Learning to Trust

First Day

The next morning I woke and quickly got into my uniform. After getting ready for my classes, I joined the twins and Lee in the Great Hall for breakfast. Halfway through breakfast, Professor McGonagall began passing out schedules.

“Ms. Capello, Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to you after classes are over today. You have my class last today and I’ll escort you to his office.” I nodded my head and continued eating my pancakes.

“Why does Professor Dumbledore want to see you? It’s only the first day.” George laughed. “Did you already get in trouble?” He asked jokingly.

“No, I haven’t.” I paused. “It’s probably just regarding my transfer to Hogwarts. Go over school records and all that.” I knew why I had to go see the headmaster, but I didn’t dare tell George that.

Once breakfast was over I found Harry, Ron and Hermione and walked with them to our first class: potions.

“Snape’s a right old git.” Ron told me as we walked.

I chuckled. “Yeah, I think your brothers mentioned him yesterday. They were telling me which teachers to watch out for.”

We took our seats towards the middle of class and only five minutes later the doors burst open. Professor Snape walked briskly to the front of the room. He looked over the class, sneering whenever he saw a Gryffindor.

“It seems we have a new student in this class.” At these words everyone turned to look at me. I ducked my head down and made sure that my hair covered my face partially. I could hear a few of the Slytherins behind me laughing. I sunk into my seat and tried to ignore the fact that everyone was now looking at me.

I was grateful when we actually started learning.

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After potions we had History of Magic, where I fell asleep for a little while. And I thought my old History of Magic teacher was boring. Boy was I wrong.

My last class of the day was, of course, transfiguration. The class went by quicker than I had expected. I stayed seated as everyone else made a move to leave.

“Hayley, aren’t you coming?” Hermione asked.

“Uh…No. Professor McGonagall wanted to talk to me. You guys go on ahead. I’ll see you later, yeah?”

She nodded and left with Harry and Ron. Once they left, Professor McGonagall motioned for me to follow her. We walked in silence and I kept my head down when we walked passed other students.

Moments later we were standing in front of a stone gargoyle. Professor McGonagall muttered the password and the gargoyle rose to reveal a staircase.

“Go on up, Ms. Capello.” I glanced at her and she pointed at the staircase, giving me a slight nod. I carefully walked up the long staircase.

At the top was a plain wooden door. I knocked on the door gently. Professor Dumbledore’s voice rung out telling me to enter, and I opened the door timidly.

“How was your first day, Ms. Capello?” He asked.

I took a seat in front of his desk that set in the middle of the room. As I placed my bag down on the floor I answered, “It was alright.”

“I’ve noticed you made a few friends. Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley that is.” I nodded. “I assure you that they are good, loyal people, Ms. Capello.”

“They’re…nice.”

“I have watched those three since their first day at Hogwarts. They have done no wrong to people who have not wronged them.” I was getting tense, so I kept my eyes on my hands that were twisting together in my lap.

“Hayley, I promised your Headmistress at Salem and your mother that I would not let anything like that happen again.”

“And how can you be so sure of that?” I asked through gritted teeth. Things were getting bad again. I was starting to feel the familiar throbbing in my head, but I tried to suppress it. “My headmistress!? She didn’t believe me for the longest time!”

“We need proof, Ms. Capello. We can’t just go on what you say!’ Proof? My best friend was lying dead, right outside the school, and she asks me for PROOF?” I was standing now and practically screaming. Tears began to leak from my eyes. “My best friend was murdered!”

Professor Dumbledore stood and moved around his desk to lay a hand on my shoulder. “I am sorry for what you have endured. And that is why you are here. To get away from all of that and not be surrounded by the people who did not believe you.”

I wiped my eyes with my sleeves of my robes as I nodded. “If anything goes wrong Ms. Capello, do not hesitate to let me or Professor McGonagall know.”

“Thank you, Professor.” I grabbed my bag and hurriedly left. Once down the stairs I legged it to the common room. I sat down at one of the tables and pulled out my books to start the homework I already had.

I saw a mop of red hair plop next to me out of my peripheral vision. “You’ve got homework already?” George’s exasperated voice asked from beside me.

Without looking up I answered, “Yes. You didn’t?”

“Maybe I did, but I’ve got time to get it done. It’s not due till next week.” He pulled my book away from me. “Come on! It’s your first day! Don’t waste it doing hom- Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“You’re not looking at me.” He moved the hair that was covering my face behind my ear. “You’ve been crying.”

I moved my hair back. “No I haven’t.”

“The hell you haven’t. I know when people have been crying. And you have most definitely been crying.” He paused. His voice took on a softer tone as he asked, “What happened?”

I grabbed the book he took from my hands and stuffed it inside my bag. “Nothing of your concern,” I said coldly.

He put up his hands in defense. “It was only a question.” I covered my face with my hands.

“I-I’m sorry. It’s just-”

He cut me off by putting his hand on my arm. “No I understand. It’s not something you want to talk about. And I won’t pry.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, and took my hands off my face.

I moved to go upstairs into my dorm, away from prying eyes, but was stopped by George’s hand that had caught my arm. “Hey, if you ever just want to talk about it, I’d gladly listen.” He flashed me a wry grin and I nodded before running up the stairs, two at a time.

Once inside my dorm I threw my bag aside, deciding that, like George, I would procrastinate a bit on my homework. After removing my tie, sweater and shoes I collapsed face down on my bed and groaned. It was going to be a long week.

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By the end of the week, I had gotten to know Harry, Ron, Hermione and the twins better. Hermione and I enjoyed going to the library just to read. Although she enjoyed the more educational novels while I enjoy the fiction. Ron is deathly afraid of spiders and often goes to Hermione for help with homework. Harry, although only a fourth year, has been through hell and back.

It grew easier for me to tell the twins apart the more I got to know them. Fred is more expressive and devious while George is quieter and smarter than he initially lets on. Both prefer not to do any school work and like to skive off classes. Physically I can tell the two apart because of a freckle on George’s neck that Fred lacks.

Overall I think that I've met a few great people. But I’ve learned what happens when I let people get too close.

And I can’t let that happen again.