Sailor Witches 18

First Day

"Better wake up, Serena," called Lydia's voice. "Ye don't want to be late on yer first day."

"Huh?" Serena muttered sleepily. She opened her eyes and saw Lydia already dressed, sitting on her bed and writing a letter. "Hey…when's breakfast?"

"Going on now I think," Lydia said. "Hermione and everyone already left. I'm writing this letter to Madame Indigo about her partner and the houses we were sorted in."

"I wonder what she'll think of Raye being in Slytherin," Serena yawned as she sat up.

"Yeah, me too," Lydia agreed. "Hurry, Serena, I've got to send this off before breakfast."

"I couldn't sleep with the rain going all night," Serena muttered as she got up. "So where's the owlery?"

"Top of the west tour," Lydia answered. "We're already on the sixth floor so it's not far."

"Finished yet?" Serena asked. "I'm hungry."

"How can ye be after all that food you had last night?" Lydia inquired, raising an eyebrow and pausing from her letter.

Serena shrugged. "I just want to see what they've got."

"Just about done," Lydia said. "Anything you'd like to say to Madame Indigo?"

"Yeah, tell her the food's great but the weather's horrible!" Serena exclaimed as she started buttoning up her shirt. "I was soaked through to the bone."

"Get used to it, Serena," Lydia said with a grin. "We're in Scotland—and it's wetter than England or Ireland ever can be."

"Great."

After Serena was dressed and Lydia finished the letter, they wet to the owlery to send it. Finding it wasn't too difficult as Lydia and Serena had thought. They only needed their noses. There were so many owls in the room that Serena thought that there were walls with eyes. The ground was covered in straw, owl droppings, and mole and mouse skeletons.

"Pee yew," Serena mumbled, holding her nose. "You'd think they'd clean this place before the start of a new year."

"Maybe they couldn't because of the Tournament," Lydia said, looking around the room. "Everyone's too busy."

Serena stepped forward, "just hurry up and send the letter—I--," she heard a crunch and looked under her shoe. She had just stepped on a mouse skeleton. "Oh, disgusting! Lydia—I just stepped in…yuck! Yuck!"

"I wonder which ones are the schools and which ones are students," Lydia mumbled, scratching her head and walking around the room. "This place isn't very organized."

"It isn't very clean either," Serena said.

"Maybe I should've bought an owl at Diagon Alley," Lydia said. "Then I'd know how far it could fly and everything."

"Just pick one!" Serena grunted.

A cute and tiny owl flew around Lydia, twittering madly. It tried to pull the letter from her hand.

"Now, I don't think you can do this delivery," Lydia said to it. "Even if you are cute."

"Come on, I need an owl that is brave enough to fly to Ireland and back. Anyone up for an adventure?" She looked up at the owls and they hooted, looking bored and irritated. "Anyone?" The small owl kept flying around her. "You won't make it across the water—maybe I'll use you if I want to send a message to Hogsmead. Is there a bigger owl with as much enthusiasm?"

She went to a large tawny owl and she pointed at it. "You—do you want to fly to Ireland?"

The owl hooted, came down and held out its leg. She put the letter on it and it flew away.

"Finally," said Serena and an owl pooped on her shoe. "Oh, disgusting!"

"At least it wasn't your head," Lydia said, suppressing a laugh.

"How can you stand this place?" Serena demanded. "It smells and there's…well, dead things on the ground!"

Lydia shrugged and looked around. Lydia worked on people's farms back in Ireland before she found out she was a sailor scout. Even in the Silver Millennium she was a peasant farm girl. Hard work was in her blood. She didn't mind the smell of barns and she loved animals, no matter how smelly they were.

"I'm used to it." She explained. "It's kind of like a barn--except for the dead rats and stuff. But you're right, it could use a cleaning." Lydia said as she kicked a freshly regurgitated rat skeleton.

"I think I've lost my appetite," Serena mumbled. "I just hope we're not having potions…or anything nasty!"

"Me too," Lydia added an owl let loose on the back of her robes. "What the—hey—watch where you point that thing!"

--

"I can't look, Lydia," Serena said as McGonagall passed out the schedules. Eyes closed, she picked up the schedule and held it to Lydia. "You read it. We have potions, right? Don't tell me…"

"Not today, Serena," Lydia said. "Herbology—we'll be wit Mina and Lita. Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. Sounds like a good first day."

"Except in Care of Magical Creatures we're with the Slytherins," said Ron muttered.

"Oh, peachy," moaned Serena.

"Hey guys," Lita said as she approached Lydia and Serena. "Our first class is with you!"

"We can talk all period," Mina nodded.

Owls flew into the room, dropping mail and parcels for everyone. A letter landed next to Lydia's plate.

"Who's that from?" Mina inquired.

"Madame Indigo," Lydia answered as she opened it.

"That was quick," Serena whispered, "we just came from the owlery…"

"No," Lydia shook her head. "She sent it yesterday. Take a look."

Girls,

I am so sorry I forgot to tell you how to get onto Platform 9 ¾! I went straight to the train station when I realized I forgot and when I didn't see you there I figured you must've found your way through.

My partner said the noise he heard was from teenagers trying to vandalize his house. I however, think it may be linked to the things that happened earlier this summer and he probably did not want to mention it in front of Arthur Weasley.

Make sure you listen closely to his lessons.

Madame Indigo

"I still can't believe she didn't tell us about his—well—new appearance," Lita said. "Then we wouldn't had been so scared of him when he walked in."

"How are we supposed to concentrate in his classes anyway? Especially with that eye?" Mina inquired. "It's pretty creepy."

"Maybe we'll get used to it after a couple of lessons," Lydia suggested. She spotted Dumbledore sitting at the staff table. "Oh, our essays!" She reached inside her robes. "I nearly forgot."

They handed in their essays to Professor Dumbledore, he thanked them and the rest of the girls found an empty classroom to talk about their new 'arrangements'.

"So, how do you guys like your houses so far?" Lydia asked. "Gryffindor seems pretty cool."

"I love being in Hufflepuff!" Lita beamed. "There's this REALLY cool prefect and he's…"

"Let me guess," Serena began with a grin, "Looks exactly like your old boyfriend?"

"No!" Lita shouted in a whisper. "Even better! Much, much better!"

"You mean Cedric Diggory?" Mina inquired.

"Of course I mean Cedric Diggory!" she laughed. "Who else?"

"Dang—if Cedric's better looking," said Mina, putting her hands on her hips and grinning, "then your old boyfriend must've been pretty damn cute 'cause Cedric's a major hottie!"

"And Cedric's way nicer too!" Lita went on. "Hank was kind of a jerk."

"Wow," Serena whispered, "I wish I was in Hufflepuff."

"Come on, Serena," Lydia said, nudging her, "there are cute guys in Gryffindor—look at the Weasley twins—they're twice thefun!"

"Yeah, you're right," Serena shrugged.

"We can gossip about guys later," said Ami, "I have Arithmancy in a few minutes."

"Anyone starting Defense Against Dark Arts today?" Lita asked. "Madame Indigo wants us to really pay attention to her partner's lessons."

All girls shook their heads.

"I think upperclassmen will have him first," said Raye.

"Raye, we're starting Divination today," Lydia stated. "What about you?"

Raye shook her head. "I've got Runes, Charms and History of Magic." She replied sleepily. "It's going to be kind of boring. I heard the History of Magic teacher is a ghost that's been dead nearly as long as this school's been sitting here."

"I've got History of Magic second," said Ami.

"Then you might want to tell me what he's talking about in lunch before I go," Raye mumbled.

"How'd it feel being in Slytherin House?" Serena demanded, crossing her arms. "Tell me again why you're there? Are you sure the Sorting Hat didn't make a mistake?"

"I asked the hat to put me in Slytherin," Raye yawned as she sat down on a desk.

"You did what?" Lita demanded. "Are you mental?"

"I told the hat I thought I was destined for it, only that I've heard that people go bad in there." Raye explained. "What did the hat say?" Ami inquired.

"Well, it asked me if I thought I was going to go bad too," Raye said. "To be honest, I didn't know. Actually, I've thought about it and I don't think Slytherin's supposed to make you become bad."

"Only everyone that goes there become Death Eaters, Raye!" Lydia shouted.

"Hey, be quiet!" Raye hushed harshly, looking at the door. "Someone will hear! Listen, guys. I'm not going to become evil. Slytherin is for those that are ambitious and I'm ambitious. What's wrong with being ambitious?"

"It all depends what you're ambitious for," Mina said softly.

"The hat was going through all my qualities," said Raye, "it was a choice between Gryffindor and Slytherin. It said I was brave enough, but I still just couldn't get past those snakes in my dream. If I go to Gryffindor, I wouldn't know what my dream meant. And I felt vibes coming from the Slytherin table. The same vibes I felt coming from Knocturn Alley."

"And you still decided to go to Slytherin?" Serena demanded. "I can't believe you!"

"I know, I know," Raye moaned. "But, I need to find out what this dream means. Besides, one of us has to keep an eye on the Slytherins and the best way to do is that we're in Slytherin too. I'm probably the only one of us here that can actually do it."

"You mean," Lydia began, "you haven't figured it out? I thought it ended."

Raye shook her head. "No, it's still going. I dreamed that I accepted the Slytherins and I put the robes on…then I woke up and found out it's not just a dream anymore. I know the Slytherins want me, but I don't know why. The only way I find out if is if I'm in Slytherin House."

"Raye's got a point," Ami stated. "I read that Salazar Slytherin built a chamber somewhere in the castle with a monster in it. IT was called the Chamber of Secrets. There's probably lots of secrets in Slytherin House no one knows about it."

"Exactly," Raye nodded. "I think…there are some secrets in Slytherin House and I've got to do some sleuthing."

"Still, don't you think it's rather, well, dangerous?" Serena inquired.

"What do you mean?" Raye inquired with a smile. "You worried about me, Serena?"

"Raye—have you seen your housemates? Some of them are scary looking. I bet they're never up to any good." Serena went on and her anger changed to concern. "Especially that Malfoy guy that was sitting next to you. I mean, hello, his father's a death eater and he framed Lydia's parents?"

"Thanks guys, really," Raye insisted. "But I can handle it. Yeah, they do look kinda, well, creepy and it's not so fun sleeping the dungeons."

"You sleep the dungeons?" Lita inquired in shock.

"I know," Raye sighed. "I kinda knew we were down there anyway because I saw it in my dream but I didn't expect it to look so…well…dungeon like I guess. The ceiling hangs, the common room's too dark and our dorm is down in a hole."

"You mean, the stairs from your common room to your dorm lead down not up?" Lydia inquired. "Because, ours lead up. What about in Hufflepuff, don't' yours lead up?"

"Yeah," said Mina.

"And Ravenclaw—we're in a tower." Ami said. "Raye, you're going to freeze in the winter, you know."

"Yeah." Raye said. "And sleeping in the same room as Pansy Parkinson is no picnic either. She's already thinking I'm after Draco Malfoy. I had to sleep with an ofuda scroll incase she came out to hex me. I know she doesn't want me in Slytherin House—but I think Draco does. He was coming on to me when we were coming to the Common Room." Raye frowned. "I don't like him very much."

"Well, Raye," said Lydia, "good luck. I hope you find out what your dream means, not to mention any funny stuff the Slytherin students would be planning. Just, be careful and don't let them try and corrupt ye, okay?"

"Guys, I can handle it," Raye said casually.

"I'm serious," said Lydia. "Don't let the Slytherins drag you down to any more holes. Your dormitory is low enough as it is."

"Yeah," Raye said. "I'll be careful. Really, don't worry about me. But don't feel bad if I yell at you when I'm around the Slytherins okay? I'm going to have to act like a Slytherin if I'm going to be in this house."

"As long as you don't get offended when we say bad stuff about Slytherins," said Lydia.

"Go ahead," Raye smiled, "I don't really like them either."

"We'd better get to the greenhouses," said Mina as she looked at her watch. She looked at Lydia and Serena. "Everything's basically hands on in Herbology so we won't be needing any books."

"No books?" Serena inquired with glee. "All right! Yay for Herbology! I bet it's so easy—just potting daises all period."

--

"This is utterly disgusting!" Serena muttered as she squeezed the bubotuber pus. "If I knew we were going to do this then I'd rather be doing bookwork!"

"It smells like petrol," said Mina. She was working on the same plant as Serena. "So are we supposed to use it as fuel or something?"

The girls were trying to continue their 'scout meeting' as they were collecting pus from the bubotuber but it wasn't so easy working in a crowded greenhouse with the kind of plants they were working on.

Lita was working with Lydia on the same bubotuber plant. She was having fun popping the swellings and letting the pus drip into the containers. "It's kinda like bubble paper," she said as she popped another swelling. "Except for the pus."

"Yeah," Lydia nodded. From working so with gardens in her youth, she was already a green thumb. "I wonder if it's sick or something." She squeezed the swelling, it exploded and some of the pus got into her face. "Aaaah! Professor Sprout! Help! Eww! Some of it got in my mouth!"

Some of the people started laughing as others looked on in shock. "You okay, Lydia?" Serena inquired.

"It's all right," Professor Sprout said as she wiped it off her face. "It's to clear acne—it's safe for skin—well, once it's diluted."

"What?" Serena demanded. "Professor, this goes on your face? Are you serious?"

"Undiluted bubotuber pus can cause a too much stinging and drying," Professor Sprout continued. "You may want to put a cream on after wards, Miss MacGreggor. But at least you'll have clear skin."

"I already did!" Lydia muttered.

"I hope our next class will be better," Serena said to Mina.

"Hey, you'll be studying animals," Mina stated, being ever so careful about squeezing out the pus after Lydia's accident. "That will be easy and tons of fun. Lita and I've got Transfiguration next and I heard McGonagall gives tons of homework."

"She does," Harry said to her. "Even if you're in her house."

Maybe the yuckiest thing you'd have to do in Care of Magical Creatures is clean after them. The gamekeeper's really nice," Mina stated, "he won't make you clean up dung on your first day—well—he'll probably do it to the Slytherins."

"Only Hagrid likes dangerous animals," whispered Ron.

"I can handle big things with teeth," Serena whispered, thinking of all her experience as a Sailor Scout and having to fight such creatures. "It's gross stuff I can't stand—especially after today." She squeezed the swelling too hard and some of the pus got in her eye. "Ahhh! Professor!"

--

After Serena and Lydia received treatment from Madame Pomfrey, they arrived at Care of Magical Creatures. They were just ten minutes late. When they saw the kinds of animals they were working on, Serena nearly ran for it. Lydia had to grab her and turn her back around.

"What—are—those?" Serena gasped.

"Blast-Ended Skrewts," Hagrid replied.

"I don't remember reading about them in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them," Lydia said in confusion.

"Er, yes," Hagrid said. "Many magical animals not in that book. And who are you two?"

"Yeah, sorry we're late," Lydia said, "had um…some trouble in Herbology. Lydia MacGreggor," she said thumbing to herself and then thumbing to Serena. "Serena Tsukino."

"Oh, yes, that's right," Hagrid said, "new girls…your last names, MacGreggor, right? Is your grandfather called Weylin MacGreggor?"

Lydia thought hard—she couldn't remember Madame Indigo telling her about her grandparents, only that her grandfather was in the Magical Animal trade. That was how Lydia decided to take Care of Magical Creatures because her grandfather worked with animals.

"From the creature trade?" Hagrid inquired.

"Ah, yeah!" Lydia exclaimed. "Yeah, I'm related to him."

Hagrid smiled. "Good man. Sold a three-headed dog to me 'bout five years ago. He was sad to let him go. Said his wife thought a three-headed dog wouldn't be safe with the grandkids. Named the dog Fluffy."

"Really?" Lydia asked, glancing at the Skrewts. She'd much rather work with a giant three dog than a yucky Skrewt, especially if her grandfather used to own it.

"It was hard for him to find someone that'd take it, he told me," Hagrid continued. "Lucky I was in the pub at the same time—overheard him talking about it and said I could use 'im."

"That's great," Lydia smiled.

"Well, to a box," Hagrid said, waving his hand. "All yeh have to do is feed 'em."

"Great," Serena mumbled.

"It's bad enough we have to share this class with the Slytherins," Lydia whispered to Serena, eyeing Malfoy with his cronies. "But…these?"

Serena dropped a piece of leaf into the box. "Come on, eat!" she urged, keeping her hands far away from the box after seeing that one burned Dean Thomas.

"I hope everyone else is enjoying their first day," Lydia groaned, watching the Skrewt try to suck on the box.

--

Ami already loved their subjects and she only been to two. In transfiguration they were transfiguring pebbles into soup bowls. In the first five minutes of her history of magic class, though the teacher's monotone was quite boring, it was rather interesting. As long as she made sure to keep notes, she was able to keep along with what Professor Binns was saying.

She raised her hand, "Professor Binns?"

"Yes, Miss Madsen?"

"Mizuno," she corrected softly, "so were the Fwoopers the cause of Uric the Oddball's madness?"

As Ami continued to write down her notes, she thought wearing a nametag to class would be helpful since Binns always got his student's names wrong.

--

"Good," Raye whispered as she was looking around the Runes classroom. "Draco's not here! Good thing I decided not to take Care of Magical Creatures."

Draco had told Professor Flitwick that Raye could sit next to him since she was new. Pansy was scowling at her across the room and Draco was nearly draping himself over her as he was showing her how to perform the Summoning Charm. She nearly wanted to summon a mallet to hit him over the head with. She shuddered as she remembered what he was saying to her.

"Try holding your wand like this, Raye," Draco had whispered softly in her ear.

"Creep," Raye whispered, staring at her Runes book. "I don't know what Pansy sees in him!"

--

At lunch, Ami told Raye what to expect in History of Magic and told her to wear a nametag. Lita was massaging her temple after having to concentrate so much in Transfiguration. Lydia and Serena were complaining about their day so far.

"Good thing there's nothing gross about divination," Serena said, poking at her food. She had completely lost her appetite. "It's all horoscopes and stuff."

"Except for haruspication," said Lydia

"What's that?" Serena inquired.

"Divination of animal entrails," she replied.

"What?" Serena's face went from white to green. "That's disgusting! That is…barbaric! I am not looking at animal guts after today! NO WAY"

As Serena and Lydia walked with the other Gryffindor students to the North Tower, she kept chanting, "not animal guts…please do not be animal guts…not animal guts!"

"I just hope she's not predicting my death again," Harry moaned.

"Parvarti said Trewany's good," Lydia said.

Ron snorted, "yeah, because she and Lavender like it so much. Professor Trelawny is weird."

They climbed up the ladder and sat on the pouf chairs. Serena looked wildly around for any dead animals with open stomachs and sniffed the air.

"No animal guts so far," she said hopefully. "Oh pleas, oh please…"

"Good day," said Professor Trelawny, emerging from the chair behind Harry.

"She looks kinda like a hippie," Serena whispered to Lydia, eyeing her bangles and necklaces. "I don't know if that's bad or good."

"All fortune tellers have their own style of dress," Lydia whispered back.

"You are preoccupied, my dear," said Professor Trelawny to Harry. "My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas…most difficult…I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass…and perhaps sooner than you think…"

"Quit talking to him like that," Serena muttered, biting her nais in anticipation "and tell us what we're studying this year!"

Professor Trelawny sat down in a large winged armchair and faced the class. "My dears, it is time for us to consider—"

"Please don't say animal guts," Serena said under her breath, her eyes scrunched up tight.

"The stars," said Professor Trelawny.

Serena's eyes popped open. She stared at Professor Trelawny in shock and wonder. "Really? You mean, we'll be doing horoscopes?"

Professor Trelawny nodded. "Yes."

Serena giggled excitedly. "Yay!"

Professor Trelawny went on talking about the stars and planets as Harry nearly fell asleep in his chair. Ron nudged him awake. "Harry!"

"What?" Harry muttered, blinking.

As Serena and the other students stared at him, she couldn't really blame him for dozing off. Even though astrology was more interesting, and certainly cleaner than animal entrails, the room was far too stuffy and made her quiet drowsy.

"I as saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn," Professor Trelawny said to Harry.

"Born under what—sorry?" Harry asked.

"Saturn, dear, the planet Saturn!"

'Speaking of Saturn,' Serena thought, 'I wonder how Hotaru is.'

They started working on their astrology charts. When Professor Trelawny approached Lydia and Serena with help, Serena smiled.

"Thanks Professor, but I already know I was born under the influence of the moon!" she said.

"And I was born under the influence of the sun!" added Lydia.

Professor Trelawny looked very pleased as she grabbed the girls' shoulders. "Ahh, excellent. Your inner eyes are beginning to work. You shall become excellent seers."

"Inner eyes?" Lydia mumbled to Serena. "What the heck does that mean?"

"Good thing we're sailor scouts," said Serena, "Or I never would've figured this out."

--

Throughout History o Magic, to add to the whole dullness off it all, Draco kept talking to Raye. Again, he somehow managed to sit next to her. Pansy Parkinson looked like she was about to explode.

"So, Raye—did you miss me when I was in Care of Magical Creatures?"

"No," Raye muttered, seeing that Pansy was watching them very closely. Raye didn't want to go back inot the common room after this day. She knew Pansy was going to give her trouble. Was he going to come onto her every day for the whole year?

"Why does he keep talking to her?" Pansy asked Celia. "What does he see in her?"

Celia shrugged. "I don't know…maybe to find out you'll have…to become her friend."

"Friends, with her?" Pansy demanded. "Look at her!"

"Don't want my advice, you shouldn't have asked."

"Try getting someone else to talk to her then," added anther girl.

"Yeah, like Crabbe." Celia added with a snigger. "They'd make a cute couple."

"Oh be serious," Pansy muttered. "Draco goes nowhere without them. If she's with Crabbe, she'd still be with Draco…"

"Blaise Zabini maybe?" inquired Millicent Bulstrode.

"But I like him!" Celia hissed.

"But he doesn't like you."

"How do you now?"
"What class were you in again?" Draco asked, leaning toward Raye.

"Ancient Runes," she answered, trying to pay attention to Binns.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes."

"What made you choose that class?" he inquired as he cupped his face, trying to be ever so charming. "Why not Care of Magical Creatures? Don't you like animals, Raye?"

"Sure I do," she retorted, glaring at him.

"Then why aren't you in Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Because I wanted to take Runes more, that's all," Raye hissed. "If you think it's such a nice class, why don't you tell me about it?"

"Oh, I never thought you'd ask!" Draco grinned and Raye nearly collapsed in her book.

"Hagrid had these real ugly things," Draco went on. "I bet he somehow mated a scorpion with a lizard or something to make them. I guess you did yourself a favor by not choosing to take Care of Magical Creatures. It's dangerous now that Hagrid's teaching it—last year I was mauled by a Hippogriff. It almost killed me."

"Shame," Raye mumbled, referring that he didn't die. If he did, then he would not be here bothering her.

"Oh yeah." He said. "So tell me, what's Ancient Runes like? If it's not too late, maybe I'll switch."

"Draco—I'm trying to listen to Professor Binns," Raye said, straining to make out what boring details Professor Binns was talking about. "Don't talk to me. You're kinda loud."

"Okay," Draco said. "Sorry."

"Thanks."

Draco opened his notebook, picked up his quill and began scribbling. Raye let out a sigh of relief. 'Finally,' she thought, 'he's off my back.'

But she had sighed far too soon. Draco pushed his parchment toward her with a grin.

'So tell me about Ancient Runes.' Said the message.

Raye groaned and put her hand to her head. 'Great, now he's writing notes to me during class! I'd gladly do it with any other guy—especially in this class—but not Draco Malfoy, of all people!'

--

During supper, now that class was over and they could speak, Draco conditioned to make a conversation with Raye. She thought she was going to fall asleep in her plate. She looked over the Great Hall. Her friends looked happy in their houses as they spoke about their first day.

'Why did I come to this house again?' she asked herself. 'WHY?'

Just as Draco was inquiring more about her, she was saved as Professor Dumbledore approached her. "Miss Hino, would you come with me please?"

"Oh, of course, Professor!" she exclaimed. "Of course!"

She laughed out loud when she saw the look of disappointment on Draco Malfoy's face. Professor Dumbledore called Serena, Lydia and the other girls over and he lead them to his office.

"What'd you do?" Mina demanded Lydia.

"What're you talking about?" Lydia inquired.

"Obviously you've done something stupid," said Mina, "otherwise the Headmaster wouldn't want to see us."

"No, Miss Aino," said Professor Dumbledore as they approached the stone gargoyle. "Miss MacGreggor has not done anything. I would just like to talk to you about your essays."

"Oh," the girls exchanged glances.

He muttered "lemon drop" and the gargoyle moved. They followed the Headmaster up the spiral staircase.

"Go ahead and sit down," he said, conjuring six chairs for them to sit on. The girls looked around the room. They saw the portraits of the old headmasters and headmistresses. Raye noticed Fawks on his perch. It looked quite familiar.

"Professor," she whispered, "is that…is that a phoenix?"

"Yes," Professor Dumbledore replied, stroking Fawks. "His name is Fawks."

"He's beautiful," Raye said.

"Yes he is," said Professor, "but not on Dying Days."

At the questionable looks on the girls 'faces, he laughed and explained how phoenixes look before they die and rise again from the ashes. He smiled and sat down. He picked their essays. They swallowed nervously. What if he didn't like them?

"Your essays," he said.

"Yes, Professor?" Serena inquired, "something wrong with them?"

"Oh no," he replied. "Nothing. I've enjoyed them—yours was quite interesting—Miss Tsukino—where's yours?" He fumbled through the parchments until he found hers. "Ah—I like what you said about your wand."

"Yes?" Serena mumbled nervously.

"'It's made from willow and I think it's perfect for me,'" he read. ""it has the power to grant wishes and is connected to the moon.'" He brought the essay down and peered over his glasses. The gils stared at Serena with angry and surprised expressions. Serena bit her lip. Maybe she shouldn't have put that in there but she wasn't sure what to write about. Her essay seemed more like a journal entry. Luckily, though, she wrote nothing about being Sailor Moon.

Serena chuckled when she finally found her voice. "Yes, I uh—like to look at the moon, Professor. Ha-hah."

"Me too," Professor Dumbledore nodded. He looked at Lydia. "Ah, Lydia, yours was rather injoyable. Made me laugh at some parts."

"It…did?" Lydia inquired.

"Something you said about Care of Magical Creatures," he said as he found her essay. "'Care of Magical Creatures should be interesting. I've worked on farms when I was younger and know a lot about animals. Only I wouldn't want to clean up after a dragon.'"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled and Lydia smiled. "Yeah, I guess that is funny."

"Don't worry," said Professor Dumbledore, "you won't be cleaning up after dragons, though Hagrid would love to use dragons in his classes. No one would come to his classes."

"I would," Lydia nodded, "I think they're great."

He came to Ami's essay. "Miss Mizuno, I'm amazed with how much information you've acquired for your essay."

"You are?" Ami inquired.

"Rather excellent," he said, "I like how you explained each subject you'll be taking. Wonderful."

"Thank you."

He looked at Mina as he turned to her essay. "Yours had a question here. 'Is there a physical education class?' Well, I'm sorry but as Quidditch is cancelled and you are too young to enter the tournament."

"Thought so," Mina muttered. "I just enjoy sports."

"That is fine," Professor said. "You are welcome to, er, have a run around the grounds if you please. Just stay out of the forest and don't try to climb that willow tree out there."

"Why not?" Mina inquired.

"It won't let you," he replied and Mina looked even more confused.

"Oh, and Miss Kino," Dumbledore said, "you had a question I believe—yes—'I love to cook. Will there be any cooking classes?'" He looked up at her. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid potions will be the closest thing to making anything edible."

Lita bit her lip, wondering just how stomach safe potions were.

Lastly, Professor Dumbledore came to Raye's essay. Raye held on to her chair. She didn't say anything about her dream, but how she looked forward into taking Runes and Divination.

"So, you're interested in Divination and Runes most of all, Miss Hino?" he asked her.

"Yes," she replied softly.

"You say here that you're a physic, practiced using flame scrying in your grandfather's temple?"

She nodded, wishing she had left it out but what was she supposed to write in a five-page essay if all she knew was divination?

"Well, you should do well in both, I'm sure." Dumbledore told her. "Professor Trelawny would pleased to hear you are a physic as well…you may as well be as gifted as she is." Professor Dumbledore laid down the essays and looked at the girls. "Do you anything you'd like to say? Any questions you'd like to ask me?"

"No, Professor," said Ami as the girls shook their heads.

"Very well," Professor Dumbledore said. "Now, I am afraid I will have to assign you more work."

"What?" Serena asked.

"Every week," he began, "I would like a paper from each of you about how you like your house, what you think about your classes, what you've learned whatever you'd like. Three rolls of parchment. This way I shall get to know you better as you are starting Hogwarts as fourth years. It will only be for this year, of course."

With two less rolls of parchment from the essays they had to write earlier and having more to write about now that they were at school, it shouldn't be as hard. They shrugged and nodded.

"Sure, all right, Professor," Raye said. "When do you want us to hand it in?"

"Anytime on the Saturday after your lessons," he answered. "You can come to my office or hand it in during breaks if you wish."

"Uh, okay, sure."

"To your dormitories, now." He said softly and the girls left the Head Master's office.

"Why'd you think he wants essays from us each week?" Raye asked.

"Well, he's the headmaster of this school," Ami replied as they walked down the corridors. "He has to know his students and as we're brand new, this is the best way to get to know us. He had more time to get to know the students before us and he knows their parents."

"It shouldn't be too hard," said Lydia with a shrug. "We just have to tell him what we think about Hogwarts. It sounds kind of fun."

"They say he's kinda mad," Raye said.

"Yeah," Mina said, "but he's brilliant."

"I read that he's the only wizard Voldemort's ever feared," Ami told them.

"Wow," Serena sighed. "Glad he's our Headmaster then."

"What'd you think of your first day?" Raye inquired. "Mine was horrible. Except for Runes."

"Why?" asked Lydia.

"Because in Runes, Draco wasn't there to bother me," she sighed. "He was in…"

"Care of Magical Creatures," Lydia finished. "Kept saying bad things about Hagrid. Sure, we were studying these really nasty creatures but I kinda like Hagrid. He bought a giant three-headed dog from my grandfather."

"You know, strangely," Serena said, "I kinda wish we were studying that dog instead of the Skrewts. We could ride it around the grounds or something."

"I love all my classes," Ami said proudly. "I can't wait to try everything else."

"Herbology was pretty cool," said Mina.

"You kidding?" Lydia muttered, "My face is still stinging!"

"And my eye!" Serena added. "I couldn't see where I was going."

"That's why I liked it—I thought it was funny," Mina said.

"We didn't," Serena and Lydia said together.

"What happened?" Raye asked.

"We were studying bubotubers," Lita explained, "they're well, these yucky kind of plants with boils on them and when you squeeze the boils pus comes out."

"That's really gross," Raye muttered.

"But it's good for clearing up pimples," Lita went on, "anyway, some of it got on Lydia and Serena."

Raye laughed hard and Serena and Lydia told her it wasn't very funny.

"Sorry," Raye said when she was able to breath. "Better get down to the dungeons now before Draco's wondering where I am and send out a look out party. I don't know why he keeps bugging me. I know he's not just trying to make me feel welcome."

"Maybe he likes you, Raye," Serena said slyly.

"Oh be quiet!" Raye hissed as she marched down to the dungeons. Sure enough, as she suspected, Draco Malfoy was waiting for her in the common room.

"What did Dumbledore want?" he demanded with a sneer.

"None of your business," Raye snapped.

He straightened himself up, smirking. Some of the Slytherins watched curiously with smirks that added to Draco's. Others, seeing how peeved Raye could get, left the room before she snapped at them too. Most boys would leave her alone when she got this angry but not Draco Malfoy. On the contrary, he kind of liked it when she got angry: everything from the fiery spark in her eyes to how she positioned her feet. They looked at each other as if having a staring contest for a moment and he stood up.

"You know," he whispered, "you're kind of good looking when you're angry."

"Oh, really?" Raye demanded. "Maybe you'll think differently when I'm kicking your--,"

"Raye!" Pansy shouted as she ran up the stairs.

Raye backed off and pointed at Draco. "I swear it was all Draco." She knew Pansy was going to freak out over this and probably start a catfight right in front of everybody. However, Pansy walked over to her and grabbed her arm, looking excited.

"How'd you like your first day at Hogwarts?" she asked with a big fake grin.

"What?" Raye inquired in shock.

"Wasn't Binns boring or what?" she pulled her away from Draco. "Come on—let's go to the dormitory. Away from boys—we can be girls!"

Raye couldn't' believe it. Last night she commanded Raye to stay away from Draco. From breakfast to dinner she was staring at her as if planning how she could kill her and make it look like an accident. Now Pansy was suddenly acting like her best friend. As she dragged Raye down the stairs to the dormitory the other fourth year girls shouted with glee.

"Raye!"

"What the?" Raye mumbled.

"Come on, sit down." Pansy said as she pulled her down to her own bed and started to play with her hair. "You have such pretty hair!"

Raye wasn't sure what to do. She wondered if Pansy was thinking of a way to change it green or something.

"Uh, thanks, Pansy."

"So you take Ancient Runes?" Pansy asked. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah," she answered.

"You're lucky not to be taking Care of Magical Creatures. That oaf Hagrid's still teaching and today we studied some kind of 'experiment'." She laughed.

"So," Celia began as she changed into her pajamas. "What'd you think about Blaise Zabini?"

"Who?"

Celia looked like talking about the boy of her dreams to Raye was painful—because it was. "You know—Blaise, dark hair, tall…come on!" she exclaimed, exasperated seeing that Raye had know idea what she was talking about. "He's in our house!"

"And he doesn't take Care of Magical Creatures," Millicent said, "in fact—he's in Runes, right?"

"As a matter of fact, he does!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Didn't notice," Raye muttered. "Draco kept bugging me in all our classes together and at breaks."

"Don't' you talk about my Draco that way!" Pansy snapped.

"Sorry," Raye mumbled, "but he was getting on my nerves. Wouldn't' let me work."

"Yeah, Draco's not for you at all," Pansy said as she settled herself down.

"I know that," Raye hissed. "I don't come on to him. Don't' even like him."

"What—he's too good for ya?" Pansy demanded defensively.

"Pansy, shut up!" Millicent yelled. "Of course she doesn't like him. It's Draco that likes her."

"What do you mean Draco likes her?" Pansy snarled. Raye jumped up and flipped her hair.

"I don't know!" Raye yelled. "And you're getting on my nerves too. Listen, I don't know why Draco likes to talk to me and I know what you're trying to do by asking me about this…Blaise guy but I didn't come to Slytherin House to look at guys all the time, okay?"

"Then what is it?" Celia asked as if there was no other option.

"I'm not telling," Raye muttered as she took her pajamas out of her trunk. "It's personal."

"Ooooh!" said Pansy excitedly. "Sounds interesting! Come on, Raye, tell us!"

"No way," Raye grunted. "You wouldn't get it. It'd go right over your empty head."

"Hey, I think you just insulted me!"

"Oooh, you're getting quick, there, Parkinson!" Raye snapped.

"Fine, you don't want Blaise we won't ask him if he likes you," said Pansy. "Only trying to do you a favor."

"More like protecting your turf," said Raye. "Obviously, Pansy, I don't know what you see in him. Maybe you can tell me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Pansy demanded, "He's the most good looking wizard in the school!"

"Looks are only skin deep, you know!" Raye said in a singsong voice.

"And he's filthy rich," Pansy added.

"Got that right," Raye muttered. "But more filthy, I think."

"And…and what else?" Pansy said air-headedly.

"You don't even know why you like him!" Raye laughed.

"Oh, just stay away from him!" Pansy shouted. "He's been mine since I've started coming to Hogwarts and I'm not going to let you steal him from me!"

"Relax, Pansy," said Raye. "I'm not after him. I am trying to stay away from him. Have you not noticed that I don't sit next to him? It's him that sits next to me so go whine at Draco to stay away from me instead of telling me to leave him alone because I am! I am not interested in Draco Malfoy, whatsoever!"

"Well, I'm glad we see eye to eye on this, Raye Hino," Pansy said, crossing her arms. "I wouldn't want to keep telling you all year."

"Oh, I knew the moment I saw him he wasn't good enough for me," Raye said as a matter of factly, causing Pansy to snort with laughter.

"Are you serious? You too good for Draco Malfoy?" she squealed. "No, but I think it's him that's too good for you, Raye!"

"Oh, okay, fine, whatever you say." Raye muttered. "Just get off my back about it already. I've only been in this house for a day and already you're on my nerves."

At her spunk, Millicent laughed and Pansy shot an angry glare at her. "What are you laughing at, Bulstrode?"

"I thought it was funny," Millicent muttered. "That a problem?"
Reye shut their argument in her head as she continued to change into her pajamas. She was going to get up earlier tomorrow so she could get to breakfast before Draco got there. When she got to her classes, she'll sit next to someone else. Maybe she'll keep an eye out for the description of Blaise and sit next to him, maybe make Draco jealous a bit so Pansy could remind them how they were 'made for each other'.

Raye smiled. They were both conceited spoiled brats and she thought they deserved each other, even though Draco didn't seem to think that way.

To Be Continued

Those of you that are wondering about Blaise Zabini's gender, he is a wizard not a witch. It's confirmed on the Harry Potter and the Lexicon. I always thought he was a girl but it's cool because maybe he's a real cutie so Draco may have a 'rival' in his own house. Well, it will be as Pansy still tries to get him interested in Raye so Draco could pay attention to her instead! We'll see how it works, won't we?