Secrets and Protection

Settling In - Chapter 3

Once everyone arrived at the Gryffindor tower the students shuffled throughout the appropriate rooms trying to settle down. Raven looked around timidly as she stood next to one of the couches.  She took in a deep breath as she sat down in front of the fire, staring intently into it.  Things here were so drastically different than they were at her old school and Raven knew the transition would be difficult. She smiled softly, taking comfort in the knowledge that her mother had given up a lot to come here with her. Knowing her father was close by too offered a small bit of comfort but it was not the same as having her mother around. For the past ten years Raven had only spent the summers with her father and was not nearly as close to him as she would like even though they constantly wrote each other during the school year. The small witch put her slender arm out absently reaching for the flame. Her arm was almost going to go into it when she heard a thump on the couch behind her and two sets of feet shuffle behind it.

"How come you didn't tell us your mum was going to be the new teacher?!?" Ron interrogated from his position on the couch. Raven was about to speak when Harry and Hermione sat down on each side of her.

"I really didn't know you all back on the train. And besides you were more riled up in hoping who the teacher wouldn't be," Raven said in a soft tone feeling uncomfortable at this moment, and allowing a small smile to crack on her face anyway. "Everyone will really like my mum. She is really great. She makes class really interesting. Everyone at Durmstrang really liked her. I can only imagine how upset they are that she is gone now." Raven wistfully recalled the place that had felt like home for most of her life and felt sadness, not knowing when she would ever see it again.

"It has got to be tough just switching schools like you did," Harry said, giving her a sympathetic smile.

"It is. But my mum gave up being headmistress to help make the transition easier for me. But things aren't really that bad compared to what some others must be going though," Raven nodded in Harry's direction, indicating that she understood the danger in being The Boy Who Lived.

"I am not really worried about anything. I'm safe as long as Dumbledore is around," Harry said in a quiet reassured tone. Raven looked over at Harry and lightly patted his hand.

"It's nice to have someone like Dumbledore looking out for you," Raven mused as she removed her hand from Harry's feeling her pale face turn crimson. She felt something there with that touch and could not explain it, but Harry had no idea what had just happened.

"Raven, what did you do this summer? The three of us stayed with Ron and his family," Hermione said hoping steer the conversation in a different direction from its inevitable end at Voldemort and to get Raven's mind off of what just happened.

"I usually spend summers with my dad but he had some things to do so my mum and I travelled though Asia," Raven grinned, relieved that Hermione had changed the subject. "My mum and dad never married but they separated when I was five. And after that I only saw my dad during the summer break," She continued nervously, starting to babble. She then stood up and let out a yawn. "I think I am going to turn in. It's been a long day." She smiled at Hermione, diverting her gaze from Ron and Harry.

Hermione got up too. "I'll come up with you. We can talk if you are not that tired." Together they headed up towards the fifth year girls' bedroom. Raven had been placed in the fifth year's bedroom since there was an empty bed due to a last minute vacancy.

After Raven closed the door behind her, she turned to Hermione. "I just want to thank you and your friends for being nice to me. It has been really hard leaving all my friends behind and you three have made me feel at ease during my first day here," Raven said in a genuine tone as she held out her hand for Hermione to shake.

Back in the common room Ron turned to Harry obviously upset about something, "How do you do it?" the red head asked his face almost as red as his hair.

"Do what?" Harry shook his head confused by what Ron was saying, "What do you mean Ron?"

"Raven, she obviously likes you. How do you do it? I tried to get her to notice me but she only seemed interested in you and Hermione," Ron stuttered as his jealously rile up in him.

"Come on Ron. You are just seeing things. It is only her first day here. She's not interested in me," Harry sighed deeply as he headed up to bed. "Let's just go to bed," Harry whispered too tired to use a normal voice. Ron grumbled to himself as he stomped up the stairs. He wondered how Harry could be so blind about Raven.