"Hermione, I want to take off my shoes and feel the sand and ocean between my toes," Harry said as they neared the crashing waves and inhaling a deep breath of the briny sea air. "Do you think we have time?"
"I guess. Other people are doing it, too, and Healer Jordan is talking with Mei now."
"I wonder what her deal is," Harry said under his breath.
"Yeah. She looks really angry. I almost feel like she did that to us on purpose."
"Why would she do that?"
"Who knows? You'd think she'd be happy to be near the ocean… " Hermione said.
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
But Hermione didn't answer… she had stopped and was bending over. Harry let go of her arm.
"Let's take our shoes off here before we step in the wet sand."
Harry used his staff for balance as he stripped off his shoes and socks. He set his book bag on the sand next to them.
The sand was hot, almost too hot and he stepped from foot to foot.
"Oh, wow! That burns!"
"Oh, yes, it does. Let's move this way, it'll be cooler over here where it is wet," Hermione tapped the back of his hand and he grasped her arm and they stumbled in the sand until they reached the firmer, wet sand.
"That's much better," Harry sighed as the water-cooled sand soothed his feet. He could hear the children shrieking with delight. It sounded like they were chasing the waves and the seagulls in turns.
"Wouldn't it be cool if Hogwarts had a room like this that opened up to the ocean? Do you think we're traveling to the actual ocean or we're in a room that simulates the ocean?"
"I don't know. It looks real," Hermione said.
"Either way, it is really incredible," Dr. Granger said behind them, "this is an amazing world you get to experience."
"I want to put my feet in the ocean." Harry bent down and rolled up his jeans.
"I bet it is cold," Hermione said as they walked toward the water. Harry stepped on something sharp and winced.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see that shell, Harry. Did it cut you?"
Harry felt the bottom of his foot. "I don't think so."
A frothy wave washed over his feet.
"It's warm, Hermione," Harry said, laughing.
He wanted to run into the water just like the little kids were doing and he pulled on Hermione's arm and then let go and just started running and stumbling into the waves.
"Wait, Harry! We'll get wet!" She ran after him. Another wave broke over his feet and doused his trouser legs and Harry shouted in surprise and delight.
One of the kids ran close by them, sand flicking up from their feet as they passed and splattering their legs.
Hermione laced her fingers through Harry's hand and he pulled her forward, wanting to go deeper into the water. He didn't care that his trousers were getting soaked.
Another wave came and splashed up into their faces and they retreated a bit, sputtering at the water, laughing.
Further down the beach, Harry heard Healer Jordan trying to get their attention.
"I guess we have to head out. I hope we can come back here. This is amazing," Harry declared.
"Yeah, it is incredible," Hermione said, hugging him unexpectedly; her hair blowing across his face.
They made their way back to their shoes and tried to brush off as much sand as they could before sticking their feet back into their socks and shoes. The saltwater on Harry's legs tighten on his skin as it dried, but he didn't care. It was as if the waves had washed away some of the misery he had experienced in the last month.
He picked up his book bag and they staggered back up to the boardwalk, stepping up after some people had passed them. It seemed like the visit to the beach had done most of them a world of good as well.
Harry wondered if Mei Lee also got to enjoy the beach, but from the way she was complaining loudly, it didn't sound like it. Now he could pick out her brother's voice, too. He sounded patient, but tired as he tried to cajole her into a happier mood.
The threshold was apparently charmed with a spell that removed the sand from their clothing and shoes as they walked through as well as dried their clothes. Harry was amazed that it also removed the sand that was stuck to his feet inside his socks.
It was strange to be back in the hallway with the aroma of Shepherd's pie enveloping them again and to leave behind the hot sun and humidity of the O&M room. He wondered what the swimming lessons would be like in there.
Maybe I'll learn how to swim!
"We're going to head to the dormitories now. A number of you are starting your residency program today, others will be joining us during the day. Our day students are welcome to tour the dorms or continue exploring the classrooms. I'll be giving our residents their room assignments and then we'll meet in the dining hall at 11:00 for questions. I understand some family members need to leave, so I'll give you a few minutes before we head to the dorm to say your goodbyes. We'll meet here by the door to the dormitories in five minutes," Healer Jordan announced.
Harry heard Dr. Granger murmuring to Hermione on her other side. "Harry," Hermione whispered. "Dad and I need to head out so that he can get back to work."
Harry felt like he sank a few inches into sand. He had momentarily forgotten that they were leaving. He was going to have to follow the tour group on his own, meet his roommates, and get the layout of a new living environment by himself.
"Oh, yeah, right," he said trying to put on a brave face, fairly certain that he'd failed.
"Oh, Harry! I hate having to go. I want to stay."
"Yeah, I know." He took in a deep breath. "Hermione. It was the best thing in the world when I heard your voice at the train station. I'd never had made it here if you and your dad hadn't come when you did."
As he said it a tightness lace up his chest. He turned to where he thought Dr. Granger was standing.
"Dr. Granger?"
"Yes, Harry?"
Harry adjusted his stance so he was facing him more directly.
"Sir, I really don't know how to thank you for what you did for me today. Thank you so much for bringing me here, for the train and underground tickets, for being here, for bringing Hermione." Harry wanted to say more; he was amazed that managed to choke out what he did, but his voice felt friable.
"Harry… " Dr. Granger seemed to be at a loss for what to say. "Harry," he tried again, putting a weighty hand on Harry's shoulder, "I'm very glad we were able to come today. I'm just sorry that… that you were facing this alone. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ring or… send an owl."
"Thank you, sir," Harry said.
Hermione pulled Harry into a tight hug. He wasn't too surprised by it. Her cheek was wet against his and he felt tears pricking in his eyes. He blinked them back, afraid he wouldn't be able to stop if he started crying. He really didn't want to cry in front of all these people.
"Bye, Harry. I'll write you lots—either by muggle post or owl. Let me know when Hedwig makes it back, okay?"
"Okay, I will. Thanks again, Hermione," Harry squeezed her and let her go.
"Bye, Harry," Dr. Granger said and their steps retreated down the corridor.
Harry could hear other families around him having similar conversations. He stood for a moment listening to get his bearings. He knew he wasn't too far from where Healer Jordan had asked them to gather for the tour to the dormitories. He could hear Mei Lee whining to her family; he didn't want to get too close to them.
He swung his staff in front of him and started walking toward the sounds of the small group. His staff hit something soft.
Someone's foot.
"Sorry about that!" Harry said, stepping to the side.
"No worries."
Hey, why isn't my staff saying anything?
Harry realized that it hadn't been giving him information since they left the beach. He tapped it twice with two fingers and moved it over the area in front of him, and was relieved to hear the familiar voice describing the area.
It must have turned off when I dropped it.
The staff told him when he'd reached the edge of the small group of people standing by the door to the dormitories and he stood slightly apart from them, waiting. He felt as if he had just crawled out of a warm nest covers and now was shivering in a cold room.
But not as alone as I feel at the Dursleys.
"Hi," someone said nearby and Harry looked up, wondering if they were talking to him.
"Hi, I'm Tony. Tony Montague. I've seen you at Hogwarts. You're a Gryffindor, right?"
"Hi, Tony."
He didn't remember anyone named Tony. His voice was deep, like he'd gotten past the squeaky adolescent stage.
"I'm Harry Potter," he said as hestuck out his hand for a handshake. "And yes, I'm in Gryffindor." Tony never grabbed his hand to shake it, so Harry finally put it down feeling his embarrassment creeping up his neck.
"I heard you got hurt in the Chamber of Secrets by some monster… that's wicked, mate!"
Tony sounded a little excited and Harry found that off-putting. He was still trying to place him.
"Yeah, well," Harry said shrugging, not really wanting to get into it. "What house are you in?"
"I'm a seventh-year Slytherin. Well, I'll be in seventh year when term starts again. So what happened down there? Are you really blind?"
"Um, yes," answered Harry.
"Was it really a 50-foot-long serpent?"
"Um, I really don't want to talk about it," Harry said.
"Oi! I guess the 'Heir of Slytherin' is too high and mighty to condescend to tell us about what really happened," Tony barked, another voice joined in the laughter as they stomped off.
Harry clenched his jaw to restrain the retort riding on his tongue.
Great. With my luck, he'll be my roommate.
Harry heard Healer Jordan's quick footsteps approaching the group and was glad to move on. The Shepherd's pie aroma was almost torture now, he was so hungry.
Healer Jordan asked the group to follow her through the large doors into the dormitory area. The group had stopped and Harry shifted from foot to foot impatiently while she explained that even though it was a small Center that served no more than twenty people at a time, they believed that having roommates helped students feel more included and less isolated. They had sixteen residents at the time that would be grouped by age. She reminded the group to respect each other's privacy. Harry sighed heavily. There were individual changing rooms/showers/toilets that were adapted to the needs of the residents, so even though residents were sharing a living space they'd each enjoy privacy when they needed it.
Harry wondered how many people he'd be sharing a room with.
Did this mean that Mei would be a roommate? What about Tony? Was he a resident or a family member of someone who was residing here?
He wished Hermione was still there so he could ask her.
"I'm going to read the list of residents for each room as we move through the dormitories. When your name is called, you can enter the room, meet your roommates, choose your area (each area has a bed, wardrobe, and desk), and get settled. Remember that we're meeting the dining hall at 11 am," Healer Jordan explained.
The first room was for the youngest residents, Healer Jordan explained and Harry heard his name along with Gemma Boot, Aminah Khan, Mei Lee, and Tony Montague being called.
Harry heard Mei Lee kvetching loudly to her mom about having to share a room with boys as she passed through the doorway. He decided to hang back a moment. Healer Jordan moved on with the rest of the group. Harry started to move toward the door when he felt a gentle hand pressing on his arm.
"Yes?" Harry asked, wondering what they wanted. They didn't answer.
"Do you need something?" Harry wondered.
The person seemed to be shorter than him and small. He wondered if it was one of the kids from the family of kids that had been squealing on the beach. He waited again, his head cocked to the side trying to hear any clues they might offer. All he could hear was gentle breathing.
They tugged on his arm, urging him forward.
"Do you want to go into the room?" Harry asked, in a voice he usually reserved for small children.
The hand on his arm tapped it and pulled again. Harry started stepping forward.
"Oh, Gemma, there you are. What are you doing out here? I thought you'd want to choose your bed right away, you know, get a good spot. Oh, well, are you helping this bli- boy?" A motherly sounding woman had approached them. With her was a sound of fluttering paper as if she were flipping through a book.
"Hello, dear," she said and Harry figured she was addressing him.
"Hello."
"Gemma is… well, she can't hear or speak. A terrible bout of spattergroit this spring—incurable," she explained in a low voice. "Are you coming into the room to choose your area? Better come on in before you have no choice. I'm Mrs. Boot, by the way, Gemma's mother."
She pressed her hand to his back and pushed him toward the door.
Gemma was still holding on to Harry, guiding him gently toward the door.
"Thank you," Harry said, feeling as though he could have managed this better on his own.
In the room, Mei was continuing her tirade of complaints.
If she's trying to convince her family to take her home, she's going about it completely wrong. Who'd want to put up with that!
Mrs. Boot hurried Gemma off to another part of the room and Harry stood in the entrance, unsure as to how to proceed. At last, it occurred to him to ask his staff to take him to the unclaimed bed and it did.
It was right next to Mei Lee's area, of course.