Chapter 4: Settling In

Rachel woke up on that Saturday morning, not peacefully, but to Rose Weasley rocking her bed violently back and forth, attempting to wake her up quickly.

"What are you bloody doing!?"

"What do you think? I don't want to miss out on breakfast, so you better get dressed. I also want to explore the castle today, and once you're actually awake we'll meet Albus and go look around..." She looked back and glared at the lump that possessed Rachel's bed.

Rachel had thrown the sheets over her head, curled up underneath. Rose whipped the sheets off, sending them flying across the room. After this, Rachel finally agreed to get up and get dressed, though she was unhappy about her morning until she walked into the great hall, waved at Albus, ate, and received her class schedule from Professor Flitwick.

The two girls had finished eating so they wandered over to Albus and sat beside him at the Gryffindor table. They were both welcomed by friendly badgering from Rose's family. Albus finished and they walked around the castle. They were trying to figure out where their classrooms were so that they could be prepared when Monday arrived.

They compared schedules to find that the Gryffies shared many classes with Ravenclaw, which made them incredibly excited. Charms and Transfiguration from Mondays to Thursdays, sharing nothing on Fridays, for Albus had double potions in the morning with the Slytherins, while the Ravenclaws had their dosage of double potions after lunch with the Hufflepuffs.

It was about noon when they had scooped up some lunch from the Great Hall and had gone to eat it by the lake. Rachel just looked out at the scene of the dark sparkling water while Rose explained to Albus how to properly soften an object. Rachel had already known, for she has also read The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. Rachel didn't mind that Rose took interest in regurgitating words from a textbook, but found it funny. This is why Rose is my friend, she thought, a smiling purging from her lips.

After, they went out to the Quidditch pitch to find James and his friends flying around on their new broomsticks, under the permission and watchful eye of Sir Anthony. Albus told them that his dad had bought James a Speed-Streak 800, so it was no doubt that James would be trying it out. Sir Anthony even seemed excited, watching the way it glided through the air. Rachel had to admit, Quidditch seemed amazing. She knew that first years weren't allowed to play on their house team, but she decided then and there, that she would try-out next year.

At around three, they decided to head back to the castle and check out the library. They walked in and Rachel swore that Rose was about to collapse in happiness. Yeah, sure, Rachel was well into books, but no one worshipped them like Rose did. She immediately rushed over to the closest shelf, searching through as if she already had a book in mind. The trio ended up spending the rest of their afternoon there because Rose was so mesmerized. Albus finally convinced her to get moving without even signing out a single book (which was very difficult to convince her that she hadn't need any), for dinner was in a good 10 minutes.

Making their way to the Great Hall, they sat down at their designated tables and ate. The two Ravenclaws finished and said good night to Albus, heading up the Ravenclaw tower to relax in their common room. Rachel sat on the couch by the fire while Rose began to read another textbook. Rachel fell asleep, drifting off as she heard the almost silent breathing of Rose, who was sprawled across a chair, book on her chest. Tomorrow was only the second day, but it felt as if she'd lived here her entire life.

Rachel was being shaken to wake up, again. Her first thought was Rose, but only it didn't seem as violent. She struggled to open her one eye-lid to see Louis, the silvery blond haired boy she had met at the Start-of-Term feast who just happened to be Rose's cousin.

"You better get upstairs with Rose, or you'll get a kink in your neck, eh?"

Rachel sat up slowly, groaning as he was right. "Too late," she murmured. "What time is it?"

"Almost midnight." Louis gave her a serious glance. "So I'd hurry if I were you. I already sent Rose off. Dominique should be back from her last check in the corridors soon. Believe me. She will go ballistic if she sees you on the couch."

"It's only the couch. And Dom seems nice so she should understand," she replied, rubbing her eyes.

Louis smirked as he told her, "Dom likes everything and everyone where they should be, so I wouldn't test her patience. I'm her brother, I know what to expect. Go on, kid."

Rachel gave him a joking glare. "I'm not a kid. You're only what, two years ahead of me?"

"Then I guess we're both kids," he said, smiling as they walked by the statue. "Night kid," said Louis, as he ducked down the boys' dorm hall.

"Ugh! I'm not a kid!" she shouted down his hall. She saw him smiling as he turned into his room.

Just at that moment, Dominique walked through the common room entrance, hearing the end of her yelling. Dominique looked furious.

"You're going to wake everyone up!" she whispered loudly.

Rachel gave a small, innocent shrug and tiptoed to the end of the hall and sneaked into bed. All she heard was the loud snores of Shania. What a real Sleeping Beauty, she thought.

It was Sunday and Rose was going crazy. She was running around the castle for a last minute check to see if she had remembered where their classes were. Rachel and Albus decided to let Rose do her own thing as they visited the owlry. Rachel and Albus had letters to send home.

Dear Mum, Ms. Grenval, and Daryl

Hogwarts is truly amazing and I wish that you could all see it! The castle is humongous! I'm in Ravenclaw! I guess that means I'm smart? Though I'll be honest and say that I thought that I was going to be placed in Gryffindor. The hat almost put me in Slytherin? I was surprised that it had considered that house, but it doesn't really matter now.

Anyway, I made some friends on the train: Albus Potter and Rose Weasley. They've had magic their entire lives, which is really cool and all, but it wasn't much to relate to at first.

Albus is really funny but he was really shy at first. Rose is also really funny, but she had no problem with introducing herself to me. She's actually quite loud, but she loves books, which almost sounds like an oxymoron. She loves them ten times more than I do! We spent a lot of yesterday in the library trying to pull her away from the shelves!

Back to what I was saying, Rose was placed in Ravenclaw with me, so we're going to have so much fun! As for Albus, he was placed in Gryffindor but that's okay because we have so many classes with him. It's going to rock!

We also took a look at the Quidditch pitch and found James, Albus' brother, and his 'posy' showing off to Professor Anthony, the Quidditch instructor. Quidditch looks really cool and I hope I make the team next year. I think I'd be really fun! Albus and Rose continuously tell me that it's really dangerous, but I can tell that Albus secretly wants to play it too.

Albus and Rose say that they play it all the time, but the two tell me that Rose just genuinely sucks at most positions, but knows every fact there is to know about it and that Albus is a sturdy seeker because his dad taught him a ton of stuff. Do you think that I could get a broom? I would love to practice over the summer even if it's second hand. I'll be learning the basics this year, so we'll see if I'm any good!

I hope to see you soon!

Love Rachie!

P.S. Mum, what house were you in? You as well Ms. Grenval!

They sent their letters off.

The Great Hall seemed to make her feel that it was waiting for her nearing lunch. Rose was still about doing her own thing. The two had settled in at the Gryffindor table despite her house.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

Albus looked relaxed. "Yeah, go for it."

"Well, it's been bugging me since we arrived. I wanted to know why Rose hates him?" She pointed over to Martin who was sitting at the other end, opposite of the head table.

Albus paused. He took a breath as if he had answered this question a few times. "James and Martin are friends. Martin's pretty awful if I don't say so myself, but..."

"What?" said Rachel.

He sighed. "He's not as bad as Rose makes him out to be. Sure, he uses the term "mud-blood", but it's not like James invites him over a lot. Mainly it's James who visits him." Albus looked down at the table. "James told me that he doesn't like it when he says it, but he doesn't really care as long as it doesn't offend someone that much. And that's why Rose hates him. Because he doesn't have a filter."

Rachel looked back at Martin, laughing with James and his other friends. "I guess as long as it's not hurting anyone."

Albus nodded, still looking at the table.

"I don't even know what it means. Gosh, being new to magic just sucks."

Albus was about to explain when Rose sat down. They silently agreed to change topics.

"So, watcha talking 'bout?"

Albus looked to Rachel.

"Albus was just explaining wizards' chess," she muttered. "What have you been up to?"

"Well, I decided to stop by the library again and I signed out a few books."

Rose piled a good ten books onto Rachel's lap.

"A few?!"

Albus just sat quietly and buried his head in his hands.

Walking to their first class that Monday was simple because they knew exactly where to go. Rose was eager as ever and Albus and Rachel found it almost impossible to keep her sitting in her seat. Professor Flitwick seemed happy with Rose's persistence and asked to see her after class. Albus and Rachel were welcome to accompany her if they wished, but Albus had to get to going.

"Rose Wealey, ah yes. I remember teaching your mother."

Rachel gave a look of surprise at Rose.

"She was probably the brightest witch of her age, by far."

"Thank you, sir. She's taught me everything she can."

"I hope so, Miss Gra- Weasley. I look forward to you in my class." He then glimpsed at Rachel. "You as well, Miss Higgins," he added. Rachel sensed that he was just being polite.

The two left and headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts. They were a bit late but snuck in easily.

At lunch, they grabbed a few sandwiches and headed down to sit by the lake. Rachel was beginning to realize that she wasn't going to see much of her favourite muggle drink, Coca Cola, at Hogwarts. Thankfully, pumpkin juice wasn't bad at all.

They had transfiguration next, which they had been excited about. The two walked into the classroom and sat at the very front.

That was a mistake.

The professor walked into the classroom, shoes clicking on the floor. Everyone looked up and saw a slim silvery-blond haired woman.

"Transfiguration. Can someone please explain the term?" she said sharply.

Immediately, Rose's hand shot up. "Transfiguration is the alteration of an object by changing the object's molecular structure."

She walked over to Rose's desk. "Indeed." She then backed up, addressing the rest of the class. "I am Professor Shardlow." She looked sternly at the students. "I take the study of Transfiguration quite seriously. If you plan on passing this class, I suggest you pay attention. We wouldn't want any-" she paused, looking at Rachel, who was tapping her quill on her desk, not paying much attention. "-Mishaps."

They opened their books and read for what seemed like forever. Professor Shardlow would lurch over her shoulder like a shadow: there but not always visible.

They left class, heading off towards History of Magic. This time they managed to clear three seats together near the back, which was good, but this teacher didn't seem hostile.

Once that was over, they decided they'd sit in the Great Hall. They were kindly met on their way by a poltergeist named Peeves. He would float in and knock her books out of Rachel's hand, trying to be the biggest nuisance they'd ever come across.

"If he was solid, I would pummel him so much-" she found herself murmuring under her breath.

After dinner they headed up to their rooms and slept. It would have been peaceful, but Rachel had one of those dreams again.

A/N: Please review hobbits. LOL sorry, I call my friends Hobbits all the time. Especially one, who always walks around school barefoot. That fits, doesn't it? :D