All The Magic We Made (Sebastian Sallow x Fem!OC)

I Get An A+ In Barrel Knocking/Damn, It's 7AM

After dinner, a stout woman with a kindly face comes to me and introduces herself as Pomona Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff. She and McGonagall exchange a few words before she leads me out of the Great Hall.

"Come with me, dearie, I'll show you to the common room," she says cheerfully. I follow her out and try to memorize the route through the castle, which quickly proves itself as a futile mission.

"I am very excited to have you in my class, Miss Andrysiak," she continues. "I am sorry to hear about your rather unfortunate experience getting here to the school. A perfectly good train to bring you here safe and sound, but Professor Fig insisted on the flying carriage. Well, no matter. I am glad to see you in one piece."

"Thank you, ma'am," I say. I rather enjoy her talkative nature; it makes me feel more comfortable to talk myself. "Which class do you teach, if I may ask?"

"Oh, you may!" she says. "I am the Herbology professor. A fascinating subject, although I understand that you are rather behind due to your circumstances."

"Five years behind," I confirm, giving an overly enthusiastic thumbs up.

She chuckles. "Ah, yes. Well, not to worry. I will prepare extra assignments for you to complete, and you will be caught up in no time. Herbology is one of the less demanding subjects in the curriculum. And of course, you will meet my TA, Professor Mirabel Garlick. She often takes over the classes when my expertise is needed elsewhere. It is uncommon to see a student join as a fifth year, and it may take a bit of extra work, but I'm sure that has never stopped you before."

"It hasn't, Professor. I look forward to learning all there is to learn," I say with a smile.

Sprout gives me a wink. "That's the spirit."

We walk a little further before reaching a wall of barrels. The only light is the warm glow of torches bolted onto the walls, the flickering flames reflecting in my russet eyes. Sprout claps her hands together. "Ah, here we are! Hufflepuff common room."

I tilt my head in confusion. "But Professor, these are barrels."

"Indeed they are. It is the hidden entrance to the common room. To get in is rather easy: you simply must knock on the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, in the rhythm of 'Hel-ga Huff-le-puff'. But be warned—an errant knock will lead to one being doused in vinegar." Sprout shivers. "Most unpleasant. But go on, give it a try."

I nod, now more serious about remembering the sequence under the threat of an attack of vinegar. Two from the bottom, middle of the second row. Hel-ga Huff-le-puff. Thankfully, the door swings open without a drop of vinegar in sight.

"Wonderful!" My academic validation receptor is soaring right now. Sprout takes out a wrinkled piece of paper from her pocket, unfolding it and squinting to see whatever is written. "Ah, it says here that you are currently staying in dorm #34. You'll be staying by yourself for now, until we find a dorm with some roommates for you. I trust that you will be able to find the way on your own?"

I peek into the entrance, seeing what must be the Hufflepuff common room beyond. "Yep, I got it," I lie, giving her a confident smile for extra measure.

"Excellent. I will leave you to get some rest, then. You have a big day of classes tomorrow! I understand that Professor McGonagall will retrieve you bright and early to give you a tour of the castle, so make sure you are ready. Very punctual, she is."

"Thank you for all your help, Professor Sprout," I say.

"Of course! I am looking forward to seeing what spectacular things you do during your time here."

***

"Bright and early" was putting it lightly. Professor McGonagall showed up outside the common room at the ungodly hour of seven in the morning, alert and professional as ever. The fact I was able to keep my eyes open during the tour was all thanks to the twenty minute battle-of-wills I had with my tie as I hurried to get dressed. Wrestling with a new school tie is an irritating yet efficient method to wake someone right up, I'll admit.

After the tour of the entire castle has been completed, I am left with the odd sense of familiarity with individual sections, yet if you asked me the direction of the toilet, I would not be able to help you. McGonagall stops at the fountain where we began the tour—a literal full circle moment.

"Any more questions?" she asks.

Oh gosh, so many. But the poor woman has been listening to me spout questions all morning, asking about this painting and that corridor, and "why's that statue talking?" and "how many books in this library might attempt to eat me for lunch?" Which is why I answer her question with a shake of my head.

"No, I think I got it. Thank you so much for showing me around, Professor," I say sincerely.

"Of course, Miss Andrysiak. If you have any more questions or concerns, you can find me in my office, or in the Transfiguration classroom," she says with a nod.

If only I can remember where either of those places are.

McGonagall checks her wristwatch through her spectacles. "Be sure to check in with all your professors after your classes today. They will explain your extra assignments in more detail. Your first class is Charms, with Professor Flitwick. Will you be able to find the classroom on your own?"

"Uhm..." I smile sheepishly. "Sorry, do you mind giving me a pointer to where that is?"

"Of course not." To my surprise, she gives me a small smile in return. "Just go down the west corridor and take a left. It will be the third door to your left."

"West corridor, take a left, third door to my left. Got it." I nod as I tuck that way in my memory. "Thank you for your help, Professor!"

I turn and begin to go down the corridor, before I hear her call after me. "Miss Andrysiak, one more thing!"

I look back at her, tilting my head in curiosity. "Yes, Professor?"

"I will be reaching out to you soon about a trip to Hogsmeade, to replace the belongings that you lost in your...rather unfortunate accident on the way to school. For the time being, I'm sure that there are several students who would be happy to share."

I give her two thumbs out and call out one more thanks before jogging to make it to my first class. A flutter of both anxiety and overwhelming excitement fills my chest, making me a little giddy as the full force of reality hits me. I'm about to go to Charms class, to learn about charms. Not Math, not Social Studies, not English Lit. Charms.

I'm going to learn about spells and plants and potions and all the stuff of daydreams. I'm going to learn magic.