Hogwarts at last

Ara sat on the seat of the train and watched the scenery roll by the window. It was nothing but trees and more trees, as far as the eye could see. Ron had been trying to get her attention for the majority of the ride so far, and Ara tried her best to ignore him. Then, finally, after a very loud 'PSST!' she whirled around. "What is it?" she asked, not too angrily but not too happy either. Ron grinned. "Want a Chocolate Frog?" Ara paused. She was hungry. But she had no idea what a chocolate frog was. "C'mon, try it!" Ron urged. Ara shook her head. "I'm not hun---" She was interrupted by a loud grumbling from her stomach and she remembered that she had not eaten real food for a long time. She smiled sheepishly. "I guess I am a little hungry. Thanks." She took the Chocolate Frog that was offered to her. Ara gulped, wondering if this frog was enchanted or not. She did not have to wonder for long. Without warning, the frog gave a loud croak and hopped away. Ara's stomach growled again. She sighed. "Sorry." Ron shrugged. "Happens all the time. Never mind, try some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Oi, here's Harry." Ara politely refused the offered bag of beans and turned around. Harry Potter was striding down the aisle, furious. Hermione was behind him, frantically trying to console him, but he shook her off and marched over to where Ron was sitting. Ron paled slightly. "Uh, Harry, maybe you should---" He broke off when Harry snarled ferociously at him, spraying him with spit. Ron grimaced and shot a look at Ara that said clearly, don't get involved. Harry saw the look and followed it. His eyes slowly unglazed and he jammed on his glasses to look at Ara. A slow look of recognition spread across his face. "Hey," he muttered. "You're that—that girl I saw outside." Harry sat down. "So, how's life?" Ara blinked. He was furious a moment ago…She thought worriedly to herself. "Well," she replied shyly, "Life is scary. I don't what I'm doing, or why I'm here." Ara sighed and clutched her bag of stuff close to her chest, almost protectively. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm not sure what you're doing, either, but I think I know why you're here…" Ara looked up. "Why, then?" she asked softly. Harry shrugged. "Well, if you got a letter inviting you here, then you must have some special powers." Harry eyed her curiously. Ara flicked her gaze downwards. She didn't want anyone to know that she was crazy; that once she had lived with the animals and believed she could talk to them. Harry raised an eyebrow. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay…I think I know how you feel. I blew up my aunt once…" Ara quietly excused herself and went to another seat. She did not want to seem rude, but she had been so isolated for so many years that it had almost become awkward to converse with her own kind. She pulled her worn, almost threadbare jacket closer to her chest and opened the window, breathing in the icy fresh air. Would she ever fit in again?

Thirty minutes or so later, a large castle came into view. The quiet solitude of the train suddenly became loud as the people became restless. Ara winced a little. Growing up in the still quiet of the forest, there had been no loud noises. It was hard for Ara to adjust. The train came to a slow, screeching halt. Ara stood up and followed the crowd off the train, an insignificant speck in such a large expanse.

The walk to Hogwarts Castle was wet and muddy, and Ara's threadbare boots barely protected her feet from the cold. Ara walked on, each step more unsure than the last. She paused for a moment under the awning and looked up at what was now her new home, in a way. It was a massive fortress of stone, framed against a dark, overcast sky, with gloomy-looking gargoyles framing the windows, gutters, and doorways. Ara shivered and stepped inside.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. An enchanted suit of armor that was used as a doorman creakily removed her jacket and wandered off with it. Ara watched him—her—it stump away, wide-eyed, before people behind her started grumbling.

Ara stepped into the shadows, unsure where to go. No one had told her, or directed her. She tried to follow the crowd, but they all seemed to be going in different directions.

At last, Ara gave up trying to go somewhere and set off to explore.

Sooner or later, she found the library. Ara smiled when she stepped in, happy in the familiarity of the mazes of never-ending bookshelves. She had visited the library at least once a day as a child, and she would stay there for hours, reading every book that was ever written. Ara fingered the dusty books, examining the titles of some as she passed. One read, in thick gold lettering "101 Spells and Jinxes." another read " Magic for Dummies." All of the books here look mysterious and interesting, Ara thought blissfully to herself. She pulled out a stack of books, plopped herself in a comfy chair, and began to read hungrily, flipping the pages inhumanly fast.

It was like she was in paradise. There was no one at all to disturb her; the library was completely silent. Too silent, in fact. After a while, Ara noticed the disturbing silence and shut her book, frowning. She closed her eyes and listened intently to the sounds of the library…

She had played the Listening Game for a long time now and had become quite good at it. Many times in the forest Ara would lie on her back in the grass and just listen to everything that was going on.

Now she did it again, this time out of the protectiveness of the woods. There were no sounds at first. She concentrated and listened harder. Still nothing.

Confused, Ara got up and walked around. The library was still and silent, with not a breeze rustling the pages of any books. It seemed completely abandoned.

Ara paused and listened again. This time there was a noise. A steady rustling noise of a cloak brushing past the bookshelves was coming closer and closer….

Ara opened her eyes and saw Madame Pince standing a few bookshelves back, glaring at her intensely. Ara blinked, grabbed her bag and backed away quickly. When she was out of sight, she ran out of the library and leaned against the wall, panting.

Someone laughed above her. Ara looked up, annoyed. A tallish girl, about Ara's height with bushy brown hair stood next to her, grinning. "Met Madame Pince for the first time, have you?" Ara just smiled. The girl shook her head, amused. "I'm Hermione. And you are…?" Ara looked down. "…mmph…Ara…" Hermione frowned. "What did you say?" Ara repeated, this time a little louder. "I'm Ara." Hermione smiled. "Well, nice to meet you then, Ara. You look a little lost." Ara nodded. " I am. Why is it all so abandoned? Where is everybody?" Hermione shrugged. "They're probably eating dinner at the great hall. I was just going down to the library to read when I saw you."
Ara's stomach grumbled at the mention of food. "It's a pity I missed it," she muttered. Hermione checked the hourglass that hung around her neck and shook her head. "You still have time, if you change quickly. Whose house are you in?" Ara frowned. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you been sorted yet?" Ara continued staring at her like she was speaking a different language. Hermione sighed. "Ummm…. Were you not here last year? Every student comes to Hogwarts in their first year…and you look a lot older…how old are you?" Ara blinked, a little overwhelmed. "Hmm…what?"

"I said, how old are you?"

Ara sighed. "I—I don't know…" Hermione scowled. "Really, you must know!"

Ara shook her head and walked away. Everything seemed so strange…

"Where are you going!" Hermione yelled after her. Ara walked faster. She had absolutely no idea.

Where AM I going….? Ara pondered to herself. The Evil Staircases wouldn't let her into any of the dorms, so here she sat, leaning against a wall in the hallway, Her jacket over her head so that no one would see her. What am I doing here…

"Excuse me…Ms. Ara Aronin?"

Ara looked up and gasped. A ghost was towering over her, floating an inch above the ground. His neck was almost completely severed and he held a letter in his right hand.

"You…you're…a…ghost…" Ara tried to slip away. The ghost sighed. "Yes, yes, I'm a ghost. That's very rude, you know, running away like that when I'm trying to talk to you." He snapped.

Ara flinched. "I…um…your…name?" The ghost bowed. His head toppled off, hanging by a piece of flesh. Ara gasped. The ghost straightened and replaced his head to his neck. "Nearly Headless Nick, at your service, miss. A letter for you." He passed her the letter. "This is from the Headmaster. He wants to see you. In his office. Good day…"
He drifted away. "Wait! You didn't tell me where it was!" She yelled after him. But he vanished into the wall. Ara rolled her eyes. Then she spotted someone farther down the hall. She slung her bag onto her back and ran towards the student. "Um, excuse, me…where's the Headmaster's office?" the student turned around. It was Harry. Ara smiled. "Hi, Harry! Can you tell me---" "Yes, the Headmaster's office. You mean you don't know?" He frowned. "Oy, you aren't a first year, are you? I don't have time for this…" He turned away. Ara grabbed him by the wrist. "Listen, you annoying person…I...Am…Not…A…First…Year! Where is the Headmaster's office!"

Harry backed away. "GouptheSlidingStaircasedownthehallwaytakealeft." He said in one breath and ran away. Ara sighed. "Don't lose control again, Ara." She told herself sternly. "Now, what was it? Go down the sliding Staircase…no, up. Up the Sliding Staircase…" She dashed up the Sliding Staircase and jumped off the stairs just as they were starting to move. She sprinted down the hallway and ran right into a tall, ancient wizard with a gleam in his light blue eyes. She gasped.

"I—I'm sorry." She stuttered.

The wizard just smiled calmly and looked at her over the tops of his crescent-shaped glasses. "Not at all. I was coming to see you, in fact."

"….Headmaster…?" Ara squeaked.

Albus Dumbledore nodded sagely. "I think we should go back to my office."

Loosens wrists There. I hope you like it. While I was typing this, I lost a whole page of my work…It was very annoying. And I'm not a very fast typist. Sorry the last chapter was so short…it looked like a lot more on Microsoft Word. I'm not really sure where to go on this, so if you have any ideas, please let me know. I'll be sure to give you credit. Also, thanks to oOforeverobsessedOo for the ideas and constructive criticism.