timeless // Sebastian Sallow

CHAPTER 6: Gryffindor Girls

"In your life, you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team
I didn't know it at fifteen."

🎧 Recommended song for this chapter:  Fifteen - Taylor Swift

*****

Once inside the Gryffindor common room, I noticed how crowded it was. All the new students were celebrating being sorted to our house, and the older ones were picking on them.

The atmosphere was warm, cheerful, and contagious. I really did consider hanging out there for a while, but my girl friends were nowhere to be seen. They were probably already at our dormitory, so I went upstairs.

As I opened the door, giggling and conversations could be heard inside the room. Natty, Nellie and Cressida were gathered by the small living area to the left of our dormitory, having an excited conversation about quidditch. Those girls were really enthusiastic about sports.

Nellie was lying spread across the red couch, Natty was sitting on the armchair next to her, and Cressida had pulled the fireplace armchair closer to them.

They had hung quidditch posters on the walls, and Cressida went as far as framing not one, but four of her beautiful sketches - she was very talented. The setting looked so cosy, and they looked happy. I never got to really spend time here with them, and at that moment I regretted it.

"Carolyn! We were waiting for you!" Cressida cheerfully noticed my presence, clapping her hands in excitement and fixing her round glasses on her face.

"Were you? I- That is so nice of you girls." I was actually surprised. "Waiting for me for what exactly?"

"Well, of course, our session of spilling the beans, silly," Nellie replied with a mischievous smile on her face. "It is a ritual of ours to share the updates on everything that happened this summer."

"Now, please Wingardium yourself a seat and join us at once," Natty completed, picking up her tea.

Once we were all sitting in a circle, I cast another appearance spell to change into my pyjamas, which they were all already wearing.

"How did you do that?" Cressida replied, with shock in her eyes.

"Me? Well, I have this catalogue of garments I gathered on my explorations... Then I can change into anything if it is a known outfit I have," I explained, still confused about why that would be shocking.

"Yes, I know how appearance charms work... My mother works at the Gladrags branch in London. It is just that this is not something that is taught here in Hogwarts, it is actually rather advanced. I am impressed!" She smiled excitedly.

I had no idea. But now that she mentioned it, indeed, I had rarely seen other students wearing anything different than the traditional Hogwarts uniform.

"So, shall we begin? Who wants to start?" Cressida now presided over the girls' conference, joining her hands together under her chin.

"Well, why don't you start by updating us on Amit, Cressida?" Nellie wiggled her eyebrows, letting out a curious smile.

Amit and Cressida? I am so oblivious.

"Well," she inhaled profoundly. "As you remember, I confronted him for ratting out on me about that flying diary situation at the library, then he promised to take me on a date. Can you believe that he only owled me mid-July?" She rolled her eyes but didn't hide her smile. "But well... let's just say that the wait was worth it," she giggled and shoved her face on a pillow.