Harry Potter has Been Added to the Chat
After Gabby went back home, I told the rest of our friends what I told Minnie and Dora. I had brought them out to the orchard to get away from Molly and Ron, not wanting them to know. There were many similar reactions to Dora, and I had to remind them that this had all happened in the past and that there was nothing they could do about it now. I managed to get them to agree to a game of quidditch and Percy begrudgingly went to go get Ron so we would have an even number.
The rest of the summer was spent with quidditch, planning pranks with the twins, writing letters to Charlie to hear all about his experiences in Romania, and working at the menagerie. The closer it got to the time for school to start, the more nervous Kitten and Dove were getting. They were both starting a boarding school this year and were worrying about how it would go.
Mes amours, you have nothing to worry about. Oui, starting a new school is not easy, but I am sure that you will find where you belong. Flower took up the rest of the room on our arm to stop the other two from worrying.
Flower is right, you might make yourself sick with all the worrying you are doing I agree.
“Eva, are you packed?” Minnie called up the stairs.
“Yes, Mamaidh! Pokey,” The house elf pops into my room as I close my trunk.
“Misses called?” Pokey bowed and I latch the trunk closed.
“Would you bring this to Mamaidh to shrink down? And let her know I will be down in a minute.” I ask, hugging the elf before she pops away to do as asked. I stuff the last few things into my side bag and throw a big sweater on over my tank top. Hogwarts was always drafty.
I was never good at making friends, what if no one likes me? Kitten’s words appear on the back of my hand and I shake my head as I feel bad for Kitten, knowing what it was like to be the outcast.
If someone bullies you they will never find the body, I bark a laugh at Dove's response, receiving a raised brow from Minnie. I grab her hand with an innocent grin and she fondly smiles at me before apparating us to the gates of Hogwarts, where Snape was waiting with a carriage.
“Uncle Sev!” I cheer, crashing into him in the process of wrapping my arms around his waist.
“You’ve grown little lion,” He returns the hug with a pat on my back.
“I know! She grew a couple of inches at least,” Minnie clicks her tongue as she frowns, “She won’t be my wee girl for long. You aren’t allowed to grow anymore.”
I giggle at Minnie’s words and stick my tongue out at her before skipping up to the thestrals and stroking their snouts. The two Professors talk about their summers as they wait for me to be ready to go. I smile at the horses and look to make sure I wasn’t being watched before pulling out some raw steak I took from the fridge this morning for this exact reason. I fed the meat to the animals and let my smile drop a bit as I think about Luna being able to see them now.
“We need to get going, leòmhann beag. You can see them later,” Minnie raises her voice a bit. With one last pat, I leave the thestrals and thank Snape as he holds the door open for me. We were at the castle in no time and soon I was running around doing different tasks for the different teachers.
The weeks leading up to the students coming were more hectic than I remember, but maybe that was because I was doing more to help set up. I was either running from one side of the castle to the other, helping in the greenhouses, or helping with the creatures. I avoided Dumbledore like the plague, something about him set me on edge. I notice that I was given jobs to do that kept me away from the third-floor corridor, which made me curious but I did as was asked. Until Hagrid moved Fluffy to the corridor, then I would go spend some time with him as he stayed in his room.
I’m nervous, what if nobody likes me? Kitten’s sentence was there when I woke up on the first of September. How long has she been up?
I am sure that they will like you! Just wait, you will have a friend by the end of the first day. I wanted to make her feel better, and I regret not being there in person for her.
I’m also nervous, what if I don’t live up to my parent's expectations? Dove wrote as I got dressed for the day, the students wouldn’t be arriving until tonight so I had the rest of the day to explore the empty castle.
I wish I could be there, mes amours, but I am forced to be sending you positive thoughts instead of giving you hugs. I am proud of you no matter what happens today! Flower had written back by the time I made it to the kitchen. I tickle the pear and open the door only to have my legs get tackled by excited house elves.
“Misses Eva! We has been missing yous! You has been busy.” Grotle exclaimed and I bend down to return his hug.
“What would Misses like for breakfast? We has all the Misses favorites!” Pokey grabbed my hand and led me to a small table in the corner they keep ready for me to use.
“I would love a bit of everything if you don’t mind,” I giggle at the over-excited elves scampering off to grab my breakfast.
I agree with Flower, no matter what happens we will always be here for you I write. I pull my sleeve down and thank Grotle and Pokey for breakfast. I eat quickly and thank the elves, promising to come to visit often before they let me leave. I run back up the stairs and out the front doors to Hagrid’s hut where he asked me to take care of his animals for the day. I was sitting with Fang on the steps to the hut at lunchtime when Minnie comes walking down the hill.
“Mamaidh!” I grin, patting Fang’s head one last time before I race to meet her.
“Did you have fun taking care of the animals?” She asks, pushing my hair back out of my face as I pull back from the hug.
“Yes! I can’t wait to help with the care of magical creatures class again!” I take her hand and follow as she starts back up to the castle. I get cleaned up and snuggle with Akira and Minnie on the couch with a transfiguration textbook in hand as Minnie reads one of her few fiction books. I finish my book and get more comfortable as my eyes droop, using Akira as a pillow for my nap.
Minnie wakes me up and I jump off the couch to get ready for the feast. Slytherin won the house cup last year so I pick out my shirt based on that. I write a last bit of encouragement to Kitten and Dove before getting sucked into a conversation with Flower. I look up at the time again and scramble to get ready the rest of the way.
I run out to the living room with my robes thrown on over my emerald green button-up shirt and black skirt with shoes in hand. I was gonna make Minnie late to meet the first years! Minnie was sitting on the couch with her book still in hand and I was stopped from saying anything when there was a knock on the door.
“Would you grab that dear? I am almost done with the book and want to finish it with my last free time.” I smirk at Minnie when she glanced up and frowned at my shirt.
“Does this mean I’m going to have to come to bother you in your classroom if I ever want to see you again?” I dramatically flop over the arm of her chair and she flicks my nose as I giggle and move to open the door.
“Uncle Sev!” I nod respectfully to the professor as I step to the side to let him into our chambers.
“Minerva, the first years should be here any minute. Eva, I have come to bring you to the Great Hall for the beginning feast.” Snape offers with a smirk. “And might I say? I love the color green on you.”
“Just you wait, Severus,” Minnie asked from her spot on the couch, “Gryffindor will win the House Cup this year and Eva will be wearing red again in no time.” I giggle at their banter.
“Next year I will be part of the sorting, I might not be in Gryffindor red or Slytherin green.” I remind them.
“They grow up so fast, don’t they Severus? It feels like yesterday that Eva was asking about the most mundane thing.” Minnie pretends to wipe a tear from her eye and I quickly hug her before accepting Snape’s offered arm and closing the portrait behind us.
I greet the rest of the professors before taking my seat next to Minnie’s empty one. I wave to the twins and Cedric as they come in and sit at their respective tables. I watch all the people I know coming in and sitting with their friends, waving back to people who wave to me. Finally, the flow of students stops and everyone is just chatting as we wait for the first years to be led in by Minnie. I was in the middle of discussing potion ingredient properties with Snape and Sprout when the doors are pushed open and Minnie leads a group of eleven-year-olds into the hall. I giggle at the looks of awe on their faces as they see the ceiling for the first time.
“Look there, another Weasley to be sorted into Gryffindor.” Snape nods to Ron, who was standing next to a boy with messy black hair. His skin was pale and he was small for his age, reminding me of what I saw in the mirror when living with certain foster families.
“The boy standing next to him,” I whisper back, “He isn’t getting fed enough at home.” Snape’s eyes narrow and I turn to listen to the sorting hat’s song, but a head of bushy, frizzy, brown hair catches my attention. I sit forward a bit to get a better look at her and have to bite my tongue when I recognize her. I wiggle in my seat as I wait for her name to be called, Uncle Sev reaching over to quiet the tapping of my fingers on the tabletop when Dumbledore gave me a side-eye.
“Granger, Hermione,” Minnie calls out and a grin splits my face at having been right. I think back to all the memories of sitting in the dentist’s office with Hermione when my foster parents at the time had kicked me out of the house for the day. That had been one of the worse homes I had been in. The parents wouldn’t feed me and regularly beat me as well. Hermione’s parents would always bring food for me to eat as Hermione would try and teach me to read. I remember falling asleep with my head in Hermione’s lap as she read to me, it was the best sleep I got during those three months I was there. But that was two years before I met Minnie, would she even recognize me?
“Gryffindor!” I cheer with the rest of the red table as Hermione was quick to take a seat. I tried to keep from staring at her as more names were called. Neville was sorted into Gryffindor and Dora’s cousin was sorted into Slytherin before the hat even touched his head. She had said he was a nice kid when not being monitored by his father.
“Potter, Harry,” Minnie paused as the boy I pointed out to Snape stepped forward. This is the famous Harry Potter? Where did Dumbledore put him!? As I glare at the headmaster, Snape put a calming hand on my back.
“Gryffindor!” The hat called out and I relax a bit at the thought of Harry becoming friends with Hermione. Ron gets sorted into Gryffindor with his brothers and it wasn’t long before the hat had been put away and Minnie was sitting in her seat as Dumbledore stands up to say his customary random words before the food appears.
I pick through my plate, getting worried looks from Minnie and Snape, having lost my appetite after seeing Harry’s condition. The food disappears and Dumbledore makes the announcements, mentioning that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side was off limits. I tilt my head as I wait for him to say why but nothing was offered on that subject before he launches the school song. Fred and George sing it as a slow funeral march, making me giggle at the looks the first years were giving them.
“Go see the twins, Akira will probably meet you there.” Minnie rubs my shoulder and I nod, letting Snape give my hand a quick squeeze before skirting around the rest of the table to see the twins and Cedric waiting for me by the doors.
“How are you doing pipsqueak?” Fred opens his arms and I allow him to fold me into a hug that the other two join.
“We have some snacks from Mum in our dorm room. We can share some with you while we hang out tonight.” George offered and I nod into his chest.
“I will see you later then pip,” Cedric kisses the top of my head, and we all separate before we watch Cedric walk down the stairs to the basement.
“Let’s go get good seats by the fire,” Fred and George both offer me a hand, and I squish myself between them as we take a shortcut to beat the rest of the Gryffindor house. We get to the Fat Lady portrait and George let us in, revealing Akira to already be spread out on the couch closest to the fire.
“I can’t believe we have Harry Potter in our house!” George starts a conversation to fill the silence as we wait. I sit between the two brothers and Akira makes herself comfortable across our laps, the twins instantly petting her. We only have to wait a few minutes before the portrait opens and the first years enter followed by Percy.
“Boys dormitory up to the right, girls to the left,” Percy instructed before the sleepy first years trudged on by. Ron leads Harry by with a glare at me, not even acknowledging his brothers. Harry looked like he was barely awake and I wince in sympathy as I remembered my first actual meal when Minnie took me in. Neville waved as he passed, following the other two boys.
“Eva?” I turn from where I had watched the boys pass and grin at the bushy-haired witch standing in front of me.
“Hiya, Mia. Do you believe in magic now?” I slip from the couch and suddenly had an armful of laughing bookworm.
“I guess you can say that,” She pulled back and I frown at the tears in her eyes, “What are you doing here?”
“Eva here is the Hogwarts mascot! Everybody likes her, including the Slytherins.” Fred flourishes
“McGonagall is her guardian so she stays here during the school year.” George continues where his brother left off. Fred and Akira move to make room so Hermione could sit next to me on the couch.
“You look much better than you did last time I saw you, did you go to live with Professor McGonagall after my parents contacted child services?” Hermione had plastered herself to my side and I was content with using her shoulder as a pillow as her arm held me close.
“I only started living with Mamaidh almost two years ago. I was at another foster home when my first accidental magic happened and they wanted nothing to do with me. Mamaidh came to explain the wizarding world to them and they all but threw me out so she took me home with her.” I explain.
“But she has us now,” Fred starts, beaming down at us.
“And most of the school,” George picks up with a wink.
“And a few people who have already graduated.” Fred finishes and Hermione pulls me a bit closer with a relieved sigh.
“We worried after they took you away, my parents and I.” Hermione leaned her head on mine as we listen to the conversations going on around the common room, “We didn’t know where you had gone and if they were like the house you had just left. But I’m glad you are here now and have so many people who love you.”
“I missed you.” I mumble, “Do you think we could start reading together again?”
“I would love to.” Hermione agreed and we sit there for a few more minutes before the twins were ushering Hermione up to her bed and escorted me back to Minnie’s chambers.
“How did you know Granger?” Fred asked as we walked.
“I lived near her parent’s dental practice, teeth healers.” I clarify once I saw their confused expressions.
“Ah, that would do it.” George tussled my hair as we reach the Lioness and her cubs. “Have a good night Pip, we will see you tomorrow to begin our pranks.”
“The professors will be expecting that, wait a week or two.” I contradict him.
“Hear that Gred! Pipsqueak here is smarter than you!” Fred laughed and I smack his arm.
“Be nice to your brother, Charlie.” I playfully scold before hearing what I had said and dropped my face into my hands with a groan. “You aren’t going to let this go are you?”
“I don’t know, what do you think Charlie?” George hummed and I groan louder this time.
“Not a chance in the world Pip. Now you know why Minnie only calls us Mr. Weasley.” Fred laughed and I shove them back down the hallway before following Akira into the living room where Minnie was sitting on the couch already in her nightgown and robe.
“How did it go?” Minnie puts her book down and catches me as I flop onto the couch.
“I saw a friend from years ago.” My voice was muffled by her lap as I relaxed under her fingers running through my hair.
“Oh, who are they? How did you know them?” Minnie settles further into the couch and I tell her about going to the Grangers for a dentist appointment and meeting Hermione while I waited. I fell asleep partway through my recollection, waking up in my bed the next morning with the sounds of Minnie getting ready for the first day. I pull my sleeve up to see Kitten and Dove both gushing about their new schools.
We are divided into four houses! I think it makes it easier to manage all the students. My house has a common room in a tower so you can see the entire forest from my room! Kitten was writing, Flower oohing and awing over what has been described so far. I read over what had been written before this point and frowned at the similarities to Hogwarts.
My school does the same thing! But, my common room is in the basement with a partial glass wall that looks into the lake! Dove was eager to share her experiences as well.
It sounds like you go to the same school I couldn’t help but write and the other writing stops for a minute before red and green explode over my skin.
Should we say the names of our schools? Then we will know if it's the same one.
But what if it is the same school? Would we search for each other or wait until we just happen to meet?
We would be in the same year so we could have classes together, but what about Cub and Flower?
I already met Flower in person, we met while my family was on vacation before you turned eight.
But is that fair to Cub?
I think you should go for it and find each other. I don’t mind you knowing who each other is. I write and wait with bated breath as Flower agrees with me. What would I do if they are here? I felt fear wash over me as I think of them rejecting me. Seeing Harry’s condition last night brought back all the times that I looked like that throughout my life and all the rejection that came with it. I hear the shower turn on and quickly got out of bed and dressed. I slip out into the hallway and take all the shortcuts to the kitchen where I slip in and grab some toast.
“Is Misses needing anything else for breakfast?” Pokey slid up to my elbow making me jump.
“No thank you Pokey, I’m not that hungry.” I smile at the house elf and hug her goodbye, waving to Grotel across the kitchen.
I wander the less-used corridors as I avoid looking at my arm. Finding a small room filled with books, I spend most of the day there. After finishing my second book I finally work up the courage to pull my sleeve back and find out where Dove and Kitten go to school.
Hogwarts in red and green. My mind blanks. I don’t know how long I sat there just staring at the name of the school. I could have already met them. My mind spiraled, playing scenario after scenario where I end up rejected. What if they get close to the older Weasleys and Cedric and turn them against me? What if Minnie ends up liking them more than me and I have to leave!? I panic, curling up as tight as I can as all these scenarios swim around behind my eyes. I use the breathing technique that Dr. Condie had taught me and managed to stop the panic attack before it got too bad.
With that in mind, I search the room for a piece of parchment and write a hasty letter to Dora telling her about the situation. I run down the halls to the owlery as fast as I could, jumping stairs and using all the secret passageways I could.
“Anastacia!” I gasp. I had forgotten how many stairs there were. The great grey swoops down to land on a perch close to me. I tie the letter to her foot and watch her fly off before slumping to the ground. A couple of owls fly down to sit around me and I stroke each one of them in greeting. An owl suddenly lands in my lap and I stare in surprise at the eagle owl from the menagerie.
“You got adopted! That’s great!” I coo, scratching the feathers around her neck. I sit there long after I had caught my breath, wishing I had my sketchbook so I could draw the avians around me.
Finally deciding enough was enough, I gently remove the eagle owl from my lap and push myself to my feet. I wander back to the room with the books and stay there for the rest of the day. I can think about being in the same castle as two of my soulmates later. For now, I will get lost in the world these pages hold.