Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter, or anything in any of J.K. Rowling's books. My characters are mine though, so look but don't touch.
Author's Notes: I will honestly try not to make the six OCs perfect. I have 3 beta-readers for that purpose. As before, any flames will be ignored, but concrit is always welcome.
Chapter 2Back in Gryffindor tower, Harry, Ron, and Hermione hadn't gotten so much as a word out of Amber. "It's like she doesn't trust us," Ron stated, flopping onto his bed. He was remembering the room assignments, and how Hermione hadn't seemed thrilled at all that Amber would be in her room
"That's hardly surprising, since she doesn't know us. She'll come 'round eventually," Harry predicted, resting his head on his arms. But try as he might, he couldn't get the vision of Amber's eyes out of his head. They had seemed so cold and distant, yet at the same time they also seemed… Dead. It was as if Amber's soul had died long ago, leaving only a shell to walk around and "live". But that was impossible, wasn't it? Surely if her soul had died, Amber couldn't still be living. No, the girl he'd seen heading upstairs with Hermione had definitely been alive.
"That Lotus fellow who went to Slytherin was a bit weird, wouldn't you say, Harry?" Seamus Finnigan asked, rolling onto his back.
"I'll say. I thought he was gonna bloody eat the Sorting Hat," Ron agreed. All three boys shivered a little as they remembered the way Lotus had moved back at the Great Hall. Every step looked carefully planned, like he was mapping some sort of path in his head. Though he wasn't nervous like their ex-teacher Quirrell, there was something about him that spoke of a past still haunting him, or a present trying to catch up to him.
"Too bad we didn't get those other girls," Neville Longbottom joined in the conversation. "They seemed a rather happy pair."
Harry smiled wryly as he made his way to Transfigurations, stopping once to show the new Gryffindors where their class was. Ron had saved him a seat, as always, but this one was directly across from Amber. "I tried being friendly already," the redhead whispered when Harry opened his mouth to greet the girl. "She just stared at me."
"That's because she's a bit shy," a deep voice said from behind them. Jumping slightly and turning around, both boys saw a solid wall of black in front of them. For a moment Harry panicked, thinking it might've been Crabb and Goyle. But a hand appeared in front of him, and Harry relaxed as he looked up at the smiling face of Jason, one of the Hufflepuff exchange students. "Jason Starr, pleasure to meet you. Didn't mean to startle you, sorry."
"Quite all right," Ron assured him, shaking his hand. A moment later they all heard giggling, and Dawn and Amelia poked their heads out from behind Jason.
"He'd never hurt you, really," Amelia assured the trio, giving the large boy a hug. "Jason's a big teddy bear."
"Only for you," he shot back. "Oh, where are my manners? This is Amelia Augustine, my girlfriend. And the little giggler still hiding is Dawn DeFay." The small redhead came out of her friend's shadow then, rocking back and forth on her heels.
"Pleasure to meet you," she greeted, blushing a bit when her light-green eyes alighted on Ron.
"Likewise," the other redhead replied. "I'm Ron Weasley."
"And I'm Harry Potter."
"The Harry Potter?" Amelia asked, light-brown eyes widening a bit. Harry blushed and nodded, then changed the subject.
"Do you all know each other?" he asked. Jason looked at him for a moment, a puzzled expression flowing through his dark-brown eyes.
"What a silly question," he answered with a small smile, like he knew a big secret and wasn't about to tell anyone.
"Were you in the same House?" Hermione asked, coming over to their table. Professor McGonagall had yet to arrive, so she saw no danger in talking to anyone. "Oh, I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."
"Pleasure Hermione. No, we're not in the same House at Salem," Jason replied, running a hand through his thick dark-brown hair. It curled slightly at the edges, giving him a sort-of wild appearance. "All of us became friends when we met at Salem, and we've stayed friends even though we're in different Houses at school. Besides, our Houses don't work quite the way yours do." At that moment, Professor McGonagall walked in, and they took their seats.
"Class," she began, sweeping into the room and sitting on her desk, "I would like to take today to review what you learned last year. Everyone take the marble on your desk and change it into a gem." Hermione raised her hand, waving it eagerly. "Yes, Miss Granger, what is it?"
"What sort of gem, Professor?"
"Any type you wish, and any color you wish. We'll work on specific colors and sizes later this year." Immediately the class set to work, all of them focusing on the marbles in front of them. Harry was just starting to see the black sphere turn green, when he saw Amber pick up a perfect diamond!
"Ron, look at that," he whispered, tapping his friend.
"Bloody hell," Ron swore softly. "I think I almost- Blimey!" He stared at the blonde girl, who was looking around at everyone. Most of the other students were looking over as well, and Harry saw that Jason had a small smile on his face.
"Why Miss Johnson, that was very good," Professor McGonagall said, coming over to inspect the gem.
"Thank you, Professor," the blonde replied, watching the older witch scrutinize her work. First in her class at Transfigurations at Salem, Amber had been ecstatic to learn she'd be studying under Professor Minerva McGonagall. Now here she was, accomplishing the first task with ease, and a feeling of pride settled over her.
"Now class," McGonagall continued, "Let's see how the rest of you are doing."
"I think I've got something over here, Professor," Hermione said, hand shooting into the air. Harry turned in his seat to see his frizzy-haired friend holding a blue gem in her other hand, and a smile going from ear to ear.
"Excellent Miss Granger. Everyone else, concentrate on your marble." Harry and Ron took only a few minutes more before their black spheres became an emerald and a ruby. Then the real class began with them turning their chairs into mushrooms. Hermione got this one a bit faster, but when she glanced quickly around the room, her jaw nearly dropped. Amber was standing by the side of her desk looking bored, holding a brown mushroom that looked no bigger than her finger. Hermione hadn't even had time to pick hers off the floor.
'She's rather good,' Hermione thought to herself, watching the blue-eyed girl sigh in what seemed like boredom. 'Maybe I can use studying to get her to talk a bit.'
"All right, everyone," Professor McGonagall said a few minutes later. "Turn your seats back and proceed to your next class." Stools began growing from the toadstools, and soon the room looked as normal as any other Hogwarts classroom.
"Show off," Amelia teased, coming up behind Amber as they were leaving.
"You've got your classes, and I've got mine," she retorted with a smile.
"Yeah, and coming up soon is Care of Magical Creatures. My class," Jason said with a grin.
"It's off to Magic History for me," Amber noted, looking at her schedule.
"Lucky you. Potions is after Transfigurations for us," Dawn said
"With which house?"
"Oh, you're probably with Ravenclaw," Hermione said as she came up, Harry and Ron right behind her. Jason was about to greet the trio, when he saw the change. The light in Amber's eyes went out like she'd snuffed the flame, leaving only icy coldness. Her posture turned from relaxed to ramrod straight, and a tight line replaced the smile that had been across her mouth.
'I hate when she does that.' But aloud he said, "Thanks for the heads-up. That means we get quality time with Slade." The seven of them walked down the wide stone hallways, smiling at passing students.
"If you see Slade and Lotus before me, tell them to be in the courtyard during break," Amber suddenly spoke up, startling everyone.
"Sure thing. See you soon!" Jason called back, following the girls down another corridor.
"Nice guy," Ron commented. "Too bad he's not in Gryffindor."
"Well, the Sorting Hat does know best," Hermione said.
"I somehow doubt that," Amber replied as she shook her head and broke away from the trio. They watched her go, and Harry thought back to when she had seemed upset that Lotus had been sorted into Slytherin. Granted he knew nothing of the American's character, but the Hat had never been wrong before. He jogged a little to catch up to the blonde, hoping to find out a little more.
"Amber, if your friend has a sly and cunning character, then he belongs in Slytherin. It doesn't mean he's going to become an evil wizard." She stopped walking, and turned to stare directly at him. Hermione and Ron caught up at this point, but the American kept staring into Harry's eyes.
"I wasn't talking about Lotus. I was talking about me." Without another word she walked into their next classroom, leaving the trio rather puzzled.
During free time, Amber was relieved to see that all the Houses were able to sit in the open courtyard and talk. She sat beneath a large tree, waiting for the rest of her friends to show up. The first was Slade, who plopped down beside her after his traditional nod hello. "So, what do you think?" she asked.
"About this place? It beats Salem, at least in my opinion. Everyone here seems so different, and a lot nicer."
"That's only because we're the new people."
"Must you always be so cynical?" Dawn asked as she came running up and gave her two friends a hug. "Maybe they're nice just because it's who they are."
"Our Housemates certainly seem friendly," Amelia added as she and Jason walked up hand in hand. "Maybe if you were nicer to yours-"
"Don't start, Amelia," the blonde warned.
"Amber, be reasonable. You have a chance to get to know Harry Potter. There are girls back home who would kill for that."
"I'm not some doting fangirl, Jason. I just don't see what's so special about him."
"He survived the Killing Curse, for one. That's all he really needed to do."
"Besides, he seems like a nice guy," Amelia agreed.
"I think his friend's cute," Dawn added with a giggle.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Slade said, reaching over and tickling the small girl. She dissolved into giggles and ended up sitting on his lap. A moment later a shadow fell over them, and they all looked up to see Lotus standing a few feet away.
"About time," Amber commented, moving over to make room on the grass.
"Sorry, but I couldn't get away from one of my Housemates until just now. Anyone ever hear of Draco Malfoy?"
"Should we have?" Amelia asked.
"Apparently he considers himself the best wizard here, and above everyone else."
"Uh-oh, I sense a conflict of personalities," Slade predicted.
"He asked if I wanted to be one of his followers, and appeared insulted when I said he wasn't worth my time. Then came the typical threat that I'd better stay out of his way." Lotus grinned then, and it wasn't a happy-looking one. Dawn shivered and hid her face in Slade's shoulder.
"No maiming the students, Lotus. That isn't what we're here for," Amber reminded him. "Speaking of that, is there a place we can meet tonight?"
"The school is basically under lockdown after dark, with no students allowed out. We're going to have to be careful if we want to meet," Jason advised.
"You're the only one who needs to be careful. Most of us can slip out with no problem," Lotus reminded him.
"New school, new problems," Amelia countered.
"Look, we'll meet here at midnight, unless Jason would rather wait a bit?"
"No, I'll be fine, Amber," the large boy assured her.
"Good, then let's get back to our Houses." Everyone turned to leave, but Jason put a large hand on Amber's shoulder, halting her. "Yes?"
"Would it kill you to be nice to the Gryffindors? They seem like good people."
"Jason, you know-"
"Promise me you'll try, if only for Amelia and Dawn's sakes. They hate seeing you all cold and distant." She opened her mouth to give a retort, but thought better of it.
"All right, I'll try. But I make no promises."
"Well, it's a start. Now if we can just work on Lotus."
"When pigs fly. Naturally," she added the last part, seeing the smile on his face.
"Whatever you say, Amber. See you tonight."