A/N: Okay, so I've been writing this for a verryyy long time. I have it all planned out and everything so please be patient if you don't warm to the new characters straight away as it is ultimately the story of the Marauders. At least make it to chapter two, when it's up. :P.
Bit of background: The OC's are based upon myself and my friends and I tried to tie us in with the Marauders and then came up with a way that explains what happens in the HP universe. The focus of the story is on everyone though, not just the OC's, as the story does progress past Hogwarts.
Thank you for taking the time to read! Reviews are appreciated, even if it is just to tell me that you won't be reading more! I really do hope you enjoy it!
An Introduction
It was September 1st 1971 and children from all over Britain were preparing to set off for another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Parents were pushing trolleys with an assortment of odd looking items through Kings Cross Station, in London, and were receiving weird looks from non-magical people – muggles. If the 'muggles' had bothered looking at them hard enough they would have seen the odd looking people disappearing into the gap between platforms nine and ten.
Platform 9 and ¾ (the platform from which the Hogwarts Express operated) was full of families bidding their children goodbye, and to owl them once a week, not to play too many pranks, not to get into too much trouble and detentions, to make sure their house won the House Cup and to win the Quidditch Cup! Children (and teenagers) were furiously ignoring their parents and the older students were looking around for their friends and stowing their trunks in an empty compartment on the train saving it for when their friends arrived.
Most of the scared looking children were eleven year old witches and wizards, ready to start their first year at Hogwarts. These were the children who were clinging to parents and being wary about getting on the train. Some were bursting with confidence, but quickly got pushed out of the way by older students. At quarter to eleven, however, parents were pushing their offspring onto the train, telling them to get a seat and pack their luggage away as the train would be leaving in fifteen minutes.
It was at thirteen minutes to eleven that Peter Pettigrew arrived on the platform followed by his parents Ross and Jemima, and younger brother Caden. Jemima was followed by Holly Jameson, Rick and Shane Blue and Mirren Crowley. Six of the eight then impatiently turned back to the apparently solid wall and sighed. Moments later a giggling Ruby-Jane Pettigrew, twin of Peter, Mackenzey Jameson and Troy Blue came through, and Hunter Crowley then appeared behind them, rolling his eyes. As the six parents shook their heads Ruby-Jane and Peter's older sister, Alixxandria, and Troy's elder brother, Jack, pushed their way through from the back of the group.
"Siblings! Who'd have them?" Jack asked Alixx.
"Y'know, we ask ourselves that every day," Ruby-Jane replied, grinning.
Jack gave her a friendly push. "Watch it!"
Jemima and Holly rolled their eyes. "C'mon, the train… Now!"
Giggling still, the three first year girls pulled their trunks to the train, followed by the more dignified Hunter, and the sighing third year students Alixx and Jack. Caden watched anxiously, a wanton expression on his face.
"I want to go, Mum!"
"Next year, darling," Jemima soothed. "Peter, come on, the train leaves in seven minutes!"
Shuffling, Peter slowly gathered his belongings and walked to the train.
"Come here, son," Ross said gruffly, picking up the trunk easily and pushing it on the train for Peter.
"Thanks, Dad," Peter thanked his father, before gazing into the train.
"Pete! There you are! Thought I'd lost you!" Ruby-Jane appeared from inside one of the compartments and began pulling his trunk through the door. Peter smiled and helped Ruby-Jane with his trunk.
Together they stowed the trunk on a luggage rack before leaving the compartment with Mackenzey, Troy and Hunter. Alixx and Jack had long since disappeared to find their friends.
"Yes, Mum, I promise to write every week!" Mackenzey was telling her mum when the whistle blew as Troy was telling her parents she would do everything Jack told her to, crossing her fingers at the same time.
"Okay, baby, but…"
"Mum! I've got to go!" Mackenzey told Holly exasperatedly.
Each eleven year old gave their respective parents a hug, then went round the group hugging each adult and promising different things. Alixx and Jack, back to wish their parents a quick goodbye, watched in amusement.
"It's a great feeling, that not being us this year," Alixx said. Jack nodded in agreement.
"Bye, Mum!" Jack called. "Bye, Dad! See you next year!" Alixx did the same, and both headed back onto the train.
"Oh, my babies," Jemima sobbed, her arm around her husband. "Just one left!"
Shane grinned. "Both mine are gone. Peace at last!"
Rick laughed. "Maybe we should try for another," he winked.
"No way!" Shane looked horrified.
All six adults laughed.
"Eww," Caden said, looking like he was going to be sick.
"Aw, honey, I'm sorry," Shane told him, ruffling his hair.
"I can't wait till I'm off next year!" he declared.
"I'm sure you can't, son," Mirren Crowley, Hunter's grandfather, said. "But, until then, you're stuck with us!"
Caden groaned.
Alixx and Jack were sitting in the same compartment, for once. Last year their friends had agreed to hang out together, despite them being from different houses, for the sake of their friends.
"We're going to check on the sibs, will you lot be all right?" Jack asked. Nods from the other five in the compartment made Alixx grin.
"We won't be too long, try not to kill each other," she warned, getting up and sliding the door open.
"And if you do," Jack added. "Don't make too much mess, we don't want to have to clean it up!" Laughing, the third years left the compartment to find their siblings.
A couple of carriages down Alixx found the five friends. She grinned round at them all. "How are we all, then?"
"Fine, sissy, you?" Ruby-Jane replied.
Alixx made to hit Ruby-Jane lightly on the head. "No more cheek from you, Missy,"
"Aw," Ruby-Jane made a face.
"Pete? How are you holding up?" Alixx asked her brother.
"I'm all right thanks, Alixx," Peter smiled. "And you know Ruby will always be there!"
"Mm," Alixx looked sceptical. She knew her sister would intend to be there, but sometimes that girl just forgot things… Like her twin. "All right then…"
"Troy? What is that on your head?" Jack asked, looking at the mottled brown thing on his sister's head.
"Heh, it's Hunter's granddad's fishing hat."
"He gave it to me for good luck at Hogwarts," Hunter added, not looking in the least abashed by the incredulous look on Jack's face.
"Riiiggghhhttt,"
"Yeah, and we're good too," Mackenzey added, indicating herself and Hunter, as the older students turned to leave.
"Good," Jack grinned. "See you then! And good luck at the sorting!" They left, and Peter asked what they meant by good luck.
"Oh, nothing Pete," Mackenzey said. "Mum told me to ignore anything those two say, they're just trying to scare us,"
"I wouldn't put it past either of them," Troy muttered, shaking her fist at the door where her brother had been.
They all laughed, until a knock on the door interrupted them. A boy and a girl, both scared looking first years, appeared. The boy stepped forward and nervously asked if they could sit there as some nasty looking sixth years had stolen their compartment.
"Sure," Troy pushed Ruby-Jane up toward the window, whilst Mackenzey and Hunter stood up to let them in. The girl slid in next to Peter, and the boy slid up next to her. Mackenzey then squashed on the end, whilst Hunter sat down next to Troy.
"Hi," Ruby-Jane said brightly.
"Hi," the boy replied.
"Are you muggleborn?" Troy asked, bluntly.
"Um, yeah," the boy answered hesitantly. "We both are,"
"That explains a lot," Troy muttered, earning herself a nudge in the ribs by Ruby-Jane.
"Anyhow, I'm Mackenzey Jameson and my Mum's a witch. Dad left when I was a baby… But he's a muggle. So I'm a half blood." Mackenzey told them, easing the two newcomers into conversation.
"I'm Ruby-Jane Pettigrew, and this is my brother Peter," Peter nodded at them. "We're twins," she said, unnecessarily. "Both our parents are half bloods, so we are too…"
"Hunter, Hunter Crowley. Pureblood. Great grandson to Alistair Crowley, the great Black magician of the 20th century…"
"Stuff it, Hunter!" Troy said.
"If you wanna know any more, just ask, when this lot," he jerked his thumb at the girls, "aren't around,"
The boy grinned. "Will do."
"Troy…" Ruby-Jane said.
Troy rolled her eyes. "Troy Blue, half blood," she gave grudgingly.
"And you are…?" Mackenzey asked.
"I'm Chris Foxx… Muggleborn…" The boy replied.
Everyone turned to look at the girl. "I… I'm Kerris… Venturi. M-Muggleborn,"
"Nice to meet you," Hunter said. "No need to be so nervous, we don't bite, honest," he winked at her, and earned himself a small smile in return.
"So, what house do you reckon we'll be in?" Mackenzey asked.
"Slytherin," Hunter answered immediately. "After all, I am a Pureblood, and my whole family has been in Slytherin…"
"Jack's in Slytherin," Troy offered, "and I doubt I'll be going to Gryffindork or Hufflepouff,"
"Hey! My parents were in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff!" Ruby-Jane argued.
"I know," Troy grinned. "But seriously, I doubt they're for me. So Slytherin it is."
"Well, Alixx is in Ravenclaw, but neither Peter nor I are that smart… Y'know. So I think Hufflepuff for me… Probably," Ruby-Jane said.
"I don't know where I'll be going…" Peter said, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Gryffindor," Ruby-Jane replied instantly. "It's where you belong, whether you believe it or not,"
"Suuurrreeee. I rather believe Hufflepuff," Peter voiced his disbelief.
"You'll see," Ruby-Jane grinned.
"Hmm, well Mum was a Hufflepuff, too," Mackenzey said, "And I don't think I'm brave enough for Gryffindor or clever enough for Ravenclaw. So, it's probably Hufflepuff for me,"
"I've been reading about the houses," Chris spoke up, "And I reckon either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor is where I'll end up,"
"Kerris?" Ruby-Jane asked.
"Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff… Maybe," She replied, gaining some confidence at being invited to join the conversation.
"So, we've deduced that, then," Troy said.
"We always knew it'd be unlikely we'd stay together," Mackenzey added.
"Didn't stop us hoping," Ruby-Jane finished.
Seeing the looks on Chris and Kerris' faces, Hunter explained. "We've all known each other since we were really young. All their parents went to school together, and my Granddad knew Peter and Ruby's grandma, before she died… So we all grew up together…"
"Yeah, the best of friends!" Ruby-Jane said.
"Sometimes, I wonder why," Troy laughed, giving Ruby a weird look.
"Mm, me too," Mackenzey agreed with Troy.
"Hey, you don't have to live with her!" Peter exclaimed,
"Aaaah, if we're both in Hufflepuff, I will do!" Mackenzey yelled in horror.
"Sucker!" Troy and Hunter said in unison.
Ruby sulked in the corner.
"C'mon Rubes, you know we're kidding,"
"Pffft!" she replied, still pouting.
"So, who fancies a game of exploding snap?!" Hunter asked, then proceeding to explain to Chris and Kerris how you played, and engaging everyone in the compartment in several games.
While they are doing this I will take some time to describe each of the characters you have met so far.
Jemima and Ross Pettigrew are Alixx, Peter, Ruby-Jane and Caden's parents. Both are medium height, although Jemima has long, curly, black hair and green eyes, whereas Ross has short, straight hair and blue eyes framed with glasses. Alixxandria takes after her mother, with the exception of having straight hair. Peter is like neither of his parents, fairly short with sandy hair and watery blue eyes. His twin, Ruby-Jane, is also short but slight with just over the shoulder chocolate hair and grey eyes. Caden, the youngest, takes after his father, but has his mother's green eyes and curly hair.
Holly Jameson is a tall, blonde model figure, whose only child, Mackenzey, is the light of her life. Mackenzey is medium height, with short ginger hair and green eyes, a million freckles dusting her cheeks.
Troy Blue's parents (Rick and Shane) are both highly respected societal people. Rick is a good looking business man, blonde hair and blue eyes, whereas his wife is a tall redhead with hazel eyes. Jack is a tall red headed boy with blue eyes, and Troy is medium height and a blonde, blue eyed tomboy, natural red streaks highlighting her hair.
Hunter is a wannabe Rocker, attempting even at eleven to grow a small beard, although once he got mistaken for a small dwarf and shaved it off. His dark hair has already reached considerable length for his age, and at the best of times his dark eyes sparkle with mischief. However, if the others hadn't known him for the majority of their lives he would look rather intimidating.
Chris Foxx is an Albino, with white hair and red eyes, hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. His pale skin is not a sickly shade but he still stands out in a crowd.
Kerris Venturi is a tall, thin brunette, with shoulder length hair and deep blue eyes. Her skin is dark, but not Afro-Caribbean, and she has black streaks naturally in her hair.
All of the females mentioned are exceptionally pretty in their own way, whether you prefer blonde, brunettes or redheads, and all the males are good looking, with the exception of Peter, who had yet still to grow out of his puppy fat.
Back to the game…
"You are such a cheater!" Peter exclaimed, glaring at Troy.
"Hey! Hey, it's just a game!" Hunter intervened.
"Shut it, Kaskitewaw!"
"Oi! We agreed we'd never bring that up!"
"Yeah? Well, guess what? We did!"
As Hunter and Peter continued their verbal fighting, Mackenzey tried to get between them, which was kind of difficult considering Peter was on the other side of Chris and Kerris and Hunter was opposite her. Ruby-Jane and Troy leaned across the table, in front of Peter (which didn't interrupt the fight in the least) and said to Chris and Kerris;
"They're always like this,"
"Always have been,"
"And nothing, nothing, ever stops them!"
"They just wear themselves out…"
"And the next minute, everything's forgotten!"
"Boys!" they finished together.
Chris and Kerris laughed, a little nervously in Troy's opinion.
"Don't worry about it," she told them, "It doesn't mean anything,"
"I think they need it, sometimes," Ruby-Jane added, "Being the only boys in a group of girls, all the time,"
"Oh, and in case you're wondering, Kaskitewaw is the dwarf name we call Hunter, ever since he got mistaken for a mini dwarf because of his beard. He hates it, and we generally only bring it up when we're arguing…"
Chris' reply was interrupted by the lunch cart, as was, incidentally, Hunter and Peter's argument.
"Anything from the cart, dears?" The plump woman asked them.
"Ooh, chocolate!"
"That's pretty much the only thing she gets excited about!" Ruby-Jane whispered to Chris and Kerris.
"I heard that!" Troy turned round to glare at Ruby-Jane.
Ruby grinned. "You know it's the truth!"
"Not the only thing…"
"Okay, no, but still…"
"I can't be arsed to argue…" Troy turned back to the lunch cart and listed everything she wanted.
"That's another thing… Troy is a very slow person… With everything! And she can't be bothered half the time. But we love her for it,"
Halfway through her list Troy smiled, obviously hearing what Ruby-Jane had said. Finally, everyone had got what they wanted, and the exploding snap had been pushed to the side to make room for all the sweets and snacks the seven first years had accumulated.
"Dippet! Again!" Peter groaned. "Here," he passed it to Chris.
"Isn't he the…"
"Headmaster of Hogwarts? Yeah," Hunter answered.
"Cool,"
"He's such a nutter!" Mackenzey said, halfway through choosing a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.
"You've never met him!"
"Yeah, but I've heard what all the parents, Alixx and Jack have said about him!"
"And they'd still trust him with their lives," Troy was somewhat sceptical.
"Hey, you can make your own assumptions and opinions when you actually meet the man, all right?" Ruby-Jane told Troy.
"Yeah, I suppose," Troy answered. Ruby-Jane gave her a withering look.
"All right, girlies!" Mackenzey injected, before yet another argument broke out. Despite being best friends for years, the five original friends all had different personalities and could still rub each other up the wrong way, and knew how to press each other's buttons.
"Do you reckon we'll cope, all being in different houses?" Ruby-Jane asked, a light frown marring her face.
"I think so," Hunter replied.
"And it'll do us some good to be apart, Rubes," Peter said.
"Mm, maybe," Ruby sighed, "I hope we don't drift apart though!"
"I don't think we will," Mackenzey confirmed in a confident tone.
"Sentimentality," Troy muttered.
"Oh, you know you don't want to drift from us either, so you can stop complaining!" Ruby-Jane told her.
Troy shrugged slightly. "Yeah, I know," She smiled. "I'm glad you're all my friends,"
Chris whispered to Kerris, "Do you get the feeling we're intruding?"
"A bit..."
Peter turned to them. "Sorry, we get like this. But don't feel like you're not meant to be here, our arms are open, so to speak,"
"That's just scaring them, Pete," Ruby-Jane said.
He grinned. "Am I scaring you?"
"No," Kerris said, as Chris nodded, jokingly.
"See?" Pete told his sister.
"Uh hum, Chris nodded, thank you very much!"
"He was joking!"
"Who says?"
"I did!"
"Ha! I win!"
"What?"
They were stopped by Chris and Kerris laughing. After staring at them for a couple of seconds, Peter and Ruby-Jane joined in, and soon the whole compartment was filled with their laughter.
Needless to say, before they even got to Hogwarts, both Christopher Foxx and Kerris Venturi were also firm friends with Peter and Ruby-Jane Pettigrew, Mackenzey Jameson, Troy Blue and Hunter Crowley.
As they arrived at Hogsmeade the seven hurriedly pulled on their robes and yanked down their luggage, pushing all the leftover sweets into pockets and into trunks.
"We're actually here," Mackenzey said, in wonderment.
"See what I mean about sentimentality?" Troy said to no one in particular.
Kerris laughed. She had become a lot more comfortable around the five since the beginning of the train journey.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" They looked over to where a massive but kindly looking man with a bushy beard and wearing a moleskin jacket was standing with a lantern, and rushed over. They were joined by about twenty other eleven year olds before the man introduced himself as Hagrid, the gamekeeper, and instructed them to get four to a boat. Mackenzey, Ruby-Jane, Troy and Hunter scrambled into one, as Kerris, Chris and Peter climbed carefully into another.
"Wow," Kerris breathed as the boats began moving.
"So cool!" Chris agreed.
The air around the seven as they approached the castle was sizzling with excitement. Hagrid told them that they'd get their first glance at it around the bend, and what a glance it was! Mackenzey gasped. It was so beautiful!
"Imagine what it would have been like had it been raining," Troy commented dryly.
"Do you have to put downers on everything?" Ruby-Jane asked her, a smile tugging at her lips.
Troy smiled. "No, it's just fun that way,"
They laughed as they boats drew up into a harbour like area and they disbanded from the boats to gather in a group again.
"Follow' me!" Hagrid called, setting off up towards the castle. They ended up in a small room off the Entrance Hall and the Great Hall.
"Now, this is where I leave yer," Hagrid told them, "Good luck!"
The students all crowded round nervously, with the exception of the seven. Their just being together made the situation a whole lot better.
"Good luck!" Ruby-Jane whispered round to everyone, as a severe looking woman entered the room. "I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. When I call your name, you will step forward and sit on this stool and place the hat on your head. Is that understood?"
General murmurs of agreement followed.
"I will be back in a few minutes. You will then proceed out in alphabetical order to be sorted," She disappeared.
"Okay, I'm nervous!" Kerris confided.
"Me too!" Peter added.
"Just stay calm," Troy said. "You're only being sorted,"
McGonagall came back into the room. "Follow me," The thirty or so students followed her out into the Great Hall. Many gasped at the sight of so many older students, all with their eyes on the first years.
"Oh my god," Ruby-Jane whispered from behind Hunter.
"I know!" he whispered back.
"I'm shaking like a leaf!" Mackenzey's voice came from behind Ruby-Jane.
"Rubes! I'm scared!" Ruby-Jane heard her brother from behind Mackenzey.
"Tell Pete he'll be okay!" Ruby-Jane hissed at Mackenzey.
"Rubes says you'll be fine!"
Peter nodded as McGonagall came to an abrupt halt. The crowd gathered to the left of the stool and McGonagall stepped back. The first years watched the hat on the stool and waited in undisguised apprehension until the brim of the hat opened in what looked like a mouth, and started to sing. Some of the first years gasped again whilst others looked on.
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
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 is 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 steady mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So out me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!
The end of the song was met with loud applause and cheers. After a few moments McGonagall asked for silence.
"Now the sorting will begin… Aubrey, Bertram!"
A skinny, blonde boy walked forward nervously. The hat was on his head mere seconds before "RAVENCLAW!"
"Avery, Marcus!" Avery was a dark skinned, dark eyed tall boy, with a malicious sneer on his face. Again the hat took seconds to declare him "SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius!" Ruby-Jane saw a couple of girls sit up at the Slytherin table (as Avery had just gone over there). The hat took nearly a minute on the boy's head, during which Ruby could see his fingers clenched together tightly, before "GRYFFINDOR!" He whooped, and pumped his fist in the air before strutting over to the Gryffindor table. Ruby shook her head. "Nutter," she thought.
"Blue, Troy!" As Troy walked forward, the other six plus Jack and Alixx at the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables sat and stood up straighter, expectantly. Just seconds later, Troy was declared the newest "SLYTHERIN!" Ruby sighed. There was no way she'd be with Troy.
"Clifton, Chantelle!" (What a name! thought Ruby) was made a "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Crowley, Hunter!" Ruby took notice again, along with the five others… Hunter looked very calm and collected, even with the tatty hat on his head, until finally "SLYTHERIN!" Ruby sighed again. Two down, five to go.
"Evans, Lily!" Evans was declared a GRYFFINDOR, followed by Brian Fairfield, who became the first male HUFFLEPUFF.
"Foxx, Christopher!" Chris walked forward nervously, but eventually seemed to gather courage and sat down determinedly on the stool and jammed the hat on his head. Seconds later he was a "GRYFFINDOR!" Three down, four to go.
"Gudgeon, Davey!" Gudgeon became a "RAVENCLAW!" followed by another "HUFFLEPUFF!" Abigail Harris.
Sally Ireland and Christie Jacob seemed to already be best friends and both yelled triumphantly when Jacob was made a "RAVENCLAW" and followed Ireland's path to the Ravenclaw table.
"Jameson, Mackenzey!" Ruby crossed her fingers. The hat barely touched Mackenzey's head before "HUFFLEPUFF!" "Yes!" Ruby thought, and turned to smile at Pete. He returned it half-heartedly.
Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin and Mary MacDonald were all sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!", followed by Andrew MacMillan and John McKay, another two "HUFFLEPUFF!", Niall Mulciber the fourth "SLYTHERIN!" and Warwick Oliver a "RAVENCLAW!" Then it was Peter.
"Pettigrew, Peter!" He walked forward shakily and Ruby-Jane wished she could reach out to him. The hat was on his head for going on a minute before the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Ruby-Jane breathed a sigh of relief and gave him the thumbs up as he grinned at her and walked to the Gryffindor table. Ruby-Jane noted he sat next to Chris who was sitting with the Black, Lupin and Longbottom boys before being called. Five down, two to go.
"Pettigrew, Ruby-Jane!" Breathing in, she held herself high as she walked to the stool. She sat on the stool carefully and pulled the hat on.
"Hmm, you have brains in there, and a lot of courage I see. Some cunning, but you don't wish to be in Slytherin, despite your loyalties to one of your oldest friends… No, not Ravenclaw? Then it'll have to be "HUFFLEPUFF!"" Ruby-Jane stood up, taking the hat off as she did so and breathed in happily. At least she was with Mackenzey. She walked to the Hufflepuff table as "Potter, James!" was called. Now as she watched the sorting she could see all the first years yet to be sorted. Shame there were so few left!
James Potter was made a "GRYFFINDOR!" followed by another "GRYFFINDOR!" Alice Prewett. Ruby-Jane noted that Potter also went and sat next to the Black boy. "Pete's going to have no trouble with friends," she thought happily.
Her stomach grumbled, and as "Rosier, Evan!" was called she found herself wishing they would hurry up! No doubt some of the students had been wishing that since the sorting began, she reflected. Rosier was made a "SLYTHERIN!" not seconds after the hat touched his head, and was closely followed by "Snape, Severus!" Glancing over the Gryffindor table, Ruby-Jane saw the red headed Evans face fall as Snape was made a Slytherin. Joseph Stebbins was declared a "RAVENCLAW!", and then it was Kerris.
"Venturi, Kerris!" Kerris walked nervously to the stool and sat down. The hat was on her head for fifteen seconds before shouting "RAVENCLAW!" Ruby-Jane cheered with the rest as Kerris' face flushed with happiness. Finally "Wilkes, Miles!" was made a "SLYTHERIN!" and McGonagall removed the stool and the hat.
Dippet stood up and all the talking in the hall ceased. "Welcome, students, to another year at Hogwarts, and welcome to all new students," he smiled warmly down at them all. "I will once again remind you that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden, and you have been advised not to enter it. I would also like to warn you to stay away from the new addition in the grounds; it can be vicious and will not hesitate to harm you. I think that is all, tuck in!"
He spread his arms and the first years looked in astonishment as the previously empty dishes filled with food. Ruby, sitting next to Mackenzey, looked on in awe, until Mackenzey reminded her if she didn't get a move on there'd be no food left! Hurriedly Ruby-Jane loaded her plate with pieces of meat and vegetables and gravy and proceeded to shovel it in her mouth.
"You can never have too much food!" She said to Mackenzey after swallowing a particularly large mouthful. Mackenzey laughed.
After the main course came dessert and neither girl could choose which to have. Instead they both grabbed bits of everything and laughed as they tried to eat two things at once. Finally, stuffed, they sat back on the bench and waved at Hunter and Troy over on the Slytherin table. Hunter waved back and Troy smiled and then, rolling her eyes at the pig like actions of the Wilkes and Mulciber boys just down the table, made a noose of thin air and pretended to hang herself.
Both Ruby-Jane and Mackenzey burst out in hysterics and Troy stuck her finger up at them, which only succeeded in making them laugh harder. Not long after, the plates cleaned magically and Dippet stood up again.
"If you will follow your prefects you will find your way to your common rooms and dormitories. Your prefect will give you the passwords. Have a pleasant night and timetables are given out in the morning." he indicated the older students standing up and waving at first years to follow. He sat back down again, and continued a conversation with McGonagall.
Ruby-Jane and Mackenzey stood up together. "I guess that's the last we'll be seeing of the others for a few hours then," Mackenzey said, waving over to Kerris alone at the Ravenclaw table.
"Yeah," Ruby-Jane replied distractedly, trying to find her brother through the crowd. Spotting him, she pulled Mackenzey over. Mackenzey resisted, saying they'd miss the prefect, but soon gave up and smiled at Chris as they approached. They were soon joined by Hunter and Troy and Kerris fought her way over from the Ravenclaw table.
"My dear Grandfather Merlin!" Troy said over everyone leaving the Great Hall.
The others laughed.
"You all right, Pete?" Ruby-Jane asked him.
"Yeah, thanks, Rubes,"
"Good!"
"Well, this is James Potter, Remus Lupin, Frank Longbottom and Sirius Black. Everyone this is Hunter Crowley, Troy Blue, Kerris Venturi, Mackenzey Jameson, my twin Ruby-Jane and you know Chris." Pete said, indicating each of the people in turn. As Ruby-Jane caught Sirius' eye he winked and she smiled back. He was going to say something before Frank and Remus insisted they all left otherwise they'd be stuck outside their houses all night as they didn't know locations or passwords. Everyone said their "nights" and "see you" and as they left the Gryffindor table and dispersed into their houses, Ruby-Jane looked back at Sirius and was surprised to find him looking at her. He blew her a kiss and she smiled lightly. He waved and mouthed "bye" and smirked when she waved back. She rolled her eyes and he smiled good-naturedly. Then he disappeared from view.
"What do you think of them then?" Mackenzey asked her.
"They seem all right, good for Pete, anyhow,"
"Yeah… Oh my god, I can't believe we're finally here!"
"I know!"
They continued their excited chatter as they followed a group of Hufflepuffs into the cellar. Rounding the corner they came to a still life painting and a prefect gave the password. Inside the common room it was cosy and welcoming with fat yellow armchairs. There were perfectly rounded doors leading off to the dormitories and both Mackenzey and Ruby-Jane were amazed.
"Wow! This is so cool!" Mackenzey screeched.
"First year dormitories are the first doors on both sides; girls on the right, boys on the left," A stern looking prefect directed them.
Ruby-Jane and Mackenzey followed Abigail Harris to the girl's dorm and found four fat little yellow covered beds.
"Sweet!" Ruby-Jane said, flopping onto one of the beds.
"Hi, I'm Abbie, Abbie Harris," Abigail Harris held out her hand.
"Mackenzey Jameson," Mackenzey reached out and shook Abigail's hand.
"And I'm Ruby-Jane Pettigrew," Ruby also shook Abigail's hand. When Abigail turned away both girls cracked up. This girl was slightly odd…
Another blonde and slightly overweight girl walked in, and introduced herself as Chantelle Clifton. Ruby-Jane had to stifle her laugh as she introduced both herself and Mackenzey. Together Ruby-Jane and Mackenzey pulled out toothbrushes and toothpaste and went to brush their teeth.
Minutes later, both were ready for bed, and called out a sleepy goodnight to each other and then Abbie and Chantelle before hitting the sack.
In Gryffindor Peter was doing well making friends with Frank, Remus, James and especially Sirius. Chris was talking quite a bit with Remus and Frank and both boys were happy. "Rubes was right, I had nothing to worry about," Peter thought as all six boys dressed for bed and climbed into their respective ones.
"Night all!" Sirius called, and all the boys grunted a "night!" in response. Peter smiled. He had a feeling Hogwarts was going to be good.
Troy sighed. The only first year girl in Slytherin? Ahh well, at least no one snores, she giggled to herself. She pulled down the blankets on her bed and snuggled into the warmth. That Remus boy was nice… She smiled as she fell asleep.
Hunter groaned silently. "I can't believe I'm stuck with an entire dorm of pureblood pricks!" he thought to himself, angrily pummelling his pillow. "No doubt they'll be after Chris and Kerris especially by the end of the week," he rolled his eyes. "Wankers," he thought as he drifted into unconsciousness.
Kerris was annoyed. Those stupid giggling twits, Ireland and Jacob, were doing her head in! And she was the only one of the seven in Ravenclaw! At least we have classes together, she thought, relief flooding through her. "And Chris is in most of them," she thought, almost without realising it. As she did: "Whoa! What? I did not just think that!" She sighed. She must be tired. Climbing into bed she attempted to ignore the other girls and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Well, that be it! Tell us what you think!