Shotgun Paralysis
Disclaimer: I do not own any creations by J.K. Rowling; this includes all characters, logos, and/or other items, etc. I do however own the characters in which I have created. Thank you.
With a life all my own, what is one left to do but move on in times of darkness. This darkness I speak is way too familiar to me; we've been acquainted for quite a long time. I've been consumed and surrounded by it for practically my whole life. Problem with that is it leaves you very little in the social skills department.
Lately the days have been slowly bleeding into the fall, since it's now September. It's funny how time flies by so fast you can hardly remember what's happened the day before. This is the time where school is just beginning in both the muggle and wizarding world; little kids are excited for the upcoming fall holidays, while parents are looking forward to their early holiday vacations. As for me, I was going through the toughest thing any teenager can be put through, I was transferring to a brand new school.
Why is it, you ask, that I may be transferring schools? To simply put it my father thought it would be best for me to start anew, not only from our recent disaster resulting from the recent war, but because he wanted to upkeep the family status. Our high family status just got grander, seeing as how we were already one of the richest and renowned families in the wizarding world. He was not going to accept anything less of that.
I had been attending Beauxbatons (a French wizarding school headed by a half-giant mistress...), which was filled with only girls, and I had been there forever practically and the only time I wasn't was during the whole 'great war' (death eaters vs. aurors, etc…). But as soon as my father acquired his new source of power, by becoming the chairman of Gringotts Bank, he decided it would be best if we moved to a new place. His reasoning was so that he could be closer to his job. I knew the real reason though- he thought of me as the family mistake, and he obviously didn't want to have to deal with me. Why else do you think that I have been attending boarding schools most of my life?
I despised co-ed schools; all it was filled with was hormone-crazed teenagers who were not paying any attention to their schoolwork, started stupid gossip and rumors, and caused unnecessary situations for everyone. What was my way of dealing with the resounding chaos? Making it blatantly obvious, (some would call this 'rude' but I beg to differ...), that I wanted no part of it. This almost always resulted with fights; whether words, wands, or fists it depended entirely upon the person who started the fight with me.
It was on the arriving day to Hogwarts, that I was being permitted to apparate to the new school early due to my being a new transfer. From there I would make my way to the Headmaster's Office, be sorted into my new 'house', and then proceed to the Great Hall for the feast that was held on the first day of school.
I felt myself waking up slowly, opening my eyes to peek at the alarm clock lying on the nearby table. It was way too early to be awake at this hour. And with much regret, I shifted the duvet covers aside, and slid out of bed and proceeded making my way to the bathroom for a much needed shower. After I was finished, I covered myself with a towel and fished for something to wear within my closet. I was not the cleanest person; clothes were hanging half-way of their hangers, some were on the floor in the corner of the closet. I didn't care where they were or if they were wrinkled- as long as they were clean I was perfectly fine wearing them.
After digging through the mountain of messy clothes, I found a nice clean pair of faded black skinny jeans, a slim gray tee with quarter and a half sleeves, and a pair of black hi-tops. I used my wand to fix my hair; the dyed locks which were deep dark red was now half up, with my bangs fringed and hanging off to the side. I also lined my smokey bluish gray eyes in black, adding a pale green eye-shadow, and finished with mascara.
I looked in the mirror and smirked; even if I wasn't the happiest person about this situation I most certainly was going to make the best of it. Using all means necessary.
Making sure that all the final arrangements were settled, and that everything was ready for my departure, I headed downstairs towards my dad's personal study. Knocking on the door as softly as I could, I waited patiently before hearing my father's barely audible 'come in'.
Upon walking into his study he looked up once, barely grimaced, and turned his attention back to the files of paperwork in front of him. After a few minutes he set his quill down to the side and stood up.
"Am I to assume you are here to check with me?" he said while lazily leaning upon his white oak desk.
"Yes father. I was wondering if you could instruct me as to how I would be arriving at Hogwarts?" When with my father you would always speak formally, if not then it was a bad decision to even speak at all.
"Yes. I shall apparate you there myself. And Rae, please do make sure you keep yourself in check seeing as how I WILL be checking on your progress periodically with the Headmaster." He spoke sternly.
"There shall be nothing to report back to you, of that I can assure you."
"Well then I suppose you may go now, APPARATUS."
These were the last words heard from my father, followed a quick but loud pop. Queasiness filled my being, as I landed in the middle of a large warm office. Looking around I was filled with wonder as I stared at all of the pictures hanging on every available space on the walls. There was numerous books, some old and dusty with the bindings falling apart, shoved in every spot in the bookcases. In the middle of the room was an enormous claw-footed desk with several papers, quills and ink pots on it. This was surrounded by a few cushioned chairs. Behind the desk stood two things. One of which was a medium-sized black polished cabinet with a glass case at the top containing a sword of some sort, and an old ragged hat. The other being a large cage with pedestals at the bottom, but the cage did not hold my attention; rather it was what it was containing instead.
A beautiful bird about the size of an eagle sat there, with gold plumage around its neck, a purple body, and an azure tail. Upon the throat is a crest, and the head was entirely a tuft of feathers. It eyed me with big amber colored eyes; its look almost curious in its own way.
As I stood there in complete awe, lost in a cloud of my own thoughts, I did not realize I wasn't alone anymore until I heard a deep chuckle behind me.
I whipped around in surprise, pulling my wand out as I did so, standing my ground. I did not like surprises, especially when I was alone.
"It seems you are just like your father in one way, always on your toes; he never did like surprises either my dear. I apologize for my startling you. If you would please sit down and make yourself comfortable?" the man spoke.
Moving slowly, I took in his appearance not wanting to forget one detail. He was tall, thin and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind half-mooned spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice.
"Tea, dear?" the old man spoke once more, already conjuring himself up a cup.
"No thank you." I spoke softly, putting away my wand in the case that was strapped to my calf.
"Well if I must say myself, it is such a delight to finally meet you at last, Miss Rae Elderwood. You do resemble your mother so much. Perhaps, her skills in magic as well? Oh dear, I fear I am getting ahead of myself here, and with no introduction! I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster here at Hogwarts." The professor spoke in a matter-of-fact way.
"Err, yes. Pleasure to meet you as well." I replied softly.
The old man simply chuckled, and turned towards the black cabinet, reaching above his head to bring down the hat I had noticed earlier.
"Do you know what this is Ms. Elderwood?"
"A dusty hat?"
"Not just any dusty old hat, mind you. This is what we call the Sorting Hat. You see at Hogwarts we separate our students into houses; these of course all based upon your magic abilities as well as a few simple personality traits." He paused, and I nodded for him to continue.
"There are four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various events, for the House Cup. Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses. Seeing as how you're a transfer student, I'm letting it be your decision of whether you should be sorted now, or go with the first-years during tonight's feast." He smiled kindly after having said this.
"I would like to be sorted now please." I responded quickly, not wanting to be humiliated in front of the other students.
"Good, good. Now if I could just slip this upon your head and then we shall see just where you belong, now won't we?"
Nervousness filled me as the hat was placed upon my head, the dust filling my nostrils, causing me to sneeze a few times before settled down back into my chair.
"Oh, you are a complicated one that you are. Hmm plenty of courage, which proves you, could be a Gryffindor. Ah-ha and some brilliant wits I see! There's a bit of Ravenclaw there! Oh but your cunning as well! Not to mention hard-working and loyal! My dear girl, you could be in any of the houses…where to put you…"
It was a few several minutes before the sorting hat shouted its final decision.
"Better be, Gryffindor!" and with that it stilled.
I looked up with a smile, as I felt Professor Dumbledore removing the hat from my head and placing it back on its place above the cabinet, but it quickly disappeared as I seen the look upon his crinkling face.
"Did I not do well, professor?" I asked, honestly worried that perhaps it was a very bad thing to be put into Gryffindor.
"Oh no dear, you did perfectly well, I'm just afraid there's a tiny complication…"
"And may I ask just what that is?" His expression was honestly starting to worry me.
"Well inside the houses, I'm sure you can figure out that the girls and boys both have their separate dormitories inside, but you may not know that they are also separated by years inside the dormitories. The first years should be well enough seeing as how there is not all that many this years, but as for the 8th years…"
"Are you implying that there are not enough rooms for the 8th years?" I didn't mind sharing a room.
"Well yes, but it's a bit more complicated than that. I'm afraid there's not enough for you to room with your fellow 8th years. You may have to stay within one of the other houses. But now that I think of it, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw have only enough rooms for their own members, which leaves…" he looked a little bit more worried now.
"Slytherin, right? Honestly Professor, I don't mind having to stay in another house, although it may be confusing seeing as how I would be a Gryffindor. I don't see anything the matter with that, so what may I ask is the problem then?" I was confused; what was he worried about? It's not that big of a deal, I mean really.
"Slytherin and Gryffindor are known for their, um, well to be honest they have a very renowned rivalry. It's not that I'm afraid that you won't be comfortable, I'm afraid you may have more trouble adjusting to a new school in such an environment."
"Professor Dumbledore, I can assure you that if you're referring to bullying or fighting or whatever, I can handle it. I can also say that if those so called Slytherin, are even thinking of starting something with me then they have another thing coming." I said looking him dead in the eye and giving him one of my infamous smirks.
"I see. I do not see how it could not help but, I shall grant you your own room, as to make sure that none of these, unfortunate events may occur." He smiled.
"Yes. Thanks Professor!" I said in response, smiling from ear to ear.
This I could tell was going to be a very good year. That I was sure of.