Hogwarts Adventures

Chapter 2: Arrival

Jenna and her friends finally arrived at Hogwarts, the castle looming majestically before them. They walked through the old stone corridors, the excitement in the air palpable. Jenna and Faye headed straight for their new room to unpack and settle in. Jenna couldn't believe how spacious it was. It was much larger than the old dorms, and she couldn't wait to decorate it to her liking.

"Tonight's the Opening Feast," Faye said as she folded her clothes into the wardrobe. "After the feast, there's a party in the Slytherin common room. Should be fun. Maybe you'll even see some new faces."

Jenna nodded, her thoughts already drifting to the night ahead. She was looking forward to the feast, but her mind also kept returning to Jack. She hadn't seen him much over the summer, and now their reunion was long overdue.

The grand Opening Feast took place in the enormous, candlelit Great Hall. The room was decorated festively, with tables laid out with golden plates and flickering candles. The students were dressed in their finest robes, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement for the new school year. But there was also an underlying tension in the air, especially when the topic of the new student came up.

Jenna sat at the table with Faye and Emily, exchanging glances as whispers and rustling conversations filled the room. It didn't take long for the subject of the night to make its way through the student body: Mattheo Riddle, the new student.

"Did you hear?" Jenna overheard someone whisper behind her. "They say he's... well, you know... the son of... Voldemort!"

"Really? That's... unimaginable!" came another voice, filled with disbelief.

"Great, this year's already off to an interesting start," muttered a boy from the Slytherin table as his eyes darted around the room, clearly curious.

The whispers grew louder and more frequent as Professor Dumbledore, who was about to give the opening speech, rose to address the assembly. A hush fell over the hall, and all eyes turned toward the headmaster.

"Welcome, my dear students, to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice rang out warmly, but with an undertone of gravity. "I trust you all had a restful summer and are ready for the adventures and challenges that await you this year. As always, remember that we stand together as a community, bound by our shared experiences and our ability to face whatever comes our way with courage and wisdom."

The students listened attentively, but there was an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere as Dumbledore continued.

"This year, we have a new student joining us. Please welcome Mattheo Riddle, who has come to Hogwarts to continue his studies."

The name "Riddle" hung in the air like a heavy shadow. Whispers immediately ran through the hall. Jenna could feel the tension in the air as students exchanged glances, and their eyes flicked toward the Slytherin table. There, standing next to Dumbledore, was Mattheo Riddle—a tall, striking boy with sharp features and a gaze that felt almost too intense for someone his age. He exuded an air of confidence, but there was something about him that felt unsettling.

"Riddle..." Jenna heard someone whisper behind her. "You don't think... he's really...?"

"What if he's dangerous?" another voice murmured.

Mattheo stood still, his eyes locked with Dumbledore's, his face impassive. It was obvious the name "Riddle" was not lost on anyone. The name brought with it the memory of the darkest wizard the world had ever known.

Dumbledore's voice broke through the murmur of whispers. "I ask you all to treat Mattheo Riddle with the respect and kindness that every student here deserves. He is a student of Hogwarts, just like you, and I trust you will give him the opportunity to prove himself."

Mattheo gave a small nod of acknowledgment, but there was a certain coldness to his demeanor that made Jenna shiver. The whispers died down, but the unease in the room lingered.

Later, after the feast, Jenna found Jack in one of the quiet corridors. They exchanged a brief but warm smile, and the mood felt perfect for them to finally have a moment alone.

"Come on," Jack whispered, taking her hand. "Let's find a quiet spot."

They wandered through the hallways, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors. Eventually, they stepped out into the courtyard, where the cool night air and the starlit sky created the perfect backdrop for them to talk.

They found a secluded spot hidden away beneath the castle walls. It was dark, far from the main areas where students might wander. The night was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Without a word, they closed the space between them, and Jack kissed her passionately. It felt like they were making up for all the time they had missed over the summer. Jenna's heart raced as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I've missed you so much," Jenna whispered between kisses, her fingers brushing over the fabric of his sweater.

Jack, although clearly happy to see her, seemed a bit distracted. "The Quidditch match on Friday... it's going to be huge," he said, breaking the moment. "You'll come, right? It's important."

Jenna frowned but kissed him again, trying to pull him back into the moment. She pressed her lips against his more insistently this time, determined to keep him from thinking about anything else. But when she pulled away, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.

There, sitting on the wall in the shadows, was a figure. They were smoking a cigarette, and their eyes were fixed on Jenna and Jack.

Jenna quickly pulled away from Jack, her hand smoothing out her uniform as she felt a wave of unease wash over her.

"We should go," Jenna said quickly, her voice sharper than she intended.

Jack, still caught up in the moment, looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong?"

Jenna glanced back at the figure on the wall. They were still there, watching. "Nothing. Let's just go back inside."

She grabbed Jack's hand, and they walked back toward the castle, but the feeling of being watched stayed with Jenna. Something about that figure made her skin crawl, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the school year was about to take an unexpected turn.