Another story of fate

Chapter 5

Dea

The screeching of my neighbor brought me out of my slumber. I lazily opened my eyes and, turning over on the other side, buried myself in the blanket. Why yell like that? How could something happen on such a beautiful morning?

"Daphne, what happened?" - Pansy moaned, stretching lazily.

In the evening, after supper, the prefects escorted all freshmen into the living room. They lined us up in pairs, and we went into the dungeon. Shaking with every breath, I wanted to curse those who could not allocate an empty tower for our dorms. Instead of illuminated corridors with paintings there are bare walls of wild stone, instead of joyful shouts there is an ominous silence. Greenish lamps hang from the ceiling and the entrance is through a wall in one of the corridors. Although the common room was tastefully furnished with tapestries and dark wood sideboards. The presence of fireplaces was no more joyful than the meeting with the boggart and who hung up the lamps of a cold swamp color? They inflamed an already gloomy tense atmosphere.
The prefect divided us into rooms, three girls in each. So I became a neighbor of Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson. Yesterday they tried to get to know me but I stopped them. I wanted to sleep so badly. They never knew my name.

"We should run to the dining room." - Daphne muttered, buttoning up her burgundy dress.

I looked at my wristwatch. The leather strap was barely fastening on a thin wrist and I had to use magic. Three time circles with two silver threads in each spun clockwise and counterclockwise.  Mom gave them after shopping on Diagon Alley and taught them how to use them. One circle showed seconds and spun faster, the second - milliseconds, the third - hours. The threads of the third circle rotated, dying at the corresponding figure. In the afternoon they changed their direction.

8:30. It's really late. I threw back the covers. Thousands of prickly needles immediately dug into the skin. Embracing myself by the shoulders, I looked sadly at the bed. Pansy repeated after me.

Drowning in soft slippers, I got up abruptly, clicking my fingers to make the bed, and disappeared with my clothes in the bathroom.
Honestly, a special magic woven into the base makes the bed. It works like an artifact, activating either by tapping or clicking. My grandmother told me about such little things during long moral conversations by the fireplace.

"I did it too!" - I heard Pansy scream as I pulled my robe over my overalls, sighing sadly.

We ran into the dining room exactly at nine o'clock and were frightened by the immense number of students. They all dispersed to companies and houses, loudly discussing yesterday, complaining of headaches and the beginning of their studies.

I did not share their moaning, because I took Hogwarts for granted. If I should be here than I should be here. Mom always repeated: studying is above all. "Knowledge will help in difficult times to find a way out, and good friends will provide support" - I heard all the time. Studying only provided resources for life, nothing more. If that can be obtained from Hogwarts - I will be glad.

Having lost sight of my roommates, I went to the house table and sat down at yesterday's place. An already familiar senior student landed nearby.

"Let me guess, Dea Amaretto?" - He tilted his head slightly to the side.

I turned around.

"Yes." - I nodded. - "With whom I have a pleasure to chat?"

The guy was not taken aback and broke into a charming smile. Probably, the girl classmates did not deprive him of attention. Today he combed his hair back, revealing a massive forehead, carrying books in his hands, which were sent to the table.