She was gone as quickly as she had come. The three of us exchanged a wide-eyed look of horror. Instantly, we were each digging through our own bags, trying to find just one robe. We were cloaked in less than a minute.
The train slowed, and then groaned to a halt. A flurry of students flooded the aisle and poured outside. Lily jumped up and grabbed her suitcase. I followed her example, earning a sleepy hoot from my awakening owl. "I can't let you out yet." I told him. "I don't know if you'll come back to me!"
He gave me a sardonic look.
"Come on!" Lily encouraged. "Let's go!" She waited while Severus picked up a battered satchel and hurried to her side. I was left to follow them from behind.
The moment we left the compartment, we were swept along with the tide of students, exiting en masse through the open doors of the train. Lily and Severus didn't stop until they were at the edge of the crowd. "Leave your luggage here!" A haggard man hawked. "Right here on the pile! Leave your suitcases and pets behind!"
"I guess that answers the question I was about to ask," Lily joked, depositing her belongings at the pile. Severus copied her. I hesitated, worried about the owl.
"Don't worry," a male voice said from beside me. I turned and faced a tall teenage boy, with a friendly face. "They'll bring your owl to the owlery. They'll take good care of him."
"Thanks." I said, unsure of how to react. So far, almost everyone today had been seemingly out to get me. Only Lily had been truly kind.
"I'm a fourth year." He went on. "Sean Locke. I'm in Hufflepuff. You must be a first year."
Was he going to be as mean as those two boys in the first compartment? Fidgeting nervously, I replied, "I am."
He pointed towards a group of students. "That's where you need to be. The boats will depart soon. You don't want to miss that. You'll never have another chance. After this year, it'll be carriages only."
His tone reflected nothing but kindness. Even so, I still pictured those two boys with dark hair, dark eyes, and even darker attitudes. "Thanks." I mumbled, and hurried away quickly. Lily and Severus were already huddled at the edge of other first year students. "What took you so long?" Lily whispered.
"Nothing." I murmured. "I had to-"
"Shh!" Severus hissed. "Listen!"
I opened my mouth to fire off a retort, my patience with Severus reaching an end, but sure enough, a man was speaking. He loomed like a tower above the crowd of students, the whiskers on his long beard glinting in the moonlight.
"Over here! First years!" The huge man called out. "Follow me, now! This way!"
"We just go after him?" Lily muttered. Severus nodded. A surge of annoyance bubbled like lava in my stomach. He silenced me, but not Lily?
The giant turned and walked down a forest path. Even from my distance, I could feel the vibrations from his heavy footfalls. The crowd of first years fell into step behind him. Lamps on tree trunks illuminated the pathway, mosquitoes and moths hovering around them like little planets orbiting a sun. Lily was the first to spot the lake. She let out a small gasp of awe and pointed. "Look over there!" She whispered. "There it is!"
I couldn't see from my place behind the rest of the students. But sure enough, as the group of black-robed spread out on the shore, I was able to see clearly.
The lake was a mirror beneath the night sky. It was impossible to tell which was sky and which was water, except for the small fleet of tiny boats moored at the shore. At the prow of each was a single candle-lit lantern.
"No more than four to a boat!" The giant instructed. "Pick your vessel and let's cross the lake. We don't want to be late for your own Sorting!"
Perched on the slope of a rocky mountain was a huge castle, each window illuminated with a tiny golden square. Spires rose into the air, towers and crenellated castle walls cutting into the skyline. Ridges and peaks of mountains rose around the castle, a natural fortress of protection.
"Come on!" Lily urged, plowing ahead of the other students, gallantly leaping into the first boat she could find. Severus tore after her, clearly determined not to be separated. It was futile, I knew. There was no way a boy dead-set on being in Slytherin could ever be in the same House as a sweet, kind girl like Lily, who was destined for any House but.
"Amber, come on!" Lily called. "There's room for one more!"
Surprised to be invited, I hurried to the edge of the boat. Severus's smile was replaced by a scowl. I ignored him and clambered over the edge of the boat and sat down on the creaking wooden seat. Lily clung to the light pole, her eyes reflecting the starlight and the lights from the castle.
"Isn't it breathtaking?" She whispered.
I watched Severus stare at her, like a child watching a Christmas tree. "Yeah," he agreed quietly. "You are."
Understanding struck like lightning. No wonder Severus had been so snarky to me! He was jealous of Lily's attention! He wanted it all for himself, undivided and unsquandered. I couldn't blame him for wanting attention from her. After all, hadn't I longed for the same thing from my mother for most of my life?
The students filled the boats quickly. No one else entered ours, mostly because of the looks Severus shot them when they came too close. The large man waved a flowery pink umbrella, and the boats pushed themselves off of the beach, grinding against pebbles and tiny rocks as they floated out into the open black water. Stars glimmered on the glassy surface, shimmering when the boats rippled the water. The castle loomed closer, a beacon of light in the darkness of the lake and mountains. The only sounds were the gentle murmurs of the water against the sides of the boats. Though no one had cast a spell, it was one of the magical moments I had ever experienced.
"It's beautiful," I said softly, mostly to myself. Lily was too transfixed to hear. Severus, if he had heard at all, gave no indication. Half of the time, his eyes were only for Lily, rather than the castle.
Within minutes we had crossed the inky waters and ran aground on the pebbled shores across the lake. The giant heaved himself out and told us to do the same. He led us up a stone walkway and onto a tall stone bridge. A great oak door swung open to admit us into the enormous stone castle. From a distance, the castle had been astonishing. But now, up close, it was simply magnificent. My neck craned backward as I walked underneath the stone archway, trying to get a final glimpse of the tallest tower, reaching high into the night air, maybe hundreds of feet high. My hands tingled at the thought of ascending to such heights. Would the school even allow passage to places like that? Wouldn't there be some kind of waiver parents needed to sign in order for their children to risk falling to their deaths?
"Amber!" Lily whispered. "Come on, keep up!"
I hadn't realized I had been left behind by the group of first years. Heat rising to my face, I hurried after them, catching up to Lily. She giggled as we lagged behind the others. "You really need to keep your head out of the clouds, Amber. What will you do when we take our first classes?"
Classes. They would be back-breaking, mind-unraveling, complicated courses. I just knew it. Shivering, I thought of failing something, anything. I pictured shriveled and wizened men and women, with giant warts on their noses, black pointy hats wedged on their balding heads, cackling as I couldn't come up the right answer. I pictured myself hanging by my thumbs until I solved whatever problems they challenged me with.
Why did I come here? I gulped hard. I should have gone to B.B. Seed's. I'm sure their schoolwork is easy. At least, it's manageable! Hogwarts was a private institution, world-known, renowned in Great Britain and its surrounding countries. How was I ever going to fit in here, let alone make good grades, keep them, and surpass my fellow students?
My heart pounded hard as I began to panic. My legs felt like jelly, weakening with each step. Why hadn't I stayed home? Why had I traveled here, hundreds of miles from home, from everything I knew? The first fellow students I'd had the unpleasant experience of meeting had treated me like a joke. Wasn't I a joke for having the nerve to come here? To attend this prestigious school and expect not to be ridiculed?
Hot tears sprang to my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but two tears traitorously slipped down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away with the back of my sleeves. The last thing I wanted was for anyone else to see me cry, but my heart was pounding so hard and my head was spinning so fast I was sure I would either cry, vomit, or faint. Or maybe all three, in that exact order.
"Hey," Lily said quietly, a worried look on her heart-shaped face. "Are you okay?"
Tight-lipped, I gave a curt nod. If I said a word, I would lose it. Tears, words, and my breakfast.
To my complete shock, Lily's eyes were filled with tears too. Maybe they had just come. Or maybe she had been upset too before, but I hadn't noticed it.
"I miss my family." She confessed quietly, so that none of the others, who were several feet ahead of us, could hear. "And I'm scared of change, too."
I stared at her, floored. Had she read my mind? There was no other way possible for her to know how I felt at this moment.
Lily sniffled, wiping her own tears. "I have a sister. I understand more than you think."
Something hard and cold began to soften and uncurl inside of me. I slowly let down my hackles, put down my sword and shield. Lily Evans was not like my mother, who was constantly parrying and thrusting blows with her sword. Lily Evans was kind, sweet, and unnervingly understanding. She was a lot like Virginia, except braver. Incomparably braver.
Some of the weight rose like a heavy cloud off of my shoulders. I gave Lily a tiny smile. My stomach still clenched nervously. But the knot in my throat was gone. "Thank you." I said simply.
Lily returned the smile. "You're welcome."
"Lily!" Severus hissed. "Come on! We're almost at the Great Hall!"
We had already ascended several cases of stone stairs. I hadn't noticed before. But now we stood outside another set of doors, not as tall, but still just as imposing. My stomach cramped, and I swayed on my feet.
Be brave. I willed. Be brave like Romulus was. Don't be afraid. Just do it.
Lily and I flanked Severus, who shot me an irritated look and moved to Lily's other side so that she was sandwiched between us. Lily didn't seem to mind Severus's foul mood.
Waiting in front of the door was a silver tabby, with silver circles around her eyes. "I think someone lost their cat," I muttered to Lily. She nodded in sympathy for the unfortunate owner.
"What's that ugly thing doing there?" A familiar male voice said loudly. I narrowed my eyes. It was one of those boys from earlier!
"I hate cats!" The other shouted, the dark-eyed one, and made a step towards the cat.
Without thinking, I began to move forward, ready to stop him, but to my complete shock, the cat transformed into a tall witch within a fraction of a second. Her black hair was tied back in a severe knot. Her facial features were sharp and defined, not softened by makeup. Elegant spectacles sat on the bridge of her narrow nose. Her green eyes blazed as she glared down at the faltering boy, who took a careful step back in line.
"Causing trouble before you're even Sorted." She said, her voice like a judge, passing down an edict. "You must be a Black."
The boy looked nervous, but slightly amused. "So what if I am?" He shot back boldly.
Several students gasped.
The witch's stern look focused on him, unfazed. "Tomfoolery and cruelty will not be tolerated here at Hogwarts, Mr. Black. Neither will insubordination. I highly suggest you change your behavior and mind your manners, or I assure you, you will be punished and possibly expelled."
There was a murmur of students discussing this severe punishment. The boy sniggered mockingly.
"Five points will be taken from whatever House you are Sorted into, Mr. Black." The witch continued, her tone icy. Her eyes flashed. "This is a warning. Next time, I won't be so lenient." She looked away from the troublesome boy, her eyes roving over each student. "Behind these doors is the Great Hall. Here, you will be Sorted into your Houses by the Sorting Hat. We will read off your names from the roster in alphabetical order. Afterwards, we will continue onto the feast. You will be escorted to your rooms for the night and be given your schedules in the morning." She turned and approached the doors. "Form a single file line, students. No talking. Be polite. And above all, do not be disrespect to our Headmaster."
With that, she turned on her heel. The doors gave way and swung open, without a single touch.
Four long tables lined the cathedral-like room. Students, dressed in black robes, crowded on the benches lining the sides of the tables. The moment the heavy doors creaked open, every pair of eyes in the hall turned and focused on the twenty-odd new students. Color rose to my face under the scrutiny of so many. I forced myself not to bite my lip and to keep my head notched high. Don't show fear. I bet they can smell fear.
The witch who had scolded the Black boy swept to the front of the room. Our footsteps and the muffled whispers of nearly three hundred students were the only sound. The witch took her place by a single, vacant stool. Behind her was another long table, perpendicular to all the others. Seated there were several adults, who I assumed to be the staff members. Sitting directly behind the empty stool at a throne-like seat was an old man with a long white beard and half-moon spectacles on his crooked nose. Our eyes connected. His were astonishingly blue, electric and intense. He offered a small smile.
I looked away quickly, heart pounding. It was Albus Dumbledore himself. The greatest wizard in hundreds of years, possibly second only to Merlin himself. Did he know who I was? Did he care?
He hadn't even been the one to sign my acceptance letter. It had been Minerva McGonagall. I searched the long table of staff again, wondering which witch could be her.
The witch beside the empty stool unrolled parchment and held a weathered-looking hat in her other hand. It seemed like the entire hall of people was holding their breath in anticipation.
"Azadian, Angelina!" She called in a loud, clear voice. It echoed off the buttresses and arches of the vaulted ceiling.
A thin girl with huge gray eyes approached the stool. Even from this distance, I could see her shaking like a tuning fork. Quaking, she lowered herself in the chair, seeming to shrink in the folds of her robes.
"Poor thing." Lily whispered. I could only nod. I could strongly identify with how Angelina felt. My own legs threatened to give out, but for me, there would be no chair. Not yet, at least.
The witch placed the tattered brown hat on Angelina's head. The hat wiggled, the folds blinking back eye-like shadows. Angelina looked terrified.
After a moment, the hat roared, "Ravenclaw!"
The table to the right erupted in applause. Looking supremely relieved, Angelina staggered to the table and took a seat between two friendly looking girls.
At least she had gotten it over with.
"Black, Sirius!" The witch called, her voice cracking like a whip.
The rude boy enthusiastically plopped down in the stool. The hat rested on his dark hair for only a moment when it declared, "Gryffindor!"
The table across from the Ravenclaws burst into cheers and claps. I noticed the entire table closest to the wall giving Sirius a dirty look as the boy sauntered to the Gryffindor table.
"I wonder if they thought he'd be in their House," I muttered to Lily. She nodded, half-listening, focusing on the procession of students lining up for their turn to be sorted.
Three more students were sorted. Two were placed in Hufflepuff. A third was sorted into Slytherin. The next student called was Lily.
"That's me!" She whispered excitedly. Without any hesitation, she approached the stool with confidence, though her legs shook. Adrenaline, I thought, feeling only nausea and dread.
The witch dropped the hat onto Lily's dark red head, and barely a moment later, it cried, "Gryffindor!"
The table of Gryffindors cheered. Lily handed the hat back and hurried by. She gave Severus and I a sad little smile before she was gone. I watched her reach the table, saw Sirius move over to give her room. Lily gave him a disgusted look and promptly sat thirty feet from him. She looked back at me and Severus hopefully.
I felt a growing sense of dread as two more students were called and sorted, Slytherin and Hufflepuff respectively.
"Harkstone, Amber!" The professor called, and my heart stopped. When my pulse restarted, it hammered in my ears like a drumbeat. My legs turned to jelly. I couldn't move.
"Harkstone, Amber?" She repeated, frowning.
Severus nudged me hard, almost enough to be considered a shove. "Get up there, Harkstone!" He hissed. "It's your turn!"
Stumbling forward, my foot caught on the hem of my robe and I fell forward. I hit the stone floor hard, smacking my cheek against the cold rock. Several people gasped. A few teachers were on their feet.
Someone reached down a hand to help me. Face burning, I took it and allowed them to help me up. Ducking my head, I hurried to the stool. "Watch your step, Rocky!" A familiar voice sneered. Glancing back in shock, I came face to face with the green-eyed boy from the compartment. "Four eyes." I whispered as I went past.
I sat firmly on the stool, knowing my face was the color of a tomato, my right cheek aching. I knew it was going to bruise.
The professor holding the hat gave me a cursory look, and, deciding I was healthy enough to proceed, dropped the abused-looking hat on my head.
The hat was so big that it covered my eyes. I was staring at blackness. A raspy, old male voice in my head mused, Clever, very clever. You are a bright witch, Amber. Brighter than many, especially for those your own age.
I caught my breath, not sure if I wanted this kind of intimacy. Could the hat read my thoughts? How deep could his penetrating mind go?
There's courage too. Yes, and also, the burning desire to prove yourself. You have been ignored and neglected, and so you have taken solace in books. You have much knowledge in your possession, more than most seventh years.
There was a brief pause. You aren't afraid of a fight, but don't go looking for one. You would do as well in Gryffindor as you would in Ravenclaw. But where to put you?
I was at a loss. The heat of embarrassment rose to my cheeks at the mental perusal. "What about Hufflepuff?" I thought weakly.
Hufflepuff, eh? Yes, your family may have all been in Hufflepuff, but not you. No, you do not possess the same traits they do. You are wise, daring. You possess a spirit of sky or fire, not earth. Perhaps both sky and fire are yours…
The hat was silent again, apparently thinking. I could feel more heat pouring into my face. None of the others had taken this long.
Gryffindor would fuel your fire and teach you to harness its power. Yes, you could be a lioness among the house cats. Your confidence and bravery would be grown with Gryffindor. They would make you a warrior, a fearless enemy, someone to be reckoned with.
But Ravenclaw would nurture your brilliant mind. They would add to your collection of wisdom and enhance your intellect. They would foster your creativity and set your trapped spirit free. They would sharpen your mind, not your sword.
But where to put you…?
The silence stretched on. I could hear several people coughing, or muttering to themselves. When the whispers rose to a crescendo, the professor who had held the hat snapped, "Silence! You must not interrupt the Sorting!"
It was as still as a graveyard. I felt nervous sweat drip between my shoulder blades. My old fear of not being recognized as a witch returned full force. I had gotten an acceptance letter, a wand, and even entered the sacred grounds of Hogwarts. But was this the final barrier? The true test to decide my legitimacy as a witch?
The hat didn't speak.
The seconds ticked by. One minute. Two minutes. Three. Four.
Five.
Six.
Just before the seventh minute completed, the hat spoke again. I have decided.
My heart broke into a full sprint.
Better be… the hat rasped.
"Ravenclaw!"
Shocked silence met the hat's verbal announcement. It had been silent for nearly ten minutes. The table next to the Gryffindors clapped and cheered, and I rose from the stool. Instead of feeling relief, I felt even more uneasy. What had that long decision meant? That I was a counterfeit? That I didn't measure up to any House? Could a Sorting Hat lie to spare feelings?
I walked away from the stool and the hat and sat down heavily in an open space between two other Ravenclaws. I wanted to bury my face in my hands and cry again. I bit my lip and forced myself to hold on. At least until after you leave the Hall.
The mean boy with the glasses, James Potter, as it turned out, was sorted in Gryffindor with his friend Sirius, and with Lily. Severus was placed in Slytherin. The roll call continued smoothly until each student had been placed. The remaining twenty students after me had been sorted in the same span of time it had taken the hat just to sort me, a mere ten minutes. Each sorting had taken thirty seconds or less. I felt even more unsure. Was the hat unsure of my status as a witch? Had it given its decision to save time and move on to the other students?
The witch with the Sorting Hat waved her wand and the old stool disappeared. She carried the hat away and sat down at the long table seated with staff members. The excited whispers and chatters of students dwindled to a hush when the wizened, long-bearded professor seated at the center of the table slowly rose.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, for overseeing the Sorting of our new students." He smiled broadly, nodding to each of the four tables. "Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. With our new incoming students, a new year has arrived as well. In a moment, we will begin our feast, which I'm sure you're all looking forward to as much as I am."
Several mumbles of agreement rippled around the Great Hall. My stomach was a sour ocean and lurched at the thought of any kind of food splashing into it.
Dumbledore spread his hands. "A reminder for our students before we begin our new year together: All third years wishing to travel to Hogsmeade will need written permission from their parents or guardians. First years are not allowed on broomsticks. There is absolutely no admittance into the Forbidden Forest. Hence, why it is forbidden." He chuckled.
"Finally, I ask that all of you maintain and uphold Hogwarts' morals and values. Respect one another as witches and wizards. Use your magic for good. Ask questions. Learn. And above all, remember that love is the greatest magic of all."
He sat down, waving his hands. "Let the feast begin!"
Instantly, mountains and platters of food that had not been there before appeared on every inch of the long wooden table. Spaghetti, burgers, pasta salads, fruit salad, finger sandwiches of every kind imaginable, pot roast, fresh vegetables, endless slices and sticks of buttered bread, steamed seafood, and arrays of dessert. Like piranhas at a bloody kill, each student reached for serving spoons or used their hands to grab finger foods and heaped portions on their enormous plates. Pitchers of juices, water, sparkling water, soft drinks, and iced tea were poured into glasses. The hall was deafening with the sounds of dining students and faculty.
I took one look at the food and felt my stomach rise into my throat. I was sure Mum had made some kind of soup for Virginia, a basic chicken and rice broth that would be easy on her weak stomach. I closed my eyes, longing for the peacefulness of Bellinghall and the serenity of the wilderness around our farm. I wanted to hear crickets chirping and smell the crisp night air and taste butternut squash soup and green tea. Here, my head ached from the din of clattering plates and utensils and from boisterous students. The overwhelming, heady scent of cooked meat filled my nostrils, cramping my stomach. And instead of being spread out on my chaise in the sunporch, I was wedged between two students who kept elbowing me as they ate their dinners.
My mouth trembled. I wanted nothing more than to leave this place where I did not belong. I wanted to go home.
But there was no way Mum would take me back. Not after the tuition they'd paid for me to attend. I wished I had thought to stash a book in my robes and read it now, so that I could transport myself away from the craziness of reality into a world of literature that someone else had written for me.
After several moments of this thinking, I realized several other Ravenclaws were shooting me quick looks, most of them directed at my empty plate. As sick as I felt, I knew I needed to eat something. I hadn't had anything since breakfast, which seemed lifetimes ago.
Hands trembling slightly, I spooned a small helping of fruit salad onto my plate, along with a tiny bowl of white rice that was already half-gone. I added a small slice of buttered bread and poured myself a glass of bubbling water. I ate quietly and kept my head down, unwilling to look up. But at least the curious onlookers had stopped watching me. Maybe they had just been worried about me and my lack of appetite. And now that I ate, it put their concerns at rest.
When my plate was finished, I cautiously reached for a chocolate chip cookie, the smallest one I could find. I nibbled it while gathering my courage and sliding rapid glances at my fellow Ravenclaws. All of them spoke to one another, seeming genuinely interested in what the others had to say.
I was glad to be left alone. I longed for Lily's company. At least we had a basic acquaintance. These others were total strangers.
Oh, why didn't the Hat put me in Gryffindor? At least I had a somewhat friend there.
The minutes ebbed by, until finally, plates were finished and students blinked sleepily, in a food-induced stupor. My stomach had barely tolerated the meager portion I had taken; even now, it cramped and groaned. I knew nervous vomiting wasn't out of the question later, though I preferred to avert the unpleasant experience.
Professor McGonagall rose regally from her chair next to Dumbledore. Her voice reverberated around the Hall, clear as glass. "Prefects will now show the first years of their Houses to their dormitories. Head Boys and Girls, please escort the remainder of your Houses in fifteen minutes."
A smattering of students rose from their tables. Legs tight from sitting, I stood and followed a blonde-haired woman with sparkling blues eyes, other Ravenclaws clustered around her like chicks under a hen. "This way, students." She said in a dreamy voice. "Follow me, please."
Several other new Ravenclaws trailed after her. A dark-haired girl that I recognized from earlier fell into step near me. I glanced at her and returned my gaze to the walls. Moving portraits hung on every inch of stone wall, their subjects waving or speaking among themselves. The willowy Prefect led us up a series of moving staircases, rising higher and higher above the ground floor.
"Hey," the dark-haired girl whispered, "I'm Angelina. You're Amber, aren't you?"
Surprised at her memory, I nodded. "Yeah."
She smiled. "You're the Hatstall, aren't you?"
I felt indignace at her remark. "What does that mean?" I muttered as we ascended.
"It means the Sorting Hat couldn't decide which House to sort you in. It only happens once every fifty years or so. What was the other House?"
I didn't know this girl. And if she was anything like Sirius Black or James Potter, I wanted nothing to do with her. "Hufflepuff." I lied, not wanting to give her any information about myself. "My whole family's been in Hufflepuff."
"That's interesting. My whole family's been in Ravenclaw. I guess it's in the genes. Houses tend to prefer family members, not outsiders." She promptly turned scarlet. "I didn't mean for that to sound bad. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."
Her words rubbed salt in my wounds. What would Mum and Dad say when they found out I wasn't in their beloved Hufflepuff?
I shrugged instead, concealing my inner hurt. "Don't worry about it." I said quietly. Angelina was still burning with embarrassment; her cheeks were still rosy with it.
"Almost there!" The Prefect chirped cheerfully. But she continued to climb. Finally, at the last moving staircase, she disembarked and padded down a corridor, leaving us to follow. It had many windows, allowing the clear night sky to shine through. I looked down. We were very, very high up.
She began to walk up a narrow, spiraling set of stairs without railings. It hugged the wall, leaving only a few feet of space for walking. It looked harrowing for two-way traffic. Taking a deep breath, I brought up the rear of the small group and followed the others. Small windows cut into the sides of the tower allowed slits of moonlight to shine through. The air smelled fresher, cleaner. Much better than the hot, stuffy air of the Great Hall.
We climbed higher and higher. My palms began to sweat. I wished they had put in railings! It would have at least put my frazzled mind at ease.
The Prefect halted at a landing several stories above the bottom of the tower. The knocker, a small bronze raven statue, prompted, "In a one-story pink house, there was a pink person, a pink cat, a pink fish, a pink computer, a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower– everything was pink! What color were the stairs?"
The willowy blonde chortled. "There were no stairs! It's a one story house!"
"Very observant!" The knocker praised, and creaked open to admit her.
She tossed a friendly smile over her shoulder. "Each time you wish to enter the Common Room, you must answer a riddle. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for someone else to come along! Someone hopefully smarter, too!" She giggled. "Just kidding! But really… it won't let you in unless you answer correctly. Follow me, little ones!"
She swept into the room. The rest of us were left to follow.
The Common Room was wide, circular and adorned in blue and gold. Huge glass windows allowed moonlight to stream through, pouring in like skim milk. On one wall was a huge portrait of a beautiful, but somber, black-haired woman.
"That's our founder, Rowena Ravenclaw." The Prefect pointed out. "Oh, and my name is Pandora Wingspurt! I am not a Founder, but I do wish I could be." She stared out of the window dreamily.
I exchanged a look with Angelina.
"Well, you children must be exhausted!" She clapped two hands. "Go on and scoot off to bed. You can explore your new home more tomorrow. Girls, you're to the right. Boys, to the left. You each have your own towers, depending on your gender." She pulled a fat book off of a shelf crammed with novels and plopped down on a blue chaise. She began to read, pulling absently at her odd radish-shaped earrings.
It was good as a send –off as I had expected.
I followed Angelina and several other girls up a winding stairway into a smaller tower. It was a fraction of the size of the Common Room. More huge windows lined the sides of the circular room, but these windows were covered by soft white curtains that offered privacy and a translucent view of the mountains, lake and grounds of Hogwarts. Ringing the room in perfect spacing were four-poster beds, draped with sky blue canopies and curtains and the beds covered with silk eiderdowns. The sound of the wind faintly rushed against the edges of the windows.
We were literally above all of the other students at Hogwarts.
The other girls chatted amongst themselves, each smiling brightly and unpacking their luggage, which was placed neatly by the sides of the beds. Some of them pulled out pajamas and merrily made their way to the washroom, toothbrushes and combs in hand.
I watched them go, feeling the first pangs of homesickness wash over me. How could they all act so happy? Like this was sleepover camp or something? Well, it wasn't. It was a boarding school, flat out and simple. There was no reason to chortle and giggle like tittering chickens. I didn't want to share stories or play with hair. I just wanted to forget and relax.
I drew the curtains around my bed and stood in the center of the mattress. I changed quietly from my robes and my Muggle clothes underneath into a pair of fluffy blue pajama bottoms and a long-sleeved red flannel shirt. I lifted the front of the shirt to my nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled strongly of home. I knew it would only be a matter of time before it faded completely.
While the other girls continued to gabber, I picked up Miranda Goshawk's book on spells and skimmed through the pages. I read about charms and listened to the girls drone on for an hour before their voices faded and I only hear soft sighs and snores.
I kept reading until my eyes were bleary-eyed with sleep. When I was sure the others wouldn't wake up, I gently put my book away and rolled over, extinguishing my lamp. I curled up on my side and let the tears flow free for the first time since the train ride. God, if you're there, come and rescue me.
Silence met my plea.
It looked like I was stuck at Hogwarts for the next year.