Chapter 10: Making Announcements, Friends, and Food

Silence fell over the room after Maeve took her seat. All eyes were on the teacher's table at the front of the room. Professor Dumbledore stood up, smiled, and spread his arms, like he wanted to engulf the room in a hug.

"Welcome back! As always, I have a few start-of-term announcements before we can get to the pleasurable business of eating! We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Please welcome Nymphadora Tonks."

Maeve's jaw dropped as the woman she recognized as Tonks stood up. She noticed Hermione watching her and quickly hid her surprise.

"Also on the note of welcoming, we have a new fifth year, who was placed into Gryffindor house tonight. Maeve, would you stand up, please? Maeve Phoenix is from America, and not quite used to how we do things here. I'm counting on all of you to help her find her way about the school."

Maeve did as she was asked, blushing furiously and thinking about killing the old man all the while. As soon as he finished the "l" in "school", she sat down so fast her chair almost tipped over. As he continued on about rules, she let her mind wander. She never did pay much attention to rules. She noticed interested eyes flicker toward her from around the room throughout the rest of the lecture. Finally he came to the end.

"With business over, let the feast begin!"

And with that, the old man sat down and the golden platters filled with the most delicious food Maeve had ever seen.

"Well, congratulations, Maeve! You've joined the best of the houses…" Harry said, grinning.

"Quidditch-wise, anyway," Ron added and he and Harry laughed.

"Oh, Quidditch is alright, but its nothing to Broom-Tackle! That's a REAL sport!" she said enthusiastically.

"Well, I suppose, if you like your teams to fall and die before they win…" Ron started.

"It gets out those we don't want in society," she laughed at Hermione's startled look and added, "Besides, no one has died in, like, centuries! Its perfectly safe, there some kinda spell on the field that acts like a net and'll catch anyone who is bad enough to fall!"

"Ow! Ginny, what was that for? Oh! Well, sorry, thought you'd do it yourself…" Ron grumbled, "Hey, Maeve, this is my sister, Ginny, she'll be in your classes, too."

"Hi!" Maeve grinned warmly. "Nice to meet you!"

"Yeah…you too…mind if I sit here?" she asked shyly, gesturing to the empty chair next to her, "I'm a little late, I had to…say hi to someone."

Maeve laughed at the way she blushed. "I see…and was it a male someone?"

Ginny Weasley turned as red as her hair and Maeve grinned. In a moment they were discussing girly things, like hair and cute boys. Maeve had the scoop on all the guys at Hogwarts within 20 minutes.

Soon she was talking with kids of all different ages. Ginny introduced her to all the Gryffindor fifth years, who were enthusiastic about having the first American exchange student in Hogwarts history in their house. All too soon, the feast was over.

"Ron! Come on, we have to go help the first years!' Hermione hissed.

"Oh…but what about Maeve? You don't want to just leave her here, do you? She doesn't know where she's going!" he said defensively.

"I'll help her, you two go on, we'll meet you in the Common Room," Harry said.

Maeve followed Harry out into the enterance hallway, laughing at the sulky look Ron gave them as he followed Hermione to help the midgets. They went up the main staircase, and Maeve looked around in awe.

"Its amazing here!"

"Yeah, I've loved it here ever since I first got off the train! Did you see the ceiling in the Great Hall?" Harry asked with a smile.

"The sky, you mean? It's beautiful!" she said.

"Hermione says it's a charm…"
"Well, if Hermione says it, it must be true!" she grinned, "She's super smart, isn't she?"

"Super smart? That's one way to put it…oh, here we are!" Harry said, as they stopped by a line of people waiting to get inside. Ron and Hermione were at the head of the group.

"Um, right, midgets, listen up!" Ron called.

"They aren't midgets, Ron!" Hermione scolded before calling to the crowd, "This is the Common Room. The password is Wildsmith. Remember that, or you'll be stuck out here until someone comes."

"Come on, you'll wanna see the Fat Lady before she opens," Harry said, shoving through the crowd.

Maeve followed closely after until she could see the portrait of a fat woman in pink, who looked rather grumpy at being disturbed.

"Are you going to stand here all night?" she asked testily.

"Alright, alright, you heard us say it, will you let us in?" Ron asked angrily.

"You didn't say it to me! If I opened for anyone who walked by and mentioned the password in a conversation…"

"Oh alright! Wildsmith!" Ron growled. "Damn old bag!"

Maeve and Harry followed the flow of the other Gryffindors as they made their way into a cozy room with a large fire place and a number of squishy armchairs.

"See you in the morning!" Harry waved as he disappeared up the stairs, leaving Maeve unsure of where to go.

"Maeve! Over here!" a familiar voice called.

Maeve looked up to see Ginny grinning and hurrying toward her.

"Guess what! You're rooming with me! Come on!" said the red-head.

The girls went up a staircase to the right and ended up in a cute little room with large four-poster beds. Maeve's backpack was sitting on one of them. She dug out her P.J.'s and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.