Everlasting ⁂ Harry Potter [1]

Chapter Six

Olivia, Susan and Hannah all sat together in the Great Hall with Gwen alongside them. The three first years, who were lucky enough to discover that they share a dorm room with each other, had run into the Song girl during their exit from the Hufflepuff Common Room that morning. And Gwen was kind enough to help them find their way to the Great Hall and aid them in navigating through the many halls of the castle before their classes started for the day.

It was with great excitement that they accepted their schedules from the head of their house, Professor Sprout, and instantly started to observe which classes they would get to experience on their first day. Gwen too accepted hers, but put it aside as she helped the first years. She may have been able to guide them from the common room to the Great Hall, but Gwen knew she most likely wouldn't be there to help them find their way around their classes. So she wanted to do it now.

"What's the Charms professor like?" Susan asked curiously as she observed the timetable.

"Professor Flitwick, he's great. He's the head of Ravenclaw house so you can bet he's really smart, but that also makes him a great teacher." Gwen explained with a smile on her face. She found the three girls adorable in their curiosity and excitement. She could remember her own first days in Hogwarts very clearly, after all it hasn't been too long since then.

"Are there any bad teachers?" Olivia asked. She wanted to make a great impression, not only on her first day, but all throughout the year. So she wanted to know which professors she should be ready for. If there were bad teachers, she knew she'd have to work harder in those classes and she wanted to be ready for that.

"Well Professor Snape can be a bit strict," Gwen said, in her opinion she was putting it mildly, but she didn't want to scare off the first years. "But that doesn't mean you can't do well in his class." She added the silver lining. It required a bit more work, but it wasn't impossible. And as Hufflepuffs she knew nobody would really mind the hard work; it was in their nature.

"Do you have a favourite class Gwen?" Hannah asked with a smile. All three of them were very thankful to Gwen for her help, but she wanted to show some interest in the girl. She didn't want to make it seem like they were just using her for her help.

"Well, so far my favourite has been Transfiguration, but this year I have some new classes so I might change my opinion." Gwen said honestly. She too had some of that excitement that came along with starting something new as this year she had chosen her elective classes and couldn't wait to start them and learn new things. Especially her Muggle Studies class, although that wasn't just because she was interested in Muggle life.

"Where's your schedule? We have to compare. Oh I really hope we have DADA together, we gotta keep up the tradition of messing with the teacher." An unfamiliar voice reached Liv's ears and made her turn around to look at the red haired boy that had just rushed over to their table and sat down on the other side of Gwen. "Also, how are we handling Muggle Studies?"

"First things first, messing with the DADA teacher is your tradition, and just because you sit next to me, I get in trouble because of your actions." Gwen pointed out with an amused smile and a pointed look sent in the direction of the boy. "And secondly, we are being good, respectful students that pay attention in Muggle Studies. It's not only our first day in the class Oli, but also uncle Milo's. I'm sure he's nervous."

"Ah, you're no fun. Which second elective did you choose again?" The boy, Oli, asked as he looked through the piece of parchment handed to him and the one he held in his hands when he came over already. Olivia supposed it was his own schedule and that he came to see when he'd have classes with a friend that was in a different house. After all the Gryffindor emblem on his robe, and the red and gold tie were a big hint that he was not a Hufflepuff like them.

"It's as if you can't read." Gwen shook her head in amusement before turning back to the three first years. "Hannah, Susan, Olivia, this is my brother Oliver. Oli be nice and introduce yourself." Olivia looked between the two, noticing how they looked nothing alike, but she didn't mention it. It wasn't her place to pry.

"Oh, hi. Sorry for ignoring you. My name is Oliver Cahill Rawlins, it's nice to meet you." He said with a friendly smile as he waved at the three girls. Oliver was in no way surprised that his sister would be sitting with first years and helping them, she did it last year too.

"It's okay, it's nice to meet you too." Liv sent him a smile which made it clear she didn't mind. She may not have any siblings herself, but she could guess that after being sorted into different houses the two wanted to be around each other in as many classes as possible.

"I like your hair." Oliver said, his eyes shifting to his sister with what seemed to be a questioning look that left his face, until Gwen sent him a small nod paired with a smile. Olivia let out a small laugh, understanding why he said such a thing considering their hair was the exact same colour in the light of the Great Hall.

"I like yours too." She replied with a smile. After that Gwen and Oliver focused on their own conversations, comparing their schedules. Olivia could also hear Gwen asking her brother where his other two thirds were, but she didn't listen in on their conversation for much longer and instead focused on one rising between Susan and Hannah.

"Should we get going? I don't know about you, but I'm not that good at following directions so I really don't want to risk getting lost by some chance." Susan suggested, giving the two girls a wide eyed look hoping they'd agree to go with her.

"Sure, come on." Hannah said happily, grabbing an extra apple from the bowl of fruit set on the table a little ways away from them before she stood from her seat and stepped over the bench, standing as she waited for the other two to do the same. Once they were all out of their seats, they started to make their way to the door, calling out their goodbyes to Gwen and Oliver who waved at them with happy smiles as they walked by.

"Okay, so Gwen said we have to get to the third floor." Hannah began to read the notes she had taken on her schedule as they walked through the halls. She had written down every instruction Gwen had given them for their classes of the day, just to be sure they wouldn't forget any of them.

"And then go into the corridor next to the painting of the three drunk monks." Liv added on. She suspected that would be an easy painting to spot. The paintings within the castle, scattered around all of the walls were some of the most fascinating things to Liv. Everything and everyone moved. As someone who was a great lover of art, she knew she would have to look into how these are made. Last night she even spoke with a painting of one of the previous Hufflepuff heads in the Common Room and it was the most curious thing to her.

"Oh, I really hope we make it in time." Susan mumbled in slight worry. She really didn't want to be late to any classes on her first day.

"Susan, don't worry we have another fifteen minutes." Hannah spoke as she glanced down at the watch on her wrist. A gift her parents had given her after her letter had arrived so she could have an easier time getting to all of her classes.

"Hannah's right, I'm sure we can get there in time. Now come on." Liv said, her excitement taking over again as she started to walk with a happy smile on her face, Hannah and Susan quickly following after her, shaking their heads at the excited girl. But they didn't mind her excitement, it was sweet; the way she asked about anything and everything she encountered around the castle and frequently showed just how much she was happy about being there. It was that excitement that had bonded the three girls during their first night in their shared dorm room as they stayed up late talking and predicting everything that would happen as the first week began.

Published: 04th July, 2020