A Day at Hogwarts

Minerva and Leah walked in the nearly empty corridors of the castle as most students were in class. Leah tried to map everything in her head, trying to remember certain points but the hallways all looked alike.

"You'll find your way soon enough." Minerva smiled as she watched her look around frowning. "Ah, here we are." She stopped in front of a painting with an elderly couple that worked on a crossword puzzle together. "Good afternoon, Louis and Agatha."

"Minerva, dear." The older woman smiled. "Oh." She jumped up in the painting excitingly when she saw Leah. The man didn't look up as he checked his answers. "Do we have a new resident?"

"Yes, Agatha. This is Leah, she'll be staying here, duration still undetermined."

"A password, dear?" She asked as she looked at her.

"A password?"

"Yes, so only people can enter if they know your password."

"Oh, alright... The legend of Zelda."

"Oh, who's that, dear?" The older woman asked curious. "Never heard of her."

"It's a computer game."

The expression of the elderly woman almost made her fall into a laughing fit. Agatha shook her head and smiled before she opened her portrait.

The room was beautiful decorated. Next to the window were two large armchairs with a bookcase in between. In the corner a desk to set up her computer and on the other side of the room a small kitchenette with a dinner table. Two doors filled the wall on the right, one to her bedroom and one to a large bathroom. She dropped her box on the table and looked around in awe. She went up to the window and saw the large goalposts of the quidditch pitch.

"In case you get lost, this is the 7th floor. I'll let you get settled in." She waved her wand over her things, as they turned back to their normal state. "There is a faculty meeting in an hour, I'll introduce you. Do you want me to get you?"

"Uhm." She said turning around, back to Minerva. "Is it in your office?" Minerva nodded. "No, then I'll be fine, I think. If I'm not there in an hour and a half, call a rescue party." She joked. "Oh, and I told Fred and George we'll do it this Sunday."

"I need to ask, are you sure?"

"I'm fine, really."

"Alright. I'll see you at four." She smiled and disappeared out the portrait. Leah took in the room on more time before she walked back to her box and unpacked everything. After she put her muggle technology on the right place, she frowned as she couldn't find an outlet. I'll ask Minerva later. She thought to herself and went to the bedroom to unpack her suitcase.

She was only ten minutes late when she found Minerva's office again. When the gargoyle turned, she climbed the stairs to her office. Before she opened the door, she could hear muffled voices through it. She slowly pushed the door open and all eyes in the room instantly fell on her.

"Ah, Leah." Minerva smiled. "I almost send out the rescue party."

"I still had twenty minutes before you were supposed to send one." She grinned.

"Thank you all for coming." Minerva said to the teachers. "This is Leah Derijker. She'll be staying here for the time being, she is being housed at Agatha and Louis' chambers."

"Hi." She gave a small wave. "I know you probably have some questions; I'll answer the ones I can, but I, myself don't know everything." She glanced around the room and looked at every single set of eyes that where on her. She and Minerva agreed to fill them in on her family history and her sight, but not include one certain Weasley. In the whole room there were four people she met before. Sybil gave her a dreamy smile before she stared back out the window. Madam Pince pushed her glasses up her nose as Madam Pomfrey gave her a small nod and a smile. Minerva stood firmly on her right as the others started to introduce themselves.

"I'm Horace Slughorn, I teach potions." A full belly round man shook her hand.

"I'm Pomona Sprout, Herbology." And that went on and one as they all came forward one by one. Then the last one appeared, a young man wearing simple jeans and a dress shirt, his short black hair brought out his bright green eyes.

"Hey, I'm Derek Hill. I arrived a few weeks ago, the new muggle studies professor."

"Are you a muggleborn?"

"I am, yes. It's taking me a lot of work to modernize the curriculum, it was so outdated."

"I can give you a hand if you want."

"Are you also a muggleborn?"

"Sort of. I work in the muggle world. I'm a game developer."

"Really?" The young man asked surprise, eyebrows high. "That's great, I really could use a hand." He grinned.

"Alright, now that everyone is introduced, why don't we all take a seat." Different chairs popped out of nowhere with a wave of her wand and they all took a seat in the circle of chairs. "Before I start, I need to inform you that everything is said here will stay between these walls, at least for now."

So, Minerva started telling the tale of Leah Derijker, a true Gryffindor. All the others looked at them in complete silence as Minerva spoke. When she finished, they glanced around the room, a long silence fell before one spoke.

"So, you can speak with the dead?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"No, not yet. I still need to learn how to use my sight." She answered honestly.

"So, you never went to a wizarding school?" Derek, who sat next to her asked.

"No, I just got my wand today."

"We are making a plan to tutor her soon. She won't be attending the classes, but I would appreciate is you could allow her in your classroom after hours, especially Herbology and Potions."

"Of course, Minerva." The two professors said at once.

"I could help her tutor, if you don't find anyone else? As I grew up a muggleborn, I know where it can get tricky."

"Thank you, Derek. I have someone in mind but until then, I appreciate your help. If any students ask why she is here, we'll say she is an apprentice here as she tries to figure out what classes she wants to teach."

Everyone started to talk amongst themselves, and Leah sighed happy, as the attention averted from her. Her eyes were fixed on the window in front of her, rain started to trickle down from the grey clouds.

"You know..." Derek's voice said slowly as she came out of her stupor. "I still tend to get lost in the castle as well."

She turned and saw him grinning at her, she mimicked his expression. "I'm glad I am not the only one."

"You'd be surprised. From the first years, it is to be expected. But yesterday I found a sixth-year lost on the third floor."

Leah hid a snicker behind her hand, and they went on to talk about his school in America and the life there. Half an hour later, Minerva rose from her seat. "Let's go to the great hall, dinner is about to start. Leah, you can join us."

Leah brows raised automatically. "At the teacher's table?"

"Since you're an apprentice." She winked. "Yes."

"Oh, right." She smirked. "Oh, Minerva. How do I install the computer without an outlet?"

"I knew I forgot something." She said as she tapped her chin. "Oh, Derek. Can you help install her computer and such tomorrow?" He nodded at them. "Okay, now that's taken care of-" She said as they walked behind the other professors down the steps. "We can practice some beginners stuff this evening, if you want?"

"If I want?" She laughed. "What do you think." The corners of Minerva's mouth lifted as they walked down to the great hall. She was twirling her wand again between her fingers as they walked the corridors, no one saw the little blue sparks coming from it.

She nearly dropped her wand as they entered the great hall. Great is one word for it. You saw the rain pouring down behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, the high ceiling was filled with hundreds of floating candles and above the night sky replaced the ceiling.

"Shut your mouth." Derek chuckled as he tapped her chin. "Flies might get in."

"Oh, hush you." She nudged his shoulder grinning, still looking at the ceiling. "I want one."

"A floating candle?" Derek frowned, looking up.

"No." She snickered. "A ceiling like that. I could stare at it all night."

"You better look down; the kids are all watching you." He whispered close to her. Her head snapped back down, and indeed all the kids close by were looking at her, inspecting her. Whispers went through the great hall as she stepped up next to Derek at the long table that looked over the four rows of kids.

Even though Derek had mentioned how the food will appear out of nowhere, she still jumped a little when a large bowl of potatoes appeared in front of her. She carefully loaded her plate; afraid it would disappear with a blink of an eye.

Twenty minutes later, Derek leaned closer and whispered. "Leah, can I tell you something?"

After dinner Minerva took her to her empty classroom, so they could start practicing magic. She twirled her wand nervously as Minerva closed the door behind her. She hopped on one of the front desks as she glanced around the room. "What if I can't produce shit?"

"Language, Leah." The professor huffed.

"Sorry." She grinned sheepishly.

"If you really think that after everything, you won't produce any magic..."

"It's more fear. Fear that everything that happened the last weeks is just a dream, and I am bound to wake up."

"I promise you this is all real. Now stand up." She suddenly said sternly, standing in front of her. She jumped of the desk in hurry, grabbing her wand tightly. "We'll start with something easy, the levitation charm. Wingardium Leviosa." She waved her wand in front of her and a book from her desk started hovering in the air. She took a feather from her drawer and placed in on her desk. "Now your turn."

Leah straightens her back, and she felt the magic course through her body as she raised her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa." To her shock the feather slowly flew in the air as it followed the movements of her wand.

Minerva nodded approvingly. "Great work, Leah. You can practice that later with heavier objects. Why don't you try Lumos and Nox. Lumos will illuminate the tip of your wand, Nox will extinguish it. Like so."

When the light of her wand went back out again, Leah copied her movements before whispering Lumos, the light appearing without hesitant and went back out again with a simple whisper of Nox.

"I left you books in your room from all the first-year classes. You can start with charms, which you're a natural at. Then you can try your hand at transfiguration. There are also books on Herbology, potions and defence against the dark arts, you can go over. All the teachers are happy to help you if you have any questions."

"Can I practice some more?" She asked excitingly. Now that she felt the magic coursing through her, she didn't want to stop.

"I have to meet with Head boy and Girl." Minerva said looking at her watch. "But here." She stepped around her desk and pulled a book and a carton box from her desk. "Another copy from my first-year class and the things you can use to transfigure. Read it thoroughly and really concentrate. You have a copy in your room so you can leave this here when you're done." She smiled as she turned to the door. "Don't get lost on your way back to your room."

She heard the teasing in her voice as she walked out, leaving her in the empty classroom. Before she went any further, she walked around in the room, her hand grazing the different objects that stood against the side. A certain red head kept popping up in her mind, making her feel excited, sad, and so much more, all at the same time. She shook her head, trying to shake away the image of the older Weasley twin. She turned back to the desk and flipped open the book, reading the first pages thoroughly, like Minerva said. When she was ready, she picked up her silver wand and practiced the movements before she picked out a matchstick from the box. After the second time the matchstick turned into a perfect sharp needle. If she was a girly girl, she would've squealed in delight. She practiced until it grew dark out. Five perfect transfigured needles laid on the desk, next to five matchboxes as one bird swirled above her. The Avifors spell was a bit harder to master but she was happy with the bird she transfigured.

She walked back out the classroom and into the empty dark lit corridor, she sauntered on the stone floor, twirling her wand between her fingers. She stopped at an open windowsill as the rain had stopped and the moon shined brightly down at the cast. She pulled her hair tie out and let her hair fall down over her shoulders as she hopped on the windowsill, he legs dangling out in the cool air, she rested her head against the cold stone wall and looked at the moon, the lake, everything.

Back in the flat, Fred was lying on his bed, flat on his stomach, his head propped up on his hands as he looked down at the unfolded piece of parchment. George walked past his room and stopped as he saw the parchment still on the bed.

"Fred?" He walked in and sat down on the foot of the bed as Fred tugged his hair. "You got to stop doing that. I shouldn't have opened it for you."

Fred grumbled as he watched Leah's name stop in the corridor on the fifth floor. The Marauder's map was lying fully open on the bed, but Fred just watched her name, her name only. When she didn't move from the spot, Fred scribbled down on the notepad next to him.

Who's Derek Hill? He was with her at Minnie's office and then at the teacher's table.

"One of the new teachers probably. They didn't have a muggle study or a DADA teacher." George said as he looked at the map. "Here look, Derek Hill, in the chamber behind the muggle studies classroom." Fred followed his finger to the name he was pointing at and let out a breath of relief. "I'm going to bed, big brother." George grinned as he stood up. "Get some rest, Fred."

He didn't answer or look up as his twin walked out the room, his eyes again fixed on the girl as she walked up to the seventh floor and seemingly walked through the wall.