The late afternoon sunlight awoke me from one of the most restless night of sleep that i have had. My nerves about transferring from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts was really starting to get to me. What is nobody likes me? What if I make no friends and im forced to live my last year alone? What if I accidently start speaking french and they all think im showing off?
I know it sounds silly to think about all of these things but I cants help it. Thats what mom and dad get for switching me half way through the first semester.
" Annabella are you awake?" I could hear my mothers bell like voice calling up the stairs of our new England flat. I sighed as i grumpily threw off my duvet, instantly being shocked by the cold air that waited outside my blankets.
" Qui momma!" I called, sighing as I was going to miss speaking french. Even though I am English, my parents had moved me to Paris before my eleventh birthday on account of my dad landing a very good spot at the ministry. But now we have moved back because again my father has landed a very prestigious job at the ministry here. My father is a very famous man. John Crey is a well known man amongst the wizarding world. The Crey name fall down a long line of Purebloods. Many find that apon hearing my name I would be a very big snob, granted I am not a saint but I do not judge purely by money or blood.
" Hurry my dear we do not want to be late for the feast! There throwing it specially for you!" I felt the nots in my stomach twist. Why would they have to draw more attention to the new girl? Im aware that they do not normally allow new comers so far into the semester but dad was good friends with the head master and had convinced him to allow me to join.
I sighed once again as I packed the last of my belongings into my trunk. I know I could have used magic but I wanted to delay leaving as long as possible. By the time I had finished packing, I had just enough time to change into jeans and white t-shirt and pin my bangs back while allowing my waist length blonde hair to stay straight against my back.
" Annabella, lets go dear!" My mother called once again. I could feel my stomach twisting uncomfortably, I had successfully managed to delay us by an hour but knew that I couldn't push any further.
Since my father had an important meeting he was not home to wish me luck or say goodbye. He had however left me a short note wishing me all these things and noting that he would see me at Christmas.
" Grab on tight Anna." My mother cammanded after she had shrunk all my belongings to fit into our pockets, the only thing not shrunk was Hailey, my fluffy white kitty. I was old enough to apparate on my own but mom wasnt so trusting in me and seemed to think i wouldn't apparate to the correct spot. Gee run away once when your fourteen and it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
I felt the familiar twisting feeling in my stomach as we apparated to the hogsmead trainstation where we met a great big man.
" hi th're, names Hagrid im the gamekeeper." My mother smiled timidly up at the big man. I could tell she was somewhat reluctant to hand me over to such a scary man and part of me hoped that that reluctance was enough to get her to take me back to paris.
" Pleasure to meet you Hagrid, this is my daughter Annabella." She motioned to me, her blue eyes glaring at me till I spoke.
" Nice to meet you, Thanks you for coming all this way to escort me to the castle." My voice was filled with all the manners that had been grilled into me since birth. Having such a high classed family I had to be well mannered in order to not bring shame to my family's name.
Hagrids cheeks took on a slight blush as he smiled at me thankfully.
" No ne'ed ta thank me, im happy ter help" I smiled at the giant man. He really was quite a sweety once you got passed his grizzly features. My mother smiled seeming to make up her mind about him.
" Well Annabella it seems you are in good hands, I should be going your father will be home soon," She pulled my trunks from her pockets doing the counter curse to enlarge them before kissing both my cheeks. " Be good, I will see you at Christmas." And with that she vanished. I was left alone with Hagrid, and awkward silence building up between us.
"I'll just send yer bags up ter the castle now." He pulled out what looked to be an umbrella and with a sudden swish my bags and Hailey vanished.
"Follow me." He spoke gruffily. I could help but jump when a carriage pulling its self showed up in front of us. He motioned for me to hop in and he followed quickley behind me. His weight causing the carriage to tilt slightly. I had been to hogwarts once before for the tri-wizard tournament so I wasnt shocked to see the giant castle in the distance.
The nerves began to settle in once again and we walked up the stone steps and down a hall.
" Ready?" Hagrid asked as we stood outside the big doors leading into the great hall.
" Not really." I mumbled weakly. Hagrid smiled encouragingly at me before flinging the doors open.
The hall suddenly silenced, all eyes turning to stare at whoever dared to disturb their meal.
" Ah, here she is!" I recognized dumbeldore immediately. I remembered him from last year. I followed Hagrid shakily to the front of the room, I tried to keep my back straight and head up. I didnt want to insult the Crey name by being scared. Once I had made the agonizingly long journey up to where dumbeldore stood he began to speak again, hushing the quiet whispers that had started up apon my appearance.
" Students I would like to introduce you all to our knew transfer student, She has transferred from Beauxbatons." The hall filled with half hearted clapping and I blushed a little at the sound of cat calls and whistles.
Dumbeldores booming voice quickly silenced them however.
" I hope for you all to make Miss, Crey feel very welcome and show her how wonderful Hogwarts is." Whispers started again at the sound of my name. I wasnt surprised by this however. My father was one of the most spoke of men and my mother was known very well for her political background as well.
" Now without further a do, Annabella would you please take a seat so you may be sorted." I noticed a dingy old hat seated on a rickety old stool.
Gingerly, I picked up the hat. I half worried that it was going to fall apart because of how beaten up it looked.
I tried not to jump as a voice sounded within the hats confines.
" Interesting... very courageous , loyal, proud, your blood runs as pure as your heart, I could just as well place you in any house... for once I am finding it tremendously hard to place you..." The voice vanished for a moment leaving no sound but the sound of my frantic heart beat. I took a moment to look out into the crowd. All eyes stayed trained on me.
How long has it been.. A minute, ten minutes? Surely it couldn't be any longer then that?
What if the ht doesn't place me?
" Relax my dear, I have never not placed a student. Your just a special circumstance is all." I did not respond to the hat, just concentrated on keeping my breathing even. I couldnt help but notice two red heads shaking hands as they starred eagerly at me. Two identical smirks plastered on there faces. I then recognized Harry potter sitting at the table as well and knew that, that must be the Gryfindor table. I vaguley remember in which order the tables had fallen, after Gryfindor it was hugglepuff... no no Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw and last but not least Slytherin. That house always gave me the creeps. How could once bunch of people be so mean? I decided that I did not wish to be placed there.
" Not Slytherin eh?" The hat questioned once again...
" No thank you." My voice rang out throughout the quiet hall and I blushed as I had not meant to speak out loud.
" Very well...how about GRYFINDOR!"
The table on the left broke out in a tremedous roar.
" Yes! We got the new girl!" I heard someone shout. I blunshed slightly as I took the hat off and made my way over to the table. A knew fear suddenly taking over.
Where was I going to sit?
My question was answered almost immediately. The two red heads I had seen early fell on either side of me.
" Come sit with us love." The one on my right said.
" We'll make you feel very welcome" The one on my left chimed in winking right after.
" Fred, George dont scare the girl!" Commanded a girl sitting across from them. Fred and George sat me down between them.
" Awe come on Kates the only thing we'd be doing is granting her free starring privileges." The one on the left answered. I blushed a little, had they caught me starring?
" I mean look at us, Were gods!" The one on my right followed right after.
" But we all know im the better looking twin." The left spoke.
" Not a chance brother i am far more handsome." I watched as Katie rolled her eyes, smirking at the boys banter.
" They do this often?" I asked cautiously.
" Oh all the time." She laughed. " You get used to them though, they tend to grow on you."
" Yeah like an old sore that you just cant seem to get rid of." Chimed in a girl on the other side of Katie.
" " Oi, Ang thats gross." Katie crinkled her nose as she laughed. The two twins were still arguing however and had not heard this analogy.
Suddenly the twins voices grew louder as the one on the left broke into our conversation.
" Anna, which one of us is the more attractive twin." I laughed deciding they were quite funny. I looked between the two knowing I was going to answer this honestly.
I looked at the one on my left first and pretended to study him studiously. He flashed me a dazzling smile and winked. I then turned to the one on my right who wore the identical smile, I spent this moment trying to find the difference between the two to make it easier to identify them in the future. I notice the one on my left had flecks of green in his deep blue eyes. I smirked, I was going to keep this tid bit of information to myself for awhile.
Finally after a dramatic pause I turned to each boy.
" You both look the same to me." This got the desired effect. The one on my right fell on to the table dramaticly whereas the one on my left dropped his head on my shoulder.
" Im hurt love!" The one whos head was currently buried onto my shoulder complained.
" How can we look the same georgie?" The one on my right asked george.
" Im not sure Freddie.. its not like were twins or anything" They both seemed to get a good laugh out of this revelation.
" Both of you are twits." A boy chimed in. I looked to Katie and Ang, who I realized had quieted significantly. But when I looked they both had there hands clamped firmly over there mouths stifling giggles.
" Anna I believe we are going to be great friends." Katie spoke and Ang nodded in agreement.
I smiled already feeling a little bit better about hogwarts.
After the feast we all made our way up to the common room, i had not realized how tired all this excitement had made me.
" Awe freddie are little princess is all tuckered out." I heard george say as i felt my eyes drop a little. I almost didnt register what he had called me.
" Princess? " I question, glaring as menacingly as I could with what little energy I had left.
" Yes, Princess!" Fred chimed.
" Leave her alone you two!" Katie scolded as she threw an arm protectively around my shoulder.
" Yeah! She doesnt need to be pestered by you two on her first day, we actually want her to hang out with us!" Angelina responded throwing her arm on my other side, Shielding me from the taunts of Fred and George. I laughed lightly as two identical pouts formed on there faces.
We stopped in from of a portrait of a fat lady currently eating a bundle of grapes.
" Licorice snaps." Angelina said. I watched in awe as the portrait swung open revealing a big common room covered in gold and red.
Man Gryfindors huddled around tabled or gathered around the fire, either huddled over last minute homework or in some cases, playing intense games of wizard chess.
" Awe, and who might you be?" I heard a voice to my left ask. At first I thought the voice was talking to me, but I quickley realized that the girl was talking to a fluffy white ball of fur curled around and orange ball of fur.
" Hailey!" I almost screamed. I had missed her. Apon hearing my voice the white ball jumped up leaving a disgruntled kitty in her wake.
She sauntered over to me purring sweetly. I picked her up rubbing my face in to her soft fur.
" Thats your cat?" The bushy haired girl asked. I smiled sweetly at her.
" Yup, I got her for my thirteenth birthday." The girl smiled brightly as she picked up the other ball of fur.
" This is my cat crookshanks." She cuddled the orange cat sweetly and I couldn't help but notice another red head glaring daggers at the thing.
" Well it seems that they were getting along" I said before an arm wrapped around my waist.
" Hermy, I see you've met our Princess here." I heard one of the twins say. I scowled.
" Stop calling me that!"
" As you wish.. Princess" I watched hermy? ( was that really her name?) roll her eyes, obviously used to the twins antics.
" You two are so immature, Im Hermione by the way." I smiled thankfully at her before shaking the twins arms off.
" im going to head to bed, im exhausted." I wished them all goodnight before dragging my tired body up to the dorm, stopping at the door that said seventh years. Opening the door i crept in quietly as there was already someone sleeping in their bed. A few girls were sitting up reading or talking. I walked over to the bed with my suitcases currently sitting on them.
" I hope you dont mind, I let your cat out." I quiet voice spoke from the bed beside me. I smiled at the sleepy looking figure.
" No i dont mind at all, Thank you." She smiled before introducing herself.
" Im alicia." I introduced my self to her although im sure she already knew my name before going to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth, Hailey following obediently behind me. By the time I got back to the room, all the girls were already asleep or at least trying to sleep. Tugging back my covers, i quickly followed suit. Finding the sleep was actually quite easy to achieve.
I was surprised to realize that the last thought to enter my mind before i was granted sleep was the face of one of the twins smirking every so slightly back at me.