A/N so I decided than any extra chapters I write will be just-in-case I forget to write a week. 

What is a sea with no water? The question comes quietly, in a soft, icy voice.

"Hills?" Someone guesses. "Because they're like waves?"

"Or maybe, like, the Grand Canyon. Because the rocks look like waves." This time it's a new boy who suggests it.

"Or maybe it's a metaphor, like 'a sea of smiling faces' or 'a sea of red," Julia, my new friend, says.

Whatever the answer is, the door swings open.

The common room is incredible. It's a large, dome-like building with graceful, arching windows. It looks delicate, almost, but commanding, powerful. Like a subtle knife.

A carpet, dark as night with little, twinkling lights is reflected onto the celling. It gives the impression of mystery.

Tables draped in blue, plush navy chairs and a lounge day-bed covered in thin curtains near the corner adorns the large room. Bronze and blue, that seems to be the color scheme. 

Karla and I find our way to our room with only a little difficulty. Two other people, girls, are already there and unpacking. One of them sports green glasses, dark, slightly oily hair, and a skin color just a shade or two darker than my stepmom's. The other is so pale, I think she must be albino. My thoughts are confirmed when she brings her head fully in view. Her hair is platinum blonde, almost white. A faded purple streak hangs over her face, partially covering her sharp gray eyes. Glasses are deposited into a drawer, along with packs of contacts. Her glasses are purple like her hair streak, but less faded, of course.

"Hi," she says quietly. The other one doesn't say anything at all, just stares with eyes that are made smaller by her thick green glasses.

"Hi," I chirp, trying to ignore the awkward. "My name's Silver."

Karla waves, smiling nervously. "Hi guys! Um."

Silence settles over us until I try, "What are your names?"

"Eli," the albino girl says. The darker skinned one, who I'm pretty sure is Indian, tells us her name is Diya. 

"My name is Silver, and my friend's name is Karla." I jab a thumb towards her.

The silence is a little lighter, less foreign. When Karla and I start unpacking, I don't feel quite as staid.

Still, when the lights went out and I climbed in bed, I couldn't shake the nervous feeling that I didn't really belong here in London.

//

In Hogwarts, there are exactly one hundred and fourty two staircases. And they moved. And some of them, when stepped on, turned to air. Others sucked onto your foot and refused to release you until someone helped you out.

In short? I'm lost. Is it really a suprise?

And guess who I just bumped into on my quest to find my class.

"Are you lost?" Nox smirks.

"No," I snap sullenly. "I'm not. You are."

Nox snatches my schedule from my hands. "Potions class? First period?" His face takes on a look of disgust. "You're kidding."

I peek at his schedule. "I wish." Would you look at that- same class.

I grab my schedule from his grimy  fingers. "And while I know you can't get enough of me, don't touch my stuff, Gryffindor."

He sneers. "Don't worry, Ravenclaw. I wouldn't touch you if you were the last girl on earth."

I bark a laugh. "Last girl on earth? Original. Really original."

I shout after a ghost. "Excuse me,  ghost? Do you know where potions is?"

The ghost turns around. He looks annoyed. "My name," he says, "is Nick."

"Nick, please show me the way to potions." I'm desperate.

He sighs, mutters something about new years, and gestures me to follow him. 

Nox follows at a distance. I roll my eyes at him and he scowls.

//

Potions class is in a dark dungeon. Our professor is saying something about mixtures and...

He turns around with an intense look and I freeze. Oh my god oh my god am I in trouble????

Nox moves slightly in front of me. I kick him in the ankle and shoot him a what-the-heck look. Nox blinks and moves away, wincing slightly.

Our professor is tall, with a sort of no-nonsense aura around him. I'm impressed and scared- I've never been great with authority.

"You're late," he says carefully. His words fill the room, larger than life. The class is silent.

"I'm sorry," I blurt, panicked. I try to slow my breathing. His gaze slides to Nox. "Take a seat," he says cooly. That's it- take a seat. I'm half relieved, half sure I'm about to get a detention- but I have a feeling that while this man is no-nonsense, he's still reasonable.

I slide into the front row, the only seat still empty. Nox sits two seats away. I glare at him like it's his fault we're late.

"As I was saying," the professor says, (I glance at my schedule- Professor Draekon), "In terms of dress code..."

//

It's official. I hate potions.

Of course, I would never dare say that to Professor Draekon's face. He terrifies me. It's the kind of class I can see myself crying in. Not that I will, because, you know... Nox.

Charms was ok, as was herbology. History was a little confusing, but if I study I'm sure I'll do well.

The worst part, though, is that Nox is in three of my classes- potions, defense against the dark arts, and herbology.

Three. Three of my classes.

And every single time I messed anything up (which was only once, when I dropped my quill from note-taking, but still...) he shot me a smug look. 

Something tells me that he holds a grudge.

"He's so annoying," I hiss to Karla, fiddling with my blue friendship bracelet. I wonder if I could write to...

"I don't know, he seemed kind of nice?"

My jaw drops and I glare at her. "You're supposed to be on my side! I'm your friend!"

Karla's hands shoot up, the universal surrender sign. "I know, I just feel like you're reading a little too much into this. You've been complaining for the last..." she glances at her watch. "Fifteen minutes. Talking about Nox." Her eyebrows wiggle suggestively. 

I hit her arm, but gently. We reach the entrance, and that cool voice speaks to us. I've figured out that these riddle things don't have a definite answer, but they just want you to give a answer that is creative, I suppose, and is correct depending on perspective.

Julia explained that to me after I tried to find a logical answer and ended up having to wait for someone to open the door for me.

What is a road never walked upon?

"The road of love?" I guess. "Road of life?"

"Road to nowhere?" Karla adds.

The door creaks open, and we slip into the common room. It's still stunning, the stars and the night sky above us, but I'm not struck by the familiar desire to stand and stare for an hour or two.

Homework, I remind myself. Karla and I have two classes together, charms and transfiguration. I set down my book bag. Eli, our roommate, is recognizable even in the slightly crowded common room, and I wave. She hesitantly comes over. "Hi?" It sounds like a question. I stare at her eyes. Is she wearing contacts? I think so. There's a thin line...

Contacts creep me out. Not on other people, but imagining putting them on... I couldn't, and I'm impressed. Really.

"Want to do homework together?" I offer. Karla glances at me before offering a hesitant Eli and grin.

Eli shrugs and nods. "Sure." That faded purple streak falls behind her ear back into her face.

I glance back into my book bag, feeling a quiet thrill. Homework. Something to make me feel somewhat productive.