Chapter Six
Feathers and Fawkes
They reached a portrait of an enormous lady in a pink dress.
"Password?" The portrait asked.
"Auguery."
The portrait swung open to reveal a large, cozy room. Torches flared on the walls creating most of the light. A fire crackled in the fireplace, making the whole room glow with warmth. A few wooden tables were scattered around, as were a dozen or so high-backed chairs in a deep crimson. Red oriental rugs dotted the stone floor, and the half moon shined through the large gothic-style windows.
"Wow," breathed Jenna. The other first years seemed to have the same reaction because they were all standing motionless in the doorway.
"Hey! Could you guys get out of the way? You're blocking the entrance." A boy with long, dark brown hair was standing behind them, arms crossed and a small frown playing across his lips. Jenna heard an intake of breath from her right.
The first years moved aside to let the older students into the common room. Désirée clapped her hands to get their attention.
"Girls dormitories are on the left." She pointed to a stone staircase behind her. "And the boys' dormitories are on the right. I suggest you go upstairs now. You will have a very busy day tomorrow." At this Désirée leaned down and gave Addy and Rhea a kiss on each cheek, and then walked up to her room.
The three girls followed her up the steps until they reached a door with the words 'First Years' etched onto a gold plaque.
The dormitory was round with stone walls and plush red carpeting. Five crimson canopy beds faced each other; their backs against the tower's walls. Their trunks had already been brought up. The girls began to unpack, talking about their first impressions of their new home and finally falling asleep at around midnight.
The gilded clock on the wall chimed the hour. Addy was already up and dressed and trying to wake up her roommates.
"C'mon people!" We have to go to breakfast now or else we'll be late for our first class ever!" At this Rhea threw a pillow at her sister, causing her to fall to the floor with a loud 'Thud.'
Fifteen minutes later, the three girls entered the Great Hall. There were already a large number of students eating breakfast. They sat down at the Gryffindor table and Rhea immediately grabbed a bowl of porridge and began to heap brown sugar onto it. They had barely started eating when three pieces of paper fluttered down onto the table in front of them.
"It's our schedules!" Addy announced cheerfully. Jenna picked up her piece of paper.
"Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and double Transfiguration." She glanced at her friends. "Do we all have the same classes?"
Rhea nodded. "All the first year Gryffindors have classes together. Same with second year. But I think you get more choice in third year." Jenna nodded and finished her breakfast.
They made their way down the charms corridor and into their first class of the year. A short, bald man was sitting behind the desk on what appeared to be a large stack of books. The three girls sat in the second row as more students began to file in.
"Welcome to Charms." The teacher exclaimed. "I am Professor Flitwick. Now, I would like everyone to look at the feather in front of them. We are going to try to make them float today. Please get out your wands and copy my movements." There was a rustling as students retrieved their wands.
"Now copy me. Wingardium Leviosa!" He swished his wand around and the feather in front of him floated a foot or two off the desk." He looked at the class.
"Now you try."
Jenna grabbed her wand and swished it through the air. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She chanted along with the other students in their class. The feather lay still. Jenna tried again. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She yelled. Nothing happened.
Addy looked at her frustrated friend. "Here, watch." She picked up her wand and swished around. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The feather gently rose a foot off the ground. Rhea pouted.
"I can do that too!" Rhea repeated the movements of her sister, and her feather joined Addy's in the air.
"Wonderful!" Flitwick cried. "Five pints to each of you. Your names are what…Weasley I suppose." He stared at their flaming curls, and they nodded. Flitwick continued. "Yes, your mother was also very good in my class. Although, I'm sure she's told you that before." He chuckled.
By the end of class, only a Hufflepuff with a large nose and Jenna were able to make their feathers float. Everyone else got homework and half the student ran to the twins after class asking for help. Jenna had to admit, the only reason she was able to make her feather float was because Rhea had helped her along the way.
They reached the DADA class with Addy going on about forming a study group. The bell rang as they walked through the door. The Professor was standing in front of the class as they entered.
"Thank you for joining us." The class giggled and Rhea turned a slight shade of pink. They made their way to the only seats available in the front row and sat down.
"I'm Professor Lupin, if you don't already know, and I'm here to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts, which you most certainly should know." He glanced around the class. "Now we just have to wait for our special guest to arrive."
The class erupted in whispers. Jenna glanced at her two best friends and shrugged her shoulders. Addy was about to say something, when a flash of scarlet and gold flew in from an open window. Lupin smiled as a large swan-like creature settled on top of his desk.
"I would like you all to meet Fawkes. Can anyone tell me what he is?"
Two hands shot in the air. Professor Lupin stared at the twin girls and then chuckled under his breath. "Weasleys, I presume?" Addy nodded and Rhea turned a deep magenta color.
'I know you parents well…and it seems as though you may take after your mother when it comes to brains." He smirked and Rhea's face went from magenta to bright red. "Well, I'll let you answer." He pointed to Addy who smile and cleared her throat.
"Fawkes is a phoenix. Phoenixes burst into flame every so often, and rise from the ashes as a newborn. They have the ability to heal wounds with their tears and their feathers are used in wand cores." Addy finished her recitation.
"Very good Miss Weasley. Ten pints to Gryffindor." Lupin looked around the class. His eyes rested on Jenna.
"What's your name, miss?" Jenna bit her lip as she stared at her teacher.
"My name's Jenna Meyers, Professor." He glanced towards the phoenix.
"Meyers…" He said pensively. "Miss Meyers, could I have a word with you after class?"
It wasn't actually a question. Jenna knew that. It's like what her mother did when she asked her to clean her room. She nodded her compliance. Lupin ignored her the rest of the period.
The bell rang and the students streamed into the hall with the exception of Jenna, Addy, and Rhea. Addy and Rhea stood by the door as Jenna walked up to Professor Lupin's desk.
"Professor?" Lupin looked up from a pile of papers he was stuffing into his desk.
"Miss Meyers. Thank you for staying after. I was just wondering something."
'Yes, Professor?"
"Could you happen to tell me who your parents are?" He asked looking into your eyes. Jenna looked confused, but answered anyway.
"My mother's name is Elizabeth Meyers, but I have no idea who my father is." Lupin stared off into space for a moment, before looking back at Jenna. He smiled politely as he finished putting away the papers.
"Thank you, Miss Meyers. You may go to lunch now." Jenna raised her eyebrows, but turned around to join her friends and go to lunch.