Numinous [A Wizarding World Story]

iii.

Adelaide mostly tried to ignore the whispers of the students around her as they made their way back to their common rooms after the feast. But, despite being sandwiched between Dean and Seamus, both a few centimetres taller than her, she still caught snatches of conversation here and there. Talk had turned from the horrors that had happened at the Quidditch World Cup just a short time ago, and instead now centred upon the hotly anticipated Triwizard Tournament. She was grateful for the topic change, and apparently, so was everyone else - she didn't hear the Cup mentioned once as they made their way up the stairs.

"What d'you reckon they'll be like?" Seamus pondered, stepping slightly to one side so Adelaide could hop onto a shifting staircase before him. Dean shot him a look.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Y'know, the other students. From Beaux-whatsitscalled and Dumbstrong."

"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang." Adelaide corrected quietly. "And I suspect not all that different from ourselves."

"What makes you say that?" He asked. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, they're teenagers, aren't they? The accompanying factors don't seem to vary all that much, no matter where you're from." They climbed in silence for a few moments, as Seamus appeared to mull over her point.

"I see where you're coming from, but I don't reckon I quite agree with you." He said as they reached the top of one staircase and stopped to assess which one to step on next. Adelaide chose quickly, beckoning for the two boys to follow.

"Ah well, each to their own."

The three remained fairly quiet for the remainder of the trip to Gryffindor tower, only the boys' occasional bickering breaking the amicable silence. By the time they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, the first years had all but caught up to them, a harried Elizabeth Stevenson - a year above them, and Gryffindor's female fifth year prefect - ushering them up to gather on the platform.

She caught sight of Dean and Seamus, and uttered a small note of thanks under her breath.

"You two, thank god!" She exhaled, grabbing a small boy too close to the platform's railing by the back of his robes and hauling him back to the group. She took no note of Adelaide, standing slightly to Seamus' left.

"That stupid excuse for a wizard has vanished without a trace, leaving me with this group - who are not very good at listening to instructions!" She cried, as the particularly wayward little boy edged towards the railing again. At her outburst, he shrank back, a sheepish expression overtaking his soft, brown features.