The next morning after arrival at Hogwarts had the young witch up before the sun rose. It was a new environment and a new bed after all. Unlike her bed at Amoenus or her bed at Ilvermorny that she spent years breaking into and scenting, these sheets held no memory of her. It felt stiff but not unbearable. Like a new pair of shoes, it's only a matter of stretching and breaking in.
The air in Scotland was colder in the mornings. It felt crisp in her lungs as she inhaled and she conciously tucked her blanket under her legs to trap in more heat. She spent the quiet time listening to the other's soft breathing or the faint rustling of bodies shifting under their covers and suddenly she had the urge to wake someone up.
Her bed neighbour, Angelina Johnson, was her first choice. She was a Quidditch player like the Weasley twins, only instead of a Beater, she was a Chaser. She was a tall and dark-skinned beauty who often had boys cawing at her, but was also extremely intelligent, admitting the Sorting Hat almost put her in Ravenclaw.
The girl had a confident personality, playful and chill. She had a small dimple on the right side of her mouth that showed every time she smiled and was someone Tiffany had good feelings about.
Audrey Clemonte was another roommate of hers, a strawberry-blonde with cropped hair and a petite build. She was like a pixie with the spirit of a dragon.
Darinda Floyd, Tiffany's third roommate, was a brown-haired, brown-eyed tomboy with deep dimples on each cheek and a very sweet-looking face. It's not until she speaks, that Tiffany feels she has been utterly lied to. Her crass profanity was— astounding.
Tiffany became fast friends with the three, spending most of the previous night gossiping about almost everyone and everything.
Considering their location in one of Hogwart's cylindrical towers, the room was spacious and circular with 4 wooden four-poster beds and attached red privacy curtains. Each roommate had a desk with storage compartments and a wardrobe with a built-in chest of drawers.
There was space for an owl cage and perch, maybe an additional yoga mat on Tiffany's part.
The windows were long and narrow, draped by red curtains with gold rope drawstrings. It was a vast view over the Black Lake and some of the Hogwarts grounds. Tiffany had roughly mapped a running route the day before but it was too dark for her to see anything.
Feeling her mind unravel with boredom, she slipped out of bed and into comfortable workout clothing— a cream bodysuit with a matching pair of sweatpants and her running shoes.
Tiffany did not want to do a full body workout outside in the open, settling for the space next to her bed, reminding herself to ask Professor McGonagall for a spare classroom.
'Maybe I can make a studio.'
Tiffany was in a plank when she felt a small tinkle of magic that forced her to summon a shield endlessly, only for her to realise it was not a hex but a silencing charm.
She gave her roommate a sheepish smile, carelessly forgetting about noises after zoning into her workout. Audrey waved her off, falling back into a slumber. Tiffany dropped into a push-up and then jumped onto her feet to finish her second set of burpees.
After a long workout, Tiffany felt refreshingly tired and hungry. She yanked off her workout shoes and her socks, rotating her ankle and wriggling her toes. They cracked a little after a little stretch as did the rest of her body as she slowly stretched each joint and muscle out as well as she could.
Once she noticed Angelina was up and headed towards the bathroom, she slid into her bathroom slippers and followed her to the adjoined bathroom, taking with her toiletries and her towel.
The large bathroom had two shower stalls on the right, two toilet stalls on the left and twin sinks with a long mirror across the opposite wall. It looked modernised with its white tiles and matching pale red accents.
Claiming one of the two shower stalls, she stripped and hissed under the hot water. Lathering her damp hair with vanilla-scented shampoo, she allowed herself to think. The first-day jitters had snared her mind mid-scrub, forcing her muscles to tense in apprehension.
She wanted it to be perfect. A day of learning with no drama. Tiffany had been so distracted by everything yesterday, she did not even bother looking for Pansy and a small nugget of guilt lodged itself at the forefront of her brain.
The witch was quick to finish her shower once she heard her roommate's voice on the other side of the door. Her towel firmly wrapped around her, she stepped out and was greeted by Darinda who gave her a mysterious smirk.
"Wow wow, our little Tiffany's pretty fucking fit." Her roommate teased crassly, her eyebrows wagging at her playfully. It made the other laugh.
"Why thank you," Tiffany gave a southern accent, fluttering her eyes dramatically as she posed, a dainty hand above her heart in a mock swoon. She slipped out of the stall to the sound of her snorted laughter the left the bathroom to let the others bathe.
This morning rush felt too familiar to her now, spelling herself with a drying charm as she moisturised and dressed.
"Your legs are ridiculous," Angelina commented enviously. She was already dressed in her uniform, lying stomach down on her bed with a magazine open, her eyes following her as she crossed the room.
"Ridiculous?"
"Ridiculously long! Ridiculously toned! Ridiculously unblemished and soft-looking." Her roommate huffed, turning her body to look at Tiffany, only for the latter to slide her bed curtain closed for privacy.
'I should get a partition,' She thought, not liking that the dorms didn't already have their own.
Tiffany flicked her hair out from her undershirt and buttoned it up then tucked it neatly into the standard uniform skirt. She left her hair out after a quick brush, reminding herself to take a hair tie or a claw clip with her. She opened her bed curtain to her roommate's glare. Well, glaring at her legs.
"You are also pretty fit Angelina." The Quidditch player was tall and long-limbed, her slender body had a lean muscle that wasn't anything she shouldn't be proud of.
"It's not the same!" She moaned, "I've never seen legs so sculpted before. British women tend to be soft and dainty. I'm so jealous of you."
"I don't know what you want me to tell you." She admitted in feigned exasperation, not acknowledging that she is, in fact, a British woman.
"I want you to tell me I'm also ridiculously hot and make me feel good as well!" Angelina whined, "After all, I was the resident hottie before you came."
"Baby girl, you're absolutely and ridiculously hot." Tiffany winked at her and she laughed.
"Thank you," The other witch sniffled, wiping a fake tear. "That— That means a lot coming from you, Ridiculous Legs."
"Honestly… Not the dumbest title I've been given." Tiffany's eyes narrowed in mirth.
She enjoyed bantering with roommates. It gave her a sense of belonging that she did not think was possible after one night of friendship. Between them, her junior train trio and the Weasleys, she liked that this wasn't a repeat of her first day at Ilvermorny.
Plus Percy was here to ease the transition and Tiffany felt a little more comfortable having him in her corner. She wondered if she had Percy in America if it would have been this successful.
'No pressure.' She sent Percy her silent condolences, asking for forgiveness for the burden she was about to be on her twin flame.
"Really? It'll get worse, maybe. Most people would think I'm a bitch."
"You're that too." Audrey strode into the room, did a playful twirl in her uniform and robe then left. Darinda followed similarly, turning to curtsey at them both mischievously.
"Good day, my Lady Bitch, and her Lady Ridiculous Legs."
"Hey!" Angelina threw a pillow at their departing figures, the softness failing to do any damage but litter the floor. "Those bitches! We waited for them." Her roommate huffed as she quickly toed on her shoes. Tiffany chuckled, dragging the girl after them.
The walk to the Great Dining Hall was spirited. Her three roommates were already close friends, often bumping each other or making inside jokes but Tiffany felt a part of their group. She allowed Angelina to jump on her back and the other girl squeezed her shoulders then her arms and gasped.
"You're jacked! I couldn't tell under your clothes." She continued touching her biceps and Tiffany swatted her away, laughing that it tickled a little.
"I've seen it. It was— a great look, honestly." Darinda whistled.
"Merlin, can you carry me?" Audrey asked earnestly, her eyes trained on her with intensity.
"I probably could," Tiffany admitted then was quick to add, "But I'm not going to."
"Please!" Audrey's blue eyes shone in pleading and she almost caved for the sake of being weak to cuteness but they made it to the dining hall and she was left off the hook.
Unlike dinner, there were already dishes of food sitting on the table. Tiffany spotted a familiar bushy-haired junior at the Gryffindor table nibbling on a piece of toast and weaved her way through the crowd to sit next to her.
"Good Morning, Hermie-Bear!"
Hermione's small nose wrinkled in blatant displeasure.
"I don't like it. Hermie sounds like Kermie."
Tiffany did the voice that gave her weird looks as Hermione burst into laughter. Angelina claimed the seat next to her and the Audrey-Darinda pair across from them.
"Was that Mrs Piggy calling Kermit the Frog?" Darinda questioned, wide-eyed. Tiffany did the voice again and Darinda snickered. Angelina rolled her eyes.
"I don't know who that is but never do that voice again."
"What voice do you mean?" The high-pitched muppet impression that left Audrey's mouth sent Darinda and Tiffany into a fit of giggles. Audrey sported a smug smirk, despite how bad the impression was.
"You two hyenas, let me eat in peace." Angelina huffed, ignoring them to scoop some scrambled eggs onto her plate.
Today's menu was full English. Scrambled eggs, sausages, ham bacon, charred cherry tomatoes, sourdough toast and orange juice. There was butter, jam and a variety of fruits and vegetables on the table.
Tiffany cut open an avocado, smashing its soft flesh in the shell then spread it on two pieces of buttered toast. She salted and peppered it, before taking a bite.
"What the bloody hell is that?" Ron inquired, nose wrinkled in curiosity as he settled into a seat across the table from Tiffany.
The older wit h glanced up at him, mid-bite. She held eye contact until Ron's eyes wandered away in retreat, his cheeks flushing faintly. Tiffany took a big victory bite, chewing happily.
"It's avocado toast, Ron."
"Is that an American thing?" Hermione questioned.
"I don't know, to be honest. My brother ate this once and I copied him. I've been doing it since."
She proceeded to cut her last piece of toast into quarters, offering one each to Ron and Hermione, Darinda taking another piece.
Ron stuffed the whole thing in his mouth, his nose wrinkled as if expecting to hate it, but he continued to chew before his face relaxed and he swallowed.
"The texture is weird but the taste is not bad."
"I like it! It's creamy." Darinda declared and fed Audrey the other half of her piece. Audrey nodded in agreement. Hermione ate her piece as well, nibbling at it as she had with her toast.
"I like it." She admitted assertively.
Tiffany had to force herself not to impulsively make her six more. She offered the last piece to Hermione as she made another avocado toast, adding two slices of tomato, bacon and a poached egg. She cut into her breakfast and savoured her first bite with a moan.
"Shit, shall we leave you two alone?" Darinda teased.
"Yes, do you mind?" Tiffany narrowed her eyes and sneered playfully at her roommate then ignored her by continuing to enjoy her meal.
Soon, the owls bringing morning mail swarmed the hall and Tiffany's nose wrinkled.
'This has to be highly unsanitary.' She thought, hovering over her plate as the birds passed over her.
Tiffany heard a deafening square that filled the dining hall and echoed off the walls, amplifying the call for attention. The loud beating of wings caused a heavy draft to sweep the surrounding area, some girls squealed to hold their skirts in place. Tiffany swirled in her seat at the sight of the overwhelmingly large and familiar beast.
"What the fuck." Darinda's jaw dropped and soon the hall dropped into silence as they watched with awe, curiosity and slight vigilance.
The young thunderbird was only the size of a very large eagle. Her largest set of wings were almost two meters across as they glided through the hall and she gracefully landed on the back of Headmaster Dumbledore's tall chair.
Tiffany was quick to run over as it majestically loomed over the elderly wizard, who calmly allowed it to scrutinise him. Dumbledore has always believed in the intelligence of magical beasts, especially those of close relation to his familiar Fawkes.
"Hey, baby girl."
Tiffany called the thunderbird's attention, much to the shock of all those watching.
"What is she doing?" Harry hissed, fearful for his new friend. The bird was a predator through and through, with power rippling off of it in waves that would stun an unsuspecting prey into paralytic fear.
The thunderbird cawed.
"Miss Williams—," The thunderbird dropped a red letter on Headmaster Dumbledore's lap then leapt forward, landing in front of the professor's table in the open stage area. The teachers had drawn their wands, not risking any sudden movements and endangering the bystanders.
The thunderbird waddled closer, talons tapped on the tiled floor. There was a gasp when the bird was close enough to touch the witch. It stood impressively at waist height and nipped Tiffany's offered hand, only hurting enough to bruise and not draw blood.
"You know I didn't leave on purpose." The bird cawed, indignant then moved forward to press the top of her head against the witch's hip, imitating a hug as she cooed softly. Tiffany was slow to touch her, petting her iridescent coat as it shimmered between greyish-white to silvery-blue and speckled gold, then she engulfed the bird in a quick but tender hug and the tension in the hall thinned.
"I missed you so much, Tem." She murmured. "Is there a reason you came all the way here?"
The thunderbird, Tempest, looked over her with curiosity, a flexible neck bent almost completely around then she lifted a clawed leg and shook a pouch at her.
Taking the gift, she opened the pouch and found a navy blue jewellery box with the Ilvermorny school crest printed on it in crimson red. The box snapped open and revealed a Wampus House Prefect badge sitting on a red cushion. It was the standard red four-leaf clover with the gold campus emblem and made Tiffany a myriad of sadness and happiness.
It was at this moment that the red envelope on Dumbledore's lap had bursted into a Howler, the voice of her Master, Phillip Martin bellowed in accusation.
"MY TIFFANY IS AN ILVERMORNY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT! SHE WILL HAVE HER CROWNING PERFECT MOMENT AND IT WILL COUNT! FONTAINE AGREES WITH ME! BOR—," The letter was sent into flames and ashes that were swept away endlessly by Headmaster Dumbledore.
Tiffany's green eyes were wide with shock as she stared up at Dumbledore, who smiled at her joyously before another red letter went up again, this time a more mild and mellow voice addressed the audience.
"Albus, please forgive Professor Martin. He's a passionate man. I'll reiterate, however, that Tiffany's my Ilvermorny student and not Hog—," The second letter went away the same as the last and Dumbledore gave a light-hearted chuckle.
"Miss Williams, you are quite popular." This caused the young witch to blush. "You are free to wear your badge, it'll be up to the Head Boy and Head Girl whether they acknowledge your position." Tiffany sent Dumbledore a sheepish smile, trying to keep Tempest from wandering into the crowd to pick a small child to prey on as she kept her facade of decorum.
"Will you stay, Tem?" She whispered. The thunderbird did not respond, eying an approaching wizard with scrutiny.
"Our local bird, with her local bird, ain't it a sight." Percy approached Tiffany from the side, cautious not to seem threatening to the Thunderbird, who watched him wearily.
"Tem, this is Percy. My best friend." The bird seemed to understand her, talons tapped as she moved from Tiffany towards the redhead and Percy suddenly felt not as brave as he initially was. The bird's sharp eyes were a heavy pressure for a weakling like himself.
"Hello, Tempest. I've heard a lot about you." He offered a harmless smile, hoping at the very least, she did not see him as prey.
The hall was silently watching, the crowd murmured to each other as Tempest ignored Percy, letting him in close enough so that he could pluck the jewellery case from Tiffany's hand.
"Should I pin this for you? It seemed appropriate if I did."
Tiffany gave him a bright smile, fixing her hair back as she stood straight, chin tilted slightly as he approached to pin her badge to her collar lapel.
"Congratulations, Pen. I'm sure Principal Fontaine was appalled you've become an international student the year he legally was allowed to give you responsibilities."
"I'm pretty sure with how Principal Fontaine works, he'll somehow give me responsibilities from halfway across the world. At least now it's not babysitting Teacher Martin." Tiffany wrinkled her nose in distaste and Percy smothered his laughter behind a cough.
"Shall we take your friend to the Forbidden Forest? She'll probably want to hunt." He stuck out his elbow and gladly slithered her arm into his.
"Toodle-loo, my friends." Tiffany waved at her gaping friends. She led the bird to the courtyard and gave her another affectionate head rub.
"I'll come see you, at dinner time okay?" The thunderbird did not acknowledge her words, setting off as soon as Tiffany pulled away and she sighed.
'I think that meant, "Whatever mum, I'm my own being now. Stop babying me."'
Tiffany laughed at Tempest's voice, one she often used to decipher her and the bird's relationship.
In some ways, Tempest was her baby. The young bird was only a hatchling when she found it. Or well… when Tempest found her. But in other ways, Tempest was very domineering, making Tiffany feel like she was the hatchling.
"I got your schedule from Professor McGonagall and we have Ancient Runes with Slytherin." Percy led her fluidly across the moving staircase, avoiding booby-trapped steps like it was second nature. Tiffany was happy to follow his lead, stepping over steps he had skipped over, waiting when he paused. It was like being chauffeured.
"We? We're not in the same classes, Dux."
"I have a free period, so I'll sit in and then escort you to your next class," Percy commented nonchalantly.
"You know you don't have to do that." She started, knowing she very much wanted him to do that. "I'll be okay to just follow the crowd. Besides, you have your NEWTs to study for, who am I to stand in your way."
"I've already asked Professor Babbling so it's fine. Plus it's only this period. The next one, I'll have to go after I drop you off then you'll make your way to lunch."
He indulged in her codependency, allowing her to cling to him for comfort. The duo finally entered a classroom and sat in an empty spot in the second row.
"Fanny! What was with the bird and why, in Merlin's good name, are you here?" Angelina looked at her friend's friend with curiosity.
"Why are you here?" Fred asked his older brother. The class was still fairly empty as he saundered over to a seat in front of Tiffany, turning his seat around to face her.
"That bird was wicked," Fred mentioned.
"Super wicked." George chimed in as he sat next to his twin. "Is it your pet from America?"
"No, Tempest is a friend."
"I wonder what'll be like to fly with it."
A tall, dark-skinned boy who was often with the twins entered the room and called Fred and George over.
"Laters Fan. Let me know when you want to ditch the git and we can do something fun together." George winked.
"Don't worry Fan, if you ever end up looking for fun, it'll be with me, the better-looking twin." Both redheads started to bicker as they walked away and Tiffany snickered.
"Why are they even taking this class? They don't even like school and this is one of the harder subjects." Percy questioned.
"I heard Lee Jordan's parents made him choose Ancient Runes and the twins didn't care enough to pick anything else," Angelina answered from the other side of Tiffany. "Also, how galliant of you to escort your girlfriend to classes," she teased.
"I'm a git and underappreciated, so if you're looking for an escort, I'll happily chauffeur you to your next class." Percy offered and Tiffany rolled her eyes.
"Should I leave you two alone?" She mocked sarcastically and Percy laughed. Angelina could not believe that the Head Boy had always been so approachable, and she regretted never having ever spoken to him before today.
The two bantered casually as Tiffany unpacked her textbook and her yellow A4 notepad from her undetectable extension charmed pouch. She opted for using a regular ballpoint pen and paper for normal notetaking and then changing over for homework or assignments.
Crossing her right leg over the other, she dated her page and titled the class in red pen. She also added a red three-centimetre margin on the left then listened half-heartedly to her deskmate's conversation.
"Good Morning young wizards and witches. Summer holidays have gone and summer homework must be handed in!"
There was a collective groan that caused a manic grin to grow on Professor Babbling's face.
"Since I don't want to mark your homework… Pop Quiz! Books away. Let's go!"
The sound of frantic turning papers as most students tried cramming what they could in the next few seconds, gave Tiffany a real sense of camaraderie.
'Nothing like a collective sense of dread to start the school year', she thought as the witch placed her things under her chair and then pulled out a quill and ink.
The quiz was easier than she expected. It was mostly identifying runes and finishing rune sequences. She compared her answers with Percy and Angelina after she handed her paper in and felt more confident in her answers.
"Every answer that you got wrong on this quiz will be an added extension to your homework. I expect it to be done."
Professor Babbling continued to lecture about the class syllabus and expectations for their OWL year. By the end of the period, a bell rang through the halls and the students packed their things and left.
"Do not forget your homework!" Professor Babbling reminded as her students left the room.
Percy escorted Tiffany as usual. The girl had looped in her friend and the three walked to their class taking up an obnoxious amount of hallway space.
Tiffany blew Percy a kiss as he went on his way then entered Professor McGonagall's Transfigurations classroom with Angelina following closely after her.
"Are you two dating?" She asked and Tiffany gave her a chuckle.
"No, not dating. Just very affectionate," She affirmed. "I miss the days when he would turn painfully red when I blew him kisses. Now he treats them like air." Tiffany joked.
Percy was completely desensitised to her charm and even more so, her flirting and Angelina looked as if she didn't believe her. Not that it mattered much, she didn't even have the right equipment to attract Percy anyway.
Transfigurations started with a precursor for the upcoming year.
"You cannot pass your OWLs without serious application and practice. I see no reason why this class should not achieve an O in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work."
As such, Professor McGonagall was a no-nonsense-tolerated teacher, which made sense since Transfiguration was a strict magical discipline with rigid rules and a stickler for wand movements and proper annunciation.
Professor McGonagall started teaching the Vanishing Spell, a spell that was used to vanish objects into non-being and was considered a difficult spell to master.
"The spell is 'Evanesco' and pronounced 'ev-an-ES-co'. The wand movement is a downwards stroke, zig-zag to the left flick to the right then left and right again."
She drew the wand movement on the blackboard then demonstrated it with her wand and repeated the spell once more.
A few moments later, she had given out a snail per person and the exercise was to vanish the invertebrate.
Tiffany's face soured. She hated this part of learning. Her moral compass wavered at the thought of having to vanish from snails then small mammals to larger mammals. It made her wonder where they went. After all, if it were morally wrong to vanish a human, would vanishing a kitten or another mammal be just as morally corrupt?
She counted to three, took a deep breath and held in it her lungs for as long as she could before exhaling slowly through pursed lips.
After a few more calming breaths, she started concentrating on her snail. It slithered slowly across her desk, the silver slime trail it left behind glistened in the light as it moved and made Tiffany's skin crawl. Its eye— antennae— extended and retracted into its soft body and Tiffany felt weak for being so grossed out.
"Evanesco!" She chanted, her wand quick to draw a zig-zag in the air. The snail did not move and Tiffany pouted, poking its shell with the end of her wand.
"Evanesco!"
"Evan-ES-co!"
"Ee-van-ES-co!"
"Ev-an-es-co!" The snail had vanished from her desk and into the unknown, leaving its slimy snail trail behind.
"Congratulations, Miss Williams! 10 points for Gryffindor. For the rest, please practise for our next lesson and we'll continue fresh next time."
Class was dismissed for lunch and Tiffany could not be more turned off by food at the moment. Despite herself, the menu smelt delicious. Chicken skewers with a side salad and an offering of pita bread. She took a large gulp of water before forcing herself to eat, not being one to miss meals.
"You alright?" Harry questioned. A small nod from the older witch in response had made him frown at her lie before she confessed.
"We're vanishing snails in Transfiguration. It always makes me a bit ill not knowing where they go after they disappear."
Harry had never thought too deeply about it before. He did not have the heart to tell her that he did not care enough about where snails went after they vanished.
"Maybe— Maybe you send them to the Underworld, to accompany your brother." This brought a small smile to Tiffany's lips and couldn't help but cackle at the thought of her brother living all eternity with the snails, knick-knacks and skunky potions she would have to vanish in the coming years.
"Yeah, maybe I'll vanish his car. See if he'll get it. Or maybe it'll ka-put and he'll curse me instead."
They laughed and Tiffany felt better, even if it was not the real answer, the thought gave her comfort. She happily tucked into her lunch with gusto, encouraging Harry to eat a little more as well.
A lot of people had come up to her and asked about Tempest. The young thunderbird had made herself a celebrity and left Tiffany to deal with the aftermath. She could barely make it through her first skewer before her friends started shooing people away.
The Weasley twins distracted the majority of the curious lot with a rambunctious rendition of Ron's horror as the thunderbird loomed over Dumbledore. They then coaxed Oliver Wood, Gryffindor's Quidditch Team Captain, to let them spend their next training session seeing if they could get the thunderbird to fetch a quaffle. It was when he looked serious about wanting Tempest as a secret weapon that Tiffany gave them a warning.
"Tempest is a bird of prey and a natural hunter. If you approach her, she'll probably rip your arm from your body. She doesn't even really listen to me either."
With that, Tiffany strode away for her next lesson, Potions. She was very much looking forward to potions.