Rana sighed as she looked around the hall, biting her lip nervously at the smirk Lucius Malfoy was sending her. While she could occasionally lose her temper at him, she really only felt comfortable doing so in a group setting. Out there in the hallway, backed up against the wall, she had felt so vulnerable and had been truly frightened. Rana didn't even want to know what could have happened if James hadn't appeared and saved her. What was it about James? He always seemed to appear when she needed him most. It was as if he could sense when she was in trouble.
Why,only Dumbledore knew that James always appearing when Rana really needed him was not just coincidence. Sure, part of it was because he secretly watched her, but it was much deeper than that. The type of bond that they shared activated an ancient magic. It was a magic so great, one didn't need to call out to the other when they were in trouble. Bonds such as the one that existed between James and Rana were very rare, indeed.
Rana sighed, shivering at Malfoy's look again before turning away.
"Rani, are you okay?" Arya asked in concern.
"I'm fine, Arya; just a bit shaken up."
"Are you sure? What happened?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm fine, really." She plastered on a smile and turned to watch the sorting ceremony, shoving thoughts of Lucius Malfoy and her impending detention to the back of her head.
There was a long line of nervous first years. It was hard to believe that just last year, Rana had been one of those nervous first years. Rana watched quietly as each first year walked up to the stool, some nervously and some with confidence, and placed the hat on their heads before walking towards their houses.
Suddenly, laughter surrounded the Great Hall. Rana turned her head around, looking around for the source. Her eyes widened at the sight of seven koala bears climbing all over the table. She giggled to see one such koala bear fighting with Lucius Malfoy for a bunch of berries. The koala bear bit Malfoy on the nose, grabbed the berries, and scampered away.
"Ouch! You bloody little..." he scowled.
"Serves him right, the git," Rana muttered under her breath. She turned her attention to the Gryffindor Table, not missing James' wink at her. Rana smiled. Lily scowled. She did not approve of such behavior at all.
"Oh, chill out, Evans."
Lily glared. "Don't tell me to chill out, Potter. The poor dears are just innocent first years!"
"They'll be fine!"
"Besides, they're snarky Slytherins," Sirius cut in.
"What he said," James agreed.
"But they didn't do anything!" Lily raised her voice.
Rana bit her lip as Lily's temper rose and quickly turned back to her friends. Lily intimidated her, but she wouldn't admit it.
"Evans! Control your temper!" James turned to glance at Rana, sighing. Sometimes, he still wished they had been sorted into the same house. She was so young and innocent, but he was glad she'd found a good group of friends in her own house. He was suddenly interrupted from his thoughts byMcGonagall's voice.
"Potter! Black! Lupin! Pettigrew! 50 points off Gryffindor and Detention!"
She waved her wand and in the place of seven koalas sat seven frightened first-years. The first year who had stolen Malfoy's berries in koala form squeaked at Malfoy's heated glare. She placed the berries back on his plate before quickly running back to her seat.
James and Sirius snickered. Remus sighed, burying his head back into his book, while Peter just nervously bit his fingernails, awaiting his doom. "So Professor," James started cheekily. "When's Detention?"
McGonagall glared at James. "Potter, as much as I'm sure it would please you to serve detention together, I'm afraid you will be separated. Pettigrew, you will serve detention with me tomorrow night. Lupin, you will be serving detention with Professor Light Wednesday night. Potter, you will be serving detention alongside Ms. Rai with Professor Mahoney tomorrow night."
James hid a smile at this. His detention wouldn't be bad, plus he'd be with his best friend. Professor Mahoney was very kind-hearted as well, not that he'd ever have a class with her. Ancient Runes involved too much thinking in his opinion.
"And Black," McGonagall continued, "you will be serving detention with Professor Anderson 8 p.m. sharp tomorrow."
"Professor Anderson!" Sirius scowled under his breath. He always got the worst detentions. Unless you were a Slytherin, you did not want detention with Professor Anderson. Lupin didn't partake in the prank other than researching the appropriate charms, so he doubted his detention would be all that bad. The new DADA professor seemed alright. Then there was James. Sirius cursed. James really got lucky. Not only was his detention with one of the nicest professors, but James had detention with his best friend and a very pretty girl too, in his own opinion.
"Yes, Black. Professor Anderson," she said curtly before returning to the teacher's table just in time for Dumbledore to make his start of term speech.
"Welcome, Welcome new students and returning students. Remember, the Forbidden Forest is off-limits. I have just a couple of words to say. Tuck-in."
Rana grinned as the table filled with food. She slowly filled her plate with food before turning to Adriana.
"Hey, Adriana. You're Quidditch Captain this year, aren't ya?"
Adriana blushed. "By default." She laughed. "Everyone else graduated."
Rana smiled. "I'm sure you'll make a great captain. When are tryouts?"
Adriana grinned. "Trying out, are ya? Tryouts will be out on the pitch, 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon."
"So, in 6 days then?"
"That's correct."
"I'll be there!"
Adriana smiled, reminding herself to post in the announcement in the common room later that evening. The rest of the meal passed in a blur and soon it was time for the Prefects to lead the first years to their dormitories. Rana watched quietly as Cyane had a smug look on her face as she led the first-year Slytherins to the dungeons, Lucius Malfoy following her like a lost puppy.
Rana snorted. "One minute he's making the moves on me and the next he's following that fifth year like a lost puppy." Rana rolled her eyes and Michael burst into laughter at her words.
She waved to James, sending him a smile as the two groups- Ravenclaw and Gryffindor separated: Ravenclaw towards the west side and Gryffindor towards the east. She approached the portrait just in time to see Rinaldo.
"The password is Witty Irony." He smiled as the portrait swung open.
Rana furrowed her eyebrows at the password. That was an odd one. She shrugged and walked inside, followed by her friends. Rana bid her friends goodnight before walking up the stairs to the girls' dorm and slowly got ready for bed.
Arya walked not a moment later. "Would you like me to read to you like last year, Rani?"
Rana blushed, but she slowly nodded. Arya smiled and sat on the edge of Rana's bed, pulling out a book of Indian folk-tales. She slowly opened the book and read the first tale, the tale of a maiden princess and her journey to the city. Arya smiled and closed the book as Rana had fallen fast asleep. Arya lifted up the covers to Rana's chin, kissed her on the forehead before getting ready for bed, turning out the lights and crawling into bed, followed soon by Kameko, Reina, and Isadora.