Black Day for Gryffindor
by: LaurelRose
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone here but Shena. Everything else is JK Rowling's. sigh…where are you, fifth book!
She got off the train. No one wanted to sit with her, so she had an entire compartment to herself. Whispers followed her.
"Is that…"
"They let her in?"
"Her father was You-Know-Who's right-hand man!"
Cold blue eyes darted up at that last comment, as she fixed the speaker with a frigid stare. Shenandoah Black was told she looked like her father, the same ice blue eyes and black hair. Said curly hair was pulled back in a braid, reaching mid-back, the perfect length to tug on. Shena stayed away from others, lost in quiet thought.
I don't want to go to Slytherin. All those rotters think that's where I'm headed…my father wasn't evil, was he? He was friends with the Potters, was an Auror, he married my mother!
Shena didn't know much about her father. Raised in a muggle orphanage, the letter to Hogwarts was explained as paid for by a family trust. Professor McGonagall explained her family's history, including her own second sight, a gift (or curse, depending) from her mother, Heather Foxglove, one of the best seers to go through Hogwarts. If she had survived, Heather would likely be teaching Divination.
As the first years reached the Great Hall, Shena saw the sorting hat, sitting before the headmaster's table. You are my destiny, she thought.
black…night…what's in the forest? Harry, don't go in there!
Shena looked at the famous Harry Potter. Something's going to happen to him this year. He sat there, inconspicuous, completely normal. Stupid visions!
"Abbott, Hannah!" The sorting ceremony had begun. Hannah Abbot was made a Hufflepuff, and then, "Black, Shenandoah!"
A hush fell over the crowd of students. Shena walked up to the Sorting Hat and slowly placed it on her head.
"Hello, daughter of the stars. I've been waiting for you."
Shena remained silent.
"Where to put you…you obviously want to prove yourself, so Slytherin would be a good fit…"
No…no! Not Slytherin!
"Well…you've got a good heart, once people win your trust…Hufflepuff might be a stretch…but…a very good mind, especially your gift. Ravenclaw? And you were brave to come here, what with what McGonagall told you about your father.
"What do you want?"
I…I want to be in the same house my father was…as long as it isn't Slytherin…I want to learn about him and my mother…please not Slytherin…please! Tears began to leak out of her eyes.
"Well, it isn't very often that I can grant a wish like this. Your father wasn't a bad sort, really, he had a good heart. Just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, got outthought for once.
"If the same house as your father is what you want…better be…GRYFFINDOR!"
No cheering, no sound. Shena got off the stool, laid the hat on it, and walked off toward Gryffindor. Tears were leaking out of her eyes.
Papa was a Gryffindor…he can't be all bad. I'll make him proud! She sat down at the table, looked around at the students and burst into tears.
"She probably wanted to be in Slytherin," whispered a Ravenclaw.
"Shut up!" One of the Weasleys, either Fred or George, cast a dark look at said Ravenclaw. "Don't cry, Shenandoah. You're with family now."
"Shena. That's what my friends call me. Shenandoah means daughter of the stars."
"Well, then, Shena, meet the rest of your house."
A/N: There you go. I've been sitting on this for a while, and it needed to come out. I felt that Sirius had another reason for changing Secret Keepers, and that will come out later. Review please!