Author's Note: Hey guys, just wanted to let you know a few things about the story.
This is slightly AU.
The timeline is a bit different from the actual books, you'll see later on.
Like Rachel, everyone is in their 5th year. I will note otherwise if there is someone not in the same year.
Regulus is a 5th year as well. For the sake of the story, he was born on August 24th, 1960, a little over 9 months after Sirius was born.
"blah blah" - regular speech
"blah blah" - raised voice/shout
'blah blah' - Sorting hat talking to Rachel
blah blah - Rachel's thoughts
As this is an OC story, I do expect that there will be people complaining about the possibility that the character could end up being a Mary Sue and while I am perfectly content with constructive criticism and advice, I may or may not make any changes. Please be aware, this is my story, and I intend to keep it out of Mary Sue territory as they annoy me as well, but I will not change my character to suit other people's taste.
Warning: There will be cursing.
I am researching the Harry Potter world while writing this, so I hope that everything will make sense and flow well with the story but please, let me know if I have something wrong, like where a certain room is on a floor, character names, etc.
Also, please thank UltimateGryffindork, for betaing this story! She has been wonderful in suggesting changes and fixing my awful grammar. XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 1
The Great Hall was lively with chatter, students clambering to talk with each other about summer breaks before the sorting began. The infamous Marauders were drawing much of the attention, girls glancing over and whispering to their friends, blushing and giggling, happy to be back in the presence of the handsome boys and the boys laughing at their theatrics or muttering jealous whispers to their friends. Lily Evans was turning down yet another one of James' invitation to date him, rolling her eyes and telling him to once more, leave her alone. He grinned and sauntered back to his place in the center of the Gryffindor table, the rest of the Marauders following. Sirius winked at the girls he passed, eliciting bashful giggles and whispers from them while Remus shook his head, smiling softly at Lily as Peter skittered after them, his watery blue eyes darting around.
In the only quiet corner of the Hall sat the Slytherins, many chatting quietly with each other, some glaring or sneering at the noise the other houses were making. Most of these students were sitting tall and proud, befitting of their elite pureblood status, somewhat rigid in their movements. Regulus Black sat near the front middle of the table, surrounded by his fellow elites, quietly waiting for the Sorting to begin. He glanced at his older brother once, quickly moving his gaze back to his fellow elites with a hardened look.
Finally, Dumbledore stood and smiled over the Great Hall, the students falling quiet. "Welcome back to another year, students. I expect that you are all hungry and anxious to eat after your long trip back, so please, let us begin welcoming our new students." A raucous applause occurred, students hungry to eat and whispering how many new students will be in which house to each other.
The doors open slowly, causing the students whispers to fall to a hush, everyone turning in their seats to try and catch a glimpse of the new students. The students slowly walked in, led by Professor McGonagall, many staring in awe at the ceiling, drawing grins from the older students as they remembered their first time in the Great Hall.
Amongst these first years was another girl in the back, slightly taller than the rest, who seemed to be torn between staring at the ceiling in awe with the rest of the students and sending incredulous glances at the taller students who were of similar height. The girl had long straight brown hair, falling to mid-back with some golden touches and hazel-green eyes that changed color tones as her eyes swept around the room. McGonagall, having finally reached the stool where the Sorting Hat sat, called for silence with a glance around the Hall.
The tall girl at the back stared at the Hat, cocking her head to the side, wondering what a hat had to do with the sorting process. Shaking her head, waiting for the bustling hall to quiet down, she glanced once more around the crowd of eleven year olds that she stood with.
Eleven years old and half of them are as tall as I am, what the heck? What do people feed these kids here…I need to get me some of that stuff...hmm...hopefully the food is good here, she thought, starting to drift off into her own daydreams about food. Her tummy had started rumbling outside the Great Hall and she was starting to regret her choice not to eat lunch due to nerves.
She gave a start when she felt someone step on her foot. Coming back from her daydream, she noticed that the hall had gone quiet and just caught a glimpse of the Hat, opening its pseudo-mouth before she heard it start to sing.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
Though I may choose,
The correct house for you,
Based on primary qualities,
Do not let that cloud your view.
Some things are hidden deep within,
The proud can be humble,
The sweet can be cold,
The clever can be dense,
The ambitious can be selfless.
And let us not forgot,
Not all things are as they seem,
Take this to heart and mind,
And journey forward.
Though the path may be dark,
There is always a crossroads that,
May lead to light.
Well now, uh…that was unexpected…a talking hat…magic still confounds me to this day, even after 4 years, should I be concerned about that? The girl mused to herself, raising both brows in silent shock.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward then, with a long-unfurled scroll, looking as rigid as a pole, making the girl wonder if her back hurt from the tense muscles. She was brought back to the present when the professor began to read off the list, "Alice Aslan," and watched as a young blonde girl walked up to the chair nervously, placing the hat on her head.
"Ravenclaw!" The cry came, from, once again, the pseudo-mouth of the hat.
The girl looked incredulously at the hat, glancing around her to see others reactions, some first years looked shocked while a great majority seemed nonchalant.
Well okie dokey then…talking hat is officially normal…I guess I can't be too judgmental though, Ilvermorny has carvings that choose our houses. Rachel nodded her head along to her thoughts a bit, still much in her own mind, slowly starting once more to day dream about food as her stomach rumbled again.
"Perseus Zaxl."
Torn from her thoughts, she looked up again and noticed that she was now alone in front of the Great Hall, the last student sitting in the chair waiting for their sorting to be done.
"Slytherin!" The hat shouted once more, the table at the far-left applauding while the house in red booed.
Booing an eleven-year-old? Way to stay classy… she thought, frowning at the boos she heard behind her.
After Perseus walked down to his new house, McGonagall stepped back from the stool, Dumbledore taking her place, drawing confused glances and whispers from the students as they wondered what was going on. The tall girl, knowing what was coming next, started fidgeting. Darn it, I didn't think he would make this a big deal, urgh, way to make a girl feel awkward, Headmaster, she thought to herself, playing with her fingers.
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling glancing around the room, stopping on several faces before finally fixing his gaze on the girl standing at the steps fidgeting from the attention.
"This year, I am most pleased to announce that we have a transfer student from the United States magic school, Ilvermorny, Rachel Villari. She will be placed in the 5th year class, so please give her a warm welcome dear 5th year students. Now then dear, please let us get you sorted so you can meet your fellow students and everyone can eat." He gestured to the stool and Rachel walked up the stairs, turned, and sat on the stool, flashing a small smile at the Headmaster as she did so.
McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
Well this is different, sitting on a stool with a Hat on my head to get sorted, very different from Ilvermorny, Rachel mused in her head.
'Why yes, it is quite different, isn't?' Rachel jumped slightly, startled by the voice in her head.
Shit! What the? So, you talk in our heads too? …that's a tad creepy… Rachel thought, twitching slightly, trying to hold her thoughts back a bit from the hat.
'Hahaha, yes I do, child, though I resent the creepiness remark,' the Sorting Hat replied in an amused but slightly insulted tone.
Rachel raised her eyebrows at that. Really? What would you call someone looking at your private thoughts with no hello or how do you do?
The Sorting hat paused at that, and Rachel tilted her head, wondering if something had happened. '…Fair enough…I see you at least have a good sense of logic then, shall I continue looking to sort you now?' Rachel pursed her lips, trying not to laugh, glancing at Dumbledore who still stood quite close to her. They locked gazes for a moment, Rachel letting a soft snort pass as she caught his twinkling, amused eyes, as if he knew what had occurred.
'Well now, I see you've had an interesting life so far, very high curiosity and a love for books and learning, certainly qualities befitting of a Ravenclaw. However it seems you do not like studying and have quite a tendency to procrastinate, and hmm, a very lax attention span, boredom sets in quick with you, perhaps not Ravenclaw then,' The Sorting Hat mused, Rachel let out a breath at this.
Thank God…studying 24/7…ain't that much of a bookworm…thank you very much, she thought, forgetting that the Sorting Hat could hear her thoughts.
The Sorting Hat chuckled. 'Well I think I can cross out Gryffindor as well, while you seem to have quite a lot of bravery, if only in the face of your loved ones in danger you aren't brash or very outgoing, much more of a loner, choosing to spend time by yourself.' Rachel nodded along with the Hat, completely agreeing, drawing amused and confused glances from the crowd at the front of the table that could clearly see her gestures.
'Now down to two options left, although I think I can disregard Slytherin. You do not have high ambition nor are you very cunning, though I see you can be very cold to those who hurt you or your loved ones.' Rachel smiled darkly at that, laughing silently in her head, remembering certain past events.
'Also extremely independent, you do not like to be told by others, except those you consider family, what you should do with your life, and even then, you can get angered quickly. Stubborn and fiercely independent, much like the Pukwudgie itself, I can see why you were placed in the Pukwudgie house.'
The Sorting Hat suddenly seemed lighter, talking fondly now, rather differently from the amused searching tone that he was using previously. 'However, I see that you are patient and polite as well as incredibly loyal and a great believer in fairness, remarkable qualities for one such as young as you.'
'Hufflepuffs have always been the ones to branch out of their houses to make friends and only judge based on the individual themselves. I always felt they were some of the bravest, stepping out of their protective house barriers, never having too much issue with anyone. In times such as these, the number of allies you have can change the tide of this coming war. I bid you luck in your journey.'
"Hufflepuff!" Shouted the Sorting Hat, immediately breaking the silence of the room as the table with students in yellow and black erupted into applause, the other students following in a calmer tone. Rachel took off the hat and placed it gently on the stool again, patting it gently, thanking it for the amusing conversation. Turning to look at Dumbledore, she smiled and nodded at him and then turned and walked to her new house, sitting in an open spot at the table.
"Now then, the sorting has finished, and so comes the time for my speech. As our friends over the Atlantic Ocean in the United States say," Rachel looked up at this, wondering what he was going to say, "Groovy! Tubular! Zoinks! Can you Dig it? Now then, let's dig in! And Keep on Keepin on! Peace!" Rachel snorted, shocked, and then after continuing to listen, slapped her hands over her mouth and huddled over the table, her body shaking with suppressed laughter.
That was beautiful, hot dang, I'm already loving this school, that was hysterical, she thought to herself, starting to calm down, but when she looked up and saw the dumbfounded faces of her new classmates, she fell into new hysterics.
Suddenly the tables were full of food, making Rachel jump in her seat, having not expected it as she was still trying to calm down from her most recent bought of laughter. Looking around once more after wiping the tears of laughter, she noticed everyone starting to grab food from the platters and eat.
"Hi, I'm Hannah, Hannah McLeod, I'll be one of your dorm mates, it's really nice to meet you, welcome to Hogwarts," the voice came from in front of Rachel, and looking up she noticed a pretty blonde girl smiling at her, next to another girl, this one a brunette.
"And I'm Sara Pierce, your second and last dorm mate, it's nice to meet you as well, how are you finding your new surroundings?" the brunette asked, smiling kindly.
Rachel smiled, happy to see that her dorm mates seemed nice, "hello to you both as well, thank you for the welcome. So far, it's been nice, I've always wanted to travel around, though still a bit disorienting at the moment, I'm just hoping I won't get lost too much around here. Though knowing my luck, I will," she laughed lightly, starting to fill her own plate.
Sara laughed lightly, "I know what you mean, I honestly think getting lost is part of the fun though, there are a lot of secrets in the halls, so finding new places is always fun, except when you get lost trying to get to classes. The professors are reasonable for a few days, but get strict after a while, but don't worry, we can help you."
Rachel smiled thankfully at both, "thank you. Now, what exactly is this drink, and is it good?" She asked, holding up her glass of pumpkin juice, both eyebrows raised in question.
Hannah looked at her questioningly, "Ilvermorny doesn't have this drink? It's pumpkin juice, very good It's one of the staple drinks here, you can always find it on the table."
Rachel shook her head. "No, Ilvermorny really only had water, iced tea, coffee and hot tea. Well, I do like pumpkin though, so should be good," she said, taking a sip. Finding it to be pleasant, she smiled and continued drinking, parched now from talking and eating.
Hannah and Sara nodded understandingly, and they continued eating, chatting lightly until the feast was over.
After the feast was finished, Hannah and Sara led Rachel to the Hufflepuff Common Room, showing her how to enter. Stepping through the entrance behind the other two girls, Rachel stopped short, looking around in awe.
Oh wow! I love this! It's gorgeous! Well, I'm going to have to paint or sketch this baby, *sigh* 3 years in this heavenly room, I hit the jackpot, she thought, looking around at the honey wood and plants, the whole room having a sunny nature feel, warm and cozy.
"I know, right? I still say we got the best common room of all, right Han?" Sara laughed nudging Hannah, noticing Rachel was staring around in awe.
"Yep!" Hannah giggled lightly, looking around with Rachel fondly. "Well, we'd better get some sleep now, tomorrow is an early day, and I'm tuckered out from this day." Hannah said, leading them both up to their dorm room.
As she opened the door, two black and white blurs shot forward, climbing up Rachel until they reached her shoulders, purring. Shocked, Sara and Hannah looked at Rachel, and saw that the two blurs were kittens, one all white with amber eyes and the other all black with green-hazel eyes, much like their owners.
Rachel, laughing, introduced them, "Sorry about that, they must have been going crazy, they haven't left my side for quite a few days so I guess they missed me. I feel so proud about that... anyway, this little one is Feliciano," she said, carefully reaching up and patting the white one on the head, "and this one is Romano," petting the black one.
"Aww, they're adorable!" Both replied, glancing at the other with a grin when they realized they said it at the same time. Rachel laughed and they proceeded to get ready for bed, both girls taking the time to pet the kittens. Feliciano purred up a storm at the attention while Romano shrunk back at first, not trusting them, but seeing Rachel smile at him, allowed the girls to pet him for a bit before jumping on Rachel's bed, after she tucked herself in. Feli followed him, and they proceeded to fight for a bit before Romano won and curled up next to Rachel's head while Feli, whimpering, went to curl up at the foot of the bed.
Rachel, having watched the whole thing, raised her eyebrows at Romano, "you boys are so bad," she whispered laughing. Romano glanced at her and seemed to huff. Rachel shook her head, rolling her eyes at him fondly before snuggling into the blankets, and falling asleep.
Thank you so much for reading!
Please use the review button below if you have anything to comment on. XD