enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 1: Already Enemies

Felicity's POV

I laughed at Ron, who had his cheeks stuffed out like a chipmunk with food. Hermione just grimaced in disgust, which made me laugh even harder. Harry joined in, seeing their expressions, and eventually we were all laughing to the point of tears.

We stopped laughing, however, and resorted to screaming when a head popped out of the food Ron was about to grab. "Bloody hell!" Ron and I shouted in unison.

Percy, Ron's older brother and the male prefect of Gryffindor, only chuckled. "How was your summer, Sir Nicholas?" he asked politely. The ghost, Sir Nicholas, I suppose, made a sour face. "Horrible!" he replied dramatically, "The Headless Hunt refused me yet again!" He began to fly off, or float off, or however it is ghosts move, muttering foul words about said Headless Hunt, before Ron spoke up.

"Hey, I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!" he said in awe. The ghost sniffed with disdain. "I prefer Sir Nicholas, thank you," he said, sounding slightly annoyed and already tired of us.

Hermione addressed the ghost. "Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" she questioned. Nicholas suddenly grinned. "Like this," he demonstrated.

He took one half of his head and pulled it to the side, revealing a grotesquely severed neck, which caused Harry to jump, Ron to shriek, and Hermione to cringe. Nick smiled in satisfaction. "Have a good school year," he called, flying off. "Ghosts, " I muttered, shaking my head.

~*~

"Gryffindors, follow me, please. Come on, keep up," Percy said, leading us to the Gryffindor Common Room.

We arrived in front of a portrait of a... bigger woman. "Password?" she asked in a high-pitched voice. "Caput Draconis," Percy said authoritatively. The portrait swung open to reveal a hallway of sorts that lead to what I assumed to be the dorms and Common Room.

There was a small fireplace, a fire still flickering, and long, comfy looking golden and red couches, armchairs, and tables. The whole atmosphere was quite comfortable.

Percy led us to a stairway, saying, "Boys dormitories are upstairs and to the right, girls are up and to the left. You'll find that your stuff has already been put up there, by your beds. I suggest you get some rest tonight; tomorrow your classes begin. Goodnight," he said in the same polite, formal way he'd been talking all night. I walked up the stairs with Hermione, idly chatting about the classes tomorrow.

"I'm most excited for Charms, or Defense Against the Dark Arts," she piped happily. "Me, too," I agreed, "That, and Potions." We reached the top of the stairs and walked into the dormitory.

I quickly found my trunk and Marvin's cage by a bed next to a big window. I got my pajamas out and changed before hopping into bed, leaning over the edge to release Marvin from his cage. He hooted and flew to the headboard of the bed, settling himself there. I yawned.

"Goodnight, everyone," I said, already half asleep.

This would be the start to a good year.

~*~

It was not the start to a good year.

Well, perhaps it was, but not when I was woken up by Hermione being unnecessarily loud at an unnecessarily early hour.

"Felicity! Felicity, wake up!" she whispered-yelled in my ear. I groaned before opening my eyes. She was already in her robes, and tapping her foot impatiently.

"C'mon, get into your robes! We have to go down to the Great Hall to eat and get our schedules!" she said excitedly. I stretched like a cat in the sun and climbed slowly out of bed.