Hey, peoples!
I'm super glad to hear that you're enjoying the story, .7, and I promise not to kill her or make anything too AU, alright? Anyways, here's the next chapter, and PLEASE REVIEW!
. . .
"Laurel, wake up, we're almost here!"
A familiar-sounding voice hissed in her ear, and Laurel jerked awake, sitting upright in her red, cushioned seat. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, yawning. She had the strangest dream- Sirius Black and James Potter were prancing around in pink leotards, and their hair was collected with hot pink bows.
Her eyes focused onto Lily, who was staring out the window, biting her lip, and drifted off to Severus, who looked quite jittery as he bounced around in his seat. She stretched her arms before snatching a half-eaten Chocolate Frog from the seat in between the two girls.
"May I?" She asked Lily, and Lily just sighed.
"Sure, but I advise against it- we're going to eat in half an hour, you don't want to spoil your appetite, do you?" She asked critically, but Laurel ignored her as she bit off the head of the croaking chocolate frog. She peered out the window and gasped.
Outside, just beyond the train, was the most beautiful thing Laurel had ever seen in her entire life: A huge, looming castle with ten-foot windows stood in the bitter rain, strong and proud. It's windows glowed yellow from the candlelight within, and they were at least ten feet tall.
Creeping off the train, they were led by a rather large, bushy man called Hagrid outside to a large lake, where small rowboats were floating in the water. They climbed onto one and began to talk animatedly.
"This is all so beautiful-"
"Just wait until you see the inside, it's lovely-"
"You have to ask the Sorting Hat to be in Slytherin, Laurel, I'll teach you everything there-"
"No, no, no- she's going to be in Gryffindor like me, aren't you?"
Laurel just nodded dazedly to every question darting her way and pulled her long cloak closer to her body. The rain splashed against her hair, her face, her clothing- but she didn't care. After three years of endless torture, she was finally going to Hogwarts!
The boats stopped at a rocky shore, and they climbed the hill leading to the castle. Hagrid knocked three times onto the door- rather large knocks resembling a giant earthquake, in Laurel's opinion, and the door flung open.
Standing in the humongous threshold was a stern-looking lady, with spectacles resting onto her nose and her greyed hair in a tight bun behind her pointed black hat. She primly moved out of the way to let them in, and they all barreled inside. Laurel's eyes almost popped out of their sockets as they entered the Great Hall, and for good reason.
Candlesticks were levitating in the air, giving off a bright warm glow around the Hall, and four large tables stood in neat, large rows. All around, children were laughing and stuffing themselves with delicious, hot food made by house-elves down in the kitchen, Lily had told her.
She squeezed her hand reassuringly, bent down to whisper, "You'll do great, whichever House you'll be in," And walked to the Gryffindor table, where she was greeted by several unfamiliar-looking girls. Laurel sighed as Severus gave her a quick hug and departed to go to the Slytherin House table. She was all alone- again.
Standing in the clumps of first years, she shuffled away from the front just as the Sorting Hat began to call out names. First was:
"MARTHA HILLIES!"
A very timid-looking girl shuffled to the front, and shivered as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. Not after a moment did it scream out, "HUFFLEPUFF!", and the girl, looking extremely relieved, walked over to the last table on the right, where she was greeted with friendly cheers and smiles.
Next was:
"CATHERINE JONES!"
A sneering girl sauntered up to the front and rolled her eyes as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. It screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" after a split second, and she sauntered to where Severus and his friends were stiffly sitting at.
A few others- "RONNIE BEAKSON!" "LISA QUIBY!" "DANIEL DAVIDS!"- were called, until finally it was Laurel's turn.
"LAUREL EVANS!" It screamed, and Laurel nervously walked to the Sorting Hat, trying to hold back a mixture of nervousness and stubbornness, and failing miserably.
Ah, a voice whispered in her head, and she bit her lip nervously. Your Evans's sister- great girl, by the way, extremely courageous. But you seem to be a different case…
She almost stamped her foot as she hissed mentally, I'm braver then you know, Sorting Hat.
But it just laughed inside her head.
Of course, my dear, but of course. Let's see… you seem to be full of-
WAIT! Laurel thought worriedly. She had a ton of questions bursting around in her mind. I have a ton of questions to ask you- What forgotten magic has made you? Who was your first Human Sorting victim- I mean, Human Sorting Subject? Are you aware of your own awareness?
The presence of the Sorting Hat inside her head became quite amused as its laughter jangled in her head.
As I was saying, you seem to be full of curiosity, but you ache to be accepted, loved, to be noticed instead of your sister- you envy her, deep within your heart, you wish-
"Shut up," She hissed out loud, and a few people gave her surprised looks.
You wish that you were your sister, don't you? The Sorting Hat finished. Laurel had enough of this nonsense.
Put me in Gryffindor, I want to be in Gryffindor, she thought tiredly, and it sighed inside her head.
But being in Gryffindor will hold you back from what you truly need. Hmm, you can be sly if you want to, but I don't think a quiet lass like yourself should be in Slytherin. Hufflepuff is most definitely the safest choice for you- you're sweet but careful, but it seems that you want to grasp attention, so Hufflepuff wouldn't release your full potential… So, it appears to be either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, which one will you pick?
I-I don't know! Laurel thought back anxiously. I just want to be in a place where I'll be accepted, where I'm actually visible instead of being a total wallflower all the time-
"GRYFFINDOR!" It screamed, and whoops erupted from the Gryffindor table as she shyly walked over and took a seat next to her sister, who gave out a shriek of delight and hugged her tightly.
"Alice, Marlene, Lissa- this is my younger sister, Laurel."
Two girls smiled at her. One was beautiful, with cropped black hair, a big grin and a round, rosy face, and the other looked a tad more delicate, with long blonde hair and icy blue eyes.
"I knew you looked familiar- it's like your twins!" Alice proclaimed, giving Laurel a good natured squeeze on her arm.
"I don't know, you might be even prettier than Lily!" Marlene joked, but Lily just laughed and smoothed Laurel's hair.
"I'm always trying to tell her that, she never listens!" Lily told them, and they stared at Laurel incredulously.
"What? Lily's probably the prettiest girl I've ever met, and I'm a miniature version of Petunia!" She shuddered, and Lily tilted her head and laughed. It was times like these that the ache to be her sister formed inside Laurel's stomach-so pretty-looking, with a pretty laugh and hair sparkling like flames in the candlelight.
"Okay, first of all, Petunia doesn't have wispy red hair and the olive-green eyes like you have, and second of all- you're so much braver, and smarter, and talented then she'll ever be. Got that?" Lily asked, staring into her sister's dark green eyes.
"You're sweet, Lils," was Laurel's only reply, and they both dug into their food.
"Congrats, Mini-Evans," came a familiar voice behind them, and Laurel and Lily spun around to see Sirius and his mates in front of them, smirking.
"Don't call me that, Black," Laurel snarled. Now that she got an image of his true nature, she hated him down to the core.
"Oh, sorry, he meant to say Laurel-flower!" chimed James helpfully. Lily and Laurel sneered.
"My name is Laurel, you should try learning it," Laurel said sharply before returning to her food. She could hear Black's sneer from where she was devouring her chicken roast.
"Okay, sweetheart- but first," He tipped the goblet of pumpkin juice in her hands ever so slightly onto her new uniform, and it splashed down on her brand-new robes, "consider yourself Gryffindor-initiated."
He could hardly take a breath before Laurel whipped out her wand and whispered, "Levicorpus," under her breath. Instantly, Black was dragged up into the air by his ankle, and he writhed around as the students began to laugh and point.
"Is that Black?" Laurel heard somebody snicker.
"Yeah- oh, Merlin, he got hexed by a first year!" Another voice jeered.
"Who is she?"
"She's Evans' little sister- EVANS! EVANS! EVANS!"
Everyone started chanting her last name like a mantra, and her cheeks flushed with pride as Gryffindors began to come over and congratulate her. But all was ruined by none other than Professor McGonagall, who had strode over to the table looking furious.
"Alright, who did this?" She said angrily, pointing up to the screeching Sirius Black floating up into the air. Everyone remained silent.
"I said, who did this?" She repeated angrily.
"It was Evans," Peter said quietly. Laurel glanced nervously at her sister.
"Lily?" McGonagall said, her voice full of doubt.
"NO- IT WAS LAUREL!" Yelled Sirius, from where he was writhing around up in the air. McGonagall whirled around to stare at Laurel, looking flustered.
"I would've thought Lily's sister would be better than this." She said softly. Laurel opened her mouth to protest.
"Look at what he did to my robes- that git got what he deserved!"
Everyone was now ignoring their food, staring at the argument in fascination as they exchanged bets on either student or teacher.
"Nevertheless," replied McGonagall in an icy tone, "I will take ten points from Gryffindor away and you will be serving detention with me- along with Black- for a week,"
"BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Laurel burst out, and there were several "Oohs" rippling amongst the students.
"You will not tell me what I will and will not do, Miss Evans," McGonagall said sharply, her gray eyes piercing Laurel's defiant olive-green ones.
"Yes, ma'am," She said quietly. McGonagall, looking satisfied, sauntered to her table, completely oblivious to the glares that were heading her way. Laurel snickered at her face when she realized that Black was still in the air. Hogwarts might've gotten off to a rocky start, but with a little work, it'd be perfect.
Sorry about that awkward ending, it's just that I need to do a few things for school today and all. Anyways, please review, and with that…
Love, hugs, and all that jazz,
Lyricalyrics
