𝓓𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓓𝓮𝓿𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 - [EDITING]

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓻

I skip into the Great Hall, relishing the smells and sounds of home. My cousin sneers at Harry, saying something about fainting. My heart goes out to the boy subject to my cousin's teasing. I don't approve of the way Draco acts, especially since I relate so closely to Harry. It must've been the dementors.

I walk towards my regular seat, but it's occupied by a girl I don't recognize. She has long, silky black hair that falls to her hip, where my caramel brown hair reaches no further than my shoulder blades.

"-from Mahoutokoro," the newcomer tells the twins. My twins. Her melodic voice is as beautiful and delicate as her perfect, porcelain skin. "Your professor Dumbledore invited me to visit for this year."

The boys take a moment to register her words, awed by her looks. I don't wait for them to gather their bearings and instead look for a different seat angrily. Huffing, I plop down across from Alicia and Angelina.

"Met the exchange student?" The latter says.

"She stole my seat!" I exclaim in distress. "Why did she choose to ruin my life? What did I ever do to her?"

Alicia chuckles, her thick black braids bouncing. "I don't think she was trying to ruin your life! Probably just saw an empty seat and took it."

I grumble, "Well, why couldn't she have chosen any other seat?"

Angelina laughs at my distress, although not unkindly. "I think you'd better get used to her, Gwen. She's been sorted into Gryffindor and she's our year."

"She is?" I moan and drop my head in my arms.

A few quick taps on the shoulder bring it right back up. "Mind if I sit?" The lanky frame of Oliver Wood hovers over me, his caramel hair cropped short, reminding me that Fred and George are due for a haircut. Oh Merlin's beard, I really need to stop fussing over them. I nod to Oliver and he immediately pounces on me, bringing up the only thing he seems to discuss. 

"So, 're you trying out for the Quidditch team this year?" 

I roll my eyes. "Oliver, I've already told you that I don't want to play competetively!" 

His face falls. "Oh, come on, Gwen, it's my last year! We've gotta win the Cup!"

"Yes, I'm aware Oliver," I reply dryly, "but you've already got two perfectly good Chasers right there!" I point to Alicia and Angelina.

"Exactly! Two!" Oliver says, practically bouncing in excitement. "We need three! I've seen you play! You'd be perfect for the team!"

"Oi, Oliver!" I look up to see who's interupting, but I can tell by the voice that it's my boys. "Shove off, will ya?"

The pair of gingers walk up behind me, one on each side, until Oliver leaves. A tiny grin tries to sneak it's way onto my face, but I keep the corner's of my lips firmly in place. Or as best I can anyway. 

"Why didn't ya sit with us?" George asks, patting the young Gryffindor at my side on the back to politely dismiss them. He sits down in the newly vacated seat and props his chin up with his palm.

Before I can answer, Dumbledore interupts with his welcome speech and I silently thank him. The old bloke's eye twitches and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he were winking at me. 

---

"Night boys!" I holler, moving up the steps and just past the enchantment that keeps nosy boys out of the girl's dormitories. 

Being the daft boys they are, Fred and George start following me up, only for a loud siren to wail and the stairs to melt away. I laugh from the protection of my step as the pair slip right back into the common room. 

"Oh, put a sock in it, would ya!" A few tired Gryffindors holler, annoyed by the noise. I ignore them and continue laughing as my boys wave their fists to my retreating figure. I'm sure they'll get me back in the morning, but for now the good laugh was worth it. 

I open the door to my dorm and plop onto the plush red carpet in the center of the room. Midge leaps from atop my bed and curls up on my lap. I stare up at the dark blue ceiling, admiring the constellations drawn across it, but my serenity is interupted.

"I don't believe we've met."

I glance around the room, three of the five bed drapes are drawn and Angelina's familiar snores ring softly through the air, leaving only one culpret for the voice. Just as I feared, the girl that stole my seat rises airly from her bed where she sat, legs crossed.

"I'm Himari, you must be Gwenog."

"Just Gwen," I say simply, stroking Midge's fur. 

Himari lowers herself onto the carpet beside me. "Well then, Gwen, how do you know those twins? You seem to be all they can talk about. You must have them wrapped around your finger."

My jaw clenches. "We've been best friends since we started here," I say, my voice holds a dangerous edge.

"No need to get fiesty, I don't intend to steal your men. Gingers are far from my type. I only wanted to know how you got them both to fall in love with you. Share some tips, girl to girl." Her perfectly straight teeth are revealed as she smirks cheekily, lighting a fire within me.

"Are you calling them ugly?" I demand, standing up. "They're not ugly! And I'm not some basic floozy playing with their hearts!"

Himari stands as well, her face reddens. "I think I'll be going to bed now," she fumes, glaring at me with her dark eyes. 

"Brilliant. Good night." I cast her a final nasty look and retreat to the center bed, drawing the curtains agressively. I knew I wasn't going to like her.