DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!

Chapter 4

"First years this way please!" Cried Ron's older brother Percy. The castle was lit by torches that flickered with red and gold light. The smell of the feast below lingered in the halls. Every inch of the old, stone walls was covered with portraits. The first years giggled with delight as the portraits tiped their hats off at the bubbly students. Muggle borns were, at first, scared of the animated paintings, but children from magical family's quickly explained this was normal. They were climbing a stair case when it suddenly changed direction, the children screamed with delight and horror. "Calm down, calm down I said! This happens all the time at Hogwarts, nothing to fear!" Commanded Percy. After the intial shock of this sudden change in direction, the children calmed down. Ron chatted with Harry, Delphini lingered in the back. She still felt shocked at the fact she was in Gryfindoor. Her body felt numb and her heart pounded. I thought for sure I'd be a Slytherin! That was the only part of my life I had been sure of. Finally I can show people I'm not who my parents are. She was brought back down to Earth with a tap on her shoulder. Turning she saw Hermione, her eyes were full of wonder. Hermione smiled, her two front teeth stuck out and were very prominent. Delphi could see flecks of amber scattered in her brown eyes, her nose was showered with freckles. Strands of her hair stuck out in certain places, giving off the look that she had just woken up. "Aren't you so excited for school to start! I've read all I could about the school and the history. Also I've tried my hand at a few spells and they haven't proved to difficult form me." Hermiones words came out like bullets, each fast and overwhelming. The girl smiled shyly and nervously at Delphini, she felt her heart hurt for the It was clear that Hermione was used to being pushed away because of her egarness. "Don't worry Hermione you will do great." Delphini said comfortingly. Hermiones eyes widened with happieness, she had just made her first friend.

"Alright now, this is the Gryffindor common room entrance," Hermione looked at Percy attentively, "to get in you will need to give the password to the Fat Lady." At the sound of her name the Fat Lady gave a little bow. She had been painted in a flowery purple dress that fell to her ankles. The sleeves billowed around her big arms. She smiled at the first years, her teeth were yellow, but her smile bright. The painter had given her big blue eyes, hooded with long eyelashes. Rosy cheeks finished off her look. "The password is 'devils snare' alright." Without waiting for a answer Percy turned to the Fat Lady, "devils snare!" The portrait swung back to reveal a hole. Percy climbed through a hole in the wall and the first years followed him. Delpin climbed though after Hermione.

Delphi felt her breath hitch, the room she had entered was beyond what she had imagined. The walls were painted with a brilliant red, and covered in gold swirls. A fire crackled and gave off warmth. Soft, squishy sofas and arm chairs circled the fire. High arching windows, that over looked the Forrest, stood across from the fire. Tapestries hung from the ceiling. Each had a roaring lion with a fiery mane stitched on them. "This is the Gryfindoor common room, it is in here you will be spending your time doing homework or socializing. Boys dormitories are to the right, girls are to the left." Percy said this as though he was giving a business presentation, and Delphi had feeling that's how Percy saw it. She studied him for a moment intrigued by how cold he came off. His blue eyes were much like Ron's, except his were full of ambition. I'm surprise he's not in Slytherin! Delphi shook her head. "Come on Delphini!" Hermione called.

"I'm coming!" She followed her new friend up the spiraling stairs to her new dorm.

The dorm room had 12 beds, each was carved out of a deep oak wood. Small and intricate lions covered the bed frames, blood red curtains hung around the beds for privacy. There was three windows, each had window seating. Delphi saw that Hermione had chosen a bed in the center, she looked around the room and saw her trunk had appeared in the corner. Grabbing the heavy trunk she placed in front of a bed next to Hermione. Delphi looked at the other girl she was sleeping next to. She had blond hair that framed her round face. She didn't have many prominent features, but her eyes were bueatiful. They were blue and purple. They always seemed to match her exspression. The girl was pretty, but not bueatiful. "Hi I'm Delphini." She held her hand out to the blonde. The blonde ignored her hand and just said, "Lavender." She then went back to unpacking a obnoxiously large trunk, filled with frilly clothing. Well I guess I found the bitch!

Underneath Delphi's bed were cubbies. She pulled her books from her trunk, after organizing them by subject she placed them in the cubbies. Next she assessed her clothing. Most was easy to put away, this was because they were black and white. But all the other clothing she had brought for herself were mostly green. She had been so positive that the hat would put her in Slytherin that she hadn't bother to buy any other color. With blushing cheeks she pointed her wand at the green clothing and said, "colovaria." The charm changed the clothing red. Satisfied with her work she placed the clothes in her cubbies.

She lay awake in her bed. The red covers were pulled to her chin, her brown eyes stared at the ceiling. She focused on the lion carvings trying to spell words in the vines that twisted around the beasts. I did it, I came to school. Tomarrow class starts and I will be normal for the first time in my life! Delphi closed her eyes and for the first time, she felt happy.

"Delphi get up! Breakfast starts in ten minuets, and class starts in a hour! We don't want to be late!" Hermione said this all very fast.

"Shhhh five more minuets." Delphi groaned into her pillow.

"No we need to get up!" Hermione grabbed Delphi's blankets and through them off her.

"Nooo!" Delphi sat up quickly, "bloody hell Hermione!"

"Up!" Hermione turned to her bed and started to dress. Delphi could see her mouthing spells and muttering facts. Rolling her eyes she turned to her cubbies. Cold or hot? Let's dress for cold I believe I have potions today, and that's held in the dungeons. She grabbed a red sweater and black pants. After messing with her hair for a little she opted to leave it down. After one last look in the mirror she and Hermione walked down to the common room. Harry and Ron were already lounging on one of the soft sofas. They both looked up at the girls when they arrived. "Ready?" Asked Harry, the group nodded in agreement. When walking to the portrait hole Delphi accidentally pushed a round faced boy. "Sorry!" She exclaimed apologetically, and then continued on her way.

MMMMMMM

Sorry! She's not sorry! The boy fumed at Delphi's reaction. The round face boy suddenly lost his appetite. Slumping back up stairs he pushed hot tears running down his face away. Come on now be brave! What would gran think! His frugal attempts at comforting himself only made him feel worse. He paced up and down, calm down you need to get it together! Class starts soon. The boy faced his mirror, he stared himself in his hazel eyes flecked with dark brown. His straight hair had fallen unkept around his face. "You can do this, maybe she's not like her! She is in Gryfindoor after all. Be brave!" His rousing speach only earned him a uneasy frown from his reflection. Gathering his things he left the common room.

MMMMMMM

The spread before her wasn't as great as the feast had been last night, but it smelled wonderful all the same. Sitting down she started to pile her plate with eggs. "Oh Ron! Do you have to stuff your mouth!" Hermione's shrill voice only received a "Iduahimplefe!" From Ron. Rolling her eyes she became transfixed on her schedule. "God what a bloody know it all!" Whispered Ron to Harry. If Hermione heard what was said, she didn't show it. But she did ignore Ron for the remainder of the meal.

The classroom was alive with excitement. Big windows let in warm sunlight, books were stacked all about. School supplies was scattered through out the room. It had absolutely no organization, but it was warm and happy just the same. A big teaches desk was in the front of the room. Sitting behind it was a little man. He had wiry, black hair that was slicked back with grease. Thin frames glasses shielded his dark green eyes. Smile lines were etched in his face, giving off a sense of security and kindness. His blue robes fitted loosely around his small frame. He sat smiling at the children. "Good morning first years and welcome to Hogwarts!" His high pitched voice matched his small body, "I am professor Flitwick, I am your charm teacher!" The student looked at him intently, Professor Flitwick had a way of commanding attention. Harry elbowed Delphi, "you look board, what's up?" He didn't bother to whisper, Flitwick didn't seem to care.

"I have already learned most of these charms, I studied them over break." Harry looked at her suprised.

"Today we will be learning a levitating charm! The wand motions are swish and flick, all right everyone practice that." The class turned to their wands and ptacticed the movement. Hermione was glaring at Ron who had opted to violently move his wand up and down. "Alright now that we have the movement down it's time for the incantation! Every practice saying wingardium leviosa." A chores of 'wingardium leviosas' filled the room. Some children got the hang of the pronunciation, others screwed up their faces trying to get it right. Ron was struggling the most, his ears had turned a shade of red that matched his hair. His blue eyes were focused on the arching ceilings. "Ok class now put the two together, I want you to focus your charm on the feather sitting in front of you!" The first years turned to the soft, white feather in front of them. Febal charms rang through out the room, bouncing off the windows. Harry so focused on his charm that when Delphi tapped him, he responded with a string of colorful curses.

"Sorry, what?"

"Would you like some help?" Harry nodded, "ok well first relax your body, your wand movements are to stiff." She smiled as Harry's shoulders stumped a little. "Perfect! Now practice the wand movement." A swish sound was made. "Alright now do the incantation with the movement." Harry smiled as a white feather floated around the room.

"Look everyone Mr. Potter has done it! Wonderful I knew you would have your monthers skills!" The first years looked at Harry with admiration and annoyance. Hermione gave a huff, she turned to Ron who was violently waving his wand over a feather .

"Stop, stop! Your are going to put your eye out! Besides that's not how you do it." Hermione lectured.

"Well if your so bloody clever why don't you do it yourself," snarled Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes,

"Wingardium leviosa." Another white feather started to float near Harry's.

"Fuck" whispered Ron, Hermione only smiled.

After a tasty lunch, the four friends headed to their history of magic class. When they entered Ron let out a groan. The walls looked like they were once a deep tan, but years of negligence had turned them black. The high arching windows were so grimy that little light was let through. The desks were graffiti with doodles and nonsense. The teacher matched the rooms demeanor, as he happened to be a ghost. Students say that he fell asleep one day and died, but his soul still got up to teach. Whatever the story he the rare ability to put anyone asleep. Except for Hermione, who was immune to his lulling speach, who vigorously took notes. Only when it was time to go would the students awake to go to their next class.

Delphini and Hermione walked into the defense against the dark arts class, and sat down together at one of the tables. Ron and Harry sat behind them lost in a conversation about quidditch. Poster covered the walls, some had pictures of creatures that didn't look real, others had dark spells and definitions on them. A Hogwarts crest was behind a oak desk. Windows over looked the lake. A man stood at the front of the room, he had a intricately, purple turban wrapped around his head. His right eye twiched and his fingers drummed on his desk. After all the students had settled down he started to speak, "hel...lo i..I'm pro..f.fessor Quirrel.l, I teach the defensse ag..ainst the dark..k arts class..s." He sounded like a broken car, sputtering out each word.

"I...I'm s..s..sorry professor but we can't understand you!" Laughed Malfoy. Delphi turned to him and flipped him off, Draco only smirked at her. The class became hard to listion to, with the teacher not being able to speak properly, and Draco's snarky comments. But halfway through class Delphi turned to Harry only to see him rubbing his scar. Worry flashed across her face. Harry, who had noticed her starring, waved her off and mouth he was fine.

Delphi and Harry talked on their way to their next class, which was transfiguration. "I heard this class can be hard, but McGonagle seems nice enough exclaimed Delphi.

"Yeah that's what I heard, but I'm excited! I think it will be cool the transfigure things." Harry's eyes lit up as he spoke.

"True, but we will only be starting with small things. Like buttons and matches." Harry only seem a little disappointed. "Hey Harry"

"Yeah?"

"Are you ok? I saw you rubbing your scar in Quirrell's class." Harry's eyes travled to to his shoes.

"Oh yeah, I'm ok it just started to hurt a little."

"Harry it shouldn't be hurting, maybe you should talk to the nurse." Comforted Delphini.

"No it's proably nothing."

"Well if it happens agin tell me, ok?" Harry nodded.

When they reached the classroom they found a old women starring at them. Professor McGonagle did look strict, but a glimmer in her eyes lightened her appearance. Harry and Delphi say next to each other, and Ron sat next to Hermione. Ron didn't look to happy about the arrangement, he shot glares at Harry and Delphi. "Good afternoon class, I know that I am your second to last class but I still demand your full attention!" Her voice was stern, but not mean, "I will be your transfiguration teacher. Transfiguration is one of the hardest subjects to learn, it requires focuse and precision. Many of you will struggle with it, but I ask you do your best. I exspect you all to try, work hard, and do you homework." She paused, Hermione, if possible, sat up straighter. "Today you will be learning how to transfigure a match, into a needle. Aright ready?" Hermione had been so caught up in her writing that she spilled ink on Ron.

"What the fuck Hermione! God do you always have to be a know it all!" Whispered Ron. Tears started to form on Hermiones eyes. But she quickly blinked them away. After shooting Ron a death glare she turned her attion to the front.

"Do you think they will ever get along!" Said Delphi exasperated.

"I think so, Ron's proably jealous that Hermione is better at magic is all." Said Harry focusing on his match, which was now a sliver color. " Besides Ron and Hermione how are you?"

"I'm good, I mean sorta. I feel kinda out of place. Just with being accepted by you and Ron and Hermione so quickly. People still give me death stares in all, but I'm happy I have some friends."

"I get what you mean, people look at me like I'm powerful or something. I just don't feel that way, plus I'm one of the most famous wizards yet I know nothing about this culture!"

"Miss Lastrange if you could please transfigure you match for the class." Professor McGonagle looked her in her eyes, she clearly was annoy by the fact Delphi hadn't yet tried to transfigure yet.

"Yes sorry!" Delphi grabbed her wand from her bag. She closed her eyes and focused on transfiguring her needle. She opened them, flicked her wand, and held up a needle to professor McGonagle. McGonagles eyes widened with surprise. "Miss Lastrange your spell work is excellent, but please pay attion next time." Besides Delphini, only Hermione was able to transfigure her needle. The girls earned five points each for their house.

Hermione and Delphini chatted away about transfiguration on their way to potions. Potions class was held in the dungeons, Delphi felt the temperature drop significantly as they travel. The cold, gray walls made everything feel closed in. It was all to familiar to her.

She was in dark ally, the cold walls felt like they were closing in. She was eight and completely alone. Her stomach growled and blood ran down her cheek. Someone had robbed her, puched her in the face and taken her only pound. A women laughed shrilly in the distance, and a dog barked. Tears ran down her face as she leaned against the cold wall. The night shrouded her and fear.

Hey are you ok?" Harry comforted, Delphini only nodded. He brushed a tear off her cheek and gave her hand squeeze. She looked up at the big oak doors and front of her that she had unconsciously approach. She and Harry walked inside the dark classroom. It was small but very organized. Being the last ones to arrive they took seats in the back. Everyone was quite, scared to speak or breath. The clicking of shoes to stone warned them at their teacher was approaching. A tall, pale man entered the room. His waxy face looked at them, his dark eyes full of hate. Black robes billowed behind him, and greasy hair stuck to his scalp. "Good day everyone I am professor Snape and should you chose to call me anything else you will deeply regret it," His voice sounded like death," I am the potions master here at Hogwarts." He scanned the room, when his eyes fell on Harry he sneered, "it seems we are in the presence of our very own celebrity. How do you do Mr. Potter?" His mouth curved into a smile, Draco and the rest of the Slytherins laughed. "Many of you will find potions to be difficult, for it's not for every one. I can teach you how to brew glory, bottle fame, and even put a stopper in death- that is if you all aren't as stupid as you appear. Directions are on the board, you have one hour." Everyone quickly got work. Delphi wasn't to bad at brewing and Harry was satisfactory, so they didn't have much trouble. But their peers weren't so lucky, in fact everyone except Hermione was struggling. It also didn't help that Snape spent ten minuets fawning over Malfoys B grade potion. After he awarded points to Slytherin he turned to the Gryfindoors to take points away. The worst was when two boys, Neville and Seamus, lost Gryfindoor fifth teen points because of their potion. They had some how managed to melt their cauldron into a twisted mess. This then caused their potion to spill everywhere burning holes in the floor. When class was finally over Delphini rejoiced.

That night while laying in her bed Delphini thought of Harry. Why was his scar hurting today? Is it normal for scars to hurt? Maybe I should go the library and look it up, I just know that can't be normal. As her breathing slowed Delphi fell into a dreamless sleep.