𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙒𝙚 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 - 𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸

My eyes fluttered open. A room I had yet to become accustomed to filled my eyes. Shades of green adorned the walls and beds. The girls who had shown me to my room the night before all still laid in bed asleep. One of them had been snoring which brought a smile to my face. It reminded me of my mother, who snored often and was the sound that lulled me to sleep. My mother did not care much to sleep in her own bed, instead opting for the couch. Perhaps it was the absence of my father that changed her liking for the comfort of a bed. Or perhaps it was that she was closer to my room when she slept in the Living Room. Nevertheless, it was my first day and I had already felt the pit in my stomach aching for my home and my mother. I had not left her at home since my father passed. Her heart was still weeping at the loss. Mine was too.

I shook the idea of home out of my head and headed for the nearest washroom to ready myself for the day. Professor Weasley had asked me to meet with her first thing, the night before just as we were sent off to our dormitories. The last thing I wanted was to get off on the wrong foot with her, especially after being late for the sorting ceremony. I changed into my robes, splashed some water across my weary face and headed out into the common room. Few students were awake, not surprising given the time. A few, what I could also assume to be first years, stood in front of the giant windows that nearly made up an entire wall. Speaking in hushed tones. Not sure if they were speaking quietly because there were students still sleeping or if it was because they were keeping secrets about what they saw swimming in the water.

I walked over to the unoccupied window to get a better look at the beauty that reached far beyond the glass. I made a mental note to visit the great lake when I had a chance. I wanted to take in the full beauty of the water as soon as I could.

“Did you spot one?”

The first year asked scurrying over to where I stood, both hands being placed upon the window.

“One of what?”
“A mermaid of course! A sixth year told me about them last night, but I am afraid I have not seen any yet.”

“No, sorry.” I offered a kind smile and shook my head before stepping away.

Mermaids? I certainly wasn’t in the muggle world anymore. I moved up a trio of stairs where I heard a giggle to my right. A boy with neat silver hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen stood. His back against a pillar, wand in hand but not raised as if he were to use it.

“First years are so easy to mess with.”

His eyes glazed past me. I was not sure if he was speaking to me or just making a statement, but I bit.

“I’m guessing Mermaids don’t spend their time peering through the windows hoping to catch a glimpse of us.”

He smiled, bringing my full attention to his features. He was handsome. Clothes neat, hair neat. He dressed extremely well. His face was decorated with a few moles but that only added to his appeal.

“I doubt they find us that interesting.”

Another chuckle passed through his smiling lips.

“Judging by the sound of your voice I don’t think we have met. I’m Ominis. Ominis Gaunt. You must be the new sixth year.”

I nodded in acceptance that this was going to be the start of a long day filled with that same sort of introduction. I was still a bit confused as to why he was looking past me when he spoke but continued.

“Alora. Alora Winterbourne.” I grinned, taking a step closer and held out my hand for him to shake.

“Ah, mind me dear if you are holding a handout for me to shake, you’re going to have to lead me to it.”

In an instance it clicked. He was blind.

“Oh of course, sorry.” I took another step closer to him. He reached out for me which I led in my direction shaking it firmly.

“Please, don’t be. You certainly had a memorable arrival.”

He referenced my late arrival during the sorting ceremony after our carriage suffered a dragon attack. The dragon killed Osric before my very eyes. Word had sure traveled fast around here. Luckily Professor Fig and I kept the more important bits to ourselves. No one needed to know about my connection to ancient magic before I had even learned what that connection was.

“If I’m going to make my mark here, I might as well start strong.”

“How very Slytherin of you.”

I caught myself smiling at his remark. Meeting him felt far more natural than the girls I’d been thrown at the night before.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Ominis.”

I released his hand realizing I had been shaking it for far too long.

“I’ll catch you around, Alora.”

He flashed a poised grin and I headed for the door. It did not take much to locate Professor Weasley, as she had been standing outside of the common room door. Awaiting me no doubt. She provided me with a basic tour of a singular floor of the castle, leading me to the great hall. She informed me of the classes I had for the day. Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. The words reminding me of my father. She pointed over to a set of double doors.

“Through those doors is the dining hall as you remember from last night. Might be wise to eat before your classes.”

I nodded and thanked her for her time but ignored her advice. I was not one to normally eat breakfast. I supposed I was more of a dinner kind of girl. Instead, I headed up the stairs in search of my first class. Charms. Thanks to a book the professor gave me I was able to locate the classroom with ease. I knew this was going to be a rarity for me as the castle was huge and I had a keen interest in stopping and looking at every painting and piece of tapestry. I could only imagine how many times I was going to find myself lost in these halls.

I made my way into the classroom taking a seat near the front but made sure to have my comfort, not being the first student the professor would see walking in. I set the book I had been carrying onto the table and began flipping through the pages. A map of the castle grounds was dancing along tattered paper. On the next page a map of the astronomy wing and the next a map of the bell tower wing. Like the pictures that caught my eye on my way here, these maps moved. Delicately danced along the page. Swaying in motion. Who knew that for something I feared for a long time, that magic would have swept me off my feet?

Soon other students filled in. One taking a seat next to me. Her features were soft, and body wrapped up in a cloak featuring a crimson red hood and a red scarf rounded her neck. I smiled as she sat down, closing my book to give her proper attention.

“Hello, I’m Natsai but you can call me Natty, most people do.”

I introduced myself back and she nodded to herself knowingly. We chatted for a few moments when my eye caught notice of the boy I’d met earlier in the day taking a seat catty-cornered to where I sat. Another boy fumbled into the chair next to him. He must have sensed my eyes looking over at him because he smirked and raised a hand giving me a little wave. The boy next to him took quick notice of his movements, eyes trailing the path of the wave until they landed on me. My breath caught in my throat at once, not daring to move. His amber eyes traced over the shape of my face, and I could feel my cheeks warming. How childish of me to blush at a boy's mere glance. But the way he smiled, the toothy grin he wore, highlighted how handsome he was. Surely he hadn’t noticed the coloration in my cheeks. Handsome boys paid me no mind back in the muggle world. It felt nice to be looked at. Even if it was short lived. His eyes were mesmerizing but not because of how handsome he was, but because there was something behind them I could not put my finger on. Who was he? And why did his glance cause me to feel as if I feared him and wanted to know him all at once? His eyes reminded me of my own. Filled with secrets. I watched as his amber hues left my face and peered in front of me. My gaze traveled after his setting on the professor who was now speaking.

He welcomed us to the class and began talking about the importance of Charms. Sure, most of the students were likely not paying attention but for me this would be my first introduction to the subject, so I made sure to take mental notes.

“Now please open your books to page 5 1 7.”

Professor Ronen enunciated each number as he strutted through the open space between desks.

“But before we begin can anyone tell me the difference between the incantations of the color change and growth charms?”

My eyes widened as I had not a singular clue as to what he was referencing. Natty must have taken notice as she slid her book over to me. I gave her a thankful smile and began searching for the page he asked us to turn to.

“Anyone?”

Not a hand raised. At least I wasn’t alone in not knowing.

He began with his lesson not waiting for anyone to ask what the difference was. Ronen used a spell on the book I had been reading and explained that we were to review a basic summoning charm like that of the one he just casted on the book. He instructed us to get into pairs. Natty looked at me hopefully and I nodded to give ease to any anxiety she might have had if I refused. My eyes drifted over to the boy I had been looking at earlier. His arm wrapped around Ominis’ shoulders leaning back in his chair, front legs lifted off the ground. He was smiling to himself proudly as Ominis simply brushed his arm off.

We began with the spell. It came very naturally to me like the ones Professor Fig had been teaching me over the summer. As easy as it was, the excitement of casting a spell and seeing it work coursed through my veins. Once most of the class seemed to get it right, Professor Ronen suggested we all go outside to practice on larger objects. Outside we lined up after the professor who cast a spell to create a large wooden court with large spheres plopping down on the colorful top. Each one of us took a turn casting the Accio incantation on what seemed to be a large game. Natty whispered something to me but my eyes glistened in amazement at what all magic could do. In my experience before Hogwarts magic had never appealed to me like it was now.

“New students first.”

The professor instructed, taking a few steps back to allow me to climb atop the platform. Natty followed me to be my partner once again. She went first showing me how it was done. 50 points on her first try. How was I to follow up? I took a deep breath allowing my stance to be firm and held my wand out.

“Accio.”

My voice was firm as I casted the spell. I released it as the sphere rolled onto the orange and it finished rolling into the green where it stopped. 30 points for me. Not a bad first summoning charm. I smiled proudly, bubbling with confidence. We continued this with the remaining spheres. Her next cast ended in the green. 30 points. Mine in the blue. 50 points. I felt the excitement pricking at my fingertips. Her last cast in the blue, as was mine.

Natty’s finishing score: 130
My finishing score: 130

A draw.

“A near perfect score. Anyone want to follow?”

Natty nudged me in the side to congratulate me. I could not stop the smiling that ached at my cheeks. My first time ever using the summoning charm on my first day here and it was a perfect score. I couldn’t wait to write home about this. No one volunteered to go next which led professor Ronen to end class early congratulating me on his step down off the platform. My cheeks flushed at the students clapping for me as I followed him down. One set of eyes, particularly catching my own. The very same amber eyes that had stopped me in my tracks before in the classroom. The eyes of the boy Ominis knew. The eyes I had feared were watching me the entire time. I quickly looked away, said my goodbyes to Natty and headed out in search of my next class.

The one with words that haunted me.

Defense Against the Dark Arts.