Chapter 2: Towers and Turrets
The Hogwarts Express was chugging along the tracks at a quick pace, eating up the miles between Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross and Hogwarts. Gigi found the rough yet subtle motion of the train nauseating and was thankful she had found the small, dingy compartment at the very end of the train. None of the other students seemed to notice that it even existed, and she was left in peace.
She stared out of the window as the rolling green hills and fields slipped passed. She was already missing the gentle lull of the surf and the smell of salt in the air. Hogwarts was far inland, and she had little hope that the ocean, or any large body of water, was close enough to see from her dormitory window. A sigh escaped her lips just as a knock sounded on the closed door. She opened it to see a small smiling woman pushing a cart full of candies and other sweets.
"Anything off the cart, dear?" she asked in a pleasant voice.
Gigi eyed the cart but saw nothing of interest; in fact, many of the items turned her already upset stomach. She shook her head, silvery blond hair cascading down her shoulders in waves. "No, thank you."
"You are the first not to buy," the woman chuckled. "I wish all the students had such healthy diets. I best be moving on, then. Have a good day, dear."
Gigi felt even more alone after the woman had left. She sighed again and decided to look over her school supplies. Her first trip to Diagon Alley the day before had been exciting. Never before had she ever seen a place so exotic and fascinating, not even the towns on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, compared to it. The stores were full of wondrous items—broomsticks, colorful robes, magical books, and much more. She loved Flourish and Blotts with the hundreds of books on the shelves, but the hardest store to leave had been the music shop, Lorraine's Tuning Corner. There had been numerous different kinds of whistles, recorders, and flutes, all of which made a slightly different sound. Her parents had to drag her away but not before they bought her a new flute to replace the old one she had left behind at their house in Orkney.
Then there was Ollivanders, the place where she had bought her wand. After Professor Dumbledore's visit, her parents had sent a letter via owl to Mr. Ollivanders with the request for a special wand. He had complied after receiving permission from Dumbledore, and the wand was ready for Gigi when they went to pick it up.
Gigi stroked the wand tenderly as it laid on her lap. It was ten and a quarter inches long and made of red cedar. The core was unique; tufts of fur from a white Selkie had been placed expertly inside the wood giving the wand a springy feel, as if it was aching to be used. Mr. Ollivanders had promised that the wand would be very good for complex spells.
"Perfect for defending oneself from dark magic…Yes, a wand that would make any auror proud," he had said rather smugly.
Gigi smiled. She was the first Mclundy to ever own a wand, and she was very proud. She glanced over at the trunk that was set on the floor. Inside were her black robes, first year books, pewter cauldron, beginner's potion set, and other supplies. Beneath the false bottom were her white dress and the white fur, safe and sound where no one could ever find it. Gigi took a book from her trunk, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, and began to read. It passed the time much quicker than reminiscing about home. After all, today was the first day of her new exciting life as a productive member of the wizard society, not a shunned outcast to be avoided.
Much later a voice interrupted Gigi's review of the plant aconite.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Gigi replaced the book back into her trunk and took out her school robes. She changed quickly into the gray skirt, white blouse, gray vest, and horrible black robe. She felt odd in the witches clothing, and she had to force herself from changing into the comfortable white dress hidden in her trunk.
She was just tucking her wand into the inside pocket of her robe when the train braked and began to slow down. Outside the window a small town was going by. When the train stopped completely, Gigi left the compartment and joined the other students as they milled off the train and onto the platform. There were so many kids between the ages of eleven and eighteen that no one even noticed Gigi. She made her way through the crowd towards the largest man she had ever seen.
He was extremely tall and very wide around the belt with wild black hair and a tangled beard. He wore a large overcoat that was filled with pockets. Despite his untamed appearance, the man seemed friendly.
"Firs ' years over here! Firs' years!" he was bellowing loudly. He waved a gigantic hand and turned away. "Follow me and mind yer step!"
Gigi and the other first years followed the giant man down a narrow path. Many slipped and stumbled, but Gigi was used to steep rocky trails as the shoreline near her home had plenty. She kept her balance well enough; though when a pale faced boy beside her grabbed her arm to keep from falling, she almost slid. There were trees lining the path and when they finally reach the bottom, the giant paused.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," he told the group. Sure enough, just around the bend the trees fell back and a large lake spread out in front of them. On the opposite side of the large, calm lake, nestled in the mountain was a massive castle that seemed to be all towers and turrets. It was lit with hundreds of gold lights that reflected off the far side of the lake. Directly in front of the group were wooden boats and torches. The giant moved towards one, taking a torch in one hand.
"Now no more'n four to a boat," he warned. The first years complied while whispering about the amazing view. Gigi moved towards an empty boat just a three other students boarded it. She grabbed the last remaining torch and joined them, sitting in the back. They were talking and leaning over the prow in excitement.
"Everyone in?" the giant asked. He nodded, his shaggy beard bouncing. "Right then—FORWARD!"
The little boats obediently moved away from the shore and glided across the still surface of the lake. While her companions gawked at the rapidly approaching castle, Gigi cast a curious eye on the lake. She dipped her finger into the water, letting it trail for a moment before pulling it back. The water was lukewarm and exceptionally clean, even though it was fresh water. She longed to submerge herself in it, but kept herself from actually plunging in by repeating over and over in her mind that it was an honor to be at Hogwarts.
A few moments later the giant ordered them to duck their heads. The boats slipped through a curtain of ivy and into a dark tunnel in the cliffside. When they seemed to be directly beneath the castle, the boats pulled up to a harbor. Gigi waited until the others stepped out of the boat first before she followed. The entire group climbed stone steps for quite a while, and Gigi remained in the shadows at the rear. Then they reached the end of the stairs and came out of the passage near the castle. The giant led them around the wall to a huge oak door and he knocked three times.
The door sprang open without a pause and a tall stern faced woman in dark green robes stood there. Her black hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and she gazed unblinkingly at the first years through square shaped glasses. Gigi suspected immediately that this teacher was going to be a difficult one. She gave the giant man a nod before turning and walking inside. The group nervously followed her into the largest entrance hall Gigi had ever seen. They crossed the flagstone hall to a small room, chatting anxiously.
"Quiet, please," the woman snapped. The students stopped talking immediately and she nodded. Gigi had to look between two taller boys to see the professor. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, Transfigurations teacher and patron of Gryffindor. The start-of-term feast will begin shortly in the Great Hall, through the door behind me, but first you must be sorted. There are four different houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
"While you are here at Hogwarts your house will be like your family; you will sleep in your house dormitories, spend free time in your house common room, and attend classes with your house. Your triumphs will earn your house points; any rule-breaking will lose your house points. At the end of each year the house with the most points will be award the house cup. A great honor."
Her eyes scanned over the group of first years. "I will return shortly when the Sorting Ceremony is ready to commence."
She left out the door, and for a brief moment the noise of the older students could be heard. Then the door closed and they were left with silence. Nervously conversations began again; most of the students were speculating what type of a test was given to sort first years into the different houses. Gigi felt a pit growing in her stomach at the whisperings—she did not want to be given a test, especially in front of the entire school. It was bad enough having to sit in a Great Hall with over four hundred students; she had never been in such a crowded place before, except maybe Diagon Alley, but definitely not on a daily basis.
A few minutes later Professor McGonagall returned.
"Form a line," she ordered, "and follow me."
Gigi stepped into the line just behind a black haired boy and before a brown haired girl. She was feeling a bit queasy, but she swallowed her anxiety as she stepped into the brightly lit Great Hall. Professor McGonagall led the first years up the center aisle with two long tables on either side. Gigi glanced up and was shocked to see that there seemed to be no ceiling at all, just the dark sky overhead. There were also candles floating in the air just out of reach, flickering and dancing. They walked up to the head table and were halted so that they made a line facing the other students. Over four hundred pairs of eyes studied them, and Gigi nervously shut her own, licking her dry, cracking lips.