Hogwarts-Express
Rain Wild stood on Platform 9 3/4, glumly looking around the crowd. She had a grim expression on her face and was clearly going through another mental battle in her head.
Wilde was a short slender girl of 17, her slightly wavy blonde hair falling to her shoulders and her brown eyes scanning the people passing by.
She still wasn't entirely convinced that transferring in her penultimate year to Hogwarts was a good idea, but standing on the platform and seeing the Hogwarts Express in front of her getting ready to depart any minute now, it was pretty late to change anything.
The students and their parents were scurrying around, talking, laughing, or arguing about something.
Rain sighed tiredly and blew strands of blonde hair out of her face. Her father hadn't been able to see her off because, due to his transfer to a new job at the Ministry, he was too busy mastering his new position as head of the International Magical Cooperation Department. In fact, with her father's new job, their ability to see each other all summer had been greatly reduced. And now she stood in the company of their house elf, Ranby, who had been tasked by her father to put the girl on the train and make sure she was alright.
- Ms. Wilde, you should get on the train, it will be leaving in a few minutes. - The elf squeaked, gently pushing the girl toward the car.
Rain snapped out of her reverie, looking at the two red-haired adults and the red-haired teenagers, a boy and a girl, probably their children, and with them a dark-haired boy with glasses, paired with a girl with unruly, curly brown hair. The adults were bustling about, but the teenagers weren't particularly happy about anything and all their noisy company was just annoying, adding to the noise around them.
Rain's gaze returned to her houseboy, who was tugging diligently at the bottom of her long jacket.
- Yeah, sure. Thank you, Ranby. - she finally answered. - Tell my father I'll write him as soon as I'm settled. - The girl nodded goodbye to the house elf and, once again brushing strands of hair out of her face, she headed into the train car with a confident gait. Inside, students of all ages were hanging around, some looking for an empty compartment and others trying to find their friends.
Rain entered the car just as the train whistled for the last time and slowly pulled away, picking up speed.
The girl walked leisurely through the carriage, looking around the compartment, searching for an empty one. Rain was clearly aware of her detachment from everyone on the train. All the students already knew each other in their course, they had friends, enemies, those they liked and those they didn't. Rain, on the other hand, was a total stranger here. Unnoticed, looking around at the filled compartments, the girl sank into her memories.
She remembered Victor Krum telling her about his impressions of Hogwarts the year before last. In general, according to his stories, the school had seemed quite pleasant in its appearance and approach to learning, and even more...loyal to the students at times. But the girl also remembered the stories about the events that had taken place here the year before last....
Rain bit her lip, remembering what her father had told her when they had decided to move to Britain this summer. Something very dangerous was brewing here and he had made her promise that she would be extremely careful both in her search for what she was here for and in general. No matter what Dumbledore had said when he'd written back to them about his approval of the transfer and assured them that Hogwarts was the safest place to be, her father, as the head of one of Britain's Ministry of Magic departments, was privy to many of the details and believed that the school was by no means such a safe place anymore.
Wild moved confidently to the next carriage, hoping to find a vacant compartment there and settle into her thoughts, preparing for a year full of new and unknown things, when she came upon a small scene between, as far as she could tell, sophomores.
Several of the boys were taunting another, calling him a mudblood, but upon seeing Raine in the doorway of the carriage, one of them violently threw an object onto the floor, which shattered into many shards, and they immediately disappeared with silly laughter into the next carriage, leaving the poor boy they were taunting to cry bitterly over the broken object.
Rain frowned and shook her head. Oh the politics of the aristocracy and their attitude towards those born into a Muggle family. No matter what part of the world you're in, though, children are equally cruel everywhere. She slowly walked over to the baby and sat down beside him.
- Hey, are you okay? - The girl gently touched the toddler's shoulder. He flinched, but raised his crying eyes to Rain and quickly wiped his face with his sleeve, trying to look calm.
- Yeah, thanks, I'm fine. - He said aloofly, trying to pick up the shards of what was probably a broken glass ball.
- Let me give you a hand. - Wilde pulled out her wand and with a slight movement of her hand, the shards reassembled and turned into a glass ball with a small house in the center. The boy watched mesmerized at the ease with which Raine used magic.
- You didn't even say the spell out loud. - The boy noticed with slight bewilderment, still sniffling, but watching Rain's magic with wide-open eyes.
- Nonverbal magic. - The girl shrugged with a sly smile on her lips and held out the orb to the child. Rain's father had put a lot of effort into his daughter's training, so that she would be ready for anything at any moment and could defend herself in any situation. And the constant practice of duels at Durmstrang had forced her to learn how to use spells non-verbally. - You can learn it in your senior year. - she said to the boy, and hope lit up in his eyes.
- Oooh...- the boy exhaled delightedly, looking at his toy. - I want to do magic like you.
- I think you have a good chance if you're a diligent student. - Raine smirked. - What department are you from? - Rain had heard about how Hogwarts students were assigned to different faculties based on their abilities and personality traits. It seemed a little funny to her, but who was she to judge.
- Ravenclaw. - He squeaked back, watching the girl curiously.
Rain squinted her eyes intently, and without casting any spells, she waved her wand so that a bluish energy flowed from her fingers. It passed through the wand and at its end transformed into a small figure of a soaring eagle.
The glow disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Wilde brought her hand up to the soaring eagle and gently took it with her fingertips.
- Here, let this be a reminder to you that no matter what others say about you, hard work and perseverance always lead to the greatest results. - Rain said with a smile on her lips.
The boy stood mesmerized looking at the figure she held out to him.
- Thank you! - he whispered in awe as he accepted the gift. - I'll keep it! - The little boy smiled broadly at her and, shining, rushed down the hallway, heading for his compartment.
Rain sighed and started to rise from her knees when clapping hands were heard from behind her.
- Merlin's beard, that's just an amazing level of sorcery. How did you do that? - Behind her stood an older, fat man with a walrus-like mustache under his nose and a completely bald head.-Oh, I apologize for my tactlessness. - He smiled slyly. - Allow me to introduce myself, Horace Slughorn, this year's Hogwarts Potions Professor. - He extended his hand to Raine and she shook it back, still a little surprised at the attention.
- Rain Wild, sir. - The girl introduced herself as she shook the professor's hand.
- It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Wild. Allow me to invite you to my compartment, there are some outstanding students already here and I would be truly delighted if you would join me. - He smiled broadly with his ingratiating smile.
Rain felt a little sad that she would have to give up the idea of being alone for a while longer, thinking about her life in some spare compartment, but on the other hand, getting to know a professor who gathered around him, as he put it, “outstanding” students would be very useful, besides, she had no other particularly important and primary options anyway and she nodded in agreement.
She and the professor moved further down the corridor of the carriage and stopped at one of the compartments. Slughorn leisurely opened the door, letting Raine inside, where there were already several students around her age.
Rain's eyes ran quickly, noting each one to herself: there weren't that many, just three guys, one of them a mulatto, one straw-colored blond who immediately tried to make eyes at Raine, which she haughtily ignored, and another black-haired guy with high cheekbones and slanted eyes who fidgeted nervously. Behind them sat a bright red-haired girl that Wild had seen before on the platform.
Rain nodded and sat down across from the redhead, next to the mulatto, with her haughty look.
- Well, I'm so glad to see you all here!- Slughorn began, sitting down as the compartment door opened again, revealing a black-haired boy with glasses, followed by another, more lanky and awkward-looking one. - Harry, my boy! - Slughorn exclaimed at the sight of him and jumped to his feet, filling almost the entire compartment with his huge, velvet-covered belly. His glistening bald head and lush silver mustache shone in the sunlight, as did the golden buttons on his vest. - Good to see, good to see! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!
Hearing Harry's name and noticing the scar on his forehead brought back memories of what her father had told her-“the boy who lived” and defeated Voldemort, one of the darkest wizards of all time. And who had convinced all of Britain last year that the Dark Lord was back again.
While Rain was brooding about Britain's problems with dark wizards, Horace Slughorn was listing to Harry everyone in the compartment.
The mulatto next to Rain turned out to be Blaise Zabini from the Slytherin house, from the same course as Harry and Neville, the tall blond was Cormac McLaggen from seventh year Gryffindor, and the black-haired boy was Marcus Belby from Rovenclaw. As for the red-haired girl, she was Harry and Neville's friend Ginny Weasley and was a year younger than them in Gryffindor.
- And this is Rain Wild. - Slughorn finally pointed toward Rain, snapping her out of her musings. - I'm sorry, I didn't ask what department you're from.
- Oh, I haven't been assigned yet Professor. - she answered and all eyes immediately turned to her, full of curiosity. - I just transferred to Hogwarts from Durmstrang this year and I haven't gone through the placement ceremony yet.
Rain felt everyone in the compartment holding their breath and now studying her from head to toe with intense interest.
- Wow! - Slughorn exclaimed, clapping his hands happily. - Well, I hope you'll surprise us in class. - He winked slyly at her. - Considering how you've already impressed me with your skills.
Rain put on a polite smile, proudly lifting her chin.
- Of course, Professor. - She replied casually, unashamedly, shifting her gaze to everyone who was staring at her at that moment. McLaggen only smiled wider, Potter looked down at Longbottom, and Zabini looked a little down at her, but there was curiosity in his gaze.
If she was to fit in at her new school, she could definitely use the support of a teacher. Rain already knew people like Slughorn - he looked like a typical amateur at gathering the most promising people around him and investing a little in them, so that he could get a lot of nice perks from life and feed his vanity, as if it was only his merit that they had become like that. That said, he could really be useful with all the connections he had accumulated over the years of teaching students.
All along the way, Slughorn questioned the students about their connections, famous relatives, and the students' own accomplishments, wanting to probe how worthy they truly were of his Chosen club.
Rain tried to keep a proudly independent look and occasionally smile at Slughorn's own jokes. As far as she could tell from the conversation, Potter and his friends had fought Voldemort's minions and himself at the Ministry at the end of last year, but none of them had given any details of what had actually happened there and now most of them were burning with curiosity to find out what had happened, including Slughorn himself.
She was the only one who didn't seem particularly interested (because she knew the approximate state of affairs thanks to her father and his work) and Zabini, who, as far as she could tell, hated Gryffindors and gave them annihilating glances.
- Ms. Wild,- Slughorn turned to Raine and looked at him curiously. - What was the reason for your transfer to Hogwarts? Of course I can't deny that it's one of the best magical schools on our continent,” he chuckled into his mustache. - But sixth year is not an easy decision to make.
Rain pressed her lips into a thin line, thinking about how best to answer.
- My father was offered a lucrative transfer to the British Ministry of Magic,- she said with a little jerk of her chin, - and he decided to accept, and I've always wanted to visit my mother's ancestral home. - she gave a casual shrug.
- Oh, the ability to accept favorable offers is a good quality. - Horace squinted his eyes slyly and chuckled. - I hope Hogwarts doesn't disappoint you.
- Me neither, sir. - Rain allowed herself a strained smile.
The time dragged on, Slughorn rattling off stories about the various famous wizards he'd taught at Hogwarts who were just as happy to join, as he put it, the Slughorn Club.
All this questioning and checking out those present for potential ambitions was rather tiring. Thankfully, it was quickly getting dark outside the window and Slughorn realized that it was time for everyone to change into their school uniforms, as they would be at Hogwarts very soon.
***
Blaise Zabini shoved Potter off and was the first to walk out into the semi-dark corridor, giving him an angry look that Harry returned with interest.
The Slytherin walked to his Slytherin compartment, pondering the news that should, if not interest, then certainly surprise his friends.
The new transfer from Durmstrang would definitely be an interesting topic of discussion.
Zabini stepped into the compartment where his friends Draco Malfoy, Mattheo Riddle, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, and Vivienne Armand were sitting. He was about to close the door behind him when suddenly it felt as if something had jammed it.
- What the hell is wrong with her? - Blaise was angry, yanking the sliding door open when it suddenly jerked the other way, pulling the Slytherin behind him and he fell into Nott's lap, and as they grappled with each other, one trying to throw the other off and the other trying to stand up and push Theodore off of him, the door finally closed on its own.
Finishing their little tussle with Nott, Blaise stood up to his full height and adjusted his pants, straightening his creases and sitting down next to Vivienne, leaning back in his seats and putting his arm across the back behind his friend.
- So, Zabini,- Malfoy looked up at his friend, - what does this Slughorn want?
- Just looking for people with connections,- Zabini answered, still squinting angrily at Nott, but relaxing immediately when Vivienne put her palm on his thigh. - Not that he'd found that many of them, though there were some curious things.
- Care to share with the class? - Vivienne asked with a languid smile in her slightly French accent, her head tilted to the side and her eyes squinting.
- Oh, well, if that's what you're asking, babe...- Blaise murmured in a low, velvety voice, making Pansy snort.
- Who else was there? - Malfoy asked demandingly, not wanting to watch his friends' foreplay for long. Blaise and Vivienne had only started dating at the end of last year and many people were still not quite used to seeing their rather close interaction.
Blaise sighed, taking his playful gaze away from Armand and putting his mask of arrogance back on.
- McLaggen from Gryffindor. - Zabini began to list.
- His father's a big shot at the Ministry. - Nott remarked, wiggling his foot casually.
- Some bloke called Belby from Rovenclaw.
- Oh, Merlin, he's an asshole. - Parkinson rolled her eyes, and Vivien nodded in agreement.
- Then there's Longbottom, Potter, little Weasley. - Blaise continued.
At Longbottom, almost all of them snorted except Mattheo, who listened as if uninterested, leaning back in his seat and bending one leg at the knee, scribbling something in his invariable notebook with a pencil.
- Well, Potter's pretty obvious. - he remarked, not looking up at his friends. - Who's going to get past the Chosen One now. - Everyone nodded in agreement at Mattheo's words.
- Yes, but Longbottom!!!- Malfoy almost jumped up, causing Pansy to tense up. - Why did he call Longbottom!!!
Blaise just shrugged.
- Well, he had to, since he was there. - he answered indifferently. - And Rain Wild was there, too.
Everyone in the compartment stared at Zabini, and even Mattheo looked up from his notebook.
- I don't recall one. - Vivienne frowned, wrinkling her adorable nose, trying to remember someone with that name.
- You don't have to try to remember, Viv. - Blaise smirked. - It's a new girl, transferred to Hogwarts this year, sixth year.
- Are you kidding me?! - Nott opened his mouth wide and stared at his friend.
- Transferred? From where? - Malfoy sounded interested, causing Pansy to give him an angry frown.
- Durmstrang. - Blaise was pleased with the effect he was having on his friends. He squared his shoulders and relaxed his arm around Vee's shoulders.
- Wow! From Durmstrang? I wonder why she transferred? - Armand's eyes widened with curiosity. She tossed back her long, slightly wavy hair behind her back in an elegant movement and looked up at the boy curiously.
- She said it was because of her father's job. Seems he's some big shot at the Ministry now too. - Zabini shrugged, lingering his gaze on Viv's lips when Draco only hummed.
- How does she look? Is she pretty? - Nott interrupted Blaise's wordless dialog with Vivienne and even moved a little forward out of curiosity so he wouldn't miss a word his friend said.
Pansy rolled her eyes irritably, clearly unhappy with this turn of events. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared resentfully out the window, trying to ignore the new girl's discussion.
- Merlin, Nott, do you care about anything else in life besides this? - she asked haughtily, but Theo ignored her comment, keeping his gaze on Blaise.
- 'Mmm...- Zabini deliberately procrastinated, as if trying to remember. - Long blond hair, brown eyes, cute face, and quite an impressive figure. - He finally said, making Theodore lick his lips.
Riddle stared thoughtfully out the window, looking disinterested, and Draco put his foot on his leg thoughtfully.
- Well, if she's a mudblood, it doesn't matter...- Pansy said finally, squinting her eyes.
- 'I don't think she's one of them. - Blaise rubbed his chin. - Durmstrang didn't seem to accept dirtybloods. Besides, she definitely didn't look like a mudblood. - He said thoughtfully.
- Oh, so you liked her? - Vivienne squinted her eyes dangerously, eyebrows raised.
- Baby, you're the only one who exists for me. - Blaise smiled seductively, pulling the girl to him and then pulling the tense expression away from her face. - But my friends aren't as lucky as I am, so this information is purely for the sake of male solidarity.
Draco rolled his eyes at the blatant flirting between his friends and pretended like he was going to throw up.
Pansy, on the other hand, only frowned. Another pretty girl in their circle was definitely competition and Parkinson was not happy about it.
- What department do you think she'll be assigned to? - Theodore asked dreamily, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back in the seat.
- I have no idea. - Blaise shrugged. - I can tell you that it's definitely not Hufflepuff. And as for the rest, there's too little information.
- What, Nott, you can't stand it if the new girl ends up in some Gryffindor? - Riddle asked sarcastically, looking at his friend. His dark, slightly wavy hair fell over his forehead as he squinted his smirking eyes and lifted his chin.
- It would be a great loss ...- Nott replied almost sincerely. - Pretty girls are hard to find around the school these days. - he said, and then received a painful poke in the side from Pansy and her searing gaze. - Oh, come on, Pansy. I've known you since you were a kid and I can't think of you as anything but a friend. - Theo replied with a grimace of pain on his face, rubbing his bruised side.
- I'll see your worried faces when she gets to Potter's fucking Gryffindor,- Parkinson muttered angrily, shooting a murderous glare at Nott, Malfoy, and Riddle.
Mattheo looked wistfully out the window as the friends' conversation turned back to Slughorn and his chosen ones.
- Maybe he just doesn't know I'm on this train too? Then he would... - Malfoy asked Blaise haughtily.
- I wouldn't count on an invitation much if I were you,- Zabini interrupted his musings, playing with Vivien's long hair with his fingers thoughtfully. - When I first got here, he asked me about Nott's father. - he shifted his gaze to Theodore, who tensed at his words. - They seem to be old friends, but once he heard he'd been arrested at the Ministry, he wasn't happy and never invited Nott, right? I don't think Slughorn is attracted to Death Eaters.
Malfoy snorted, and Theodore just stared moodily out the window. It was a difficult subject for all of them, perhaps except for Blaise and Vivien, whose parents, though purebloods, had no desire to join the ranks of the Death Eaters and simply remained neutral.
- Who cares about that old geezer anyway, right Riddle? - Malfoy shifted his gaze to Matteo, who had been silent until then. - Maybe in the future we won't have to study at Hogwarts anymore, so who cares what that relic of the past thinks...?
- What do you mean we won't have to? - Pansy raised her eyebrows in surprise, shifting her gaze from Malfoy to Riddle and back again.
Mattheo only clenched his jaw warningly and looked at Draco grimly.
- Perhaps I'll be attending to more important matters...'' - Malfoy looked at Parkinson haughtily. - Perhaps the Dark Lord will care more about who served him really well, rather than NEWT results and stupid grades...
- Yeah, that's right, Malfoy,- Riddle said with a cold chuckle, keeping a dangerously squinted eye on his friend.
- Oh, maybe you're just jealous that your father doesn't give you any credit? - Draco said arrogantly, glaring back.
- Don't get too cocky. - Mattheo said quietly, a certain menace in his voice.
Vivienne felt the wave of coldness between her friends acutely. Just what was missing in this fast-rolling world of Hell was a quarrel between close friends. She quickly jumped in between them, interrupting their sizzling glances at each other.
- Oh, look, you can already see Hogwarts! - she said, pointing out the window in a playfully casual manner. - I think it's time we all got changed.
When Draco and Mattheo's gazes finally shifted to her friend and they relaxed a little, Viv exhaled in relief, glad that at least for the time being she had managed to defuse the situation and prevent an impressive argument between Malfoy and Riddle. It seemed that this year was going to be even more stressful than the last.
***
Rain walked leisurely behind the crowd of students who were waiting at the station for the wagons that would take them to the castle.
Wild shifted her gaze toward the lake and looked admiringly at the castle ahead, the sight of it taking her breath away. Of course, the scenery of Durmstrang and their school itself looked quite impressive as well. But this place truly felt magical and she remembered again the words of her friend Victor, who had been here for the Tri-Wizard Tournament and had admired Hogwarts so much.
The girl didn't notice how she was left waiting for a free carriage in the company of a lanky red-haired boy and a girl with curly brown hair. They seemed to be the ones she had seen on platform 9 and 3/4 before the train departed. Rain caught their curious stares and raised her eyebrows slightly.
- Oh, sorry! - The brunette immediately mumbled in embarrassment, realizing that she had been staring at her the whole time. - You seem to be our age, but I don't know you...
Rain nodded understandingly.
- I'm a new transfer from Durmstrang. - She said indifferently. One way or another, she would have to quench their curiosity. And from the looks of it, she would be one of the discussed topics at school for a long time to come.
At her words, the redhead immediately stared at her and opened his mouth, getting a hard poke in the side from the girl.
- I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Ron Weasley. - she smiled kindly and held out her hand to Rain.
Wild raised her eyebrows slightly at the sound of Hermione's name. It was as if she'd been plunged into a world her friend had once told her about, and all the characters in his stories were suddenly not the faceless characters she'd imagined in her head, but real people who were suddenly flesh and blood. It was a strange sensation. Wasn't this the Hermione of whom Krum had spoken so admiringly of, and whose letters he had treasured like a jewel? - thought the girl, but she would not go into details at the moment.
- Rain Wild, a pleasure. - Rain smiled a duty smile and shook her hand in return. Weasley next to her closed his mouth slackly and reached out and shook the girl's hand as well.
Thankfully for Rain, the carriage finally pulled up and the tension between the three of them lessened a little. Hermione and Ron were quietly arguing about something, whispering while Rain just silently enjoyed the views of Hogwarts. Harry's name seemed to come to her ears a couple of times, and she concluded that Weasley and Granger had lost Potter and now Hermione was biting her lip nervously, worrying if something had happened to their friend, while Ron reassured her that he was probably just at the castle by now.
It was funny to see live what Krum had once told her and Rain suppressed a grin as she watched the redhead and Granger argue.
Once at the castle gates and disembarking from the carriage, Hermione turned to Rain and smiled genuinely.
- You probably need to go through the distribution ceremony...” she began, but Wild quickly interrupted her before she could finish.
- Yes, Dumbledore wrote that I should find Professor McGonagall, who is in charge of that. - Rain nodded.
- Oh, yeah, great. - Hermione smiled nervously. Despite her self-confidence, she felt a little embarrassed around Rain and she could clearly sense that nervousness, though she didn't really understand why. - Come with us, I think we should meet her at the entrance to the Great Hall.
- Why did you transfer to Hogwarts? - Weasley asked curiously as the three of them followed the other students to the Great Hall.
- My father was transferred here for work and I had to move with him. - Rain answered briefly. She had no desire to share the details of her life with anyone right now, though it was obvious that this was not the last time she would have to answer that question.
- Is it true that you use forbidden spells on each other at Durmstrang? - The Gryffindor kept glaring at the girl, making her itch to actually cast some kind of spell on this totally insensitive upstart.
- Ron, stop it! It's rude! - Hermione slapped the boy on the shoulder, which made him cringe, but he didn't lose his temper. “I'm sorry, he's such an idiot sometimes. - The brunette said apologetically, turning to Rain, causing Weasley to roll his eyes.
Wild grinned and shook her head. She couldn't understand why someone like Hermione would be friends with such a dork, though maybe he had some very hidden positive qualities that Rain didn't know about, so she probably had her reasons. She was about to say something particularly cheeky to the redhead, but they found themselves standing in front of the huge wooden doors, where a tall older woman with glasses, a tight bundle on her head, and a pointy hat was already standing.
- Professor McGonagall! - Hermione walked confidently towards her, followed by Rain. Weasley waved at them uncertainly and went straight into the hall, not wanting to be seen by the Vice-Principal.
- Miss Granger, it's good to see you,- the professor said with a shadow of a smile, shifting her stern eyes to Rain, who was walking behind her, and raising her eyebrows in surprise.
- Good evening. - Wild said, stopping next to Hermione. - I'm sorry, I'm new here, perhaps Dumbledore mentioned this....
- Oh yes, the new transfer from Durmtsrang. - The professor said in her usual stern tone, scrutinizing the girl in front of her. - Rain Wild, I believe? I'm Minerva McGonagall, nice to meet you. - she nodded.
- It's a pleasure, Professor. - Rain replied politely. Magconagall's appearance initially inspired respect in Rain. She had already learned to read people a little bit by behavior, by posture, and by the way they looked and talked. And McGonagall left the impression of a strict but fair woman, with iron principles and a good heart.
- You'll have to wait a bit, the freshmen will arrive now, and as soon as everything is ready for the ceremony, we'll start with you. - The professor began to explain to the girl how the placement ceremony was done. Hermione smiled encouragingly at Rain and wished her good luck and went out the big doors.
Rain waited next to the professor for the start. She felt excited and wished it would be over soon. Even though the assignment wasn't a big deal, it still made her nervous and she nervously folded her arms across her chest in anticipation.
Finally, the entire hall was filled, and the freshmen, accompanied by the half-giant (as Rain assumed, because of his size) Hagrid, arrived at the doors, McGonagall nodded to her, and they followed into the Great Hall.
Rain Wild stepped confidently beside the professor, chin proudly up. Her father had always taught her to keep her head up no matter what was going on. But that feeling of having thousands of eyes directed at you clearly didn't make it any easier for her. Rain felt her ancient magic bursting out with excitement, but it was definitely not something she should be showing off right now in front of a roomful of students whose eyes were fixed on her. All she could hope for at this point was that no one noticed the bluish glow under her sleeve before she managed to get her magic under control again. It was infuriating, she didn't usually have such uncontrollable outbursts of magic and Rain made a mental note to think about it later.
Rain's gaze wandered involuntarily over the four long tables. The girl tried not to look at any of the students, so as not to accidentally stumble from excitement and not to create even more furor among the students, but at some point her eyes accidentally met with other, almost black eyes that followed her. A wave of goosebumps ran down her back and it wasn't quite clear if it was fear or something else. Dark, slightly wavy hair falling over his forehead, sharp cheekbones, and a look of incredibly beautiful eyes that penetrated to the very soul. Rain's heart raced as her gaze met this guy's. She stared into his eyes for just a second, but that second seemed like an eternity. There was something dangerous, mesmerizing in his eyes. It was like the abyss itself was staring back at her.
Rain quickly shifted her gaze to the teacher's desk, trying not to look around anymore and to calm her racing heart.
For a moment, she felt as if something was tickling the back of her neck. Someone was obviously trying to peek at her thoughts, but Rain just sent another mental note of thanks to her father for her occlumency lessons last year, though she couldn't help but wonder. It was a rather strange custom at Hogwarts to greet newcomers, the girl's mind raced. Rain wondered if it was one of the teachers or some particularly gifted student, but whoever was trying to get inside her head wouldn't succeed.
When Rain and Professor McGonagall stopped at the teacher's desk, Rain finally turned her attention to Dumbledore, who smiled radiantly at her and nodded good-naturedly in greeting when their gazes met. The girl nodded politely in return and returned her attention back to McGonagall, who was announcing her transfer to everyone.
There was an immediate uproar and whispering in the hall. It wasn't every day that someone transferred to Hogwarts from another school. Maybe not even every decade. Raine only straightened up even more and lifted her chin. She only had a little longer to hold out, she reassured herself mentally.
Finally, the professor sat her down on the stool in front of her and placed the old Distributing Hat on her head. Raine chuckled for a moment at the ridiculousness of the whole thing. Funny how at Hogwarts they trust your fate to an enchanted hat.
- Mmm...so much courage...intelligence...” the Hat whispered in her ear, ‘And ambition...I think I touched your great-grandmother's head once,’ the Hat's voice said with a chuckle. - You have the same tenacity, drive and ambition. Well...then.... SLYTHERIN! - The Allocating Hat shouted to the entire hall and the Slytherin table erupted in applause.
Rain exhaled a sigh of relief. She didn't know if it was good or bad to be in Slytherin, but it was definitely a relief that the moment of uncertainty and anticipation had passed.
When Professor McGonagall took off her hat and directed her to proceed to the Slytherin table, Rain nodded silently. She walked with her casually proud gait to the table decorated with green flags with snake symbols. Well, Rain loved the color green. At one point she caught a disappointed look from Granger, who was watching her from the Slytherin table next to her.
Wild's eyes searched for an empty seat where she could sit when a charming girl with long black hair in the company of a mulatto and a few others waved at her affably, beckoning her over to them. Rain didn't push her luck and lowered herself down beside her with a friendly smile.
Blaise, who was sitting next to the brunette, smirked at her and nodded kindly, welcoming in their faculty.
- You're Rain, aren't you? - The black haired girl smiled broadly at her. - I'm Vivienne Armand. Nice to meet you. - The girl's eyes studied the new student in their class with curiosity. - These are my friends...” she waved to the others. - Blaise Zabini...but I think you two already met on the train. - Vivienne smirked, sending Blaise a languorous look. - Draco Malfoy... - The Slytherin pointed at the platinum blond across from her, who was looking down at her with his chin up and his lips stretched in a cheeky smile.
- Theodore Nott. But for you, you can just go by Theo. - The other boy, with dark hair and bright green eyes, who was sitting on the right side of Malfoy, smiled shamelessly, keeping an interested gaze on Rain.
- Oh Merlin and why am I studying with these cretins, ready to flirt with every woman they meet...- muttered the girl with dark short hair cut into a neat bob. - Pansy Parkinson.- she introduced herself with a twinkle in her eye. - But don't expect any more favor from me than from these fools. - she rolled her eyes.
- Come on, Pansy, you don't have to be such a bitch. - Vivien snorted and shifted her gaze to the last man in their company. - And Mattheo Riddle.
Rain shifted her gaze to where Vivien pointed and goosebumps ran down her spine as her eyes met those same black as the abyss eyes that had followed her unerringly as she walked down the hall before the distribution ceremony. She couldn't deny that he looked damn attractive, but the lack of any emotion on his face made Wild feel out of place and intimidating. Mattheo only gave a barely perceptible nod of greeting. His gaze slid to her left arm and Rayne involuntarily pulled up her sleeve, out of habit trying to hide her tattoo, which was now under a spell and no one could see it, which didn't escape Riddle's notice. Raine mentally cursed herself for her nervousness, but Mattheo squinted his eyes slightly, keeping silent, much to her relief, because she didn't want to go into details.
Raine turned her attention to Vivienne's chattering nearby, trying not to think about the mysterious Slytherin.
The allotment ceremony was in progress, which gave her friends a chance to question the new girl.
- So, Durmstrang? - Blaise asked curiously, leaning against the table behind Vivienne.
Rain nodded with a slight smile.
- In our fourth year, some of yours came to Hogwarts for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. - Malfoy said arrogantly, tilting his head to the side and propping his chin up with the palm of his hand.
Rain squinted her eyes and looked at the blond, whose smugness was definitely off the charts.
- Yes, Victor told me about your... Three Wizards Tournament. - Rain replied sarcastically.
- Do you know Victor Krum? - Pansy suddenly blurted out, even to herself, no longer looking completely disinterested in the conversation.
- Oh, of course she should know him, they went to the same school. - Draco gave Pansy a haughty siege.
- 'Draco Malfoy...' Rain said with a dangerous smile on her lips that made everyone else freeze, keeping their eyes on Rain and Malfoy sitting across from each other and glaring at each other. - Weren't you the one who was turned into a ferret and forced to get into your classmate's pants? - Wild lowered her voice and grinned at the Slytherin from under her thick lashes.
Malfoy's face stretched and turned tomato-colored when he couldn't get out a coherent response, but everyone else laughed.
- I definitely like her. - Vivienne said, laughing gleefully with Blaise. - At least someone could put Malfoy in his place.
Even Pansy giggled, forgetting her thoughts about competition for a split second. Rain's gaze flicked toward Riddle, and she could have sworn she saw the shadow of a smile on his lips. It was hard to tell for sure, though.
Malfoy finally came to his senses and shook his head, smirking.
- Okay, Wild, this round is on you. - He replied condescendingly with a chuckle.
At that moment, the distribution of freshmen was over and the hall erupted in applause. Rain and the others at the table looked at Dumbledore, who, after congratulating the newcomers, announced the start of the feast, and in an instant the tables were filled with food.
The students, hungry from the road, immediately pounced on the food and the hall was filled with the clinking of plates, glasses and the hum of voices.
- So, who are your parents? - Parkinson asked cynically, putting the roast on her plate and glancing cynically at Wild.
- If you care if they're purebred, they are. - Rain replied haughtily, cutting a piece of meat on her plate. After arriving in Britain, she had firsthand knowledge of how important blood purity was to the aristocracy here. And, while Rain didn't care much about that issue, because where she and her father had lived before, no one ever really cared how pure the blood of the wizard in front of you was, here it was a top priority among the powerful families. And at some point, Rain noted to herself that the fact that she was born into a family of very wealthy purebloods was to her advantage to achieve any goals in this country. It was much easier to find out information or gain favor with the higher-ups and get all the necessary permissions when you were as much a part of a wealthy pureblood family as they were.
- And who's your father at the Ministry now? - Blaze asked curiously, handing Vivienne a plate of tartlets.
- The head of the International Magical Cooperation Department. - Rayne answered casually.
- Big shot. - Filling his mouth, Nott commented.
- How did he get that position in the first place? - Malfoy asked with raised eyebrows, leaning on the table and picking lazily at his plate.
- We moved around a lot and Dad has tons of connections all over the world in other Ministries. - Raine shrugged, raising her gaze to Malfoy. It really was true. With his status in the magical world, his fortune, and his unmatched ability and knack for putting people at ease, Mr. Wylde was a pretty desirable person almost everywhere.
- Wait...Richard Wild is he? - Blaise asked, to which Raine nodded. - Viv, remember we were at some reception at your grandmother's house in France the summer before last and he was introduced to us?
Vivien frowned for a second, trying to remember, but then brightened.
- Oh, yes!- she exclaimed. - 'Grandma introduced him as someone in charge at the French Ministry...' the Slytherin girl continued, remembering. - Look, if you were in France, why didn't you go to Charmbaton?
- My father thought the self-defense program at Durmstrang was better. - replied Rain.
- Is it really better? - Parkinson asked with a sneer, lifting her chin.
- Do you want to check it out? - Wild flashed her eyes at the girl, making her stare at her plate and mumble.
- Why would you want to protect yourself from something? - Riddle said, squinting his eyes and staring at Rain, probably for the first time at the table. Though she couldn't argue that his voice sounded pleasant enough, low and husky, there was a definite challenge in his gaze, and Rain sensed that he suspected something about her.
- Because you never know what you might encounter in life. - She answered coldly, looking him in the eye with the same challenge. If he thought she was easy to crack, he was sorely mistaken.
Vivienne could feel the tension building between the new girl and Matteo, the air between their gazes sparking with mutual dislike (dislike?) for each other, and knowing her friend well, Vee had a distinct feeling that the conversation might be going in the wrong direction.
She was about to say something when the doors to the Great Hall opened and Potter strode to the Gryffindor table under everyone's gaze. There was blood under his nose and he hadn't changed into his school robes, so there were whispers of surprise everywhere.
The Slytherin table was no different, and the students watched Harry curiously.
- What happened to him this time? - Pansy asked mockingly, not taking her eyes off the Gryffindor table and watching as the almost inseparable trio reunited again.
- Yes, Malfoy, what happened to him this time? - Mattheo asked, squinting his eyes and looking at Draco intently.
Draco quickly looked around at his friends, lingering his eyes on Rain longer than anyone else before looking at Riddle.
- I have no idea. - He replied with contrived nonchalance.
- By the way, Draco, you're a bit late too, aren't you? - Nott remarked, eyeing the blond with a sly look.
- So? I have no idea what happened to Potter. Maybe he'd just met Dementors somewhere or decided to save a stray squirrel from a werewolf. He's a saintly Potter, he's always getting into things,” Draco snorted back, averting his eyes to the side.
- Maybe he just didn't agree to go out with you and you beat him up? - Blaise said with a mischievous grin.
- Shit, Zabini, fuck you for making jokes like that. - Draco raged.
- Why, your obsession with Potter would make more sense that way,” Vivienne purred, batting her eyelashes, to the laughter of her friends and a pouting Malfoy.
Rain watched their bickering in silence. As far as she could tell, Slytherin and Gryffindor were not exactly on good terms, and there was an irreconcilable feud between the two and the Potter, Granger, and Weasley trio.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore announced to the students that this year Potions would be taught by Professor Slughorn, who was already familiar to her, and Professor Snape, who had previously held that position, would now become Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. A despairing sigh from almost the entire Gryffindor table reached the girl's ears.
- Gryffindors aren't happy that Professor Snape is now teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? - She asked Vivienne in a whisper.
- Oh, it's mutual. - The Slytherin giggled in response. - Snape is the dean of our faculty, by the way. And he hates Gryffindors as much as they hate him. - She shrugged her shoulders.
Rain looked at Snape at the professor's desk again. The grim expression, hooked nose, and greasy black hair hanging over his face certainly did little to inspire favor.
When all the news was brought to the students' attention, Dumbledore finally clapped his hands and wished everyone a good start to the school year and dismissed them to their dormitories.
Upon reaching the Slytherin dungeons in the company of her newfound friends (as Rain had hoped), the girl discovered that her dormmate would be Vivienne Armand, which pleased her no doubt, as sharing a room with Parkinson would have been fatal for Parkinson herself.
- Oh thank Merlin, this is the year Parkinson became roommates with Greengrass...- Viv exhaled, falling back onto her bed and spreading her arms out to the side. - 'She was insufferable all last year.
- Is she that bad? - Rain asked, waving her wand and releasing her things from her suitcase and directing them to her closet.
- Don't judge us too harshly. - Vivien sat up in bed, tucking her legs under her and looking at Wilde. - We may insult and hate each other within our circle, but if someone from the outside does it, we always defend each other. You know, kind of like a family, where only family members have the privilege of insulting each other.
- I'll keep that in mind,- Rain hummed sarcastically.
- Well, you're part of our “family” now, too. - Armand chuckled, becoming cheerful again. - So...welcome.
- Thank you. - Rain replied with a chuckle, rolling her eyes. She had finished getting dressed and now sat down on her bed as well.
- So, I'm calling girl talk time! - Vivienne said meaningfully, climbing under the covers and leaning back on her pillow as they washed their faces and changed into their pajamas.
- Is that an official school tradition? - Rain grinned, following her roommate's example.
- It's my own tradition. - Armand said proudly. - I have to live in this room with you for a whole year now, I have to know who I'm living with. What's the best way to characterize a person? Girl talk. - said the Slytherin enthusiastically.
- And what's in the Girl Talk program, then? - Wild asked, arching an eyebrow sarcastically as she raised herself up on an elbow and looked toward Vee.
- Mmm...primarily, of course, guy talk...” the Slytherin girl replied dreamily, ”also fashion, gossip...well, that sort of thing.
Rain grinned and shook her head. Not that she was used to this sort of thing at Durmstrang. Being quiet and withdrawn had always been a priority there. Though, even under those conditions, she still managed to make friends. Well, teenagers are the same everywhere - they are all falling in love for the first time, meeting and discussing each other. Even in cold and unfriendly at first glance Durmstrang. And considering that every summer she spent with her father in different countries and often participated in social gatherings, where etiquette and appearance played an important role, the topic of fashion was not an empty word for Rain- Well, all in all, that sounds pretty good. - she smirked at Vivien.
- Did you have a boyfriend at Durmstrang? - Armand asked curiously, squirming impatiently on the bed.
- I dated one last year-” Rain leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. She'd had a brief relationship last year with a classmate, but she'd already planned to move to England with her father, so it hadn't lasted long. Besides, Raine couldn't say it was any really strong feelings. Mutual sympathy, passion yes, but for her to call it love - hardly.
- Ooh...was he handsome? Why did you two break up? - Vivienne started pelting Rain with questions, savoring each answer and enjoying listening to her newfound friend. and in her free time from school she liked to dress up.
They discussed Rain's love interests for a while longer, then Vee shared her own, talking about her relationship with Blaise.
- Wait, what about Victor Krum? You said you were friends with him,- Armand suddenly remembered.
- Well, our parents are very friendly and we've known him since we were kids. - Rain shrugged. - But we're like brother and sister to each other. So no romantic interest. - she laughed, cringing at the thought of ever dating Kram.
- So you're a free bird now,- Viv said thoughtfully, eyeing her roommate appraisingly. - Tell me, have you taken a fancy to any of us yet? - She flashed her eyes and squinted with a mischievous grin. - Theo? Draco? Mattheo? - Vee raised an eyebrow playfully, causing Rain to laugh again. “Blaise is off limits, that's my territory and taboo, unless you want me to rip your head off and stick it in the oven.
- I don't think I'm interested in anyone at the moment. - She replied with a laugh, though the memory of the dark, enigmatic eyes of the dark-haired guy with the impenetrable face came back to her mind, but Rain pushed the image away. He was an arrogant, condescending, and secretive jerk, as she'd already mentally characterized him. - You know, it's a priority to get into the Hogwarts program and do well in my studies.
- Oh, right, of course, they put me with a nerdy girl...” Viv muttered, rolling her eyes.
- Hey, I'm not like that! - Rain threw a pillow at her, smirking, causing her to shriek and laugh, taking the challenge and striking back.
- Maybe you shouldn't have come to Hogwarts this year...or to England at all,- Vivienne said a little grimly later, when their pillow fight was over and they had laughed themselves to sleep.
- Why? - Rain looked at the girl who was still sitting up in bed, cradling her pillow.
- Let's just say it's not a peaceful place right now...although, you're definitely lucky to be from a pureblood family. - The girl replied quietly, looking into her friend's eyes.
- Are you talking about Voldemort? - Wild asked, frowning.
Viv shuddered and bit her lip.
- You'd better not say that name in front of everyone. - she warned. - It's...”- she tried to find the right words, not to give away anything about her friends, but also to protect her new neighbor, whom she already liked for her open-mindedness, wit, and strong character. - It's a difficult subject for all of us. And now that the newspapers are all praising Potter and trumpeting that You-Know-Who is back... it's made the community a little uneasy. It's best not to muddy the waters too much.
Rain looked at the girl thoughtfully and nodded slowly. She'd been reading the local papers all summer. She and her father had studied the situation and the risks very carefully before they moved, but after weighing them all up, they had decided that they would be safe.
Details of an article that claimed Draco Malfoy's father was a Death Eater and had been arrested after a run-in with Potter late last year at the Ministry of Magic and sent to Azkaban popped into the girl's head. As was Theodore Nott's father. And also the article mentioned that Matteo Riddle was rumored to be Voldemort's son.
Rain sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples tiredly, trying to push away the headache that had just appeared. What had she gotten herself into? To come to Hogwarts with her own agenda and immediately find herself hanging out with the Death Eater kids was just amazing. However...keep your friends close and your enemies even closer? Maybe that's not such a bad thing. She's a pureblood, and maybe with these guys, she'll become some sort of friends...and maybe in that case, Voldemort's punishment won't touch her? Raine didn't really care about the political situation in this country at the moment. Her goal was to make sense of her past and find answers to some of the questions that were bothering her. And the fact that there was a war looming here...well, when had the situation around her ever been peaceful?
Rain didn't notice how she fell asleep in her thoughts, falling into a deep and surprisingly peaceful sleep.