//------------------------------// // In Which Sunset Meets - And Beats - Her New Classmates // Story: Hogwarts: Sunset's Legacy // by witegrlninja //------------------------------// Though I wanted to run all the way to Hogwarts, it was a rather long trek from the forest to the castle. Fig took my hand and Apparated us a short distance away from the main entrance, and we finally made our way through the massive, carved wooden double doors. I couldn't help but be impressed by all the highly-polished stone tiles and marble carvings, the gold and silver and bronze decorations, the jeweled accents, the magnificent tapestries, the countless living portraits and sentient suits of armor, all alit with candles and sconces and lamps that glittered in the reflective floors. Sure, it wasn't Celestia's castle... but I'd always found it a bit bright and gauche for my tastes. And besides, this one was larger, and far more impressive. Finally, we were standing in a room just before the Great Hall, where the Sorting Ceremony and feast was taking place. I could hear muffled cheering on the other side of another pair of double doors, causing the gemstones within the four house point hourglasses to rattle. "Oh, good... we haven't missed the Sorting Ceremony," Fig sighed, listening in through the door. He glanced my way, hummed, then took out his wand and waved it. The clothes I was wearing instantly transformed into flowing black robes and a school uniform without any colors - that would come later. "I'm no expert, but that seems more appropriate." "Oh, right... thank you," I replied. With everything that had happened in the past few hours, I'd completely forgotten that I wasn't dressed for the occasion. ...I wonder how much of my stuff survived that dragon attack? "Now... I need to study this locket as soon as I can, but first, I must contact the Ministry," said Fig as we both approached the doors. "They need to know what happened to George, and be warned of Ranrok... For the moment, I ask that you keep all that's happened this evening between you and me." I blinked a couple times... he really wanted to keep this sort of thing a secret? It seemed rather... you know, important... ...But, at least it was a secret I was privy to. I could live with that. "Sure," I nodded. "Thank you," Fig smiled. He then took a breath and rubbed his hands together. "Ready for the Sorting Ceremony?" I nodded again, emphatically. Fig quietly swung one of the doors open and peeked inside - up in front, a young, new student had evidently just been sorted into Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat was taken off his head by an older woman, who the child looked up at nervously before making a beeline towards his table. At that point a man with black hair and facial hair walked forward and raised his hands as though he were going to give a speech, but his mouth closed into a grimace as his eyes laid upon Fig, and he began to make his way towards us. "Phineas Nigellus Black..." Fig groaned, positioning himself to my right with a sigh. "...Prepare yourself to meet the Headmaster." I had heard that Headmaster Black wasn't much of a Headmaster, more concerned with his image and comfort than he was actually doing any work. He was also one of those kinds of wizards who insisted their pureblood status meant they were better than everyone else. Well, you can't get much more pureblooded than being an actual unicorn. Moments later the door swung open again, Headmaster Black slipping through. True to his reputation, he was dressed in an immaculate, dark green and gray three-piece suit studded with gold, and carried himself with an air of pompous, pretentious ignorance... the kind I knew all too well back in Canterlot. "Fig. Nice of you to join us," he snorted, stepping forward. "The Sorting Ceremony's over." "Er, there were... complications-" "Complications?" Black interrupted Fig. "It seems the goblin problem has-" "Enough!" Black shook his head with a dismissive groan. "Goblins... I've no time for rumors, Fig, and I'm rapidly losing whatever patience I had left. If you're lucky," he grunted as his gaze shifted to me, "we might still be able to get you sorted this evening." He then motioned for me to follow him, which I did. Fig cleared his throat to catch my attention. "I'll be in touch!" he hissed before leaving in the opposite direction, presumably to go inform the Ministry. I nodded and turned my thoughts towards the Sorting Ceremony. The Great Hall was truly an incredible space. Hundreds of candles floated above the four long tables that took up the center of the room, the ceiling further enchanted to resemble the evening sky outside. From the left was the table for Slytherin, then next to the right was Ravenclaw, then Gryffindor, and then finally Hufflepuff. A quick estimate counted about eighty or so students per table... I assumed my class size was going to be somewhat small. The faculty sat at a long table at the back of the room, the wall almost entirely made up of an elaborate stained glass mural. On a small raised platform between the faculty and the students' tables there was a stool, and the older woman approached it as she held up the Sorting Hat. "Professor Weasley! We've one more to be sorted," Black called out as we made our way to the raised platform. "Welcome!" Professor Weasley greeted warmly. "You're just in time! Have a seat." A small smile broke out on my face as I sat down on the stool, facing the other students. I felt the Sorting Hat get placed on my head... and then I felt a strange presence, as though I was no longer the only voice in my head. "Ah, yes..." the Hat spoke with a deep, male voice. "A bit older than the others, aren't you? You come here with preferences and preconceptions, certain... expectations." It paused, and I felt obligated to speak... ...Although, I wondered what exactly to say. I was excited to start my classes and learn all the magic I could from this place... so, maybe that? "I can't wait to start learning... I'm looking forward to meeting my professors and starting classes." "Indeed. Hogwarts has much to offer a dedicated student," the Hat replied. "And what you learn in class will prepare you for challenges outside the classroom as well." It must've liked my answer. "Hmm... You do not give up easily, do you?" the Hat continued. "You are undaunted by challenges that lie ahead... And your loyalty to a friend delayed your arrival here this evening." Wha... how did you know that? And what do you mean 'friend'? I wouldn't exactly call Professor Fig my friend... "Perhaps... you belong in Hufflepuff." NOOOOOOO "No, hmm? I see you don't fancy that house..." I swallowed and blinked as I glanced over to the Hufflepuff table, wondering if they had heard any of that. "Hmm... you're clever, indeed. You have the ability to reflect clearly on that which puzzles others... and you've a ready mind. Quick to learn... Oh, but you're also brave at heart. Exceptionally daring, undaunted by the unknown! Willing to forge ahead alone, if you must." Yea... I could live with Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. "But above all... I detect a growing sense of ambition. An eagerness for power. And you've recently learned that you possess a rare ability. Yes..." Oh? That one? ...Yea. I do like that one. "You belong in... SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat roared. Though everyone applauded, the table now to my far right erupted into loud, raucous cheers as Professor Weasley took the hat off my head, the presence along with it. She waved her wand at me, and I saw the emerald green of House Slytherin decorate my robes and uniform, the trim and metal bits transforming into bright silver. I looked over towards my new housemates and smiled... secretly analyzing them all. ...Pfft. None of you look all that smart. "Oh, and one more thing," Headmaster Black spoke up as he walked in front of me like I wasn't the center of attention right now. "Due to the unfortunate injury on the pitch in last spring's final, this year's Quidditch season has been cancelled." This bit of news was immediately met with loud boos and jeers, to which Black wasn't the least bit affected. "Enough! It's not as though I've banned flying altogether, but! ...Don't tempt me," he warned, which quieted everyone down. "You are here to focus on your academic futures... I'm sure you all have plenty to do before classes begin tomorrow." Everyone stared at him. "I said... I'm sure you all have plenty to do before classes begin tomorrow!" he reiterated. With a cacophony of groans and complaints, all of the students rose from their tables and began shuffling out of the Great Hall. No wonder nobody likes him. "Quite an entrance," Professor Weasley mumbled beside me. "It's lovely to meet you! I'm-" "Professor Weasley!" Black shouted. "Would you be so kind as to show our new student to their common room?" "I shall see to it, sir," she replied, not hiding her glare. Once Black had moved away from us, she spoke again. "As I was saying... I'm Professor Weasley. Pleased to meet you." "Pleased to meet you as well, Professor," I bowed my head slightly. Though at this point, you really didn't need to tell me that... I kinda figured. "As Deputy Headmistress, it is my distinct honor to show you to your common room," Weasley continued, gesturing. "Right this way." We walked together to the castle's dungeons where the Slytherin common room was located, albeit in a more roundabout way than the other students had taken. "It's good to see you tonight, Miss Shimmer... I was starting to get a little concerned when I didn't see you among the first-years for the Sorting." "Oh, right..." I blinked, zoning back in from staring at all the fantastical architecture around me. "Fig- er, Professor Fig and I were... delayed." "So I've heard... the poor carriage driver arrived a few hours ago, with a couple pieces of singed luggage and four panicked thestrals! What in Merlin's name happened to the two of you?" I wondered how much I could safely tell her. "Well... I think I should let Professor Fig explain that. It's... still a bit of a blur to me, to be honest." "I absolutely shall! Is there anything you need, in the meantime?" Weasley asked with genuine concern. "According to the carriage driver, it would seem that most of your belongings were sadly destroyed." "My belongings- ...Oh. Oh, no," I groaned. I mean, I had watched the vast majority of our luggage get burned to ashes by dragon fire, but I was hoping that more of them than that had simply shaken loose and plummeted to the ground. "Not to worry, the first few days are always light on coursework. I shall see to it that replacement supplies are made available to you." Well, that's a relief. "Thank you, Professor." "Of course. Can't very well leave our new fifth-year unprepared, especially due to unforeseen circumstances," Weasley waved a hand. We finally reached the castle's dungeons, and before long she led me towards a blank, empty stone wall. Composing herself, she turned towards me. "It's quite uncommon for a student to begin as a fifth-year... It may be a bit of a challenge, but one I'm sure you're up for. This is the entrance to the Slytherin common room. In order to enter, one must simply speak the correct password: aspiration." "Alright... Aspiration," I spoke loudly towards the wall. A huge silver snake suddenly appeared from the crack between the floor and the wall and slithered past, a kink in its body jutting upwards. As the kink passed by, it revealed the hidden double doors to the common room. They opened on their own, inviting me in, greeting me with a statue of a pair of mermaids. Neat. "Well done," said Weasley. "Now, go on in and get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow! I shall be back in the morning to collect you for your first class." "Thank you, Professor," I mouthed, already halfway through the doors. "You're welcome... I hope you enjoy your first night at Hogwarts. Sleep well!" she called after me. I quickly made my way down the spiral staircases and into the common room. Though empty, it was a gorgeous space made cozy with a couple roaring fireplaces. One part of the huge room was under the surface of the Black Lake, the windows offering a view into its murky depths and staining the light green. Fish flittered past among the aquatic plants that gently flapped against the glass. It was dark, mysterious, serene... beautiful. Professor Weasley was right, though. After all the excitement of today, I was exhausted. I made my way across the room towards the dormitories, which were arranged in a loop within a tunnel that reminded me of a sewer. One of the doors denoted that it was for fifth-years, so I entered. Five other girls were preparing for bed. The shared bedroom was large and shaped like a hexagon, with a curtained four-poster bed and dresser for each of us. A caged brazier holding a fire crackled in the center of the room, keeping everyone cozy and warm. Everything was decorated in cloth of shades of green, white and silver, the walls and floors were carved gray and white marble, covered with rugs and large animal pelts. All of the beds had been claimed except for one, which I figured was mine. "Oh! You're the new student!" A stubborn-looking brunette reading a book exclaimed. "Hello!" "Hi," I waved without looking at whoever had spoken, poking through the dresser beside my bed. It would seem that at least some of my luggage had survived, but not much. All I really had were my clothes, a stack of parchment and a box of quills with an inkwell, an enchanted alarm clock and some toiletries. Though I did also have my purse and saddlebags, safely tucked away in my pocket dimension. Neither of those were terribly relevant at the moment, however. "I'm Grace Pinch-Smedley," said a girl with blonde hair and bangs. "From the Bath Pinch-Smedleys? Known for our contributions to both science and art?" "Nobody cares, Grace," another girl, a relatively kinder looking brunette groused. "I'm Priscilla Wakefield, pleasure to meet you." "Mmhmm," I muttered, focused on digging out a pair of pajamas to change into. "My name's Nerida. Nerida Roberts," said another brunette with bangs. "I'm Violet McDowell," said a black-haired girl of Asian descent. "And I'm Imelda. Imelda Reyes," the first girl who had spoken said, shutting her book. Quickly finding myself becoming too tired to think, I quietly changed my clothes and slid into bed, finding the blankets and comforters thick and pillowy, the mattress perfectly firm. Then I noticed that the others had stopped speaking. "Oh. Uh... Sunset. My name's Sunset Shimmer." "Sunset? What a lovely name," said Priscilla. "Thanks... look, sorry, but I'm not in much of a talking mood right now," I bit my lower lip, feeling like I just wanted to collapse into my pillow. "In the morning, perhaps? I'm beat." "Oh... sure. Speak to you in the morning, then," said Nerida. I flashed them a quick smile before using my wand to close all of the curtains on my bed tight. Finally alone and in darkness, I closed my eyes and let my mind rest. "...Not one for conversation, isn't she?" I heard Violet mumble through the crushed velvet. "Wonder if it had anything to do with her arriving late?" speculated Grace. "Feels different without Anne here," Imelda sighed. "I hope she's alright." "I heard it was an especially severe case of Dragonpox," Nerida began to mention. By this point, however... my mind had drifted away into slumber. ~ I woke up feeling slightly sore... probably from everything that had happened yesterday. I groaned as I stretched and opened up my curtains, glancing around for the other girls but not seeing them. I was alone. Oh... did I wake up late? I don't remember hearing any sort of alarm go off... Did I even set my alarm? Shoot. There was something on my dresser that hadn't been there last night... a vial of Wiggenweld potion. There was a note attached, which I took and read. Thought you might need one after last afternoon, if my own sorry state is any indication. I'll meet with you later today. Professor Fig "Aw, that's very thoughtful of him," I smiled, drinking the potion down. Within seconds the pain and soreness had faded away. After getting myself dressed I made my way to the common room. Now that it was daytime, light streamed in from tall windows and a stained glass dome in the ceiling, further bathing the room in green. Numerous candelabras and oil lamps were lit along with the fireplaces, yet the air wasn't at all smoky or dry. There were lots of potted plants and vibrant flowers lining the walls, and tapestries and curtains that hung on the walls beside more of those living portraits, and tables with display cases and tiered plates and bowls full of things to snack on, and plenty of couches and chairs for everyone. A number of students were sitting and conversing with their friends, a couple were already nose-deep in their textbooks, and some younger students were leaning up against the windows peering into the Black Lake. From a distance I could see Imelda standing over a pair of boys playing chess. "Hey, it's that new fifth-year," I heard someone whisper. "Must be... different... starting Hogwarts in your fifth year," whispered someone else. "I wonder where she's from?" "She's lucky she didn't end up as dragon food, like that poor man from the Ministry," someone else mumbled. George? Wow, word travels fast around here. "Did you see the way she just waltzed in at the end of the Sorting Ceremony last night?" "Can't imagine starting a new school this late." I let out a deep sigh, quickly feeling annoyed... I didn't really care enough to introduce myself to all these people, nor did I want to get to know any of them. They were all beneath me. All just stepping stones on my way to becoming the greatest witch in the world. Buuuut... I suppose I should at least introduce myself to the others in my class. It's the... polite thing to do. My stomach growled. Thankfully, there was a full bowl of apples on a table nearby. I grabbed a few and stuffed most of them into my robe for later, eating one as I approached one of the only two boys in my year. He paced back and forth in front of a fireplace as he intently read though a thick spellbook I didn't recognize. He wore a mop of medium-length, reddish-brown hair sheesh, does anyone in this world have hair that's more than just one plain old color?! messily styled to his left with matching eyes, and his cheeks were speckled with freckles. Upon looking at him, something deep inside me twinged... Maybe I was hungrier than I thought. I wonder if there's anything more substantial to eat down here. "...Can I help you?" the boy suddenly spoke with an air of irritation. He had set his book down on a nearby chair and was staring at me. I jumped slightly in surprise. "Oh, hello... you're a fifth-year, right? My name's Sunset Shimmer." "Ah! You're the new fifth-year," he replied, the irritation in his voice vanishing in place of a slight grin. "I'm Sebastian Sallow. Welcome to Slytherin." "Sebastian... nice to meet you. Oh, and thanks." "Of course... Not everyone has a Ministry escort to school," said Sebastian, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, he was a friend of Professor Fig's. Joined us for the trip here." "Still... impressive," he smirked before his face fell. "...Dreadful way to go, poor fellow. Glad you and Fig are alright." "It was... quite the experience," I nodded. "Lot more excitement than I thought would happen yesterday." "Interesting perspective... How did you and Fig manage to escape?" Sebastian pressed. Unconsciously I swallowed, this guy was asking all of the right wrong questions. And I hadn't forgotten that Fig didn't want me to talk about this for now. "Uh... a bit of a blur, to be honest." "Didn't mean to press," he said quickly. "You just get yourself settled, we can talk more later." I felt another twinge deep inside me, and paid a little more attention to it. It was a feeling reminiscent of when you had a loose baby tooth, and you were doing your best to pull it out yourself because you'd lost patience with it... painful, but a good kind of pain. I chalked it up to finally eating something since lunch yesterday... no real point in bringing it up now. Not to mention I was curious about the book he'd been reading. It didn't look like any of our textbooks. "What book were you reading?" I pointed. "A spellbook I picked up. Has a few interesting things, but... not exactly what I was looking for," he replied. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, but not every spell you may need can be found in our... assigned textbooks." Oh? I'm listening. "Is that so? And just what kind of spells might those be?" I prodded with saccharine charm. "Seems I may have met a kindred spirit!" Sebastian laughed. The twinge returned. "That is a conversation for another time." Damn... but perhaps I can wheedle it out of him eventually. "Very well... I believe we have all the same classes together today, right? Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms and History of Magic?" "Indeed we do... speaking of which, I'd better get going. Don't want to be late," he smirked again as he put his spellbook away in his pocket dimension. "It was good meeting you. Good luck today." And with another smile he made his way towards the stairs out of the common room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Sebastian, huh? ...Maybe there's one peasant here that might prove useful to me. With a smirk of my own I wandered over towards the windows that held back the lake. A few of the younger students were excitedly peering out into the depths, while the other fifth-year boy leaned against a nearby windowsill, looking rather pleased with himself. "I-I think I heard one!" one of the younger students shouted as she pointed somewhere in the water. She and her companion stared harder through the window while the fifth-year boy laughed to himself, shaking his head. This one had neatly-groomed dirty blonde hair and green eyes that were clouded over... was he blind? His skin was fair and pale, studded with a constellation of moles on one cheek and just a couple on the other. "Hmph... doubt mermaids find us that interesting," he grinned as I approached. He stood up as though he were aware that I was facing him, but his head and eyes were pointed downwards to my left. "Ah... based on all the chatter when you entered the common room, I'm guessing you're the new fifth-year." "Yes... my name's Sunset Shimmer." "I'm Ominis. Ominis Gaunt." "Nice to meet you, Ominis," I smiled awkwardly. Yep, he didn't seem to be able to see, at least not in the conventional sense. I wondered briefly if it was true that the rest of his senses might be enhanced due to it. And, he actually has a normal-sounding name! ...Granted, it sounds very questionably evil, but still! "You certainly had a memorable arrival," Ominis smirked. Oh, now he's going to ask all the right wrong questions? ...Guess that's the "cunning" of Slytherin for you. "Well, if I'm going to make my mark here, I had to start right away," I snarked. "Ha! You're definitely in the right House," he grinned again. "Do let me know if I can be of any help as you navigate your first days here... Though I doubt you'll need it." "Alright, I'll keep that in mind." Quick, change the subject before he starts asking about how I got here! "...Did that student say she thought she heard a mermaid?" Ominis laughed. "Yes... but I've never heard of a mermaid showing up outside our common room window. It is fun to play along, though. Been known to keep some first-years on the lookout for hours." I let out a giggle of my own now that I knew it was a prank. My eyes strayed over to a nearby clock - it was nearly a quarter to 9am. "Oh... I should probably see if Professor Weasley's looking for me. Again, nice to meet you, Ominis." "Pleasure was all mine, Sunset. Don't be a stranger!" he smiled as he waved me goodbye. Indeed, just as I'd taken a few steps towards the stairs, I heard Violet yelling for me. "Sunset, are you down here? Professor Weasley's waiting for you, just by the stairs!" "Be right there!" I yelled back, hurrying up. I ran past a lovely little pond and fountain I hadn't noticed before as I leapt up the stairs... there was clearly going to be lots to see within this castle. Professor Weasley was waiting for me by the mermaid statue, and smiled as she saw me. "Good morning! I trust you're ready for your first day at Hogwarts?" she asked. "I've been dreaming of this day for a while," I nodded. "Can't believe I'm finally here." "Well, you are here," Professor Weasley empathized warmly. "Make the most of it... you only have one first day at Hogwarts! Now, in light of your unique situation, joining us as a fifth-year... you'll need to catch up with your classmates, and not fall behind. Especially as you'll be expected to complete your OWLs at the end of the year." "OWLs?" I blinked. "Is that some kind of test?" "Yes, your Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. They will determine what type of career you can have when you leave here." Okay... kind of weird, but no problem. Those tests are as good as aced! "After much discussion with the Headmaster and the Department of Magical Education at the Ministry, we've devised something extraordinary to ensure your success!" Professor Weasley then pulled something out of her pocket dimension, a thick, leather book with a metal lock, and offered it to me. I took it and flipped it open - it was much like a daily planner. Actually... it was a daily planner. An enchanted one. Plus a detailed map of the castle, which was definitely handy. "It is a Wizard's Field Guide," she informed. "It will help you to keep track of what you're learning so that you master all that's expected of a fifth-year. You would be wise to take full advantage of this exceptionally valuable resource." "I see... thanks," I nodded as I put the book away. "Now... shall we be off to your first class?" I followed Professor Weasley as she walked, eventually leading me to the Central Hall of the castle. I couldn't help but stare in awe at the grandness of the castle... it looked even more magnificent in the daylight. Central Hall in particular was stunning, from the heavily detailed fountain with statues of the various magical races, to the massive marble carving of a dragon above the Library that moved and reacted to the other students in the hall. "That should be all for now," Professor Weasley suddenly stopped beside the fountain. "You'll be expected to attend History of Magic, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes today, and I'd like to be sure you get to Hogsmeade as soon as possible to replace the supplies you lost on the way here." "Oh... right..." I breathed. Most of my stuff had been destroyed when that dragon attacked... I needed practically all of my school supplies again. "Yes, that would be great... thank you, Professor." "A lot to absorb on your first day, and you have much to learn," she said. "Although Professor Fig tells me that you're already quite adept at spellcasting. Says he's never seen anyone as skilled as you are at your age." "Did he?" I smiled. Professor Weasley's expression fell. "He's been terribly vague as to the events preceding your arrival... specifically, about what happened after that awful dragon attack... My suspicion is that there's more to the story than a search for belongings and an extended trip up to the castle." She stared at me pointedly... like she expected me to talk. So, that's what the story is... alright, I can work with that. I promised Fig I wouldn't mention the truth to anyone, and I was a woman of my word to those I trusted. Professor Weasley... was not there. Not even close. "Sorry, Professor... but I'm afraid that's all there was to it," I shrugged. "Hmm... almost precisely what Professor Fig said," she narrowed her eyes at me. Just then, however, I heard familiar footsteps approach from behind me - Fig was walking up towards us. "Speak of the devil... Professor Fig! Your ears must've been burning." "Oh?" he replied innocently. "Yes... I was just speaking to Sunset here about how you sang her praises when it comes to spellcasting." "Ah, she does have a rare... aptitude for magic, it seems," Fig nodded. Professor Weasley hummed. "Well, I'm just glad you both arrived in one piece... Perfectly good boats and carriages to Hogwarts, and you chose to fly in the path of a dragon," she hissed. "I wouldn't say I chose the dragon's path, Professor... Rather unfortunately, it would seem that it chose us." "Very well... enough chit-chat," she sighed. "I need to get to class myself. Good luck today, and remember to use your Field Guide," Professor Weasley turned to me, emphasizing her point. "It will be invaluable to you, and invaluable to me, as I'll be using it to keep up to date on your progress." "Yes, Professor." "Come and find me in my classroom after your final class today, and we'll see if we can't get you to Hogsmeade for those supplies." And with a final nod, Professor Weasley turned and left for her Transfiguration class, leaving me and Fig alone. "It's good to see you, Fi- er, Professor," I spoke after a final glance that Weasley was indeed gone. "And you," he replied quietly. "I was hoping our paths would cross today before you immersed yourself in your studies. Did I hear you masterfully evade Professor Weasley's interrogation regarding our late arrival?" "You sure did," I couldn't help but grin. "...That said, I'm pretty sure she knows we're not being entirely honest." "Yes, well... Professor Weasley is a brilliant - and astute - witch. It was right to keep the details to yourself for now." I dunno... I hope you know what you're doing, Fig. "We don't know where this path we've embarked upon will lead. It may require a bit more... flexibility with your time than she would approve of." I had to blink a couple of times, wondering if he meant exactly what I thought he was getting at. "Flexibility... such as, if I may need to skip a class or two...?" "And, she may feel obliged to share details with the Headmaster that would be better left between us," Fig finished, slightly smiling at me with a knowing look. The wink at the end was just the cherry on top. I had just officially been given carte blanche to do whatever it took to learn more about my new magic. "Understood, Professor," I grinned back with a sly look of my own. "Good! Now, as capable as you are, I believe the ability you possess obliges you to be well-trained. Happily, you have the benefit of an exceptionally-skilled team of witches and wizards to guide you." "Can't wait to meet them," I agreed. Fig smiled warmly, nodding in return. "Sounds like you've quite a day ahead, what with classes and a trip to Hogsmeade for new supplies. I shall reach out when I have more information about our mysterious locket. For now, focus on your classes and pay attention... More than your OWLs may hinge on the magic you are able to master within these walls." "Yes, Professor," I smiled before turning towards the staircase that led to the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower. Fig watched for a moment before turning and leaving as well. I had suffered enough interruptions... I was ready for this first class. ~ A few minutes later I arrived at the classroom. Upon opening the door I was met with a number of students from all four Houses crowding around the center of the room, between all the desks and tables. Peeking through I was surprised to see Sebastian, his back towards me, dueling a Gryffindor boy with magic beneath the hanging skeleton of a dragon. Ooh, do we get to duel in this class?! Celestia never let me duel anyone... Seeing them fighting made my heart start pumping. It had been years since I'd participated in a proper magic duel. There had been a period of a few months 3 years ago where I had snuck my way into an illicit dueling club held by Celestia's court battlemages. To my delight they had seemed more than happy to teach me how to duel, to fight with magic... until Celestia found out about it and shut it down. She was always ruining my fun, now that I think about it. The Gryffindor boy let loose a flurry of raw magic blasts, which Sebastian easily shielded himself against. "Is that all you've got?" he grumbled, unimpressed, before casting a Bombarda at his opponent. He shielded himself in time, but the cast deflected upwards into the hanging skeleton's skull and dislodged it. The skull was the size of a carriage, and would easily crush the other boy beneath it. "Levioso!" a woman's voice called out, the skull stopping in its tracks and slowly floating back upwards, much to the Gryffindor boy's relief. Professor Hecat had appeared from her office and was working on reattaching the skull to the rest of the skeleton. "Perhaps you'd be good enough to blast each other to pieces on your own time. I get new students every year, but I only have one Hebridean Black skull." She seemed like a dear little old lady, Professor Hecat. But she was once apparently an Unspeakable, which Fig told me was kind of like a spy, or secret agent. She slowly shuffled her way down the stairs from her office, slightly hunched over... but I could tell that she was a magical force to be reckoned with. "It was a token from the Great Poacher Raid of 1878, no doubt you've heard of it," she continued, never taking her eyes off of the skull. "Now, you may be asking yourself how an old woman like me singlehandedly took out the largest poacher ring in eastern Wales and lived to boast about it... knowledge." And with that, the skeleton was fixed, and she stopped in the middle of the room. "To the wise, age matters very little. Today we will review a spell that has saved me from death at the hands of Dark wizards more times than I care to remember: Levioso." "Levioso? A levitation charm?" the boy Sebastian had been dueling groaned. In one swift, fluid motion Professor Hecat cast the charm on him, sending him a few feet into the air. His legs dangled helplessly, and he seemed quite surprised at his new predicament. "A surprised opponent is a weak opponent," Professor Hecat plainly instructed, Sebastian looking quite smug as he tried to suppress a chuckle. "Care to defend yourself, Mr. Prewett? No?" When he didn't answer, she ended the charm and let him drop to the floor. "One thing I've learned as an Unspeakable is the value of simplicity, especially in the heat of battle. Now, let's practice what we've just learned... starting with something small." I had to hand it to her... what she said tracked with what the battlemages had taught me. Simplicity was oftentimes all you needed in a fight. For most of the class we practiced Levioso, starting with feathers. Naturally I found this to be incredibly easy, and busied myself with levitating the apples I had in my robe, other students' books, my desk, myself... "Now, let's try something a little larger," Professor Hecat said after about 45 minutes had passed. She summoned a practice dummy out of a closet, floated the desks over to the sides of the room (not even noticing or caring that Ominis had been leaning on one of them) and instructed us on how to counter an opponent's Protego shield with Levioso. A Protego shield was rather sturdy against raw magical blasts or weaker spells like Vermillious or Baubillious, but casting something your opponent didn't expect was often enough to break their concentration, and their shield spell... Of course, the dummy's shield was no match for my spellcasting. I felt I didn't even need to cast the levitation charm to break through, but I did anyway. Ten minutes of that later, and Professor Hecat had one more example to show us. "Very good... but the best way to practice is by dueling. We'll start with you two," she said as she pointed towards myself... and Sebastian. "Duelists, take your marks." Ooh, a duel! I grinned widely, nearly bouncing in excitement, glancing over to Sebastian as I followed Hecat's gesture to go to the end of the main aisle. "Time for a proper Hogwarts welcome," Sebastian chuckled to himself as he sauntered over to the other side of the classroom. Oh, I don't think you know quite who you're dealing with, here... I couldn't help but smirk as I stood opposite him, about fifteen feet of space between us. The patch of floor we were standing on suddenly rose about three feet into the air, giving the classmates a good view... ...Of how I was going to utterly destroy this poor sap. "Now, I want a fair duel, using only Levioso, your basic casts and Protego," Professor Hecat warned. I took the moment before the duel began to watch Sebastian carefully, analyzing his current stance, his posture, the look in his eyes. Cocky, but lacking arrogance... his arms appeared loose and fluid, prepared for whatever I might do. His eyes flashed with mirth, he was the type to open up a fight with something dazzling and powerful. Although, seeing how this was the first official duel of the class, he might go easy on me before cutting loose... ...Yea. I think I've got him figured out. The twinge returned. "You may begin." "This should be easy..." Sebastian grinned darkly, right before sending a couple blasts of Vermillious my way. Within the blink of an eye I not only deflected them all with my own Protego, I had also redirected the leftover magic and flung it right back in his face, knocking him over with a surprised grunt. "You're right! That sure was easy," I sneered teasingly. To his credit, Sebastian got right back up and changed his demeanor, looking far more serious. "This can't be your first duel...!" he growled, immediately casting a Protego around himself and firing more magic at me. "Glad you realized that," I chirped as I shielded myself again, his magic harmlessly bouncing off. Then, to show off my mastery of Levioso, I cast it on him. Before he could do anything about it, my wand hand flicked several times, letting loose with a barrage of raw magic that sent him pinwheeling backwards until the charm ended. Right as he began to fall, I spun around and blasted him with an especially strong bit of magic, shouting triumphantly. He yelped in both pain and surprise as he slammed backfirst into the wall, then fell on his butt on the floor. The other students gasped and stared at me in awe. Some even applauded. "I do enjoy a lively duel," Professor Hecat smiled. "If only all my students were this adept." The patch of flooring I was still standing on settled back down, letting me see an absolutely delicious glare of incredulousness on Sebastian's face. It soon vanished, however, as he picked himself up and walked over to me. "Not bad... you give as good as you get," he nodded with a crooked grin, clearly impressed. I haughtily smiled back as he returned to his desk to gather his things, while Professor Hecat approached. "I put you on the spot, and you rose to the challenge... five points for Slytherin," she praised. "Oh, thank you, Professor," I bowed my head slightly. "Happy to have had the opportunity to practice." "If what I've seen today is any indication, we can expect great things from you," Professor Hecat continued, and I could feel myself grow light with the praise. Now here was someone who recognized my talents and appreciated them! "I demand excellence from my students... they are capable of achieving it, and they must achieve it. A classroom duel is one thing, but battling Dark wizards, or as ever more likely, goblins... is a different kettle of Grindylows entirely." "That is true," I agreed, yesterday's events replaying briefly in my mind. "So, I'd advise you to keep practicing whenever you can... perhaps Mr. Sallow will have some ideas for you?" she asked in a slightly conspiratorial manner. "Again... well done today." Sebastian, huh? ...Must be her top student. I sucked on the inside of one of my cheeks, contemplating whether I could use his help or not while Professor Hecat dismissed the class. After a few moments of debate I figured it wouldn't hurt to see if he had a secret or two I could steal. Conveniently, he was standing by the classroom's entrance. "Nice work," he tilted his head upwards as I approached him. "That duel was quite something, everyone'll be talking about it." "It was definitely good practice for later," I replied, unable to hide a cheeky grin. "Practice?! Felt like I was dueling an expert! Didn't expect a new student to be so deft with a wand!" Sebastian's tone changed to one of suspicion. "Then again... perhaps this wasn't your first duel." "You'd be right in assuming that," I grinned, feeling like my teeth were pointed like a timberwolf's. "I actually went really easy on you... consider yourself lucky I held back." "Ha! Fair enough," he shrugged. "You owe me an honest duel when you aren't." I nearly laughed out loud at his foolishness... did he really think he stood a chance? "...You know, you might be a perfect fit for a certain exclusive... unsanctioned dueling organization." "Oh?" So he did have a secret. "Exclusive and unsanctioned, huh? I'm listening." "Excellent. Knew I was right about you," he smiled before dropping his voice low. The twinge returned again... geez, I should really eat something soon, it's starting to get annoying. "If you want to get the most out of your time at Hogwarts, you're going to need to break the rules now and then... whether it's joining a secret dueling club, or sneaking into the Restricted Section of the Library. You just have to be clever enough not to get caught." A Restricted Section, huh? Sounds exactly like my kind of study material. "Thanks, Sebby... I'll keep that in mind," I replied. Sebastian adopted a somewhat cool expression. "...I'll be honest. Not sure how I feel about the nickname after being bested like that," he groused. I couldn't help but chuckle, knowing that he now knew his place. "Yea? Better get used to it, unless you think you can defeat me." The twinge returned; this time I had to clap a hand to my stomach. "Ugh, that's getting really annoying." "I didn't see you at breakfast this morning... have you not eaten anything since yesterday?" he asked, suddenly looking a tad bit worried. "I do have a free period now, we could go to the Great Hall and see if there's anything leftover." "...I am rather peckish," I agreed. "Then it's settled," he said as he began to walk out of the classroom. "Come, let's get you something to eat." Sebastian and I made our way to the Great Hall - while the tables were barren right when we'd arrived, the lunch course appeared not five minutes later. The smells all hit me at once... fresh salads, bread and plenty of accoutrements for sandwiches, some tureens of soup and an assortment of various drinks. My stomach growled to the point Sebastian actually heard it, and he let out a chuckle as I helped myself. "Ohhhh, that's so much better..." I sighed contentedly once I'd eaten my fill. After that we chatted for a short time, him telling me more about Crossed Wands, the unsanctioned dueling club he'd mentioned before. It was located in the Clock Tower Courtyard, after the last class of the day on Fridays. After bragging about how he was last year's champion he then told me to seek out a Lucan Brattleby, a third-year Gryffindor boy who arranged the duels. Mention Sebastian had sent me, and he'd take care of the rest. At that point, Sebastian got up and took his leave, saying he'd see me again later. The twinge didn't return, but instead I felt a new sensation... it was as though an ember had lodged itself within my diaphragm, sputtering between hot and cool as though it were being fanned. I wondered if it had anything to do with yesterday, perhaps I'd suffered some kind of injury that didn't make itself known until now? But the Wiggenweld potion from this morning should've taken care of that. I had an hour or so to kill before Charms... I decided to spend it in the Library. Maybe I could find out what was causing this little ache. ~ Before I knew it, it was 12:45pm, almost time for Charms class... unfortunate, because the school library had become my new favorite part of the castle once I'd seen it. I put away the book I had been reading and made my way there. The Charms classroom was fashioned like an arena, with the desks on raised tiers around the center of the room, its lowest point. Glancing around, most of the seats were already taken - I could see Sebastian and Ominis sitting together at the far end. "Here... behind you!" someone called out to me in a thick, foreign accent. I turned around and saw a dark-skinned Gryffindor girl waving to get my attention. "There is an open seat here!" "Ah, thanks," I nodded once as I sat down beside her. "Hello, I am Natsai Onai," she introduced herself. "But everyone calls me Natty." "Sunset Shimmer," I replied. "That is a lovely name," said Natsai. "So, you are the new student! Have you met Professor Ronen yet?" I hadn't, but before I could tell her as much, the professor himself strutted out of his office at the top of a short staircase and cleared his throat. The Slytherin Head of House was a jolly older man of Middle Eastern descent, dressed in flamboyant purple and yellow robes and a matching hat - if it weren't for the green interior lining of his robe and the silver snake clasps that held it together, it would've been difficult to tell he was my Head of House. "Shall we begin?" he beamed with a chuckle as he made his way down the stairs and towards his lectern. "Welcome to year five of Charms! Now, this will be a crucial year in your education on the art of Charmwork, but I am confident that we will take hold with the passion and rigor requisite of such a challenge! Right, now everyone, please open your textbooks to page five-one-seven." I opened and closed my mouth like a fish when I remembered that my textbook - and the vast majority of my supplies - were nonexistent. Thankfully, Natty opened her book to the correct page and slid it over so I could share with her. "But! Before we begin, can anyone here tell me the difference between the incantations of the Color Change and Growth Charms?" Professor Ronen asked. He waited a few moments for someone to answer him, but was met with silence. Sure... it was Colovaria for Color Change, and Growth was- "Ah-ah-ah-ah! I am afraid it is too late to study now!" Ronen teased as he suddenly Accioed the textbook right off Natty and I's desk. Hey! Well, what was the point of telling us to get out our textbooks, then?! It wasn't even about those charms... "Hmm. My, the summer months must have really taken a toll on you all," Ronen chuckled again. "By the looks of it, you all spent your holidays practicing Obliviate on one other!" He glanced around the room, his laughter dying out slightly as he realized everyone was simply staring at him. "Do you even remember how to perform a basic Summoning Charm? Hmm?" He rolled back and forth on his heels and toes for a few seconds. I looked around the room, wondering just how dumb these classmates of mine really were... he just performed a Summoning Charm not ten seconds ago, after all. "Hmm! Well, it seems that we are in dire need of review!" Ronen exclaimed, pointing a finger upwards. "Everyone, get into pairs and take positions on opposite sides of the classroom!" Natty and I shared a look and began to move, and soon everyone was split up into two groups. Ronen also levitated Natty's book back to her, so she had something to summon. "Now, let's put those textbooks to use as the blunt objects you so believe they are, and take turns summoning them out of one another's hands." The next ten or so minutes were spent performing Accio back and forth with the textbook. After the third cast I quit bothering even saying the incantation, simply swishing my wand. "That is not bad," Natty complimented. Of course it's not bad, any two year old unicorn knows this spell. "You are a swift learner!" Professor Ronen placed his hands on his hips as he addressed me. "I see a lot of potential, but remember! Potential is nothing without practice! Keep at it, you might just rival Miss Onai here!" Uh huh... riiiiight. "Very good, everyone! That's enough of that," Ronen barked. "Well, as you all seem to have the basics down, and it is an exceptionally lovely day, I was thinking that we might have ourselves a little excursion - outside for a spot of fresh air. After me!" He then began walking briskly out of the classroom, the rest of us following obediently behind. A few minutes later we'd arrived in an open field beside the main entrance to the castle. Ronen inhaled the warm late summer air, and let it out with a deep, happy sigh. "I've always found that fun goes hand in hand with mastery, as I'm sure the Quidditch players amongst us would agree," he said, ignoring the few grumbles the mere mentioning of the sport elicited. "So, what better than a bit of sport to put our prowess with the Summoning Charm to the test, right?" He turned around, and we watched as he waved his wand, and piece by piece he created a long, wooden platform made up of four equal sections colored red, yellow, green and blue. At the distal end of this platform was a plain board, and three large, blue balls appeared and sat still on it. He also created another plain platform for participants to stand on, chuckling and chirping the entire time. The colored sections had numbers painted on them, from 10, 20, 30 and then 50. I recognized what he was getting at - this was some sort of game in which we'd Accio one of the balls and then let go, letting the ball roll hopefully into the 50 point section. Easy enough once I got a feel for the weight of the balls. "So! Why don't we have Miss Shimmer start us off, huh?" Professor Ronen gestured to me, the other students wandering off to the left of the playing platform, some sitting down. With as neutral an expression as I could manage, I took my place on the platform and focused my wand on the leftmost ball. "Accio." The ball was heavier than I thought, coming to a stop on the border between the 30 and 50 point sections, moreso on the 30 side. The remaining two were flawless, however, stopping perfectly in the center of the 50 point section. "Very good... five points for Slytherin," Ronen beamed. "But there's certainly no sport in playing without some friendly competition! Miss Onai, would you care to give our new student a bit of a challenge? Come on up!" Looking somewhat bashful, Natty made her way onto the platform and stood next to me. Professor Ronen summoned three red balls to alternate with the newly-replaced blue ones. "You'll be the blues, just as before, and Miss Onai, you are playing red. Clear?" "Clear," I nodded. This meant Natty would play first. She studied her placement for a moment before casting Accio on one of her balls, managing a 30. Challenge, huh? Sigh... Now that I knew how much the balls weighed, it was no problem for me to earn a maximum score of 150 to 120. Professor Ronen wasn't finished, however... he decided to make the next round interesting, resetting our balls and adding two large blocks that slid from side to side. He did say that this would be the last round, though, and the obstacles didn't really change the difficulty for me. I won again with a perfect score, 150 to 130. "Two perfect rounds! Excellent work!" he praised. The two games had taken up the rest of the class, and now there were five minutes left until it was over. He left the platforms intact, in case anyone else wanted to try it in their spare time, and we began the short trek back to the classroom. As we walked, Natty walked beside me. "Good game back there! I must admit, I think I underestimated you," she giggled. "Took me weeks to become proficient with Accio! ...Took weeks for me to get anything right when I transferred here. It gets easier, I promise." "Eh, it's no big deal," I shrugged. It really wasn't... I was hoping my classes would be more... advanced than this. But then again, this was only the first day of the year. "To put it lightly... I remember how I felt when I first arrived," Natty continued. "I transferred here from Uagadou just before my fourth year... my mother received an offer to teach Divination here. Before I knew it, we had left Uganda and were halfway around the world at a new school in a new country." "Oh, Uagadou?" I mumbled. Though I really couldn't care less about her backstory, I had heard about the place she was talking about. She must've been that transfer student Fig mentioned. "Isn't that the biggest magic school in the world?" "Yes, though it never felt intimidating to me. It always felt like home," she said. Now that I thought about it, I could see why she might've thought I'd be interested in learning about her. In a way, she was once like me - leaving the home you'd always known, winding up in a new school, with new teachers... ...But she had her mother. And I... never had one. Eventually we returned to the classroom, only to be immediately dismissed by Professor Ronen. Next was History of Magic, a class I had been sufficiently warned about. ~ ...The warnings were a massive understatement. I desperately wished I had the textbook so I could read ahead... anything to entertain myself. While I was at first interested that Professor Binns was a ghost, that interest quickly fizzled out when I heard the first few words out of his mouth. Looking around the room, almost nobody was paying any attention at all. Half of the class had fallen asleep or were struggling to stay awake, another third were doodling, sneaking food or having hushed conversations with their deskmate, and the rest were reading textbooks from another class. He was just so... droning. Like the endless parade of nobleponies Celestia held her day courts with, babbling on about their insignificant problems that would solve themselves if only they rubbed their two braincells together. His voice was low, slow and monotone... talking in one long, incredibly unbroken sentence, moving from topic to topic so that no one had a chance to interrupt... it was really quite hypnotic. When the final bell of the day rang, I about ran out of that classroom, desperate to leave the boredom behind. Now that the school day was over, I checked the map in my planner for the correct route, and walked through the castle and across the lovely courtyard just before the Transfiguration classroom, where Professor Weasley would be waiting for me. Hopefully, this second half of my first day of school would be far more interesting.