Chapter 2: Friendship

Those same garnet eyes from the photo briefly caught Delilah's own emeralds. Was this a trap? Did he and Penny already know her plan? Was it ruined before she even made it to Hogwarts? He didn't look at her long, for his eyes avoided her the rest of the way and disappeared onto his parchment and quill. Delilah's mind swam with uneasiness.

"Talbott, meet Lilah Tytonidae. She is a Ravenclaw like you. She is in our year but clearly transferred from..."

"Ilvermorny. It's Delilah actually, but Lilah is my nickname." Delilah watched Talbott as his quill scribbled words wildly. He seemed to not notice nor care.

"Ooo I heard that's a wonderful school!" Penny quickly pulled Delilah to sit down next to her. They were opposite of Talbott. "What House were you in?"

"Thunderbird. Funny how I ended up in another bird House." Delilah never took her eyes off her target.

"Talbott, don't be rude. Say hello to our new friend. " Penny's sapphire blue eyes glared at Talbott. Was this a trap after all? Or was Penny always this desperate for friends?

"Our?" It was the first time he spoke. His voice was low, but not too low. Just one word made him sound so handsome. Please say more, Delilah thought.

"Yes, OUR." Penny crossed her arms in annoyance. "I will not have you spend ANOTHER year alone doing nothing but getting pooped on by owls and writing poetry! Nobody reads this stuff anyway." She was almost scary when she was annoyed.

"Poetry? I love poetry..." Delilah blushed.

For the first time, he looked up and actually focused on her like a bird to a mouse. . He studied her opal tinted skin, curly hair, and forest green sweater dress. He was about to speak again when Penny cut him off.

"Ugh, that's all you Ravenclaws ever care about is books and writing. There is so much more to life. Friendship. Drinking. Awards. Potions. Dancing. Dating..." She got dreamily lost in thought.

"I'm not really into the chemical makeup of potions, but I love Herbology! Which... is required for potions," Delilah responded excitedly at first, then quickly filtered her enthusiasm into studiousness as she saw the other two students' faces fail to mimic her excitement about Herbology.

"Ugh, you two are birds of a feather. Talbott loves Herbology too..." Penny sighed.

This was her chance.

"Funny that you mention birds... I'm an animagus. Barn owl to be exact. Anyone that knows my family line would know, since it is tradition that we all become barn owls. It's our family crest even. Not sure how considering witches and wizards cannot actually choose their animagus form, but for whatever reason Tytonidae always become barn owls." She watched as Talbott began to shift is if his seat was uncomfortable. Yes, he is definitely hiding something. It was so obvious.

"Wow, really! That's awesome! I wish I could become one, but having a whole mandrake leaf in my mouth for a month sounds repulsive. I'd love to make the potion though! Talbott, wanna become an animagus?" Penny's eyes were shining.

Aha. So she didn't know he was an animagus... Meaning, this couldn't be a trap.

"No thanks." Talbott refused to look at either of them.

"Ugh. You're no fun. Where's the Trolley Lady? She's late." Penny suddenly stormed out of the compartment, leaving Talbott and Delilah awkwardly alone. Normally, this would have been perfect for Delilah, however, some unknown force was stopping her from doing much of anything.

"So... er... What kind of poem are you writing?"

He stopped writing. Thought hard about what he was about to say, if anything. "It's... personal..."

She was surprised he even responded. "Oh, I completely understand. I won't pester you, I promise". She half lied.

"Good. Penny does it enough." Talbott began writing again.

"So uh, how did you and Penny become friends?" Delilah watched him write. If only her eyes were as good as they were in owl form. Whatever he was writing could be clues to his animagus form.

"Just like she just did with you," he replied in a low tone.

"Ah. Kinda forced, eh?"

"I don't have the heart to tell her I'd rather not. I prefer to be left alone. So, I just let her do her thing until she gets bored and goes away. " He paused, took a breath, and looked at Delilah again. "Please don't tell her I said that."

"I promise. " That was the truth. She could really use Penny if she was close with Talbott. She couldn't afford to have them argue.

Their peace was broken by Penny barging back in, sweets almost falling out of her thin arms. Delilah wondered how different these would be from American treats. Her favorites were candy corn cake, hot pepper peeps, and laughing lemon cookies.

"Catch." She tossed a chocolate frog at Talbott before she sat down. He caught it without looking, as if he could just sense it coming. "What would you like, Lilah? She spread the sweets out onto the seat.

"Oh, um. Are you sure?"

"Ha! Of course I'm sure. I'm the nicest witch at Hogwarts after all. Why do you think everyone wants to be my friend? Now pick."

"Thank you..." She grabbed a cauldron cake out of the mix.

"Although, I still can't figure out why my own sister won't speak to me... She would rather hang out with those goth freaks." Penny's face became droopy with gloom. "She's supposed to be just like me. Hufflepuff and all. What if she's not sorted into Hufflepuff? This is her first year after all."

"What's your sister's name?" asked Delilah as neutrally as she could.

"Beatrice. I call her Bea. She won't let me call her that anymore though. All because of some stupid dream she had."

"Oh, what was the dream? It could be important, Penny. " Delilah's interest peaked.

"Apparently, she was stuck in a portrait for an entire school year due to some curse from vaults or something like that. Mentioned a vile criminal teacher and a dragon. I don't know what has gotten into her, but suddenly she wants to avoid me and her school year hasn't even begun. " Penny's eyes became moist and her voice cracked.

"Don't worry, Penny. She'll come around when she sees there's no such thing as cursed vaults. Give her time. I'm sure she'll be in Hufflepuff too. If she isn't, that's also okay. We'll make everything work out." Delilah sincerely smiled at Penny. Penny returned it with gratitude, her eyes drying back up.

Penny finally lightened up after giving Delilah a tight hug. Talbott snickered at the conversation but remained wordless. Family drama was not on his list of interests.

More time had passed munching the delicious treats. Suddenly, Talbott's voice broke the silence.

"Deli?"

Delilah flinched hard at being called that, momentarily choking on her snack. She looked up, eyes watering.

"Talbott, it's LILAH. Not Deli. She isn't lunch meat. " Penny folded her arms again in disapproval that he wasn't following her trend.

"You... have a little something..." He pointed at the corner of his own mouth.

"Oh, um..." She was pink with embarrassment. She tried to clean it off with her fingers, but clearly didn't get it. Talbott surprised both Delilah and Penny when he got up from his seat and crouched in front of Delilah. He carefully wiped the chocolate frosting off the corner of her mouth. Her pink face got darker until it was red.

"If this were a typical love story, the train would have hit a bump and you two would be have been forced to kiss." Penny interrupted, rolling her eyes. "Just don't snog in front of me."

Despite his dark skin, he was clearly turning red as well. He quickly shifted back into his seat as if nothing happened. The blush didn't disappear for several moments from either of their faces. Silence filled the dry air.

Finally, Penny ended the silence. For the first time, hearing her voice was much appreciated.

"Looks like we're almost there. I remember those hills we always pass. Especially considering they're the only thing surrounded by light in these bleak nights. Let's get our robes on. Talbott, be a gentleman and turn around," she commanded.

There was no quarrel. Quietly, the trio got their black school robes on. Talbott's and Delilah's had blue and bronze on them. Penny's robe was just yellow and black, although it looked fantastic with her yellow hair. The rest of the ride was calm as well. Talbott continued to write. Penny was looking through her Potions book. Delilah was blasting through different plans in her head on how she was best going to complete her mission all while staring out the window. She wasn't actually paying attention to the outside since it was too dark to see, but she didn't want to draw suspicion by silently plotting.

At last, they arrived. Talbott swiftly left the compartment first without a sound. Penny and Delilah walked together down the train steps and into one of the carriages that pulled itself. She knew they were actually pulled by Thestrals, but unlike her father, she had yet to actually witness a fatality. In the distance, a large and extremely hairy man was calling out to the first years to follow him. Near him, Delilah could see a girl that looked almost identical to Penny, but with shorter hair. The girl followed him. Penny too saw her for a few moments, and looked away with tears in her eyes, but not yet dripping down her face. Delilah quickly offered her a handkerchief before the waterworks happened. Penny took it with great gratitude as if Delilah was just the sweetest thing. Delilah let her keep it, expecting more tears to come during the House sorting.

The night was dark, with a slight chill in the air from the mist that came from the vast greeenish lake near the hairy man. There were numerous little boats, probably for the first years. The Hogwarts castle was across the lake. Right before they moved, another person joined them in the carriage.

"Ah, Rowan. Glad to see you didn't get lost." Penny was grinning, trying to forget her sister.

"Er, lost?" replied the new companion. Her skin tone was identical to Talbott's, while her shoulder length hair was sleek and jet black. She wore large, half rounded glasses.

"Because your glasses always fog up in these conditions. There's a slight mist in case you.. missed it." Penny raised her eyebrows and smirked.

"Ah... I see. Well, maybe I don't see," she replied nervously.

Penny chuckled. "Rowan Khanna, Lilah Tytonidae. Lilah, Rowan," she introduced. "You're both Ravenclaws, so expect to be best friends. Lilah transferred from Ilvermorny. "

"Nice to meet you, Lilah Tytonidae. " Rowan smiled politely, reaching out her hand. "Ilvermorny is a fantastic school. You'll have to tell me all about it sometime. My family actually shipped lumber to a wand maker near Ilvermorny a couple of times. Our farm supplies the highest-quality wood for wands and broomsticks. I don't think I'll ever die until I've made a wand from every wood in this world..."

"Same to you. And thank you. I'd be more than happy to tell you all about it. Also, you can call me Lilah, although Delilah is my birth name." She shook her hand in return.

"Ooo I like that better. Delilah sounds so sophisticated."

Delilah chuckled. "Thank you again. So, are you also 5th year?"

"Oh, yes! Which means we have O. W. Ls this year. I'm going to spend every second in the library. " Most students would be saddened at this news, but Rowan's eyes glistened behind her glasses in excitement over the new excuse to study. This wasn't uncommon for a Ravenclaw. "I know you're new, but you do know what O. W. Ls are, right?"

"Ordinary Wizarding Levels," Delilah stated with pride. "All schools have them, although they sometimes have a different name. Ilvermorny for instance calls them C.R.A.F.T.S or Common Rituals And First Tests of Sorcery." Even though she knew what O. W. Ls were, they completely slipped her mind. How on earth was she going to study while capturing an animagus whose form was unknown?

"Fascinating, just fascinating, " Rowan beamed. Penny was rolling her eyes in boredom.

The wheels of their carriage came to a halt. Carefully, they stepped out in view of the towering castle. It was a little gaudy and over-the-top compared to the sensible architecture of Ilvermorny. However, the many high perches looked perfect for prey watching. Clumps of students were stopped halfway in the door to hand their luggage to a balding man who looked like he woke up from a one hundred year long nap. He didn't look pleasant in the slightest. His red eyed tabby cat didn't lighten the scene. When it was their turn to hand in their things, Delilah started, " Hello, I'm Delilah. I'm new. I'm sorry you're stuck doing this task. You're doing a great job. I hope you have a wonderful night. "

The man's eyes looked up in confusion, as if this were a trick. However, he ignored her, muttering to himself as he jerked the suitcase out of her hand. There was no wand in sight, as if he wasn't allowed to use one. Or was he a no-maj (Non magic human equivalent to the term 'muggle')? With disappointment, Delilah walked on and followed the crowd. When she was out of view, the faintest smile appeared on the man's face.

As they reached the great hall, Delilah's owl-like eyes glistened in awe. The ceiling was an enchanted night sky, as beautiful as the night in her mother's photograph. The pearlescent moon seemed real. She felt that she could just transform into an owl and fly away. Below that were white floating candles. Then, four outstretched elm trestle tables with benches that seated each of the four Houses. At the very back of the Great Hall was a table that was perpendicular to the other four. It was obvious that it was the staff table. It was also clear which table was which, because the returning students all gathered at their respective area wearing the same colored robes.

From left to right of the staff table, there were red and gold Gryffindor, yellow and black Hufflepuff, blue and bronze Ravenclaw, and green and silver Slytherin. Delilah and Rowan split from Penny with a wave to join the rest of the Ravenclaw table.

She led Rowan near Talbott but didn't sit directly next to him. She had to ease into his life slowly so she wouldn't become suspicious. She and Rowan chatted casually until one of the professors, whom she assumed was Professor McGonagall, stood and spoke from in front of the staff table.

"Attention, attention students." She was an elderly witch with a fierce expression. She wore almost all green. Delilah wondered if she led Slytherin House. "We welcome you back to another year at Hogwarts. As usual, we will begin by sorting the first years. First years, when I call your name, come up and sit, " she pointed at the chair in front of the staff table for all to see, "to be sorted into your House. Of course, the Sorting Hat has a new song for us before we begin."

The saggy pile of dark cloth took shape of a hat while alone on the chair. Threads separated into the shape of a mouth. It began to sing:

"The sun rill rise and friendships form

Don't stay locked up in your dorm

Together is the way you see

In war is not the way to be

Competition comes and goes

Who will win? No one knows

Dance in the light, the moon shall shine

Love and happiness divine

Questions rise between the lines

Truth will reveal the family lines

Traditions fall and then reborn

It's up to you to break what's sworn

Jealously the feathers fight

Though pain does not bring delight

Blood will mist in the sunlight

And in the end the candles light"

The Sorting Hat ended its song and collapsed on itself. Students looked at each other in concern. Delilah overheard a few whispering students talk about how different that song was compared to previous songs. There was no direct mention of the Houses from the hat. Nobody really understood what it was talking about. Rowan thought long and hard to herself before finally letting it go. Delilah assumed the hat was simply losing its enchanted mind due to old age.

Professor McGonagall called a couple names on her long roll of parchment until she reached, "Beatrice Haywood!" Beatrice looked even more like Penny under the light, with her light blonde hair and sapphire eyes despite the dark eyeshadow. Slowly, that same clump of fabric that once sorted Delilah sat on Beatrice's head. After a small pause, the hat yelled, "Hufflepuff!" She didn't look the least bit pleased. She joined the Hufflepuff table on the opposite end her older sister sat at. Penny clutched her chest in relief that she was at least in the correct House.

More names were called. Agatha Imani who was sorted into Slytherin, Levi O'Sah who became a Gryffindor, a fellow Ravenclaw named Erika Paige, etc. Once the rest of the first years were sorted and seated, Professor McGonagall sat down and Dumbledore rose. His beard reached the ground.

"Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts both to the newcomers and those returning. First, let me introduce your Heads of Houses. We have Professor McGonagall, as you have just met, who leads Gryffindor House." Delilah was surprised. "She is also your Transfiguration professor. Next, we have Professor Snape of Slytherin House." Professor Snape stood very briefly with barely a change in expression. His nose was crooked as if it were broken in the past, eyes were dark with despair, hair was oily and black, and he wore pure black robes. If he was an animagus, he'd surely be a Dementor. "You will find Professor Snape teaching your Potions class, " Dumbledore continued. "Here, we have Professor Flitwick of Ravenclaw House. He is your Charms professor." Professor Flitwick was half goblin, making him shorter than the first years. He had to stand on his chair in order to be viewed by the students. His brown, fancy mustache curled as he smiled. His brown hair parted in the middle. He looked pleasant, and Delilah was thankful that HE was her Head of House and not the other two. "Professor Flitwick is also the dueling champion, so if you need any tips, seek him out." Dumbledore gave a wink. Delilah's insides tickled with excitement. Her own Head of House could assist her on her mission and he would not even know it! "Finally, we have Professor Sprout of Hufflepuff. She will teach your Herbology class. If you need any ingredients for your potions, seek her out." Professor Sprout was a plump and joyful woman. She wore all tan and patchy clothing, including her witch hat. She had a dirty pair of gloves next to her empty plate. Her hair was curly and gray with age.

As Dumbledore rambled on, Delilah's thoughts became clouded. She only took in small portions of his lecture. "... Forbidden Forest...Off limits...New Defense Against the Dark Arts professor..."

Finally, his speech ended. After he sat down, he clapped once and pure magic happened. Right before their eyes, savory food and drink of all kinds appeared on the tables. Delilah reached for the baked sour cream and chive potatoes before anything else. She helped herself to some pumpkin juice as well.

When Feast ended and the students were satisfied, it was time to head for the common rooms. First years followed their prefects. Delilah just had to follow Rowan.

The halls were massive. She was so thankful to have made friends already or she would have indeed, gotten lost before her first class even started. After awkwardly traveling up many cement stairs between crowds of students, they reached a peculiar door with nothing but an eagle knocker. No knob. No keyhole. Nothing else.

"You have to answer a riddle to get in," said Rowan, who was reading Delilah's confused expression like a book. "Hey all, let's see if our new transfer student, Delilah Tytonidae, can answer it!" Rowan's eyes lit with excitement. Only a true Ravenclaw would be excited about such a thing.

Slowly, she reached for the bronze eagle. All eyes were silently on her. Delilah gave it a triple knock. The eagle's pointed beak mouth suddenly came to life.

"We fly when we're together, but fall when we let go. What are we?"

"Easy. Feathers," replied Delilah with a smirk.

The door promptly opened to reveal a marvelous rounded room draped in blue and bronze. The ceiling was dome shaped with a mesmerizing cosmic sky. Brown bookcases filled the space like a library. One of the walls caved in, containing another bookcase and a marble statue of a woman. The room was spacious enough to fly in, whether it be with wings or on a broom. The midnight blue carpet felt soft under her shoes.

"Welcome home," said Rowan while other students piled in.

"This is brilliant!" Delilah was starry eyed.

"Come on, we can explore the common room together tomorrow. We have to be up early for Charms." Rowan began pulling on Delilah's black sleeve as if pulling a toddler out of a toy store.

Delilah's trance was broken not by Rowan's tugging, but by Talbott gliding past her to get to the boy's dormitory. She could just barely catch his attractive scent. Why was it attractive? She didn't know. She was just captivated by it, although she could not describe it.

Once he was out of sight, her mind was made up to follow Rowan to the girl's dormitory downstairs with a sigh. Tomorrow would at least be interesting.