Introductions
8: Introductions
Willow woke when the curtains to the window across from her bed were pulled open, letting the bright sunlight pour into her designated bedroom. She blinked rapidly and her hands came up to rub at her tired eyes. She looked toward the window but didn’t see who it was that had managed to open the drapery, until she looked down. There was a small creature, no more than two to three feet tall, frail, with big ears and a slightly wrinkled face. It squeaked when it noticed that she was awake and looked down respectfully.
“Dobby is sorry he woke you Miss,” he spoke rapidly in a high pitched voice. “Dobby didn’t mean to. But it’s time for breakfast if you’re hungry…” he offered as he rushed out the door, off to perform his other duties. Willow just sat up in bed for a minute, staring at the spot the…elf…had been standing in before just shaking her head and forcing herself to get up.
She stumbled into the adjoined bathroom, pausing as she took the opportunity to take a good look at her reflection in the mirror. Her face looked gaunt, eyes sunken, dark circles around them, lips dried and a bit cracked. She looked exhausted, felt it too. Trying her best to shake it off, she turned to the bath, surprised when she saw that it was already filled with warm water. Dobby must have done it while she slept. Shrugging her shoulders she slipped out of her pajamas and sunk into the inviting water.
She didn’t waste a lot of time in the bath, she scrubbed up quickly and dried off. She didn’t know if she should be dressing casually, like in jeans, or not. She still had to make a trip to Diagon Alley for a wand and some robes, but that wasn’t for another couple of days yet. Heaving a great sigh she dressed in black jeans and crimson fitted t-shirt and pulled her long red hair into a high ponytail before stepping out into the small hall deep within Gryffindor Tower.
Waiting in the doorway across from hers was Oliver Wood. He too, to her relief, was wearing jeans, dark blue, and a navy shirt. He gave her a tiny smile, sensing her nervousness, and offered her his arm. His gentlemanly gesture caused her to blush involuntarily, but it was so rare when she came across someone as courteous as Mister Wood. She took it and allowed him to escort her down the stairs and to the common room before heading for the Great Hall.
She was still so amazed by her surroundings, taking the time as they walked to look at all the beautiful paintings that graced those halls. Occasionally there would be a portrait that would offer her a hello or good morning and she would merely smile in return.
“Did you sleep well?” Oliver asked politely as they continued down the Grand Staircase.
“Alright, I suppose,” she admitted softly. “The room was lovely, but it’s…you know…unfamiliar.”
“I understand,” he nodded. “This will be like home soon enough, trust me on that,” he assured her. “It’s hard not to fall in love with Hogwarts. I was a bit sad when I graduated two years ago. I never really thought I’d have the chance to come back here, at least not for a long time. I’m kind of glad I was wrong.” She smiled weakly at his reply.
He released her arm when they finally reached the Great Hall. They walked in the aisle between two of the four long tables that usually held the numerous students. Heading for the staff table, Oliver could see Hagrid and Professor McGonagall seated next to each other, alternately eating and talking. He wasn’t surprised to see that they were the only one’s there. Professor Snape rarely voluntarily spent time with anyone, Professor Sprout and Madame Hooch were both early risers, and Professor Flitwick never seemed to bother with breakfast.
“Good morning Professors,” the young Auror greeted with a fond smile at them both. He and Hagrid didn’t spend a lot of time together, but the half giant was a nice man and a good friend to Harry, he was happy that Dumbledore trusted Hagrid enough to make him a teacher. As for Professor McGonagall, she always was his favorite teacher, which may have had something to do with the fact that she was head of Gryffindor and helped him become Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team all those years ago. Whatever the reason, he was glad to see her again.
“Mister Wood,” smiled Minerva as she spotted the young man and the redhead at his side. “And you must be Miss Rosenberg,” she nodded, seeing how uncomfortable and shaky the girl had become. She could understand really. She didn’t know anyone here, was unfamiliar with these surroundings, and was frightened that people would judge her before they even got to know her. With most of the professors that wouldn’t be an issue, but Severus and the students were another question entirely. At least they had a couple months before that even became an issue.
“Uh, yes,” Willow answered tensely. “I’m Miss Rosenberg…um, call me Willow, please,” she requested as the older woman granted her a warm smile.
“Willow…tha’s a pretty name,” mused Hagrid, his wide grin hidden behind his massive beard. “Suits ya, I’d say.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, shuffling her feet awkwardly.
“Come child, sit,” encouraged McGonagall, waving the two over. Oliver took the seat across from Hagrid and Willow slipped in front of McGonagall. While there was quite a bit of food to choose from, the redhead only grabbed a piece of toast and a little fruit; her stomach was tied up in knots and she couldn’t bring herself to eat much.
They all ate in relative silence, Hagrid, Minerva, and Oliver would occasionally talk about the changes that had gone on since he had left and Dumbledore’s continuing search for yet another Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Willow mostly pushed food around on her plate and nodded her head when appropriate.
She heard footsteps approaching but didn’t turn around, only hesitantly looking up at the newcomer when the seat next to hers was pulled out, grating on the floor, and a man in a flurry of black robes sat beside her.
Wary green eyes nearly flinched when her gaze was met by almost completely black eyes. The man, who she assumed was a professor, had somewhat stringy black hair that was just shy of his shoulders. He wore all black, in stark contrast to his pale skin. His lips were set into a thin line and he looked down his hooked nose at her.
“You must be Dumbledore’s newest project,” he drawled with a sneer. She frowned but opened her mouth, intending to tell him her name, or at least attempt a civil greeting, something this man seemed incapable of. “Don’t bother,” he snapped when she went to speak, “I am not here to be your friend and I find exchanging insincere pleasantries pointless, Miss Rosenberg.”
“Severus…” McGonagall said nothing more, just a name, but it halted the dreadful man’s diatribe. Her voice was a command and a warning, as was her accompanying glare. He said nothing, just looked to his fellow professor, holding her gaze for a long moment before nodding almost imperceptibly and focusing on his food.
“Uh…good morning Professor Snape,” said Oliver awkwardly, shifting a bit in his seat. He had no desire to actually have any sort of conversation with the older man, but he still felt it was rude to ignore his arrival, even if he was being a complete prat. He couldn’t help it that was just how his parents raised him.
“Ah, Mister Wood,” said Snape with a derisive chuckle, “I nearly forgot you were there. I have so missed you in my class. There are so few know-it-alls quite like you anymore.”
McGonagall’s sharp cough broke off the rest of Snape’s commentary and he dutifully remained silent. He ate quickly, without acknowledging the presence of the two young people at the table. When finished he stood abruptly and stomped away without a goodbye, not that anyone minded.
“Well, he’s just a ray of sunshine…” Willow mumbled, jumping when she heard the two teachers laughing heartily and Oliver trying to hide a snicker.
“Just ignore Professor Snape,” advised McGonagall with a terse smile. “He’s brilliant with his potions, but he is severely lacking in people skills. Don’t take it personally dear.”
“It’s okay,” the redhead assured the older woman softly. “I’m used to people like that. I’ve dealt with far more frightening things than him.”
“Really now? Like wha’?” wondered Hagrid with obvious interest as he leaned forward slightly in his seat.
“The usual,” she shrugged nonchalantly, trying valiantly not to blush when she noticed that she held all of their attentions. “Vampires, werewolves, demonic snake people, hell gods, myself, that sort of thing.” Hagrid looked absolutely fascinated, and McGonagall merely nodded in understanding. She knew a bit of the girl’s history and this all came as no real shock to her.
Oliver, on the other hand was looking at her incredulously. “That’s the usual?” he stammered in his Scottish brogue, a little tongue tied at her casual mention of such evil creatures.
“On the hell mouth it is,” she replied with a sheepish half smile.
“Ah,” chuckled an amused elderly voice from behind the youngest of the group. Willow and Oliver turned in their seats as Minerva and Hagrid grinned at the older man that was making his way slowly toward them. Hands playing with his long beard absently, Dumbledore smiled up at the Auror and his new charge as he moved to take his seat in the center of the staff table. “Regaling my colleagues with tales from your home, I see? It’s utterly fascinating, wouldn’t you agree Mister Wood?”
“Haven’t really gotten to the interesting stuff,” admitted Willow with a hesitant smile at the genial wizard.
“I wasn’t aware you had returned Headmaster,” commented McGonagall.
“Oh yes, I arrived quite late last night,” he sighed tiredly. “I am afraid my…business trip…did not go as smoothly as planned.”
“I am terribly sorry to hear that,” Minerva frowned, sharing a pointed look with the Headmaster that said they would be talking later, in private.
“No need to dwell on such unpleasant matters,” declared Dumbledore, clapping his hands together and grinning widely at the others. “How are you enjoying your stay so far, Miss Rosenberg? Have you had any problems?”
“No, everything has been fine. And everyone I have met have been nice,” she assured him before pausing, “Well, almost everyone. Professor Snape, was it? He…uh…doesn’t seem to like me very much. Not that I blame him…”
“I find when dealing with Severus, sometimes the only option is to humor him,” whispered Dumbledore conspiratorially. “He won’t always act like that. When the school year begins, he will have to distribute his efforts to antagonize amongst the entire student body.”
Willow couldn’t help but smile at the old wizard, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her focus fell back to her plate and Dumbledore frowned.
“You do not seem to have eaten much,” the elder wizard observed in a fatherly tone. “Are you well?”
“It’s just nerves,” she admitted with a slightly embarrassed shrug. “You know, new people and new places, they make me kind of jumpy. Plus, I’m a little nervous and when I get nervous my voice gets squeaky and my stomach gets tied up into knots, oh, and I babble. A lot. Kind of like how I’m doing now,” she finished, face bright red.
He grinned, something so full of humor and understanding that it put her at ease, although reluctantly. “I’m sure your anxiety will be put to rest quite soon enough, Miss Rosenberg. Have you been informed on how you will be spending your first day at our lovely school?” he wondered as he began piling things onto his plate.
“Um, no,” Willow replied, biting her lip as if worried about his possible reaction. His only response was a twinkle in his eye and a small smirk Oliver’s way.
Clucking his tongue in mock reproach, Dumbledore gave the young Auror a smile. “Remiss in your duties then, Mister Wood?” he chuckled lightly. Oliver looked a bit flushed but he easily returned the Headmaster’s grin, knowing he was only teasing. The older man’s gaze turned again to the redhead, “Do not worry so, child,” he admonished gently as her shoulders slumped. “It was my hope for you to become acquainted with some of your teachers today, nothing more. In a few days time you, Mister Wood, and Professor McGonagall will pay a visit to Diagon Alley and your real lessons will begin after that. Until then, I only wish for you to become more accustomed to your surroundings and more comfortable in the presence of your professors. Perhaps Hagrid would be willing to give you a tour of the grounds?”
The large man nodded fervently, smiling through his bushy beard. “Be a pleasure.”
“Well that’s settled then,” Dumbledore decided with a firm nod. “And after you are finished taking in the sights, Mister Wood will lead you about the castle, introduce you to more of your teachers. May I suggest starting in the dungeons and working your way up? It is easier that way.”
Oliver agreed hesitantly, but did not voice his doubts about the Headmaster’s suggestion. After all, Snape’s classroom was in the dungeons. He just wasn’t sure that Willow’s first real formal introduction to the professors at Hogwarts should be Severus Snape. But who was he to doubt the wisdom of Albus Dumbledore?
“Are you done eatin’ Miss?” Hagrid asked as he pushed his chair back, the wooden legs scraping across the floor loudly. Willow nodded, pushing her plate away from her and licking her dry lips. “Then we best be headin’ out. Lots o’ ground to cover and not a lot o’ time to get it done.”
“Okay,” she acquiesced softly, the two of them standing, Oliver casually excusing himself from the table as well. Hagrid made his way around the table with lumbering footsteps, stopping beside the redhead whom he nearly dwarfed in size.
“It was nice seeing you both this morning Professors,” Oliver offered as he stood, gracing the older pair with a smile. Dumbledore bowed his head.
“It was lovely to see you again, Wood,” McGonagall said brightly. “And I expect to see both of you in my classroom sometime this afternoon,” she added, sharing a small, motherly smile with both him and his charge.
“We’ll be there,” he assured her with a nod. Hagrid offered the older wizards a wave goodbye and led the way down the aisle, Oliver and Willow following only steps behind, the Auror’s hand resting on the small of her back as a small sign of reassurance that she would indeed be fine. The redhead smiled shakily up at him before looking straight ahead once more, watching Hagrid move ahead of them, eager to begin.
Minerva McGonagall watched the trio leave, her expression one of concern. She turned to Dumbledore, who was chewing merrily on his breakfast, looking pleased for some unknown reason. “Do you think she will be all right here, Albus?”
The Headmaster granted her a large grin, the look on his worn face giving her pause. She was used to that expression. It meant he knew something and he wasn’t telling, no matter how persuasive she could be. “Oh, she will be just fine Minerva. Just fine…”
