lxxiv

                                    

                                          
"ADVANCED POTIONS"

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Within the day, minutes passed like seconds to Alana Wallace. She and Jayden Brooks kept a brisk pace once the carriages arrived at the Hogwarts Castle. Her legs were practically burning, and she was unsure if they were even allowed this early at the castle. But they must have been, as they were greeted at the open doors by Professor McGonagall.
"How fast, you two," she called out as they passed. Her face curled in a suspicious way, as her gaze lasted a second longer on them walking into the Great Hall.
They slowed to almost the middle of the Hufflepuff table, and Brooks paused for a breather, "Just keep your eyes down and your mouth shut, that's all I can suggest. I know how difficult this situation is. But, know this, you can always confine to me."
Alana nodded in agreement, but thought back to the incident in the train, and quickly voided that from her conscious. 
"I'll see you in the next class in the morning, Advanced Potions, don't forget," he reminded.
"Of course." And then Brooks turned as Alana sat at the table, he rounded the Hufflepuff table to the Slytherin table. Just then, the students from the next carriages had caught up and were entering through the Great Hall's doors. Amongst the students were some recognizable faces such as: Neville, Erise, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle, and some younger students who were giddy to sit at their tables.
Alana averted her eyes from the ones she especially recognized, a.k.a. the ones to avoid by all costs. Instead, she looked at Brooks, sitting at his table. Draco had arrived as he had settled in his seat, and rolled his eyes at him. Alana caught the eye of Draco as his eyes settled her way, and then she just looked up towards the other end of the hall — where the professors and Hogwarts staff were beginning to arrive as well. 
"So, is it true?" her view of table was blocked by some Hufflepuff robes. She knew who it was, but Alana focused her eyes and looked up at their face. Erise, with a pink face of a glaring eyes and slight frown.
Alana turned her head towards the other direction. More students were pouring into the Great Hall and sitting at their seats, and the hall was almost completely filled, except for some of the students who were yet to enter from the carriages up to the castle. 
From the corner of her eye, she saw Erise sit down next to her. From her left ear, she heard, "You can't ignore me forever, if you haven't forgotten. We're roommates."
A few minutes had passed where Alana had been waiting more and more for more students to walk into the Great Hall. After all of the students had been sitting, the Sorting Ceremony for the upcoming first-year students commenced. And then, finally, Dumbledore began his welcoming speech: "First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn." The old crow performed his greeting.