Title: Designated Harbinger - chapter 12
Author: Lia
Rating: pg-13
Feedback: Please review. I'd like to know if people are reading my story. No flames please.
Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I'm not making any money. So, why go through this any further?
*********************************************
After every animal or plant enters a new environment, they go through a nesting period. We always react to something new in various ways. Some fix up their surroundings, while others explore their territory. Some meet new individuals (friends and rivals), others try to stay with what they are familiar. How do you behave?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I pull out a book from a bag hidden under my bed. Its title is faded, the pages old. Flipping thru I stop at a particular chapter about pushing people and objects. Skimming, my eyes widen. 'Whoa. Did I do that? Cool. Dad was right. I am getting stronger. This is one of the more advanced auric abilities.'
This was one explanation for what happened on the train. The other being magic, but I don't think that is the case. A person's auric field can be expanded or withdrawn as was described in another chapter of this book. The one I'm looking at now contains information about using your field to push a person or an object. People who are well grounded tend to be more difficult to affect. All objects have energy fields. I just expanded mine out and pushed against theirs. Moving objects takes a lot more work and can make you tired at first. That must be why I was so tired afterwards. The chapter then gives examples of prior cases and uses, as well as exercises.
Sighing, I put the book away and draw back the sheer light blue drapes around the bed. The room was circular; five beds, armoires, and bookshelves set between the windows. A round table with five chairs was placed in the center of the room. Blue and bronze accents the gray stone walls, the wooden floors, and the dark furniture.
Last night had been amazing. After a couple of words from Professor Dumbledore the food appeared out of thin air. When a plate was emptied, it appeared to refill itself. Everyone sang the school song as soon as dinner was completed. By the time we reached the Ravenclaw Tower, all I had time for was to release and set up Sassy's things before going to bed. Yesterday wore me out.
After noticing that all my student robes now display the Ravenclaw's crest, I quickly washed and dressed. Tennis shoes, a skort, and a blouse later finished me ready to go down stairs. I wave at some of the other girls. Carol glares at me as I walk out. 'She must not be a morning person. Hmm. Must remember to thank Mom for the watch's alarm setting.'
The beautifully arched windows were open in the common room letting in a nice breeze. I recognize one of my roommates sitting by one reading a book and drumming the pages with the end of a pencil. She was small, anxious, and must have a muggle background. After I ask for her name again, Helen smiles slyly.
"Are you coming to breakfast, now?," I ask. Shaking her head, she replies. "No thanks. I'll wait here until some of the others wake up. Till then I'll read. There is so much about this world to get used to."
Telling her goodbye, I went downstairs and left the dorm. The entrance was guarded by a large tapestry of a battle scene. If you tell the solider on it the password and part of the wall including the tapestry moves, revealing the stairs.
The Ravenclaws are located in the West Tower. On the very top level was the Owlery. Of course no one but Ravenclaws and staff members knew that. To get in here you have to say a password on the sixth floor, travel up the stairs there to the seventh floor, which is our common room and base of the tower.
People going to the Owlery head for the seventh floor and go up another stairway. They don't know they're passing so close to us. Parvati told me at dinner we have to leave our exit on the sixth, go up the main stairways to the seventh, then up the West Tower's stairs. It's annoying to travel so to a location that is so near. That is the price of our house secrecy.
I took a good look around trying to get a feel of the area. Though I've learned about psychometry and dowsing, I've never actively tried it. Never had to before really. The feeling here is strong. Any Psychic would know that this was our entrance. Many people pass through here, happiness when passing a test, disappointments, and tensions. There is a good possibility that I could find my way back here.
The Great Hall is starting to fill up. The four long tables already bared porridge, toast, eggs, and bacon, beneath the cloudy sky-ceiling. Alex is already there with another boy. I slide into the seat across from him. "Morning, Jess. This is one of my roommates, Seth," he greets me.
I smile at them as I grab a crumpet. "Nice to meet ya. Do you know what our schedule's like?" Seth turns to Alex and whispers, "American?" I roll my eyes. 'When will people get used to this.' After nodding, Alex says, "I think our Perfect is suppose to hand them out soon."
"Cool! So how's the guys room?," I asked. Seth and Alex looked at each other. "Don't know about the other one, but ours is fine. We only have three in our room," he said smiling. Puzzled, I exclaim, "What! No fair. I got four roomies. Hey, how come the boys have two rooms?"
That question I ask our seven year perfect Penelope Clearwater who says, "The limit is five people to a room. We have six new boys this year," then turns away to talk to another seventh year. I overact slumping in my seat and grumbling while Alex laughs at my antics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More kids and staff members entered the Great Hall for breakfast. Zoey came in with Chloe Bell and sat at the Hufflepuff table. Seth and Melia both explained to Alex and Jessica about the rumors (which they were told by a fifth year) surrounding Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's arrival last night. If what she heard was true, they were in big trouble. 'Why didn't they just wait for the adults? They didn't miss any classes, so they should have been able to travel here a different way.' Sometimes you just can't understand others reasoning.
Soon a rushing sound announced the arrival of mail. By birds, owls mostly. Can you believe it? The room was flooded with them circling the hall and dropping letters and packages. Jessica received a letter from her parents by Stormy who landed on her arm. "Merlin! Whose bird is that?," Seth exclaimed.
Rubbing the bird's blue gray feathers, "My Mom's. Isn't he handsome? A Peregrine Falcon. Can you give this letter to Mom, Stormy?," she says exchanging letters. After giving him a bite of bacon, he took off. "Awesome bird, Jess," said Alex. "Yeah, my family's just got an owl," Seth says as a letter drops in his lap. "See what I mean," he said looking up.
"He was a graduation present. Mom was in Gryffindor. My grandpa was a Ravenclaw, too. Are falcons that really odd?," she tells Seth. He shakes his head, "Not unheard of, usually only old, rich Wizarding families have them. You can only get them from special breeders." Seth and Alex give me a speculative look, but don't ask what family her family came from.
It also helped that they all got distracted. An older Ravenclaw pointed at the next table saying something about a Howler. Seth's mouth dropped open, and he leaned to look behind Jessica to see the Gryffindor table. Jessica turned around in her seat just in time to see:
Red-headed boy slides open a letter from a red envelope. She had to wonder at the expression of horror on his face. Found out why some people were covering their ears suddenly as a loud voice shook the hall.
"-STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRUISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-," a woman's shrill, and magnified voice boomed and echoed. People from every house turned to see who was causing such a commotion. The redhead sunk low in his seat.
"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED-," it continued. Some of the other students looked at Harry who seemed to be trying to ignore the whole thing. Jessica silently swore to herself that she was not ever going to get one of those. She doubted that though; it was something her Mom would do.
"-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED-YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME." 'Ouch, harsh," she thought, 'Hey isn't that Ginny's brother? Oh, yeah. There's her over there trying to hide.' Jessica's ears were ringing.
Silence filled the hall as the letter bursts into flames leaving a small pile of ashes. Harry and Ginny's brother sat stunned. Some people laugh, quite a number of them from the Slytherin table, before people began talking.
The heads of houses pass out our schedules. A very short, old man with a kind smile hands it to each of us. His name is Professor Flitwick. All the Ravenclaw first years have the same ones, of course. Today we attend Herbology (Professor Sprout), Charms (Professor Flitwick), and Potions (Professor Snape). After asking around, Jessica learns a little about each of them. Professor Snape didn't sound nice. What made it worse was that Jessica learned that he is head of Slytherin house, and that he must be Mom's Cousin.
Shaking her head to clear unwanted thoughts, Jessica gets up and heads for the Hufflepuff table. Alex looks at her puzzled, but is amused when she sits down near Zoey and begins comparing schedules. He looks around trying to find Ginny, but can't spot her. She must of left the hall soon after the Howler stopped yelling. Catching Jessica's eye, he smiles.
"What does she think she's doing over there?," Seth asks him. He shrugs, "Visiting Zoey. We met on the train and she sorted into Hufflepuff. Why?" Seth looks around uncomfortably, "Nothing. It's just not done. Houses stick to their own kind. We don't mix."
Alex looks puzzled, "Is there a rule against it?" Frowning, he's silent a minute, "No. Don't think so. It's mighty strange, though. At least it's not Slytherin she's at." Hearing this, Alex observes a lot of looks sent Jessica's way. She was either not noticing or ignoring them. "Well, she is American. That could explain the strangeness," he says as Seth shakes his head. Professor Dumbledore, he notices, is smiling at Jessica. He doesn't give that much thought; last night another student told him that while he's a great wizard, he's also a bit mad.
Jessica came back to the table with a bright smile. "So, we have Potions, Transfiguration, and History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs. Ginny will only be in our Charms class. Zoey told me that she'll see her only for Herbology. Poor girl, can you imagine having that many classes with Slytherins? They are supposed to be a nasty group. What were you guys talking about?"
Seth and Alex look at each other before saying simultaneously, "Quidditch." She rolls her eyes at them, obviously accepting their excuse. After all, they are boys.
*******************************************
AN: Kinda short. Not the best either. Sorry. Muses are taking a mini- break, it seems. Still expect a chapter a week. No meeting of rivals yet. Wait for when they get to class. Any suggestions, questions, or comments? Please review. It really brightens up my day. Plus it lets me know if people are reading this or not.
Feedback: Please review. I'd like to know if people are reading my story. No flames please.
Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I'm not making any money. So, why go through this any further?
*********************************************
After every animal or plant enters a new environment, they go through a nesting period. We always react to something new in various ways. Some fix up their surroundings, while others explore their territory. Some meet new individuals (friends and rivals), others try to stay with what they are familiar. How do you behave?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I pull out a book from a bag hidden under my bed. Its title is faded, the pages old. Flipping thru I stop at a particular chapter about pushing people and objects. Skimming, my eyes widen. 'Whoa. Did I do that? Cool. Dad was right. I am getting stronger. This is one of the more advanced auric abilities.'
This was one explanation for what happened on the train. The other being magic, but I don't think that is the case. A person's auric field can be expanded or withdrawn as was described in another chapter of this book. The one I'm looking at now contains information about using your field to push a person or an object. People who are well grounded tend to be more difficult to affect. All objects have energy fields. I just expanded mine out and pushed against theirs. Moving objects takes a lot more work and can make you tired at first. That must be why I was so tired afterwards. The chapter then gives examples of prior cases and uses, as well as exercises.
Sighing, I put the book away and draw back the sheer light blue drapes around the bed. The room was circular; five beds, armoires, and bookshelves set between the windows. A round table with five chairs was placed in the center of the room. Blue and bronze accents the gray stone walls, the wooden floors, and the dark furniture.
Last night had been amazing. After a couple of words from Professor Dumbledore the food appeared out of thin air. When a plate was emptied, it appeared to refill itself. Everyone sang the school song as soon as dinner was completed. By the time we reached the Ravenclaw Tower, all I had time for was to release and set up Sassy's things before going to bed. Yesterday wore me out.
After noticing that all my student robes now display the Ravenclaw's crest, I quickly washed and dressed. Tennis shoes, a skort, and a blouse later finished me ready to go down stairs. I wave at some of the other girls. Carol glares at me as I walk out. 'She must not be a morning person. Hmm. Must remember to thank Mom for the watch's alarm setting.'
The beautifully arched windows were open in the common room letting in a nice breeze. I recognize one of my roommates sitting by one reading a book and drumming the pages with the end of a pencil. She was small, anxious, and must have a muggle background. After I ask for her name again, Helen smiles slyly.
"Are you coming to breakfast, now?," I ask. Shaking her head, she replies. "No thanks. I'll wait here until some of the others wake up. Till then I'll read. There is so much about this world to get used to."
Telling her goodbye, I went downstairs and left the dorm. The entrance was guarded by a large tapestry of a battle scene. If you tell the solider on it the password and part of the wall including the tapestry moves, revealing the stairs.
The Ravenclaws are located in the West Tower. On the very top level was the Owlery. Of course no one but Ravenclaws and staff members knew that. To get in here you have to say a password on the sixth floor, travel up the stairs there to the seventh floor, which is our common room and base of the tower.
People going to the Owlery head for the seventh floor and go up another stairway. They don't know they're passing so close to us. Parvati told me at dinner we have to leave our exit on the sixth, go up the main stairways to the seventh, then up the West Tower's stairs. It's annoying to travel so to a location that is so near. That is the price of our house secrecy.
I took a good look around trying to get a feel of the area. Though I've learned about psychometry and dowsing, I've never actively tried it. Never had to before really. The feeling here is strong. Any Psychic would know that this was our entrance. Many people pass through here, happiness when passing a test, disappointments, and tensions. There is a good possibility that I could find my way back here.
The Great Hall is starting to fill up. The four long tables already bared porridge, toast, eggs, and bacon, beneath the cloudy sky-ceiling. Alex is already there with another boy. I slide into the seat across from him. "Morning, Jess. This is one of my roommates, Seth," he greets me.
I smile at them as I grab a crumpet. "Nice to meet ya. Do you know what our schedule's like?" Seth turns to Alex and whispers, "American?" I roll my eyes. 'When will people get used to this.' After nodding, Alex says, "I think our Perfect is suppose to hand them out soon."
"Cool! So how's the guys room?," I asked. Seth and Alex looked at each other. "Don't know about the other one, but ours is fine. We only have three in our room," he said smiling. Puzzled, I exclaim, "What! No fair. I got four roomies. Hey, how come the boys have two rooms?"
That question I ask our seven year perfect Penelope Clearwater who says, "The limit is five people to a room. We have six new boys this year," then turns away to talk to another seventh year. I overact slumping in my seat and grumbling while Alex laughs at my antics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More kids and staff members entered the Great Hall for breakfast. Zoey came in with Chloe Bell and sat at the Hufflepuff table. Seth and Melia both explained to Alex and Jessica about the rumors (which they were told by a fifth year) surrounding Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's arrival last night. If what she heard was true, they were in big trouble. 'Why didn't they just wait for the adults? They didn't miss any classes, so they should have been able to travel here a different way.' Sometimes you just can't understand others reasoning.
Soon a rushing sound announced the arrival of mail. By birds, owls mostly. Can you believe it? The room was flooded with them circling the hall and dropping letters and packages. Jessica received a letter from her parents by Stormy who landed on her arm. "Merlin! Whose bird is that?," Seth exclaimed.
Rubbing the bird's blue gray feathers, "My Mom's. Isn't he handsome? A Peregrine Falcon. Can you give this letter to Mom, Stormy?," she says exchanging letters. After giving him a bite of bacon, he took off. "Awesome bird, Jess," said Alex. "Yeah, my family's just got an owl," Seth says as a letter drops in his lap. "See what I mean," he said looking up.
"He was a graduation present. Mom was in Gryffindor. My grandpa was a Ravenclaw, too. Are falcons that really odd?," she tells Seth. He shakes his head, "Not unheard of, usually only old, rich Wizarding families have them. You can only get them from special breeders." Seth and Alex give me a speculative look, but don't ask what family her family came from.
It also helped that they all got distracted. An older Ravenclaw pointed at the next table saying something about a Howler. Seth's mouth dropped open, and he leaned to look behind Jessica to see the Gryffindor table. Jessica turned around in her seat just in time to see:
Red-headed boy slides open a letter from a red envelope. She had to wonder at the expression of horror on his face. Found out why some people were covering their ears suddenly as a loud voice shook the hall.
"-STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRUISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-," a woman's shrill, and magnified voice boomed and echoed. People from every house turned to see who was causing such a commotion. The redhead sunk low in his seat.
"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED-," it continued. Some of the other students looked at Harry who seemed to be trying to ignore the whole thing. Jessica silently swore to herself that she was not ever going to get one of those. She doubted that though; it was something her Mom would do.
"-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED-YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME." 'Ouch, harsh," she thought, 'Hey isn't that Ginny's brother? Oh, yeah. There's her over there trying to hide.' Jessica's ears were ringing.
Silence filled the hall as the letter bursts into flames leaving a small pile of ashes. Harry and Ginny's brother sat stunned. Some people laugh, quite a number of them from the Slytherin table, before people began talking.
The heads of houses pass out our schedules. A very short, old man with a kind smile hands it to each of us. His name is Professor Flitwick. All the Ravenclaw first years have the same ones, of course. Today we attend Herbology (Professor Sprout), Charms (Professor Flitwick), and Potions (Professor Snape). After asking around, Jessica learns a little about each of them. Professor Snape didn't sound nice. What made it worse was that Jessica learned that he is head of Slytherin house, and that he must be Mom's Cousin.
Shaking her head to clear unwanted thoughts, Jessica gets up and heads for the Hufflepuff table. Alex looks at her puzzled, but is amused when she sits down near Zoey and begins comparing schedules. He looks around trying to find Ginny, but can't spot her. She must of left the hall soon after the Howler stopped yelling. Catching Jessica's eye, he smiles.
"What does she think she's doing over there?," Seth asks him. He shrugs, "Visiting Zoey. We met on the train and she sorted into Hufflepuff. Why?" Seth looks around uncomfortably, "Nothing. It's just not done. Houses stick to their own kind. We don't mix."
Alex looks puzzled, "Is there a rule against it?" Frowning, he's silent a minute, "No. Don't think so. It's mighty strange, though. At least it's not Slytherin she's at." Hearing this, Alex observes a lot of looks sent Jessica's way. She was either not noticing or ignoring them. "Well, she is American. That could explain the strangeness," he says as Seth shakes his head. Professor Dumbledore, he notices, is smiling at Jessica. He doesn't give that much thought; last night another student told him that while he's a great wizard, he's also a bit mad.
Jessica came back to the table with a bright smile. "So, we have Potions, Transfiguration, and History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs. Ginny will only be in our Charms class. Zoey told me that she'll see her only for Herbology. Poor girl, can you imagine having that many classes with Slytherins? They are supposed to be a nasty group. What were you guys talking about?"
Seth and Alex look at each other before saying simultaneously, "Quidditch." She rolls her eyes at them, obviously accepting their excuse. After all, they are boys.
*******************************************
AN: Kinda short. Not the best either. Sorry. Muses are taking a mini- break, it seems. Still expect a chapter a week. No meeting of rivals yet. Wait for when they get to class. Any suggestions, questions, or comments? Please review. It really brightens up my day. Plus it lets me know if people are reading this or not.