Pride In Me and You [ A Harry Potter Prequel ]

unwelcome are whispers

That night it stormed, keeping me up all through the night. Not like I would have been able to sleep anyway. Despite how much time Henry spent trying to explain the Hogwarts, I couldn't just act like a school teaching teens magic was normal. Besides, I now had classes to worry about, and making friends.

Though before we were lights out in the fifth year girl's dorm, I met Angelica and Courtney Winters. They were identical twins, both with incredibly spunky and bubbly. The girls had wild hair and eyes alike, and I knew I'd have a tough time telling them apart. However, they seemed nice enough as to where I could rely on them if I needed.

Vanessa seemed that way as well. I felt lucky that without Henry, at least I could have her.

+++

Breakfast seemed to be another feast. Toast, eggs, tarts, puddings, porridge, marmalade, bacon. I don't think I've ever seen so much food.

I gazed in amazement, as Vanessa laughed at me, whispering, "When we finish, let's try and bring as much of this back to the common room as possible."

"Aren't there other meals?"

"Breakfast is the only acceptable meal. Answer this riddle, Ravenclaw. Why would anyone eat anything besides breakfast food?" She mused, stuffing her face with a large spoon of porridge.

"I can't, because that's an incredibly valid point," I laughed, causing the same reaction out of her.

The dark haired girl began to push things onto her plate. Piles of toasts with marmalade and butter, and a platefuls of eggs and meats. "Let's go," she commanded, and hid the piles under her robes while taking her swift leave. I quickly followed, trying my best to leave without the teacher's knowing. The two of us walked up the spiral staircase leading back to Ravenclaw Tower.

The eagle began to move yet again, assuming its position as riddle master. "I can only live where there is no light, but I die if the light shines directly on me. What am I?"

I groaned in annoyance, "A new one?"

Vanessa only grinned, "It's different everyday."

"Okay," I began to think to myself. Dying from light. Was it a shadow? There are no shadows in direct sunlight. I asked tentatively, "A shadow?"

The door opened, and Vanessa looked at me proudly. "Wow, you're really quick with them. Most of us can easily get them, it just takes a slight bit of time."

We entered the common room and headed towards our dorm room, laying the heavy plates clustered on the sleek wood dresser between our two beds. I took one last bite of toast and laughed, "Why did we actually do that?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to eat this all tonight." Her dark eyes met my cloudy hazel ones, and we both began to crack up. It was the unbelievably odd start to a new friendship. She broke off the laughter and stated, "We should probably get to class. Defense Against the Dark Arts, right?"

I pulled out my timetable and confirmed her suspicions, "Right."

Unfortunately, we were two minutes late, and the Professor, a tall man with spectacles, ridiculed us profusely in front of the other students. I was a deep shade of crimson even before I got to show off how minuscule my knowledge of magic was.

He placed us in a boy girl boy girl pattern facing a wall decorated with dummies, and began to lecture about a spell called 'Brachiabindo.' It was a curse known for immobilization of an enemy.

I gulped knowing this would be much harder than a small 'Lumos' or 'Stupefy.' I struggled with the spell, barely managing a puff of smoke. That was until a voice called from next to me, "You're stance is the wrong angle. That's probably what's throwing you off most." It was a Slytherin boy, his tie the deep green they were known for. He was smirking, with pale skin and dark eyes and hair that was short on the sides, but slightly curly as it sat over his forehead.

I blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, thanks."

"That wasn't really meant to be helpful. Just a statement." Then why did he tell me?

"Either way, I always appreciate constructive criticism," I chimed, knowing from his few words that the statement might frustrate him.

Though, sadly it didn't. The boy only mumbled, "Right... So you're new, aren't you?"

"Yes, what about it?" I piped.

He chuckled at my slight temper, "Well usually you get accepted here as a first year, not a fifth."

"I guess there's a first time for everything. I just wish the stares weren't as bad." I averted my eyes from him, focusing on the dummy I meant to bind with the spell.

"Yeah, and all the guys in my dorm room keep talking about how much they want to bang you."

"Charming," I said, the boy catching my attention yet again.

He quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, I'm Tom Riddle," giving out his hand.

I took it, and responded, "Charlotte Edwards."

"I've you ever need help with Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts, ask me."

"I will definitely have to take you up on that at some point."

+++

"Okay, why were you talking to Tom Riddle?" Vanessa interrogated me on my way out of the door.

I smiled, laughing at her unnecessary interest, "He actually talked to me first."

Though, the girl only questioned me further, "Is he your type, dark and mysterious?"

"Hardly," I rolled my eyes. "I'm only here for three years, so I plan on studying hard."

"Good," Vanessa sighed. "I really can't stand him."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why?"

"I'm not sure. I've just never thought of him as nice."

I followed her throughout the castle, and the hustle of other students with robes just like mine. I could still feel stares from even younger kids than me. The slight tension was building up inside of my stomach as I followed Vanessa, trying to at least take in my surroundings whilst focusing on over another millions things.

The castle was lit with the orange glow of thousands of candles. We entered a giant hall of staircases. After everything I've seen this summer and up until now, I'm not sure why I was surprised that the stairwells moved. It was my first encounter with such an oddity. The growl of them moving captivated my thoughts.

Vanessa led me up one of the staircases to the second floor. And through the hall, students of my same year all filed into the classroom we were going to.

The teacher smiled at me, and sat me down next to a boy that Vanessa seemed happy to see. He had a rich olive-skin tone with dark swooping hair, and brown eyes. His smile was contagious as he introduced himself to me, "Hi, I'm Drew."

"New girl," I said, giving myself the label that seemed to be written all over his face. I turned to my work trying to make sense of what was in front of me, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I looked behind me to see that boy from earlier, with pale skin, and painted on smirk. "So, are you going to accept my offer, kid?"

My nose crinkled at the use of the nickname, "I guess so?"

"Good, meet me in the Great Hall at dinner, I'll show you something."

Luckily I avoided being seen my Vanessa. That was my first thought. My afterthought was, this has already shaped up to have been the weirdest year of my life.