfect. What's that?"
Hannah snickered a bit but answered promptly.
"It's Prefect! And Prefects are students who are responsible for the other students in their houses. They help sorting out problems especially first-years have. Y'know, schedule and homework and so. And they keep an eye on the behaviour and order in both houses and corridors. They even are allowed to take points from students. Don't you have the likes at your school? … I mean, you WERE at a school before weren't you?"
"Of course I was! Otherwise I wouldn't be in fifth year, would I?" that had been rather harsh as Ruby could see in Hannah's face so she quickly went on "Well, we had no points or "Prefects" but Floor Inspectors and tutors. The Floor Inspectors, or more commonly known as Students on Patrol," Ruby couldn't help but grin "are responsible for the order on their floors. They are named by the teachers and act in their name. That's good, for so we don't have teachers going up and down the floors all the time. And quite every student, except the first-years of course, is a tutor for one of the younger ones. They help them with homework and the likes."
'What am I doing here?' she thought 'Socialising with first-years or what?' But the long and silent travel had been really dull for her who normally couldn't stop babbling. It was a relief to know that she actually still was able to talk. And it was nice to tell them something about Salem Institution.
"Floors? Don't you have houses, too?" Susan asked curiously.
"Well, sort of but not in the same way as you have here. There are three dorm houses, two with three floors and one with only one floor. Each floor is for one year with dorms and common rooms. It's the best to be seventh year, then you have a whole house for yourself!" Ruby dreamed. Being in seventh year at last was the big aim of every Salem student from first year on. They made the best parties and had the most fun of all.
"So you move every year?" Susan asked, Ruby nodded.
"And you aren't in one house during all the school time?" Hannah asked, Ruby nodded again.
"Isn't that dull?" the boy on Ruby's right side, Ernie, tried to take part in the conversation. He apparently wanted to be on good terms with his fellow students after all.
"No, it isn't!" Ruby opposed. "I mean, you have your houses, we have our floors. They don't have any names, just First-year Corridor and so on. Well, the Students on Patrol tend to give the floors their own names but nobody actually even THINKS of using these names. Especially as there are always 5 till 10 Inspectors. We can't give the floors so many names, can we?"
"So many? Why are there so many Inspectors?" it seemed to be beyond Ernie why so many students were required.
"Because there are so many students in each year. Salem Institution, that's the name of my school by the way, covers whole 11 states! That's pretty much though some of these are rather small so that there aren't too many of us living there… But all in all the school's really big – even bigger than Hogwarts! And better." She added very quiet.
The others hadn't heard the last thing for at that statement the plates and bowls were wiped clean and the sweet appeared. There was ice-cream in every flavor Ruby could think of and apple pies and fruit and much more. Ruby could feel Witty stir excitedly in her pocket – she could smell the ice-cream and fruits, Ruby gave her a small nudge and hoped that nobody had seen her robes move. But everybody was much too busy with eating and the rest of the meal went on silently. When all had finished everything was wiped clean again and the Headmaster stood once more up and all the talking in the Hall stopped.
"Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
'Oh great,' Ruby thought, 'well, at least he bothers us with that stuff when we are all full and satisfied'
"The new students should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils." Ruby listened intently. Looks as if she had found a first way of breaking the rules. Ideas were welling up in her head. "And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.
I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
'What? That's mean!' Ruby was a bit furious so she didn't really notice what was said next.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Ruby came back to her senses. What did he just say? Must have been something serious for there were some concerned faces around her but she didn't dare to ask and so reveal that she hadn't been listening.
"And finally I want to solve a small riddle that maybe has occupy some of you during the evening. As you have seen we have a new fifth-year student."
Oh no! Ruby's face fell. She had dreaded something like this to happen all evening.
"Ms Ruby Riders has found her way from the American Salem Institution for Magical Education to Hogwarts to spend the rest of her school time with us. She was kind enough to show us all her school's uniform but I'm sure she will wear Hogwarts robes as soon as lessons start." at that he gave her a sharp look. Ruby blushed and looked down at her sleeves. She was very fond of her robes: navy blue with embroidered golden stars and half-moons at the borders (A/N: can be seen on my drawing). However Dumbledore continued "I'm sure you will all give her a warm welcome and make sure she will feel like home."
Ruby felt hundreds of eyes looking at her and noticed a reamarkable heat fighting its way up to her face and ears.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"
Ruby looked up again, there were golden words written in mid-air (probably Dumbledore had connjured them up).
"Everyone pick their favourite tune, and off we go!"
The Hall echoed from the hundreds of voices, quiet and loud, high and deep, melody and unmelody. Everybody was so concentrated on themselves that nobody noticed that Ruby sang quietly the text of Salem's school song. (A/N: you don't expect me giving you a text, d'you? *g*) Everybody stopped at different times. At the end there were only two voices left. They came from the next table, Gryffindor. Ruby turned around (she had her back to them): it were the red-haired twins. They sang the text to a very slow funeral march. Ruby couldn't help but grin. They seemed to like being in the center of attention. Finally they, too, ended and Dumbledore spoke again.
"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime! Off you trot! The new students will please go with their Prefects."
Ruby could hear several voices in the Hall calling out "First-years follow us, please!"
She stood up and followed the other first-years out of the Hall. The rest of the school waited in their seats to let them get to their houses in peace. In the Entrance Hall the groups divided. Ruby could see two students wearing shiny badges with the letter "P" on it and calling the Hufflepuffs to follow them. One of these stopped and waited for Hannah who was walking next to Ruby to come up. He then walked right next to her exclaiming
"Well done, Hannah! Hufflepuff, too! Mum'n'Dad will be proud"
Ruby could immediately tell they were siblings. They had the same blue eyes, the same fresh color in the face and the same blonde hair – though he had no pigtails of course. Now he turned to Ruby.
"So you're American, eh? I've seen you down at the station and was wondering if you've taken the wrong train." he laughed "But as you were following the first-years… Oh, by the way I'm Franklin Abbott, call me Frank. I'm also fifth-year and Prefect. So when you have questions just ask me. I will help you getting along with everything. First days at Hogwarts can be rather confusing." Franklin was saying this with an amazing speed smiling all the time. Ruby decided then that if she ever would have questions to NEVER ask Franklin Abbott. He looked like he would talk her to death as answer for "Where's the toilet?"
So Ruby just nodded nonchalantly and then looked around her not sure if she would ever find that way alone, too. Franklin seemed to have read her thoughts.
"Aaah, don't care, you will remember the way to Hufflepuff Gardens pretty soon. But in the first time better don't go alone for there are..." he said but was interrupted by Ruby:
"Erm, excuse me – Hufflepuff GARDENS? You don't live outside do you?"
"At first – there is no 'you', just a 'we'. You are a Hufflepuff now, better feel like one, too.
And at second – of course we don't live outside, we have a floor for ourselves. But our house teacher is Professor Sprout, Herbology teacher. So there are plants everywhere, we take care of them, y'know. And from every window you can see the Hogwarts gardens and the green houses. So it's called Hufflepuff Gardens. It's really green in there. You have to be careful with some of the plants but most of them are…" he again had begun to talk endlessly and most of the first-years around them were listening intently. Ruby however wasn't. She rather tried to retain the way – but failed miserably. They passed a painting picturing a witch tending her garden. She waved at them but Ruby felt so helpless she just scowled at her while the Muggle-born kids gasped in awe.
Finally they reached what Ruby had never expected INside a castle: a wall full with ivy. She looked at it surprised. Was that the entrance of their house? Not really unnoticeable, was it? The second Prefect now turned to them saying
"Here we are. That's the entrance of our common room. You really don't have to look so worried, it's bewitched evergreen ivy. There is no way coming into it than saying the password. It is changed from time to time, you will find the new passwords on the notice-board. Please don't give away where our entrance is and what the passwords are." Then she turned to the wall and said loud and clearly
"Great Expectations!" (A/N: I know that's the title of a book. I've never read it but I thought it to be a good passwort for the beginning of a school term.)
The ivy began to move until a passage was open. The first-years (and Ruby - though she wouldn't have admitted it) were reall impressed by that – and the common room itself. It really was obvious that an Herbology Professor was their Head of house. There were plants everywhere (Ruby thought about how the common room might look with a History of Magic teacher as Head of house) and huge windows (there must have been much light during the day) and tables and chairs with comfortable looking yellow pillows on them and benches with the same pillows, and there was one big fire place (without any plants near it for they could burn) with yellow settees around it. Ruby liked the place. It looked much like the park of her school.
They all gathered around the Prefects and now Franklin spoke to them.
"Welcome to our common room. Let's make it short as you surely want to go to bed soon. The door on the left side of the room leads to the girls' corridor, the door on the right to the boys'. Please be informed that visits to the other sex's dorms aren't allowed–"
"Who would like that anyway?" Ernie asked loudly receiving some snickers. Franklin looked at him smiling.
"You will understand later I daresay." then he looked at Ruby and winked as if saying she knew what he meant. Ruby looked at her feet. At her school that hadn't been such a big deal. Girls and boys shared the same floor though living in different rooms, of course. They often had made secret parties together on the floors and in the common rooms after persuading the Students on Patrol to join them. Ruby grinned again as she was following the girl Prefect who was showing them their dorms.
"I'm Alice and in sixth year. The dormitory for the first-years are over there, d'you see the number one on it? And fifth year is here, Ruby, there is a new bed in there for you. You will all find your luggage in your rooms already. And additionally there are scarfs and winter gloves in the house colours. Wear them with pride. I hope I will never have to take off points from any of you. Now, have a good night."
Ruby heard the other students file into the common room and quickly entered her new dorm. There were huge windows again with yellow curtains. She apparently was sharing it with 7 other girls for there were 8 four-poster beds standing in there. The velvet bed hangings were of the same yellow as were the curtains and had been the pillows on the chairs and benches. 'Must be the house color' Ruby thought and found that theory supported by the scarf hung over her trunk: it was black and yellow. Again she felt a movement at her chest and was immediately remembered of Witty. She scrambled into her bed and closed the hangings. Then she pulled off her robes and let Witty soar happily out of the pocket but had to silent her immediately for her room-mates seemed to have entered the room. She could hear them talking and laughing together.
Ruby fought down the tears which were coming up at the memories of her fellow dorm-gang (Edith, Carey, Rosie and Delana) and left her bed to get her nightgown out of the trunk. There were seven girls each standing at their four-posters now staring at her. Then suddenly Ruby was surrounded by them and overthrown with introducings and questions.
"Hi, I'm Tracey. Welcome at Hogwarts."
"Fine you're a Hufflepuff, too. My name's Elizabeth but call me Liz. And they're Violet and Myra."
"How are you? It's so cosy here, don't you think? It's good to have a new fellow Hufflepuff."
"We can never be enough."
And so on. Ruby was overwhelmed by their friendliness but didn't feel like talking so she pretended to be tired changed into her nightgown and then scrambled back to Witty who was expectingly facing her. Ruby had managed to smuggle two grapes and a strawberry out of the Hall: it was a feast for tiny Witty. She ate them in no time being exceptionally hungry then laid down on the pillow next to Ruby who was already fast asleep and dozed off soon after.
~*~
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