Gaia woke up earlier than anyone in her dorm the next day. She'd gotten up at exactly 6:02 in the morning, finding herself much too excited to go back to sleep. She gathered up her clothes and toiletries before stepping into the shower.

As she was putting on the rest of her uniform, Jewel stirred from her sleep and looked over at Gaia.

"What time is it?" Jewel mumbled.

"6:20, I think," Gaia replied.

Jewel made a noise of acknowledgement before turning over and going back to sleep. Gaia stood once she was finished dressing and pulled back the curtain that acted as a door for the dormitories. She leaned against the railing of the staircase and gazed down at a model of the sun and the planets found in the middle of the room, just above the bookshelves on the ground.

She made her way down to the bottom of the staircase and ran her fingers along the spine of the books. She hummed quietly to herself as her eyes skimmed through the titles of the books that seemed to be arranged in alphabetical order.

"Try this one." A hand appeared from beside her as it pulled out one of the books.

She turned around to see a boy with light brown hair, wearing glasses.

"It's fantastic," the boy said with a cheeky smile.

Gaia looked down and barked out a laugh when she read the title of the book – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

"I've never been into creatures, but it wouldn't hurt to try," Gaia replied, taking the book from the boy and sitting down on one of the chairs, "I'm Gaia."

"My name's Kaleb Prynt," he said as he sat down on a chair across from her.

"You're a first year too, right? I think I heard your name during the sorting."

"Yeah, I am," Kaleb answered, "So if you're not into creatures, then what do you enjoy?"

✧✧✧

The two found themselves still talking roughly an hour later. Some people had started coming down from the dorms and making their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Sounds fun, but maybe I'll stick to the ground where my arse can't fall from a broom several feet from the ground," Kaleb had said after Gaia finished explaining what Quidditch was.

"Oh, it is fun. Muggles are really missing out on it. It's exhilarating to fly on a broom," Gaia answered. Kaleb shrugged as he skimmed the book about creatures absentmindedly.

"Yeah, well, growing up as a muggle gives you a very different perspective," he said.

Gaia looked up at the familiar voice of Jewel coming down the stairs, along with their two other dormmates.

One of the girls was Desiree Walsh. She was quite an energetic girl, but she was quiet when she first entered the dorm. Her brown hair fell down straight up to her shoulders. She was around the same height as Gaia, who was an average height for their age.

The other girl was Amanda Jackson. Unlike Desiree, she was relatively quiet all the time, answering or giving her opinions only occasionally – but, she had a scary glare. She had extremely curly hair (Jewel had tried touching it, only to receive a glare and a warning not to) that went down just past her shoulders – it was similar to Lee's hair, Gaia noted. Amanda was slightly taller than her, standing at 4'11".

"Hey Gaia!" Jewel greeted when they had reached the bottom of the stairs, the other two continuing on walking, "Let's go get breakfast?"

"Yeah," Gaia answered, inserting the book into her bag and standing up, "Kaleb, wanna join us?"

"I'm still waiting for my friends, thanks though," Kaleb said with a shake of his head.

"See you around, then."

✧✧✧

"Why does our common room have to be all the way on the other side of the castle?" Gaia grumbled as they sat in the Great Hall eating breakfast.

"Starting to have regrets about Ravenclaw, Gaia?" Fred plopped down to the right of Gaia and grinned at her, "Shame you weren't sorted into Gryffindor instead."

"As if our common room's any better." Not even a second later, George had taken the seat on the other side of Gaia, "It's all the way at the top of the staircases!"

"Difference between us is that the staircase leading up to your common room is literally next to the Great Hall," Gaia scoffed.

"It's still a long way up!" George insisted.

"Yeah, well ours is a long way up and a long way away from the Great Hall," Jewel added, biting into her breakfast. The twins only glanced at Jewel before giving Gaia a questioning look.

"Right. Fred, George, this is Jewel Ernois," Gaia said, hurrying to introduce the twins before they could try to pull their switching act on Jewel, "And this is Fred and George Weasley."

Jewel gave the twins a grin as she continued eating.

"Boys, back to your tables. I'm sure Professor McGonagall's looking to give your timetables," Professor Flitwick said, before directing his attention to the two girls, "And here are your timetables." He handed them two pieces of parchment before walking off to another group of Ravenclaws.

"You heard him, you should go to McGonagall," Gaia said.

"So quick to get rid of us, Gaia." Fred put a hand against his chest in mock hurt as George pretended to sob.

"Thought we meant more to you than that," George said.

Despite their antics, Gaia could see the smiles attempting to break through their fake sobs. She rolled her eyes playfully and shoved them off the bench.

"Alright, alright!" Fred said.

"Such a violent Ravenclaw," George commented, as they both stood up.

Gaia watched as they walked off to their table after a goodbye, the pair of brothers laughing every now and then. I never did tell Fred my bet about the house cup, Gaia thought to herself.

✧✧✧

The first subject on their timetable was one Gaia and Jewel shared – Transfiguration.

"I'm surprised we didn't get lost," Gaia commented as they entered the empty classroom.

"And you insisted that we leave breakfast early because it'll take us half an hour to find it," Jewel replied with a teasing smile.

Gaia looked around the classroom whilst Jewel got settled into her seat. The classroom itself was quite bare, only containing the students' desks, the teacher's desk, two blackboards, and what seemed like two globes beside the teacher's desk. By the door there were bookshelves with glass panels to protect the books.

The arrangement of the classroom was beautiful, she thought. Even the cat walking entering through the door was a nice to- a cat? Gaia had to do a double take when she spotted a cat strolling in through the door, stopping when it met her eyes.

"Jewel?" Gaia called. Jewel hummed in question as she turned to face her friend. "Is there really a cat in the classroom?"

Jewel's eyes drifted to the cat.

"Maybe it's one of the student's?" she replied.

The cat stared at them for a few moments before continuing its way to the teacher's desk. It took a seat on the table, it's back straight and stiff as a board.

"Did the cat just," Gaia exhaled sharply, "wink at us?"

"I think it did." Jewel was staring at the cat with the same amount of confusion.

Soon, more students started piling into the classroom, the cat never leaving its place. It seemed to stare at each and every student entering the classroom, analyzing them. Maybe I'm just imagining it, Gaia thought. But judging by the look on the other students' faces, they were observing the same thing.

Finally tearing her eyes away from the cat, Gaia noticed that the students in the classroom were a mix of all the houses. In fact, two familiar redheads sat at the middle row, whispering to each other as they continuously glanced at the cat. Suddenly, the two were gasping as identical grins formed on their faces. She turned back to the front and gaped when she was greeted by the sight of Professor McGonagall.

"Where'd she come from?" Gaia asked, shock making her voice louder than she intended.

"She was the cat!" Jewel said, her voice breathy. Gaia's eyes widened as they snapped back to her professor, a light shade of yellow bleeding into her hair.

"An animagus!" she breathed out in excitement.

"Good morning everyone," Professor McGonagall said with a small smile as the students stared at her in shock, "Now, can anyone tell me how I was able to do that just moments ago?" Gaia's hand shot up immediately. "Yes, Ms. Eruditus?"

"You're an animagus, professor" Gaia answered.

"Very good, 5 points to Ravenclaw. That reminds me, please stay after class. I have something to discuss with you. Anyway, an animagus is a form of transfiguration but unfortunately, you won't be learning that: especially in your first year."

Gaia tuned out most of the lecture as she thought about what Professor McGonagall could possibly want to talk to her about. Had she already done something worthy of a punishment? Fred and George kept making faces at her whenever she glanced back, which she was thankful for the distraction.

When the class ended, Gaia stayed seated as Jewel patted her shoulder in an attempt to soothe her nerves. Professor McGonagall approached her, and Gaia scanned her teacher's face for any hint of what she had done.

"Stop worrying, it's nothing bad. It's concerning your being metamorphmagus," Professor McGonagall explained. Gaia couldn't prevent the sigh of relief that she let out as her body untensed and her hair reverted back from the grey color it took on. "It's not common that we have a student with such a gift, seeing as it is rare among wizard-kind in general."

"Am I in trouble for being one?" Deep inside, Gaia feared the answer.

"Of course not. I will be aiding you in controlling your hair changing color. However, I cannot help you any further than that as I am not one myself," Professor McGonagall explained, "But, I do believe you're already acquainted with Ms. Tonks from Hufflepuff. She may be able to help you further."

"Thank you, professor!" Gaia grinned.

"Off you go to your next class, then. I believe you still have a few minutes before you're marked late."

✧✧✧

Her next class had been History of Magic. Now, Gaia already knew that History was never her strong suit, but their teacher really took her dislike for the subject to a whole other level.

Their class was taught by a ghost, named Professor Binns, who went straight into a lecture about some war that most students had slept through – including Gaia. She'd tried to stay awake, of course, but there really was no competing with sleep when the background noise was the voice of Professor Binns. Fortunately, Kaleb was kind enough to offer his notes to her (he had managed to stay awake the whole lesson, for some reason).

Her next class, however, was one she had been looking forward to – Potions class.

Gaia entered the Potions classroom with her hair in a blue-grey (tired) color, still yawning from her nap in History of Magic.

"Gaia!" Jewel called, making Gaia's head snap up. Jewel was sitting beside George at a table near the back. She made her way towards them and plopped down on a chair, immediately letting her head hit the table.

"Wow. You look horrid," George commented.

"Real charmer, aren't you George?" Gaia lifted her head up slightly and glanced around, "Where's Fred?"

"Had Defense Against the Dark Arts and I didn't."

As if planned, Fred entered the classroom just as George finished talking and sat down on the empty seat beside Gaia.

"Hey Fred," Gaia yawned.

"What's got you so tired?" Fred asked.

"History of Magic. Have you had it? Because believe me, that subj-"

The door slammed opened, capturing the attention of all the students in the classroom. A man with long, black hair walked in, his robes billowing behind him as he made his was to the teacher's desk. He introduced himself as Professor Snape before getting into a long speech about how delicate and precise the art of potion making was.

All in all, Gaia was no-doubt excited for the class. The only time her mood went down was when she realized how incredibly biased he was towards Slytherin.

"I don't think I like him very much," Gaia whispered to Fred, just after their professor took points from Gryffindor for a student whispering to his friend (it was Kaleb and a Gryffindor). He chuckled silently and agreed.

"Do you have something to share, miss..?" Professor Snape asked as he directed his attention to Gaia and Fred. Gaia gave him a sweet smile as she shook her head.

"Eruditus, professor."

He let his gaze linger on her for longer before turning back to the rest of the class.

"Today you will be attempting to brew a cure for boils, in pairs," the professor drawled. Gaia grinned as she turned towards Fred, yellow already halfway down her hair, "And no, you will not be partnered with whoever you are next to. I've taken the liberty to choose your partners for you."

Gaia frowned as her hair dulled in color, but waited excitedly nonetheless as he called out the pairs. Hopefully it'll be someone I already know, she thought, perhaps Kaleb.

"Eruditus and Frias."

Gaia looked around excitedly for her partner and spotted a familiar girl heading her way. Her excitement turned sour as black took over the happy color of her hair.

"Ms. Eruditus, get that hair of yours under control," Professor Snape snapped before continuing to read the pairs.

"Oh, it's you again" Frias sneered.

"Trust me, I don't enjoy this anymore than you do," Gaia scoffed, shaking her head in attempt to revert her hair back to its natural color.

"The recipe is written here on the board. Once you've finished, bottle up a sample in a small vial and place it on my desk with your names on it. Begin now."

Gaia let her eyes scan through the ingredients written on the board before standing up and making her way to the shelves of ingredients. She glanced back to see that Malia had gone to collect the tools they'd be using. At least she knows how to work efficiently, Gaia thought.

Much to Gaia's surprise, the pair worked around each other perfectly in sync. Gaia suspected that Frias also had a particular fondness for Potions. In fact, they worked so well that they were the first pair to be done. The pink smoke of the finished potion rose from their cauldron as Frias bottled up a sample to place on the teacher's desk. Meanwhile, Gaia cleaned up their workspace and returned most of the tools they used.

"You're good at Potions," the Slytherin commented as she piled up the remaining tools on the desk and returned them to the shelves.

"I could say the same for you. You've brewed potions before?" Gaia asked.

"No, my parents never let me. I did read books, though."

A long silence settled over them as they observed the rest of their classmates finish up their own potions. Gaia flinched slightly when she spotted Jewel and her partner, who just added the wrong ingredient.

"My name's Malia, by the way."

Gaia looked over to her partner and saw her looking away from her, towards one of the Slytherin pairs. She let a small smile stretch on her face.

"I'm Gaia."

✧✧✧

Edited 09/06/2020