A Break from Monotony, or, How That Idiot Sirius Black Managed to Charm Me
Disclaimer: The fabulous Ms. Rowling is the owner of all characters from the Harry Potter series. Credit is given where credit is due.
Chapter 1
Hogwarts
"Run through the brick wall? You are joking, right?" Eleven-year-old Morgana asked her parents, her right hand resting on her hip. "Last time I checked, brick was solid."
Malcolm rolled his eyes at his little sister. "I have run through this wall five times now, little sister. If I can do it, you can too. I believe in you, Morgana."
"Okay, you don't have to take that tone with me, Mister," Morgana responded testily to her haughty older brother. "If you've done it so many times before, why don't you do it now?"
Malcolm Woodsworth, without any words, wheeled his cart around, waited for a large group of Muggles to pass, and ran toward the brick wall. Instead of crashing, he disappeared.
Morgana didn't like to admit it, but it was pretty cool magic.
"What incantation is he using to get through the wall?" Morgana asked her parents.
"Morgana, please stop asking impertinent questions," Her mother, Martha, said wearily. "It's nearly eleven; you'll miss the train if you don't hurry."
"I really don't understand, mum!" Morgana whined.
Martha sighed, and looked to her husband. "Richard, perhaps you can explain. She listens to you."
Richard, Morgana's father, placed a hand on her shoulder. "There isn't an incantation, sweetie. There's no spell; no need for wandwork. You just run at the barrier and it will open for you."
Morgana looked nervously at her father. "I don't know, dad..."
"Here, let's go together, shall we?"
Morgana nodded. She glanced back at her mother, who was standing with her arms crossed. Her father pushed her trolley toward the brick abutment. They were rapidly approaching the wall. They were going to crash. They were going to look like fools. How would they explain this to the guards? They were going to get booted from King's Cross. How embarrassing.
Morgana squeezed her eyes shut, but kept jogging toward the wall. When she did not feel any solid force, she nervously opened her eyes again. She was no longer at King's Cross Station, but on Platform 9 and ¾.
Malcolm, with his shiny Prefect badge, was smiling from the platform. "I knew you could do it, little sister."
"Okay, seriously, big brother, I'm not a baby. Stop talking to me like I am one," Morgana said.
"You'll always be a baby to me," Malcolm said in a sickly sweet voice, and pinched her cheek.
"Malcolm! Stop!" Morgana yelled, swatting his hand a way. "Dad, make him stop!"
"Malcolm, leave your sister alone," Their father said. "You're old enough to know better."
Malcolm sighed. "Where'd mum go?"
"She's on the other side of the barrier. I suppose she intends on staying there…" Richard glanced over his shoulder, expecting his wife to appear on the other side of the barrier. He frowned. "Well, I guess it's just me then."
Malcolm stuck out his hand for his father to shake. "See you at Christmas, father." Malcolm strutted off, presumably to meet his other Prefect friends. Hah. Friends.
Morgana turned to her father. He hugged her tightly. "I love you very much, sweetie. And so does your mum."
"Love you too, dad," Morgana replied. "Promise you'll write?"
Richard chuckled. "Of course, sweetie. We'll see you at Christmas, okay?" Morgana nodded. "You better get moving; I expect the train will be leaving in two minutes or so."
They hugged each other once more, and Morgana grasped the handle of the trolley. She began to wheel it away, but suddenly turned and waved to her dad. "Bye, dad!"
"Bye, Morgana!" He waved back, a wide smile on his face. "Have fun at Hogwarts!"
x
The train ride was relatively uneventful. Morgana sat in the first year car with three other girls. Two wanted to be in Ravenclaw, and the other was doomed to be in Slytherin. They were friendly enough, but Morgana seriously hoped that she would meet more interesting people once she arrived at Hogwarts.
Or, at least people with senses of humor.
It was raining very hard when the Hogwarts Express pulled into the Hogsmeade Station. Morgana heard two older boys snigger at the first years. "Have fun in the boats," one called.
There was a massive man calling for first years at the edge of the station. Nervously, Morgana approached the tall, wild looking man.
"Firs' years, this way!" He was shouting. Slowly, first years gathered around, each looking as nervous and frightened at Morgana felt.
"We'll be takin' th' boats ta 'Ogwarts," The man said. "Come along, then."
"But, sir, it's raining!" A girl cried out. "We'll get soaked!"
"It's tradition fer firs' years' ta go on th' boats," He responded. "Don' ye worry yerself. We'll get ye nice and warmed up once we get ta' 'Ogwarts."
The boats were built to hold four people, and Morgana instantly saw people grouping off. She sighed. Without a doubt, she would get stuck with the three girls she was on the train with.
She clambered into one of the boats, and waited. Eventually, the three girls came up to the side of the boat. Without asking, or really even acknowledging her, the three climbed in and began chatting.
There must have been some sort of enchantment on the boats, because once they were all filled, all of the boats began moving forward simultaneously.
The black water glistened underneath them, reflecting the light from the lanterns in each boat. It was beautiful, but eerie, too. "What if one of us fell in?" One of the girls asked.
"My brother Maxwell says that the Giant Squid will get you and drag you down to the depths of the Black Lake," Morgana commented, quite seriously.
The other girls laughed.
"No, I'm serious," Morgana said. "It happened to one of the boys in his year."
Horrified, the girls immediately stopped laughing. She smiled to herself. That never actually happened.
The boats rounded a bend, and Hogwarts came into view. Everyone oohh'd and awww'd at the sight of the magnificent towers and twinkling lights.
Morgana stared up toward the castle. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire life. She could hardly imagine that, in a few minutes' time, she would be entering Hogwarts for the very first time.
The boats approached Hogwarts quickly, and before Morgana knew it, the tall man was ushering them from the boats and to land. The first years were freezing, many soaked to the bone from the torrential downpour. Morgana looked up in amazement at the wrought iron gates.
The rain was getting much worse. The first years were quick to follow the giant man into the Hogwarts grounds and through the wrought iron gates. They walked a short distance and stopped at two huge, oak doors. "I imagine Professor McGonagall will be with ye shortly,"
The first years, shivering, stood anxiously at the entrance of the Great Hall. Many were whispering, wondering if they would have to do some sort of magic in order to be sorted. "My sister told me we would have to fight a dragon!" One girl said.
"Don't be stupid, it's a hag we have to fight!"
"No, it's my mum you have to fight!" A boy shouted. Many people began to laugh loudly. The laughter died almost immediately as the doors to the Great Hall opened. A witch stood before them, her hair pulled back into a tight bun and a large witch's hat adorned her head. Her robes were dark green. Perhaps she was the Slytherin Head of House? She looked stern enough to be.
"This way, please, for the sorting," She said, and gestured for them to follow her.
The horde of first years meandered into the hall. Morgana's eyes were instantly adverted to the ceiling, which was mimicking the sky outside. For a moment, Morgana thought that, perhaps, there wasn't a ceiling, but when rain did not fall, she assumed a charm was placed on the ceiling to make it look like the sky.
The first years gathered in a bunch in the center of the Great Hall, very aware that every other Hogwarts student was staring at them. The stern looking professor cleared her throat.
"I shall call your name, and you will approach the front of the Hall. I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head, and you will be sorted into your house. There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Once you are sorted, you will join your classmates at your respective table,"
She conjured a large piece of parchment and read the first name. "Ainger, Christopher!"
Ainger, Christopher was sorted into Slytherin. Morgana, for the most part, tuned everything out. She waited eagerly for her own name to be called. Considering her last name was "Woodsworth", she knew she would be waiting awhile.
"Black, Sirius!"
A handsome boy with black hair approached the front of the Hall. The hat was placed upon his mop of hair. For a very long time, it contemplated Black, Sirius' fate. Five minutes passed before the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"
Black, Sirius seemed very pleased, and practically skipped to the Gryffindor table.
A few more names passed, and Morgana was beginning to grow restless. How many first years could their possibly be?
"Evans, Lily!"
A girl with long, red hair walked confidently toward the stool and hat. The hat had barely touched her head when it pronounced, "Gryffindor!" Evans, Lily smiled and joined the whooping and cheering Gryffindors.
Morgana's stomach grumbled. Okay, seriously getting hungry now, she thought to herself. I could use some food right about now.
"Lupin, Remus!"
What an odd name, Morgana thought. Sounds like...a dog...or something.
Lupin, Remus was sorted into Gryffindor, and was content to join Black, Sirius at the long table.
Morgana's legs were getting tired. She had been standing for such a long time. How many people had last names that started with P this year?
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
That's an unfortunate name, too, Morgana mused. Petty. Grew. Petty-grew. She mouthed the last name. She wasn't sure why it amused her so, but it did. He was sorted into Gryffindor, and joined the handsome kid and his dog friend at the Gryffindor table.
"Potter, James!"
Merlin! How many are left? Morgana thought. I'm going to die of starvation!
Fortunately, the horde of first years was dwindling. Potter, James was sorted into Gryffindor, and then there was a jump to the letter S.
"Snape, Severus!"
That is a terrible name. If he's not in Slytherin, I don't know what I will do with myself.
Unsurprisingly, Snape, Severus was sorted into Slytherin. He didn't seem very happy about it. His lank hair hung over his white face.
And finally – "Woodsworth, Morgana!"
Morgana breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly realized what was meant by her name being called. Okay, just breathe. It's okay. You will do fine.
The Sorting Hat was placed on Morgana's head.
"Oh, a Woodsworth. I haven't seen a Woodsworth in five years. Hmm, but not a typical Woodsworth. Very smart, yes, incredibly intelligent. Very good at problem solving, I see. But, what's this? A desire for acknowledgement? Not content for being seen and not heard. Hmm. Difficult, very difficult."
This banter went on for a good seven minutes. The hat could not decide which house would be best for Morgana – Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.
Morgana felt her cheeks burning red. Her sorting was taking much longer than anyone else's.
"Very loyal friend, yes, but schoolwork nearly always comes first,"
Just pick a house already! Morgana thought impatiently.
"I am trying to pick a house, Miss Woodsworth, but your mind is split, however. You desire to fit in with your family, and to make them proud, but you also desire to be the black sheep,"
Everyone was staring at her. Some were whispering, "What's taking so long?" and "Doesn't the Sorting Hat know where to put her?"
"Black sheep," The hat repeated. "Hmm…"
Morgana held her breath. She could feel the decision coming.
"Better be…"
Merlin's pants.
"Gryffindor!"
