"I'm so nervous!" Summer exclaimed in a tone that didn't sound in the least bit nervous.
We all looked very organized in our dresses and heels, lined up according to house.
"Don't be nervous, everyone here is very excited to meet you all." Said the Hogwarts seventh year girl who had shown us to the great room.
"You can go into the Great Hall now Heather." Professor McGonagall told the girl.
Heather nodded, the big doors opened, and she walked inside.
"Now, I'll lead all of you to the front of the Great Hall where there are chairs set out for you. Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, will explain to the students about your school, Professor Carmichael will introduce you, then you may go sit at the table in the middle of the hall." Professor McGonagall said, "Ready?"
Without waiting for a response, the doors opened and she led us through. I tried hard to just keep looking forward, but I couldn't help but notice all the people staring at us. The hall was filled with whispers.
We took our seats at the front of the hall and waited for Professor Dumbledore to start speaking.
"On behalf of all of us here at Hogwarts, we would like to welcome the ladies of Domina Notoria Academy."
There was a huge applause from the students.
"Now, just so you know a little background about their school, Domina Notoria Academy is an all-girls magic school in Alabama, United States. The school originated in 1852. The students are broken into three houses, based on areas that they are most talented in. The Ipsum house is for the extraordinarily intelligent, independent, and clever students. The Xysticus house is for the athletic, driven, hardworking, and loyal students. Then, last but not least, the Aliquam house is for the exceedingly creative, artistic, friendly, and kind students.
"Domina Notoria Academy is known magically for students excelling in charms, potions, and transfiguration. They are also known for excelling in the fine arts, such as music, visual art, drama, and creative writing. I hope that you will all welcome these lovely young ladies. And now, I believe that their Headmistress, Professor Carmichael, would like to introduce the girls." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Hello students, I'm Professor Emeline Carmichael. Before I introduce the girls I'd like to make a couple announcements if I may." She looked to Professor Dumbledore for permission.
He nodded.
"Well, like Professor Dumbledore said, students from Domina Notoria are known to be very good at the fine arts. To show our gratitude for letting us stay here, we would like to do our music program for you tomorrow at the evening meal."
She turned back to Dumbledore for confirmation.
"That would be wonderful!" He said.
"Unfortunately, I will have to leave after the meal tonight, as I have been informed that I am needed for the… investigation at Domina Notoria."
The fact that we were going to have to do our music program in front of the whole school was news to all of us. Now we were finding out that Professor Carmichael wouldn't be there to direct us? Sure she was a little too enthusiastic at times, but we had never done our music program without her.
"So, with that, I'd like to introduce all the students from Domina Notoria Academy. "
There were only forty-eight of us, twelve to a house, so the introductions didn't take long.
"Hayden Blackwell, of the Aliquam house… Avril Burton, of the Ipsum House… Summer Drakes, of the Xysticus House…" Professor Carmichael started. Then it was, "Olivia Etheridge, of the Ipsum House… Jade Greene, of the Ipsum House… Jamie Hartley, of the Xysticus House…"
As Professor Carmichael got closer to my name, I got more and more nervous. I found it weird that I was nervous, considering that I had sung on stage in front of hundreds of people before. Standing in front of all these people shouldn't faze me as much as it was. Maybe it was because then they would all know my name. Not that they would try and remember it… Or maybe it was just because these were the people that I would spend the next year, possibly longer, with.
"Noel Hollingberry, of the Aliquam House…" I stood up and walked to the front of the Great Hall. I looked at all the eyes that were on me. I walked quickly to the table, trying to avoid their gazes. Maybe it was just my true introvert personality kicking in, not liking all the attention, because truthfully, I didn't. The only reason I had joined the choir at Domina Notoria was because Hayden, one of the other Aliquam's, heard me singing in the shower and told Professor Carmichael that I could sing. Professor Carmichael then guilted me into joining the choir saying that if I didn't I would be wasting my gift. She also conveniently found that in my file I needed an extra-curricular activity if I wanted to graduate and it just so happened that choir was the only extra-curricular activity that wasn't full.
The first time that I ever went on stage was the most frightening experience I had ever had. Once Professor Carmichael, who was also the choir director, found out that I could sing she gave me five out of the eleven solos, with there only being ten people in the choir. It took me awhile, but after a couple of performances I got into it and found out that I really did like singing. It was just my naturally quiet personality that didn't like singing in front of people.
After Professor Carmichael introduced us to the school we ate and then walked back to our common room. All throughout dinner I could feel everyone's eyes looking at us and I could hear their whispers talking about us.
"Your timetables are in your rooms. When you get to your first class the professor will assign you someone that will show you around. "Professor McGonagall had told us right before we left the Great Hall.
When we got back to our rooms each of our timetables (whatever those were) were sitting on our bed. I picked mine up and found that it was basically schedule of classes for the week.
"Notes: Breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9:00 every day, lunch will be held from 12:30-2:00, and Supper will be held at 5:00
Monday-
9:00-10:00 Transfiguration, 10:00-11:00 Defense Against The Dark Arts, 11:00-11:30 Break, 11:30-12:30 Herbology, 2:00-3:00 Break, 3:00-4:00 Transfiguration, 4:00-5:00 Arithmancy
Tuesday-
9:00-10:00 Transfiguration, 10:00-11:00 Charms, 11:00-11:30 Break, 11:30-12:30 Charms, 2:00-3:00 Break, 3:00-4:00 Transfiguration, 4:00-5:00 Arithmancy
Wednesday-
9:00-10:00 Potions, 10:00-11:00 Defense Against The Dark Arts, 11:00-11:30 Break, 11:30-12:30 Herbology, 2:00-3:00 Break, 3:00-4:00 History of Magic, 4:00-5:00 Potions, 12:00-1:00 Astronomy
Thursday-
9:00-10:00 Potions, 10:00-11:00 Muggle Studies, 11:00-11:30 Break, 2:00-3:00 Break, 3:00-4:00 Defense Against The Dark Arts, 4:00-5:00 Potions
Friday-
9:00-10:00 History of Magic, 10:00-11:00 Muggle Studies, 11:00-11:30 Break, 11:30-12:30 Herbology, 2:00-3:00 Break, 3:00-4:00 Defense Against The Dark Arts, 4:00-5:00 Charms"
I had gotten all the classes that I wanted to take. I sat down on my bed and put my schedule down on the side table. I stared up at the top of the bed curtains. This outta be interesting.