Celeste Shalom and the Philosopher's Stone

~Chapter 6~ {New Beginning}

'GRYFFINDOR!'

Celeste froze feeling a feeling she had never felt before, like someone had just stabbed her in the middle of her heart.

What? No! No! No! This wasn't meant to happen! She shouted in her head. Tear's daring to come out but no, she couldn't cry, she couldn't act like a weakling in front of all these people. She tried to get up but she couldn't move.

'Ms Shalom, please move to your table" Professor McGonagall reminded her. Yes she had to get up she couldn't sit forever. She forced herself to stand up and walk but the minute she stood up her vision started to blur and her feet felt like it was made of noodle's, her head started to uncontrollably hurt.But she couldn't stop walking, she continued to walk but her vision got even more blurry. She felt herself fall down and loose the reality feeling. The last words she herd were Professor McGonagall instructing a guy named Percy, "Percy! Take Ms Shalom to first aid immediately!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste woke up in a jolt as she felt someone sitting on the bed she was taken care of in. She looked up to see who it was and was surprised to see Draco sitting there in front of her.

"Caused quit a seen back there" Draco said chuckling in his usual joking voice.

"You've eaten?"

Celeste could only nod as a reply. "Are you okay with this.... Like I mean you being in Gryffindor?"

Ask Draco asked that Celeste burst into to tear's and hugged Draco shaking her head. "NO, NO ,NO" Celeste cried, "Th, this wasn't meant to happen, I, I, I'm, I'm not, I'm not brave, not brave at all!" Celeste stuttered, "I'm meant to be in Slytherin, ri, right?" Celeste asked puffy eyed. "I'm sorry Draco, I'm so sorry, I broke our promise!" Celeste continued weeping.

But before Draco could reply Madam Promfrey entered and restored towards Draco, "Visiting hours are over dear, time for you to go back to the grand feast" then she gestured towards Celeste, "And you dear can also go now, your all better"

They both nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste sat on the Gryffindor table staring at her still empty plate not feeling hungry at all. "You should probably eat something" said a familiar voice. She looked up and her eye's widened, Harry and Ron were sitting right in front of her. She got up and walked as far away as she could from them, she couldn't talk to them after all this, they probably would have made fun of her. But sadly there were no empty spots to sit on so she unwillingly went back to her original seat.

As she finally started to eat some turkey she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked to her side to see the same girl that she saw on the train with Nevill, Hermione, yes that was her name.

"Which subject are you looking forwards the most for?' She asked Celeste quickly.

"Um....Transfiguration" She answered.

"Oh same!" Hermione said excitedly then she arched her eyebrow, "wait, aren't you that girl who said she was a future Slytherin".

Oh great she remembered, "I don't want to talk about it" Celeste mumbled. "I see..... what about starting out fresh" Hermione offered, Celeste ear's perked up, "continue...".

"Well like since you're not a Slytherin at all, maybe you should start fresh, like maybe I could be your first friend" She explained.

"A muggle as my first friend?" Celeste asked trying to hide her disgust away.

"Really?" Hermione snorted, "come on! Start fresh! But if you don't want to then.... I can't force you"

Celeste sighed in defeat, as much as she didn't like the idea of a muggle being her friend she couldn't back down a friend request!. "Fine, Me and you are friends's now" Celeste gave in lending hand.

Hermione happily took the hand and shook it.

At last, the puddings too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The Hall fell silent.

'Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

'First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.'

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

'I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

'Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.'

'And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.'

Celeste laughed, but she was one of the few who did.

'He's not serious?' She muttered too Hermione.

'Must be,' said Hermione, frowning at Dumbledore. 'And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!' cried Dumbledore. Celeste noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words.

'Everyone pick their favourite tune,' said Dumbledore, 'and off we go!'

And the school bellowed:

'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.'

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

'Ah, music,' he said, wiping his eyes. 'A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!'

Celeste smiled, she had started fresh.

She was a Gryffindor and she was friends with Hermione Granger.

Perhaps this wasn't so bad!