"Do us proud." Were the last words my parents said to me before I stepped onto the Hogwarts Express, it was also the only words that seemed to be coming out of my parents mouth ever since my letter of acceptance arrived. My older brother, William had already gone ahead with his friends. This was the year I would be sorted into Slytherin, the house of power, just like him. I come from a large clan of Slytherin purebloods, purebloods are supreme or so mother and father says.
Before Will left, he gave me a piece of advice: "Gryffindors are dragon dung." Absolute gold. My brother's in seventh year so I expect him to be all sorts of popular and my journey to Hogwarts would be filled with lowered voices saying, "That's William Nott's little sister." But so far, no one's really taken a second look at me. I can't blame them, after all, they probably don't know how I look like.
Finding a seat was a bit of a challenge, most of the students seemed to already know each other. I was peeping into a cabin when someone shouted, "Hey you! Watch out!" I turned around to the sound of the shout but was instead greeted with a flying snitch that had appeared to be jinxed. I wasn't quick enough to duck and the golden sphere hit me straight at the forehead before zooming away.
A group of boys approached. "Sorry," Said a boyish voice, he and three of his friends began to laugh and I assumed that they were laughing at me. "I told you that wouldn't impress that bossy redhead." said a dark haired boy. "Could you mad blokes knock it off, you could've injured this poor girl - Are you alright?" This one had lighter hair and a warm smile, I couldn't help but notice the light scratches on his face. He extended his hand and I took it gratefully. "Thank you," I muttured while maintaining an annoyed look towards the other two, who were still laughing gleefully at some obscure inside joke.
"Oh, don't mind them." The boy said dismissively, "They're a bit insane but they're alright." He sighed with a smile and I could tell that he was fond of the pair. Another boy soon came running and panting heavily with the culprit snitch in his hand, "Got it,"He said between pants, "She's coming." The spectacled one grinned widely, "Good work, Wormtail." He rewarded him with a pat on the back. And soon as mentioned, a redhead with distinctive green eyes came marching forward and began shouting at the spectacled boy; he even seemed to be enjoying it! Everyone had forgotten me so I took the opportunity to slip away and continue my quest for a place to sit.
The train ride was long and boring, I was stuck in a cabin with several other first years who couldn't stop talking about how excited they were to go to Hogwarts. A few had tried to be friendly towards me asking me what I deduced were 'Icebreaker' questions such as what house I wanted to be in, did I support the Chudley Cannons, if I wanted to trade chocolate cards. They didn't talk to me after that, perhaps they realized I was a pureblood and I was above them or maybe it was my short answer of "Slytherin. No. No." Guess I'll never know.
Finally, the Hogwarts Express stops and the train was filled with even louder excited and annoying chatter. And to think I have to put up with this lot for a whole seven years. Obviously, I can't wait. A huge man that I recognized from Will's description led us into the school. I felt my heart pound in my chest as I walked through those heavy front doors for the first time, portraits and ghosts greeted us most enthusiastically and I can't say I did the same other than stare at them. And they joke, too. Absolutely marvelous.
The first time we entered the Great Hall with it's impressive ceiling. There was a tall stool and on top on it was a battered old hat. I knew what it was of course: The sorting hat, it began to sing. Blimey, is everything here capable of speech?! I had been looking forward towards the sorting and once I'd been sorted into Slytherin, I'd have to write to my parents letting them know that I'm an official Slytherin and they would write back letting me know how proud they are. And while I pondered upon all this, the aged hat had completed it's song and students were being called upon one by one alphabetically. Some took longer than others but they all received a positive reaction as they walked towards the cheering tables.
" Nott, Isobel."
I took in a deep breath and slowly approached the stool. The aged hat was placed upon my head, "Ah, Nott. Obvious choice." The hat chuckled, "It's all in here," It unnerved me that a hat was prying through my mind. "There's desire, a desire to prove. But how far would you go? How far until you achieve your goal." It seemed longer than I expected, Will had said that the hat almost immediately decided that he was a Slytherin the moment the hat touched his head. "Oh, Slytherin would be almost perfect for you. You can't hide anything from me, buried here is an intent that only I can see. A strong heart and mind to do what's right, that's where you truly belong. GRYFFINDOR!"
A thunder of applause rang throughout the hall from Gryffindor, Slytherin's tables palms were up and ready to clap for their expected answer and a new arrival. I remained at the stool utterly dumbfounded, I opened my mouth to argue but I realized that I would be arguing with a hat. The next name was called and it woke me up from my shock temporarily. I made my way past the Slytherins who looked at me with strange looks as I took my seat at Gryffindor table. It felt weird, I didn't belong here. What was I going to tell mum?
My thought were interrupted by a voice. "Gryffie, huh?" It was the spectacled boy from earlier. "Lucky you, you've been sorted to best house of Hogwarts." He exclaimed proudly. "I'm James Potter." He gave me a winning smile. Perhaps I was still shocked by the hats decision but I actually forgot my name. The messy-haired boy assumed it was because he thought he had some sort of effect on me because he started laughing.
"Stop frightening her, you've already given her quite a scare on the train." Sitting beside James was the kind boy from earlier. "I'm Remus." I found my voice again, "Isobel." Before I could say anything else, Dumbledore had already announced that it was time to feast. And what a feast it was. Food appeared on the table, all sorts of delicacies. I ate hungrily but my mind was still weighted that I was sorted into the wrong house. Perhaps mum would write a letter to the school pointing out that a mistake had been made.
It was time for us to line up and retire to our dormitories. The prefects told us the password but I didn't bother to remember. After all, it wasn't going to be my real dormitory. We lined up and made our way up the staircases, which are by the way the most frightening things ever. As I walked up the steps, I was roughly pulled away from the line. I realized it was my brother. "Isobel, you are a disgrace." He said with a frown. "I knew you would do something like this,"
"I didn't cause this!" I protested angrily. Tired and weary, I forgot that I had to be careful of how I spoke to my older brother. "Don't bother unpacking, father will soon be here to bring you home." He looked at me with disgust. "That is, if he even lets you back into the house when you're such a failure." Will added cruelly before leaving me on my own. I could feel tears starting to fall from my eyes but bringing none of the guilt I felt along with it.
I wiped them away, ashamed of myself. The wand in my pocket and the school robes on my back proved that I had every right to remain here, no matter what house I was in. With that thought firmly in mind, I rejoined the others and we continued towards our sanctuary for at least the next seven years.