Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot, Aster Leatherleaf, and Ron's feelings for her. J.K Rowling owns everything else.
I tried my best to write with proper spelling and grammar. I know how annoying it can be when a good idea is poorly written....
Enjoy! I'll try to get the second chapter done ASAP.
(If you notice any big spelling errors let me know and I'll fix them.)
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The Great Hall erupted with applause as the sorting hat rang out the last placement for the last first year student. Hermione and Harry looked at each other knowingly as Ron began to gripe about how hungry he was, and how he hoped Dumbledore's speech wouldn't delay the feast as long as it usually did. Ron, however, read the exchange as something else and looked at them with a disgusted expression on his face.
"Could you two stop making eyes at each other for five minutes! It's sickening!" He grumbled, wrinkling his nose.
Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry chuckled. Over the summer, after their last encounter with Voldemort, a lot of feelings had been sorted out. It just made sense to do so since upcoming events could possibly leave them all dead. Voldemort was still alive, and he was quite possibly at his angriest and most desperate. This meant they were all at risk and none of them want to die before certain issues were lay to rest. Ergo, Harry and Hermione had become an item.
"Ron!" Hermione began, "we were hardly making eyes. We were merely noticing your whining, and your constant need to eat. It's unnatural really."
"Not it's not!" Ron blurted as a flush started to creep up from under the collar of his robe. "I eat when I'm hungry, and there's nothing unnatural about-" He cut his words off in mid-sentence when he noticed that the Great Hall had gone silent and people were starting to gaze over in his direction. Dumbledore had stood and started clearing his throat, ready to begin his yearly speech of welcome and warning. Ron reddened deeper and sunk into his seat as the headmaster's graveling voice rang throughout the hall.
"Firstly," Dumbledore smiled, "I would like to bid welcome to all of our first year students. Secondly, I would like to welcome back all of our older, and hopefully wiser, students." He waved his arms through the air in salutation, making his purple, star-covered robes swish grandly around him. "Thirdly, I would like to address the issue that is," he paused to look at them gravely, "Lord Voldemort."
Most of those occupying the Great Hall gasped at the mention of this name, the loudest of the noises coming from the first years. Ron, Harry, and Hermione glanced at each other wearily before returning their attention back to their headmaster.
"As we all now know and believe, Lord Voldemort has returned. Therefore, no one anywhere is completely safe at any time, and there is always the minute chance that something dangerous may occur even here, at Hogwarts." The Great Hall remained silent as Dumbledore paused to look over the sea of students. "However, I want to instill in all of you a small sense of security by saying that Hogwarts is one of the safest place to be at such a time of turmoil, and that after a quick discussion with the rest of the staff, we have decided to double all Defense Against the Dark Arts classes for the remainder of the year."
This sent the first round of discussion throughout the room. Most students were pleased with this development, excluding the first years didn't seem sure what to make of anything Dumbledore had told them.
"Now lastly," Dumbledore smiled again, the twinkle in his eyes restored, "I have an introduction to make." More whispers spread through the hall. The chair that usually seated the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher remained empty. "We have a new sixth year student. She has moved here from Canada, and this is her first time attending any school of Witchcraft or Wizardry. Please welcome Miss Aster Leatherleaf."
Ron started to snicker. "Leatherleaf? Aster Leatherleaf? What kind of name is As-" Once again he stopped himself short of finishing his sentence, for a graceful girl with snowy skin and long, black, curly hair sauntered up to the head table where Professor McGonagall was standing with the sorting hat. Hagrid ambled over and placed the stool in its usual place, and Aster slid onto it looking slightly apprehensive as the sorting hat was placed gingerly on her head.
Her sorting took unusually long as the hat muttered to itself about Aster's many qualities. But Ron heard nothing of it's musings as he examined the girl perched beneath it. Her eyes were green, but he'd never seen a shade of the color so light in someone's eyes before. They were like two porcelain marbles with small spots glazed emerald, not really dark enough to cover the white underneath. Both pools were ringed with a green so dark it looked almost black, as if her eyes were gated to keep the lighter color from spilling out onto the white. Those eyes were hypnotizing. At least they were until you saw her lips. Full and a 'freshly kissed' pink, they were lips that caused Ron to dart the tip of his tongue over his own. Someone snickering pulled him out of his dazed inspection.
"Who's making eyes now?" Harry teased whole-heartedly.
"I'm not making eyes!" Ron protested feebly, as his ears burned crimson. He shook his head, "she must be part Veela."
"I doubt it," Hermione voiced with her usual confidence, "anyone part Veela would obviously not be of that coloring. Remember Fleur? She was blonde, a natural Veela trait. That girl obviously has black hair. Well, mostly black anyway," she added, referring to the single purple curl of hair hanging from the new girl's head.
"Do you think it's natural?" Ron questioned, his eyes remaining pinned to Aster who was still underneath the ratty sorting hat.
Hermione shrugged, unconcerned. "Who knows? It is possible, but there are a few ways for a person to color his or her hair, magical or muggle."
All three turned their attention back to the sorting, Ron remaining a little dazed. It still seemed to take a couple minutes for the murmuring sorting hat to make up its mind before bellowing, "Gryffindor!"