Lavender had been sitting at one of the tables in the back. Worried about being late, her parents had actually managed to arrive an hour before the first bus. Lavender had been glad for the opportunity to share this experience with her parents, without the presence of other students. Her parents were not magical after all, and none of them had known exactly what to expect.

At first glance, the building had appeared like something out of a Jane Austen novel. It had nothing on Pemberley of course, but even though Lavender knew the school had only been built a few years ago, it looked like it belonged in that other, simpler time. She had turned to her parents, who looked both surprised and somehow comforted. Of course magic had been involved in the creation of the school, but the fact that it reminded them of something made it somehow easier to accept. 
In the silence of the empty school, Lavender had sensed the calm before a storm. She took full advantage of the chance to say goodbye to her parents in private, before walking up to the table and signing in. She received a set of papers and the instruction to go to the common room and wait for the others. 

After admiring the entrance hall, she took her time making her way to the common room. This was a beautiful building, and soon it would be filled with strangers. Best to enjoy the views while she could. Once she got to the common room, Lavender had chosen some food. She'd made sure all the piles looked undisturbed when she was done with them, and had settled down in the back. When the first students had begun to arrive, Lavender had shimmered out. She was still visible, sitting at her table in the back, but somehow people failed to notice her, or failed to fully register her when they did notice. 

In her quiet little corner, she had observed everything and everyone. The fight had scared her. Not because she was afraid of violence, but because everyone else seemed to expect it. It made her feel ignorant, it made her feel like an outsider. So far, nothing had prompted her to come out of her shadowy shell. 

[color=f7941d]“Good morning, everyone!”[/color] Lavender's head jerked up as the teacher's words broke her concentration. She was now fully visible, and people would suddenly know she was there. For a moment, she considered disappearing again, but she resisted the urge. She shrugged to herself and figured [color=662d91][i]was bound to happen at some point. might as well be now[/i][/color]. 
Lavender took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the teacher. Suddenly shivering with anticipation, she waited for the school year to begin.