"This is so cool!" Ant stared up in awe at the enormous castle looming before him. Fontaine walked up next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Wow. Just... wow." she breathed. Their Hogwarts letter had come slightly on the late side, due to them living on a submarine, but it arrived nonetheless. Ant loosely grasped a 10" ash wand with a dragon heartstring core, while his sister gripped her beech wand more firmly. They had arrived in the middle of the school year, but they promised they would learn and catch up quickly. "Who could even guess that we, of all people, had magic?" said Fontaine excitedly.
"I kinda suspected." replied Ant. "I mean, I can activate the Ephemychron, and-"
"That's different." said his sister irritably. "This magic is glorious. You could only make it glow because you're the youngest."
"The youngest of a very magical family line."
Fontaine groaned and her purple fringe flopped over her eyes. "Whatever." she said. "Let's go inside."
"Oh, yes! Last one inside's a blobfish."
Fontaine laughed as she dashed after her brother, towards the castle. He suddenly slowed to a halt. "Whoah."
"What is it?" asked Fontaine.
"That's one massive lake. I'll bet you anything there is some type of GSM in there! A magical GSM!"
"Giant Sea Monster. Of course." she replied sarcastically.
And nodded enthusiastically. "Anyhow. Let's go-"
His sentence was cut off as he and Fontaine disapparated into thin air.
"You're late." A cold voice stated.
Ant sheepishly scratched his head and started, "Well, umm, you see, err"
A quick shove from Fontaine told him to shut his mouth quickly.
"Fontaine and Antaeus Nekton here, ..."
"Professor McGonagall." The cold voice said. Professor McGonagall was a very severe looking witch, wearing emerald green robes.
"Professor McGonagall," Fontaine repeated. "We both apologise profusely for being late to this magnificent school."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she looked them up and down. "I see." She caught sight of Ant's worried expression, and smiled. "No need to worry, Antaeus. It's not your fault that you're late. After all, your-" she mentally searched for the correct word, "- submarine, which is your preferred method of travel, must be difficult to get close to the school."
Fontaine nodded in agreement.
"Do you have a familiar?" she asked.
"What's a familiar?" Ant whispered to Fontaine.
"A pet, I think." she hurriedly replied.
"Okay." Ant said to McGonagall. "In that case, yes." He rummaged through his bag, which had been enchanted with an undetectable extension charm, pulled out several volumes of Magical Drafts and Potions, a well-used Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and finally Jeffrey in his spherical fish bowl.
"What is that." McGonagall said, more of a statement than a question.
"This? This is Jeffrey!" Ant presented the teacher with the bowl.
"Is he a cat, or a toad, or a rat, or an owl?"
"Oh. No."
McGonagall sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, adjusting her glasses. "Due to your circumstances, I will allow this familiar."
"You won't regret this decision. Jeffrey is incredibly talented."
McGonagall did not look convinced.
"You need to understand that I am being lenient with you." she said.
"We know. We will be hard-working, the best students we can be." Fontaine said quickly, before Ant could add his own comment.
"Good." McGonagall smiled more warmly. "In fact, there is something you can do right now."
Ant looked ready to explode with excitement about doing anything magical.
"I presume you two have not been Sorted?"
"I… don't think so." Fontaine replied cautiously.
"Very well then." McGonagall flicked her wand in a circular motion. "Accio sorting hat!"
She flung the door open and a large, battered wizard's hat deposited itself on the floor in front of her. Much to Ant's delight and Fontaine's sheer horror, it opened what could have been a mouth and began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty
But don't judge on what you see.
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than -"
"It's not the Great Hall listening to you. Do not, under any circumstances, recite all thirty-two lines for these new students." McGonagall's sharp tone made the hat shut up quickly. She turned to face said students, her long green robes flapping gently. "Now. Pick it up, and put it on."
Fontaine gingerly approached the hat and lifted it up. She grimaced, unsure what to think of it, and gently placed it on her head.
Ooh, the hat whispered in her ear. I see plenty of talent in here. Very brave, very courageous, very wise. It's difficult. But, I would say, you're a…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
McGonagall smiled. "Okay, now Antaeus."
Fontaine passed the Sorting Hat to her brother, who eagerly shoved it onto his head as far as it would go.
The wooden door to the room opened slowly, and a tall wizard with a majestic white beard and twinkling eyes walked in. "Aah, Minerva, I came to-" He paused when he saw the hat in use. "Two newcomers being sorted, I presume." Standing next to McGonagall, he whispered: "I love seeing the Sorting. I wonder which house this young lad will end up in-"
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled again. Fontaine hugged Ant in jubilation. Jeffrey somersaulted in his bowl and blew several bubbles of happiness.
The tall wizard stepped forward to the siblings. "Now, if you hurry," he said kindly, "I believe you can make it to lunch before the food disappears. Oh, by the way, I'm Professor Dumbledore. Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. We'll be on our way." Fontaine returned politely. She managed to smile at him before being practically dragged out of the door by an enthusiastic Ant.