Well, this was going to be fun… I was stood by a massive gate. No other words for it. Well, I suppose iron. Metal. I was a bit too gobsmacked to describe it. I was here… At Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I was going to enjoy it here. I hoped.
My name is Eponine Hill, and I am seventeen years old, and am just joining Hogwarts for the first time. These are dark times to join Hogwarts, though. Dark times indeed. Muggleborns are being hunted, but I am a half blood, luckily, so I may come here. I have been home schooled my entire life, and have never realised why, but have just gone along with it. My mother, Jasmine Hill, finally was forced to by the new law.
I don't know who my father is. All I know is that he met my mother, they had a one night stand, and they never saw each other again… I can tell she knows who he is, though. A look of recognition comes into her eyes whenever I question her about it. And she says I look a bit like him. Pale skin and dashing beauty. That is, when I'm in my normal form. Which I'm not usually, I don't want anyone to know what I look like normally. No one. My mother's only seen a bit of my true self, never my whole. I always have mad coloured hair, or eyes, or, just to be funny, skin.
I arrived at the gates and was about to knock, when the door opened suddenly, and I was pulled in and ushered to the castle by a tall man with black hair. I looked at him fearfully, and he looked at me, shaking his head.
'I am Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts, I am just taking you to speak for a moment and to get you to the Sorting on time, I hope. You're late. I'm not going to ask why, but that would be twenty points off your house, but you don't have a house.' I nodded simply, not daring to challenge him, just walking the rest of the distance in silence. We arrived at the castle and I watched students piling in, and obviously I was staring, as I felt myself being pulled along. Finally, he decided he wasn't getting to his office, and stopped us, telling me that I had to see him directly afterwards. I nodded and he told me to join the scrabble of youngsters that were looking as if they were about to pee themselves. Fun times, joining in with little people, whilst they were worried sick. I walked there and looked at a young girl, who was all alone, and frowned, walking up to her and kneeling beside her so I didn't look intimidating. She was short, with long blonde hair and bright orange eyes. That was the best colour I had ever seen. I knew she wasn't a Metamorphmagus, I could tell by looking at her, so it was all natural!
'Hello… I'm Eponine…' I said quietly, smiling. She jumped slightly and looked at me, grinning.
'Hello, I'm Arania.' She said, holding her hand out. I grinned and shook it, before opening my mouth to ask her how she was, when I was interrupted by names being called. Well, that confused me. Her face just went white, and she looked as if she needed to be distracted.
'Why are you here, you're too old to be a first year.' She asked, taking deep breathes to calm her. I shrugged.
'Transfer. There're more around as well.' She looked around and nodded, realisation coming to her face.
'The new law the Ministry made…' she said quietly, sighing. 'The Ministry is going downhill… That's what Mama says.' I laughed, and the group got smaller and smaller, me making small talk with her, her nodding and chatting nervously.
'Hill, Eponine!' I looked at her and she pushed me forward.
'You have to walk, and put the hat on!' That was all she said, before I started walking, confused with what was happening. I walked, my brown hair suddenly going red and I bit my lip. I still hadn't managed to control the morphing completely… I heard people muttering, and I quickly changed it back, blushing slightly, and sitting on the stool. I put the hat on my head and jumped slightly as it spoke to me…
'Hmm… You are brave… Oh, I can see that there… So very brave… But also so intelligent, you could do well in Ravenclaw, but you could also do well in Gryffindor! Then there is also a determination to prove yourself, not just to your mother, but to those around you… Slytherin could be the way to go… But you are loyal… Loyal as one can be… This is a hard decision… I don't know where to sort you…' I listened to this hat mutter to itself, tapping my fingers. I saw the hall proceed into chatter, and guards around the school, some looking familiar, but I couldn't tell where from. I saw the teachers looking at each other, wondering what to do. I didn't know how long I had been there, when the hat finally decided.
'I've got it…' It murmured to me. 'HUFFLEPUFF!' I jumped as it yelled, and the hall suddenly burst into applause. A lady walked forward and took the hat from my head, muttering some words that I heard.
'Seventeen minutes and thirty six seconds… That must be a record…' I just laughed weakly and made my way to the yellow table, grinning as people clapped me on the back. I watched as Arania was sorted into Hufflepuff also and beamed, moving up so she had a place next to me. She slid beside me and hugged me suddenly, jumping slightly.
'We're in the same house! I might have a friend!' she said quietly, and I laughed, hugging her back.
'Why wouldn't you?' She just shook her head and grinned, hugging me tighter. I'd ask her later… Or just leave her to it, I wasn't sure yet. I'd probably leave it… She obviously didn't want to say, and if she did, she would. I respected that.
I stood up with Arania and grinned at her, when the Sorting was over. Now for the speech…
'Pupils at Hogwarts… I shall keep this short. I would like to welcome the new Muggle Studies teacher, Professor Alecto Carrow!' A woman stood up with black hair and a mean expression, waving at us, whilst we cheered half-heartedly. Well, the Slytherins cheered loudly, making me laugh slightly. Arania also laughed, and we watched Snape continue.
'I would also like to welcome the new Dark Arts teacher, Amycus Carrow!' The hall was filled with quiet laughter, even from the Slytherins, as we heard the words Dark Arts. Not Defence Against the Dark Arts. It was just Dark Arts. This meant we were learning to hurt people…
'Now you may eat!' And just like that, plates were filled with food fit for Gods, and I found myself hungry… I filled my plate and ate, whilst chatting to Arania, before catching the eye of a boy at the red table. Which I knew was the Gryffindor table. He blinked and his eyes went wide, seeing that I was looking at him, and I smiled. This took him by surprise, and he smiled back, before quickly going back to his food. I went slightly red and turned back to my food quickly. I had never actually spoken properly to a boy before, let alone made eye contact with someone that seemed kind. We continued to eat, before the time for going to common rooms was nigh. We stood up; when I remembered that I had to see Headmaster Snape. I sighed and told Arania I'd be there later. I wasn't too sure how I'd get there, but I would.
Arania nodded hesitantly, before she was pulled along with the crowd. I turned back and walked to the front of the hall, meeting Headmaster at the top, by the podium. He nodded curtly and beckoned for me to follow him, so I did.
He opened his office and sat me in a chair by the fire, pulling another chair up for himself with his wand. He sat down and looked into the fire, before looking at me a few minutes later.
'Miss Hill, you do not know who your father is, do you?' He said slowly, waving his wand for a drink, which he took a sip of.
'No, I don't. Why?' I asked, cocking my head to the side. I was curious now… He sighed and put the glass down.
'Your father is a very powerful man. Your mother worked for him at some point, I can remember her well-'
'You knew my mother?' I asked gobsmacked. He nodded with a glare, and I closed my mouth.
'She left his services, and he went after her. He has not found her, due to her changing appearances. He's now found her. Your mother sent you here alone, she sent you to stay with your grandparents, didn't she?' I nodded, and he continued. 'I hate to have to be the one to tell you this… Your mother was killed the day she sent you away. She knew what was coming. I'm sorry…' I heard him, and the world around me froze for a few minutes. My mother was dead. She had been killed. She knew it had been coming, and sent me away to protect me.
The world unfroze again, and I burst into tears, causing Snape to look stricken. He didn't look the sort to know what to do…
'Wh-who killed her! Who's my father!' I asked angrily, still crying. He opened his mouth, and closed it again. He then sighed.
'Lord Voldemort.' I then blacked out.
When I came to a few moments later, I found a Healer standing over me, frowning whilst going tut-tut-tut. I groaned and sat up, causing her to smile widely and help me up.
'Now, Miss Hill, return to your common room. You'll be fine now.' I was about to say that I didn't know where my common room was, when I was ushered out. I gaped at the closed door and let out a quiet shriek of frustration. I stomped off and traipsed up corridors, before I heard noises. My eyes widened, and I jumped behind a statue, hearing them say farewell to each other. I heard two girls go one direction, and a boy come towards me. I put my hand over my mouth, releasing my grip on the statue and fell forward, face first. I yelped and groaned.
'Son of a Banshee!' I moaned, before I felt a hand on each of my arms, pulling me up. I blinked and looked up; fearful of whom this was, before my mouth fell open a little bit. It was the boy from the feast. The one that I had smiled at, the one who had been in Gryffindor.
'You alright, there?' he asked, before he recognised me as well. I nodded, and we both spoke at the same time.
'You're the girl from the feast!'
'You're the boy from the feast!'
We both laughed nervously, and he brushed off the dust from my jumper, grinning at me.
'Small world, eh? Now, what are you doing out here, it's past curfew!' he said, raising an eyebrow. I had to admit, this boy was cute. He had black hair that flopped slightly, a bold stature.
'I had a meeting with Headmaster Snape-'
'Oh, Snape, that old cauldron bum.' He muttered. I raised my eyebrow and shook my head.
'I can ask you the same thing! What are you doing out?' He shook his head and shrugged. 'Meeting your girlfriend?' I smirked, remembering the two girls I had heard. It must have been his girlfriend and her best friend. His eyes widened and he shook his head quickly.
'Those are my two best mates! I don't have a girlfriend, look at me, how could I?' I raised my brows.
'Well, don't let this get to your head, but you're attractive and chivalrous.' I said, grinning. He rolled his eyes, as if to say 'yeah, right.' I shook my head and laughed.
'Look, do you know how to get to the Hufflepuff common room?' I asked, twiddling my thumbs. He raised his eyebrow and shook his head.
'I'm a Gryffindor, of course I don't.' Well, I should have thought of that… Obviously he wouldn't know. Well, it had been worth a try, I suppose.
'Well, I'm screwed, then.' I said bluntly. He sighed and held his arm out. I took it hesitantly, and let him lead me to a portrait of a lady, looking particularly… Fat, was the only word I could use…
'Tenebris Horarum!' he said quietly, and the portrait flew open. I blinked, and he got up, before holding a hand out for me to take. I shrugged and took it, walking into a red room with nobody in it. As if feeling my confusion, he answered my unspoken question.
'They're all asleep, it's been a tiring day…' he said, sighing. I nodded slightly, before remembering what I had just been called in for.
'Oh my Godric…' I whispered, before collapsing on the floor in tears. The boy's eyes widened and he grabbed me, picking me up and putting me on a sofa, stroking my hair as I cried. Oh, Godric, I looked so pathetic… And he didn't even know my name! I didn't think, anyway.
'Eponine, don't cry…' he whispered, biting his lip, apparently in distress. I suppose most girls don't break down on him… Wait, he knew my name.
'H-how do you know my name?' I asked slowly, choking on the words. He laughed quietly and continued to stroke my hair.
'It was at the Sorting… They call out names, remember?' he said, smiling. I nodded slowly and sat up, wiping my eyes. Godric, stupid situation… At this moment in time, I couldn't ask him what his name was, so I just continued to sob whilst he sat next to me, putting his arm around me.
My father was Voldemort… My mother had been a Death Eater at some point, my own mother, the person I trusted the most, had been evil. It was hard to take in, and this made me cry more, I wasn't used to not understanding something, it was just something I did, understand. My father, though… He was the Lord of all evil! I had always dreamed of finding out who my father was, even if I wouldn't admit it, and now I knew, I wanted to throw up. He was a monster. He killed people for the fun of it, and it made me angry to think about it. The boy continued to comfort me, and I cracked.
'Who are you?' I asked.