The Potter Twins - Year One

6: Doors, Owls, Potions, and Tea

"Can we please get through?"

No Reply.

"Seriously, this is the quickest was to get the transfiguration from here right?"

No reply.                   

"Come on please let us through."

No reply.

            For the fourth time this week, we found ourselves facing a door that didn't want to open for us. Why? Why do doors have feelings? Why do they need feelings? The next time you feel like being mean to a door by slamming it shut or something, think about how often you need to get through that door, because it might not open for you the next time you try. You know you have it bad when a door has a grudge against you.

"Harry, this door is not going to open."

"We're being polite, aren't we?" Ron asked.

"We," I gestured to Harry and I, "are being polite."

"What are you saying?"

"I think you've offended it!"

"How?"

"You're the one who yelled at it not too long ago!"

"So now you're saying it's my fault?"

"So what if I am, Ronald?"

"Hey!" Harry said loudly, intervening before we started fighting. Oh no he didn't. I was about ready to blow up at Harry when someone chuckled from behind us. I whipped around and saw Emily Evans shaking her head at us. Emily is a tall, brown haired and eyed fourth year Gryffindor. I met her on Tuesday when she helped me find my way to the Great Hall because HARRY AND RON SO KINDLY LEFT ME. Emily walked forward, still chuckling, and tickled the door underneath a long slash across it. The door gave out a surprised giggle and opened. The door freaking giggled.

"Thanks, Emily." Harry said as we entered.

"No problem. Headed to transfiguration? I'm headed there now. I have an assignment I didn't turn in earlier." We started walking down the corridor.

"How come?"

"Hmm?"

"How come you didn't turn it in earlier?"

"Oh. I was in the Hospital Wing," she said calmly. Calmly.

"Why?" I asked, alarmed.

"Because I forgot about a vanishing step on the staircase by Charms, and I fell through in a way that caused me to sprain my leg. My friends brought me to Madame Pomfery and she stitched me right up. No problem. I just missed transfiguration in the process and need to turn in my homework." She explained, as if this was a normal, everyday occurrence.

            So let me tell you about doors at Hogwarts. Doors have emotions and different personalities. Some doors are sassy. Some doors are kind. Some doors are indifferent. And some doors are so specific. Like, they won't let you through unless you tickle them in the right place, or ask nicely. Some won't open unless you're rude. I mean, really?

            Not only are there doors, but there are staircases. Hogwarts has a lot of staircases. One-hundred and forty-two to be exact. Long ones, narrow ones, steep ones, ones that were more like ramps, ones with a vanishing step like the one Emily fell through, ones that moved, ones that led different places on different days.

Then there are walls. Walls sometimes pretend to be doors. Enough said.

            Then there's the problem of finding your way around. On the first day, Harry, Ron, and I spent a good half an hour trying to find the Great Hall. You'd think there'd be a map or something to help you find your way around, but no. Let's just take all these new kids and make them navigate a giant castle on their own. You also have to find the classes. Just so you know, there is a LOT more to magic than waving a wand. We have to take a bunch of classes, like Transfiguration, History of Magic, Potions, Herbology, Charms, Astronomy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Then there are bathrooms. Bathrooms are also hard to find.