Gaia plopped down in between Fred and George at the Gryffindor table during lunch one day, a tired sigh leaving her lips. Lee looked up briefly from his parchment before continuing to scribble on it.

"You alright?" Fred asked, adjusting slightly as Gaia rested her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, just tired," Gaia huffed out.

"Where's Jewel?" George looked around for the blonde that was usually with her.

"She's with some friends she met during free period. You three don't mind if I sit here, d'you?" Gaia raised her head slightly.

"'Course we don't. We're just wondering since you two are usually together," George answered.

"Have you two done the assignment for Potions?" Gaia asked, straightening up and piling some food onto her plate.

"Haven't finished it, but I'm nearly there," George said.

"Not even halfway through it," Fred commented.

"I could help you two if you need it?" Gaia offered, "You too, Lee."

"We'd like the help," Fred said.

"I'm almost done with mine," Lee gestured to the parchment on the table in front of him, "But I would appreciate you reading over it."

"Yeah, I'll take a look later."

It was still relatively quiet in the Great Hall. It seemed as though not everyone was having lunch yet, Gaia noted. She could see some of the older students only just entering the hall, while others were already finished eating. Soon enough, though, the hall was buzzing with the light laughter and muffle conversations of the students, creating a cozy atmosphere for Gaia – an atmosphere that was suddenly ruined by multiple screams and barking laughter.

Looking around, Gaia was met with a sea of color – specifically, neon colors. The Gryffindors were sporting neon green hair, the Ravenclaws with neon yellow, the Hufflepuffs with a blindingly bright blue, and the Slytherins with an obnoxious hot red.

"Did you two do this?" Gaia grinned as she raised up a strand of her hair to take a closer look.

"Our dear Gaia," Fred started.

"-we're quite offended that you'd ask us first." Despite their answer, the identical grins on both their faces was enough to answer her question.

"Did you have to include everyone? I look horrid with green hair, much less neon!" Lee complained as he tugged lightly at his hair.

"Relax, Lee. It's not that bad, you look fine!" Gaia laughed.

"Easy for you to say! Your hair always changes color!" he answered.

Gaia looked around at the students who were still causing quite a ruckus over their hair. Most, if not all, of the Slytherins had scowls on their faces, looking around to try and figure out who was behind the act. Gryffindor looked nearly the same, though some were only laughing. Ravenclaw had a handful of students who were complaining, but the rest seemed to disregard it. Hufflepuff was probably the calmest of the four houses. They were either just grumbling to themselves, laughing, or just not minding what had happened at all.

"Detention, Mr. Weasleys!" a voice boomed through the hall.

Immediately, the hall fell silent, all head turning to the teachers' table. Gaia couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her when she beheld all of her teachers (yes, including Professor Snape) sporting hot pink hair. Professor Dumbledore looked at the twins with amusement despite giving them detention.

"How did you two even manage to do this? And how long will it last?" Gaia asked, calming down from her laughter and turning to take a bite out of the steak on her plate.

"We can't tell you that, m'lady! Pranksters never reveal their secrets" Fred grinned before drinking out of his goblet.

"But it'll only last a day" George added.

"Well, I am most certainly impressed, good sirs," Gaia mocked with a laugh, "Seriously, though! Even I can't change my hair back!"

Though I'm not complaining, Gaia thought. She always has enjoyed her hair in yellow.

✧✧✧

Gaia made her way to the library once lunch was done, free period being the next thing listed in her timetable for the day.

What to do? She was already done with the assignments, and she wasn't particularly in the mood to do some advanced reading for their next classes. Perhaps the library had muggle books, she thought. She'd always found their fiction interesting, particularly romance novels – though even she would admit, the stories could be cliché and the characters were often infuriating. Still, they had a certain charm that always prompted Gaia to keep reading more.

She was snapped out of her thoughts as soon as she entered the library, neon yellow and neon green grabbing her attention. She recognized them as Kaleb and the boy he was usually talking to in Potions. The pair seemed to be arguing over something.

"Hey Kaleb," Gaia greeted once she'd approached them.

"Gaia!" Kaleb turned around to face her, "Free period?"

"Yeah, and Jewel's got class," Gaia answered.

"You can hang with us then. Oh, this is-"

"Nicholas Claude Pyrus, first year Gryffindor. Call me Cole," he said with a charming smile.

"Galadria Lorena Eruditus, first year Ravenclaw." Gaia bowed mockingly as she grinned at him, "Call me Gaia."

Cole laughed at her antics before shaking his head, "I think I'll call you Ria."

"So, what're you two even doing?" Gaia asked.

"We were about to explore the castle, actually," Kaleb replied, turning back to the shelves that seemed to have rolled up pieces of parchment.

"Are those maps?" Gaia pulled one off the shelves and unrolled it to reveal a rough map of Hogwarts.

"Kaleb insisted on looking for a map here. I said it'd be more fun to explore blindly," Cole huffed, looking pointedly at Kaleb.

"And end up in one of the forbidden floors? I'd rather not lose house points during the first month of classes, thanks. It's better to know where you're going first," Kaleb retorted, unrolling another piece of parchment. He rolled it back up and shoved it back into the shelves.

"Typical Ravenclaw, uptight little smart-arse," Cole mumbled, though her crouched down in front of one of the lower shelves and started looking as well.

The two seemed very close, Gaia observed. She watched on with amusement as the two kept throwing harmless little insults at each other. Perhaps they knew each other before starting Hogwarts?

"I've known him since we were children. We're both muggle-born," Cole spoke up.

"What?" Gaia stared at Cole in confusion, wondering how he knew what she was thinking.

"You were thinking out loud." Cole laughed.

"Sorry," Gaia said with a sheepish grin.

Cole suddenly gaped at her before pointing at her hair.

"Woah, your roots turned violet!"

"Really?" Gaia turned to one of the library windows to try and see herself. There was about an inch of violet seeping from her roots, but whatever the twins did was preventing it from spreading to the rest of her hair.

"How's it doing that?" Cole asked, bringing his hand up to touch where her hair changed color.

"I'm a metamorphmagus. I can change my appearance, basically. My hair usually changes color based on my emotions."

"Wicked." Cole grinned, watching as the violet started to fade from her hair.

"I found one!" Kaleb exclaimed, showing them the map.

"You know, we probably could've just asked Madam Pince. She'd for sure know where the map was," Gaia said.

"Shut up."

"What he means is, he didn't think of that."

✧✧✧

The rest of the school year seemed to pass like a blur and next thing anyone knew, they were already having their last breakfast at Hogwarts as first years.

"Hard to believe we're going home today," Fred commented as he shoveled food into his mouth.

"Hard to believe neither of you were expelled," Gaia shot back, covering her smirk by taking a bite into a breadstick.

"Whatever do you mean, our dear Galadria?" George asked with a grin.

"Considering the amount of trouble you've caused the teachers, they should've sent you home the first week," Gaia said.

"I'm more surprised that they actually got decent grades," Lee chimed in, laughing at the offended expression on the twins' faces as Gaia nodded in agreement.

"We'll have you two know-" Fred started.

"-we actually care about our grades!" George finished.

"Right," Gaia snorted.

✧✧✧

The Hogwarts Express arrived at King's Cross Station at exactly 12:00 that very same day. Gaia stood on the platform with Jewel as they said their goodbyes.

"I'll miss you," Gaia said as she wrapped Jewel in a tight hug.

"I'll miss you too. Promise you'll write to me?" Jewel asked.

"As much as I can," Gaia answered.

They pulled back from the hug and Jewel walked away to where her parents were waiting for her near a pillar.

"Jewel already left?"

Gaia grinned and immediately wrapped them in a hug as yellow seeped into her hair.

"I'll miss you both as well," Gaia mumbled.

"Don't worry, Gaia!" Fred wrapped his arms around her in a tighter hold, "We'll send you lots of jokes!"

"Have a great summer." George grinned as he copied his brother's actions.

Gaia waved at them as they walked towards a group of redheads a few ways away. Then, a smaller figure slammed into her.

"Gaia! I missed you!" Lele Eruditus squealed as she hugged her sister tightly.

"I missed you too!" Gaia grinned as she crouched down slightly.

Mr. and Mrs. Eruditus came up behind Lele, smiling at the interaction between their daughters.

"How was your first year?" Mr. Eruditus grinned, pressing a kiss to Gaia's temple.

"Had fun?" Mrs. Eruditus asked.

"It was amazing! Just like you told me, dad."

So, the family left Platform 9 ¾ as Gaia retold them stories of what happened in her first year and the friends she met at Hogwarts.

✧✧✧

Edited 09/06/2020