Chapter 3
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Total Words: 5,220

Rebecca woke up bright and early the next morning and made her way to the Great Hall, her stomach growling. It was Saturday, so there were no classes and she took her time eating her eggs, bacon, and fruit. A few owls were flying about, delivering things that students had forgotten and letters from home. She was honestly surprised to see Maximus flying in, a letter clutched in his beak. As he landed, he dropped it into her lap and took a few drinks from her goblet of orange juice before taking off, presumably going to rest in the owlery. Rebecca ripped open the letter and began to read.

Dear Rebecca,

I hope your ride to Hogwarts and first night went well! Your mother and I miss you already. Congratulations on being sorted into Slytherin! We are very proud of you.

Since you came on a Friday, I think it's safe for me to assume your classes don't start until Monday? If so, that means you have plenty of time to explore the castle (be careful though) and write back to me about all the cool things you've seen. Be sure to check out the lake - I saw the giant squid a couple of times in my day... it's quite something!

There's not much to update you on around here; just life as usual. Your mother is about to go to work and I've got the day off so I thought I would write to my favorite daughter. Write me back and let me know you're doing well and enjoying yourself... I look forward to hearing all about your first week as well when you're done with classes (and homework!)

Love from,

Dad

A smile played across Rebecca's face as she finished the letter. She missed her father already, but was excited to go exploring and write back to him. It had been comforting to see Maximus; it was like a little piece of home coming back to her. This was going to be the longest that she had stayed away from home and knowing he would be there made it easier to handle. As she put the letter aside and turned back to her breakfast, the blond boy from the night before came and sat down in front of her.

"Good morning," Rebecca said, nibbling on a piece of bacon.

"And to you. You're up awfully early for a weekend," he said. Rebecca wracked her brains, trying to remember his name.

"I suppose. I'm just anxious to start classes, to be honest." She swallowed and took a drink of her juice. Scorpius, that's his name! "I forgot we don't have any until Monday."

"Monday is Herbology for first-years. I remember that much... I prefer potions though." Scorpius reached for some sausage and eggs and filled his goblet with pumpkin juice. "Herbology isn't too bad. You've heard of Neville Longbottom, right? He's the professor."

"Is he really?" Rebecca said, somewhat surprised. He was the boy who killed Voldemort's snake, everyone who had heard the stories of the battle knew that much. "What's he doing here?" She figured he would be doing something for the Ministry or something else important.

"I heard he just enjoys it here better than at the Ministry."

"You know, I can imagine that..." Rebecca trailed off as she finished her bacon and moved on to her eggs. She liked to finish one food before starting on another; it was just a weird habit she always had. The two sat in silence for a few moments as they ate.

"Would you want me to show you some of the castle?" Scorpius finally asked, his eyes still resting on the plate in front of him. "I mean, just so you know where things are..."

"Yeah, absolutely. I could use a tour," Rebecca smiled and finished her eggs. "It might take me this whole year to get used to this place."

"I still don't know everything about the castle," Scorpius admitted with a dry chuckle. "But I've only been here for one year. Even some of the sixth and seventh-years don't know everything."

"I can only imagine." Rebecca then thought about the different Houses and their common rooms. "This may sound stupid, but... all the Houses have different areas of the school, right?"

"What, like different entrances?"

"Yeah."

"Of course. And each one is password-protected. I only know where Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are. I haven't been able to find Ravenclaw yet. But I can't go into any of them because I'm in Slytherin. The same goes for you, and the rest of our House."

"I wonder what they all look like..." Rebecca finished her orange juice just as Scorpius finished his meal. "I kind of wish we could see them all."

"Are you ready to go?" Scorpius asked, a smile on his face.

"Yes, sir!"

...

Rebecca couldn't stop smiling. She'd had a wonderful day, exploring the castle and learning everything she could from Scorpius. He was a lot nicer than she thought he would have been, considering everything she had heard about his family, but she was grateful that he had taken a liking to her. Hogwarts was amazing, but felt much nicer when she had a friend to share it with. She made her way to the common room after dinner and pulled out a fresh roll of parchment. Dipping her quill into a new ink bottle, she began to write.

Dear Daddy,

I was so happy to get your letter and to see Maximus! I love it here already, and can't wait until classes start - you were right, they begin on Monday. I start with Herbology and end with Transfiguration. I'm quite excited to get started.

I met a very nice boy today. His name is Scorpius Malfoy and he showed me around the castle and told me what he knows - he's in his second year, but that's still one more year here than I've been! We had a good time and I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to find my classes fairly easily when they begin. It's still surreal that I'm finally here, after hearing you and mum talk about it for so long!

At the start-of-term feast, Professor McGonagall told us that this was her last year. I barely know her, but it makes me sad nonetheless. I wish I could have had her as a teacher... my schedule says Transfiguration is now taught by a Professor Willey. I hope she's nice.

That's pretty much all the news I've got for now, I've only been here a day, after all!

I love you,

Rebecca

She read over the letter a couple more times before deciding she was satisfied, and left the common room to head for the owlery and find Maximus. Once she had found her way, she gently called the snowy owl to her and stroked his feathers for a few minutes before giving him the letter.

"This is to mom and dad," she said softly, "I hope you have a safe flight."

Rebecca watched the owl take off into the darkening sky, smiling. She was finally home.