Secret of the Medjai

Ron leaned over the table and said, "I hear she's really cute."

Hermione, Harry, and Ron were sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall eating lunch. Hermione had been breezing through her Arithmacy homework , and Harry was rolling a closed snitch with his fingers. "Wha do ya fink 'Arry?" Ron asked with his mouth full of pumpkin spiced turkey.

"What?" Harry replied, too dazed to realize what was going on. His mind was obviously elsewhere.

Ron swallowed his turkey in a single gulp while Hermione made a slight face of disgust. "You know, that Yankee girl who's been transferred here... 6^th year. Remember?"

"Yes," replied Harry.

"Well, you think she'll be a cute one?"

"I wouldn't know, now would I?"

"That's true."

"Boys..." thought Hermione.

A chime of a crystal glass sounded, and everyone turned to hear what Headmaster Dumbledore had to say.

"Boys and girls, I would like you all to meet your new classmate, Serena Roswell." The huge doors to the Great Hall swung open. In came Professor McGonagall and a girl.

This girl was about five-seven, dark brown hair and electric green eyes. She had small freckles across her nose and a sun-kissed face.

Dumbledore continued to speak, "She will be a sixth year student year for the rest of the time being. I expect you all, especially the sixth year class, to make her feel...welcome." His half moon glasses lowered toward Harry's direction. Serena then turned around and saw Harry. She looked at him with deep interest and knowing. "Now, Serena will be sorted into a house, and whichever house she joins I'm sure will take her with open arms."

Anticipation suddenly filled the room. Serena silently sat on the creaky, wooden stool and awaited the hat to sort her. Professor McGonagall had barely put the hat on her head when it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table let out an uproar of cheers. Serena came down from the stool and smiled. Then she turned around and looked at Dumbledore who was chiming the crystal glass again.

"Now, lunch is over. You may all go back to your classes. Serena would you be so kind as to come with me please?"

Harry, Ron and Hermione were filing out the Great Hall. There was much commotion around them about the recent events in the Great Hall, and it was still being talked about in Potions an hour later.

"I will not have anymore of this silly talk!" Professor Snape grumbled. " Mr. Weasley, it's two grapple roots, then the three drops of dragons blood. Will you ever learn?" Snape walked away to harass another student.

"Eventually," said Ron simply. He heard a giggle behind him. Serena Roswell was shutting the door to the Potions classroom as she walked in.

"Ms. Roswell, you must not begin to think that you can be late to my class anytime you want. Do you have an excuse?" Snape snapped at her.

"Headmaster Dumbledore wanted to see me. As you probably heard back in the Great Hall,

Mr. Snape." she replied. The English accent absent.

"It's 'Professor' Snape to you Ms. Roswell. Find a seat, quickly!" He turned on his heel and continued on.

Serena shrugged and sat down in front of Harry and took the notes for today's potion. It wasn't long until Ron tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" she asked.

"Hi, I'm Ron Weasley. I hear you're new here."

"Yes I am. Oh, my name is Serena Roswell." Serena and Ron shook hands. The bell rang for Potions class to end, Ron fumbled with his books as he managed to introduce his friends.

"Well then, these are my friends, uh... Hermione Granger..."

"How do you do?" said Hermione. Serena nodded in reply.

"...and Harry Potter." Ron gestured to Harry.

"Nice to meet you Serena." Harry managed to say. He couldn't help but feel like he already knew her. As if that wasn't weird enough, Harry had a comforting feeling come over him as they shook hands.

"Same here." said Serena. "Well now, I've got to get to uh..." She looked at a piece of parchment that had her schedule on it. "...Astronomy then. Goodbye." She left with the wind in her wake. Harry and Ron looked after her as she walked away.

"Seems nice, how long do you think it'll be before she turns out to be one of the Dark One's minions, or is working for him, or is just some innocent girl who is under his persuasion?" said Ron.

"Well, something always does happen." replied Harry.

"Unlikely," said Hermione. "She's a Gryffindor."

"Some things may be deceiving," said Ron, "things like that can be unexpected."

"Whatever, Ron," Hermione replied. By this time, Harry had walked away towards his Astronomy class.

***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***___***

Professor Sinistra took paces in front of the class. "I see we have a new student in our class. Please stand up and state your name."

Serena stood up in class and said, "Serena Roswell. I've transferred here from America." Everyone looked at her as she sat back down.

"Excellent. Now, the moon changes it's appearance in the sky, known as phases. These phases..." Professor Sinistra's voice faded out of Harry's mind.

Why had he felt so comforted when he shook hands with Serena? He couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed. The kind of relaxed like nothing was going to harm him again." Something is going on under my nose again," he thought. "I must find out what it is this time."