My Teacher, Oliver

Chapter Two- New Interests

AN- Hey peoples! Please leave a comment of encouragement or constructive criticism. I will try not to dart around as much in future chapters. Have a great day! 

Rose POV

I wrap my blue and bronze scarf a third time around my neck and pull my dull brown hair down before opening the door. I have a full view of Hagrids hut from the porch of my little garden cottage. I've lived here for two years, in this little structure with two levels and only three rooms. My tiny kitchen occupies the same space as my table and chairs and a minuscule bathroom hides next to the back door. A set of narrow steps leads to the upper floor, where my room is. Half of the day the cottage is bathed in the shadow of the school. It's placed far enough away from the Forbidden Forest that nothing can snatch me in the night, but close enough that I can hear most of the sounds within.

The dawn mist rolls heavily over the path upward, the occasional bunny darting through. I double check my bootlaces and start the hike up, slipping slightly every other step from the dampness of the ground. When I reach an outside courtyard, I stop to rest. Morning rays have already begun to sweep their light over the ground. I can't help but think up a poem I would never write down, a technique I adopted to help encourage my creative writing skills. Breakfast isn't for another hour, but I want to help Filch do some Sunday cleaning before the kiddos return. After I've fully caught my breath, I head to the great hall. The candles have already been lit for the early returning seventh years, but since they only use four tables the first week ( In representation of the four houses) The remaining tables still need to be straightened and wiped over.

I only have one left when Filch stumbles in from a side door. It takes him a long minute to notice me as he seemingly searches for something by turning around in place and glaring at the floor. "Ah, Miss Trancy " His beady eyes light up, "What have you been, oh-" His jaw drops as he sees the clean tables. " Miss Trancy, you didn't have to," he whispers. "Nonsense, it was no trouble at all especially considering all that you do around here." A mist covers his eyes and a single clouded tear escapes an eye before he hurries to cover his face. "I'll go get the brooms so we can finish off this room."

I finish off the remaining table and scope out my plan to go over the headmasters podium and the teachers table before helping Filch with the floor. The floor takes over an hour to sweep and polish, but when finished, the hardwood gleams like the sweat pouring from my companion and I. After Filch takes away the dirty cleaning supplies, the moans and growls of hunger begin to pour in early for breakfast. The older students don't bother with house separations as they clog the seats of the open tables. I take a seat at the end of the Slytherin table, avoiding conversation of classmates who have known each other for a long time.

I wait, gazing around the hall and settling my eyes on one group after the other. Eventually I resort to staring at a point beside one of the main doors, a few teachers come in, Hagrid, Snape and even McGonagall, before the food graces us with its presence. I watch as Snape gains the attention of a boy sitting at the Gryffindor table and gestures for him to sit closer. The boy rises from his seat quickly and says goodbye to his companions before taking a seat beside the Potions Professor.

Professor Snape and the boy in the black turtleneck talk long after breakfast has faded away. I watch them intently, and notice the boy sometimes glancing my way. I focus so much on this foreign exchange between Snape and a student that I fail to notice the shadow looming over me. Hagrid lays a hand on my shoulder and I let out a squeal of surprise. I see an involuntary smile escape the boys face before I look up at the gamekeeper. "Goodness Hagrid Were you trying to give me a heart attack?"

The large man lets out an unrestrained bellow of laughter. "Rose Trancy, don't think I don't see you, eyein up that boy over there." "I certainly was not " an unexpected heat burns my face, betraying me instantly. "Well at least you got some good taste, that Wood is a hard worker, real passionate about what he cares about. An I never ave seen him stuck on a girl." Hagrid grins, "Nor have I seen you stuck on any un for that matter." I frown, attachment has never been an option. Since my family left me with Minerva to finish schooling, I have tried not to get attached to anyone I may have to leave. Like they left me. The redness of my face turns from embarrassment to frustration and I turn my face away from Hagrid to regain my composure. "Well, no ones been stuck on me either, so It's not something I need to be worried about. Plus I have my priorities set, and they do not include the addition of a romantic companion." Hagrid rolls his eyes in good humor, " Soon enough you'll find un who'll make you willing to give them a little place right near the top of that list." he proclaims, seemingly to maintain the last word.