Chapter 4
First Impressions
The girl (Cho Chang) led Isabel, Max, and Liz up to the large painting.
"Listen carefully, because you can't get in without the password." The painting is of a sphinx; it looked down at the four.
"Who are they?" It asked.
"New students, they came late."
"Hmm, password."
"Bookworm."
The painting swung open to reveal a large hole. Cho stepped inside with the three following.
"This is the common room, to the right is the boy's dorm and to the left is the girl's."
Liz looked at Max. Suddenly he realized what that meant. Isabel saw Cho watching them; she smiled.
"So where is my room?" Isabel started to pull Cho away.
"Oh, breakfast," Cho turned back around. "It's in the main hall, it's from 7-8:30 if you get up before 7:30 I'll show you the way."
"Thanks." Max replied, as Isabel pulled Cho away.
Michael arrived at the common room the next morning dressed, washed, and ready to eat. Sitting in a chair reading is a 15-year-old girl with brown hair. Michael stood behind her reading over her shoulder. "The eating habits of a Horntail Dragon include…" He read silently.
"It isn't polite to read over my shoulder without introducing yourself." The girl said as she looked up at him.
"Hi." Michael walked around and sat down in a large chair next to hers. "Michael Guerin," he told her as he held out his hand.
"Hermione Granger." She said shaking his hand.
"What are you reading?"
She showed him the front of the book. 'Dragons, Dragons, Dragons'
"Sounds interesting."
"It is, it lists every know species of dragons and their characteristics."
"Cool."
"So you're one of the stowaways?"
"Yup."
"What are you doing here?"
"Wondering what's for breakfast." Michael replied.
Hermione frowned for a second, upset that he didn't answer how she wanted him to. She smiled. "If you wait a minute for my friends Ron and Harry, I'll show you to the great hall."
"Okay."
"They should be down soon, Ron and Harry never pass up a chance for food."
Michael smiled, "we'll get along fine then."
About a minute later Harry and a redhead walk in.
"Hi, this is Ron Weasley." Harry introduced.
"Michael Guerin." Michael introduced himself.
Ron shook Michael's hand, as he looked him up and down. "You're from the train station." Ron said.
"Yeah, you're one of the many redheads."
"Yeah, you'll meet the rest later."
"So where's the food?" Michael asked.
Harry and Ron smiled as they led the way.
As Kyle walked into the great hall, he knew exactly where he didn't want to sit. He also noticed that everyone is sitting with their houses. He glanced over at Crabb, Goyle, and Malfoy and then searched the hall for a familiar face. He spotted Michael sitting with three of his housemates. Kyle walked over and stopped next to Michael.
"Hi, can I please sit with you?" Kyle begged.
"Sure," Michael replied.
Not noticing Ron, Harry, and Herimone's suspicious glances, Kyle sat to Michael's right.
"What house are you in?" Ron asked.
"The snake one." Kyle said, trying to think of what it is called.
"Slytherin?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, that one." Kyle shuddered. "They're all a bunch of filthy rich brats." He watched at more kids sat down. "Are we supposed to sit with our house?"
"I guess, we always did," Hermione replied.
Kyle helped himself to some bacon and eggs. Michael smiled as he watched Kyle eat. "God, huh?"
"Delicious."
Ron and Harry watch with fascination as Michael and Kyle eat.
Owl hoots fill the hall. Kyle and Michael look up in confusion, as a piece of paper drops into each of their hands.
"Class schedules," Hermione explained. "Mail is also delivered by owl."
Kyle noticed a little message on the bottom of the schedule. "When you are finished eating come to the professor's table."
"You done?" Kyle asked Michael.
"Yeah," Michael said standing up. "See you guys later."
Dumbledore waited until the Roswellians and a 1st year from each house assembled in front of him. "Everyone's here?" He asked the group. When he saw all ten pair of eyes look toward him, he continued. "Follow me." He led the group to their left, through a door, up stairs, and into a small room. They were greeted by a man familiar to all Hogwarts students. "Mr. Olivander, these are the young people I told you about. (whispers to Olivander) I took all my valuables out."
"Thank you, Professor."
"After you receive your wands, you and your house mates are to go to class. Introduce yourselves. Hopefully next weekend, Hagrid will take you to get the rest of your supplies." Dumbledore walked to the door. "I'm going to leave you now, I have a class to teach."
As Dumbledore left, Mr. Olivander pulls out a large trunk and opens it to reveal tons of boxes. "Who's first?"
Kyle glanced at Max, before Max could step forward Kyle did. "I will."
"Alright and you are?"
"Kyle Valenti."
"Ah, how about this one." He hands Kyle a wand.
Kyle took it, "should I wave it at something?"
Olivander nodded his head.
Kyle waves it at a box on the small table in the room. The box explodes sending the wrapped candies inside flying in all directions.
"No, I guess not." Olivander takes the wand and hands Kyle another. "Redwood 8 ½ inches with a single drop of phoenix blood in the core."
Kyle took it and watched it glow in his hand.
"Excellent, the wand has chosen you. Who's next?"
Max stood as Kyle turned to the four kids, found his housemate, and the two left. Max tried four before he found his: Willow 8 ¼ inches with a single sphinx hair.
Isabel: Oak 8 inches with a unicorn hair.
Liz: Spruce 9 inches with a mermaid scale
Michael: Chestnut 9 inches with a scale from a Horntail Dragon
Maria tried about ten and none of them took to her. Olivander kicked the 1st year out for a minute. Maria sat down on the floor. Olivander sat down across from her.
"If I may ask who are your parents?"
"I never met my dad, but my mom is Amy Deluca."
"Amy?"
Maria nodded her head.
"I want you to talk to your mother and then come back and talk to me, alright?"
"Okay."
"You should get to class and so no one suspects anything," he pulled out another wand. "Consider it a practice wand, mostly so your classmates will leave you alone. It can help you perform simple spells, until we figure this out." He smiled.
Maria took it and smiled. "What is it made of?"
"7 1/2 willow with a bit of unicorn horn."
Maria smiled as she stood up. "Thank you," and left for class.
Michael and Kyle had Potions first, then charms. Meanwhile Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had Herbology first and Potions second. Mara sat with her guide, Paul Twitch. He is from a wizard family. On the way to class he told her everything he could about the wizard world. He also told Maria what he knew of Snape. Paul offered to lend Maria some supplies for class until she got her own, he also didn't want to get yelled at by Snape. So when they got to class, Maria is a little bit nervous. Once everyone is seated Snape began is annual spew. Maria watched him glare a t a few students as he talked including Max. Snape had them take a good deal of notes by the time class ended. When lunch rolled around the Roswellians were eager to see each other. Kyle ditched his brat Sly Vice for the company of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. It was then that he met Colin Creevy and his camera. Maria who came over to sit with Michael was blinded by Colin's flashbulb. Maria blinked as she sat down between Kyle and Michael.
"Where are the others?" She asked.
Kyle answered. They decided to stay and learn all the could from their own house."
"Oh." ((FLASH)) Maria turned and glared at Colin. He smiled. She smiled back, reached over and snatched the camera away. "Didn't your mother tell you no cameras at the table."
Colin is speechless.
"You can have it back after lunch."
Fred and George look at each other. "Can we have it?" Fred asks.
Ron rolled his eyes.
"By looking at Ron, I don't think I should trust you two with it." Maria said.
The twins glanced at Ron who smiled back at them.
"So where are you from?" Harry asked changing the subject.
"The US." Kyle said.
"Obliviously, where?" Fred asked, smiling at Kyle's joke.
"New Mexico." Michael told them.
As the guys told the all about Quidditch, Liz, Max, and Isabel are learning about the school. Cho is telling them everything she can.
"First year we had Quirell, 2nd Lockhart, 3rd Remus Lupin, 4th an Auror named Moody, I say the position is cursed."
"But then why would Snape want it so bad." Liz asked.
"Well, rumor says Snape was into dark magic when he was young."
"Why is he here?" Max asked.
"Dumbledore trusts him."
Maria is anxious as Paul leads her to the Charms class. Even though she was told that wands aren't used until week two.
"Hey, Paul?"
The boy looks up, "yeah?"
"What would you call a person from a wizard family with no powers?"\
"A squib, why?"
"Just wondering. It just that my powers come and go and…"
"And you're afraid of what the Slytherins will say?"
"Yeah."
"Well, we'll find out." Paul said as they walked into the class.
Once everyone is seated, the class started. Professor Flitwick started them with a lot of notes. Maria left the class wondering how to get a note to her mom.