CRIMSON TEARS | Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone [1]

𝘃 | 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

Gwen's anxiety did not cease. She held her eyes shut for a moment, trying to calm the growing hole of dread in the pit of her stomach.

  God, what were her parents going to say? Was it too late to change houses?

  She glanced down at the gold plates as Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of all time, she'd been told, rose to his feet in the centre of the teachers' table. 'Welcome. Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!'

  He thanked the hall as everyone cheered and clapped. Gwen found herself smiling.

  Harry leaned toward her. 'Is he a bit-- mad?'

  'Mad?' When Dumbledore had sat down, the most appetising foods Gwen had ever seen had appeared at the tables. She helped herself to some beef and chicken, attempting to remain calm. 'He's a genius. Best wizard in the world, Eddy said. There are so many stories about Dumbledore. But, yes, I'd say he probably is a bit mad.' Gwen poured some gravy over her plate. 'Potatoes, Harry?'

  It seemed Harry had just noticed all the food. Gwen smiled again, placing some potatoes on his plate.

  She dug into the food, filling the void in her stomach. Though it helped her hunger, the anxiety failed to cease. The ghosts from earlier had all swarmed in now to the house tables, chattering away to the first years.

  'That does look good,' one of the ghosts said who was hovering behind one of the Weasley twins. He was watching Harry cut into a steak. Gwen shovelled some stuffing in her mouth.

  'Can you--'

  'Eat?' said the ghost. 'Not for five hundred years. I don't think I've introduced myself! Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.' He swooped upward, flourishing his hat in a bow.

  'I know who you are!' Ron said suddenly. 'You're Nearly Headless Nick!'

  The ghost tilted his head slightly. 'I would prefer if you called me Sir Nicholas--'

  Seamus Finnigan, an Irish boy that Gwen recognised from the Sorting, interrupted him. 'How can you be Nearly Headless?'

  Sir Nicholas sighed, clearly annoyed by the questions about his head. In one grotesque movement, he reached up and pulled on his head. It almost came off completely, held on by a couple tendons of skin as if on a hinge. He flipped it back onto his neck, looking pleased at the disgusted reactions of the First Years, then went on to talk about the House Cup.

  Gwen didn't listen. The food had distracted her from the dread momentarily, but it returned within moments. She found herself looking over at the Slytherin table.

  Edward has his back to her. He was laughing, taking a sip from his goblet as he talked with his friends. A few seats down, Felix was eating his dinner ravenously, sat next to a ginger girl who was talking to him animatedly. He appeared disinterested as he responded. As if feeling her eyes on him, he looked up, making eye contact with Gwen. He smiled through his mouthful, nudging the girl next to him and pointing at her. She looked up, waving at Gwen a friendly grin on her face.