I just stared at them for a couple seconds, both looking gravely at me through their glasses. "Um..." I began, "I mean this with all due respect, I mean I'm sure wizards and witches of your caliber do this alllll the time, but you've made a mistake. I am definitely not the chick you want the furture of... what was the phrase you used? Oh right, 'wizard-kind and muggle-kind alike' to rest upon. There's probably some Xena-Warrior-Princess lady out there right now thinking, "Hey, I bet there is some kind of mix-up and I am actually part of a prophecy to save the world." I am positive she is much better equiped to handle this situation. I bet she even has huge muscles, those things would really come in handy, what with the-"
"Miss Thermompolis." Professor McGonagall interrupted. "We are very certain you are the girl we are talking about. Now, about your schedule. We have tutors for you on this sheet. Miss Evans, who you were previously accquainted with, will help you with charms, Mr. Snape with potions, Mr. Lupin with defense against the dark arts, and Mr. Faria for transfiguration. We are confident that for the rest of your courses however you will be able to suitably continue on your own. As well, due to your special circumstances, we will put you in with the seventh years, most of whom are seventeen, a year older than you I believe?"
"Yes, but back to my 'special circumstances'. I really think that is what we should focus on. For example, problems like; How exactly am I going to save the world?" I asked, panic making my hands sweaty and gross.
"We will walk that road when we get to it." Dumbledore smiled serenely, "But now, I think, you should be going to supper and meeting your new classmates. Will you be able to find your way to the great hall?"
I nodded mutely, and was still deep in thought (about how I was going to break out of here because of their obvious craziness) as I walked back down the stairs, through some hallways, down two flights of stairs, and finally ended up in front of the doors leading to the great hall. Okay, so... snakes for Slytherin, ravens for Ravenclaw, badgers for Hufflepuff and lions for Gryffindor. Steeling myself, I closed my eyes and counted to five. One... two... three... four... five.... and now! Pushing one of the doors open, I slipped in with my eyes still screwed shut. Opening one very carefully, I found myself very much not prepared for the sight I saw. And very eager to go back out. (Why, I ask again, am I the one to save the world? I can't even face my future classmates.)
There were four long tables, with students eating on each side, and the you could see the sky through the ceiling. But where was the Gryffindor table? Scanning through the crowds of students I breathed a very audible sigh of relief when I saw familiar manes of long wavy red hair, and curly blondish-brown hair. Power walking through the tables I quickly made my way over to where they were sitting. "Hey!" I said brightly as they both turned and smiled at me.
"Sylvia! You're Gryffindor!" Lily beamed, scooching over on the bench to make room for me.
"Yeah," Ellie grinned shyly, "We were beginning to have the impression that you were hunkering down and building a settlement there with ol' Dumbledore. Why'd it take so long though?"
"Ah you know." I said as I ladeled some broccoli and meatloaf onto my plate. "New school stuff. Tutors, classes, telling me that I'm going to save the world."
"Wait, saving the world?" Lily asked, a look of perplexion on her face.
"Yeah, do they tell that to all the girls? Because that seems like a used line to me."
"No," Ellie said, looking just as confused as Lily. "Although, you know, I do make a fabulous side-kick."
"Haha thanks." I laughed, "I was kinda hoping for Bobo the one-eyed-dog, but he's booked out, and anyways, I'm sure you'd look great in spandex."
"Oh you just know how to make a girl blush." Ellie said, fanning herself with one hand.
"Now now girls." Lily said primly. "Behave yourselves. This is a very civilized scho- eek!" Lily squeaked, after having her sides squeezed by a tall blonde guy with an impish smile on his face.
"Matthias Carlton Arden!" Ellie scolded. "For shame. Think of the first impression you're making!"
"All the ladies have a good impression of me," He winked as he slid in beside me. "As long as they don't projectile vomit on me, I'd say I was doing brilliantly." He then turned to me, and draping an arm over my shoulder and taking one of my hands in his, "Matthias Arden at your service."
"Sylvia Thermompolis." I smiled at him, and shook his hand.
"Well Arden. Preying on the new girl I see. Trying to wiggle in there before she gets to know you huh?" A girl from behind us with long dark brown smirked, quirking one of her prefect eyebrows.
"Cynthia Crawford everyone!" Matthias announced grandly. "You look great Cynthia, they must have great light over there on the street corner."
Looking calm and collected she was about to reply, however the familiar voice of Sirius Black stopped her. It appears I am rather popular today. "Come on now Arden you know that's not true." Cynthia smiled at him as he grinned at her. "Cynthia is much classier than that. I hear she even gets paid now." Cynthia stopped smiling and looked indiginant, placing a hand on her petite hip.
"Black, Matt, lay off Cynthia please." Lily intervened. Sirius just smiled dazzlingly at her before moving down the table to sit with Pettigew and Potter, the latter of whom was gazing over at Lily with an odd expression on his face, and with a huff Cynthia flounced off.
"That," Ellie said to me, "Was the phenomenon known as Cynthia. She's in Ravenclaw, Merlin knows why."
"I think you guys are just tough on her." Lily said, but still looked slightly amused.
We spent fifteen more minutes in the Great Hall, with Matt, Ellie, and Lily pointing out people in our classes and the girls in our dormitory, when we finally got tired and started to walk towards the Gryffindor common room. We had to walk up a few staircases, down a few hallways, and finally we stopped in front of a portrait of a rather large lady in pink.
"Password?" She asked, and looked at me with some interest.
"Roaring Rabbits." Lily whispered, and the portrait swung open, revealing a round passageway. Stepping through, I found myself in a cosy room with squishy chairs and a fireplace, that had a fire crackling away.
We waved goodbye to Matt as we walked up another flight of stairs and into our dormitory. I sighed with relief when I saw that all my stuff was there in a large trunk, and changed into my pyjamas and brushed my teeth quickly. Burrowing under the blankets I said goodnight to Lily and Ellie and the other girls in my dormitory, and sleepily stared out the window beside me. It had a wonderful view, showing off the vastness of the sky and the twinkling little stars. Looking down at the grounds, I thought I saw a flash of white, but when I looked harder it was gone.
It seems the crazy-school is rubbing off on me.