New School and New Friends
Among all the teary-eyed or confused parents train to Elaine's new boarding school took off exactly on time minute to minute. Whilst she couldn't see any of hers, her eyes felt wet as she hardened the grip on the letter her father gave her. Her father, the 'King of England' or as she liked to call him 'King Wizard of the Muggles', rarely wrote her any letters outside of birthdays. His Royal Highness King James VIII was the only & greatest supporter of Elaine.
Although she was a princess, kids in her year looked down on her year, and those whom she wanted to be friends with often were drawn away from her as she got older. The only friends she'd had were her relatives and his father's secretary's twins Alex and Sasha. Of course, even being her closest friends, they were worlds away from her. Because they are more non-magic people; Muggles. She had lots of memories of playing with her friends flying toys and vases ( mostly vases) and then and Alex & Sasha got dragged to the corner of the room and got hold of wands in front of their faces, then being asked to act like nothing happened. Yet they were home. His father was home. The palace was home.
And now she was going away from home and family to a place filled with strangers in a nearly foreign land to learn magic. Of course, she wasn't completely unfamiliar with the concept of magic, and being a magician, she did a few tricks herself you see. Her father talked about it constantly, and she recalled him talking about his Hogwarts memories since she could recall him.
So she knew about Hogwarts, how there were 4 different houses and you were supposed to get into one of them. She was hoping for Gryffindor because her father was in Gryffindor. Or maybe she could've been chosen to Ravenclaw; her mother's house. She didn't know much about her. Just that she and Papa fell in love in Hogwarts, had her during a war and very young, also before marriage. And in her and her family's world, it was a big no-no. Alas, she wasn't given ANY moment, not remembering this fact. 'Bastard Princess' was what kids at her school called her. Although she was going to a new school, she assured herself that she had a chance at a new start, one where maybe she would have more friends -Elaine's greatest wish was to make as much as friends as possible.
once again, she was debriefed by his father briefly by saying, 'There are some prejudices against our kind of wizards, saying we Muggle-born wizards and witches aren't worthy of magic. Some people can hold it against us as a grudge and use it as an excuse to torment us. But don't forget that that means they are jealous of you. Just like the other kids, okay darling? Last time they were envious of you being a princess, now they will be jealous that you can both coexist and be successful in both worlds. It usually means you're doing great, alright, dearest?"
"But Papa, what if I don't?" Was the question that preoccupied her mind now and then. She looked out of the window. There weren't any buildings or any signs of civilization. She was going to the farthest of the Highlands. Her heart was racing with anticipation and excitement as the moments went by, so she decided to read the letter her father gave her for the first night ever in Hogwarts. Well, she could always read it for a second time, right?
'To my first daughter, my first child I'm sorry I couldn't see you off to 9 and 3/4 quarters, but you know the rules. My mama didn't know which country I was getting shipped to till year 2, you know? The Minister of Magic held her HRH, and they were taking 'extra care of their son then she knew I'd been going to school near her favorite holiday home. (Not to brag with my overflowingly loving mother, just to give you something to compare so you don't go all judgemental on me once you're all around those chummy parents at 9 and 3/4 quarters.)
Hogwarts can be home to one too many great memories and also some bad ones. I'm sure you can handle it like a lion, whatever, or whoever comes your way. Write to me once you get sorted and get into your chambers, alright? Aaand frst time getting roommates, sweetheart!?-
"Oh yeah..." she mumbled to herself. She'd forgotten about having roommates.
'-and also talking about writing I wrote to an old friend of mine in the castle. You saw her several times in the palace, but I don't know if you remember her. Ellen. Ellen Morgan. She will be Professor Morgan, there, of course, but she will keep an eye on you. I heard that she also does that in some other title, I can't wrap around the detail-anyways! You would like to visit her at your earliest convenience and have a cup of tea. She will be delighted to see you. She was even supposed to be your g-Ehem, getting too ahead of myself. Sorry for my enthusiasm. Papa is quite excited about you going to Hogwarts. Write to me, aye darling?
person who loves you the most in the whooole world
Your Papa
As he put down the letter she saw someone, more like several someones at the door of her compartment. As she met their eyes, they panicked, and they started to loudly 'whisper'. One girl who kept her mouth shut with both hands slipped out a near scream-like sigh. Unfortunately, the doors weren't much soundproof.
'My God is that Princess Elaine!?'
'What is she doing here?'
'I can't believe a royal would come to a wizarding school!'
'Umm... Guys, I think she can hear us.'
She waved to them along with her business smile that she mastered a long time ago. It was like wearing a school uniform but she'd wear it when in public. Talking of uniforms, she thought she better change into her school robes earlier than later. Early meaning early like... now.She reached to her backpack at the end of her feet and pulled out her uncolored robe, which later would be enchanted into her house's colors. She let out a breath, quite loud breath, a humph. She secretly wanted to be sorted into Ravenclaw like her mother. she'd always wondered more about her, although her father told her everything she remembered about her. Although she was much like her father, she would probably be sorted to Gryffindor.
They were still waving to her. She held up the robe and pointed towards it mouthing 'Sorry' and then closed the blinds of her compartment door fully. Then, locked it. fter she got changed into her new uniform, she started to watch the landscape go by and found herself sleeping without realizing it.She woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door. It was some boy he said, "Hey, would you mind opening it up?"
"
Sure," she said. "Wait a second." Rubbing her eyes with sleep, there was even some hair that got stuck to her mouth. 'Wow, she thought to herself as she opened the door and blinds. 'That was one hell of a sleep."
"Hi." said the tall boy who was standing outside, immediately stepping inside the compartment. "Can I come in for a second? I'm a tad bit exhausted. Just to catch a breath." And sat down opposite Eliana.
the meantime, Eliana immediately took out the hair on her mouth and ran her fingers through her hair to make it less frizzy. She was quite flushed to be caught like this, and to be honest, he was a 'tad' bit cute.Her mystery visitor had black or very dark brown hair, and the sun was lighting him in this golden-orange light, so it was deceiving to point a finger at the color. And his eyes had the color of green or blue, maybe even grey, again was hard to tell because of the sunset.He was struggling with sunset much more than her. He was holding his hand as a blockade right where light hits him and still needed to squint his eyes to see her. She held back a smile. "Sorry to interrupt your solitude." He said, extending his other hand. "Armand Lyon, a pleasure."
She shook her hand again along with her business smile. "Elaine W-Allen. Elaine Allen is the name."
Armand hesitated to laugh while he launched a slight smirk on his face. "Got two surnames, aye?" And then must be with seeing the slightly startled expression she unceasingly made he then hurriedly said, "Oh, don't worry, I also have 2, nearly had 3. Mom didn't wanna let go of her surnames, yes, several ones."
She found herself lightly chuckling. He did have a mixed kinda messed accent. She just couldn't find where he was really from. "Are you from like foreign lands then? From abroad, I presume?"
He laughed. He rather slipped out a laugh, a snort. Then he closed his mouth as if he shocked himself that he snorted like an absolute pig. "Excuse me. I didn't think that you would be this funny. Sorry, but who says 'foreign lands' in that intonation? Even my great-grandmother doesn't use that kind of word. Right, I heard that you were someone posh and famous but I didn't think that you talked like old people."
"Hey!?" She said in an intonation, not believing the audacity of this boy whom he met someone for the first time. She was kinda laughing, too, though. "You are somewhat impudent. Look at your intonation!?" Went along with it.
"Huh?" he said, acting like he didn't understand her. "Again, what even impudent means really -"
"It means impolite, shameless, cheeky-"
"I know what it means, Merlin. "Armand laughed again (this time without snorting). He seemed intrigued rather than annoyed at her. "Who are you really, Eliana?"
"Oh, " Eliana toned down and eventually cut laughing. "I assumed you came because you know."
His eyes wandered around in suspicion. "Is it something I should know, what is it? I was just helping my prefect cousin maintain order and, well, not chaos. My other cousin told me that you were quite famous among muggles and Muggle-borns. So probably we should have a look at what you're doing and see if there's any, uh... unnecessary rush around you. She was also looking for you, but I guess I found you first."
"So you have family in Hogwarts, huh?" Elaine subtly changed the topic.
"Ah yes, several one," said Armand, successfully distracted. "Ella is in Ravenclaw. She's in her 5th year this year. She's the prefect. And there's Bella. She's the one who told me about all this. She's a 3rd year Hufflepuff."
"It must be nice to have family in the school," said Elaine. "I wish I knew someone too."
"Yeah, they are great. I wish my brother and sister were here too, though." He added silently.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't -"
"Nah, you're good." He laughed, realizing what she thought. "They aren't dead, Elaine. They just moved to a different country, to a different school this year. My parents didn't want them any other house than Slytherin or Ravenclaw."
"And they were selected into?"
"Gryffindor." He said, looking slightly stressed. She saw that he was openly worried about getting sorted into any house other than Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
"So where do you wanna get into?" She asked, genuinely wondering. 'Please want the same house, please want the same house.' secretly wishing.
"Probably Ravenclaw," said Armand. (Yes!)
"There's Ella there, and I wouldn't be shipped away." He lowered his eyes to the floor. "Although I have a hunch that I'll be a Gryffindor too. Anyway, where do you think you will get into Elaine?"
"I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure that I will get into either my mother's or father's house. So Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Please call me Lina by the way Armand, all my friends do." said Elaine smirking. "Oh, and Felicitations, Armand. You've gained yourself a princess as a friend."
Armand's pupils widened, " Oh that was the deal? You were a princess. As in a real one, like that Ella told me about?" He blinked. "I thought she was deceiving me, making tales about muggles because I wouldn't know if not so?"
"Yes, they are real indeed. I'm afraid you have been deceived, Armand." She again reached out to her backpack. "Let me show you." This time she took out a folder she brought to go through when she missed home.
"Oh wait." She went back to her backpack after dropping the old photo album on Armand's lap and took a single photo out of her diary.
"Oh Merlin, this is hefty," Armand grumbled. "Were you carrying this all the way back from home? For what?"
"Because it's important! Look, this is nearly a century's worth of history. And I wasn't technically carrying it, Arnold was helping me with my stuff." she defended herself hastily turning the pages to a
of his great-great-great grandfather. "Dating to 1901. Do you have that deep of a family history, Armand?" She asked half sarcastic half seriously.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you but yes I kinda actually have." He kinda sounded mad about it. Like he didn't wanna answer this question. "And who is Arnold, your house house-elf?"
She burst into a laugh, "God no! He is a wizard friend, actually an employee, we have. Not like house elves, they get paid." She wiped a tear. "Oh my, that was funny."
"So you have people working for you?"
"Well not exactly for me, for my family. "She flipped a few pages back to her grandmother. "Look here's my grandmother when she was 45, Arnold's right beside her." Pointing to the right corner photo on the right page. "...and this is Arnold and Penelope chasing my dad around the garden when he was 8 or 9, and this is me with him, oh this me with my second cousins. This is the Spanish princess, I am her aunt 3 times removed!" Lina turned and looked for Armand's reaction. She thought he would be confused but he was looking quite entertained.With a smile on his face, he pointed to the first picture on the first page, "Is this your mother and brother?"
"Half-brother yes, my mother no. My mother has died, look she is here." She showed him the only wizard picture he had of his mom and his dad; black and white, moving. It was her mom and dad sitting down under a tree hand shoulder to shoulder then smiling at each other. "Holy Hippogriffs! Isn't this-" He stopped as if he'd been silenced. "Bella! Hi. I found her."
She turned her back to him and looked at the door. There was a girl at least 2 or 3 years older than them there in the doorway. She had wavy chocolate brown hair and brownish but hazel eyes. She had rather a bulky figure, she looked like she probably would've carried Lina's backpack and wouldn't even be out of breath. She looked at Lina and opened her eyes slightly immediately reaching for her hand. "Oh my god, Your Royal Highness. I heard that you were here but couldn't believe it until I saw with my own eyes." Oh, she had an American accent. It sounded like Armand's but his was more European. Elaine pulled out her reflex (business) smile and extended her hand for a shake. Americans were often more excited to see her family than their own country. "Well, nice to meet you, Bella. Armand told me that you have sent him to find me to check if I'm alright. Thank you for your kind consideration, it's mostly appreciated."
"Yes, of course."She said blinking and shaking her hand a bit excitedly.
chuckled again collecting all the attention back to him, "I'm sorry." He said looking at Lina but still half laughing. "It's just- you went back to your grandma-self again."
"No, I didn't," Lina said squinting her eyes at him. Why he was having problems with the way she talked? "It may be that you just appear to have a rather limited verbal repertoire, that's all."
"Huh?" He looked at her as she spoke in a foreign language.She was enjoying this way too much, she tried to look like she did not, hiding her smile. She'd been lectured to appear the utmost kind at all times but they didn't seem to work when it came to jest this boy.
"Excuse him, Princess. He's a bit unserious." Bella said shushing him. "He's always like that though. Why didn't come back and bother her, you lil cockroach!?" Launching herself into Armand trying to catch his ear.
"Oh, no I didn't-"
"She liked my company. Ouch, ouch, ouch- She even called me her friend."He said bragging to her cousin, holding his bright red ear. "Right, Lina?"
"Lina!?" Bella sounded shocked. She also, looked like she was about to deattach the poor boy's ear for its place so Lina started to talk. "Yes, I liked his company, Bella. Can I call you Bella? You can call me Lina if you want to. All my friends call me Lina, nobody calls me Elaine other than papers." She added, "And my father."
She let go of the ear. "Of course you can." Her focus shifted to somewhere behind Elaine. "Oh, we're nearly arriving. I should probably- you should change into your robes Cockroach." She said turning to Armand midway through her sentence. "There went by the castle, we shall hurry lil one. We'd be there in a coupla minutes."
"Don't call me Cockroach in front of my new friend!" He nearly shouted at her cousin. He was a light shade of pink, kinda embarrassed. That was probably the reason he (as he was practically being dragged by his cousin) made fun of her accent.
"I shall make haste, Lina." Rolling his eyes at Bella, when she finally let his collar go. ( "Let me go-I'm tryna say bye to the princess Bella!") "Merlin's pointy hat, she's strong! Anyway, " Scratching the back of his head still pink from being dragged like an animal outside of the door. "Please act as you see didn't her? God, she is embarrassing. In front of you..."
"I've liked her." She shrugged. "And don't worry, I like Cockroaches."
The train started to slow. "ARMAND!" They heard through the corridors that doors started screeching, being opened.
"You better go, Armand or you'll lose your ear," Elaine said. "See you around?"
"Duh." He said looking like he had no intentions to leave there. "I have a famous friend. I'm clinging to her."
"You little-" Bella's voice getting closer.
"Go now!" She said rushing him. Laughing at this family. "Be gone! See you!"
She took a big breath in as the train fully stopped. She looked out of the view, they were nothing but the station and the woods behind the station.It was supposed to be Hogsmeade Station from what she recalled of his father's memories. He of course had told her about all of the details about Hogwarts. ("Ha... all of the wonderful memories and friends I made there. ") Although he was forced to leave that world behind her father was a huge nerd about magic.As far as Elaine could remember all of her father told her about was Hogwarts and Wizard World. But mostly Hogwarts. From the architectural details to DUN about its history. DUN was an abbreviation her father and Elaine made.Her father started his sentences-well questions, with 'Did you know' A LOT once he intended to teach her something, to tell her something, to give her a bit of advice. And when she intended to write him a birthday card when she was 5- which was also roughly the time she learned to write- she misspelled DYK as DUN.
Her father had laughed so hard that she remembered the way she was startled. 'You should spell it DYK sweetheart. That's the proper way' was what he said as he continued to chuckle. 'And there was I thinking you would be a genius because your mother is a Ravenclaw.'
Of course, she understood that her father called her stupid a few years later but she did remember the frustration very vividly. How was she supposed the know that 'know' had a k. It wasn't until she learned other languages that languages were generally stupid.
This was what was going on in her mind as she followed a gigantic man named Hagrid who also had gigantic hair and beard through the woods. He was telling them it was the first and only time they would be transported to the Castle by water but she wasn't getting all the words quite perfectly as she was pretty much at the last row among the sea of heads. She searched for Armand's but from back most of the beads were pretty similar. "In a second youll get your firs' look into Hogwarts." said the Keeper of the Keys and Ground, Hagrid.
'Yes, yes, very special indeed." She murmured in a voice no one can hear. And then she was immediately humbled as she saw Hogwarts for the for the first time.The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. No more’n four to a boat!’ Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. There was a tiny bit if chaos still she got into the second last boat with one with two boys and a girl.
‘Everyone in?’ shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, ‘Right then – FORWARD!’ And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
‘Heads down!’ yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads although a girl boat behind them forgot the bend her head, so they were a loud thud and even louder 'ouch' that followed it. Elaine said "Are you alright?" At the same time she reached for her wand if it's a reflex of years. Though it was for years. She had her wand with her since she was 7.The girl looked more startled about Elaine asking her if she's okay than she banging her head. She blinked twice as he pointed her finger at herself, "Me...?"
burst into a laugh, "Yes, you. I didn't hit my head there. Do you need an 'Episkey'?"
raised her eyebrows. "Can you do it?"
was confused now. Was she belittling the person who just offer the help her. She wondered what about her looked so unable to do such an easy spell "Yes! I've been doing it for years. Why, do I look like I can't do it? Episkey!"
"Oh, well no-" She said even more confused. "Thank you. " Turning back to her friend.
"You've been doing it for years?" Asked the boy sitting next her, slightly startling Lina.
"Yes. Why's everyone is so suspicious?". He had curly fair had hair as far as Lina saw.It was a bit too dark to see anymore details."Because it's not that easy, I for example can do an Summonng Charm but it took me months." The girl sitting across looked at her with a weird face. "What's your name?" She had brown straight hair and a very emotionless kinda robotic voice.
"Lina. Erm, Elaine. Elaine Allen."said Elaine. What's your's?"
She slightly smiled. "Rhea Beauchamp, pleasure." He pointed the boy sat next to her whom did not utter a single word since they sat on the boat. "And this is Ryan. My second-cousin from mothers side. He pretty much like a Muggle-Born, like you."
"Oh, hi." Lina said. "Wait, how did you know I'm a Muggle-born?"
"They were lots of whispers about the muggle princess since last year. I've heard that you will be given a private room." He gave her a look. "Is that true?"
"No. Where have you heard that rumor?" Lina asked.
"Yes. Where did you heard that?" Rhea interested. She frowned, "And who are you?"
Fair-haired boy grined a little. "I have my sources. And the name is Luke Koga-Ok." Then turned to Lina grinninng even more. "From Hallton."
"No way!"Lina almost jumped. "Were we at the same school?"
"Same class." Luke corrected her.
"Oh, yeah your surname sounded familiar." she lied. "Not great at remembering faces."
"Well, we never talked so, understandable Your Royal Highness."
"Your ro-what?" repeatted Ryan the Cousin.
"Your Royal Highness." Luke answered before even Elaine even couldn't part her lips from esch other. "That's what we call members of the royal family when we adress them-"
"-Of course, you don't have too."said Elaine to the confused cousins. "You can call me Elaine or Lina."
"Yes, that's much easier, Lina it is then." Ryan staring at Elaine. " And Lina sorry but where do you belong in the royal family? I don't really know about them, are you like a distant relative or like the ones that live in a castle." Blinking a lot and showing the castle that sit in the rocks. "If so, is your castle big like Hogwarts?"
laughed while Luke shake his head sayingg no but he was still grinning too.
"Yes!" She said enthusiasticly, "We even have 3 dragons unders my castle, Drogon, Syrax And Viserion."
They looked at Luke to confirm here while Elaine laughed even more and more.
"No they don't." said Luke biting his lips to stop himself from laughing. "And their castles is relatively much more smaller than Hogwarts. Their main castle doesn't even belong them, it belongs to the government."
"Well not technically but-"
"May I please inform my fellow gullible wizard friend without confusing them even more, Princess?"said Luke touching Elaine's arm slightly. "I've been doing this for quite some time now."
She would normally would've said 'well it is my life' and explain it herself but for once she didn't. Instead she tried to reminisce Luke from school ash he contunied to explain royal protocols and details about her life to her other companians.She didn't know all the kids in her class. Matter fact, she knew very few. Although she remmebered hearing his last name Koga in the attendance list. She remembered it because her friend Lisa and some other kids made fun of it but she wasn't keen to remind Luke the fact. Moreover she was going to pretend like she didn't remember he was bullied in Hallton, even more than her. Little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks and pebbles. Then she saw her companions in much more detail.
‘Oy, you there! Is your head still it'sin place?’ said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
‘Yes!’ said the girl, holding her out. Smiling to Elaine. 'I'm all good.'
Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid’s lamp, coming out at last on to smooth, damp grass right in the shadow
of the castle.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door. ‘Everyone here? Alright then, should we go." Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.