Hello everyone! My first Harry Potter story. I hope you all like it, and don't forget to leave a review so I know what you think.
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Year One, September 1
It was raining heavily as she stepped up to the platform. Pausing for a moment in front of the step up, she collected herself, then pulled herself up into the train without looking back. Once inside the compartment, she proceeded to find a room with fewer people, so she could have a bit of peace on her way to her first year. She was nervous enough as it was, and she needed to sit and think for a moment. Not to mention dry off a bit. The rain had started pouring down in buckets before she had reached the station, and she was stupid enough to pack her umbrella where she couldn't get to it. She made a mental note to never forget something like that again. For all she knew next time she would be forgetting her boots in the snow.
She found an empty compartment and yanked open the door so hard it hit the end with a loud 'crack!'. Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, she slipped inside and began to wring out some of her outer garments. She couldn't do anything about her inner layer of clothing, except wait for a good time to change into her robes. She'd need to at least wait until the train was halfway there. Or until it was moving, for that matter.
Hearing a clatter from outside the compartment, she turned and faced the door. Seconds later, it opened to reveal a slightly disheveled looking girl with red hair and bright green eyes.
"Oh! I'm sorry..I didn't think anyone was in here. Say, can I sit in here with you? All the other compartments are full," the girl stammered.
"It's fine with me," she replied politely.
"Thanks..." the girl said, obviously relieved.
Moments later a crash was heard and and the compartment door was shoved open a second time, four boys scrambling in the closing it behind them quickly. One of the boys turned around and saw them. "Uh...hi," he said breathlessly. The other three boys whipped around at that statement then three of them seemed to gather themselves and went to sit down on the seats across from the two girls. The other smaller boy took a little more time a sort of edged his way over. When they were settled the boy with the messy black hair and glasses took charge. "Hey. Who are you?" he asked the girl with the red hair, leaning back against the seat and folding his arms across his chest.
"Lily Evans," Lily replied.
"And you?" he asked, gesturing to the first girl who had been in the car, who was now watching silently with a slight smile on her face. She stood at once and curtsied slightly.
"I'm sorry. Lisënnda Marië Liliru Sasanekü Dænate, at your service." She saw the looks of confusion on the faces of the five other passengers. "Or, if you prefer, Lise Denate."
"Oh. Well, um, I'm James Potter, and these guys are Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, Mr. Pettigrew, and Miss Evans."
"Lisewise," Sirius answered coolly. "So what year are you in?"
"I'm just starting this year. And you?"
"Same. You, Lily?"
"I'm a first year also."
"Awesome!" Sirius exclaimed. "We're all in the same year!"
"However, we may not be placed in the same houses," Lise added.
"True..."
"I'm not really sure what house I would be placed in."
They talked like this for the rest of the train ride, then just as they were about to reach Hogwarts, they realized that none of them were in their robes. There was a mad scramble, then the decided that they would both have to change in the same compartment, but facing different ways. After five minutes of Sirius trying to turn around and peek, they were finished. In perfect timing it turned out, because as soon as the sat down the train slowed and stopped. Peering out the window, Lise gasped. "I-it's huge!"
The compartment door slid open and they filed out, trying to figure out where to go, then they heard a voice calling above the crowds. "Firs' years this way!"
The followed the voice until it led them to a group of other first years, and from there walked and rowed to the castle, where they were met by a stern looking woman dressed in emerald green. "Welcome to Hogwarts." she said. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremoney because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family withing Hogwarts..."
"Darn." Serius whispered. "And the only reason I came here was to get away from my family.."
"...and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten youselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
She walked into the Great Hall.
"'Smarten youselves up as much as you can?' What does she think she's saying?" A boy with greasy black hair was saying. "I'd heard that the teaching here was getting worse, but, really."
Moments later the doors to the Great Hall opened and the first years all streamed into the giant room and stood in a line, waiting to be sorted.
"Adlo, Miranda!"
And so the Sorting began.
"Black, Sirius!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Carlon, Jeffery!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Cleanwood, Ashleigh!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Cutlen, Jacob!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Dænate, Lisënnda!"
Oh, Hufflepuff, definately. But what is this? My, my, my...Slytherin, perhaps? No, that wouldn't do. You seem to be a very special witch, am I right? You are the first I've seen come to Hogwarts in a long, long, time. Well, no matter. We'll just have to compromise.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
A loud burst of cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, and Lise took a seat next to Sirius, who was grinning like mad. "Great! Now we just need to see if they make the cut, right?" he said, referring of course to James, Remus, Peter, and Lily.
"I suppose so."
After quite a few more names were called and people sorted, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and Lise were all seated together at the table. Dumbledore stood up to make his customary speech.
"Welcome to all first years, and welcome back everyone else! Now before you all dig in, I have a few short announcements!"
The entire student population, with the exception of a few of the politer students (such as Lise), groaned silently.
"First of all, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Anyone found there will be assigned detention and will loose a good amount of house points. Also, there has been a new tree planted on the grounds this year. I must ask you all to stay away from the Whomping Willow, and therefore avoid the horrible injury you would recieve from it. With that being said, let's eat!
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There. Not exactly a cliffhanger, but there are a few things left unsaid. Like, why did the Sorting Hat want to place her in two completely different houses? And what did it mean by 'special'? Oh, and by the way, I am going to be placing some chapter with information on subjects relevant to the story throughout the story. I just can't put them into the beginning, because it would spoil many surprises....Now go review! Scoot!