Just a girl ~ No doubt
We finally got to Hogwarts, the trip felt way longer than usual after the Dementor was gone. The others had somewhat similar reactions to mine, they felt cold and at the depth of despair, no one else said anything about hearing voices though. Not until Harry regained consciousness, did he say something about a scream, I almost told him about the voices, but then hesitated, I wasn't sure I was ready to share that, and I don't know why.
Finally seeing Hogwarts brought the warmth back into my chest, standing there, glorious as ever, the closest thing to a home I ever knew.
I took a seat at the Gryffindor table and spaced out. I desperately tried to remember anything about the voices, what they said, how they sounded like, anything. But I couldn't, it was like a dream, that is so real one second and then the next it slips out of your mind like water through your palms. I wondered why everyone else didn't hear anything and why Harry heard someone scream, he said he heard it, like someone next to him, but that's not how I heard the voices, I knew they were coming from inside me, I was able to distinguish between the wailing voices in my head and the confused ones of my friends, I knew they were inside my head I just didn't know how to stop them.
Professor McGonagall's voice pulled me out of my train of thought, the sorting had started. I stared up ahead as Professor McGonagall started calling students. When she reached "Blair, Kenzie" the girl I met on the train walked up confidently. The moment the hat touched her head it yelled "Slytherin"
"I knew it!" I whispered to Ginny who just giggled.
I expected the usual cheering from the table across the hall, but it didn't come. Very few Slytherins clapped and were silenced instantly by the others. I stared ahead at Blair, the tiniest wave of hesitation passed on her face, and then she just smiled and strolled to the Slytherin table, she had to walk all the way to the end of the table as no one was letting her sit, several looked disgusted by her including Malfoy and Diaz, some just looked confused. I felt like I was the most confused though,
"Why didn't they-" I started
"She's a muggle-born, muggle-borns in Slytherin are very rare, they don't think she belongs there," said Ginny explaining.
"That's why most Slytherins know each other, they mostly come from huge pureblood families that have connections with each other, so they know when someone is an outsider" continued Ron.
Blair didn't seem bothered though, she sat at the end of the table with a smile, she seemed happy to be in Slytherin despite the unwelcoming energy.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips tightly staring at the Slytherins, she seemed to be barely holding back her anger, but then she just continued calling students and moved on to "Greengrass, Astoria"
The brunette was also sorted into Slytherin, this time the cheers were deafening. She walked to the Slytherin table too, looking a little disappointed, people made a place for her, but she just ignored them and walked all the way to the end of the table, the cheers quietened as she took a seat next to Blair with a challenging look on her face.
The rest of the sorting went by without any more problems, Harry and Hermione rejoined us shortly after.
Dumbledore started his speech with the most horrifying announcement.
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused, and I shivered remembering the way it felt, the cold, the despair. "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly. I wondered what if some of them wondered in, what if I passed one, the idea made me terrified, I hated how it felt being around only one, let alone several of them.
Dumbledore then introduced Lupin as the defence against the dark arts teacher. And announced that Hagrid is going to be taking over the care of magical creatures post, at least some good news.
When the speech was over, the plates filled with food, I ate the sandwiches Mrs. Weasley made us on the train, but that doesn't mean I was full, not in front of Hogwarts feast. I ate so much until I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore. Then we went up to our houses.
The moment I got into my dorm, I sprinted to the window and opened it. And sure enough, long hooded dark figures stood at the entrances, even though they weren't nearly close enough to feel their effects, I shivered nonetheless. Ginny and Sarah popped their heads next to me. I was just staring at them, I hadn't gotten a good look at the Dementor on the train because I was standing behind Lupin, but there they were, looking as scary as ever.
"The way it made me feel, I've never felt like that, I don't feel safe with them so close" said Ginny.
"I was frozen, not just because it was cold, but I actually couldn't move, I hated feeling like that," said Sarah as she moved nervously next to me.
We stood fixed in front of the window for almost a minute, and then Sarah shook her head vigorously and shut the window up.
"Stop, it's our first night back we're not going to spend it staring at some stupid creatures that inhale our fear. Come on you two" she said and took out a few cassettes from her suitcase and put them on a wireless she had bought in Diagon Alley.
"Aren't we supposed to sleep, though?" I asked cautiously, and then we stared at each other and burst into laughter. Then we just started unpacking and dancing around.
"There, I unpacked and organized my stuff, now if someone scattered all of it around with the excuse of 'searching for the diary' I'm going to kill that person," said Ginny as she finished unpacking.
"Your stuff was already scattered when I found them, stop blaming me" I retorted as I fished through my suitcase for my other shoe pair.
"They were organized scattered, you made them real scattered"
"Why did you need your stuff organized if a huge snake was trying to kill you?"
"That's my business"
We finished up and Ginny was helping me with my hair.
"You can't just leave it tangled up all through holidays, Mum taught me the untangling spell, but it can't help every time, you have to brush it"
My hair was long, I liked it that way, I couldn't fathom having to cut it because it was getting too tangled.
"I'm sorry, my Aunt never taught me how she'll just leave it and hide me when there are guests" I whined.
"I seriously hate that woman"
"Join the club"
Later we played exploding snaps till it was extremely late.
That night was one of the most fun I ever had in my life.
Of course, it didn't feel so good the next day as the three of us dragged each other to class with four hours of sleep.
I got in charms just in time and put my head in my hands, still trying to wake up, but before I could close my eyes, the cold voice I dreaded came out of nowhere.
"Wow, you're already tired? Is that a forfeit?"
I sighed internally and raised my head to look Diaz in the eye.
"You seem to be so eager to lose again, was it fun?"
"I'm not going to spoil it for you, darling, you'll try it later anyway"
I smiled, so did he. I was secretly glad we're still doing that, it was fun and I loved humiliating him last year.
"You won't know what hit you," he said as we shook once again.
"We'll see about that"
After charms, we had defense against the dark arts, I was curious about the new professor ever since the train incident, no one knew a lot about him, my only hopeful thought is that no matter how he is, he will never be worse than Lockhart.
Sarah, Ginny and I got there a little early and took our seats. Professor Lupin came shortly after. He reintroduced himself and started talking about the basis of duelling.
"Duelling was a type of formal combat between two or more witches or wizards - where only magical acts could be used as a form of offence or attack. Before a duel, the opponents would bow to show their mutual respect and then wait for a count of three to start," he started saying as we all opened our textbooks "It's also a competitive sport with rigorous rules about the curses, hexes and charms allowed to be used. Professor Flitwick for instance was a duelling champion, I'm sure he'll be happy to tell any of you about it if you ask" he stopped for a second and seemed to be studying all of us.
"There are some spells that are used in almost every duel, they're basics, although should never be underestimated. Older and wiser wizards might still not perfect some of them, they can sometimes make all the difference," he took another look around the class "Can any of you name one of the basic duelling spells?" He asked and several people raised their hands, including me.
"Yes,...Mr. Creevy, right?"
Collin nodded, "there's the full body-bind curse"
"Great example, anyone else? Yes, Sarah"
"Knockback Jinx, it's called Flipendo, it's a funny Jinx"
"Of course, it is," said Lupin smiling "but it also might be dangerous when used in a specific context," said Lupin and signalled for us to lower our hands " Some other spells are "disarming charm, Trip Jinx and freezing charm, now does anyone know how to perform any of those spells?"
For a second, no one raised their hands, I hesitated then firmly put mine up.
"Yes, Emma, what spell?"
"The disarming charm, Professor, it's pronounced Expelliarmus and the wand move is-"
"Why don't you show us instead? Come up here and try and disarm me"
Everyone was staring at me, I was sure I could do the spell, but that didn't stop me from still being anxious, I slowly got up and walked towards Lupin. He smiled encouragingly. I raised my wand, Harry was the one who taught me that spell last year, and I imagined the wand move in my mind. Lupin was holding his wand loosely with two fingers, it seemed like he could drop it if he got startled. I get that he might be trying to help, but I couldn't help being a little offended.
"Can you hold your wand tightly, Professor, I promise I know how to perform the spell?" I said before I can stop myself. He stared at me, I went too far this time, didn't I? Why do I always do this?
But then he smiled.
"you're right, I trust you can do it"
He straightened and held his wand tightly, pointing it at me.
"Expelliarmus," I said moving my wand accurately. Lupin's wand flew out of his hand, I caught it just barely.
"Excellent, Emma, thank you for showing everyone the spell, ten points for Gryffindor" he said as he took his wand from my outstretched hand. I smiled and went back to my seat.
"Now who else wants to try?" He asked and a few hands shot in the air.
The rest of the lesson went that way, everyone tried at least once, and he kept fixing their spelling or wand movement until some were able to do it perfectly, he promised we'll practice more next lesson, it was easily the Best Defence against the dark arts class we ever had.
Finally, at lunch, I bumped into Conan. I spent lunch at the Hufflepuffs table, catching up. I hadn't realized how much I missed his company, I told him all that happened since Marge was blown up, excluding the conversation I had with the minister and whatever was going inside my head during the Dementor attack.
"I did hear that someone saw the Dementor in the train, I'm sorry it was so terrible"
"It was one of the worst feelings ever, honestly, if you're planning on sneaking out of school or something, don't"
"I wasn't planning," said Conan grinning "but if you want to we can try when Black is caught"
"I'll take that as a promise, Walker," I said grinning back "It doesn't seem Black is getting caught anytime soon though"
"He will, it's only a matter of time, Dementors are everywhere, you saw their effects"
"Yes, but if he was able to escape them in Azkaban, don't you think he can escape them outside too"
"No one knows how he escaped from Azkaban, but he was there for twelve years, if it took him that much time to escape once, it's going to be probably very hard to get away a second time"
"Let's just hope you're right," I said, not really convinced.
