First Days
Diagon Alley, as it was called, was completely overwhelming and Ben found himself choking on bile more then once. He and his parents had actually been escorted by a different Professor at the school, who explained everything to them and showed them around like they were on some sight seeing tour and life was all happy rainbows and butterflies.
He had to admit though, going inside the wand shop and actually letting the wand 'pick him' had been exciting. He felt a buzz seem to rush through his veins, and it was the first moment that he realized that this was real and it wasn't some sort of dream.
The list for school was slowly collected, and when they returned home, Ben went straight to his room and hid under the covers of his bed knowing he would only be able to hide there for a few more days. Four days to be exact, and then he would be put on a train headed for this Wizarding school, away from his parents and away from his Nana. He buried his face into his pillow, he hated this, and he wondered if there was any going back.
A horrible thought crept into his mind, the realization that there was no going back from this. So he wept. He cried himself to sleep, until his pillow was damp from tears.
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His parents and Nana dropped him off at the train station. Nana had kissed him gently on his forehead, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. This would be the first time he was more then a few minutes walk from her, and Ben knew that in all honesty, it was harder on her then it was him especially since his grandfather had just passed away a few months earlier.
“I'll write, I promise.” He had told her.
On the train, Ben had found a empty compartment and ran inside, locking the door and pulled down the blinds. What was he thinking, why was he here? His brain yelled at him as he plopped his head into his hands. Laughter could be heard outside along with fond farewell's and his heart began to ache, already missing his parents and his Nana. Ben reached inside his bag and pulled out a book Nana had bought him to read on the train, and pulled out the photo of his family he had placed inside. It was a photo from a few months prior, right before his grandfather passed away.
He held the book close to his heart and let out a long sigh, and said a silent prayer. Please, send me someone I can connect to. I can't do this on my own.
He looked out the window, looking at the parents and students going to and fro, when his eyes were pulled to what he could only describe as an ethereal glow. A young girl, more then likely a first year like him, pushed her cart with her trunk, and a cage that had a kitten inside, and he was drawn to her immediately.
Her hair was pulled back into a braid, almost white, and a silvery tinge to it. Ben had never seen hair that color, and it almost radiated it's own light. Her face was round, a pink flush across her cheeks and nose, and then he found himself feeling what he could only describe as lost when she looked up at him and their eyes met. Her eyes glimmered and glowed, reminding him of his Nana's heirloom opal, and Ben was sure this was a trick of Magic. Because no one actuallyreal looked like this girl.
Then she was gone, disappeared into the crowd of people and his hell began. There was a ruckus in the train, down from where Ben was sitting and he watched as s few kids walked past his cabin. But one girl stopped and looked in at him. Violet eyes, dark hair with the oddest orange streak that looked like a cow had came up and licked her straight on the forehead. He hoped they would make eye contact, and she would move on, but no. She smiled devilishly and opened the door.
“Hello, Mudblood.” He had no idea what exactly that meant, but he could tell that it wasn't a good nickname.
“I-I don't want trouble. Just leave me alone.” Ben tried, knowing he was basically backed into a corner.
“Well you should have thought of that before you came here, and stole a wand from a legitimate wizard.” She told him while she shut the door and drew the blinds on the door. The train began to move, and Ben's nightmare began. He tried to escape but was met with a berage of hexes and jinxs inflicted upon him by this girl that were just painful. He even at one point was able to break away and escape the room, running to hide in a different part of the train. But she just followed and tried to find him time and time again.
He finally was able to make his way into the trunk car and hid in there among all the luggage. He found himself curled in a corner, and cried again. He honestly didn't know how much more he could cry. He knew he would be judged if he couldn't get his emotions and fears under control, but it was honestly all to much.
He looked at the bruises on his hands and arms, and he knew somewhere he was bleeding because there was speckles of blood on the sleeves of his sweater. He yearned for home, for his own bed, for the safety that home ensured.
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The train slowed, and Ben emerged from his hiding place to finally lay eyes on the castle. His jaw dropped at the majestic old castle that the school was home too, and for the first time he felt his heart flutter for joy.
A boatride and a stern talk by the same witch who had shown up at his doorstep... And they were headed to the sorting ceremony.
“Iris Rosewood.” Minerva McGonagall called, and Ben looked up in time to see the ethereal glow start making it's way forward, and he saw her again, the girl from the train station. He filed her name into his memory bank, Iris Rosewood. His mind supplied the purple and yellow flowers that his grandmother used to grow in front of her house when his Grandpa was still alive.
A low hum fell across the room, students murmured and whispered as the young girl approached the sorting hat and stool. Her hair was now half pulled up into a ponytail at the back of her head, and loose curls twisted and curled around her shoulders and neck.
Despite the whispers, the girl held her head high, more mature at eleven years old then most adults Ben had saw. Her shoulders were straight as she walked up to the podium and sat. The hat had barely touched her head when it yelled at the top of its lungs,
“GRYFFINDOR!”
There was a roar from the Maroon decorated table as the blonde smiled and hopped down to join her new House mates. Her smile reach from ear to ear, and her already radiating face became even brighter as she sat at the table.
He knew very little about each of the four houses, the idea of the Wizarding World was still so new to him and very overwhelming. He understood that Gryffindor was the House of those who's best attribute was bravery, which he knew was not his going to be his house. Then there was Ravenclaw, the house of the wise, something he thought himself to be as he had always had good marks in school. Hufflepuff was the house of those that were loyal, which again he considered himself to be. Then there was Slytherin, the house of the cunning. Again, not something he saw himself as much.
Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff he would surely be sorted into.
He watched a pink haired girl be sorted into Hufflepuff, and a red haired girl into Ravenclaw. A brunette girl with a orange highlight in her bangs and a tall intimidating boy were sorted into Slytherin. Next came a girl with raven hair and glasses, who was after some deliberation, sorted into Gryffindor where she and the blonde girl hugged each other ardently.
Ben watched the girls for a moment, there was something about the blonde... Iris, that just seemed to glow even inside the dimly lit castle, like she was the light keeping the room aglow. He tried to tell himself it was just her hair, or that it was her eyes, a light blue that he could see from practically across the room. That's why she glowed, it was just her hair and eyes being so fair in contrast to the dark lighting and dark architecture of the school.
“Benjamin Copper.” He physically felt his heart hit his belly when the older woman with grey hair called his name to come to the sorting hat. He slowly made his way to the stool and hat, feeling like he was either going to vomit, pass out or both. Probably both.
By shear magic, he managed to make it to the stool and the hat was laid on his head.
“Hmmm... Very interesting, I see, very interesting indeed.” The hat hummed. “You have an exceptionally brilliant mind, overflowing with talent.... Excellent Ravenclaw candidate, but I also see deep seeded loyalty in your heart, loyalty and love so deep, I haven't seen this in years...”
“Please just put me in Hufflepuff...” Ben practically begged.
“Oh no... I see a spark in your heart, a spark that could ignite into a blaze... Oh yes, I know exactly where to put you-”
“Wha-”
“GRYFFINDOR!”
What. The. Hell. Ben's mind supplied as the hat was lifted off his head and the table of maroon and gold went wild.
He had been sorted into the house of the brave. He slowly made his way to the table and sat down across from some red haired boys, he felt pats on his shoulder and knew people were
congratulating him on being sorted into the house but they seemed to be in a fog.
The house of the brave, what on earth was that blasted hat thinking?
“Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!” The Headmasters voice boomed out, causing Ben to look up to the aged man. “The past few years have seen a great weight lifted from our world. The boy who lived, Harry Potter, is safe. Years from now he will be old enough to attend Hogwarts. For now, it's your turn. Remember, while you are at Hogwarts, your triumph will earn you house points, while rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the team with the most house points will will the house cup. I hope each of you will be a credit to your house...” The Headmaster continued as the feast began.
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On the first day of class, he found himself in Charms, and soon he found the seat beside him being filled, by Iris. She placed her class schedule on the desk while she dug around in her bag, and he peeked at it. It seemed that he and her shared a very similar schedule.
“Good morning.” She smiled his way, and he looked up meeting her eyes. He managed a smiled back, and then suddenly felt nauseous and looked away. Periodically through class he would glance over and look at her profile, because something about her just seemed... Familiar, and it wasn't because of the train station.
Her features were so soft, so sweet, that she put him in mind of the Princess's in the Muggle stories that people went to war for. Then his brain made the connection, why he seemed so drawn to her... Memories flowed, and his grandfather's voice filled his head, he closed his eyes and relived the memory of him sitting by a fire as his Grandfather read from a book. Galadriel the maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance. The Lady of the woods, one of the greatest of theElves in Middle-earth, she surpassed nearly all others in beauty, knowledge, and power.
The biggest difference, was that Galadriel had more golden hair, and Iris's hair was much more white-gold, almost silvery, in nature.
The class was attempting to do a spell, and once they were given the all clear to try casting, Iris's wand lit up, creating Lumos on her first try. Ben was stunned, and couldn't help but stare in awe.
“Congratulations Miss Rosewood, you preformed that charm better then any first year I've seen.” Flitwick praised her, and her face lit up as she thanked him.
Ben, to his utter shock, was able to light up his wand on only his second try. His heart beat was loud in his ears, and he felt like he was flying at the joy and pride he felt in himself at casting his first spell.
“I think you're light is brighter then mine,” Iris whispered to him as she pointed her wand tip towards his. He noted her glow was more white, and his had a more red hue to it.
“Why are they different colors?”
“Depends on the core, I think.” Iris explained. “Is yours Dragon heartstring?”
“Yeah.”
“Mine is a hair of my Mother's, so it's like mine.” She pointed to her hair, and Ben nodded. As the class started to light up their wands, he could see different hues of colors. It was noting short of magical, and he found himself smiling, genuinely smiling.
When class was dismissed, Iris left the room rather hastily after class and he headed out after her. He found himself walking behind her, and hoped that she didn't notice him or if she did he hoped she didn't think he was a creep.
She turned the corridor to head towards the potions class and disappeared from his view for a few seconds. Then he heard a symphony of voices.
“Just admit it!”
“I can't!”
“Say I'm the most powerful witch at Hogwarts!” He peaked his head around the corner, knowing who's voice that belong to. He had heard it in his dreams, taunting him and causing him pain.
“It's logically impossible! I've made lists of the most powerful witches and wizards at Hogwarts based on multiple factors. You're less powerful than Professor McGonagal, Professor Sprout, Madam Hooch, Madam Promfrey, every single fifth year. You're just a first year like me.”
“I'm nothing like you.” The Slytherin girl shouted, stomping her foot like a petulant child.
“Get away from her!” Iris shouted, marching straight up between Rowan and the Slytherin girl.
“Who do you think you are!”
“Iris is the one who should be claiming to be the best witch. Professor Flitwick said she cast the best wand lighting charm of any first year.” Rowan defended.
“Iris? Now I know exactly who you are...” Merula drawled, “you're Iris Rosewood. Your brother lost his mind, disgraced his house, got expelled from school, and was never heard from again.”
“Annnd you are?” Iris questioned.
“Merula Snyde. First year Slytherin. The best witch at Hogwarts. I overheard the professors whispering about you at the feast. I suppose you think you're better than me? I should put you out of your misery before you ruin Hogwarts like your brother tried to.”
“Truly, I want no trouble. I'm not my brother.” Iris explained, holding her hands up.
“You don't have a choice.” Merula pulled her wand and stuck it in front of her nose and Ben almost jumped, fearing she would inflict the same pain on Iris she had him.
“You're just afraid I'm more powerful than you.” Iris almost taunted.
“Let's find out who's more powerful right now...” But before Merula could cast any spell, Professor Snape walked out of his classroom where the three girls were standing.
“Rosewood, I knew you would be trouble.” He greeted, and Ben felt righteous anger flow through his veins.
“Professor Snape!” Merula gasped.
“Merula was bullying my friend, Professor Snape.” Rowan tried but Iris motioned that it was ok.
“Get to Potions Class. Be thankful you aren't headed to detention.” He warned, showing Merula into his classroom.
“Thanks for standing up for me, Iris. I've never been very strong. Or good at making friends. I'm glad you and I are both in Gryffindor.” Rowan told Iris.
“Did you hear what Merula said? Why would the professor's be talking about me?” Iris asked her, trepidation in her voice.
“I don't know, but we better get to potions. We're in enough trouble as it is.” Rowan encouraged, and Iris laughed.
“I have a feeling we're going to be in trouble a lot in potions.” The blonde joked.
Ben finally gathered enough courage and followed the girls inside, and took a seat with a couple of the other Gryffindor boys, thankful to be across the class from Merula, and fairly close to Iris and Rowan.
After class, Ben decided to approach Iris.
“You're Iris Rosewood, right?” He asked, knowing full well who exactly she was. She looked up at him from where she was rummaging around in her bag and they locked eyes again. Blue met brown and Ben felt a entirely new sensation of nervousness. They were extraordinarily blue, like a aquamarine gemstone, with little flecks of gold near her iris's.
“Yes. Who are you? We never formally introduced each other in charms.”
“I'm Ben Copper, I'm a first year Gryffindor just like you. I wanted to thank you for standing up to Merula in the corridor earlier.”
“Who told you I did that?”
“I was... watching from the end of the corridor.” He admitted sheepishly. “I've been following her so she can't sneak up on me and if she sees me, at least I'll have a chance to run away. She tormented me the entire way here on the Hogwarts Express. She kept threatening me, and calling a me a Mudblood.” He watched as Iris's eyes flashed in shock when she heard him use the last word.
“That's terrible! I'm so sorry Ben!”
“Merula is obsessed with being the best witch in our year, and she thinks she has to impose her will on us to prove it. I'm just glad that someone was brave enough to stand up to her. I'm certainly not. It's a joke that I was sorted into Gryffindor.” He explained to her onestly.
“Everyone is afraid of something, Ben.” Iris told him and he almost laughed.
“Unfortunately, I' afraid of everything. I come from a Muggle family, so all of this is new and scary to me.”
“If it's any consolation, I know how you feel. I come from a wizarding family and this is still hard for me too. I'll try to help you however I can.”
“Thanks Iris. I'll be seeing you around then?”
“Yeah. I'll see you around.”
He and Iris passed each other on many occasions, and sat with one another in classes here and there, but she was busy with her other new classmates. He on the other hand tried to keep his head down and have no one notice him.
Still, he couldn't help but feel what he would describe as a gravitational pull towards her. He would see her in the library, and even if he couldn't sit with her, he would sit near her. When he could sit with her, he seized every opportunity. Mostly that was Charms, and thankfully he seemed to be quite skilled in that class.
Iris would congratulate him every opportunity she had it felt like, and would ask him for tips on how he would master a spell so quickly. He felt like on occasion it was just to make him feel better, because she was one of the most intelligent students in their year, if not the most intelligent. Still, when she praised him he felt like he was on cloud nine.