The Untold Story of RAB

The Common Room

Once the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood and made his usual welcome back to school speech, don't go into the forest, etc. But, this year was a little different, there was more stress on protecting ourselves and looking to the light, accepting others. It was all pointed at the elephant in the room, the rise of the Dark Lord, and the students in the very hall who subscribed to his values.

    Once that was over the feast began and Diana stuffed herself with as much delicious potatoes, turkey, beans, and cake as she could muster.

The feast was amazing, more than amazing, it was spectacular. Diana never got sick of the meals on the first day. Huge platters of vegetables, meats, soups, and dips covered the table. The aroma wafting around the room was heavenly.

"So, Montgomery," Marlene asked, "been practicing over the break? We need you in tip top shape. Rumour has it Mortigan, one of the Slytherin chasers, is being scouted by pro-quidditch teams."

Diana laughed, "every day, never fear."

Marlene smiled as she dug back into her potatoes.

Diana chatted with Lily about their summers, Margaret about what classes she was most excited for, and James about last year's Quidditch wins. Diana got into quite a heated debate, to her surprise, with Remus over the origin of Dementors. It ended with an agreement to disagree. Every once in a while she could still feel someone watching her.

    At the end of the feast, when the candles had been burnt to their nub, Dumbledore dismissed them back to their dorms. Diana and her friends, giggling and talking all the way, made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. She still couldn't shake the feeling someone had been watching her.

    "Legilimency" Lily said once they reached the portrait door, it swung open and they all moved inside.

    "What even is that?" Saoirse whispered to Diana.

    "It's moving through another's mind to find out everything that lurks beneath," a creepy voice whispered ominously from behind them.

    All three girls jumped as Sirius burst out laughing that he had spooked them, and waltzed off towards a couch where James was lounging.

    Saoirse rolled her eyes. Diana noted she seemed to be the only person immune to Sirius Black's charms.

    The entire house was squished into the common room. After the first day's feast there was always a commotion of reunions and welcomings in the Gryffindor house.

The common room was set up into two rooms, the main room in which you enter through the Fat Lady's portrait, and the study lounge through an open arch to the left of the portrait entrance. In the large main room there were assortments of couches, armchairs, bookcases, tables and chairs, and rugs covering the floor. The entire room was mostly decked out in Gryffindor colours of crimson and gold, with splatters of other neutrals here and there. Along the walls, reaching up to the high ceilings hung the moving portraits of great Gryffindors.

From the ceiling hung schoolhouse lights that illuminated the common room in a warm light that contrasted the late moonlight shining in from the tall windows on the right wall. To the left of the portrait entrance stood the large fireplace, almost as tall as Diana. Ahead on the far wall were two staircases disappearing into the tower which led to the dormitories. The study lounge to the left contained more tables and couches. The room was protected under a soundproof spell, wherein someone could study all night in there and not be bothered at all by a roaring party occurring in the next room over.

    Diana, Saoirse, and Margaret dropped themselves onto the rug in front of the fire, joining Lily, Mary, Marlene, and the Marauders. Sirius and Remus were leaning on each other on the couch flipping through a book on sea monsters. James was sitting foreword on an armchair trying to make his way into Lily, Mary, and Marlene's conversation on Potions classes. Peter was sitting silently by James' feet trying to fix his broken watch.

    "We should start an OWLs study group," Margaret said while staring into the fire.

    "I agree," Saoirse said, "but perhaps we should be selective about who we study with."

    Margaret turned her eyes from the fire and raised her eyebrows "what does that mean?"

    "I mean, we should study with smart people. I don't want to take any chances this year with my studying."

    "We could join Remus' group, there's some fifth years there," said Diana quietly.

    Margaret nodded, "would save time recruiting people."

    Saoirse nodded, "I suppose so, but" she rushed out quickly, "we should definitely get some Ravenclaws."

    Margaret nodded slowly "I suppose, stereotypically they are rather smart."

    Diana couldn't figure out why Saoirse was being so picky about their study group.

    Saoirse didn't maintain eye contact when she said "I guess we should have a Ravenclaw in our group, maybe" she took a pause as if thinking deeply, "I guess Pandora Malfoy is pretty smart."

    Diana raised her eyebrows, it was not like Saoirse to be nervous. Her and Margaret exchanged a look and it was Margaret who said, "sounds good. Could you ask her?"

    Relief seemed to rush over Saoirse before she composed herself to be laid back and responded, "sure I guess I can do that, no problem, only if you guys insist."

    Diana laughed silently to herself and turned her attention to the tall windows displaying the dark night beyond. She was grateful to be back at Hogwarts, there would be no other sky she'd rather sleep under tonight.