The train pulled up to the station with a shriek of the brakes and a sigh. Latasha bit her lip as she stood on the platform, the breeze rustling through her curls and black robes, her slender curves silhouetted in the light from the lantern Hagrid was holding, calling for the first years. Draco shrugged as the carriages pulled up.
"You could always sneak in with us."
As he spoke, a light hand was placed on Latasha's shoulder. "Ah, Miss LeRon. I've been expecting you. Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you grab a carriage before they all leave and you have to walk to the school." Latasha turned and looked up, emerald eyes wide, as she saw the tall, kindly old man with half moon specticals.
Draco nodded and looked at Latasha with a shrug. "See you later?"
"As long as our truce holds out," she said with a grin.
"Yeah, well..." He shrugged again. "I'll keep my fingers crossed." He turned with out another word, hands shoved in his pockets. Latash watched him walk off, something sparking across her face as she smiled. She turned and looked up at the man. "Professor Dumbledore?"
"I'm a little bit surprised to see you, actually," he said with a grin. "About three hours ago, your name showed up on the first year roster, and I had to see for myself what was going on. Maybe you can explain it to me on the boat ride up."
She turned red and nodded as they followed Hagrid to the boats, Latasha looking nervous stepping into theirs. "You're not going to send me back, are you?" She asked her green eyes shining as she looked up at him.
"Back where?" he asked. "You still haven't told me your story."
Latasha pulled out the timeturner from under her shirt. "I like it better here, and it's a fresh start in either time, and-"
"Hold on, hold on," he said with a smile. "I wasn't scolding you. And I'm not kicking you out. You can stay."
Latasha let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Headmaster." She turned and watched as they rounded the bend and the castle came into view, the candlelight flickering, reflecting in her eyes. Hogwarts.
Latasha tried to ignore the whispers around her as she stood with the eleven year olds, all excited about the sorting, and confused about the older girl standing with them.
A small girl walked over to her and smiled. "So what house are you hoping for?"
Latasha shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Anything but Hufflepuff. Everyone is a Hufflepuff to some degree. I want something unique. Something that will tell me sets me apart from everyone else."
"I want to get into Hufflepuff," the girl said with a bright smile. "My name is Carol. I'm so excited for this year to begin! What about you? You are..."
"Latasha, and frankly, I'm afraid of all the catching up I'll need to do." She shrugged and leaned up against the wall, closing her eyes. "I'm here, though. I could care less about what happens. I am free."
"First years, follow me please," Professor McGonagall spoke up as she returned to them to lead them into the Great Hall.
Latasha could feel all the eyes on her as she walked into the room, the whispers starting almost immediately as she entered.
"That is one hot first year," a murmur came from the Gryffindor table. She turned to see the boy she had seen on the train, only...
"Knock it off, George," Fred whispered back, then gave her a wink. Latasha flashed him a warm smile before looking at the other tables.
There was Slytherin's table, and she caught Draco's eyes with her own, and her smile grew wider. Maybe she'd choose Slytherin, just so she could be with him.
She waited, as names were called, and excited first years names were called one by one, then Larsen, Carol, and Linden, Arthur were called consecutively and sorted into Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, respectively. She looked up at the table, surprised her name hadn't been called. One by one, every first year was sorted, then finally, when there were only three of them left, McGonagall looked up to Dumbledore, her eyebrows raised in question, to which Dumbledore just shook his head.
"Latasha R. LeRon."
Latasha frowned, not recognizing the R, but shrugging it off and walking forward, ignoring the eyes and whispers. She sat down gracefully, smoothing out her skirt as the hat was placed on her head.
Well, well, well. What do we have here? I see a lot of wisdom in here. But there is also dedication and hard work, wit and cunning. Oh yes... I see now you would do well in Slytherin. The hat seemed to pause for a minute. But I also see that you have lots of daring, strength, courage...hmmm, what to do what to do... Your father did well in Slytherin. Accomplished many great things. Terrible, but great none the less.
"My father?" she whispered, looking up at the hat.
Yes, but your mother, yes, I remember her, too. I never saw a more true Gryffindor. Oh yes, this will be a most difficult decision.
Latasha found herself thinking about the first Harry Potter book, quoting along with it. "Not Slytherin, Not Slytherin."
Not Slytherin? the hat asked. Are you sure?
"No!" she whispered loudly. "I mean... I don't know. Slytherin or Gryffindor would both be great..."
Hmm... the hat thought for a long while. Well... I think... hmmmm... this is a tough decision. I haven't had a problem sorting anyone since Flitwick, sitting over there, was sorted. McGonagall wasn't much better. But I have never had much problem deciding between Gryffindors and Slytherins. They usually choose if they are close. Hmmm... Well, at least you aren't begging me to put you elsewhere... count my blessings... hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... Latasha's eyes flicked up to McGonagall's, then behind her to Flitwick. Well... I've made up my mind. You sure you don't have a say? Alright, better be...
GRYFFINDOR!
A cheer came from the Gryffindor table as Latasha let out a sigh and stood up. As Professor McGonagall took the hat, she said, "I really have to hear about your sorting, and Professor Flitwick's, just to make me feel better."
She ran down the long table and found a seat open next to Fred and his brother, George, and slid into it. Fred clapped her on the back with a grin. "We were almost afraid you wouldn't get sorted."
"Believe me," she said with a smile. "I almost thought I wasn't going to either."
George stuck out his hand. "I'm George, this idiot's brother." As Latasha took his hand, he asked, "Now, what made the hat's decision so difficult? Did he want to put you in Ravenclaw?"
"Actually, it was Slytherin," she said with a shrug. "I guess I'm the only one who ever bridged the two houses and didn't ask for one over the other."
Fred smiled. "Well, thank goodness that the hat sorted you here." As the last two were sorted into Slytherin, her eyes moved across the hall to find Draco's. The heartbreak in her eyes as she saw his expression could not be hidden. She looked down at the table, missing Dumbledore's few words, watching as the table filled with food, listening to the conversation around her, before Fred put a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" he asked. "You haven't eaten a thing, and this is your first day with a magical feast. The novelty will wear off soon. Better eat it now," he joked.
Latasha shrugged, then smiled up at him. "I'm alright now. What do you suggest? It's all too much, I don't know what to pick."
Fred grinned and ladled some stuff out onto her plate. "Just start trying everything, but you have to finish everything on your plate before dessert comes at least."
"Yes, sir!" she laughed, and started eating. As she was introduced to fellow Gryffindors over dessert of strawberry cheesecake, Dumbledore stood back up and held up his hands for silence.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. And for all of our returning students, welcome back. I'd like to make a few announcements, and one of them... well... let's for the time being say I think you will all come to understand. First off, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, though a fantastic store, has a long, long, long list of items that are not permitted on school grounds. If you have any of the contraband, feel free to bring it to my office, and we'll see what trouble we can cook- I mean... I'll return it to you at the end of the term." Fred nudged Latasha and pointed over to George, who had a bag of tricks hidden in his robes.
Dumbledore continued. "Now, to business. Last semester, one of the rooms of the second year Gryffindor boys' rooms was utterly disgusting after they left, due to some swamps and dirty socks. While easy to clean up, I got the idea to remodel each and every house common room and dormitory. So, this year, while we are working on the houses, you will be living in 12 tents out by the lake. Each tent has its own sitting area, its own password, and its own prefects." A murmur went up and Latasha leaned over to Fred.
"You don't think he expects fifty-plus girls from different houses to live together, do you? I'm just thinking that would lead the school to disaster."
Fred looked shocked. "Oh, let's hope not."
"I've divided all the tents into two areas, boys on one side, girls on the other. The houses have been split by years and paired with another. These will be your mini houses for the first term. When you need to run away to your house, you may use the common rooms, I finished those first. The fifth and sixth years will be paired together, due to being the smallest year sizes. Here are the tent assignments."
"Oh goodness," Latasha said softly. "This could be... interesting."
Neville had his fingers crossed. "Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff, or at least Ravenclaw."
"Not Slytherin," another fifth year commented.
"The fifth and sixth years, in tent 9, will be Gryffindor and Slytherin." The first years had not put up nearly such a fuss as what the fifth and sixth years did. There were loud complaints from the two tables.
"What? Oh come on, Dumbledore!"
Latasha looked up at Draco again, catching his eye and looking down again.
"And the prefects for that tent will be Draco Malfoy, and... Latasha Leron."
Latasha's mouth fell open into a small, perfect 'o'. "A prefect? but I'm only a first year, I thought..."
Fred patted her on the back. "Apparently Dumbledore has other plans for you, Latasha! Congrats!"
"But that means... Draco..."
George shrugged. "Yeah, we're going to have to suffer with the little twerp, but that's alright! We'll just sic Hermione on him, and he'll be taken care of, won't he?"
"He's absolutely horrid, and I can't believe we'll be living in the same tent for who knows how long," she said with a sigh. "Honestly, it will be bad enough sharing a tent with you two."
"Now! I'd like to speak to the prefects about how everything is set up, then it's off to bed with you all."
Draco and Latasha walked up to receive their assignments, each avoiding the others looks.
"I'm expecting you two to work together on this," Dumbledore finished. "Now go gather your students."
Latasha turned and put a hand on malfoys shoulder. "Please, wait." When he stopped,though he didn't turn around, she said, "I'd like to talk to you. The sorting hat told me something, and I'd like your help figuring stuff out."
Draco looked over his shoulder briefly, then nodded. "We'll talk after everyone gets settled for the night. I'll meet you in the common area." With that, he walked over to the Slytherin table, hands in his pockets.
Latasha sighed, feeling slightly relieved that Draco hadn't completely shunned her for being in Gryffindor.
"Alright then," she said, looking at her list. "Fifth and sixth years, this way, please." She waved her hand and Fred was immediately behind her.
"Here, let me check everyone off for you, just so we know everyone is here."
Latasha smiled, then shook her head. "No worries, I already did. Weasleys are all red heads, Harry Potter has the scar, Hermione and Neville I met, and the sixth years were the people I was sitting with. It wasn't too hard to figure out by listening to the conversations."
Fred raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Quite observant. You are pretty amazing, Latasha."
Latasha smiled and turned slightly pink. "Thanks." After the short walk out to the lake, they met the Slytherins at tent nine. There was an awkward silence as Latasha stepped up to the tent and said "Tumoro superbia." As the tent flap opened, she ducked inside. "Come on, people. Plenty of time to hate each other later."
After a moment of hesitation, everyone started filing in one by one. Draco brought up the rear. "Boys on my right, Girls on my left. Two people per room, preferable someone you don't despise. The prefect rooms are behind the common area beyond the back flap. If you need anything, that's where we'll be."
"Try to not kill each other," Latasha added helpfully as the fifth and sixth years scrambled for rooms, Fred and George claiming the room furthest from the prefects, talking excitedly about 'test subjects' and disappearing into the room. After everyone settled in, Draco sat down on the common room couch, kicking up his legs on the coffee table.
"So, what did you find out? You were sitting up there for a long time," he said, tucking his hands behind his head, looking cool, smiling a little.
Latasha moved to sit down, but stopped when a tent flap opened and Hermione came out, loaded down with books. "Sorry," she said, sitting down in a chair. "I wanted to get a head start studying, and I didn't want to bug Katie. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No worries," Latasha said, moving to the back room. "I'm just... going to go to sleep. Long day, very surprising." After a pause, she smiled and nodded. "Good night, Hermione. Draco. I'll talk to you in the morning... I guess." She ducked under the flap and looked around the room, smiling by the size. They had their own common area, and two tent flaps in the back. She walked into her room and changed into short shorts and a sports bra, then pulled out Lizzy from her robe pocket and placed her in the tiny habitat to sleep. "Night Lizzy. Try not to sneak out." The lizard gave her a sly smile and curled up. "Don't give me that look. I saw you with that chameleon." She smiled and turned out the light. Hearing voices in the common room, she stood and walked back to the first tent flap, peeking out to see Draco talking to Hermione, sitting in the chair next to her. She sighed and walked back, curling up under the covers of the queen bed, closing her eyes, falling into an uneasy sleep.