His Meadow

Chapter 1

I remember how warm he always was. How I was always cold. Not with him though, constantly wrapped in his presence, absorbed by his being, his smile.

Now I am always cold.

The Great Hall looked different than I imagined. Nothing like the pitiful lunch rooms that I once dinned at in America. One thing that had not changed was the staring. Im painfully aware of my distinct features: bright red hair, fair skin, green eyes. My mother tells me I'm the kind of pretty that can't be brought in stores, but she's the only one who's called me pretty. I don't think many people would've paid much mind to me if the old lady hadn't ushered me to the front of the Hall. I don't see why I couldn't have just picked a table to sit at, but she says i'll have to wait.

My worried train of thought was interrupted by a man who i'm told is the headmaster of the school, Professor Dumbledore.

"Let me begin tonight's feast with a few words. Delighted. Rug. Dictionary."

The entire student body begins to laugh, easing my nerves.

"Before the tables are set, there is a rather serious matter I must address. The sorting hat will be placing a new student into her house tonight!"

The rows of witches and wizards began to whisper between themselves, alternating their gaze between Professor Dumbledore and myself.

"It is my pleasure to introduce this young witch who will be joining the Year 6 class, Emmaline Avery!"

Dumbledore waved me up the few stairs to stand in front of a stool that I could have sworn wasn't there before. The Great Hall had gone silent, and you could her my shoes hit the steps as I approached the stool and sat down.

"Now, the tradition of the four houses will be tested tonight...will Ms. Avery be sorted into the Gryffindor House, with determination and true character? Or maybe Hufflepuff, showing patience and hard work? Who thinks RavenClaw is the House for Ms. Avery?"

The table second from the door erupted with cheers. When the students subsided, Dumbledore continued,

"Then there is the House of Slytherin, will her true colors shine green? Mrs. McGonagall, will you please bring over the sorting hat."

The old lady, who I now knew as Mrs. McGonagall stood next to me with the ugliest, old, worn out brown witch hat I had ever seen. Before I could question it the hat was resting on my head. I about screamed when it began talking.

"I sense superiority in you, but also a dooming feeling of failure that seems to be holding you back from the greatness you think you deserve. Yes, yes... aware of how others perceive you, and know how to change it. Definitely not a doormat like most Hufflepuffs, so that won't do. Social over studies I see-not Ravenclaw. Though others may never see it, your confidence in your own abilities keeps you above others.

Slytherin!"

The table closest to the entrance immediately stood up and celebrated. The hat was removed from my head and I walked over the still cheering table. A girl with short black hair invited me to sit next to her.

"Pansy Parkinson. One of the 28 pureblood families. Who are you?"

"I'm Emmaline Avery," I said with a smile.

"Good, another pureblood. Don't want any muggles ruining the magic. You can bunk with me in the dorms, there's an extra bed under Millicent Bulstrode."

Pansy pointed to a pinched face girl sitting a few people down. She caught sight of Pansy, and then me giving a daring look. Pansy rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the girl before turning back to me.

"I think we are going to be great friends, I can just feel it Em."

I gave her a smile, thankful for the kind gesture considering the overall hostility and ego this table was giving off. Within ten minutes huge plates of food appeared in the middle of the tables. this was something that happened at my old wizardry school, but the food here seemed ten times more enjoyable- and it was!

Just as everybody was finishing up, Professor Dumbledore excused the tables to their respective houses. Pansy led me down the castle into the dungeons. Pansy whispered the word "Gryffindork" to the portrait hung on the door, and the entrance swung open.

The Slytherin common room was nothing like I've ever seen. Rich green embroidered couches facing a green flamed fire. Black wood floors and spiral staircases on each side. Shelves of trinkets and books all shaded a hue of emerald green. Dark paintings of wilted flowers and depressed people lined a wall. Elevated on a single stair was a grand table, most likely used for studies. Floating candles danced around the ceiling, the only light source in the huge room. The dark atmosphere didn't seem to bother the students, because the room was quickly becoming packed with people talking of a party.

"I'm going to stick around and see what this party is really all about." said Pansy.

"Ok, I can't have my first impression be that i'm a bore so i'll stay too."

Pansy let out a girly squeal and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards a sofa urging me to sit down. Within ten minutes, there was a group of judgmental passive aggressive people surrounding me.

"So, why did you leave America? Got kicked out?" asked a boy named Blaise.

"No, my mother attended Hogwarts, she grew up here and decided she wanted the same for me."

Everyone seemed satisfied with my answer except Millicent, who walked away laughing. The night continued this way, people asking me questions in a suspicious tone. Once everyone seemed satisfied, the crowd thinned until there were only a few left, who had become distracted in their own conversations to annoy me anymore. Pansy was babbling about new clothes she had gotten for the new school year when a person sat down on the couch across from us. I looked away from Pansy only to see a boy who had features just as striking as mine, in his own beautiful way.