The last week of August, Hagrid showed up at the Torrance house to take Harley to Diagon Alley. With little protest, her parents let her go. They had to take the Tube because she couldn't Apparate or fly yet, and she didn't have any Floo Powder...whatever that was.
"Are yeh excited?" Hagrid asked.
"Oh, yes, I certainly am," Harley replied, not used to the bubbling excitement. Usually, she had, at best, apathetic enjoyment when going to English Lit or Chemistry class.
When they got to Diagon Alley, she was in awe of the strange, bustling place filled with humans and things she could not identify. She felt right at home in her oversized black coat, which hung on her like a cloak. She always wore it, even in the stifling summer heat. It was like a security blanket of sorts.
They went to Gringotts bank to exchange her money and went to get her school robes. Harley was startled but entranced by the moving pictures she saw in every shop window she passed. Hagrid told he that her robes would change colour accents once she found out what House she was sorted into. Harley did not quite understand that, but kept quiet. It seemed that the more explanations Hagrid gave, the more confused she became.
"First things first: time ter get yer wand," Hagrid announced with glee as he led her into Ollivander's shop. The old wizard was slightly off-putting, but he seemed to know what he was doing. It took about fifteen minutes before she found the right wand: nearly fifteen inches and made of Alder wood with a unicorn hair core. It was matte black and the end was elaborately carved.
"A great wand," Ollivander said. "I haven't sold one of these for over twenty years, as most young wizards and witches can't handle the magic this wood holds: it is excellent for nonverbal spells. You're a gifted young lady, certainly."
As they exited Ollivander's shop, she heard many voices calling Hagrid's name. She turned to see a group of what were probably Hogwarts students coming towards them. Four were younger than she, two of them were probably her age, and one was a bit older. Five of them were obviously siblings: two were twin boys and the other three all possessed the same flaming red hair.
"Ah, 'ello!" Hagrid said with a smile. "Great timin'. This is 'Arley Torrance. She's gon' start at 'Ogwarts this year. Missed 'er first three years. She'll be in yer year, boys." He gestured to the twins. "'Arley, this is 'Ermoine Granger; Ginny, Ron, Percy, Fred, an' George Weasley; an' this is 'Arry Potter!"
She'd read about Harry: the infant who faced the evil wizard Voldemort and lived. He was a legend and A History Of Modern Magic practically sang his praises. He did not seem very impressive in his too-big clothes and spectacles that gave him an owlish appearance, but she knew looks could be deceiving.
Previous experiences had made her shy and mistrustful around new people, so all she managed was a stiff, "Hello." She sounded rude and abrupt to her own ears, so she could imagine what they were thinking of her. For some reason, the twin named Fred Weasley was blushing like a tomato. It was cute, in a way.
Did I just call someone cute? I must be losing my bloody mind.
"How were you avoiding Hogwarts for three years?" the one called Percy asked. Harley knew right away she didn't like him: too stuffy and spoke with an air of authority he did not deserve to portray.
"I have magical parents who died when I was three. They put a Concealment Charm on me, apparently. And why is it your business, Weasley?" she asked.
"Don't mind him," Fred said, recovering his voice. "He's a prefect, so he thinks he's a real big shot."
"When all he is is a big head," George muttered as Percy walked into a nearby shop. "So, you'll be in fourth year with us. D'you know a lot about magic already?"
"That's how we found 'er," Hagrid said. "Gave a classmate scales, she did."
"Scales?" Hermione and Ginny looked startled, but the boys laughed.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked, eyes alight. "Maybe I can do it to Malfoy!"
Harley couldn't help but smile. She had never felt so welcome before than she did with this group. "It's quite a simple potion: some of her hair, some snakeskin, a binding agent, and I brewed it in tea so she didn't know she was drinking it. It is virtually tasteless."
Harry's face fell. "It's a potion. Damn!"
"Not good at them?" Harley asked.
"Hate our Potions teacher. Or, rather, he hates Harry," Ron explained.
"Now, no one is goin' ter be doin' that at 'Ogwarts!" Hagrid said sternly. "'Arley, we've got ter get yer books. Want ter meet at teh Leaky Cauldron fer lunch 'fore we leave?"
Everyone nodded and Harley tried to hurry through the crowded bookstore where some idiotic-looking wizard named Lockhart was doing a book signing. They had many of his books on her list of things to get for school. She was dying to get to know more about what it was like being a student at Hogwarts and what she might have to look forward to learning.
The Leaky Cauldron was a dingy place, but it was quiet. She and Hagrid got there before the others, so Harley fished a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Hagrid. "Here. This is the list of spells I know that Dumbledore asked for. They are not much, and I have never hurt anyone with them. Tried them out on spiders I caught, is all. I put down what age I was when I first used them as well."
Hagrid studied the paper with an odd look on his face and put it away just as the others came in, followed by what must have been Mrs. Weasley, who immediately fussed over Harley. She wasn't sure if she was flattered or wished the old lady would lay off.
They talked and Harley listened. They told her about the fun lessons, the good teachers, the bad teachers (Harry and Ron detested a man named Snape like the Devil), and the ghosts who hung around. She learned about Sorting, and assumed she'd be put in Ravenclaw straightaway judging by the descriptions they gave of each House.
There was a lot of information to process, but it all made Harley think that the week wait to get to Hogwarts was going to be agony.
"We'll meet you at King's Cross on the first to help you get on the train," Harry promised as they all went to leave to go home. "It's really weird the first time you go to Platform 9 ¾."
"I'll take you at your word," Harley said. "Then again, what part of this is not weird?"
There was no such thing as Platform 9 ¾. There was nine, and then ten. Nothing in between. Harley stood before the platforms, befuddled. Was there some sort of charm she needed to perform? She clutched her things on the trolley, despising being put at a disadvantage like this.
"Harley!"
She turned and saw the group from the week before rushing towards her. It was Fred that was calling her, waving madly. She gave a tentative wave back.
"You got here quickly," Hermione said. "Well, I did too on my first year."
Mrs. Weasley touched her young daughter's shoulder. "It's Ginny's first year, too. You know what to do, honey?"
The little redhead nodded, took her trolley, and ran headfirst for the pillar between platforms nine and ten. Harley watched, certain they were going to need a medic, but the girl disappeared into thin air.
"Can anyone get in there?" Harley wondered.
"Oh, no, dear, only witches and wizards," Mrs. Weasley told her. "Go on next. Remember, be confident, or else the magic will not work for you."
Harley gripped the handle of the trolley that carried her luggage and heaved a sigh, half wondering how badly it would hurt if she was repelled by the magic in the wall. Determined, she ran straight at the wall...and came out on a large platform, where a shiny red train bearing the name "Hogwarts Express" was preparing to depart.
The other Weasley children came through, followed by Hermione and the elder Weasleys. No one bothered waiting on the platform for Ron and Harry to get there. Mrs. Weasley got Ginny settled, Percy went immediately to the prefects' car, and Harley stood there, overwhelmed.
"Come on, I'll help you with your bags," Fred said to Harley, smiling widely.
Unused to such helpfulness from peers, Harley simply gave a surprised nod as he showed her where to put her things and then he and George led her into the train, in the compartments meant for fourth years.
"Where do I sit?" Harley asked, despising feeling so out of place.
"With us, of course," Fred replied, taking her by the arm of her black sweater and pulling her along. They peered into compartments until they spotted a lone boy with dreadlocks in one, trying to configure a portable radio.
"Lee! Hey," the twins said. George plopped down next to him, which left the other side to Fred and Harley. She sat down gingerly, her carry-on in her lap with her robes and a book to read in case she got bored.
"This is Harley Torrance. She's new to Hogwarts," Fred introduced. "Harley, this is Lee Jordan."
He smiled amiably, but she saw him looking at her clothes and expression with barely disguised apprehension. "Nice to meet you. Gryffindor?"
"Excuse me?" Harley asked.
"Your House," he explained.
"In case you're hard of hearing, Jordan, I do not have a House yet," she said irritably. She hated her own personality, but she did not suffer fools gladly.
The twins laughed at what she said, so she didn't feel as bad about insulting their friend. Talk turned to the upcoming classes. Most of them were excited about Transfiguration, except Fred, who wondered what kind of teacher Lockhart would be. He loved Defence Against The Dark Arts the most.
Fred asked Harley what class she thought she'd like, and she answered with "Potions."
Lee snorted. "Not after you actually attend the class you won't."
For most of the ride, she was happy to listen to the three of them talk, gathering information about the school, classes, and teachers. They finally disembarked and Harley could see the castle in the distance, windows alight with candles and fireplaces, looking as if it came from a picture book. It was old and Gothic, and she loved it.
Hermione found the foursome and said, "Harry and Ron never got on the train!"
"What?" the twins cried in unison.
"What happens to kids who miss the train?" Harley asked.
"No idea. Probably expelled," Fred said nonchalantly, winking at Harley when he saw the horrified look on Hermione's face. Was it possible she actually had a friend in Fred Weasley? It seemed highly unlikely, but a pleasant thought.
Hagrid came and told Harley to walk in with the first years, so she could go and see Dumbledore before Sorting began. It was then that Hermione told him about Harry and Ron, and she watched a look of fear cross Hagrid's face. "I'll tell Dumbledore," he said, and then Harley got in a boat to enter the castle for the first time.
She didn't have any time to wonder where Harry and Ron were once they all got into Hogwarts. Dumbledore pulled her aside immediately.
"We'll get you Sorted first. Now, do you want me to tell them why you're being Sorted in your fourth year?"
"Please," Harley replied. "I don't want any unnecessary gossip."
Dumbledore led her to the front of the great hall, with over a thousand pairs of eyes on her, and told a simplified version of Harley's life. "And now," he concluded, "let us begin the Sorting Ceremony with Miss Torrance!"
Harley stepped forward and sat on a stool as an old, tattered hat was put on her head. To her surprise, she heard the voice of the Hat whispering in her ear as it decided where to put her.
"Well, well, isn't this a surprise: a fourteen-year-old getting Sorted? Well, where do I put you. Not Hufflepuff; you'd kill them all. Perhaps Ravenclaw? You're certainly smart enough, aren't you? But you wouldn't like the petty in-fighting. You're above that. So, let's look at your parents. Your mother was a Gryffindor, and you've certainly got her wit and bravery. You father now, he's a proud Slytherin, and you could be his clone, you know. Silent and brooding, but brilliant. Better be…"
"Oh, just bloody sort me already!" Harley thought, stunned when the hat answered her by yelling out her house.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table-which included everyone she had met before-burst into applause, the Weasley twins clapping the loudest.
"Welcome to Gryffindor," said an elderly woman with a wide-brimmed, pointed hat. "I am Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House."
"Good going, Harley!" Fred said.
It wasn't until after Harry and Ron had finally arrived (and received punishment) and everyone was settling into Gryffindor common room that Harley had the time to dwell on what the Hat had told her. Her mother was a brave, witty woman; a Gryffindor. Her father's a brooding, brilliant Slytherin. There was something about that second sentence that sounded different to her. What was it?
"Oh, my God!" she sat up ramrod straight, the words finally registering in her mind.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"The Hat: it told me my mum was a Gryffindor. It also said that my father is a Slytherin," Harley said. "Don't you see what that means?"
"Yeah-that the two Houses can mate," Ron joked.
"No, you idiot," Hermione said. "The Hat spoke of her mother in the past tense. It spoke of her father in the present tense. That means-"
"-My father is alive," Harley finished.