"Slytherin, huh? Guess you're stuck with me..."

Chapter Two: The Newbie

A/N: hey! quick note about the story. this is like half canon, i'm just writing as though the whole battle of hogwarts and voldemort debacle didn't happen in book seven. like as though the characters got to have a normal senior year. okay thanks!! :)

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After an exhausting couple of hours trying to keep up with Draco and his "tour"--it was less of a tour filled with helpful information and more like two hours of hearing him yell at people--I made it to Headmaster Snape's office. The office was unlike any principal or headmaster's office I had ever been in. And trust me, I used to spend a lot of time in them. First of all, the room was huge. It was filled with portraits of old people, presumably former headmasters, and there were windows everywhere. The books and trinkets lining the walls gave the space a cozy feel. Headmaster Snape was sitting in a large chair at a claw-footed table with papers sprawled out around him. He looked disheveled. "Um, excuse me. Headmaster?" He looked up with surprise as if he was not expecting visitors, even though I had written ahead of time to schedule a meeting. The look on his face was not inviting, and I preceded with caution. "I'm sorry, sir. My name is Juneau Thomas, and I am a transfer from the states. I was told in my letter to meet with you so I could receive some materials." Bewilderment remained on his face for a minute more until he realized what I had said. He shook his head apologetically. "You have to forgive me, I have a lot going on at the moment. Let me look for your file, one minute please." I stood awkwardly with my two dufflebags still on my arms. I really regret not stashing these somewhere first. "Ah, here you are Ms. Thomas. Let's see..." He pulled a few papers from the thin yellow folder and handed them to me. "Here is your map, your schedule of school events, and a staff directory. The Sorting Ceremony will begin at 7 tonight which is..." He glanced at his watch. "Oh, dear. The ceremony is in half an hour. It will be mostly for first years, but there are a couple of transfers included as well. Once you are sorted, please report to the Head of your house for your class schedule and the rest of your information." He gave me the yellow folder and directed me to the door. "I would spend this time making acquaintances. It might be helpful in your situation. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work." He turned to walk back to his desk, and I made my way back to the hall. 

I spent the time I had left until the ceremony trying to find Draco. He was nowhere to be found, so I sat down exhausted on a bench near the Great Hall. Looking over my directory, I marveled at how these people got their names. I mean honestly, Flitwick? McGonagall? Slughorn? These wizards were pretentious. Or weird. Or both. I better get used to it, this is my life now. Suddenly, I notice some younger looking students rushing toward the Hall and I get up. Must be time, let's do this. I found a seat with some girls who couldn't stop giggling and put my bags under the bench. After what felt like hours of names being called and tension rising when it was someone else's turn, I heard it: Thomas, Juneau! I stood up and immediately the room went quiet. Do I really look that out of place? Or am I just too old for this? Either way, my heart was beating out of my chest. I sat down in the wooden chair and heard a voice in my head whisper "Nervous much?" Before I could reply, my ears rang with the booming voice screaming "Slytherin!" I heard the table of girls I was sitting at scream and clap and realized they must have been Slytherins too. At least now I know what house I'm in. That's a start right? 

After the ceremony, I made my way back to Professor Slughorn's office--I read in my directory that he was the head of the Slytherin House. The walk was long and grueling--his office was on the sixth floor! I have little knowlege of him besides the fact that Snape was Head of Slytherin before him. This information was given to me by an angry Draco who, as I've come to realize, idolizes Snape and believes Slughorn will "never be as great of a representative of Slytherin as Snape was". I approached his door and heard giggling from the other side. Opening the large wooden door, I was greeted with yet another large room. A fireplace decorated the corner along with two leather couches and a huge dining-style table. I sat at the desk in the center of the room where a heavy-set man in a tweed suit sat. Across from him, the source of the laughter I heard a few seconds ago. She had dark, straight hair and was wearing the typical black and green uniform. Slughorn stood up. "Ah, I was expecting a visitor. Miss Thomas...Juneau is it?" I shook his hand and smiled, trying to make out an opinion on the man. "Yes sir," I answered. "I was told to see you after the ceremony. Well, not you in particular. Just the Head of House, sir." He gestured for me to sit next to the girl, and I nodded, then smiled at her. She grimaced in return. "Miss Thomas, I have your file here from Headmaster Snape. Let's take a look and decide on a schedule for you. Now, let's see..." After examining a few papers from my file--this folder considerably larger than the one in Snape's office--he looked up at me and cleared his throat. I knew where this was going. "Well Miss Thomas, it looks like you are an exceptionally bright student. Top marks in your previous school, academic awards dating back to age eight. You should be very proud. However, there was a reason for the dismissal of your previous school, was there not?" I looked down shyly then nodded my head. "Yes sir. But it was all a misunderstanding! I swear! Plus, my mother wanted to transfer me to this school after we found out I was different." He mulled this information--excuse--over, then set the papers down. "Alright. However, regardless of your excellent academic record, you are not familiar with the curriculum of Hogwarts. You are aware that we have different standards here and that our classes teach subjects other than Arithmetic and English. In order to pass, you will need a tutor. Lucky for you, I have here Miss Pansy Parkinson, one of our top students and someone who is very well-informed of the culture here at Hogwarts. Along with help in your studies, Ms. Parkinson has agreed to take you under her wing and introduce you to some potential friends at school. If I were you, I would take advantage of this opportunity and become involved in school events as well." He paused for a moment, I suppose to give me time to take in this information. I released a breath then looked over at Pansy. She seemed disinterested. Professor Slughorn prepared another folder for me, this one considerably thinner. "Here is your class schedule: I have signed you up for some of our top classes. I'm sure you can excel but, if you don't, we will be happy to move you to the common classes. Here is your map detailing routes from those classes, information about the building's design and features, and information about your house's history and the common room. Take them and learn. Good luck, Miss Thomas. If you need any help, Pansy will be happy to assist you." With that, he stood up and shook my hand once more. I now observed a critical look on his aging face, most likely due to the comments in my file. Pansy got up and started to walk out the door, so I took this as a cue to follow. 

"Where are we going first?" I asked after unbearable minutes of awkward silence. We had been walking in circles for what felt like forever, only stopping to push nervous first years out of the way--Pansy's actions, not mine. Finally, we approached a stone wall. "Cobra" Pansy says in a monotone voice. "Excuse me?" I reply, unsure if I heard her correctly. Suddenly, the wall moves and behind it are stone stairs leading who knows where. Maybe this is an initiation? Pansy rolls her eyes and walks down the stairs, not bothering to help with my bags which I have been carrying since the train. At the base of the stairs was a completely different sight: An exquisite room, filled with mostly first-years bustling around and carrying their bags. A fireplace, multiple seating, and huge statues occupied the room. "This must be the common room?" I asked Pansy. She shrugged then replied, "Yeah, I guess. Come with me and I'll show you where you'll sleep."

The girls' Dormitory was, in a word, green. Green rugs, bedding, and tapestries decorated the place. Numerous books and bookshelves lined the walls, much to my delight, and four-poster beds were spread out among the room. Pansy led me to a bed between two girls, both around my age, who were unpacking makeup and hair products. "This is your bed," Pansy said in a tired tone. "I'll be over there if you need me. Try not to ask too many questions, though. I have a headache." She walked over to a chair by the main entrance where some other girls were and joined in their conversation. I took this time to unpack: Mainly black, oversized sweaters, some jeans, and old band tees to sleep in. Looking around, I noticed the luggage of my roommates. White and green blouses with expensive looking skirts, multiple uniforms, and slim-fitting sweaters. Apparently in the wizard world, comfort is not an option. I'll have to go shopping...Do you think they have The Limited in this universe?  After unpacking and putting away the majority of my belongings, I head out to explore the castle. I needed to find my footing in order to fit in here, even if that means planning my routes ahead of time. First on my agenda, however, was to find the library to learn the history of my new home.