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I am a small child in a crib. White rails encircle me. Suddenly, two figures; a man and a woman, are looking down at me. Their faces are blurred, but I can see a ring on the woman's finger. It's a gold band engraved with a Gaelic design, and it's set with a glittering emerald. More images flash by before I can process them. Then I'm falling asleep in someone's arms, as a red feather tickles my cheek. More memories flood my dreams as I grow up. Most of them are filled with tears and harsh words.
I wake up gasping for breath, dried tears on my cheeks. I look at my watch and see that it is half-past six in the morning. I pull back the covers of the luxurious bed, then head to the bathroom to wash my face. I stand in front of the mirror, studying my reflection. My face is pale, and my nose is slightly crooked. A bright green eye stares back at me on the left, and a twinkling blue eye stares at me on the right. Ever since I was young, I've always had two different coloured eyes. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon shamed me for it, saying it wasn't normal. I would often be teased about it. Most days, Harry would hug me in the small closet and tell me the people who told me I was ugly were stupid. As I got older, their taunting didn't affect me as much, so they stopped. I move my eyes to my hair. Long ivory black locks fall to my waist (Aunt Petunia complained about money on haircuts). My hand moves to the base of my neck and halfway up into my hair, where a strand of red lays. Pretty much invisible unless I wear my hair up, it's been there since before I can remember. I don't know how it got there, but it has never washed out, and it always grows back red. The Dursleys wouldn't allow me to put my hair up, because the red was abnormal. I'm pretty sure Harry doesn't even know about it. My hand then travels down to my collarbone, where my nightshirt falls off my left shoulder because it is too big. There, a triangle with a circle and a line through it lies on my skin like a brand. Not in ink, but a burn sort of. My finger traces the triangle, then I pull my shirt up to cover it. I turn the sink on and cup the water in my hands, and I splash my face to get rid of the dried tears. I dig through my hastily packed trunk (I often leave things to the last minute) to find my robes. I pull them on, then leave the room and step into the hallway. I realise then that I don't know how to get to the Great Hall. I know where it is on the Ground Floor, but I don't know how to get there from here. Hesitantly, I make my way out of the guest rooms corridor. When I reach the first turn off, I stop, not knowing where to go. I stand, unsure, for a few seconds, before I see a small glow in the right passage. I look at the left passage, and it stays normal. I don't know where the glow is coming from, but I decide to go down the right. Every time I come across another turn or different staircase, the same glow appears in one section. I follow it the whole way until suddenly I'm standing in front of the doors to the Great Hall. Somehow, I found it. I try to come up with a reason I could see the glow, but as the smell of breakfast hits my nose, those thoughts are discarded from my mind. I enter through the doors, then hesitate as I see the four tables. Dumbledore said I could choose where to sit, but that doesn't make it any easier. Just then, I see Harry and Ron waving at me from the Gryffindor table. I smile and go over to them, sitting across from Harry. My mouth waters at the wide variety of foods, and I instantly reach for the pancakes.
"So, what happened last night Bel?" Harry asks.
I smile a little at his use of my nickname.
"Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall explained to me that I was placed into all the houses. He said I get to choose which dormitory I sleep in, where I eat, and which classes I attend. Then Dumbledore led me to a room, and I fell asleep almost instantly. He said we'll talk today to figure out my schedule."
Harry nods and offers me a small smile. Ron is a little hesitant to meet my eyes, but eventually, he does, and I offer him a smile. The corners of his mouth turn up slightly, then he returns to his breakfast. The conversation moves on to lessons, and what we're going to learn. I look around the Great Hall at all the other first years and see a lot of them staring funny at me. This makes me feel small, so I return my attention back to the Gryffindor table. I decide that for now, I will stick with them because I know them, and they are good friends. Just before breakfast finishes, Professor McGonagall comes around with timetables. She stops when she gets to me.
"Do you know who you want to take classes with, Miss Potter?" she asks me.
I nod and tell her I am sticking with the Gryffindors. She nods, and hands me a timetable, then continues on to Dean and Seamus, some other fellow first years. We have Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall first up today. After breakfast, we quickly head back to our dormitories to get our books and things, then make our way to the Transfiguration classroom. Again, I use the glowing to guide us there. We arrive two minutes before the bell, and Professor McGonagall starts the lesson. She demonstrates a few transfiguration techniques, then instructs us on how to turn a match into a needle. On my first try, I managed to turn the match silver, and on my second try, I am able to produce a point, which earns me ten points to Gravlepin. By the end of the lesson, I have completed many successful transfigurations, and Hermione is the only other one to get it, five minutes before the lesson ends. I feel very pleased with myself as we head to Defence Against the Dark Arts. As the lessons went on, we got assigned a fair amount of homework and were introduced to many aspects of Hogwarts. Transfiguration remained my best subject, but I also did well in Charms and DADA. Again, Hermione was the only other one to be as successful as me, but Harry came close in DADA.
In our first flying lesson, Harry and I are the first ones to get our brooms after calling 'UP'. Unfortunately, Neville isn't able to control his broom. On impulse, I get on mine and fly into the air. Madame Hooch calls me down, but I don't listen. Ignoring the pounding of my heart and my blood rushing, I focus on Neville. Just as he falls from his broom, I position myself underneath him, somehow getting my broom to do what I want, and catch his hand, so he doesn't fall to the ground. Slowly, I lower us until Neville's feet touch the ground, then let him go. Madame Hooch rushes over at once, and I expect her to start yelling at me, but she immediately goes to Neville to see if he is alright. Physically, he is unhurt, but his face is pale, and he is holding his stomach.
"Alright class, I'm taking Mr Longbottom here to visit the nurse. If anybody leaves the ground, you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch."
With that, Madame Hooch leads Neville out of the grounds. Just then, laughter erupts out. I look around to see Malfoy sniggering. He spots Neville's Remembrall and darts forward to snatch it up, then leaps on his broom, despite Harry's protests. I see the decision in Harry's eyes before he acts.
"Harry, no. You heard what Madame Hooch said," I try to tell him.
He ignores me and gets on his broom as well, just as Malfoy throws the ball high into the air, before streaking back to the ground. I watch as Harry darts off, blood pumping in my ears. I know for a fact he's never ridden a broom before, but he looks like he knows what to do. I twist the ring on my finger, nervously waiting. The Remembrall starts falling, and I see Harry chase after it. Somehow, he performs an impossible dive and catches the ball before safely falling off his broom, rolling along the ground. I'm about to run to him and make sure he's alright when someone calls out,
"POTTERS!"
My heart sinks as I look around and see Professor McGonagall running towards us. Harry makes his way over to stand beside me.
"You two," Professor McGonagall says, looking sternly at Harry and I, "Follow me, now."
I catch Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle's triumphant faces as we follow silently behind Professor McGonagall. I try not to think the worst, but I know it's inevitable. We're going to be expelled, just like Madame Hooch said. I look at Harry beside me and reach over and grab his hand. He looks at me, and I see the same conclusion in his eyes. I try to summon a smile, but by Harry's face, I can tell it falls flat. Professor McGonagall suddenly stops outside a classroom. I squeeze Harry's hand and try to muster some strength for what's about to come. Professor McGonagall opens the door and pokes her head inside.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I see Wood for a moment please?"
Harry looks at me, confusion evident on his face. Wood? Just then, a burly fifth-year boy exits the classroom, looking slightly confused.
"Follow me you three," Professor McGonagall says, once again marching up a corridor.
Wood looks at Harry and I curiously as she leads us into an empty classroom, save Peeves. She yells at him to get out, and he swoops out cursing. Professor McGonagall slams the door behind him then walks to the centre of the room. I look once more at Harry, then let go of his hand, preparing myself for what happens next. Professor McGonagall turns to face us, then says.
"Potters, this is Oliver Wood. Wood – I've found you a Seeker and a Chaser."
Oliver's expression turns to excitement.
"Professor are you serious?" he asks.
With just a hint of a smile, Professor McGonagall replies.
"Yes. They're naturals. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on broomsticks?"
She asks Harry and I the last bit. We both nod. I don't know what's going on, and neither does Harry I'm pretty sure, but something tells me this is good. Professor McGonagall speaks again.
"Mr Potter caught the ball in his hand after a fifty-foot dive, not even scratching himself. Even Charlie Weasley couldn't have done that. And Miss Potter caught another student in the air, returning him safely to the ground, with absolute natural talent and impulse."
Oliver was now looking as if his birthday and Christmas had come early, on the same day. He looks at us excitedly.
"Ever seen a game of Quidditch before?"
"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team," Professor McGonagall explains.
Suddenly, it clicks in my mind. I remember Ron going off about Quidditch on the train, and how he mentioned something about the players. If I remember correctly, which I always do, he said a Seeker had to catch a really small flying ball, and Chasers had to score points. I also remember he mentioned his brother Charlie was captain of the Quidditch team at one point. Then it hits me what Professor McGonagall means. She wants Harry and I to play on the Gryffindor quidditch team. Harry as Seeker and me as a Chaser. Just then I see a figure right in front of me, and I am brought back to the present.
"We'll have to get them good brooms, Cleansweep Sevens or even Nimbus Two-Thousands," Wood is saying.
"I shall talk to Professor Dumbledore and get it organised. Oh, the look on Snape's face, I can't wait," Professor McGonagall replies. Then she peers over her glasses down at us. "I want to hear you're training hard, the both of you, otherwise I will have to punish you." Then, she smiles and says, "Your father would have been proud. He was an excellent Chaser himself."
Harry and I look at each other, unbelieving.
"You're joking?" I ask her. She smiles and heads us back to class.
All the way back Harry and I excitedly talk about what just happened. When we reach dinnertime, we relay everything to Ron.
"Seeker? And Chaser? But first years are never allowed. You two must be the youngest players in about a –"
"A century," Harry and I cut him off. "Wood told us," I continue as Harry shovels pie in his mouth.
Ron just stares, gaping at us.
"We start training next week," Harry says as I load my plate. "Just don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it secret."
Ron nods, just as Fred and George Weasley, his twin brothers, enter the Hall, spotting us and making their way over.
"Well done," George says. "We're on the team as well – Beaters. Wood told us."
Just then Lee Jordan comes over, and the twins hurry off with him, not before Fred gives us a smile and a thumbs up. As soon as they've left, Malfoy and his goons come up. Before they can say anything, I give them a piece of my mind.
"Shove off Malfoy, unless you've been bewitched and suddenly have something nice to say," I tell him, giving him a glare.
Malfoy glares back at me, but after a bit, he huffs, then marches off. I smile smugly at his retreating form.
"I'm telling you," Harry comments. "That stare of yours is truly terrifying."
I erupt into a fit of laughter, Ron and Harry soon joining in. Once dinner's over, we head up to the Gryffindor common room, and sit down in the comfortable chairs around the fire, talking for a few hours. I decide to spend the night here, so when we get too tired, we head off to our dormitories, and I go to bed dreaming about flying on a broomstick.
Hey guys, thank you all so much for reading. Within the next few chapters, the plot is going to come in to play, so the chapters will be longer and more interesting. Thank you, and if you guys having any ideas or suggestions, please review. I'm open to positive feedback.