Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Harry Potter sat at the Gryffindor table in the great hall, his eyes drooping, and his belly full. He sat between his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, feeling very pleased to be back at Hogwarts. They had just finished the start-of-term feast, and the students were awaiting to go up to their dormitories, but before the students were dismissed, there were some start-of-term notices.
Dumbledore stood, and the Great Hall became silent.
"Welcome, students, to another term at Hogwarts!" announced Dumbledore cheerily. "Before I allow you to go back to your dormitories to digest this delicious feast, I have a few start-of-the-term notices. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind the students that magic is prohibited in the hallways between classes. I also remind you that the forest on the school grounds is prohibited, and also, I must announce that the third floor is strictly off-limits! The door is protected by certain charms, and anyone trying to get in will find a bit of an unpleasant surprise. That is all, and I will see you all bright and early in the morning!" he announced.
There was a scraping of benches as the students got up and began making their way out of the Great Hall. Harry Left with Ron and Hermione, who had rounded up the new Gryffindor first years into a line, and were leading them up the staircase to the portrait of the fat lady, that served as the secret entrance to the Gryffindor tower.
"Why do you think that the third floor is closed off again?" asked Hermione.
"Not sure. You don't think that they might be keeping…well, you know…" said Harry. All summer he had lived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, and heard about a weapon that Voldemort was trying to get…but he didn't think that they would keep it at Hogwarts, after what happened to the Sorcerer's Stone.
"Talk about it in the common room," muttered Ron.
"Mimbulus Mimbletonia," said Hermione. "First years, you will need to remember this password to gain access to the tower" she said, as she led the first years into the common room, and showed them their dormitories. Harry slumped into an old familiar armchair, and Ron and Hermione joined him.
"They have to be keeping it in there," stated Ron.
"Well, it would be logical, because Dumbledore is here…but that Umbridge woman is here from the ministry at the same time," said Hermione, looking a bit confused.
"Well, I say that I'm a bit tired right now, and would be able to think better after a good night's sleep," said Harry, yawning.
"Sounds good to me, mate," said Ron.
The three bid goodnight, and went up to their dormitories. Harry thought about what could be on the third floor, until he finally drifted to sleep.
Professor Minerva McGonagall stood in the Great Hall in front of the staff table, with a black-haired girl standing silently next to her, her scarlet eyes cast downwards. McGonagall surveyed the four tables of the Great Hall with a critical eye, thinking of what would be the friendliest house for Vexes to sit with.
She rejected the Slytherin table immediately, they didn't often accept outsiders…if they did, Vexes was sure to become mean-spirited. Hufflepuff was very friendly, and very easy to get along with…a bit too easy, they were a bit timid. Ravenclaw was a good place for her, and so was Gryffindor. McGonagall weighed the two in her mind…being the leader of Gryffindor, that was the house she chose.
"Come along," she said to Vexes, and strode purposefully towards the Gryffindor table, to the fifth years.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione spotted Professor McGonagall coming towards them, and abruptly stopped their quiet discussion of the third floor.
"Good Morning, Professor," said Hermione politely as McGonagall stopped.
"Good morning," said Harry quietly, as he surveyed the girl behind her.
"Morning, Professor," said Ron as he swallowed his bacon.
"Good morning, you three. Just the people I need. Will you all do a favor for me?" she asked.
"Of course, Professor," replied Hermione, eager to please her teacher.
"Thank you, Miss Granger. Vexes here is a new student, entering her fifth year," she said, motioning to the black-haired girl that was slightly behind her. "I would like for you three to help her along, show her to her classes…she's in most of the same classes as you, Mr. Potter. I would also like for you three to introduce her to the other fifth years"
"Of course we will, Professor," said Hermione.
"Thank you," she said, and left.
Harry surveyed Vexes for a moment. She must have come from someplace with little sunlight, because she was paler than the ghosts that occupied Hogwarts. Her long pitch-black hair didn't help, either. Harry moved over to make room on the bench.
"You can sit here, Vexes," he said. She sat on the bench without looking at him.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged looks, as Vexes remained silent.
"Erm, hi, I'm Harry," he said.
Vexes looked up. When she did, Ron nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. She had bright red eyes.
"I'm Vexes," she said, with a ghost of a smile.
"I'm Hermione," she said, extending a hand. Vexes shook it.
Hermione shivered slightly as Vexes shook her hand. It was as cold as ice.
"I'm Ron. What happened to your eyes?" he asked.
Hermione gave Ron a jab in the ribs with her elbow. Vexes blushed slightly; the color looked out-of-place on her face.
"I was hit with some sort of spell by my brother when I was little," she said. "They can't really fix it," she said.
Harry noticed that she had a strong accent when she spoke. She must have come from another country.
"Where are you from?" Harry asked. Vexes hesitated slightly.
"Transylvania," she said.
"Where did you got to school before now?" asked Hermione.
"I didn't go to school. We…weren't able to pay for the semester," she said.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" asked Hermione, determined to keep the conversation up.
"Just one brother, Cosmin. He's older than me," she said.
"What do your parents do?" asked Ron.
"My parents are…dead," said Vexes quietly.
That seemed enough to satisfy Ron. At first, he was surprised that her family didn't have enough money to pay for a term at Hogwarts. His family was poor, and Ron's parents had managed to pay for several children to attend. Maybe her brother didn't have a job or something…
Vexes fell into silence as she traced a crease in the tablecloth with her finger.
"Are you hungry?" asked Hermione, who noticed that Vexes wasn't eating.
"Um, no, not really," she said.
"First day's always tough," said Hermione kindly.
"Ya, I know what you mean," Vexes muttered, and helped herself to a glass of water.
This was going to be a long day.
Phantom: wow, its been awhile since I've updated...cut me some slack, PLEASE. I just started a job, and I'm NEVER home, so I mostly write these chapters on scraps of my lunchbag and bring it home to copy onto here. Plus writer's block. Anyone have some ideas to get rid of this writers block besides powertools (I've already tried that), PLEASE TELL ME!!!!!!!