What Does This Feeling Mean

~~~

Four - Sorting and a Sigh

Cool, salty air filled my lungs as we hit the dock of Hogwarts. The history of this majestic castle glowed all around it, and yet it was still more beautiful than any structure ever built. I quickly found Hagrid, and followed him into the school. We were led through a long arched hallway of breathtaking brilliance, and finally up a length of stairs to wait.

"It's you!"

I turned down to the little voice I heard. The young blonde girl from the train was as cute as can be, smiling at me with huge blue eyes.

"I can't thank you enough for getting my necklace back. My name is Milly Turner. What's your name?"

"My name is Jewel Vablatsky," I replied. "Very nice to meet you Milly."

Milly was the sweetest girl I ever had the pleasure of meeting, and a heart of gold. She told me her mother had been sick her entire life, and had given her that necklace right before she had died. Though Milly knew her mom suffered everyday, they filled the time they had together with as much love as it could hold. This beautiful girl was already wise beyond her years, and was now a friend of mine.

"Hello students."

An aged woman with square glasses made her way to our group with her dark color robes flowing behind her.

"I am Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts."

She proceeded to tell us about the four houses of Hogwarts, points for each house based on the behavior of every student in order to win the house cup at years end, and that we would be taken to the Great Hall for the sorting ceremony. Gathering by the huge doors that led to the hall, she continued.

"Now, once you get sorted into your house, they will become your family. You will join your house table after you have been sorted and wait quietly until the ceremony over. Now, two single file lines please."

Everyone began to find their place when she took a double take at me.

"Oh Jewel, there you are. For a second I thought I was seeing the past! You look so much like Cassie," she cracked a smile, star gazing at a memory that struck herself. "You will go last in the sorting, and we have a seat next to your grandfather for you after you've been sorted and announced. He insisted on being here to see you!"

I thanked her and took my place at the end of the line. The doors opened and I took a deep breath. As much beauty that there was all around me, from the bewitched ceiling, to the sheer magnitude of the hall, some of the first years were so nervous that I couldn't block all of the paranoid thoughts overwhelming them. It finally died down as they approached the front to stare at a small stool with a beat up witch hat upon the seat.

One by one each student became house members of Hogwarts. Milly was sorted into Hufflepuff, happily, and soon it was my turn.

"... and Jewel Vablatsky."

I smiled at my grandfather on the way up to the stool, because his chest was so full of pride that it was beyond obvious. I sat on the chair, took a breath, and the hat was set atop my head. The sorting hat's voice soon spoke in my mind.

'Yes, Vablatsky. My, I've seen this mind before. Strong in value, yet yearning for what one can't have. I know you will do all you can, when your in...'

"Ravenclaw!"

Everyone, especially Ravenclaws, applauded as the sorting ceremony was now over. I stepped to the side with McGonagall as Headmaster Dumbledore stood from his seat to address the school. He welcomed the new students and gave the school rules for the new year. He thanked my grandfather for helping out the year before, and for officially accepting to be the new professor of Advanced Divination for the years to come.

"However," Dumbledore now walked to stand near me. "Because of the recent threat of life as of late, our new Divination professor shall be giving aid to the ministry at the beginning of this term," he said and was now guiding me to the front with a gentle hand on my shoulder. "In his absence he, as well as I, made a request to a very educated person in this field to temporarily take his place."

I was now flushed with absolute embarrassment from this reception. Dumbledore looked at me only now to see that. He smiled and finished.

"This young lady here is Jewel Vablatsky, granddaughter of Professor Vablatsky, and she has accepted that request."

The hall went into a small tail spin of discussion and applause. My largest ovation was from the hands and cheers of Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

"Now," Dumbledore said over the noise of the hall. "Until her grandfather returns, she will be teaching Advanced Divination, and is to be treated as you would any other professor at this school," he said and glanced at the Slytherin table before finishing. "On second thought, maybe some of you shouldn't treat her like the other professors." The hall chuckled knowing the select people he may have been talking about. "Finally, let the feast begin!"

Dumbledore, McGonagall, and I moved to our chairs where I hugged my grandfather who was still beaming at me.

"Ravenclaw! I knew that's where you would be! Many of our family, including your great grandmother were in Ravenclaw, I am so proud!" I attempted to talk, but his bear hug of breathlessness was doing it's job. He set me free with a kiss, and started his meal.

"I'm so glad you decided to come my dear!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed taking a seat next to me. "Your grandfather speaks the world of you, and Cassie, well, it's like I'm looking right at her!"

"You knew Cassie?"

"Of course! She was younger than me, but her abilities were legendary to those who knew her. Such a young family you guys have. I can't believe I'm talking to her great granddaughter! Now, if you need anything while you're here, I will do my best to help anyway I can."

After a little something to eat, the feast was over and my grandfather and I went to where I would be teaching the next day. We walked into the divination classroom on the third floor, and as I requested, the room was decorated with inviting colors of blue, greens, and whites. The reading room I had also asked for sat to the left of the podium in the front of the classroom. From the outside, it looked like a tall, but small square of black curtains that slid to the side as you entered. The inside held a relaxing utopia of two velvet chairs, blue, black, and purple satin at every turn, and the soothing scent of whatever calms the ones who enter. Needless to say, I was pleased.

I departed from my grandfather with the promise of his safe return, and took the staircase to the hall where the Ravenclaw rooms were. Rounding the corner that led to the tower, I was surprised to see Draco standing against the wall near the entrance to the common room.

I looked around at an empty hallway, and proceeded in his direction.

"Waiting for someone?" I asked putting my back to the bit of wall next to him.

"You," he said in an incredibly sexy tone.

Call it the girl in me, but my cheeks glowed with it's interest. I sighed at allowing myself for feel this way.

"I thought you didn't talk to anyone but Slytherins."

"Who told you that?" he asked as though he was going to mutilate the next name that came out of my mouth.

"You kind of did, when you walked with me to the boats. You were looking to make sure nobody saw you in case I wasn't in your house, right?"

"Oh right, the mind thing. As long as your not a Gryffindor."

I started to get another vision. I put my gloved hands to my face in yet another attempt to fight it.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked now standing before me.

I let out a huge breath as I looked into his brilliant eyes, and that made it even worse.

"Nothing," I lied. "I'm sorry, just tired. I'll see you tomorrow."

I smiled and walked the small distance to the painting entrance. I felt Draco's thoughts as he was leaving.

"Draco!" I yelled, getting his attention back. "Please don't think that, because I do. Quite a lot actually."

A now satisfied smirk grew on his face, and he continued walking until he disappeared around the corner.

I entered the common room and was met by a Ravenclaw prefect.

George Johansen, a very talkative prefect, but nice none the less, showed me to my room. Dumbledore had insisted that I received my own room because of the need for 'healthy separation between professor and student'. I didn't argue, and even offered to give it up when I became a student, but he didn't deem it necessary.

I walked into my room that was surrounded with the beautiful blues of Ravenclaw. I got dressed into a tank top and shorts, took off my gloves, and crawled into my very comfortable bed.

Drifting to sleep, I could only think about the stupid vision I got. A very detailed look at Draco kissing yet another girl. I smacked my forehead in anger for having these images. How am I supposed to fall in love and start a family if these visions keep drowning me? I thought of Draco walking away from me in the hall and smiled. If he only knew what happens to me, then he wouldn't think that I didn't like him.


TBC...