Chapter 3
Running down the steps, I hurry to my first class, sure I’m happy to have my own room, but it is so far from everything else, the tower I’m in is mainly used for storage.
I don’t have any of the books I need for school, but then again, how was I to know, I didn’t even know the school was magic. Glancing back at my schedule and to the labeled class location, my schedule says my first class is charms.
Honestly, I’m not sure what charms class entails. Regardless, I have to fit in here. But how can I, all the other students here have used magic, while I haven’t. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to cast spells.
As I strode into the classroom, all eyes were on me. All conversations ceased. “Um… is this charms, year six?” I asked nervously. A small man behind a desk called out: “Yes, and I suppose you’re our new transfer student.”
“Yes.”
“I’m Professor Flitwick”, the man said, “You can sit next to Miss Lovegood- Miss Lovegood, raise your hand.” A girl with long blonde hair and odd spectacles raised her hand. “I don’t suppose you have your books?” the Professor asked.
I shook my head, “Or any of my supplies,” my voice barely a whisper. He shook his head, “That’s alright, you share with Miss Lovegood.”
The girl next to me waved, “You’re in Ravenclaw too!” she said in a soft, dreamy voice. I looked down to see the blue patch on her robe, “Yeah, I just got here yesterday.” She was silent for a moment and then said, “Leeches have 32 brains.”
“Alright, class!” Professor Flitwick said, “Take out your wands, let's go over the spells we learned yesterday.” My anxiety spiked. Seeming to sense my impending feeling of doom, Luna pushed her charms book towards me. Nodding in thanks, I opened it, anxiety decreasing, Flitwick couldn’t expect me to have a wand yet.
Could he?
Flitwick called out my name. My thoughts screeched to a stop. “Where’s your wand?”
Guess he does.
What do I say?
What do I say?
What do I say?
I spoke finally, a lump in my throat, “I don’t have one.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I let out a sigh as I spread out all the homework I had for the day. In all of my classes except for charms, everyone ignored me, though, of course, I wasn’t sure if Luna counted.
If the hat boy had been in some of my classes, I probably wouldn’t have been as on edge. I shook away the thought. He was cursed, the opportunity that I would see him again was slim, and he had slipped when saying that. Plus, even if I did see him again, he wouldn’t be participating in class.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I go back to focusing on my work, all of the Professors excused me from casting any spells, seeming sympathetic to my not possessing a wand.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“A dance?” I asked Luna, staring at the flyers posted all around the school. “Yes,” she said, “We have one every year early January.” I didn’t know why I was so surprised, there had been dances at my old school too, but it’s not like I ever went. “We should go together.” she said dreamily, “you can meet my friends.”
“Sorry,” I said shyly, “I don’t think I’ll go.” Luna nodded, “That's okay if you don’t”, she said. “A lot of people don’t like being around me.”
I gasped, “Luna! It’s not that, I genuinely enjoy being around you, I’m just really introverted, and I don’t really know anyone here!”
She blinked. “Oh, I understand.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“You wanted to see me, Professor Dumbledore?” I asked as I stepped into his office. A broad grin spread across his face, “Ah, yes. You remember our dear sorting hat, don’t you?” I nodded, cautious. “Well, Mr. Filch has been talking about how he was in need of an assistant, and well, usually the boy isn’t doing anything, so I thought maybe he could help him out, all of the teachers in fact.”
“And what do you want me to do about it?” I asked. Dumbledore opened a drawer and pulled out the hat. Holding it in his hand high up, touching his wand to the center, he said “I want you to show him around, since you’re the only person here he knows, other than me- Petasum!”
Much faster this time, the hat morphed back into the boy. Dumbledore quickly whipped his hand out from under the still-changing body, dropping him to the floor.
The boy cried out as he made contact with the floor, landing awkwardly on his side. Chest heaving, he glared at Dumbledore, “You bloody tosser” he said.
He suddenly seemed to notice me. “Good to see you,” he said in a much friendlier tone. I blushed, different from before, he wore a frayed tank top and faded trousers, showing broad tanned shoulders and arms.
He shot to his feet. “So what are you making me do this time, and why is she involved?”
Dumbledore sighed like he hated talking to him. “You’re gonna help the teachers with anything they need, whether it’s inventory, prep work, or just manual labor. And she- you will go with her tomorrow so she can introduce you to all the teachers.”
“Gotcha,” the boy said, “So, a good old-fashioned wench.”
Dumbledore sighed, “I don’t care how you want to interpret it, I’m just putting you to good use after that last stunt you pulled.”
The boy, now sitting on the desk, rolled his eyes, “anything else, master” he said, overly emphasizing the last word mockingly. Dumbledore was silent for a moment, thinking. “Help her with anything she needs,” he said at last.
“You used to be a good student, or so I’m told.”
The boy hopped off the desk, and without warning he draped his arm over my shoulders. Turning us around, towards the door, he tosses over his shoulder, “I was the bloody best.”
~to be continued~