Chapter Four- Sara: A Guilty Conscience
September 2, 2004
Alright, so I was able to talk Nikki into trying out for the house Quidditch team. It took some work, but I finally got her to agree. It helped to dangle the prospect of spending time with Mr. Potter in her face. But hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to control her friend. Lol. Okay, okay, I'm kidding about the whole controlling thing. I'm just so happy that I got Nikki to try out for the team. I mean the girl can PLAY. Where as I got the brains in our friendship, Nik definitely got the brawn. The girl has got major skill when it comes to playing sports. Any sport really. But Quidditch is definitely her specialty.
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It was so exciting to wake up that first morning in Gryffindor and to realize that this was not a dream. I admit: I actually pinched myself to see if it really was real. Ouch. It was.
After pouncing on Nikki with the letter from our Head of House: Professor McGonagall, I set myself to getting dressed. There was no way that I was going to be late for breakfast on my first day at Hogwarts. No frickin' way.
I was ready within ten minutes, but Nikki had to make sure that her hair was perfect and that her make-up looked good.
"In case some cute guy just happens to look my way." She said with a shrug when I started complaining that she was taking too long. I shook my head. I swear that girl can be such a girly-girl sometimes.
We hurried down to the Great Hall, where Hermione had saved two seats beside her at the Griffyndor table. Across from us sat Ron (who was busy stuffing his face with whatever food was within reach) and Harry. They were talking about the upcoming Quidditch tryouts and who they thought might try out and who might make the team. I glanced at Nikki as they were talking and smiled slyly at her. She shook her head with a chuckle and focused on the food that she was putting on her plate.
As we ate owls began to filter into the Great Hall. Mail time. A newspaper dropped in front of Hermione and a letter in front of Harry. I was surprised when an owl dropped a small package in front of my own plate. Mom and Dad had already given me a going away present. So who could the small square package could possibly been from?
"Open it, Sara." Nikki elbowed me in the side. I glared at her. I really hate when she does that.
I reached for the package and carefully unwrapped the brown paper around it. Nikki tapped her fingers impatiently atop the table. She knew I was going slow to annoy her. Usually I dig right into the paper and tear it apart, but I felt like annoying her a little bit seeing as how she was so eager to see what I'd gotten.
The wrapping came off and a blue, velvet box sat in my hand. I opened it slowly and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful necklace I'd ever seen. A black ribbon with a silver heart with a small diamond nestled into the point at the top. A note was tucked into the top of the box. I pulled it out.
Hey babe. Hope u r likin' Hogwarts. If any of those British dudes give u any trouble let me know and I'll knock their heads off. Don't go forgettin' me. I know how u like guys with accents ;-). Love Hunter.
A wave of guilt passed over me as I fingered the note. I had been so wrapped up in this whole experience that I had momentarily forgotten that I had a boyfriend back home. What a horrible girlfriend I am!
"God that's gorgeous. You sure it's from Hunter?" Nikki peered at the necklace with wide eyes. "I'm surprised that boy could walk into a store without being physically dragged."
"Shut up." I slapped her shoulder. It was sweet of Hunter to get me something like this- especially when he hated shopping so much.
"I think it's romantic."
"Of course you would." Nikki replied with a roll of her eyes. I was about to say something back, but Professor McGonagall came by and passed out our class schedules just as I opened my mouth.
The five of us- me, Nikki, Hermione, Ron, and Harry- all bent over our schedules to see what classes (aside from the regular ones) we shared. Hermione's schedule had to be even more packed than my own.
"You're taking Divinitation?" Nikki asked, glancing at Harry and Ron's schedules.
"Yeah." Harry replied unenthusiastically.
Ron glanced around to see if anyone was listening before leaning in.
"Professor Trelawny is a quack." He said. "No one can stand her and she's always predicting Harry's death."
"Really?" Nikki looked at Harry to confirm this. He nodded his head, a strand of black hair falling across his forehead. I glanced at Nikki out of the corner of my eye. She looked like she wanted nothing more than to brush that piece of hair out of Harry's face. I held back a laugh. She would never change.
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September 2, 2004
I don't have much time to write. There's only a few minutes before we have to go to our first class of the day. I'm so frickin' EXCITED. I can't wait to start classes. I just hope that I can keep up with everyone here. In our Magic Around the World class we had studied Hogwarts and learned that it was one of the most well respected schools of magic in the whole WORLD! I mean this place is seriously serious. God I hope I can keep my grades up.
> > > > >
Our first class of the day was Potions. Ron and Harry had been badmouthing the professor that taught it- Professor Snape- all through breakfast. And I have to admit: I was way nervous going down the stairs into the dungeons that morning.
The atmosphere was cold and dark and really creepy; you know, the usual for potions which is considered more than often a Dark Art. The whole thing was more than a little spooky when you add in all the weird things that resided in the jars that sat on the large desk that was, more than likely, Professor Snape's. A group of students was already filling nearly every table near the front. They all had the same emblem on the front of their robes- the Slytherine snake. One of the boys looked over his shoulder at Nikki and I as we took out our Potions' books and set them on the table that we were sharing with a Gryffindor- who I recognized from the train but couldn't remember his name- and sneered at us. Nikki glared at him- something she's very good at. I just looked down at the table top and became incredibly interested in the wood grain. That's me: Little Miss Coward.
Once I was certain that the boy had turned back around, I looked up from the table. Just in time to see Professor Snape enter. Professor Snape was an imposing figure despite his pale, deathly looking skin; greasy black hair, and long crooked nose. Boy was he intimidating.
"Class," his voice was slow and daunting, "get out your cauldrons and focus your attention on the potion on the board." He pointed his wand at the board that sat near his desk and a potion recipe appeared in cramped, precise handwriting.
> > > > >
September 2, 2004
Well, our first day at Hogwarts is now officially finished. I gotta tell ya, after the first bit of excitement in Potions (Neville, the boy that Nikki and I were sharing a table with, mixed his potion wrong and it blew up all over him…and us) the novelty of the whole exchange program kinda wore off. I mean the whole day was basically a carbon copy of our days at Salem, except everyone here speaks with an accent. Of course here it's not an accent to them. But I digress. Lol. I just love that word. Digress. It's so funny sounding, and kinda pompous too. Oh great, I'm doing it again. Sometimes I really hate how I babble meaninglessly. Nikki is never afraid to point it out whenever I start doing it.
Okay, getting back on subject now. The day went relatively well. We had a lot of classes with the Slytherines. Yippee. The same guy that greeted us oh so warmly ( sense the sarcasm?) in Potions continued to torment us- both with stares and verbal comments- for the rest of the day. Boy am I sick of him. But I have to admit, despite his "charming" personality, he's really kinda hot. Oh my god, I didn't just write that, did I? Why am I being such a horrible girlfriend. I mean, Hunter and I said that while I was here at Hogwarts that we would still remain exclusive. Exclusive as in no crushes- not that what I have on this guy is a crush- and no thinking someone else is cute. Absolutely not. It's forbidden. Alright, so maybe not forbidden, but it's definitely frowned upon. Oh gosh, what am I gonna do? I feel so guilty about forgetting Hunter. Maybe I should write him a letter. Ya know, thank him for that necklace- which I am wearing right now so as to constantly remind myself that I am off the market. Yeah, that's what I'll do.