Chapter 17
The Common Room
… And with that said I am sure you are all tired and could do with a good night's rest. Please follow your Perfects' to your house's common room. One last thing, I leave in the words of a great man, Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Good Night!" Headmistress McGonagall finished happily.
The Great Hall erupted in laughter at the end of the Welcome Speech. Rose had choked on her last bit of pudding. Al and the whole Gryffindor table stood up, stilling smiling. Near the end of the house table, the perfects stood up and motioned for the students to follow them. Albus recognized Helena Wood standing among the perfects; she was the daughter of one of his father's friends. She was also Quidditch Captain.
Quidditch was Al's favorite sport. He wasn't as obsessed as it then James was. James wanted to join in his first year however, the all the positions were filled. James and Al had very good Quidditch genes. Their mother had played for the England team and their father was once captain of the Gryffindor team. Albus was not sure if he would be trying out for the house team, this year at least.
"Hey, Albus! Congratulations on making Gryffindor. I knew you would." James said coming up behind Al.
Al turned around still walking towards the doors. James was walking with his best friends Paul Finnegan and Alice Longbottom. All three of them had known each other seem birth. They were all in Gryffindor and in second year. Behind them was Al's other cousin Fred and his friend Alex Jordan, both in fifth year and Gryffindor.
They all continued on their way to the common room. Albus' head turned in every direction along the way, taking in every detail of the castle. He noticed the moving pictures, some even waved at the students. Along the way Helena, pointed out certain details to the first years. She told them about how unpredictable some of the staircases could be. They went up to the seventh floor where the entrance to the Gryffindor tower was. They stopped that a painting of a rather fat lady. She was dress in a pink silk dress that was much too tight for her bulging figure. Helena stopped at the portrait and turned around facing the surrounding students.
"Please remember the password. It is changed every Sunday afternoon. The perfects will tell you of these changes." Helena said loudly.
"Prior Incantato" Helena said to the Fat Lady.
"Yes and welcome!" the Fat Lady answered merrily.
The picture swing open to reveal an opening behind it. The common room was a large circular room with brilliant scarlet wall hangings, some baring the Gryffindor lion. There was a large fireplace that dominated a whole wall. A warm fire was burning in it. Around the room, there were large sofas, squashy armchairs, and various sized tables. Hanging on the wall, there was a large bulletin board with school notices hanging upon it.
The first years turned around as they entered taking in every detail. Other students merely passed by them however, they were all smiling.
"I suggest you all go up to the dormitories and sleep right away. Classes start tomorrow morning. Boy dorms to the left and Girls to the right. Good Night!" another perfect said standing next to Helena.
"Good night, Isabella. Good night, Rose." Albus said to his cousin and the dark-haired pretty girl.
Isabella was very quite during dinner. However, she laughed at the many jokes Albus and the rest of his family made. Rose and she talked quietly as they went up to the common room. Rose smiled at Albus and the others before going up the stairs. Isabella gave Albus a small wave.
Albus and the rest of the boys went up to the dorms. He entered a circular room with 5 four-posted beds. Albus' trunk and things were waiting for him at a bed near a window. Scorpius went to the bed next Al's. There were 3 other boys in this dorm however; everyone was too tired to introduce themselves. They silently changed into their pajamas and climbed into bed. Albus noticed that Scorpius pulled on emerald and sliver pajamas, the Slytherin colors. He looked Albus and smiled embarrassedly. Albus smiled back but, could see the sadness in Scorpius' grey eyes. He wanted to say more but, he was very tired and tomorrow there would be more time to understand this sad boy
When Albus' head hit his pillow he fell asleep but, only after he remembered to be thankful that he was here in the Gryffindor tower and not in the Slytherin dungeons.