Drying in the rain

His Fingertips Of Ink

~A~

The last of my morning, Charms with professor Flitwick, went without problem, I was used to the compliments from the staff by now, it came with no surprise when he mentioned my ornate abilities. It seemed that I was incorrect, that I was only so great in the muggle world, it seemed as if every professor had something good to say about my magic. Every professor except Snape. But I didn't need his approval, if the other professors thought me incredible before I had started potions they would surly think me superior after.
I arrived in the great hall just in time for lunch, grabbing myself a plate of an inedible meal they were serving. Evans eyes caught my own, he motioned for me to sit at his table. Beside him two ginger griffindors, so identical that they had to have been twins. Across from them sat a more famous griffindor with a spectacular lighting bolt scar, and to his side another ginger griffindor and a griffindor with fuzzy dirty blonde hair and a book shoved into her face.
"Anna, hey, I wanted to tell you before class. But everyone has to take that test, it wouldn't have been right." Evan scooted over on the bench leaving me an empty spot to sit.
"What are you a hufflepuff?" I mocked, poking the mess of a lunch with my fork and other utensils.
"She's a feisty one!" Exclaimed one twin.
"A real catch!" Proclaimed the other, putting out his hand, bending it firmly straight. "Fred Weasely, and this is my brother-" he was cut off.
"George, the better, hotter, funnier twin at your service!" He pushed into his brother, opening up his hand as well. I took one of their hands with my right and the other within my left, shaking them just as goofily as they had wanted.
"And she-" Evan pulled the two back to his side. "Is off limits!"
"Excuse you Evan?" I chuckled, George's eyes widened as his brother grinned a mischievous grin.
"All I'm saying is, this is your first real day! Don't let boys ruin it for you. Because trust me, every boy with half a brain will flirt with you today, the models they occasionally see at home walking on their TVs and posing in their magazines have nothing on you and they know that." He warned, his eyes following the eyes of other students as they stared at me.
"This is weird... I've always thought myself average."
"Well clearly they don't." He laughed, the twins had already gone back to flinging pieces of food across tables and hitting unsuspecting victims. "So what classes do you have left?"
"Uhhh.... I have advanced transfiguration, then defense against the dark arts and lastly advanced potions."
"Okay so you're not only in advanced herbology but two others? You've got to be crazy smart! I can barely keep up with professor Sprout." He teased, taking a large spoonful of soup, slurping it loudly. Around us students gossiped, studied, ate. It was as if they all had been living completely within their own respective universes, only rarely coming together. The beams holding up the curved in ceiling, the candles unlit whilst the daylight flooded in. It was drizzling, not completely rainy and not completely sunny, it was still relatively bright outside given the clouds beginning to form from the Scottish mountains down into the highlands housing the school. The stain glass windows gleefully stood, knowing their mission, knowing their virtuality, knowing their grace. I stared at them, this was no church, but I imagined a church to look like this, with massive windows. Maybe instead of the colorful paneling they would have Mary or Jesus, I wouldn't know of course. I grew up without the church in my life as did most other magical children.
"Well time to get back to classes, I'll see you around, oh and good luck with Snape." Evan was cheerful, he didn't know of my pending detention nor would I want him to.
"Thanks Evan." I collected my things, gathering myself up to get through the rest of this day. I had decided I enjoyed it, this school, my courses, most of my classmates and professors. I understood what I was taught, and I found solace in my lessons.
Professor Sprout was energetic and softly spoken, Flitwick was resourceful and quick witted, Mcgonagall was bold and ingenious and.... Snape.... he was wise and frigid. He was a creature of confusion, of control, of mystery. I was nervous to attend his class more than any other. He knew things about the world, dark things, things that no one else could ever understand. I tried not to pity him, it wouldn't have been fair of me to. He didn't deserve my judgement, and although he didn't understand not to judge me, how could I expect a man as great as him not to? With all he held within his powerful mind, I would be an idiot to demand his immediate respect. Respect was earned, and although I hadn't earned his whatsoever he had begun earning mine.