Here We Go Around Again
Chapter Two
They arrived at the station a little after dusk.
People pushed their way toward the door and out into the usual chaos that followed the students' arrival at Hogwarts, and it was a few moments before the two families were able to leave the train.
Isabel shyly accepted Nicholas' hand and carefully stepped into the darkened platform, where she joined her parents and the Weasley's as they waited for the carriages that would lead them to the castle.
She and Nicholas had talked a lot in the train, and she had found him to be quite charming; he had also helped ease some of the tension she was feeling. Just a little, though.
She wasn't too thrilled about big crowds and screaming people, and so when an especially large group rushed by her, she unconsciously stepped closer to her father.
In the middle of the students and shouting instructions was Hagrid, who gave them a smile and a wave, but wasn't able to talk to them as his hands were full with a group of nervous first years.
-Hullo there, Harry! Isabel!,- he shouted, over the mass of students. He was a good friend of the family's and Isabel loved him dearly, but it had been a long time since she had last seen him., -See you at the sorting!, -he told them, and Isabel briefly wondered why she wasn't going with the first years on a boat, considering she too was new.
She realized her parents were aware of her discomfort, and had thus decided it was better she stayed with them for moral support. She was very grateful for that.
Finally they climbed inside the coaches, (Ron, Robin and the twins in one, while the Potter's took a second), and as they slowly trundled towards the towering castle ahead, the three of them had some time to talk.
-Izzy?,- her father began gently, trying to get her attention, but he got no response.
Harry and Hermione glanced worriedly at each other and then back at their child, who was still looking out the window with the saddest expression on her face.
Outside, a soft drizzle had started to fall.
-Isabel?,- Harry tried again, but it was no use, -Isabel, sweetheart, listen... I know you're upset... I know this is not what you wanted and that you're scared, but... If there was another way, I swear...,-he rubbed tiredly at his forehead, -we never intended to hurt you, you know that...,- he finished in a whisper., -'Believe me... we had no choice',- he thought darkly to himself.
He grabbed his wife's trembling hand in his own and gave it a comforting squeeze as Isabel finally turned back from the window with a sigh.
-You know, I'm not even all that upset, daddy...,- she shifted uncomfortably in her seat,- I know you meant well, it's just...,- she paused, and sighed again,- why? I know you were lying about needing the job... What is so important that you can't tell me?
Her parents looked blankly back at her, but Isabel thought she saw an emotion flash quickly in her mother's eyes.
And suddenly, she wasn't sure she wanted to know anymore.
***
-Were you nervous when you first came to Hogwarts?
Harry leveled his eyes to his daughter's, not really surprised by her question.
She hadn't been able to stop pacing ever since Professor McGonnagall had asked them to wait until after the first year's sorting was over before entering the Great Hall, and now she looked ready to take off running.
-Sure, I was a nervous wreck., -he smiled, -I was ready to hear that there had been a mistake and that I had to go back to the Dursley's..., -he looked at Hermione, who was smiling gently to herself, eyes closed, and smirked, -Now, your mother was a whole different story. She was all bossy and annoying, and just wouldn't shut up about how many spells she had learned, and how she memorized 'Hogwarts: A History' the first time she read it., -he then snorted, -I never got around to reading that thing. Honestly, I don't know what she sees in it.
Both Harry and Isabel looked expectantly at Hermione; she was bound to come up with a real snide come back.
But Hermione didn't even bat an eye. She just smiled, and leaned back serenely against the wall.
-I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, and let you off the hook without beating you down with my superior intellect.
Isabel laughed, while Harry just pouted cutely.
-Hermione, you're so mean...
-Oh, stop that, you big goof, you know it's true!
He was about to answer when suddenly the huge double doors in front of them opened and Professor McGonnagall was back.
-We're ready for you now. Please, follow me.
Isabel's knees turned to jelly; she had forgotten about her nervousness for a moment, but now it had returned full-force: considerably paler than usual and little reassured by her father's hand on her shoulder, she stepped inside.
The Great Hall itself was very beautiful, with thousands of candles floating in midair, and the enchanted ceiling bewitched to look like the sky outside.
Isabel didn't get to see any of it.
She couldn't hear much apart from the buzzing in her ears either, and that strange flutter in her stomach was making her head turn.
It intensified even more when she noticed the hundreds of faces turned her way, and so by the time she made it to the front, Isabel was purposely green.
She felt herself being helped into a seat of some kind, heard her name being spoken through the buzzing, and then the buzzing was gone and she was looking at the inside of whatever they had dropped on her head. She waited.
-Hmm... Difficult, very difficult..., -said a voice in her ear,- There is power, lots of power, and a brilliant mind, too... there is fear, and yet courage runs in your blood and in your heart... I see potential, but not a strong enough will... not very confident, either... so much power, though... an a peculiar... yearning for... hmm... where shall I put you?
Isabel's heart was pounding; she never would have expected this hat, (for she now knew it to be the Sorting Hat she was wearing), could read her insecurities so well.
It also gave her something to think about: which House would she be in?
Isabel had never considered the possibility of not being in Gryffindor, without her best friend.
She had always just assumed, at some level, that she would be with him.
Thus, she was suddenly overcome with panic; she didn't want to be alone.
-'Please, oh please, let me be with Robin...'
-Gryffindor?, -the hat sounded amused, -Is your friend the only reason you want to be in that House?
Isabel blinked, and considered this for a second.
-Well, no.,- she thought, - I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad-I DEFINITLY don't want to be a Slytherin-but I always thought, that if I were to come to Hogwarts, that I would be in Gryffindor... Robin being there just makes it an even better choice...
The Sorting Hat gave a low chuckle.
-That is good. Your friend being a Gryffindor alone would be a pretty lame reason, if you know what I mean.
-HEY!!!,- Isabel thought, indignantly.
It laughed, and said, -Very well, then. In that case, you'd better be GRYFFINDOR!!!
As it shouted the last word, Isabel was surprised to hear the entire hall explode into cheers, and as she removed the hat from her head, she could see Robin and Nicholas, standing and clapping atop their seats, and her parents, (who, she noticed, were now sitting at the teacher's table), smiling proudly at her, all the love in their eyes.
That alone was enough to make her forget her fears.
She slowly made her way to the table on the far left, amongst the shouts of "WE'VE GOT POTTER!", and "TAKE THAT, SHE'S OURS!", where Robin welcomed her with a rather enthusiastic hug.
-ALRIGHT!!!,- he shouted, and Isabel felt tears prickle at her eyes; she had never expected to be welcomed like this.
-I am SO glad you're here...,- she breathed to Robin as he set her back on her feet.
-Yeah, I know; so am I.,- he joked, and they sat down next to each other.
The Gryffindors were still making a lot of noise, and many were trying to shake her hand or get a better look at her.
Isabel was aware that this kind of behaviour was mainly due to the fact of her being Harry Potter's daughter, and though it did make her feel uncomfortable, this was better than being called a freak. At least Robin was there, and he loved her for who she was.
Across from them, Nicholas was smiling sweetly at her, and she suddenly felt very warm.
-Congratulations...,- he said, -and welcome to Gryffindor...
Isabel smiled gratefully at him, blushing.
-Thank you...
A weight that had been placed on her, whether mentally or spiritually, was lifted from her. She felt light now, as if the tougher part of the test, being accepted, had passed, and for the first time in years, Isabel thought that perhaps she had been wrong all along.
Muirnin, Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!!! I was so nervous about posting this, and I'm so glad you liked this... It makes me really happy to know that you understand, and it actually makes me want to keep writing. And thanks for the compliment on my english; I try, since I'm majoring in it. Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy and review this chapter as well.
Pipergirl2003 Thanks for reviewing my story!!! This is the second chapter, but I'll try to update as soon as I can.