Chapter 2
When I awoke I was laying on one of many uniform beds that were
covered by crisp white sheets. I shifted slightly in order to survey
my surroundings better, but was overwhelmed by the throb of all the
bruises I had received last night. I flopped back on my pillow
exhausted.
"Ah, I see you've finally awakened," said a friendly voice.
I was still feeling rather groggy so it took me several seconds before
I could attach a body to the voice. It was the old man with the
crystal eyes from the night before. He was sitting in a chair on the
right side of my bed. He was smiling softly. I still didn't trust him.
After all you can hide malicious thoughts behind a mask of kindness.
Such had I done before.
"Welcome to Hogwarts and I am Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of
this school. You seemed to have stumbled in upon the introduction
celebration for new students last night. If you don't mind may I ask a
few questions?"
"Whatever," I said in an offhandedly. You fool. I can lie as easily as
tell the truth to you.
"What's your name?"
"I don't know."
"How about your home? Where were you born?"
"I don't know." This time I said it with more contempt. I wasn't angry
at this, Professor Dumbledore, just the idea of having to revisit the
fact that I knew absolutely nothing about myself.
"That is curious," he said almost to himself.
"What the hell is wrong with that? Listen and listen well cause' I'm
only going to explain this once! I turned up in the gutters of London
around the age of 9. I had no memory! No clue as to who I was! That
holds true today. As for my name; the Immortals called me Raven. I
have lived for the last 7 years in an apartment awarded to me by the
Elitist. Now do you have any other questions?!" I spat.
"Relax child. (Humph! Easy for you to say!) I didn't mean to upset you
by bringing up your past. But what did mean by the immortals and the
Elitist?" he questioned calmly (This man was grating on my nerves! He
showed no emotion. He was like a smiling brick wall!)
"The clan that I lived with was called the Immortals and our leader
was the Elitist."
"Now that we have become acquainted, Raven, I wish to tell you about a
choice that you must make. Usually in a situation of this matter I
would return the person to their home, but the circumstances in which
you've arrived... are interesting. So, I wish to make it open to you to
be able to enroll in Hogwarts," Dumbledore stated in a business-like
matter.
Once again you are at a crossroad Raven. You can return to a life of
destruction... or... you can start again. Start with a clean sheet of
paper and re-draw yourself. This still isn't much of a choice
considering the death warrant that's on my life back in London.
"Very well. I accept your invitation to this school," I said quickly.
"We will speak again when you have regained your health."
"I'm fine now!" I hissed. From resting on my elbow I sat up stiffly
feeling the rejection of my sore muscles. As I stood dizziness came
over me and I wavered for a moment, but then shook myself and then
stood firm. I looked down to realize my clothes had been replaced by a
hospital gown. I frowned in disgust. My arm was bound in a sling and I
had a bandage over where I had hit my head..
After retrieving my clothes I struggled to get them on without
bothering my injured shoulder. Professor Dumbledore then rejoined me.
I had noticed that the pictures moved. At first I thought it was just
the way the light was reflecting, but then I saw they clearly could
walk about in their portraits. There is something definitely odd about
this school.
"They move... the people in the portraits move," I said to Dumbledore.
"Yes, I know it never seems to amaze me either," he remarked, his eyes
twinkling.
"This is something I wish to explain to you Raven. This is no ordinary
school of learning. The people you saw last night are witches and
wizards. This is where they come to learn how to use magic,"
Dumbledore explained.
I stared in disbelief and then narrowed my eyes, "Your joking! There
is no such thing except in children's tales. Do not attempt to deceive
me for I am no child! I have seen things that some men only have
nightmares about!"
That is when he withdrew a slinder stick from his robes.
"Now watch. I believe a demonstration will be the best way to prove
that what I say the truth," he said calmly.
He pointed the, what I supposed was a wand, at a role of bandagers
that sat by my night stand. It expanded then started to grow silky
white fur. It formed ears, a tail, four legs, and two glassy green
eyes. Before my eyes the bandages had formed into a kitten. Holy shit!
He wasn't kidding!
"Do you believe me now?" he said softly
"Yes," I stammered.
"I must explain why I have allowed you to remain at Hogwarts. If an
ordinary muggle, non-magical folk, were to come near Hogwarts they
wouldn't be able to enter the grounds, but you... you have come through
the magical shield," he spoke with a sudden element of seriousness,
"Also your wound was not made by a muggle bullet. It was traced with a
certain poison that allows the injury not to be healed with magic.
That's why you have to let you shoulder mend naturally."
"So you think I am a witch or something?"
"Exactly," he said with a nod.
"Now because of your age you will be place in six year classes. You
are about 16 aren't you?" he questioned
"I guess, but wait... I don't know anything about magic. How can I go
into a sixth year class when I've had no experience?"
"I have asked one of our teachers to make up a potion that will allow
you to remember all that you see or read for a period of 73 hours. I
will give you the books from the main classes for the first five
years. The rest you'll pick up on the way," Dumbledore stated.
"To be able to start the term you will need supplies. I'll send
letters to the shops in Diagon Alley. They will send the books and
uniforms you need for the school year."
"I have money. I won't accept charity. It's in an account in the
London International Bank under the name Steven Callow."
"Very well. If you that is what you wish I will have your money
converted into our currency, but in the mean time you need to be
sorted into one of four school houses. There is Gryffindor, Slytherin,
Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. To do this we use the Sorting Hat. So place
this hat on your head and it will sort you."
Sounds simple enough. Yet, how can a hat make a decision. Oh yeah,
it's probably magic.
From a dusty hat box Dumbledore retrieved a black pointed cap. It was
patched and torn from centuries of use. He placed it on top of my
head. It was slightly too large and slipped over my eyes. We waited in
baited silence. Alright this is stupid...
"Stupid you say," came a wizened voice from somewhere in the
boundaries of the hat.
"You think yourself hardcore, impenetrable; yet you have great
internal weakness. (Shut up! You know nothing of my life!) Oh, but I
do. I can see everything you have felt, heard, said, or done. You have
taken lives, abused your body, and trained yourself not feel. (Damn
you! Stop it!) You can't sleep. You're haunted by dreams of death and
decay. (No, I don't want to see them. I don't want to hear their
screams. They were all innocent... all of them.) Your hate has become
strong yet there is still hope of redemption for you. You are caused
pain because you sympathize with those tortured and killed. (I can
stop the pain if I will it all away... if I will it all away.) Your will
is strong, but it can't always help you. Sometimes you need others for
support. (I need no one.) You fear nothing; death nor life. You know
there are some things that time erase. You live in a harsh reality.
You past actions speak of a Slytherin yet all of your characteristics
point to that of a Gryffindor. Understand child you must live in the
present. Forget the past. Gryffindor, yes, that will be your house."
"Congratulations on being accepted to Gryffindor," Dumbledore said
smiling as he lifted the Sorting hat off my head and back into the
box, "I will notify the teachers and students of your arrival. You are
aware that due to last night's occurrences that your first experiences
with your fellow students might not be pleasant."
"A cold shoulder has never bothered me before," I said shrugging. I've
been a loner all my life. Being ignored is what I am used to, and if I
get any shit... well let's just say they'll end up with a black eye and
a split lip.
"Are you hungry?"
"Huh?" I had been lost in my thoughts and wasn't aware that Dumbledore
was still in the room.
He spoke again, this time more loudly, "Would you like breakfast?"
"I guess."
"Follow me Raven. All of the students have gone to class and the
dining hall is empty."
So, I followed him down passage after passage until we had reached the
large wooden doors. He sat down at the end of one the students'
tables. With a flick of his wand silver platters appeared filled with
eggs, toast, bacon, and waffles.
"What would you like to drink?" he questioned
"Red wine is fine."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in disapproval at this request, but
complied with a second quick movement of his wand. I took a sip before
sitting down the glass to stare at the ceiling.
"Beautiful isn't it," Dumbledore said while watching me scrutinize the
detail of the sky, "and it's all a mirage."
That's about the time when a tall, dark figure came swooping through
the pair of large wooden doors. With the proud way he carried himself
I could see he was one of the professors. He unlike Dumbledore wore
all black robes. Greasy shoulder length hair framed his pale face. His
jaw was set tightly as if he held contempt for everyone. His eyes were
empty black pools. No sympathy toward life resided in those endless
abysses. I know you. I've seen you somewhere... but I can't ... I can't
remember.
"Headmaster, the potion you asked for," the man silkily whispered.
This man, could it be the boy... the boy in my dream. Yes, the same
facial features...
"Thank you Severus. Oh, I would like to introduce you to our new
student. Her name is Raven and she has been sorted into Gryffingor,
and Raven this is Professor Snape. He will be your potions teacher,"
Dumbledore said cheerfully.
Until this moment I hadn't realized I had been staring. When Professor
Snape suddenly looked over at me I quickly averted my eyes from his
icy glare. Boy, he must be really pissed at someone, look at that
death stare.
"Is there anything else Dumbledore?" Snape questioned. With the way he
spoke to Dumbledore, Snape must really have respect for the elderly
scholar.
"No. I suppose I will see you at dinner tonight?" Professor Dumbledore
said.
"Of course," Snape bowed before turning and stalking out of the dining
hall.
"Well he's friendly as a vulture with a stick up his ass; butt sorry,"
I laughed sarcastically.
"Now Raven, as long as you remain at Hogwarts you are to show respect
to the teachers. That means no disrespectful or crude remarks to or
about the professors," Dumbledore scolded.
"Er... whoops?" I shrugged.
"Here is the potion I told you about," he said as he handed me the
small vile. I inspected the dull green liquid that swirled within its
confining case.
If this tastes as bad as it looks... yuck! I shuddered at the mere
thought.
"Bottoms up," I said then drank the vile. It was a thick substance,
but when I finally was able to get down the mucky glob. There wasn't a
true taste, instead just an intense heat that followed the potion from
my mouth all the way down my throat. The sensation was so great that
it caused my eyes to water.
The rest of the day I spent in the hospital wing beginning to read the
school books from the first 5 years. Some of the material in the
volumes seemed familiar like I had been taught it when I was a child,
but I couldn't remember from where.
That night Dumbledore came and got me to be introduced to my house. We
climbed several staircases one which even moved! This place never
ceases to amaze me. Finally we reached a portrait of a lavishly
dressed obese woman.
"Password," she drawled.
"Opaleye," Dumbledore said quickly.
The portrait swung open to reveal a portal. We stepped through the
hole into the brightly lit Gryffindor common room. It had red and gold
tapestries lining the walls and a roaring fire in the fireplace.
Several large armchairs were arranged loosely and a group of about
sixty students were sitting or standing around the room. An elderly
professor was standing near the door we had just entered. She was
dressed in forest green robes and had a long pointed hat with a
pheasant feather suck in it. She was in the later years of her life
and had a very strict look about her. Well, I better not mess with
her, she looks like she could bite your head off.
"Gryffindors I would like to introduce you to your newest class
member, Raven. I believe last night there was a large misunderstanding
so I must ask you to forgive her behavior last night," he said
quietly. Yeah right! Like I care what they think.
At this point the room became completely quiet. The only sound was me
cracking my knuckles (It's what I do when I'm nervous and can you
blame me?).
"Well everyone up to bed," the female professor said.
The students filled up two flights of stairs. The boys went to the
left and the girls to the right. I noticed the same sandy-haired boy
that had pointed me out the other night. He was very pale and was
shaking. I sneered at him and he took off like a shot to the boys'
dormitory.
"Raven this is Professor McGonagoll. She is in charge of Gryffindor
tower and if you need anything ask her," Dumbledore commented.
I stared at her and then gave a nod of acceptance towards her.
"How may I mail a letter? I wish to send for my personals."
"If you head to the fifth tower opposite Gryffindor tower you'll find
the owlery. I know this will sound strange to you, but hand your
addressed letter to one of the owls and it will take it to where the
address reads," Professor McGonagoll said stiffly.
After the Professors left I trudged up the steps that led to the
girls' dormitory. For the first time in about four days I took a
shower. I allowed the steamy water to stream down my face; washing
away all the dirt from my hair and past struggles. A dull sting came
from the stitches in my shoulder. I stared at the wound. It was red
around the edges and I could see my veins highlighted with the poison.
I leaned against the shower wall and let my shoulders sag; relieving
the stress from the last couple of days. Here in the quiet of my mind
I could be myself. I wasn't pressured to act or perform in a certain
way. After drying off and painfully getting into my pajamas. I walked
out on to the small balcony and sat down. I methodically messaged my
aching shoulder. The summer breeze caressed my cheek. Although I was
tired I didn't want to sleep. I was too excited and I didn't want it
to be ruined by my nightmares. I watched the sky until the darkness
disappeared and the sun arose. Then my exhaustion became too much and
I drifted to sleep. When the house began to awaken and started to get
dressed I slowly opened my eyes. The sunshine fell upon my face;
warming my body. The bright light filtered through my eye lashes
blinding me partially. I heard the rest of the girls milling around
the room. I turned over. I had slept on the balcony all night allowing
nature to dry my hair although it had become a tangled wreck. The four
poster beds were mostly empty except for the one closest to me. A girl
about my age with bushy brown hair was sitting cross-legged studying a
large book of spells. She glanced at me. She seemed to be the well-
learned studious type. We looked at each other for what seemed like
hours. She's not afraid of me. The she averted her eyes and began to
study again. I got up and dressed. I attempted to comb my hair, but
eventually gave up and put it into a messy ponytail (especially with
only being able to use one hand). I headed down the stairs to the
Great Hall. The minute I entered several heads jerked up to look at me
and I could hear people whispering as I walked past. I sat at the end
of the Gryffindor table away from everyone else. The younger students
glanced fearfully at me. These kids may know how to pull rabbits out
of a hat but they sure as hell can't fight. They think they're so
special, but they ain't seen nothing yet. I leaned back on the bench
and folded my arms. So, your new life begins today, Raven. You will
succeed in the trials ahead. Failure is not an option. I was trained
for perfection and that will be the only road which I can travel.
When I awoke I was laying on one of many uniform beds that were
covered by crisp white sheets. I shifted slightly in order to survey
my surroundings better, but was overwhelmed by the throb of all the
bruises I had received last night. I flopped back on my pillow
exhausted.
"Ah, I see you've finally awakened," said a friendly voice.
I was still feeling rather groggy so it took me several seconds before
I could attach a body to the voice. It was the old man with the
crystal eyes from the night before. He was sitting in a chair on the
right side of my bed. He was smiling softly. I still didn't trust him.
After all you can hide malicious thoughts behind a mask of kindness.
Such had I done before.
"Welcome to Hogwarts and I am Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of
this school. You seemed to have stumbled in upon the introduction
celebration for new students last night. If you don't mind may I ask a
few questions?"
"Whatever," I said in an offhandedly. You fool. I can lie as easily as
tell the truth to you.
"What's your name?"
"I don't know."
"How about your home? Where were you born?"
"I don't know." This time I said it with more contempt. I wasn't angry
at this, Professor Dumbledore, just the idea of having to revisit the
fact that I knew absolutely nothing about myself.
"That is curious," he said almost to himself.
"What the hell is wrong with that? Listen and listen well cause' I'm
only going to explain this once! I turned up in the gutters of London
around the age of 9. I had no memory! No clue as to who I was! That
holds true today. As for my name; the Immortals called me Raven. I
have lived for the last 7 years in an apartment awarded to me by the
Elitist. Now do you have any other questions?!" I spat.
"Relax child. (Humph! Easy for you to say!) I didn't mean to upset you
by bringing up your past. But what did mean by the immortals and the
Elitist?" he questioned calmly (This man was grating on my nerves! He
showed no emotion. He was like a smiling brick wall!)
"The clan that I lived with was called the Immortals and our leader
was the Elitist."
"Now that we have become acquainted, Raven, I wish to tell you about a
choice that you must make. Usually in a situation of this matter I
would return the person to their home, but the circumstances in which
you've arrived... are interesting. So, I wish to make it open to you to
be able to enroll in Hogwarts," Dumbledore stated in a business-like
matter.
Once again you are at a crossroad Raven. You can return to a life of
destruction... or... you can start again. Start with a clean sheet of
paper and re-draw yourself. This still isn't much of a choice
considering the death warrant that's on my life back in London.
"Very well. I accept your invitation to this school," I said quickly.
"We will speak again when you have regained your health."
"I'm fine now!" I hissed. From resting on my elbow I sat up stiffly
feeling the rejection of my sore muscles. As I stood dizziness came
over me and I wavered for a moment, but then shook myself and then
stood firm. I looked down to realize my clothes had been replaced by a
hospital gown. I frowned in disgust. My arm was bound in a sling and I
had a bandage over where I had hit my head..
After retrieving my clothes I struggled to get them on without
bothering my injured shoulder. Professor Dumbledore then rejoined me.
I had noticed that the pictures moved. At first I thought it was just
the way the light was reflecting, but then I saw they clearly could
walk about in their portraits. There is something definitely odd about
this school.
"They move... the people in the portraits move," I said to Dumbledore.
"Yes, I know it never seems to amaze me either," he remarked, his eyes
twinkling.
"This is something I wish to explain to you Raven. This is no ordinary
school of learning. The people you saw last night are witches and
wizards. This is where they come to learn how to use magic,"
Dumbledore explained.
I stared in disbelief and then narrowed my eyes, "Your joking! There
is no such thing except in children's tales. Do not attempt to deceive
me for I am no child! I have seen things that some men only have
nightmares about!"
That is when he withdrew a slinder stick from his robes.
"Now watch. I believe a demonstration will be the best way to prove
that what I say the truth," he said calmly.
He pointed the, what I supposed was a wand, at a role of bandagers
that sat by my night stand. It expanded then started to grow silky
white fur. It formed ears, a tail, four legs, and two glassy green
eyes. Before my eyes the bandages had formed into a kitten. Holy shit!
He wasn't kidding!
"Do you believe me now?" he said softly
"Yes," I stammered.
"I must explain why I have allowed you to remain at Hogwarts. If an
ordinary muggle, non-magical folk, were to come near Hogwarts they
wouldn't be able to enter the grounds, but you... you have come through
the magical shield," he spoke with a sudden element of seriousness,
"Also your wound was not made by a muggle bullet. It was traced with a
certain poison that allows the injury not to be healed with magic.
That's why you have to let you shoulder mend naturally."
"So you think I am a witch or something?"
"Exactly," he said with a nod.
"Now because of your age you will be place in six year classes. You
are about 16 aren't you?" he questioned
"I guess, but wait... I don't know anything about magic. How can I go
into a sixth year class when I've had no experience?"
"I have asked one of our teachers to make up a potion that will allow
you to remember all that you see or read for a period of 73 hours. I
will give you the books from the main classes for the first five
years. The rest you'll pick up on the way," Dumbledore stated.
"To be able to start the term you will need supplies. I'll send
letters to the shops in Diagon Alley. They will send the books and
uniforms you need for the school year."
"I have money. I won't accept charity. It's in an account in the
London International Bank under the name Steven Callow."
"Very well. If you that is what you wish I will have your money
converted into our currency, but in the mean time you need to be
sorted into one of four school houses. There is Gryffindor, Slytherin,
Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. To do this we use the Sorting Hat. So place
this hat on your head and it will sort you."
Sounds simple enough. Yet, how can a hat make a decision. Oh yeah,
it's probably magic.
From a dusty hat box Dumbledore retrieved a black pointed cap. It was
patched and torn from centuries of use. He placed it on top of my
head. It was slightly too large and slipped over my eyes. We waited in
baited silence. Alright this is stupid...
"Stupid you say," came a wizened voice from somewhere in the
boundaries of the hat.
"You think yourself hardcore, impenetrable; yet you have great
internal weakness. (Shut up! You know nothing of my life!) Oh, but I
do. I can see everything you have felt, heard, said, or done. You have
taken lives, abused your body, and trained yourself not feel. (Damn
you! Stop it!) You can't sleep. You're haunted by dreams of death and
decay. (No, I don't want to see them. I don't want to hear their
screams. They were all innocent... all of them.) Your hate has become
strong yet there is still hope of redemption for you. You are caused
pain because you sympathize with those tortured and killed. (I can
stop the pain if I will it all away... if I will it all away.) Your will
is strong, but it can't always help you. Sometimes you need others for
support. (I need no one.) You fear nothing; death nor life. You know
there are some things that time erase. You live in a harsh reality.
You past actions speak of a Slytherin yet all of your characteristics
point to that of a Gryffindor. Understand child you must live in the
present. Forget the past. Gryffindor, yes, that will be your house."
"Congratulations on being accepted to Gryffindor," Dumbledore said
smiling as he lifted the Sorting hat off my head and back into the
box, "I will notify the teachers and students of your arrival. You are
aware that due to last night's occurrences that your first experiences
with your fellow students might not be pleasant."
"A cold shoulder has never bothered me before," I said shrugging. I've
been a loner all my life. Being ignored is what I am used to, and if I
get any shit... well let's just say they'll end up with a black eye and
a split lip.
"Are you hungry?"
"Huh?" I had been lost in my thoughts and wasn't aware that Dumbledore
was still in the room.
He spoke again, this time more loudly, "Would you like breakfast?"
"I guess."
"Follow me Raven. All of the students have gone to class and the
dining hall is empty."
So, I followed him down passage after passage until we had reached the
large wooden doors. He sat down at the end of one the students'
tables. With a flick of his wand silver platters appeared filled with
eggs, toast, bacon, and waffles.
"What would you like to drink?" he questioned
"Red wine is fine."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in disapproval at this request, but
complied with a second quick movement of his wand. I took a sip before
sitting down the glass to stare at the ceiling.
"Beautiful isn't it," Dumbledore said while watching me scrutinize the
detail of the sky, "and it's all a mirage."
That's about the time when a tall, dark figure came swooping through
the pair of large wooden doors. With the proud way he carried himself
I could see he was one of the professors. He unlike Dumbledore wore
all black robes. Greasy shoulder length hair framed his pale face. His
jaw was set tightly as if he held contempt for everyone. His eyes were
empty black pools. No sympathy toward life resided in those endless
abysses. I know you. I've seen you somewhere... but I can't ... I can't
remember.
"Headmaster, the potion you asked for," the man silkily whispered.
This man, could it be the boy... the boy in my dream. Yes, the same
facial features...
"Thank you Severus. Oh, I would like to introduce you to our new
student. Her name is Raven and she has been sorted into Gryffingor,
and Raven this is Professor Snape. He will be your potions teacher,"
Dumbledore said cheerfully.
Until this moment I hadn't realized I had been staring. When Professor
Snape suddenly looked over at me I quickly averted my eyes from his
icy glare. Boy, he must be really pissed at someone, look at that
death stare.
"Is there anything else Dumbledore?" Snape questioned. With the way he
spoke to Dumbledore, Snape must really have respect for the elderly
scholar.
"No. I suppose I will see you at dinner tonight?" Professor Dumbledore
said.
"Of course," Snape bowed before turning and stalking out of the dining
hall.
"Well he's friendly as a vulture with a stick up his ass; butt sorry,"
I laughed sarcastically.
"Now Raven, as long as you remain at Hogwarts you are to show respect
to the teachers. That means no disrespectful or crude remarks to or
about the professors," Dumbledore scolded.
"Er... whoops?" I shrugged.
"Here is the potion I told you about," he said as he handed me the
small vile. I inspected the dull green liquid that swirled within its
confining case.
If this tastes as bad as it looks... yuck! I shuddered at the mere
thought.
"Bottoms up," I said then drank the vile. It was a thick substance,
but when I finally was able to get down the mucky glob. There wasn't a
true taste, instead just an intense heat that followed the potion from
my mouth all the way down my throat. The sensation was so great that
it caused my eyes to water.
The rest of the day I spent in the hospital wing beginning to read the
school books from the first 5 years. Some of the material in the
volumes seemed familiar like I had been taught it when I was a child,
but I couldn't remember from where.
That night Dumbledore came and got me to be introduced to my house. We
climbed several staircases one which even moved! This place never
ceases to amaze me. Finally we reached a portrait of a lavishly
dressed obese woman.
"Password," she drawled.
"Opaleye," Dumbledore said quickly.
The portrait swung open to reveal a portal. We stepped through the
hole into the brightly lit Gryffindor common room. It had red and gold
tapestries lining the walls and a roaring fire in the fireplace.
Several large armchairs were arranged loosely and a group of about
sixty students were sitting or standing around the room. An elderly
professor was standing near the door we had just entered. She was
dressed in forest green robes and had a long pointed hat with a
pheasant feather suck in it. She was in the later years of her life
and had a very strict look about her. Well, I better not mess with
her, she looks like she could bite your head off.
"Gryffindors I would like to introduce you to your newest class
member, Raven. I believe last night there was a large misunderstanding
so I must ask you to forgive her behavior last night," he said
quietly. Yeah right! Like I care what they think.
At this point the room became completely quiet. The only sound was me
cracking my knuckles (It's what I do when I'm nervous and can you
blame me?).
"Well everyone up to bed," the female professor said.
The students filled up two flights of stairs. The boys went to the
left and the girls to the right. I noticed the same sandy-haired boy
that had pointed me out the other night. He was very pale and was
shaking. I sneered at him and he took off like a shot to the boys'
dormitory.
"Raven this is Professor McGonagoll. She is in charge of Gryffindor
tower and if you need anything ask her," Dumbledore commented.
I stared at her and then gave a nod of acceptance towards her.
"How may I mail a letter? I wish to send for my personals."
"If you head to the fifth tower opposite Gryffindor tower you'll find
the owlery. I know this will sound strange to you, but hand your
addressed letter to one of the owls and it will take it to where the
address reads," Professor McGonagoll said stiffly.
After the Professors left I trudged up the steps that led to the
girls' dormitory. For the first time in about four days I took a
shower. I allowed the steamy water to stream down my face; washing
away all the dirt from my hair and past struggles. A dull sting came
from the stitches in my shoulder. I stared at the wound. It was red
around the edges and I could see my veins highlighted with the poison.
I leaned against the shower wall and let my shoulders sag; relieving
the stress from the last couple of days. Here in the quiet of my mind
I could be myself. I wasn't pressured to act or perform in a certain
way. After drying off and painfully getting into my pajamas. I walked
out on to the small balcony and sat down. I methodically messaged my
aching shoulder. The summer breeze caressed my cheek. Although I was
tired I didn't want to sleep. I was too excited and I didn't want it
to be ruined by my nightmares. I watched the sky until the darkness
disappeared and the sun arose. Then my exhaustion became too much and
I drifted to sleep. When the house began to awaken and started to get
dressed I slowly opened my eyes. The sunshine fell upon my face;
warming my body. The bright light filtered through my eye lashes
blinding me partially. I heard the rest of the girls milling around
the room. I turned over. I had slept on the balcony all night allowing
nature to dry my hair although it had become a tangled wreck. The four
poster beds were mostly empty except for the one closest to me. A girl
about my age with bushy brown hair was sitting cross-legged studying a
large book of spells. She glanced at me. She seemed to be the well-
learned studious type. We looked at each other for what seemed like
hours. She's not afraid of me. The she averted her eyes and began to
study again. I got up and dressed. I attempted to comb my hair, but
eventually gave up and put it into a messy ponytail (especially with
only being able to use one hand). I headed down the stairs to the
Great Hall. The minute I entered several heads jerked up to look at me
and I could hear people whispering as I walked past. I sat at the end
of the Gryffindor table away from everyone else. The younger students
glanced fearfully at me. These kids may know how to pull rabbits out
of a hat but they sure as hell can't fight. They think they're so
special, but they ain't seen nothing yet. I leaned back on the bench
and folded my arms. So, your new life begins today, Raven. You will
succeed in the trials ahead. Failure is not an option. I was trained
for perfection and that will be the only road which I can travel.