Cynthia Cygnet and the Misplaced Gryffindor

● Chapter 5 ●

"Firs' years, Firs' years" the largest man Cynthia and probably every other student have ever seen called out with a large lamp trailing behind him, occasionally stopping to quickly chat with students.

 He led the first years to small boats, instructing them to get in groups of 4 and Cynthia felt oddly lost as she noticed Hermione and Neville had left to share a boat with Harry and Ron. Cynthia paced the shore of the lake in search for an empty boat but struggled as everyone has rushed to get in a boat.

 "There's a space over here!" A voice called out and a girl with long, thick copper hair as vivid as Ron's waved her over.

 "Hi" Cynthia said as she lowered herself into a seat in the boat. There was only one other girl in the boat. 

 "Hey" The girl said cheerfully, offering her a wide gapped smile which Cynthia found incredibly contagious "I'm Freida, Freida Biscus"

 "I'm Cynthia Cygnet" Upon saying this, Cynthia's eyes met with a curious yet dark pair of eyes. The girl who sat beside Freida had not spoken until Cynthia had stated her name and she looked at her almost with a sense of recognition. 

 "I know you!" The girl said, brushing her dark hair out of her eyes and leering towards Cynthia "Your father works in the Department of Mysteries"

 "I don't think we've met though" Cynthia, who went very quiet and confused, replied. It put her on edge finding out that random people had known about her without her even knowing them. Was her father that well-known in the wizarding world? 

 "No, we haven't" the girl said, her eyes glittered and a hint of a smirk crept up onto her face "I just know about you, that's all" 

 Cynthia's skin itched and she began to feel hot under her robe despite the cool autumn breeze under the stare of the girl who still hadn't introduced herself. Was it too late to get off this boat and find other?

 She debated it quickly in her mind but before she could grab the edge of the boat to lift herself up, the boat began to move and she jolted back into the back of her side of the boat. They were moving so smoothly against the lake it was almost like they were gliding against the gentle waves.

 "You didn't say your name" Freida stepped in, almost as if she sensed the thick sense of discomfort radiating from Cynthia.

 "Ahita Kapoor" She said with a sense of pride and stuck out her hand to shake both of their hands "You might recognise the name, my family are quite well known Slytherins. Almost as big as the Malfoys" Cynthia and Freida nodded, pretending as if in complete recognition. They both were fully aware that Slytherins were trouble, especially because of the First Wizarding War. If they were almost as 'big' as the Malfoy's, Cynthia wouldn't have been surprised if the girl had relatives who had been in allegiance with You-Know-Who. She cursed herself for prematurely judging, the girl had creeped her out though. 

 "So, do you know what your father does in the department?" She continued without a second of silence "It's all a big secret, my father works in the ministry too and they all wonder what goes on in that department" 

 "He doesn't discuss work " Cynthia said "Sworn against to" 

 The overbearing interest which shone in Ahita's eyes soon dulled and she grunted, turning away to look at the passing scenery as the peak of the Hogwarts building slowly came into view.

"Look!" Freida had said, shattering the silence. She waved her arms and pointed so excitedly that Cynthia was afraid that they would be tipped out of the boat. She had the image of having to sit on the stall and be sorted with dripping wet hair and robes. The castle had been in full view now, every turret and wing seemed to light up and a collective gasp was heard. Cynthia found herself at a loss of words, savouring every angle and view of the castle. From the outside, Hogwarts was spectacular in the moonlight. She wondered what the inside looked like.