Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters or concepts, blah blah blah – those belong to JK Rowling kthx (lucky bitch . ). I do, however, own Xanadu Severina.

Sarafina Radcliff is (c) Kiara Rae ), and Sanuya Kynnata is (c) Cy ). Any other characters belonging to people other than me will be duly credited. Thus far, every fan-created character I use and will use I have strict permission to use directly from their creator, so don't bust my ass about copyright infringements.

Enjoy!

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As the conversation turned to other things, Xanadu found herself completely fascinated by the variety in the people around her. Not a single person was the same; they all varied in shape and size, hair and eye colour, as well as the level of fascination with which she regarded them. And when they had finished with their meal, the plates glittered clean for a moment before they were again covered with wonderful desserts, which Xanadu helped herself to in large quantities. When these too disappeared, Dumbledore again rose to his feet and the hall again plunged into awed silence.

"I'd like to say just a few more words now that our bellies our all good and full. A few start-of-term notices, if you will. First years should note that the forbidden forest is off limits to all those who do not wish to suffer a most painful death." Xanadu wasn't sure whether to laugh or not. "Secondly, our caretaker Ms. Brown would like me to remind you all that no magick should be used between classes in the corridors. Thirdly, Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."

Oliver elbowed Xanadu with a grin, and Xanadu shook her head, though she couldn't help smiling.

"And now, before we all head off to a night of rest, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore finished merrily. He flicked his wand lightly, and words began pouring from its tip in wonderful shimmering curls that reminded her of crepe paper that had taken on a life of its own. "Everyone pick your favorite tunes, and off we go!"

Rather resignedly, Xanadu looked up at the words and joined the rest of the school in a somewhat dreary version of her favorite Dredg song.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."

Xanadu distinctly picked out another voice singing the same tune as her, and when her eye caught Sarafina's they exchanged grins, each instantly recognizing the other's obsession. Dumbledore said something else that Xanadu didn't really hear (she wasn't paying attention), and before she knew what was happening the entire Gryffindor table had stood up and was shuffling off out of the Great Hall.

Before Xanadu allowed herself to follow Oliver and San, she remembered what Professor McGonagall had told her before they had entered the Great Hall, and waved goodbye to her two new friends before positioning herself just outside the Great Hall, trying her damndest to stay out of the other students' ways and avoid being trampled. When the halls had cleared and the even the last of the echoes had faded into nothingness, an eerie silence settled itself over her; she found it strangely refreshing.

It didn't last long, however, because not even a minute had passed before the doors to the Great Hall swung open once more and Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall emerged, accompanied by a sleek-looking black haired teacher whom Xanadu assumed to be Professor Snape.

"Xanadu," Dumbledore said genially as he approached her and shook her hand delightedly. "It's really quite wonderful to have you here. Your mother was a head girl in her time, you know. We're very proud to have another witch in the Atwell family attending our school." And Xanadu knew, of course, that Atwell was her mother's maiden name.

"Very glad te be 'ere, thank ye," Xanadu replied, grinning and still quite excited despite her exhaustion.

"Now, to discuss your schedule," Professor McGonagall said simply, her eyes glittering behind her glasses. Xanadu was liking her more and more every moment she was in her presence. She handed her a parchment with the names of different classes and teachers scrawled out with corresponding times and days of the week, and the words Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry written in the same loopy text at the top. "Since you have so much to catch up on, we've scheduled you some extra hour classes for the first few months."

"Your mother's told us you're a very fast learner," Dumbledore interjected proudly, and Xanadu beamed. It was true, after all, she did pick up on things very fast, and she had a particular knack for magick. She was beginning to wonder why she hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw when Professor McGonagall called her back to reality.

"Yes, well, let's just hope that's true, eh?" Her eyes glittered, and Xanadu grinned broadly.

"A' 'his schoo', professeh, I think I'll do just wonderfully," she replied, and both professors beamed. She even noticed Snape crack a smile, which is something she felt was going to be quite rare.

"Splendid. We'll see you bright and early in the morning, then," Professor McGonagall finished happily. "I'll show you to your common room, give you the password, and show you to your dormitory."

Xanadu waved goodbye to the other two professors, who went their separate ways almost immediately after their departure, and she felt her body suddenly become heavy as she realized just how tired she was. She followed Professor McGonagall mindlessly through a labyrinth of passageways that she subconsciously recorded in her mind, and her feet were very thankful when they stopped in front of the portrait of a very round woman wearing a frilled pink dress.

"This is the entryway to the Gryffindor commonroom," Professor McGonagall said, snapping her awake. She then turned to the painting and enunciated clearly, "golden snitch." The fat lady bowed slightly and the portrait slid back, revealing a hole in the wall that her professor slid through easily with catlike grace. Xanadu followed, making sure not to hit her head as she went in, and the portrait slid back into place behind her.

The room was warm and comforting, and a fire blazing in the hearth cast a warm glow over several cushy armchairs. Oreo was curled up on one of them (she had been taken by Ms. Brown when they had entered the castle, along with all the other pets the students had brought with them on the train), and she leapt off as soon as she saw them come in. Xanadu picked her up in her arms and nuzzled her face, and she could tell the little cat was as sleepy as she was.

Professor McGonagall directed her attention to a stairwell to her right. "Up those stairs are the girls' dormitories; you should find one about five doors up with a piece of parchment pinned to it, on which should be your name." She smiled. "Pleasant dreams, Miss Severina."

"Thank ye Professeh," Xanadu replied, smiling gratefully.

Then Professor McGonagall left through the portrait, and she was left alone in the commonroom. She took a deep breath of the smoky scent of the fireplace before trudging up the spiral staircase to the right of it. Five doors later she found her name on a piece of parchment, as promised, and pushed the door open.

Inside were four four-poster beds, draped in what looked like scarlet velvet bedspreads. All her things were already set up beside a bed at one of the corners on the right side of the room, and she instinctively dragged her feet over to the bed and began yanking off her clothes. At this point, she didn't really care if the entire boys' dormitory came in to watch her change, she just wanted to get into bed. She reached inside her bag and pulled out some makeup remover, bewitched water, and a towel and went about removing the thick black makeup from around her eyes and from her lips, and barely a minute had passed before her head had hit the pillow and she had pulled the covers up around her.

"Goodnight, Oreo," she uttered quietly as the little black and white cat curled up by her feet.

Goodnight Xanadu.