Golden Stars

Chapter Four: Voices and Visions

Sophie Foster POV:

Care for Magical Creatures class was fine, but after we'd finished all of our classes, Harry, Ron and Hermione took me to the Gryffindor common room. We walked to the West Towers and stopped at a big picture of a lady.

"Why did we stop?" I asked, "This is not a door,"

Harry, Ron and Hermione began to laugh. Did I ask something stupid? But this is just a picture...isn't it?

"In Hogwarts, the Gryffindors have to tell this portrait the password, and the portrait swings open to let us into the common room," Ron said.

"So what's the password?" I asked.

"Jellybean," Harry said.

The door swung open to the Gryffindor common room. I walked through the door after Hermione.

"Wow, this looks incredible," I said in awe.

The Gryffindor common room was an amazing place, with yellow, gold, red, and maroon everywhere possible, with couches, tables, portraits, displays, bookshelves, and a fireplace. Harry and Ron beamed.

"Sophie," Hermione said,"You're going to be in my dormitory, so when you're ready, tell me,"

I nodded.

"Let's go see Godric Gryffindor!" Ron said.

"Is he someone important?" I asked,"Is he waiting for me?"

Harry and Ron began laughing again, as Hermione sat down and started reading a thick looking book.

"Actually, he's right there," Harry said,"And yes, he is important. He is the founder of Gryffindor house," He pointed to a picture on the wall. The picture had a serious looking man holding a good sword in it, covered in rubies.

"Oh," I said as we walked towards the portrait.

"A new Gryffindor?" asked the portrait,

How did that portrait talk? I thought Maybe it works like the door inside..

"Yes, sir." I said."Sophie Foster,"

Then I heard Hermione call Harry and Ron. We all waved to Godric Gryffindor and met Hermione at the bulletin board. She was looking at a sign that seemed to have just appeared.

"Guys, look," Hermione said, pointing to the sign.

Ron read it aloud. "On day three of the week of magical cooperation, students school-wide will participate in a field trip of a tour of Hogsmeade,"

I looked at Harry. "Hogsmeade?"

"It's the only magical settlement in Britain," Hermione said. "It has no muggles, only witches and wizards,"

"Oh, wow," I said. It looked like Hogwarts had a lot of plans for the "Magical Cooperation" week.

Then I heard familiar laughter coming from the other side of the Gryffindor common room. I turned to look for what it was, and saw Fitz and Keefe laughing with two red haired boys that looked very similar to each other. Maybe I shouldn't interrupt them, and let them be.

When I saw Fitz and Keefe, the unnoticed bit of homesickness that was left in me got blown away. I smiled, feeling at home again seeing my friends laughing and being happy after all that's going on in the Lost Cities...

"Those two boys are your friends, right?" Ron asked.

"Yes," I said.

"It's nice that they're hanging out with the twins," Harry said.

Oh, I thought. So that's why they look so similar. They're twins.

"Wait," I said, "The twins?"

"Yeah," Ron said, "My older brothers Fred and George. They both are master pranksters though, so you may want to watch out,"

No wonder. I thought. Keefe is an amazing prankster too.

* * *

After a few hours of studying, joking, homework, and laughter, the common room started to disperse, and so did we. I didn't see Fitz and Keefe again, but I guessed that I didn't want to know if it was related to pranks. But after a little bit, Hermione declared it was time for us to get to our dorms.

"Guys, we should get to our dorms now," She said."It's getting late,"

"Okay," said Harry, standing up. "Come on, Ron,"

Hermione and I picked up each of our books and studying materials, as Harry and Ron did theirs.

"Bye guys," Hermione said."See you tomorrow,"

"Goodnight," I said.

Hermione and I climbed up the stairs to the Girls Dormitories, leaving the common room behind.

"Sophie, you will be sharing a dorm with me and two other girls, okay?"said Hermione.

"Okay," I said. I was relieved that I was sharing a room with Hermione so I didn't have to go through the awkward introductions again.

But Hermione seems a little... weird. Like she's worried about something. I thought. Could it be me? Am I making her nervous?

That night, I tried to sleep, but failed. I missed the Lost Cities, and Grady and Edaline. But you have to focus on your mission. I thought. Hopefully nothing will get in the way of what the Black Swan is trying to do...

But suddenly, I heard a voice. A familiar crisp accented voice.

Sophie? It asked, Can you hear me?

It was Fitz transmitting right then that stopped my sudden burst of fear. I inhaled and transmitted back:

Hi, Fitz, yes I can hear you.

Good, Fitz transmitted. Sorry if you were sleeping, I just wanted to check in.

Actually, you didn't wake me up. I couldn't sleep. I just miss the Lost Cities.. I admitted.

Me too, he thought. But at least it's only for a week, and Hogwarts isn't that bad.

Yeah I thought.

We both stayed silent for a few heartbeats, not knowing how to continue the conversation.

Well, goodnight then, transmitted Fitz. See you tomorrow.. And if you need to talk, you can always transmit to me.

Goodnight I transmitted. Same to you.

* * *

When I got to sleep, it was mostly pleasant and dreamless. Until I saw it. Suddenly, I saw a mysterious symbol flash before my eyes.

It looked like a snowflake, but with a sun in the middle, and a moon in one of the circles on the lines stretching from the middle. I immediately opened my eyes and I sat up in my bed. Maybe I should transmit to Fitz? I thought. No, I'll find a way to tell him tomorrow.

It was very weird for a mysterious symbol to appear in my sleep, and also, randomly. Maybe it was just something out of my imagination. It couldn't mean anything, could it? Thinking about the mysterious symbol, I took a deep breath and I looked out the window. I saw an amazing view of Hogwarts. There was a beautiful full moon, casting a warm white glow across the Black Lake.

I wondered how my other friends were doing. I hoped they made a few friends like me. I didn't even know if Harry, Ron, and Hermione were considered my friends yet, but I hoped so.

Maybe I should just enjoy my time here and stop worrying that things will get complicated. I thought. Maybe it'll be better that way.