McGonagall's Message
Awakening in a dingy hospital wing , the early morning sunshine that echoed through the room made this chamber feel like a cave . Glass arched windows were the only way for the light from the start of the day to peek through the patchwork quilt of curtains that were swathed behind each bed .
Celia jumped with fright when her eyes fully opened , a woman in what Celia presumed was in her twilight years was peering over her bed . Her dark-emerald robes matched effortlessly with her matching witches hat , thin-rimmed glasses framing her feline eyes .
'I am Professor Minerva McGonagall , head of Gryffindor house . You must be Celia ?' she asked quickly and in a tone Celia thought was very straight to the point .
'Yes I am . What happened ?'
McGonagall sighed ,' While being sorted by the sorting hat in Professor Dumbledore's office , it seems as though the shock of making Gryffindor caused you to pass out .'
'Or I just need to eat more .' Celia grumbled , her stomach following suit .
'You missed the first breakfast of the year , as well as the sorting ceremony and Great Feast . I hate to disappoint you . But Madame Pomphrey is making you breakfast and after that you can be dismissed and head to your first lessons .'
'Lessons ?' Celia was still dazed , her head felt fogged by last nights events .
'Why , you don't think you came to a school and expected not to be taught . By the look of the curriculum the teachers have set for you to learn individually I would have thought the opposite .'
Celia realised that is the sort of comment she would make , McGonagall reminded her a bit of herself , and she wasn't affectionate towards the thought . Just then , a smaller woman approached from what Celia presumed was her own office , delivering a tray of an assortment of different breakfast treats .
'I wasn't exactly sure what she liked ,' the woman , who Celia realised was Madame Pomphrey spoke ,' So I got the paid witches in the kitchens to make a bit of everything .'
'Thank you Poppy .' Minerva answered as the woman placed the tray of early morning confectionary in Celia's lap - fresh pastries , toasted bread and tea-cakes , pancakes , pumpkin juice , everything wizard and muggle world alike . ' As I was saying ,' the teacher continued ,' I have brought you your timetable and map of the grounds .'
She gave them to Celia who observed each piece of parchment carefully ,' So I will probably miss first lesson , it's already three quarters of the way done , then go to Charms with the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws ?'
'Correct . You will be sat at the back of the majority of your lessons along with a fellow Gryffindor peer of yours Hermione Granger .'
'Granger ? No I'll have to work somewhere else , I don't want to work with her .'
'I admire your courage to speak up about that , proves your Gryffindor trait ,but I am afraid this not under debate Celia . Miss Granger is the only other student not just in your house , but entire year that is working at an advanced level , the same level as you . Now I know you were raised by the Malfoys-'
'Don't say anything bad about them .' Celia replied rapidly, she had been taught by Lucius herself that the best thing for younger people to do is respect their elders , but this was the first time she had heard the Malfoys discussed in a way that wasn't positive in tone . She felt defensive , very defensive . Draco was her best friend and Narcissa had not only saved her , but raised her too .
'I wasn't planning on it ,' McGonagall quipped sternly ,' I was saying that those in the family of the Sacred Twenty Eight do not have similar mind views to the majority of witches and wizards here at Hogwarts . I came here to do my routinely check of the grounds last night while you were unconscious to see Draco Malfoy and Mattheo Riddle sat by your bed . Malfoy pacing even - it is strange to see he cares about something so much , never-mind a person . I have to say his girlfriend Miss Parkinson appeared furious at breakfast this morning ,'
Celia swallowed a bite of croissant , nearly choking on her food and McGonagall's words . He had come to visit last night ? Does he know she's a Gryffindor ? Can I find it funny that Pansy hates me for no reason ?
McGonagall continued , 'That is besides the point . My point is furthermore that I advise you not to let families of the sacred 28 cloud your judgement . Their discriminations towards wizards and creatures unlike themselves is immense , and may only keep you in the past rather than soaring to the future .'
'What is that supposed to mean ?' Celia asked .
'You're a smart girl Celia , you figure that out , perhaps even ask Miss Granger for your help .'
Celia nodded , clenching her jaw in response . She knew she had to respect McGonagall , but who was she to dictate what Celia did with her duration here ? The woman nodded too , giving her a tight-lipped smile gravely before turning around , cloak floating with the movement , and walking out .