We arrived outside Hogwarts at around about 12, I had to say from the outside it looked more daunting than I had imagined, on the way the way up the courtyard steps towards the great oak door it dawned on me again that this was it, I was probably never going back to Beauxbatons and at a stretch never going back to my beloved France.I was stuck here in what looked to be my own persona hell, a tall Scottish woman with the lopsided hat opened the doors and with her hand indicated for my aunt and I to enter. Walking through the labyrinth like halls even I had to admit that this castle had a sort of charm, I couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was but It was there. As my aunt and the stern woman in front continued on, I trailed behind to look in detail at the various portraits, I noticed that along the crevices of the pictures there was a large amount of dust, I smiled because at Beauxbatons that wouldn't have been tolerated Madam Maxime would have had the caretakers head. We ground to a halt outside a large ugly gargoyle, I had been there all of the 5 minutes and was already seriously wondering who in their right mind deemed the decor of this castle acceptable and from the look upon my aunt's face, she was wondering very much the same thing.
The woman with the crooked hat muttered something to the gargoyle that I could have sworn sounded like Ice Mice, but I dismissed it because no sane person would use that as a password I thought as I ascended the spiral staircase that had appeared from behind the Gargoyle. The grand office that we entered appeared was empty, the crooked hat lady pulled out a seat for my aunt and began to tell her that she had heard good things about me. I on the other hand, could never resist a nosy so I began to look for interesting things to fiddle with, I was not let down, this office was awash with interesting artifacts, in one corner there was a wall full of what I guessed were portraits of past headmasters, books littered shelves that surrounded me I even spied one strange looking little book with a black hole going straight through it.I went to pick it up, but my attention was suddenly drawn to a beautiful bird nearby that had suddenly ruffled it gorgeous golden feathers. cautiously I moved closer making sure not to startle it, once I approached its cage it turned its head to me, Gently I stuck mu index finger through the gap in the bars. The bird moved its head forward and playfully nipped my finger and with new found confidence I began to stroke its feathered head, I then began to make clicking noises with my tongue to coax the bird further forwards as an unknown figure came up behind me.
"His name's Fawkes" Startled I pulled my hand from the cage as if it had scolded me and turned around, The figure was very tall, had a long silver beard and half-moon spectacles, behind the spectacles lay kind eyes with laugh lines surrounding them. Sensing I wasn't it trouble I extended my hand as I had been taught at Beauxbatons, to my surprise he grasped my hand in both his warm ones. "I'm Albus Dumbledore," He said, I politely told him my name then bowed my head in a customary fashion, Dumbledore chuckled to himself and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm flattered Miss Wintertide, but really there is no need for these formalities, you aren't at Beauxbatons anymore" I don't know what It was, I suppose it could have been a combination of his soft smile, warm voice and steady hand, but I raised my head and then strolled over to my aunt and extended his hand, my aunt accepted and introduced herself while the stern looking woman completely unperturbed by his sudden appearance handed him my files and stood up. She walked over to the dusty old hat I had noticed and beckoned for me, I didn't understand the situation one bit, but I walked politely over.
"Could you please take a seat Miss Wintertide?" She asked
I slowly descended upon the seat that she had vacated minutes before. Dumbledore came and stood behind my aunt's hands clasping the back and If I wasn't mistaken his face was adorned with a look of almost excitement. My confusion must have shown on my face because before I knew it he began explain what the hat did, I spoke up after he mentioned that the hat sorted the wearer into one of the four houses.
"You expect me to put that on," I asked with mild disgust
"Yes miss Wintertide, we do" Replied The crooked hat witch sternly
But I stammered it looks filthy and I don't know who wore it previous- Before I could finish the hat itself interrupted me sounding very put out.
" Excuse me I am perfectly clean I have been sorting fist years for generations and you are the only one to have complained"
I bowed my head again and muttered sorry to the Hat before asking if it was able to sort 5th years. Dumbledore's eyes crinkled into a smile as he replied
" Most of the children the hat sorts are first years yes, But It is able to sort those that are older, it just means you may be put into a house that you might not have been when you were a first year, our personalities change over the years but better late than never"
I bowed my head again this time with a smile adorning my face, The strict looking witch must have taken this as a signal because she promptly placed the hat on my head without a word. I didn't actually realise the hat was on my head until it began to speak it felt as though it was actually in my brain speaking from inside my head, it began to deliberate.
" Hmmm, interesting, long line of Ravenclaws in your family I see, Oh and Slytherin but not many Hufflepuffs or Gryffindor's what a shame."
The hat paused then began to mutter things I couldn't quite catch, so I spoke up "Excuse me I can't hear you I whispered. The hat then began to speak louder
" you're as Loyal as a Hufflepuff and it will be your undoing, You're cunning like a Slytherin but not selfish enough, Smart like a Ravenclaw but not patient enough to make any real academic breakthroughs, But bravery, you have it in buckets, but your issues with trust will not bode well for Gryffindor"
I suddenly became scared, I didn't want my entire future decided by a hat of all thing so I took the matter into my own hands.
" Mr Dumbledore what house was he in?"
"Gryfinndore"
"And that lady in the hat"
" Professor McGonagall was also in Gryffindor"
" Are they good people"
" Some of the best you will ever meet"
"Then I want to be in their house"
"Okay GRYFINDOR"
As though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders I looked up into the bright smiling eyes of Dumbledore as he clapped proudly to his left my aunt also sat clapping gently looking bemused but proud. McGonagall lifted the hat off my head and placed it back in its proper place as Dumbledore began to speak.
" Well that was interesting never seen someone have such a long conversation with a hat" He smiled
I blushed and looked at the floor as McGonagall spoke
"I will take you to your house common room and dorms"
She led the way out the room and just as I was about to exit Dumbledor grabbed the crook of my elbow gently he had a sad look in his eye this time.
"Miss Wintertide your aunt has led me to believe that in France the name Wintertide is looked upon favourably please don't expect that here especially not in Gryffindor, the war hit people harder here than in France, please remember that.
When he had finished speaking he fished in his robes and pulled out a brown bag.
" Ice Mice" he offered
I took one and smiled politely then turned to we walked through the halls McGonagall began explaining the history of the school, but I was too preoccupied to listen, What did Professor Dumbledore mean my ancestors were good people, Wintertides were good people, weren't they?