Chapter 2: The Voice

The Voice

Last night after the feast, Fi met with Dimitri, Kael, and Neve in the Great Common Room. They taught Fi a card game called Dark Magic and they played it until curfew. When at last the gong rung through the castle-like school, the group  all bid one another good night and headed back to their dormitories. 

Meep Meep Meep Meep, Meep Meep Meep Meep. The morning alarm blasted into all the student’s ears, causing the Gryffindor girls in Fi’s dormitory to roll over and pull pillows around their heads. The four note tune reminded Fi of an episode of Doctor Who, a muggle TV show she loved to watch. She managed to drag her heavy limbs from the bed. Fi glanced at the mantel above the fireplace where a large golden clock with a lion, Gryffindor’s symbol, engraved into it. According to the clock, it was seven AM. With a groan Fi grabbed her clothes bag and headed into the bathroom, her too-long pajama pants pooling at her ankles.

After a quick shower and dressing, Fi stood before the mirror. She took a tube of mascara from her bag and applied a bit. By the end of the week, Fi pondered, I’ll be way to tired to even bother with this. Only then did Fi notice the girl next to her. She was very tall, with dark brown hair that trailed halfway down her back. She was still in her pajamas and looked a bit out of it. She gazed at Fi, seeming lost in thought. “Um, excuse me?” Fi tried to awaken the girl somewhat. The girl’s eyes snapped into focus, “Oh, uh sorry. Not a morning person.” The girl had an Australian accent. Fi smiled, “Me either.” She risked a glance at the girl’s bare feet, hoping to subtly warn the girl she might need to hurry. The girl followed Fi’s gaze to her feet, then her head snapped back up. “I’m gonna be late! Gotta go, mate, sorry!” She grabbed the bag at her feet and started to take off towards the showers. The girl turned back to Fi, “I’m Allifair by the way, but call me Allie!” She yelled. Fi called back, twisting to look at Allifair, “I’m Fia, call me Fi!” Allie grinned and then rushed away, leaving Fi giggling to herself. 

Fi held her chin high, enjoying the way her Hogwarts robes flowed behind her. For the first week of classes students were required to wear their formal robes, but after that they were allowed to wear Hogwarts sweaters and sweatshirts. Fi felt like someone had taken all the emotions in the world, put them in a blender, and made her drink them. After all, there must be some reason why her stomach was churning. Fi refused to think that she was nervous. No way… Potions was her favorite subject, and one she excelled at. Fi focused on the one clear thought, the wish that she was back in bed. 

Professor Finnegan greeted the class when everyone had arrived, saying, “Welcome to potions class! I’m confident you’ll all do well. Even if you don’t, that’s okay. After all, I was known in my potions class for catching things on fire.” His words put the class at ease and suddenly Fi was very excited to begin. The whole class pulled out their cauldrons and began to attempt making a simple antidote to Veritaserum. Fi raised her hand, about to tell the professor that she was done, when a Slytherin girl walked by and hip-checked her cauldron, causing it to topple over. Fi’s potion spilled onto the stone floor, causing steam to rise and a sizzling noise. Fi sighed, knowing the girl had done it intentionally. This was why Fi was an introvert. This idiotic drama for no reason… Fi wrote something quickly onto a corner of her parchment while the potion finished sizzling. She ripped the corner off. The girl whirled around, her enviable red hair swirling perfectly. “I’m so sorry!” The girl crooned in a sickly sweet voice, much like cough syrup. Fi grabbed the girl’s hand, as if comfortingly, slipped the parchment into her hand, and said, “That’s alright. I’m sure it was an accident.” Then she turned, almost smacking the girl with her short, thick blond ponytail and began to clean up her potion. 

Potions hadn’t been a complete bust. Fi still finished her potion quickly and accurately, even though she’d had to start over. Professor Finnegan seemed pleased with her work and the girl who had toppled her cauldron had accidentally put Dittany Shrivelfig in her potion instead of Dittany, which had caused it to boil over and stain her white button-up shirt with purple spots. Not that Fi believed in revenge, but karma wasn’t so bad. 

After her History of Magic class, which was painfully tedious except for the fact that Dimitri was in it, Fi headed to Transfiguration. Upon entering the doorway, she glimpsed the back of Neve’s head. Fi rushed to the open desk beside Neve’s. She noticed once she sat down that Dimitri sat behind Neve and Kael was behind her. Fi smiled brightly, glad to have all her friends in one place. She even spotted Allie across the classroom and waved to her. Professor Mcgonagall wasn’t there yet, so they chatted for a minute. Neve inquired, “How was everyone’s first classes?” Kael answered, “Boring. All of them. I can’t wait for quidditch tryouts next week.” By no standards was Fi a “sportsy” girl. She preferred books and computers to the outdoors. Yet she was planning on trying out for quidditch. Fi had always loved to fly. There was a sort of freedom in it that nothing could compare to. Dimitri said politely, “Stinks that your classes were boring, but I’ll bet my owl that you’ll be captain of the quidditch team by next year.” This seemed to make Kael extremely happy. Dimitri continued, “My classes were fascinating. Herbology isn’t my thing, but we get to plant mandrakes next week and I’m pumped for it. History of Magic was alright, though it was somewhat… Banal. What about you guys?” He gestured towards Neve and Fi. Fi chimed, “Potions was okay although some girl spilled my cauldron though. I had History of Magic with you and you described it quite accurately.” Fi looked towards Neve, waiting to hear about her day. Neve smiled, “Charms was great. It’s my favorite subject and the professor is super nice. Not to mention that Neal Diggory is in it and he’s just so wonderful.” She said the last part in an exaggeratedly girly voice and they all laughed, knowing that Neal Diggory was the most pompous student in all of Hogwarts and Neve was poking fun at how all the girls fawned over him. 

After transfiguration it was morning break. Kael and Dimitri headed outside for a bit while Fi and Neve headed to the library. Upon arriving, both girls gaped at the towering shelves. They’d found their wonderland. “What are you looking for?” Fi inquired. Neve responded, “A book on charms, you?” “I’m looking for a book on mythical creatures- mostly dragons and unicorns- and a potions book. Look together?” Neve nodded and they combed the stacks for the right books. At once point, Neve yelled from another stack, “Fi! Come here.” Fi rushed over, clutching the book she’d just found. She saw Neve proudly holding two books. One was a worn, leather bound journal-appearing thing. Neve passed it to Fi. “Dragons and More, the Writings of Charlie Weasley,” Neve announced the title proudly. “Thank you! I found Charms, a Guide to Students of All Ages” 

Both girls had eventually found what they were looking for, though it almost made them late for their next classes. The group of friends did not see each other again until dinner. They all convened at an Inner-House table. Before entering the dining hall Fi spotted Allie in the halls and invited her to sit with them. All five witches and wizards laughed merrily as they consumed all types of fantastic food. Their heads raised to the ceiling because rain had started to fall from it. Students all around panicked, pulling books off the table or trying to shield the food. Kael teased Fi about her running mascara, to which she only laughed, knowing full well she looked ridiculous. Many of the students had responded like Fi, not thinking much of the rain. That was, until the voice rang out. It was a baritone, gruff voice. “Students of Hogwarts, a warning to you all. Dark magic is roaming these halls, searching… for a victim.” That was when pandemonium truly broke out. In the midst of all the screaming students, toppling food, and general chaos, the group sat staring at each other wide eyed.