Sucked In

chapter 5

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"Who else... oh, Trelawney! Yeah, she's alright. A bit batty. There's Filch. He's over there. Oh I almost forgot, Hagrid! He's the groundskeeper for Hogwarts, he's so nice, sometimes we just..."

Hermione was giving me a rundown of all the teachers at the school during breakfast. I wasn't really listening, I was focused on the platters of food that had just appeared on the four tables. I literally did not know where to start, it was overwhelming.

"Trying out magic already? I didn't know there was a spell that could move food into your mouth without you having to move." Came a voice from opposite my position on the table. I snap out of my trance, and look at the producer of the witty comment; the same ginger from last night. I roll my eyes.

"You gave me the wrong directions last night. Trying to get me to go into the boys dorms, very funny." I say loftily. He looks at me blankly, and I chuckle at his fake confusion. "Oh, don't give me that now. You knew exactly what you were doing." I say. He grins.

"Georgie! I see you've met Goblin girl!" Said the same ginger from last night, sliding down into the empty spot next to him. They were identical. Shit.

"This is the goblin girl? Fred, she accused me of giving her the wrong directions to the boys' dorms!"

Fred gasps in fake shock. "George, how could you do such a thing!"

I could feel my cheeks burning up. 'So, twins huh?" I couldn't help but smile at their behavior.

They nod, proudly, then turn to devour their breakfast. Well, that was a nice introduction. I was sitting there alone once more, Hermione was talking to people, and she was basically the only other person I knew apart from Parvati, who was nowhere to be seen. I served myself a scoop of scrambled eggs, and started picking at them aimlessly, to look occupied. I didn't want to seem boring.

"Jaida! You're so quiet, I forgot you were here! What are you doing, I have to introduce you to my friends!" Hermoine leans back in her seat to reveal yet another redhead.

"Hi. I'm Ron Weasley." He says between a mouthful of food, extending his hand.

"Hi, Jaida Nibely. Are... are you related to them?" I ask, gesturing towards the twins.

Ron seems to look disappointed. "Unfortunately." He responds, then bends down over his plate to continue eating, revealing a boy with glasses, who looked like he was trying not to eavesdrop.

I reach my hand over Ron. "Hi! I'm Jaida Nibley. Who're you?"

Ron snickers, and Hermoine seems to choke on her water. The boy shakes my hand. "Er... I'm Harry. Harry Potter."

My face floods with recognition. "Oh, of course!" I say. I really forgot who the main character was. I must have been really tired.

"Y'know," Ron says, after swallowing a mouthful of bacon. "I wouldn't expect you to be in Gryffindor." He leans over the table to grab a piece of toast. "You're not... the type." Ouch.

"Ronald!" Hermione says, then turns to me. "Ignore him." she assures.

I sat, silently. The aroma of the breakfast foods was making me nauseous and combined with the three- no, four embarrassing events that had happened to me, my head started to spin. I knew I didn't belong in Gryffindor. Or any house. I'm not sure how many people I told, but it seemed like everybody in the hall knew that I couldn't be sorted. I had the same feeling as I did that first moment when I appeared here; the thousands of stares burning into me. I was so scared I would do something embarrassing and everyone would see that.

I swivelled my head around, and caught four Hufflepuff students staring at me. Ashamed, they returned to their food. Alright then.. I turned straight ahead. Boom. A whole group of Slytherins were staring at me. Whispering. And in the center was none other than Draco Malfoy. His eyes narrowed when he noticed me staring.

I swallowed. Why is he looking? Can't he look somewhere else? Draco didn't even look away when I noticed him staring. My head started spinning even more. God, I need to lie down. I need to-

"Jaida, let's go." Hermoine tugged on my sweater. "We have potions now. Snape gets terribly scary if we're late."

Draco. Snape. Could this day get any worse? Probably, yes.