***
The only good thing that is coming out of today, is me being able to leave this hell I call the Slytherin House. I don't need another professor to come and tell me to move to my next house, I just raced up to my room with glee, at the thought of being free from Daphne's intrusive questions and Draco's arrogant and surly habits.
Just as I am zipping my bag up, Professor Snape barges through my door. "It is time to leave." Snape says, in his dull voice, his black greasy hair swaying as he spoke.
Outside the Slytherin common room, I met with Professor Sprout, an old, fat lady whose graying hair was evidence of her experience, and therefore endless knowledge in Herbology. "Hurry along now dear, let's get you to Hufflepuff" the professor said sweetly.
She leads me to a nook on the right hand side of the kitchen corridor. She stops and I turn to face a stack of barrels. "This is the way into Hufflepuff?" I ask. The old lady nods.
"To enter, you need to tap the barrel two from the bottom in the middle of the second row of barrels, in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff" Sprout says. "But be careful, if you get the password wrong, one of the barrels will open, and you'll get sprayed with vinegar! I must also ask you not to invite a non-Hufflepuff student into our quarters. No one from the other houses has been in the Hufflepuff quarters for over one thousand years". I nod.
Before I can ask her to repeat the confusing instructions, she's gone. Sprayed with vinegar? That doesn't sound very pleasant.
Okay, two from the bottom... okay I've got it. In the middle of the second row... to the tune of Helga Hufflepuff? I complete the instructions very carefully, as to not be punished with the vinegar penalty. The barrels slide open to reveal a small passageway, just big enough to crawl through.
I burst through the passageway, and as I do, I'm astounded by the sight of the common room. It isn't as nearly magnificent and elegant as the Ravenclaw common room, but it's beautiful in its own way. Warm light floods the room from small, circular windows, lined with cacti and other small plants in colourful pots.
The head teacher is also head of Herbology, so of course, the common room would be full of plants.
The ceiling hangs low, creating a cozy atmosphere, as plants in hangers droop down from the ceiling. Yellow and black striped armchairs line the room, laying on yellow embroidered rugs. Any spare wall space is filled with hanging plants or portraits. Many students sit chatting on the bright chairs, warming up next to the large fireplace that seems to be the focal point of the room.
As students started to notice me enter the room, many of them came up to me to introduce themselves. A dark-haired girl with piercing blue eyes introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Katherina Revola. Let me show you your room!" she said excitedly. To my surprise, she took my hand and led me up the earthy coloured carpeted stairs.
She burst through the door enthusiastically.
The room was bright, lit by the afternoon sun leaking through the windows. There were three, four post beds, covered in saffron patchwork quilts. Katherina pointed to the bed closest to the window. "That one is yours!". Just as she said that, a blonde-haired girl walked out of the bathroom on the far side of the room. "This is Hannah," Katherina says.
After we all exchange pleasantries, I change into a black oversized shirt with a small yellow ferret just below the collar, and a pair of black shorts, and make my way back to the common room.
After I'm acquainted with some of the Hufflepuff students, a boy with chin length blonde hair pulls out playing cards. "Let's play a game!" he suggests, and everyone crowds around.
As students pour out of the dormitories at the promise of some friendly competition, I see a familiar face.
Cedric.
I make my way over to him. "Hey, I was wondering when I'd see you again." he says. "Good to see you." I say, and we both walk back to the fireplace.
After dinner, Cedric, a few of his friends, and myself make our way back to the common room. For a few hours, we sit around and tell stories, joke, and laugh. I can recognise a few of Cedric's friends from the movies, but not a lot of them. "Hey, I've got an idea," Cedric says.
"Let's sneak into the kitchens and see if they have any of those cakes leftover from dinner" he continues. We all agree that we're up for a little midnight adventure and make our way out of the common room, and into the corridor.
We all stop in front of the kitchen door. "Alohomora" Cedric whispers, with a flick of his wand. Still, even with the charm, the door doesn't budge. "Maybe we need a password?" one of the boys suggested, dumbfounded.
Next to the door, was a portrait of a fruit bowl that looked very out of place, in contrast with the bland, earthy coloured stones on the walls, which stretched down the corridor as far as the eye could see. I turned my attention to the portrait, as I remember that paintings are often the key to rooms, or the Gryffindor common room in particular.
I slip my hand under the golden frame of the painting, and I hear a click. Suddenly, the door to the kitchen swings open. I guess I just found the way into the kitchens. "Jaida, you're a genius!" the group sings together. We all pile into the kitchen, and spend a few hours eating, and talking with the house elves.
After many attempts to fall asleep, I sighed in frustration, as the snoring Katherina sleeping next to me makes that task impossible. I threw the quilt off my body, slipped on some socks, and silently tip-toed to the large, plush lounge opposite the fireplace in the common room. I sat there for what seemed like forever, staring into the fiery red flames, my mind drifting off.
I thought back to my night at Slytherin. A scowl spread across my face thinking about how Draco had sent a snake on me. I thought about how I had used my wand to get rid of it-... Magic. How could I perform magic? I'm a muggle after all. Had I imagined it? No, no, I had definitely done it.
My mind was whirling with explanations as to why I could perform spells, but my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door creaking open down the hallway. After a few seconds, Cedric emerged from the shadows. "Can't sleep either?" he says with a chuckle.
"Katherina is a... loud sleeper." I say with hesitation. He lets out a quiet laugh. "Yes, I've heard her snoring on a few occasions. Sometimes even from my room!" He whispers. "Then I guess, I won't be getting any sleep on my night in this house" I say back, quietly though, to not wake any of my sleeping peers.
A few moments of silence pass as we both stare into the flames. "I don't mean to intrude but-" Cedric starts. "-But you want to know how I magically appeared in the middle of the Great Hall?" I shoot back. He raises an eyebrow. "...Yes." he says. "Well that's just it Cedric. Magic." I say, twinkling my fingers, which earns a laugh from the boy sitting across from me.
"There's a spare room at the end of that hallway" Cedric says while pointing down a hallway, concealed in the shadows. I didn't see that hallway before.
"It's a sitting room, just a few lounges, no one uses it though. If Katherina keeps snoring, you're welcome to crash in there" Cedric says. I thank him, say goodnight, and walk down the barely-illuminated hallway.
YOU ARE READING
Sucked In
Fanfiction"Nobody told me Draco was barely in the movies. I quickly lost interest, and my eyes became heavy." Jaida Nibley always hated the world famous series Harry Potter. That was until her crippling love for fictional character Draco Malfoy led her to wat...
