I solemnly swear (George Weasley- Love Story Book 1)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7
K POV:

We talk and joke the rest of the way up to the castle and run into the Great Hall together, officially soaking wet. We dodge water balloons being thrown at us, by the ghost the twins called Peeves, as we head to what is apparently the Gryffindor table. I cast a drying charm on myself and then the twins before I sit in between them and am introduced to Lee, Angelina, Alicia, their younger siblings Ron and Ginny, as well as a girl named Hermione and even the famous Harry Potter.

They all welcome me to Hogwarts with smiles and even include me in the conversations. I notice Hermione performing the same drying charm on herself and her friends as we talk. Ron nearly passes out when they tell him I'm friends with Viktor Krum, maybe I could get Krum to sign something for him for Christmas. Or I could just get Vik to say hello to him when he arrives, that would really shock him.

Hermione seems well beyond her age while talking about classes and even the different schools in America that she's read about, which explains on how she could perform the drying spell so well. Not only does she seem well versed in spells and textbooks, she seems to know just as much about my old school and the differences in our government system as I do.

I watch as a hush comes over the hall as the first years, who look like they swam across the lake rather than floated across in boats, are led in by Professor McGonagall. They are led up to the sorting hat, which proceeds to sing a song about each of the four houses before sorting the new students. I cheered and clapped with the rest of my new house as new Gryffindors came and sat at our table. I notice that when all the first years have been sorted, Professor Dumbledore stands and the hall instantly becomes silent again as he makes an announcement.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few things to announce before the feast. First, I would like to introduce you all to your new Defense against the Darks teacher Professor Moody."

I watch as a few people clap at the figure that just walked in the doors. A magical eye, wooden leg, and scars covering his face. I clap but find myself wondering what the hell happened to him. I listen to some of the conversation around the room and find out he was an Auror before he retired. Well, that would certainly explain the missing body parts and scars. He shakes hands with Dumbledore before going to the staff table.

He looks like he'll be an interesting teacher but something seems a little off about him, and more so than the usual paranoia that comes with being a retired dark wizard catcher. Then again, maybe I'm the one being extra paranoid right now. Everyone eventually turns their attention back to Dumbledore again, and I assume he's going to announce about the Tri-Wizard Tournament but he surprises me again.

"Secondly is that we are excited to be welcoming two new transfer students to Hogwarts this year that will both be sorted into a house. A Ms. Katherine Harrison, from Alexander's School of Magic in Louisiana, has already been sorted into Gryffindor. She will be entering her sixth year, please stand my dear."

I do stiffly though, as it seems that all eyes are on me now and everyone at Gryffindor table and a few students at the other tables are clapping and cheering. I wait until he gives a small smile and a nod before sitting back down, my face surely the color of the Weasleys' hair now. Dumbledore makes a small gesture with his hands and the hall becomes silent again.

"Yes, yes well done Ms. Harrison. However, our second transfer student, also from Alexander's School of Magic has yet to be sorted. She too will be entering he sixth year at Hogwarts, so let us welcome Ms. Scarlet Beals to be sorted."

I feel the color drain out of my face as I see the doors open and she walks in. Gone are the purple and red streaks that she used to have in her hair, now it's back to her original dark brown. I notice that her face isn't smiling as it usually is, instead she has a set determined look on her face. She catches my eye and the look only seems to intensify as she walks up towards the sorting hat.

I can't believe she's here. I can't believe he let her come. I watch as she sits down on the stool and the hat slides over her head. I can feel myself holding my breath and I wait and pray that the hat sorts her into a different house. My luck has held out thus far, but I guess this is where it ends because the hat suddenly shouts "GRYFFINDOR!"

Everyone one else at the table starts to cheer and clap and I see Lee and Hermione make room for her across from the twins and I. I remind myself to breathe as she joins the table but I can't help the questions that are starting to flood my mind. I can't believe she's here. I haven't seen her, spoken to her, or heard from her since that last night. Countless owls I sent to her after that night, and many were returned or simply went unanswered. Why is she here? Why now? I just wanted a simple year of school, is that too much to ask?