She was a Gryffindor! A great sense of happiness rushed through her body, her insides squirming in an aura of repetitive joyfulness. She would be with Dorcas! Natalie couldn't help but grin at the loud and uproarious applause she was receiving from the Gryffindor table. Dorcas bounced up and down in utter glee, and as soon as her friend took the vacant seat on the bench, she squeezed Natalie in an excited and relief filled hug.
"I knew it!" Dorcas cried happily, her entire being glowing with pride.
"Congratulations," Lily Evans smiled sweetly from the seat across from her, while Sirius Black and James Potter gave her a playful thumbs up from their spot down the table. To the right of them, Remus gave her a soft smile that immediately sent her senses reeling.
Natalie flushed from all the enigmatic attention, and turned her face to the front of the room where McGonnagal called out the final student's name, "Draconius Meliflua."
The student gracefully sat onto the chair, his face in a sneer, as the hat was placed on his head. Natalie admired his courage as he ignored the hundreds of curious gazes, and wished she could have been brought up so boldly.
"Slytherin!" the hat almost immediately roared, and the right side of the hall erupted into applause.
The new Slytherin smirked and clambered to his table, shaking hands with a few of his peers as he sat down.
"New students, welcome to Hogwarts!" the Headmaster scanned the crowd with blue twinkling eyes. "Old students, welcome back." He beamed as another loud and cheerful applause erupted into the room. "Now, before you delight yourself to supper, I would like to say a few words." He paused. "Blitwit! Uber! Crailment! Fleak!" The Headmaster sat down, and the Hall followed this act with a roaring appraise led by the seventh years around the room. Natalie bit her lip at the gesture and joined in with her fellow students.
Large proportions of food appeared on the table, and in no time, every student was helping themselves to their favorite roast, potatoes, and pasties.
"Eat up," Dorcas chuckled as Natalie looked around apprehensively. "It's not poison."
With a deep blush making its way up her neck, Natalie obliged, trying to ignore the curious glances her fellow Gryffindors were now giving her.
"So, Doge right?" a beautiful black haired girl next to Lily piped in.
"Natalie Doge," she smiled in embarrassment.
"Ophelia," the girl replied. "Ophelia Lament. I'm a seventh year as well so I expect to be seeing you around."
"Definitely," Natalie grinned. She couldn't believe it. She had just made a friend!
"Ophelia is Seeker of the Gryffindor Quiditch team," Lily elaborated with a grin.
"Oh?" Natalie frowned. She absolutely loathed Quiditch. She didn't know what all the hype was about. Falling off a broom for fun sounded a bit ludicrous to her.
"Yeah, Ophelia is a great Seeker. So Natalie what do you think about Hogwarts?" Dorcas spluttered quickly with a falsely cheerful grin on her face. Lily glared at her questioningly. Why did she change the subject? Dorcas loved quiditch.
"Um, its nice, I guess," Natalie looked around the enormous room.
"You guess?" Ophelia laughed out loud. "That is the understatement of the day."
"She was home schooled," Dorcas mused. "She isn't used to going to school in a large, magnificent castle with thousands of students rolling around the floor."
"Hogwarts is a bit different," Natalie shrugged nonchalantly.
"How do you two know each other?" Ophelia raised her brows, obviously amused.
"Ten years ago, I ran away to a great, forbidden forest where I found her lost and abandoned in a tiny little shack," Dorcas giggled.
"Alright," Ophelia took a bite out of the nearest strawberry pasty. "But why didn't you come to Hogwarts for your first year? Why wait until seventh year?"
"My mum didn't like the idea of sending me away for my schooling." Natalie frowned uncomfortably. "So Ophelia, how long have you played Quiditch?"
"Since third year," she boasted proudly. "My father is captain of the Falmouth Falcons."
"Wow," Natalie faked a smile. She hated to talk about Quiditch, but it was at least a step up from talking about her mum. "He's probably plenty proud of you then, eh?"
"He bought me a Nimbus 1500!" She replied enthusiastically.
"What?!" Dorcas' jaw dropped. "You didn't tell me that."
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Ophelia laughed. "But I couldn't hold it in any longer."
"You have to show it to me sometime," Dorcas frowned enviously.
"You could have a go if you like," Ophelia smiled favorably.
"Maybe," Dorcas snuck a glance at Natalie wearily.
"Hey, who do you think the new teacher is this year?" Lily gestured to the front of the room where a sleek black-haired woman looked over the crowd with her fathomless gaze, her food untouched.
"That's the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?!" Dorcas whispered in shock.
"I suppose so," Lily shrugged. "I don't know who else it could be."
"She looks mean," Ophelia grounded, shoving another pile of food into her mouth.
"She does not," Dorcas protested. "She just looks a little stiff, but that's alright, we'll warm her up in no time at all."
"She'll be begging to be sacked with you on her tail Dorcas," Ophelia shook her head in glee.
Dorcas raised her brow innocently and began to devour her supper, a curious smirk playing on her lips the entire time.
Natalie found she couldn't eat much, albeit she wanted to. She hadn't been graced with such a wonderful feast in a long time, and of all times to stuff your face, she feared this was not one of them. Too many people were watching her every move, and she didn't think her stomach would be able to handle such an enormous course.
Also, the final words of the sorting hat still echoed in her ears. "By the end of the year, you will have conquered two of your fears. If you abandon your part of the deal, you will fall precariously ill and thus then we shall see your true colours." True colours? What the junk did that mean? Precariously ill? Argh, It was all too confusing, but at least she made it into Gryffindor!
"Attention." The low commanding voice of their Headmaster Dumbledore rang before them once again as he stood by the podium. "Now that we have all been fed and watered," His eyes searched the room for attentive faces. "There are certain 'notices' that we must discuss. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden, as it always has been. Quiditch trials will be held in two weeks so captains prepare your flock." He smiled."As usual, there will be no magic in the hallways or in between classes. You may only use it when engaging in a learning experience that is directly supervised by one of our wonderful, dear professors." He waved a hand to the many grown-ups at the head of the room. "It is also my pleasure to take this moment to introduce our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Prewet."
The rigid black-haired woman stood emotionlessly at the head of the room, a scrutinizing frown evident on her face as she caught the eyes of her curious new students. Slowly she nodded her head, and a small smile graced her lips. "Thank you, Headmaster."
A stuttered applause broke out in the room, but it was quickly hushed by Headmaster Dumbledore's poise at the podium once again.
"And to all previous Professors; welcome back." He beamed. "We now begin another marvelous school year that will undoubtedly be filled with excitement, drama and necessary caution. We are here to prepare you for the coming future, and for that, you must all work diligently in your studies. Please do not take your education lightly. It is a basic fundamental in your future." His eyes sparkled at the many bewildered looks. "That is all. To your beds, if you please." He beamed gratefully as every occupant in the room stood to leave.
The city was dark and sinister. The only perceptible light came from the fulsome crescent moon shimmering across the night sky, almost ghost-like. She sat at the edge of a vast cliff; her brunette curls dancing gracefully on the wind. An ocean hovered underneath, its glistening waters bouncing off the rock wall, sending a faint echo across the valley.
The air was thick and murky, and she could barely see anything. Let alone, anyone. Her mind was screaming terms of danger, and her nose could almost distinguish the scent of peril mixed with sea salt as she took in a slow quavering breath. For the first time in a long time, she feared for her well-being. Something wasn't right. It was all too quiet for a Death Eater port invasion. There should be explosions and blinding lights, yet she spotted nothing.
"Mariel," a nearby voice hissed into the darkness. She turned around to see the dark outline of Frederick Abbot, crouching lowly on the ground to prevent from being seen.
"What?" she whispered hoarsely, barely audible over the swishing waves of the ocean.
"Something's not right," he whispered back. "They should be here by now."
"Don't you think I know that?" she snapped irately, glancing around the perimeter once more. Everyone in her squad was sending her worried and nervous glances from their concealed positions, and it didn't ease her tremors one bit. Stratton's squad also looked anxious, but they were clever enough not to say anything doubtful in front of their officer. It was by one of their sources that the location of the Death Eater invasion was reported. It was by one of their trusties that her squad was assigned to adhere to them in this cursed battle, but the night was dying away with no significance. Something was definitely wrong.
"Freddy," she twisted her head. "Send word to our group. This is a hoax. We must all evacuate quietly and immediately. Get to apparation grounds and meet me back at head quarters. Now!"
Quickly, he scrambled away in the darkness to comply with her wish. The air suddenly became denser, and a deep, intense chill flew over the land.
"Avada Kedavra!" A brilliant green light erupted into the air, and the figures of dozens of Death Eaters came swarming into view.
"Stupefy!" She pointed her wand at the nearest shadowy figure. "Crucio!"
Dozens of great flashes shot through the air, and she could barely discern which dark figures were on her side. "Lumos!"
As her wand glistened throughout the grounds, she noticed the additional group of death eaters moving in from behind Straton's squad. Her breath raced in her chest as she realized they were outnumbered, approximately, twenty to one.
"No!!" Natalie struggled to breathe as she woke in the unfamiliar room. She muffled her scream as she realized she was lying in the Gryffindor girl's dorm with three other occupants. Immediately she began coughing uncontrollably, and Dorcas, who was sleeping in the bed next to her, woke with a start.
"What on earth?" she rubbed her eyes wearily.
Natalie skipped out of bed and into the dorm bathroom where she nearly drowned herself in a cup of cold water.
"You alright?" Dorcas whispered, coming to stand beside her.
"Excellent," she croaked, sending nervous glances into the dorm room.
"Don't worry about them. They can sleep through anything." Dorcas smiled. "Now that we're up. We might as well get dressed and head down to breakfast."
"Alright." Natalie forced a smile. "I could use some food."
"Okay, meet you down in the common room, say, fifteen minutes?" Dorcas grinned.
"See you there." Natalie wandered over to the large chest at the edge of her bed and pulled out a fresh pair of dress robes.
"Morning," a gentle voice rasped from the corner of the room.
Natalie smiled as she spotted the lovely Malorie McDougal, a fellow seventh-year Gryffindor, sitting lazily against her mahogany headboard, her russet brown hair sprawled down her back and shoulders.
"Good morning," Natalie smiled, praying that she hadn't awoken from her scream.
"Morning, my brunette beauty," Dorcas said dramatically as she shuffled through her trunk. "It shall, yet again, be a beautiful first day of classes."
"With Slytherins, no doubt," Ophelia sat up in her bed as well. "Don't you women sleep?" She sighed as she spotted the time.
"Oh, Ophelia. It's already seven o-clock." Malorie chuckled and clambered out of bed.
"Exactly!" Ophelia pulled the covers back over her body.
"Well then, I'll see you two in fifteen," Dorcas huffed and shut the bathroom door with a snap.
The great hall held only a few students in each house, but the atmosphere was filled with the familiar animated enigma as it did the night before. The silverware glistened in the morning sunshine, and the dishes were already littered with food.
"Dig in," Dorcas made herself comfortable on the Gryffindor bench next to Lily, who had her eyes glued to the Daily Prophet, and the two friends followed suit.
"I can't wait to see our class schedules," Lily beamed curiously setting the paper down. "I wonder if we'll have any together."
"I hope so," Dorcas looked up at Natalie. "We practically have the same classes. Which is good because I want to be the one to show you around."
"Alright," Natalie smiled. Mrs. Meadowes deliberately gave them similar courses so that she wouldn't feel so lonely. She didn't really know anybody else, and she didn't want to either. But this wasn't important. Right now, she had other things on her mind. She was replaying her dream from the night before over and over in her head. It seemed so real. She could taste the salt in the air, and her emotions were squirming. She wondered if that was how battle really felt. Did her mum experience a similar sensation every mission? She hated the thought. She didn't want to dream about her mum. She didn't want to think about her mum. Mariel was gone now, and she would never, ever, come back; a fact Natalie was struggling to get used to.
"Good morning, Lily Flower," James Potter ran a hand through his hair as he took the vacant seat beside Lily.
"That seat is already taken," she said, turning her eyes back to the newspaper in front of her.
"I don't see anyone sitting in it." He grinned lightheartedly.
"That's my seat," Ophelia came up behind them, her hair and makeup obviously rushed.
"Fine," James sighed and slid down one space. His friends Sirius, Remus and Peter soon made themselves comfortable near him, Sirius Black now sitting at Natalie's side. She shifted her eyes awkwardly, and began to eat her breakfast, ignoring the smirk Dorcas was sending her way.
The Hall was soon full, and the usual chatter of students could be heard from all directions.
"Your class schedules," their squat Head of House, Minerva McGonagall, sauntered down the table, handing everyone a sheet of paper.
"History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures," Sirius drawled as he read through his list. "DADA!" he smiled. "I wonder how much good Prewett will do us."
"She is supposed to be brilliant." Malorie McDougal piped in impressively. "She was recently awarded the Order of Merlin first class."
"In Defense?" Dorcas asked bewilderedly.
"I don't know, but she must have done something to be given such an honor."
"Gideon and Fabian wrote me about her over the summer," James smiled ruefully. "Supposedly, she is their aunt."
"Really?" Dorcas chuckled. "She looks too stiff to be related to them."
"Is she any good?" Sirius shoved a raspberry pastry into his mouth.
"Apparently she used to be an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, but she resigned a month ago." James shook his head.
"Resigned?" Dorcas asked, appalled. "Whatever for? It's not like babysitting a bunch of students is anymore interesting than risking her neck for the Ministry."
"Gideon says it was too much for her," James said between mouthfuls. "Said she was always real depressed so she finally quit."
"Pity," Sirius frowned. "Now we've got another loony for a professor."
"She can't be that bad," Lily spoke up. "She did earn an Order of Merlin, and that is not easy to come by."
"Yeah, well, we'll see then won't we?" Sirius smirked and glanced up to the Head table where Professor Prewett had yet to take her place.
"Alright, we have History of Magic up first," Dorcas stood, pulling Natalie up with her.
"Us too," Sirius smiled, pointing at James. "There's never a duel moment in Binn's class." He drawled sarcastically.
"We all have History of Magic, Sirius," Remus compared his and Peter's paper together.
"Yes, we do don't we?" Lily sighed as she looked over her parchment.
Silently, she stood to follow Dorcas and Natalie out of the Great Hall.
"So how are your new quarters?" Dorcas mused once they stepped into the corridors.
"Lonely," Lily shrugged nonchalantly. "My room is so quiet in the morning without you being my wake up alarm, and I have an entire dorm and bathroom to myself."
"Lucky!" Dorcas laughed.
"What about James? I hear there is also a common room for the head girl and boy?"
"Unfortunately, yes, but it doesn't mean we have to use it." Lily frowned. "I don't use it, anyways. Our rooms are big enough with only ourselves to keep us company."
"How is James?" Dorcas muttered, but changed her sentence when Lily sent her a glare. "I mean to say, does he bother you? You know, the usual Potter-the-pest kind of thing?"
"You saw him this morning," Lily raised her brows. "He hasn't changed… much."
The three girls wandered through the halls pointing out the familiar entryways and classrooms they passed. "That there's Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall." Dorcas pointed to a door. "We take her class tomorrow."
"Arithmancy is up those stairs, first door on the left," Lily smiled. "And this door here is ours, History of Magic."
Quietly the three girls took their seats next to each other near the center of the class. Many students followed them in, and finally, the familiar ghost-professor swayed in taking Natalie off-gaurd by his appearance.
"What?" Dorcas chuckled. "Didn't I mention he was a ghost?"
"No!" Natalie couldn't help but smile at this simple, yet interesting, discovery. Maybe Hogwarts would turn out better than she thought. -Just maybe.
-- --
Her next scheduled class was Arithmancy with Professor Mathermatus, which she gratefully attended with Dorcas and Lily. After a brief lunch break, the three girls and Malorie made there way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom where they waited for their new professor to make an appearance.
"Maybe she got lost," Sirius said out loud from his seat in the back.
"Or she decided to quit," James chuckled.
"You would like that wouldn't you Potter," a tall brunette haired boy from the Slytherin's side sneered, catching James' attention.
"Wands away. Quills out!" Professor Prewett strolled into the room at this very moment, her deep black haired pulled loosely into a ponytail. Silently, the students took out their quills, a frown evident on most of their faces. Using quills in Defense against the Dark Arts was not a good sign.
"You have all learned the basic etiquette's of Defense against the Dark Arts, I presume?" She raised her brows. "Seeming how this is supposed to be the most advanced year in this school?" After a curt nod from the students, Prewett continued. "Very well. I looked over the evaluations given to me by Professor Cudon, and he is slightly satisfied with your overall performance level in this class." Her deep eyes glazed over the room. "It seems we have a performance record for each of you except for Miss Doge."
Natalie gulped as the entire attention of the room turned onto her.
"You have completed the official coursework of Defense up to this point, have you not?" the Professor asked.
"Yes, Mam," Natalie replied.
"You have learned the basic and initial etiquette skills required in a duel, have you not?"
"Yes, Mam," she repeated.
"Very well, while the rest of the class begins their four parchment essay on the basic guidelines of dueling, I will have you duel for me at the back of the room with one of our more competent students so that I may see if you are up to the adequet level to attend this class."
Dorcas gasped and turned her worried eyes to Natalie, who by now was nibbling on her lip anxiously. Prewett flipped through the stack of papers on her desk, and pulled out a neat parchment. "Mr. Alexander Montague," she looked out over the group. The brown haired boy whom James was rivaling with only moments before stood with a great smirk on his face.
"Yes?" he said.
"You seem to have scored fairly high on your performance evaluation. I will have you be Ms. Doge's opponent as I test her today."
"Sounds reasonable," he sneered, his eyes dancing on Sirius and James who were having a silent uproar.
"But Mrs. Prewett," Dorcas suddenly stood. "Natalie hasn't ever dueled with a Hogwarts student before."
"I see no point in your objection, Miss?" she inquired.
"Meadowes," Dorcas replied.
"No point at all, Miss Meadowes. The world does not decide what type of people you will be faced with in battle. If you are a good dueler, you will be adept in both the classroom and on the field. Now class, if you will all, quietly, begin your essay." She looked around. "Miss Doge. Mr. Montague. To the back of the room, please."
Natalie slowly stood from her seat, the familiar fourteen inch black walnut Excelsior clutched tightly in her hand.
"Knock his head off," Dorcas muttered aloud and a soft chuckle murmured through the room.
"Everyone else, you may observe the duel for inspiration in your essay, but you must remain silent." Professor Prewett pulled up a chair and sat down comfortably as if to watch a show.
Montague took his place by the left wall and Natalie stood apposed to him on the right.
"Bow to your opponent," Prewett nodded her head and the two students complied. "The first one to stun, immobalize or disarm their opponent wins. As always, no forgiveables. You may use non-verbals, but let's not make this overly excessive. Keep it simple and down to the basics. The duel begins in three, two, one..."
Montague immediately lashed his wand, "Stupefy!"
"Protego," Natalie muttered quickly and his stunner was deflected by an invisible barrier.
"Yay!" Dorcas stood excitedly and applauded from her seat.
"Ms. Meadowes sit down!" Professor Prewett snapped, and she immediately slumped down to do her paper once more.
"Expelliarmus!" Natalie bellowed, but Montague side-stepped it.
"Immobulus," he aimed his wand again, but it was blocked by another shield charm.
"Stupefy!" she roared, but Montague had already lashed a non-verbal spell which made her legs lock under pressure, and she fell over unbalanced.
"Expelliarmus!" he said and her wand gracefully flew from her palm. The duel was over before she could even begin.
Locomotor Mortis! Natalie berated herself. How could she not have recognized his swish and sway?
A jovial applause rang from the Slytherin's side of the room, and Natalie flushed in embarrassment.
Professor Prewett stood to unlock her legs, and Natalie walked back to her seat, deliberately avoiding Dorcas' eyes.
"And Mr. Montague wins," she smiled, taking notes on her clipboard. "Very interesting. Rule number one of the basic dueling guidelines: keep an eye on your opponent's wand. It will tell you when, and most times, what, spell they will hit you with." She smiled curiously at Natalie who keep her eyes on the blackboard, unblinkingly.
"Yet that was some impressive spell blocking," the Professor complimented. "Just excellent. Mr. Montague I expect an additional role of parchment from you on the fundamentals of blocking spells, and how to dodge them." She winked as he sagged roughly in his chair. "Ms. Meadowes, I want a double parchment from you on the benefits of non-verbal spells. They will give you an obvious advantage when faced in a critical or somewhat fatal situation."
Natalie nodded her head somberly. Non-verbal spells were always her weak point. Every now and then she could ace them perfectly under the elaborate watch of her mother, but she hadn't since. She new it was a lethal benefit of dueling, but now that her mum was gone, she didn't have anyone to assist her in this struggle.
She couldn't believe she had lost. Natalie cringed. It was her first day of classes, and she was already out and about making a fool of herself.
"Now class, turn to page eighty-nine in your Readers." Professor Prewett stood at the front of the class, once more. "You will find an adequate list of the basic dueling guidelines which you may use in your essay that is due the first of next time's class. You may partner up with the student next to you, and only two student's per group, to discuss the flaws and advantages in the duel displayed this morning by Mr. Montague and Ms. Doge."
Silently, the class obeyed, Dorcas immediately turning to face Natalie's desk.
"Great job," she muttered with a grin. "Montague is an arrogant git, but he does have some amazing reflexes."
"I know," Natalie blushed and turned her eyes to the open book before her. "I can't believe I lost!" She whined quietly.
"It's no big deal." Dorcas protested. "You were brilliant. You heard what the professor said. Mighty impressive blocking of you ask me." She laughed.
"Who cares how impressive it was," Natalie frowned. "I still lost. After everything my mum taught me. I failed her in front of all these despicable strangers, and now I just want to go home."
A/N: Please tell me what you think!! I thrive on reviews. :)
Also, appreciation is greatly awarded to the following people for helping me decide what the most crucial and beneficial guidelines are when faced in a duel: Tyrae, Bailey, Voldemora, GoCalgaryFlamesGo, and Aurora Dawn from the forums! Thanks guys, and big huggles.
Disclaimer: Everything recognized belongs to J..
Thanks everybody thus far for the support! Please review!
(It might just help me update allot faster.) ;) Honest comments always welcome.