Echoes of the Twin Flame: The Girl Who Balanced the Storm (1)

Part 5 - First Day of School

The next morning, I woke up pretty early, the first light of dawn just beginning to peek through the curtains. Deciding to make the most of the quiet, I took a quick, warm shower and got dressed. As I stood in front of the mirror, I started braiding my hair, enjoying the calm before the day began.

I was almost done when the girls began to stir. Lisa was the first to notice. "Nav? What are you doing up so early?" she asked, her voice still groggy with sleep.

I chuckled softly. "Nothing much, just couldn't get back to sleep," I replied, focusing on the braid.

One of the other girls, now more awake, observed me closely. "What are you doing?" she asked with a curious tone.

I turned around, slightly puzzled by the question. "Braiding my hair, why?"

They exchanged knowing looks and clicked their tongues disapprovingly before moving from their beds to surround me.

"Girl, you have beautifully rare wavy red hair. Let us do your hair," one of them declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Before I could protest, the four of them were already at work, their hands moving deftly through my hair. They chatted and laughed as they styled, the atmosphere light and friendly. By the time they were done, my hair looked stunning—the waves enhanced and cascading down my back in a way that felt almost magical. I couldn't help but smile at their handiwork, feeling a sense of belonging and friendship that warmed my heart.

I giggled softly, feeling a bit embarrassed but mostly grateful. "Thanks, guys, you really don't have to do this."

Their responses came in quick succession, playful and insistent. "Shhh," one of them hushed me, while another chimed in with, "It's nothing," and a third added, "It's alright."

I laughed softly, their kindness warming my heart. As they headed off to take their showers, I stayed behind and decided to put on a bit of makeup. It was the first day of school, after all, so I opted for a light touch—just a bit of powder, a soft blush, a swipe of mascara, and some lip balm. By the time I finished, my look was subtly enhanced, just enough to bring out my features without being overdone.

I was slipping on my robe when the girls came back into the room. They stopped in their tracks, gasping in unison.

I turned to face them, a little amused by their reaction. "Alright, what is it this time?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I fastened the last button on my robe.

They exchanged glances, clearly impressed, and one of them finally spoke up, "Navier, you look amazing!"

Another girl added, "Seriously, you're going to turn heads today!"

I blushed slightly at their compliments, feeling both flattered and a bit shy. "You guys are too much," I said with a smile, adjusting my robe.

As we made our way downstairs, the excitement of the day ahead buzzed in the air. 

As we made our way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, I gestured to Hermione walking beside me. "This is my friend Hermione," I said, introducing her to Harry and Ron.

Ron nodded in recognition. "Oh yeah, we've met on the train," he said with a grin.

I blinked, deadpanning, "Right. I forgot. Hermione did mention she met you both on the train."

Hermione smiled, giving me a playful nudge. "It's all good, Nav," she said, her tone light and teasing.

"Right. Come on," I said, leading the way as the four of us walked into the Great Hall. The long tables were already filled with students, and the air buzzed with excitement for the first day of classes. We found seats at the Gryffindor table and began serving ourselves breakfast.