Disclaimer: This work is not a challenge of any copyrights and trademarks; it is not written for profit, but merely for personal entertainment purposes.

A/N Okay if any of this is slightly off it's because I have a german word processor and I don't actually know german. It was really cheap at a store so don't give me that look. I needed it for something else beside writing. I would have bought the english version but it was fifteen bucks more and the one I got was discount.


A Canadian in London.

Chapter Six

Learning the ropes.

The great hall was big and had that nifty magical ceiling that the books talked about. Let us see who the teachers still employed at the school. Of course theres Snape and Lupin, and Pomphrey, the headmaster and McGonagall. Hagrid and I don't believe it Trelawney is still here? Hooch still here as well. Damit Filtch is still around oh hey Flitwick is here too. Sprouts there. Don't remember the description of the runes teacher nor arithmancy. So there are five or so teachers assuming there arent any missing that I don't know about. That's good. Oh shit I think the headmaster was talking about me.

I hope that you make her feel welcome I look around and nod and smile at the teachers. Well at most the teachers Snape is doing his best to death glare me, I shoot him a narrowed look before I get back to dinner. The food is astounding. As I have said I am a wiccan, but I do eat meat, just because I tried being a vegitarian for a while and became very sick and anemic. Turns out I didn't know how to balance the right food and I didn't eat enough protein plus the fact that I don't like vegetables very much. Sitting at the teachers table I ignore the talk around me and begin dinner, I grab a serving of brussel sprouts and some salad with balsamic vinegarette. A piece of grilled fish and okay gross I don't like pumpkin juice. I can live without a drink right now. Eat lots of salad and talk to professor lupin about the house elves tomorrow.

(Trying to figure out accents would cause me to have a brain aneurism so bear with me k?) I am sitting beside Professor Sprout and Hagrid. Well I am being dwarfed by the half giant anyways. I turn to Sprout and start conversation figuring I should probably feign ignorance.

"Ma'am, what do you teach?" I ask politely.

Sprout in the middle of reaching for a bun pauses and turns to me and smiles. "I'm Professor Sprout, it's nice to meet you Ashley. I teach Herbology, do you like gardening?"

"Gardening well I don't have a green thumb but I like plants enough, I had a little square garden back home that I used to take care of." I say taking a bite of salad.

"Oh good for you, so many youngsters these days sit inside and listen to wizard wireless all day. Or fly around on brooms. Do you know what kind of plants you had in this garden of yours?"

I nod, I had been interested to for a while on which plants were edible and such. "I had basic ferns, some lady slippers and arrow root, as well as a raspberry bush around the outside. Oh and lily of the valley and I don't know what it is but its about a foot high and has greenish white flowers and berries that look like raspberries but aren't."

Sprout paused thinking. "You lived in the north didn't you dear. Those plants are native to north america, and the last one is known as golden seal, also known as eye balm or ground raspberry. The berries aren't edible just so you know. It's used for it's yellow dye and as an eye balm and has magical properties that allow it to coat or seal a potions ingredients so it doesn't react with another. Oh look yorkshire pudding. It's my favorite." With that Sprout turned. The half giant took the opportunity to introduce himself.

"Rubeus Hagrid teacher of care of magical creatures at your service. Don't need to call me no professor just Hagrid will do."

"Alright Hagrid, Ashley Rave Neverwinter, but I insist you call me Ashe. Care of magical creatures, I guess that's like taking care of animals that are injured and learning about different animals as well. That will probably be one of my favorite classes. I love all animals, magical ones or not." Hagrid was beaming at me. If I didn't know he was the gentle giant I would be scared of that many teeth.

"Oh tha's wonderful. Kids don't appreciate animals like they should."

"Oh I know, I have two cats and a dog at home, I also live near a quarry and forest so I get to see local flora and fauna all the time. I love going for walks in the quarry with my dog she adores water and swimming." I reply and take a bite of my fish dipped in tartar sauce.

"I have a dog too, his name is Fang, but hes a coward. When I go into the forest he stays at home most of the time." Hagrid replies biting a turkey leg in half. Smiling I nod. Our dogs have that in common. "I used to have a hippogriff named Buckbeak poor fella, had to give him up because some spoiled prat disrespected him and Buckbeak taught him a lesson in manners. It's not fair." He sniffs wiping a stray tear. "He's still a spoiled prat that works in the ministry now."

I pat his arm, knowing what it's like to lose a loved pet. I finish up my fish, and take a couple more bites of salad. Feeling full I contently sit quietly just listening to the conversation around me. Dinner is finished and Snape is the first one to leave, stalking out like a bat robes flairing. Looking after him I turn to Sprout and ask. "Does Professor Snape spell his robes to do that or is it a natural talent?" I ask curiously. Sprout shakes her head and giggles. Leaning closer toward me she whispers "The teachers trying to figure out that question for years. No one knows." She then leaves talking about her nightshade and blooming something or other.

Professor Lupin approaches, he holds out his hand. "It's nice to know that you are going to be at this school, as I said before I am Remus Lupin the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher. So you were wanting to go to London tomorrow right? I need to pick up some parcels from Florish and Botts as well. We will be leaving at Nine, sharp. The headmaster has given us a portkey and we will be returning at twelve just in time for lunch. See you tomorrow." And he walked away leaving me for a night of whatever I wanted. I walked toward the headmaster as I didn't know where I would be sleeping and I wanted to know how to get in touch with the house elves.

Walking up I cleared my throat. "Headmaster, I was wondering if you had time to discuss some things with me? There are a few points that I wanted to go over." Seeing his twinkling eyes I grew wary. What could he be up to now I wonder?

"Ah how did you like your very first meal as a student of Hogwarts I trust everything was satisfactory?" Completely ignoring my questions he asked.

"As a matter of fact, I wanted to talk to you about a matter with the meals, you see I have discovered that I have a great disliking for pumpkin juice and was wondering if the house elves could if they would be so kind, add a different drink? Milk or juice besides pumpkin or even water would be great." Dumbledore hearing this snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared. He was dressed in a pair of brightly decorated yellow trousers and a black and green t-shirt. All in all it gave me a headache most instantly.

"Yes Dumbledore Sir? You called?" The promptness of the house elfs appearace made me jump slightly.

"Ah yes Simon, just the elf I was looking for, if you could possibly serve a different type of drink for Miss Neverwinter, she seems to find the taste of pumpkin juice rather unappealing. I believe she wanted milk, or some other juices?" He turned towards me questioningly.

"Uh yes please, if possible orange, apple, or cranberry juices for breakfasts, um milk and water for lunch and supper, oh do you know of an invention of muggles it's called cola, it's a fizzy drink that if you could stock it would be terribly appreciated." I asked wondering if it was even possible.

The elf nodded. "Yes Miss, the muggle studdies teacher brought some one day and showed us. A few of the muggleborn also prefer it to pumpkin juice."

"Just one other thing, is it possible for me to have chamomile tea before lights out? It helps me relax." I questioned and then winced thinking that the chamomile might just come from Snapes stores.

The elf nodded again and disappeared with a snap of his fingers.

I turned around to face the headmaster. "Oh sir two more things is it possible for me to be able to call upon the elves? I fear that I will get terribly lost within this castle and where am I to sleep tonight?"

The headmaster looked thoughtful and then nodded more to himself then anything. "Ah yes my dear I am afraid that you could get quite lost, just call out Simons name and he shall apear and I was just about to show you your room. If you would follow me?"

The headmaster then turned and walked out of the great hall and up to the second floor which is easily enough to get to, as it is to the right of the exit of the great hall. Dumbledore then walked down the corridor and stopped at the end. There was a painting of a plain with wheat and sparse trees throughout the scene. It looked like home and made my eyes feel bright.

"Ah dear now, the password is Ashley but I assume that you will want to change it once inside. Just say to the painting change password and then whatever it is behind this doorway. Have a good night and see you for breakfast tomorrow, I will have an elf wake you for breakfast." With that he walked back toward the great hall.

Whispering the password I stepped through the newly revealed hole. Inside was very nice. The bed was made of cherry and purple accents filled the room. Sighing I turned around and looked at the entrance of my santuary.

"Change password Home isn't." With that I drank my tea and went to bed.

Finis.