The first day Violeta Angelov stepped foot into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she spun her wand delicately in between her fingers and listed the differences between Hogwarts and Durmstrang in her mind. First off, she pondered, the school's uniform that she changed into on the train was made of a relatively lightweight material compared to Durmstrang's thick furs and warm, woolen clothing. The castle was warm like Durmstrang but, unlike the Bulgarian school, Hogwarts had an atmosphere that made Violeta feel as if she were home enjoying Christmas dinner with her parents. The Great Hall had hundreds of candles floating, giving off a warm light. The tables were all long with wide benches so that everyone could sit together; instead of Durmstrang's policy of eating in the common room of your house. Violeta's had been a gloomy room filled with carved tables and chairs that were both ugly and uncomfortable and utterly too far from the warm fire. She thought back to many nights shivering while rushing to eat her supper in order to jump in bed sooner. And she shivered again just thinking about it.
"First years and transfers this way!" a woman's voice called, snapping Violeta out of her thoughts. She wasn't a first year, she was in her third year and had switched schools for reasons that her parents had decided on without telling her. And in the Angelov household, nobody dared question Mr. Stoyan Angelov.
"You look too old to be a first year." A girl with large front teeth observed. Violeta responded with a slight look and a raised eyebrow, then walked in front of the girl wordlessly. She wasn't a first year, and she wasn't from Hogwarts, she was a Durmstrang girl through and through. Sure, the place was cold and slightly unwelcoming in appearance, but the ability to distance oneself from the circumstances that surround them and still be a strong witch or wizard is a characteristic seen commonly among Durmstrang students. Violeta was no different. She was a very gifted witch, something that many had noted her entire life, and though Violeta had often boasted at Durmstrang, it was more due to expectation than how she really felt.
"We shall call each student based upon last name! Once the student is called, we shall place the sorting hat upon your head and he will tell us which house you are to be sorted into!" An older woman with glasses perched delicately on her thin nose called. Violeta noticed the rather instant quiet that took over the large hall and decided that this woman was not to be messed with.
The woman grabbed a rather old, beat up wizards' hat then and placed it on the stool in front of her. Violeta watched with a sort of bored curiosity as the hat came to life and starting singing about the different virtues held by each of the houses. Her mind drifted to the three houses that Durmstrang had. Unlike Hogwarts, whose houses were based on character traits, Durmstrang's houses were based on the type of magic the student excelled in; Dark Arts and the defense against it, Potions, or Occlumency. Some students were gifted in more than one area and so they would be placed to live with those who shared the quality that was more prominent, however, they would take the advanced classes that the students who specialized in that area would take instead of the regular level. For instance, Violeta was placed in the house that specialized in Occlumency but was in advanced Dark Arts classes and even, to a lesser degree, a medium level potions class. It was only to her advantage that her mother and father had been teaching her these strengths since she was walking.
However, here at Hogwarts, (according to the Sorting Hat), the houses were based on both the character strengths and weaknesses. Hufflepuffs were loyal and hardworking but they often failed to be assertive. Ravenclaws were intelligent and witty, but those same traits often left them blind sighted to their own faults which were often due to their extensive knowledge and inability to accept being wrong. Gryffindors were known for their bravery and chivalry, but were often hardheaded and got themselves into trouble. Slytherins were cunning, ambitious, and resourceful, but often lead to "bad wizards and witches", according to the buck-toothed girl standing behind Violeta. When names started being called, there were only three people before Violeta.
"Connor Ainsley!" a small boy with worried blue eyes and mussed blond hair struggled to get on the stool. The older witch placed the torn hat onto his head and barely a second later it had cried "Hufflepuff". Violetta rolled her eyes as the boy trotted to the table full of students wearing yellow and black school robes.
"Janet Ajer!"
"Gryffindor!" The red and gold table erupted in whoops and clapping, particularly by a pair of red headed twin brothers, Violeta noticed.
"Samuel Alburts!" Another Hufflepuff.
"Violeta Angelov!" Violeta felt a heavy pain in her chest as she walked to the stool. She suddenly felt guilty, like she was betraying her friends and family at Durmstrang, specifically her cousin Viktor whom she only ever got to see at school. Taking a deep breath, she trusted in her parent's decision making that led to her admission at Hogwarts, and sat delicately on the worn wooden stool. There was an odd feeling as she looked out into the sea of faces, taking in the different colors that each table was adorned with and wondering which she would be assigned to. She briefly noticed a familiar head of white-blond hair before the hat was placed upon her own highlighted honey blonde and warm brown hair. Her olive toned skin and her light hazel eyes were the only traits she had inherited from her mother's Middle Eastern heritage, but Violeta could not dwell on those thoughts because as soon as the fabric hit her head, a low voice was loud in her ears.
"My my, what do we have here?" it questioned rhetorically. Violeta sat up a little straighter then in attempt to show herself off as a stronger person despite her small, thin frame. A slight panic that was fighting its way from her core to her skin. Goosebumps rose when she started to hear the hat's debating thoughts.
"A Durmstrang transfer? How peculiar. What an odd thing to happen. Well, let's look at this brain of yours, shall we? Hmm…there is bravery, although your loyalty could use some work. You're smart, but in a way that is cunning and mischievous…I'd say not a Hufflepuff."
"Well that much is obvious." Violeta grumbled. Taken aback, the hat made an impish exasperation to alert her of his offended feelings.
"Well there goes Ravenclaw. Though they are smart and witty, you were just plane rude." The hat sniffed and Violeta rolled her eyes, sure that this was the longest sorting ever. She focused her eyes out into the sea of people but was not focusing her sight in any particular place, as she was trying to focus on the ratty old hat.
"You are brave, rude and cunning, clever and determined; your need for learning is driven by the need for more power, just like your Uncle had been." Confused, Violeta quirked her head to the side. She realized, a moment too late, that she should have been ready for the yelling of the hat and though she was happy to finally be sorted, her head was beginning to throb.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat called. The table decorated in green and silver burst into rowdy, happy cheers and applause and Violeta saw one of the red headed twins at the Gryffindor table hand what looked to be 3 Knuts to the other, frowning deeply. Rolling her eyes once more, Violeta hopped down from the sorting stool and walked gracefully to the Slytherins table.
"V!" a familiar voice called to her. Looking up, she found her eyes connecting with the steel gray iris' that belonged to the one and only Draco Malfoy, a family friend of Violeta's for years. He had started to grow into his looks, she thought. His hair was slicked back still, a fashion that she had been trying to get him to drop, but his eyes no longer looked too big for his pale face and his skin seemed to be a glowing, healthier peach color.
"Hey Draco." Violeta kissed his cheek before sitting down where he had made room for her. Across the table from them was a pug-faced girl with an awful pink lace headband on, an
Italian boy with a chiseled jaw and warm brown eyes, two boys who were so chubby and round that Violeta couldn't tell them apart, and another girl who appeared to be reading a book under the table in attempt to entertain herself. This girl had mahogany hair that fell pin straight down her back and hung at her waist, unlike Violeta's own curls that hung to her shoulder blades. The girl's eyes were glued to the page so Violeta was out of luck for the moment in her attempt to make a new friend.
"Did you feel them on the train?" Draco whispered in Violeta's ear towards the end of the sorting. Confused, Violeta turned her hazel eyes to meet his stormy ones.
"Feel what?" she mumbled back. Draco's left eyebrow rose.
"There were dementors on the train, looking for Sirius Black. Father said they'll be staying at Hogwarts in case Black tries to come here. They think he's after Harry Potter." Draco rolled his eyes. Violeta knew how much Harry Potter had bothered Draco. The everlasting glow of praise never seemed to leave the orphan's aura and no matter what happened, he always managed to save the day. Despite Draco's complaints though, Violeta decided she wanted to form her own opinion of the boy.
"I didn't notice any dementors, however at Durmstrang they teach us how to hold a mild patronus around our body at all times in case of an ambush." Well that explains it. Draco thought. He looked away from a thinking Violeta to watch as the last student was sorted. Dumbledore alerted every one of the off limits areas on campus and gave Filtch's warnings before he mentioned that the dementors would be staying on the grounds at Hogwarts as gate keepers in order to try and catch Sirius Black. After all of his announcements, Dumbledore said a few rubbish words and the feast appeared on the table. Violeta couldn't believe her eyes. There was a ham, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls and sweet cream butter. There was ravioli and chicken pot pie and salad and roasted lamb; she started filling her plate. Her cup was filled with pumpkin juice by the time that she went to take her first gulp and the aches in her stomach were subsiding instantly.
"Violeta, I want you to meet some people. This is Blaise Zambini," he said about the Italian boy. Blaise looked at Violeta and winked before returning back to his conversation with one of the other boys. "One of my best friends and my roommate. This is Crabbe and Goyle, they help keep an ear out for the school's latest gossip." Draco pointed to the two chubby boys but their similarities we so prevalent that even after the introduction, Violeta couldn't differ between the two. "That is Pansy Parkinson" he muttered, skipping over the pug faced girl. "And that is Daphne Greengrass. Daphne will be your roommate while you're here." Draco looked pleased with himself and Daphne looked at Violeta and waved. She smiled back at the girl and realized how much she liked Hogwarts, and maybe it wouldn't be so bad.