Freya

Rules and Roomates

Rae hurriedly settled alongside the duo with Hermione tagging behind. "Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ." Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors and also assist Miss Merlin in settling here," he said as he directly looked towards the girl, a few mumurs arose and quickly died down. Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively and nodding in acknowledgement of the new student, Rae too passed a light smile and nodded back. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound."On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. "First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry and Rae among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. What caught Rae's attention was a man with long black hair reaching up to his chin and piercing black eyes staring at her, she looked straight ahead staring back at him the eye contact was broken as Ron let out a small grumble.
"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. it was beyond anger: it was loathing. Harry knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry. So this is Professor Snape ? What does he teach?. "What does professor Snape teach ?" Rae whispered to Hermione. " Potions" she replied.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned while Rae looked puzzled watching them. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard. 

      "We should’ve known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?". Biting book?. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. "Well, I think that’s everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!".  The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harry, suddenly ravenous, helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat. Rae nervously sat there looking at her reflection in the plate wondering about everything that happened till now. Her normal life is suddenly so eventful. "Why are you not eating? Are you still feeling sick?" Hermione questioned. Rae shook her head in response, " No, it's just I can't choose what to eat". "Here the chicken is always very tasty, I can't get enough of it " Ron said as he filled her plate with some pieces of fried chicken. Rae took a bite and the flavour made her feel hungry and go for seconds.
 
      It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn’t a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid’s name last year. 

      At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters,  Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance. "Freya please follow me " a voice called her catching her attention. She turned around to see Percy the Head Boy. " I will show you the way to our common room". The first years had gathered alongside her and soon they headed for the staircase. "The staircase keeps changing so always lookout and keep close, it's better not to wander off ", Percy said as he kept walking along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower, where a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, “Password?”......  “Coming through, coming through!” Percy called from behind the crowd. “The new password’s Fortuna Major!”. " Always remember the password or else you won't be granted entry and also the passwords keep changing so do keep track of them, your luggage is already kept in your rooms"Percy stated as he entered.  Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys are divided toward their separate staircases.

Rae alongside Hermione climbed the spiral stair and soon reached  a circular dormitory with its four four-poster beds with red curtains and carpet. Her luggage was already arranged. And saw two other girls already on their beds chit-chatting. One of them was visibly paler than the other and had blue eyes with dirty blonde hair while the other girl had obsidian brown eyes with long black hair and dusky brown toned skin. Both the girls stopped talking and looked at her with eyes full of questions wanting to know why and what is she doing here but refrained from voicing them out because of sheer intimidation of the name Merlin. Rae politely smiled in acknowledgement, as exhaustion was reflecting in her eyes. She extended her hand for a handshake," Hi , I am Freya Merlin, looking forward to a good year with you guys". Wow Rae what a fabulous introduction this was ...... The black haired girl immediately reached out for the handshake," I am Parvati Patil and she is Lavender Brown, nice to meet you ". " Yes, nice to meet you guys!", the awkwardness was filling the room.

Rae's bed was beside a huge window where she could see the green lands streching far and wide. The moonlight was shining on her bed the red curtains obscuring it. Rae sat down looking at the luggage, the Merlin insignia was shining due to the faint moonlight, the dragon wrapped around the sword of fate. Unconsciously Rae felt the intricately designed dragon wither fingertips wishing all of this was just a nightmare. She huffed closing her eyes in annoyance of everything that had happened till now as it was hard to think of reasons why her parents would suddenly change everything in her life. Since the prison break out her life had turned upside down , she became a prisoner in her home and now a prisoner here in the school. Rae plopped down on her bed , looking at the celling and the curtains. Her mind almost getting lost in the past when she remembered she has to unpack and sleep as she has classes starting from the next day. A very long night ahead.

Hope you enjoyed your author Ananya Basu. I will update as soon as possible.