A/N: Here we go! I know it's a little on the short side, but I hope it gives you something to read and look forward too. Soon we're going to start figuring some important things out, but until then... ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I own only what you don't recognize.
The Gryffindor Common Room was full of noise and rejoicing as they welcomed their new members. The older students patted the newcomers on their backs, congratulating them on their accomplishment.
Evangeline sat next to the fire. Gwendolyn had given her a cool look when she sat down next to her during the feast and had taken every opportunity to stay away. When the feast concluded, Madam Pompfrey took Gwen back to the infirmary for her last observation. She hadn't returned.
Classes would begin tomorrow, but Evangeline didn't know what she would be doing. There was no schedule delivered, no teachers approached her; she had nothing to do it seemed.
"Hello." A voice startled her; she hadn't realized she'd been staring so angrily into the flames.
"Hey."
"I'm Ginny Weasley." The voice stuck her hand out, intending for it to be shaken, but also forcing Evangeline to look at her.
"Evangeline Harpe. My sister is Gwen." She gently shook the proffered hand.
"She's a year ahead of me."
"She's ahead of me too. ...I think."
Her companion laughed. "How?"
"I'm not actually sure." The look Ginny gave her inticed a giggle from her sullen face.
"It's nice to meet you."
"Ditto."
"Come on, get up. Join the festivities. School starts tomorrow, get to know some people first."
"I'm not sure abo-" But the redhead had already jumped up, pulling her along.
"Harry!" She called, pulling Evangeline through the crowd. "Harry! Come meet my new friend!"
"Ginny, why are you shouting?" A tall, somewhat lanky boy stood up from his seat near a chess set. The pieces were moving by their own power, it seemed.
"Harry, this is Evangeline. She's Gwen's younger sister."
"Pleased to meet you." She smiled at him, keeping her arms wrapped around herself as though she were cold.
"Hey. I'm Harry. This is Ron." He gestured to his opponent, a tall boy with a shock of red hair like Ginny's. They must be siblings.
The boy stammered out a "hullo", followed by a roll of his friend's eyes.
"Goodness Ronald." A voice reprimanded him, causing him to shrink back slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, all the while maintaining his silly grin. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You seem a little...old to be a first year." Ron forgot his momentary embarrassment. His bushy-haired friend slapped his shoulder.
"It's because I'm not." Ginny raised an eyebrow and Ron prompted her to continue.
"I'm kind of...different. They discovered my inner magic a few days ago, I suppose. They came and got me from my home and brought me here. Well...for the most part. Oh, and I can't use a wand."
The bushy-haired witch watched her for a moment, clearly puzzled but intrigued. "I have an idea," the group turned to her, "But I'll have to go to the library."
The male ginger groaned playfully. "The library already?"
"Yes Ronald, the library already." She bit back sarcastically. "When I want to know something, I find the answer myself instead of waiting for it to land in my lap."
Goodness, you think he'd know me by now. Hermione's voice trailed through her mind.
What was that? she asked herself.
"Meanwhile, I'll show you the castle." Ginny chimed in and Harry nodded, inviting himself.
"You're all so kind, but you needn't-"
"Nonsense." Said Harry, "Let's go." And he stood, leaving his game and ignoring the 'come on mate, finish the game!' from his partner.
Evangeline was led from the boisterous room by her new acquaintances, unsure how she felt about the whole thing but glad nonetheless that she'd found people who didn't send her strange looks.
She followed the pair through the long corridors, vaguely aware of what they were telling her. Somewhere along the way they passed McGonagall's office - or room, something about the professor. The castle was just so extensive, she couldn't remember half the places she went.
"I'll never remember this." She sighed.
Harry laughed, "You should have seen me my first year. I'm surprised I made it through!"
"I'm doomed."
Ginny patted her shoulder. "There's always help at Hogwarts. You'll be fine!"
They all laughed together as they descended a winding set of stairs.
Evangeline kept her eyes wide open, afraid to miss even the slightest thing. The hallway they were walking through - "The potions classes are through that door," - pricked something in her memory. A plain wooden door was on their left.
"That's Professor Snape's office, right?"
"Mhm. Let's keep moving before-"
The door opened slowly, revealing the dark professor. His face morphed into a sneer at the sight of her companions, but his eyes found hers.
"Ah, Miss Harpe, I see you've met the school's miscreants. Pleasant company, I assume?" He layered on the sarcasm, looking down his nose at her.
She stared back. Why is it always them? she caught.
She decided it best to not play into his game. "Oh, Professor, I was wondering how my lessons for tomorrow would work. Would you happen to know?" Evangeline was very aware of those surrounding her and the static tension that filled the air.
His face was smooth, as were his eyes, but somehow she knew she'd shocked him - it only a little bit.
"Your Head of House will provide you with your schedule."
"Thank you, Professor Snape."
He gave her a curt nod before returning to the confines of his office.
"I can't stand that man." Ginny broke the silence first. Evangeline sensed that none of them cared about the man, but she couldn't understand why.
"He's not a bad person." Evangeline whispered. Her group stopped.
"What?" Harry snapped. He was generally snap-ish after an encounter with the man, she felt. "He's a Death Eater! He's nothing but evil."
Evangeline let the subject go.
When at last they returned to Gryffindor Tower after showing her every last inch of the castle, Evangeline was bone tired. She knew she'd have a very difficult time finding anything they'd shown her. As soon as they entered the Common Room after giving the portrait a password, she dismissed herself for bed, allowing Ginny to show her there.
They climbed a set of steps before reaching a hall of doors. Ginny pointed to the end of the hall, gesturing to Evangeline's new room.
"Thank you."
Ginny gently punched her shoulder, smiling, "Anytime." She turned to leave. "Oh! Before I forget, that's my dorm. If you ever need anything, I'll probably be here."
Evangeline responded with a smile before trudging tiredly down the hall. Arriving at the designated door, she found her name carved into the wood elaborately.
The door opened soundlessly into a room of pale golds and muted reds. A four-poster bed with golden drapes sat near a window. In the center of the room was a stove. At the foot of her bed was a dark trunk, and on her bed was a piece of folded parchment.
"What's this?" She unfolded the scrap.
Dear Evangeline,
Tomorrow will be a big day for you. After
breakfast, please come to my office. We'll
start working on your magic.
Professor Dumbledore.
PS: Ginger Snaps
"Ginger snaps? Okay then."
She moved to her new trunk, opening it. Inside she found everything Mr. Lupin had helped her purchase. A smile found her face before guilt settled in her stomach at the memory of that morning.
Towards the bottom she found her night clothes and a picture of her family. Homesickness struck her, but she pushed it away. Bed time.
Evangeline pulled herself up from the floor, moving slowly to her new bed.
Gazing up at the fabric of her four-poster, she tried to imagine her life as a witch. She already felt useless in this world, but only the coming days could fully prove to her if she was right or not.
Rolling over in bed, she watched the stars circle the sky before she slowly drifted into a fitful slumber.
A/N: Whew! The next installment will be coming soon! What should happen next...? I know where the story is going, but what happens along the way is half the fun! Tell me your thoughts(:
Oh, review too(:
