Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Godrics Hollow, tonight, was eerily peaceful. Typically, the whine and cry of a baby or the hiss of the alley's stray cats roaming around could be heard at night. But All Hallows Eve was a cool and silent night—for now. In the Potter household, Lily and James Potter lay sleeping in their bed, their daughter, I, Saraine Potter, nestled between them after having a nightmare moments earlier.

In the room next to the master bedroom, the nursery sits, occupied by a tiny baby named Harry Potter. I reckon you've heard of him? Yeah, my famous brother. But let's not focus on him, shall we? This is my story, after all.

Anyways, All Hallows Eve, or as you would call Halloween, now, was always enjoyable. I was always upset this particular day, though. What kind of kid wouldn't be mad and pouty if their parents didn't let them go out Trick or Treating? Certainly not me. Mum still bought candy for her, me and dad to share since Harry's baby teeth still hadn't come in, yet. The bag of Hair Color Changing Chocolate was still resting—half eaten—on the side table in the living room, in fact.

Mum stirs and dad cradles me more but mum tugs me back toward her slightly. In between them, I giggle. Outside the barely ajar window, soft, white snow fell on the already snow covered ground, landing in the bedroom, too. But then, a crackle. Not one of a fire or candle outside.

It was one of magic. Mum noticed this before dad since she jumped up first. I had immediately felt colder than before. Even with my dad standing and going to step next to mum while cradling me tightly, a shiver rippled down my small spine. Dad gasped, his eyes welling up with tears. He was staring straight out the window as a bright green light flashed out of the house next to ours'. Auntie Marlene lived over there, but I was too young to know that she died in that moment.

I was always too young to witness the vile things that happened that night.

Mum gripped dad's arm, her face paler than it used to be. Dad's was the same, dark brown freckles had gone light and usual bright and cheery bronze skin had gone suddenly boney and dreary.

"Lily—" dad said, handing me over to mum "—take Raine and get Harry. . .leave."

His words were simple and easy to follow. My pea brain wasn't able to understand the depth of dad's words and the meaning behind them. Mum seemed to be struck by those few, simple words made to form a sentence with a apparent deeper meaning. Her own tears were tumbling off her cheeks, now, her bright green eyes red-rimmed and glassy. "No! James—we can leave together. Take Saraine, I'll get Harry."

Dad looked at her pleadingly as the front door was blown off its hinges. James shoved me into mum's arms. "Lily, go! He's here! Get Harry." then, he grabbed his wand off the beside table and ran out of the bedroom, his footsteps making his presence known from his weight on the old and creaky floorboards.

Mum had built a river under us by now, her hands clutching me desperately. Finally, mum stumbled to the door breathing before hurrying across the hall to Harry's nursery. I spoke up, then. "Mama. . .is daddy going to be okay?" I ask and mum only sobs harder, her nimble fingers struggling to grapple the door knob before she eventually entered and slammed the door shut.

Harry was screaming, his wails surely waking up the whole neighborhood. Mum frantically went to hover over his cot, setting me inside. She kissed my forehead and Harry's after, her body wracking. A scream from downstairs sounded then. My tiny hands lift my head over the edge of the crib, my eyes questioning. "What's daddy doing?" once more, I ask.

"He's just—" mum can't finish her words in time before the door the nursery flies open, a tall man in a black cloak strolling in. His wand was pointed at mum and my eyes widened, finally understanding what was happening.

But, of course, it was too late.

Mum shrieked and fell to the ground, the same green light that had shone out of the McKinnon household flashed me in my wide hazel eyes. The man, a snake-like wizard, looked into the cot, his wand rising. My eyes met his slits and a sizzle started forming on my collarbone. He aimed his wand at Harry, but just as he muttered merlin knows what, I slide in front of Harry, taking the hit.

Life seemed to flash before my eyes. . .or maybe that was the bright green light. A white hot pain flowed through my veins as the sizzle on my collarbone grew worse—the sizzle forming into what felt like a knife dragging along my skin. Before I know it, I'm collapsing onto the cot's mattress, my hair falling over my face.

Right before I pass out, the color white spreads across the originally jet black tresses.

Then, darkness engulfs me. 

Chapter Text

𝕴 don't remember much after that night. It was difficult processing the fact I was now an orphan─well, not exactly. I did have a family: Luna Williams and Remus Lupin, my godparents. I haven't seen Harry since October 31st, 1981, but I suppose he's doing just fine. Still don't know why they split us up, though.

Every year since then, Luna and Remus had attempted to make my childhood as best as possible. There was always cake after dinner, a warm bath ready before I went to bed, movie nights every other day, sleepovers whenever I had a nightmare. . .but it never compared to mum and dad.

Of course, I appreciated everything they did. Why wouldn't I? Actually, the three of us have grown quite close these last few years. Remus recently allowed me to smoke, which isn't my favorite thing to do─don't tell Luna, she'd kill us both─and Luna has given me the second largest bedroom in the manor.

In reality, I got the better side of the separation. Luna tells me that Harry got stuck with the Dursleys, Mum's side of the family, who are Muggles. Having a Pureblood or Half-Blood wizarding family was a privilege nowadays. Most witches and wizards are Half-Bloods or less.

I don't know a lot of Half-Bloods or Muggleborns. Durmstrang Institute, my school for the last two years, accepts only Purebloods. I was a special case since Luna knows the headmaster and practically got down on her hands and knees to let me attend, which she might have actually done. If you hadn't already knew or guessed, I'm a Half-Blood. Mum was a Muggleborn and dad was a Pureblood.

And it is quite rare to see Purebloods anymore, despite many believing that they're the "superior" Blood. Luna was part of the Carmine family line before she married into the Williams family. Her husband died─about a month before I was born─on October 7th, 1978. Remus said mum and dad had me young and straight after school, which, to me, wasn't surprising.

Anyway, today was exactly one week before school started back up again. This day also meant that I'd have to collect my school supplies sometime before Monday. Luna said she'd go with me to Diagon Alley, which was weird because she never goes to Diagon Alley with me because she doesn't know how to navigate the Durmstrang instructions on what to get.

At the moment, I am in my kitchen, sitting at the dining table as I listen to one of our House Elves, Dreamy, cook breakfast. Luna and Remus have yet to come down, probably still getting ready for the day. Dreamy stirred the pot, two times her size, full of gravy and sausage.

I scratch my collar, feeling a sting there. Recently, my scar, from the day mum and dad died, has been bothering me. The heart-shaped tear in my skin generally only hurts when Voldemort is near, so it is quite rare. Dreamy peers over at me, her large elf ears flopping around as her tiny mouth curves upwards. "Are you alright, Miss Saraine?" Her soft yet sweet like candy voice says as she turns back to the pot.

I nod. "Yes, Dreamy. I'm alright. How'd you sleep? Or were you busy cleaning?" Dreamy had been my best friend since the killing of my mum and dad. She has always liked me, specifically. Of course, Luna and Remus are her masters, so she listens to their orders respectively and obediently to their orders. But neither of them nor I is an abusive master. I, personally, find it unnecessary and pointless to abuse your House Elf.

Dreamy hops on her toes, glancing in the bubbling gravy. She pulls the pot off the stove and turns the burner off, and goes to pour the gravy into three small boats. "Dreamy slept well. How did Miss Saraine sleep?" I stand up and walk over to her, taking two of the boats out of her hands, not wanting her to drop them. I set the porcelain down on the table and smile down at Dreamy.

"Wonderful." Responds I, sitting back down, kicking my booted feet up on the chair across from me. I was already in my Durmstrang uniform, ready to head into Diagon Alley by floo powder and get my supplies.

The hoot of an owl caught my attention, then. My barn owl, Wendela, dropped two things into my lap. On top was an envelope with V.K. scribbled in messy handwriting on the front, and I smiled, setting it aside.

Finally, an off white envelope with the Hogwarts crest wax-stamped on. Now that was strange. My brows raise, one of my hands moving to lift it to her face.

Miss S. Potter

The Williams Manor

Second largest bedroom on the lower level

Dreamy stared at the letter. "Dreamy is confused. Why did Miss Saraine get a letter from Hogwarts?" She asks, scooting closer to me on the table, her small legs swinging.

I shrug. "I dunno, Dreamy. I mean, why would a letter come this late and when I'm starting my third year?"

As if on cue, Luna drags herself into the kitchen, yawning. Remus isn't too far behind her. She strolls over to me, her golden hair swaying against her back, as she falls into the seat next to mine. "What's with the face, Raine?" Luna nudges my ribcage, her eyes flickering to the letter in my hand. She gasps loudly, drawing Remus's attention from his precious coffee. "It came! Remus, it came!"

Said man looked tired before, but now, he looked surprised. "Seriously? Dumbledore said it'd come sooner," he says.

Luna nodded. "Yeah─oh, Raine. I didn't tell her. . .so, love, I was talking to Dumbledore and he said he'd like you to attend Hogwarts. . .and before you say no, your brother is studying there and I know how much you want to meet your brother." I open my mouth to deny her accusation, but Luna silences me with a hand. "Raine. Please? It would mean a lot to me, and Remus will be there. . ." Luna had always been persistent. Never one to say 'okay' after receiving a 'no' from someone. I knew better than to say no to a request of hers because Merlin knows if I was going to wake up on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st or here in the Manor. 

Then, the puppy dog eyes. I groan internally and rub my temples. Oh, I hate when Luna tries to guilt-trip me. Why would she want me to go to Hogwarts all of a sudden after she kissed arse to get me into Durmstrang? I have no clue in mind. With a huff, I let out a grumble. "Fine..." I knew it was no use fighting since Luna would have me at Hogwarts by the 1st of September, no matter the response I gave her. 

Her frown immediately upturns, a large smile appearing on her face. "Yay! Thank you, Raine! C'mon! We have to get to Diagon Alley!" You'd think she was a child with how Luna squealed when she heard my grumbled acceptance. Remus, however, looks to be drowning his wife out while sipping on black coffee fresh out of the pot. His eyes start to droop, but he opens them wide when Luna speaks again. "Remus, do you want to come along?"

He chokes on one of his twenty cups of caffeine and shakes his head. "No, no, I am...err...busy. Packing and...more packing." He manages. I grin, and Luna chuckles. Luna and I both knew he was either passing out in bed or hiding in the library with a book and another mug of tea or coffee to pass the time.

And I didn't blame him. 

Luna then grabs my hand, dragging me up from my seat. I yelp. "I haven't even had breakfast─" She just shoves an apple in my mouth and leads me to the living room fireplace. I spit the bright yellow apple from my mouth and take an actual bite, letting Luna pour floo powder in my hand. 

I step into the cold hearth and tuck my apple in my red and black Durmstrang coat before swallowing the sweet and tart fruit. "Diagon Alley!" I state clearly. Bright green fire engulfs me, and I scream. I'm falling─it'll only sting when I land, though. Naturally, I land on my face, groaning and fumbling up. But of course, Luna had to fall into this same furnace at this exact moment. 

This time, I land on my back with Luna appearing on her feet and is already stepping out into the fairly busy Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. I sigh, pushing myself up off the ground, realizing I'd have to get resized and a new uniform. How fun. 

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍏 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Once we got that nightmare over with, Luna was already holding two bags with just my unsorted robes in them. I've been here these last two years and know it like the back of my hand. Luna, though, still looks like a child in a candy store when walking down the narrow alleyways that lead to different shops and stores. 

As we're exiting Flourish and Blotts, I knock into someone and get hit in the face by a falling book. Today has been going great for me, hasn't it? 

I sniffle up the blood starting to drip from my nose, starting to mutter a half-arsed apology. But then, I see the face. Holy shit, the face. I notice myself staring at the boy, our eyes delving too deep into one another's for my personal comfort. "Oh, uh, Merlin...I'm sorry." I sniffle up more blood. 

The guy who looks about my age smiles politely. He's wearing yellow and black─which I know are Hogwarts' Hufflepuff colors─robes and now this charming, lopsided grin that is captivating even for me. His chestnut hair falls gorgeously in front of his amber eyes. 

Shit. I'm staring. 

And the Greek god in front of me is talking and I didn't catch one single word. I feel my throat close up as I try to speak. Why is this total stranger affecting me this much? I ask myself silently before finally coughing up words. "Uh, I'm so sorry again...say again?"

The smile again. "I said that I apologize. I'm Cedric, too. Cedric Diggory." I nod, definitely not imagining his surname replacing mine...

"Mhmm. Crikey, err, I can't say sorry enough." My voice cracks suddenly, and I curse myself for being nervous while talking to this guy─Cedric, as he calls himself. I realized then that my nose was bleeding after I was mesmerized by Cedric Diggory smiling at me. A tissue from said man's hand presses against my nostrils, his other palm lifting my chin. 

Holy fuck...is this heaven? 

I hear Luna giggle and whisper in my ear. "I'll be at Magical Menagerie. Yell if you need help," then she was gone. 

My attention returns to Cedric and his hand holding my nose. I snap out of my trance and blink, taking the tissue from him. "Thanks. It's kind of you." With a breath, I go to leave. 

But as far as this cliché goes, I get held back, Cedric's hand clamping onto my wrist. "Wait─what's your name? I don't think I caught it." The warmth of his fingers and palm sends a surprising shiver down my spine, along with a sudden heat rising to my neck from my chest. I try to suppress the blush that sneaks up along my cheeks and nose. 

"Potter─uh, Saraine Potter."

Then, without another word, I walk off. Luna was sure to be teasing me about that for months to come. I seriously hope I don't see him at Hogwarts anytime soon.

That would be embarrassing if I did. Like, really embarrassing. 

After that mess, I met Luna in the pet shop where she said she'd be. Only I don't find her in the shop. I find her outside. Holding a cage with a snarling black cat in it. I recall telling Luna when I first started at Durmstrang that I was disappointed I couldn't have a pet because having one would make it less depressing. I vividly remember saying that I loved black cats before, too. 

My voice is sort of squeaky from pinching my nose with the wipe. "A black cat? Thank you!" I hug Luna with one arm and take the cage from her. 

Suddenly, a large tongue runs up my leg, and I jump, hiding my now-wet right leg behind my left. My face turns sour as I narrow my eyes on a big black dog panting in front of me. It seems to be wet─maybe it accidentally dove into a fountain? Luna looks puzzled next to me, her eyes glittering with recognition. One of my eyebrows raised. "You know the dog?"

Luna shakes her head vigorously. "No─I don't." The dog appears to whimper before nudging my leg again and walking away. That was strange...

Chapter Text

𝕾eptember 1st came soon. My last week in the Manor passed by quickly with excited squeals from Luna, cheery words of encouragement from Dreamy and tired yet proud comments from Remus. This morning, I woke up rather groggily to the sound of my alarm blaring in my room. Though being exhausted, my bed sheets are already strewn about and currently, I am clothed in my typical Muggle attire. 

This time, I was able to eat some eggs and beans on toast. Dreamy made sure to cook my eggs over-hard─just how I like them─and toast my bread to a crisp. "Anything to assure Miss Saraine a good Hogwarts year!" she smiled at me, shaking one of my fingers. 

Remus had come down by then, too, his hair all neat and clothes smooth as silk. He waved at me and I reciprocated the action. I rubbed at the bandage on my nose. Turns out it got broken from the impact of the book and it's been slowly healing after several healing spells from Tulpy, one of the healing House Elves. I don't blame the Cedric bloke, though. He seemed quite nice and it was my fault that I crashed into him, anyway. 

Luna already apologized several times because she couldn't take me to the Platform. Yesterday, she told me that she had business to attend to. I shrugged it off and went along with Remus the next day─or today, whatever you prefer─by floo and arrived in the Muggle station; Kings Cross. I was dragging my trunk along, the wheels squeaking against the cement and my cat, Jinx, I decided to name her, hissed at passersby as they walked. 

Remus guided me through the muggle train station and waved off any trying-to-be-helpful attendants when they asked if we needed help. When we reach the divider between platforms nine and ten, Remus pats my shoulder. "Don't be scared, just believe you can walk through the wall. It helps to run if you're nervous."

He then began pushing me forward and I broke into a run. As I collide with the wall, I feel nothing. My body is somewhat numb to the feeling of me phasing through a wall. 

The other side is crowded, tons of first years and their parents─muggle or wizard─and loads of seasoned students just wanting to escape the suffocating entrance to the train. Many children were sticking their heads out of the window of their compartment, crying with their parents or waving goodbye. 

I blink. At the Durmstrang ship, it was never this chaotic. Not many people went to Durmstrang, though, when I went. Most of the kids went here as their parents did not want them being sent off to a Dark Arts school─or maybe because they just didn't get a letter. 

Remus cleared his throat after a few moments of silence. "I suppose we've 'ought to get on, now." He said. "Don't want to get left behind." I nod and drag my trunk along with me as I walk.

When we get on the Hogwarts Express, Remus seems to pat my shoulder and turn left on instinct so I turn left as well but he is gone by the time I make up my mind. Deciding he needs his sleep anyway, I find an empty compartment and set Jinx's cage down in a seat by the window and kick my luggage in the space below the benches. I plopped down on one of the seats and undid the lock on Jinx's cage, setting her on my lap. She purred and rubbed her head against my abdomen, meowing softly. 

I scratch her head and look out at the train station. The clock on a pillar said 10:58. Just a few more minutes until the train would depart. Jinx hissed, this time, putting her paws up to the window. I look over and rub my eyes. The same black dog from Diagon Alley was perched behind the pillar of which the clock was hung on. I narrow my eyes, raising an eyebrow.

Though the compartment door sliding open and closed rather aggressively drew away my attention. I glance over, finding a blonde girl standing in the doorway. Quickly, I look back over at the window but the dog's gone. 

The blonde then let's out a yelp, her eyes wide and jaw ajar. I raise both my brows as if to ask, what?

"Oh! Sorry. . .I didn't know anyone was in here. Well, I suppose I should've since this year has a lot of newcomers." She explains, taking a seat across from me. "You don't mind if I sit here, do you? Thanks. Oh, I'm Lyra, by the way. Lyra Malfoy." The girl says, extending a hand toward me. 

I take the hand and shake it. "Saraine Potter."

The girl─Lyra─lets out a gasp. "Potter has a sister?" Asks Lyra, more rhetorically than literally. "I would have thought he'd talk about you more."

I shrug. "Ehh. . .if he doesn't, he doesn't." Jinx starts climbing onto my shoulder, prodding around. "I don't care, really."

Lyra nods. "My brother annoys the shit out of me ninety percent of the time. The only reason I came running in here was because he was mad I took this─" she holds up a book "─from him. It's his diary. I'm not gonna read it like some psycho, though."

"I wouldn't either. . ." I grin. The train jolts to a start, suddenly. I yelp and Lyra is obviously trying to hold back her laughter. 

"Sorry. . ." Lyra snorts, covering her mouth with her hand. 

About midway through the ride to Hogwarts, the express screeches to a halt. Lyra and I were reading our textbooks to each other, trying to familiarize myself with the curriculum. We both look up from the History of Magic textbook and peer outside. 

Lyra had moved beside me and pressed her face to the window beside her. "Why do you think they stopped the train?"

Then, the temperature dropped abruptly to below freezing. 

"I don't know─" The door to our compartment slowly slid open, a pitch black and boney hand pushing it with pure energy. Lyra shrieked, clutching my arm like a lifeline. 

I reached for my wand but the Dementor was already in my face, sucking the happiness from me. Slowly but surely, I feel my memories slipping away. My mother's scream rings in my ears as this is happening. 

Lyra is calling for someone but I don't know who. 

All at once, my mind falls blank. I feel myself falling into the arms of Lyra, her hands holding me upright before laying me down. 

My only question at the moment was why the Dementors wanted me. And why they were here at Hogwarts. 

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍏 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

When I wake up, I feel the train stopping once again. Looking around, I notice Lyra sitting on the bench she was on originally when we met. She was talking to a boy that looked exactly like her─just with a more smug and arrogant expression on his face. 

He glances over at me and clears his throat to stop Lyra from talking. Now, she's looking at me. 

"Saraine!" she exclaimed sliding over to help me sit up. "Are you feeling alright? Thanks to Dra─" The boy kicks the back of her thigh. Lyra hisses a curse at him. "Fuck you." I bite back a grin as Lyra returns her focus to me. "Anyways─" she says "─Saraine, this is my twin brother, Draco. Draco, this is Saraine Potter─"

"Hold on─Potter?" The boy─Draco─huffs out. "I didn't know Potter had a sister. . ." 

"Yeah, well, he does." I say, rubbing my head. It feels as if I fell off a broomstick and hit my head hard. I know I didn't. But I feel like I did. "And I'm fine, Lyra."

She nods and smiles at me. "Good."

When we get to Hogwarts, I am shoved into a group of first-years so I can get sorted. We're all escorted into the Great Hall by Professor Minerva McGonagall. 

Headmaster Dumbledore greets us all and begins the ceremony. 

I am left for last as I'm a new third year─why I am not in fifth year, I do not know. 

Professor McGonagall clears her throat for the last time. "Potter, Saraine."

The Great Hall breaks out into questioning murmurs in a cliché sort of way. I step up to the stool and plop down on it. My eyes roam the Great Hall and I make eye contact with someone I never hoped to again─Cedric Diggory. It's embarrassing when my face flushes and he laughs softly. I squeeze my eyes tight and calm the sea of red on my face. 

"Another Potter, hm?" The sorting hat rasps in my head. "Never thought I'd be getting another one. That's besides the point. What house should you be sorted into. Gryffindor would suit you nicely. . .would be just like your brother. . .no. Perhaps Ravenclaw? Hmm. . ."

The hat thinks for what feels like millennia but is actually just five seconds. Then, it calls out:

"Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table screams, nearly breaking my eardrums as I am walking up to it. Hands grab my hips and yank me down onto a seat. I look beside me and, of course, see Lyra. She squeals and hugs me tight. "I knew it! We're meant to be the best of friends!" 

I chuckle awkwardly and pat her shoulder. This girl has a hell of a lot of energy in her. . .

"I'm sure we will be. . ." I hum, readjusting myself so I am sitting properly on the bench of the Slytherin table. The Gryffindor table is on the other side of us that isn't beside the wall. As I'm examining the intricate golden goblet on the table, Headmaster Dumbledore stands, clinking a knife against the rim of his own chalice. 

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor." I, one of the only Slytherins to do it, whoop and cheer, smiling brightly at Remus. He grins back, though is visibly exhausted even after probably sleeping the entire train ride.

I feel Lyra scoot closer to me as Draco leans over into her space to taunt a few kids behind us. I groan, hitting his shoulder─doing so in sync with Lyra, making Draco seethe─and going to apologize but instead freeze.

Harry.

I only blink, for a moment. His smile's crooked and awkward. I nod, turning back to the table.

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own... Rubeus Hagrid." The majority of the Gryffindors cheer loudly and obnoxiously, making my ears ache more than they already do. "Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured. The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But, you know, happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times," Dumbledore waves his hand, one of the candles on his podium goes out. "if one only remembers to turn on the light." Dumbledore waves his hand again, relighting the flame.

Then, dinner appears spread out along the humongous array of silver and gold food platters. Everyone immediately digs in, grabbing handfuls of everything. 

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 🍏 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

One of the two Prefects for Slytherin leads us new students to the dungeons, introducing ourselves to the guard snake, Cobra. Cobra, at seeing us, hissed, it's stone tongue peaking out from its mouth. "Passsssssword. . .?" It slithers upwards as the Prefect says 'Pureblood'.

She tells us that the boys' dormitories are found on the right and the girls' on the left. The levels are year-based. For example, a first-year would be rooming with their four other dorm mates. Then, so on and so forth. 

When the Prefect handed out sheets of which room we were all in, Lyra snatched my paper, comparing it to hers. She grinned then, again, squeezed me tight. "We're rooming together! I guess they stuffed you in with Daphne, Millie, Pansy and I."

Apparently, whoever you room with in your first year here stay with you until you leave Hogwarts. Lyra said she's been rooming with only three other girls. 

When Lyra finally dragged me into the third floor girls' dorms and into our room we shared with her past dorm mates. 

Almost immediately as Lyra stepped into the dorm, the other girls scrambled to squeal and hug her. I stand beside everyone awkwardly. 

When they all released each other, one girl─the only brunette in the room─speaks. "Who's she?" 

Lyra excitedly grips my shoulders. "Saraine Potter!" she presses her cheek to mine, smiling so wide that her mouth might tear. 

"That's me. . ."

One of the three blondes huddled together pushes through the gaggle. "Hi! I'm Daphne! Daphne Greengrass! Splendid to meet you!" the girl─Dahpne─exclaimed, grinning happily.

The other blonde─who I assume to be Millicent─just smiles lightly. 

Already, from the first impression of these girls, I could tell this year was going to be a long one. Albeit, it was unclear whether or not this year being a long one was good or bad.