With Madam Pomfrey's earnest instructions to "ensure sufficient sleep, avoid anxiety and stress, and maintain balanced meals," Orli hastily bid farewell to the hospital wing and rushed toward the Great Hall.
Having missed last night's dinner, she didn't want to miss her first breakfast at school. Besides, she felt hungry enough to devour an entire cow.
"Hey! Orli, over here!" Harry and Ron spotted Orli as soon as she entered the hall, waving at her. Orli glanced at the two sitting close together, then at Hermione sitting alone on the other side, and finally chose to sit beside Hermione.
The famous trio was far from forming - that wouldn't happen until they tackled the troll together. For now, Ron and Hermione still couldn't stand each other, leaving Hermione somewhat isolated.
"Are you feeling better?" Hermione started to reach out to feel Orli's forehead but remembered she'd just handled a pasty and lowered her hand. "You didn't return to the dormitory last night. Professor McGonagall said you were taken to the hospital wing."
"Much better now, my headache's gone," Orli smiled, following suit by grabbing a pumpkin pasty and taking a hearty bite.
"That Professor Snape must have something wrong with him," Ron couldn't help interjecting from across the table. "Yesterday, just one look from him made Harry's scar hurt, and Orli fainted... Tell me, Orli, did you faint from the headache or because Snape terrified you?"
Ron sprayed pasty crumbs while peering at Orli intently, as if trying to read something from her face.
"Shut up, Ron. Orli started having headaches on the train, and you know it," Hermione lifted her chin, defending her friend.
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Ron rolled his eyes, looked away, and started whispering something to Harry.
The Weasley twins eagerly offered their own insights:
"He might have cursed both Harry and Orli. I'd be careful in Potions class if I were you..." George said with mock despair.
"It's absolutely the hell of Hogwarts," Fred added.
"Um... actually, I don't think Snape put any curse on us..." Orli finally swallowed her large bite of pasty, feeling she should probably steer their increasingly wayward thoughts back on track. "In fact, since I had no family, the school arranged for him to take me to Diagon Alley before term started..."
"WHAT?!" George exclaimed dramatically, while Fred beside him looked like he was choking on his jelly.
Even Harry stared at Orli sympathetically: "Good heavens, you had it rough. Hagrid took me to Diagon Alley - he was so kind, explained lots of things to me, and even got me an owl..."
Now almost all the surrounding Gryffindors were staring at Orli. They seemed more interested in the details of Snape taking Orli to Diagon Alley - it seemed as incongruous as a troll singing a lullaby to a baby, making them shudder just thinking about it, yet unable to contain their curiosity.
Fortunately, Percy came down from his prefect's seat and bombarded Orli with all the first-year notices she'd missed last night, inadvertently rescuing her from the spotlight.
---
The first few days of school were actually rather uneventful.
Orli first ordered a mail-order catalog and used a few Galleons she'd exchanged from the system to buy new robes, boots, and stockings, at least making herself look clean and tidy rather than like a little vagrant.
It then took her about three or four days to memorize Hogwarts' confusing stair movement patterns. Meanwhile, they attended various classes like Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, and others.
Once, Orli got lost and arrived late to History of Magic class. However, the ghost Professor Binns continued droning on in his dull, monotonous voice, apparently not even noticing her arrival.
Defense Against the Dark Arts had made Orli nervous for a while, but apart from his strong garlic smell, Professor Quirrell showed no unusual behavior for now.
Her only achievement so far was probably becoming good friends with her roommate Hermione, with whom she shared meals and living space.