Chapter 2

In the previous world when she transmigrated it took time before the memories of the original “Grace” came to her. This time, even though the environment was different from what she expected, she can feel that this her own world, the world where her family exist.

She cried her heart out silently, letting go of all herself.

She cried and cried until Lavender Brown, open her curtain bed out of worry. “Grace, are you all right?”

“… mm,” Grace hummed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“ You’re crying a lot,” Lavender said with certainty, sitting down beside her. “ Did something bad happen?”

“ Just.. a nightmare,” Grace mumbled, still sniffling. “ I’ll be fine in a bit.”

Lavender nodded and patted her back. “ Okay, but if you need to talk, I’m here. We’re roommates, after all.”

Grace smile and nodded,” I’m fine now, thank you,”

As expected not too long, all the memories came to her. She saw how “Grace” just like her became introverted after waking up not understanding their own language. She can feel the sadness, anxiety, joy, helplessness, with those feeling she can tell that maybe.. “Grace” is herself in another world

Grace knew the “Grace” who occupied her body had worked hard just like her especially in magic, maybe just like her, she also wants to go back and be with her family so even after being sorted into Gryffindor, she acts like a Ravenclaw. She wasn’t as brilliant as Hermione, their roommate, but she was still considered intelligent.

The next morning, Grace woke up early, she quickly adjusted to her surrounding maybe because this is her own world, she felt more relax than ever before.

She headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, she picked up some toast and eggs, eating slowly and observed. She can feel a familiarity of this place especially when she saw in her memory that she have a roommate named Hermione, the name sounds familiar not because of the memories, but somehow she felt that she had seen it somewhere before in the previous world.

After some digging in her memory, her face became unreadable, she lightly bite her lower lips while frowning, then she sighed, as if she finally give up.

‘ I’m definitely gonna write my life story sooner or later. What do you mean after transmigrating to the 21st century and coming back to my original world and timeline, I’ll find out that I’m actually living in a book’s world? A Harry Potter where every school year something’s bound to happen. ‘

Sitting at the Great Hall, looking at the four houses, she couldn’t help but sigh again. Somehow she wanted to just drop out of school and live a normal life with her family. ‘ Does my life have to be this complicated? Although I know that Harry Potter and the others will manage to defeat the villains, it’s still a different story when you’re in it than just watching it. Ugh.. ‘

Grace felt hopeless, dropping out of school sounded like a good idea, but knowing there was danger, she had no other choice but to get back to her usual pace and study because she remembered that even muggles might face danger because of the villain. ‘ I just got back, how won’t let something happens to myself or to my family ‘

She picked some bacon and started eating while sorting her thoughts. She didn’t remember much about Harry Potter as she’s not a fan, she’d just been dragged along by her friend before, which she was thankful for, she actually wish that she should just read the novel itself because there’s more details in there than in movies

As she thought about what she needed to do from what little she remembered of the Harry Potter Series there would be Dementors around the school this year and a prisoner named Sirius Black on the run which turn out to be Harry’s godfather.

‘ Now, I definitely need to learn magic,’ she thought, ‘ like the Patronus Charm to fight Dementors, and Occlumency to keep my mind safe from Legilimency ,’
She pulled out a small notebook and started writing down spells to study.

September 1st, the Great Hall was exactly as she’d seen from the movie, lit by thousands of floating candles, with the ceiling showing the night sky outside.

Students filled the hall, their faces a mix of excitement and nervousness. Professor McGonagall called out each first-year’s name one by one, and the Sorting Hat shouted out their houses to cheers from the tables.

Grace watched from the Gryffindor table, her eyes moving across the room. She saw Malfoy at the Slytherin table, Luna at Ravenclaw, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione talking together at Gryffindor which just beside her. She felt like she was watching a play from the front row, even though she knew she was part of this world from the very beginning.

Later, at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall

“Of course, that’s why he knew to give you the chocolate, Harry.” Grace heard Hermione says those words beside her as response to Dumbledore’s introduction as Professor Lupin will be the new professor

“Potter. Potter! Is it true you fainted? I mean, you actually fainted?” Malfoy mocked Harry while his friends imitates how Harry fainted

Ron defended his friend,”Shove off, Malfoy!”

“How did he find out?” Harry whispered

” Just forget about it,” Hermione said while looking at Malfoy’s direction

Grace listen as if secretly watching them, she can’t help but sigh when
Hermione suddenly tapped her shoulder gently. “You’ve been sighing for a while now.”

“ ah? sorry,” Grace said, “ I was just thinking.”

“ It’s better to eat first before worrying,” Hermione said firmly, pushing a plate of potatoes toward her. “You haven’t had much, you need to eat so you have the energy to think.”

“Thanks, Hermione,” Grace said, smiling. “You’re right.”

Hermione nodded and turned back to Harry and Ron. “ Have you two looked at your schedules for tomorrow?”

“We’ve got Transfiguration first,” Ron said, mouth full of chicken.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Ron!” Hermione said sharply, making Ron swallow quickly.

*

On their way to their dorm, Ron steals a glance at Grace who’s walking at the front. Then he whispers to Harry and Hermione, “Don’t you think Grace is acting weird?”

“What do you mean, Ron?” Harry asked

“I saw it! She was watching us at the table earlier,” Ron whispered excitedly.

Harry smiles wryly. “Maybe she’s just curious?”

“About what?” Ron asked, a little puzzled.

“Of course about Harry – she might have heard about what happened to him at the train station,” Hermione answered. “But I think it’s not a big deal, at least she didn’t bring it up.”

“That’s right, Ron,” Harry said, then added, “Also, I think she’s not that curious about me, because she never came close to us or talked to me, even in our first year when we happen to sit next to each other she didn’t even look at my scar.”

“I remember that she usually goes to the library and rarely talks to anyone.” Hermione added

“But–” Ron scratches his red hair as he doesn’t know the right words. “The way she looks at us and at everyone feels a little weird…”

Hermione can’t help but roll her eyes at Ron. Harry smiles at Hermione and shakes his head, then pats Ron’s shoulder. “So, what’s weird? Describe how you felt when she looked at us.”

“It’s like… we’re some kind of strangers to her? We already know each other, though we’re really not close. But we’ve been in the same house for years now, that feeling…”

Hermione sighs. “Is it like detached?”

“That’s right!” Ron said excitedly.

“So you’ve been watching her because of that?” Harry asked, with a different meaning to his smile.

“Yes!”

“Give up, Ron, better focus on your studies,” Hermione said, then quickly went to the girls’ dorm.” You say she’s watching us but obviously it’s you who had been watching her,”

Ron was dumbfounded. He turned to look at Harry with confusion.

“Ron, if you like her just say so, I’ll definitely help you.” Harry patted him, then laughed as he ran to their dorm.