31th August,
Home- lunch.
Oh I am so tired.
Quite literally, I have been in a never ending buzz for the past week.
It is my last day at home; I'm going to Hogwarts tomorrow!
OhMyMerlin I'm kind of really nervous too.
What if I'm not a Gryffindor?
But Leo was still called Leo? How stupid would that look?
I blame dad entirely.
He came into my room at about 9 this morning, yelling for me to pack my bags and go for a ride with Jacob. Psh.
What a scandal! I could have still been asleep!
But no, my dear old dad insisted, so my bag is all packed, and I am sat at a table.
'Eating.'
So much for going out for a ride!
When I say 'eating', I actually mean 'sitting-and-watching-Jake-eat-everything-in-sight-to-hold-me-up-and-cheese-me-off.'
He's quite good at that these days. Good to know he's putting his (few) talents to use.
It's not a very fun past time. I wouldn't recommend it, really. He is like a pig. Or a Pigoplytoperus, which is apparently a scaly pig that lives in the mountains and can fly. According to my uncle Marcus, that is.
And he's as dim as a dingbat.
On the other hand, this brings a whole new meaning to 'when pigs fly'. If anyone uses that I might get a pet pigo-thingy. It would be so cool! Can you imagine, a huge black thing floating out of the sky, eating all the Slytherins (providing my dad is not an idiot and I am a Gryffindor) and bringing auntie Annette back to life with her incredible knowledge of pasta?
I would marry that pig. And Aunt Annette. And the pasta.
I really, really love it.
I hope the house elves can make me some, because then I would marry them all, and turn them into slaves.
Could you imagine that? I could say 'Rise, oh mighty house elves! We must defeat The Dark Lord, and celebrate with Pasta!'
And they would actually do that.
Oh look, the pigo-thing has looked up from his meal of bread and soup. (well, I think its soup, but anything is possible in this house)
He grinned at me. Christ. It's hideous!
"What time do you want to go out then?" the demonic creature asked, then pushing a slab of bread into his over-used mouth.
I snorted- clearly he was blind.
"In case you haven't noticed, oh dear brother of mine, I have been ready for the past hour, after tacking up both horses, getting changed and sat here watching you."
In can be hilariously cutting when I want to. And sarcastic. The funny thing is he is eight- and eight year olds do not generally know this.
For some mysterious reason, however, he has an incredibly large vocabulary, including some most spectacular swear words and stuff. Seriously.
He snorted back.
Dear god, he had made the full transformation! I am proud owner of a boy-pig thing!
Oh the joys.
"Oh. Give me a minute and I'll get ready, okay?"
I sighed. 'One minute' in boys speak is the equivalent of 3 hours in girls speak (for eating, it's probably the other way round getting ready for a party or dance, .).
"Fine"
Psh.
Later
In the stables, waiting for Jacob.
Can that boy get ANY SLOWER!
I have been waiting for almost a bloody hour!
What an imbecile!
Poor old Ghost (my brothers pony. She's ancient, and dad tried (and failed) to convince us she was a magical unicorn that could talk) has been waiting here tied up for an hour with Lee, I'm sat on him now.
How typical is it that I forgot my horses name is Lee, and called my owl Leo?
Very is the answer.
Oh, hang on! I have spotted a mysterious creature coming from the house! It's a miracle!
"Oi, Jake will you hurry up?" the boy ignored me and slowly walked his way down to us, smirking. Cocky git.
"I am so terribly sorry, dear Katherine-"-(DIE EVIL NAME DIE)- "-But mum wanted a word with me,"
Wow! Was that sarcasm? I'm so proud. Not.
Eventually he got on Ghost, and we set off. Slowly.
We trotted steadily for about ten minutes down this little overgrown track (I found it, so it's MY track) before stopping. I looked around to see Jake, but the pig had mysteriously vanished.
Such a shame.
Wait- once again I am wrong- I blame karma for this! - The chubby ones have appeared. Jake is funny to watch, when he rides, sitting there, wobbling away like some idiotic jelly. He pulled the grey pony to a stop, and then called over to me.
I can't hear a word he's saying.
I think he said tree. And pond.
What the Hell could that mean?
Maybe he fell in a lake, then a tree fell on him... oh, I can see it now... heh.
I rolled my eyes and Lee cantered over to him. He was a very attractive shade of pink.
"Katesspdritreefeliponehurded..."he blabbed out.
What the HELL does THAT mean?
"What? Sorry, didn't catch a word of that," I smirked. Imbecilic boy.
"Spider... tree... huge...pond...fell...Owwwwww"
Thanks for clearing that up for me. Helpful.
I pressed him a bit more.
"You saw a spider in a tree, and then fell in the pond?"
He nodded, shaking.
Oh. My. God.
What a wimp.
I started to laugh. Good grief, I had an unstoppable laughing attack coming on!
Jake looked a bit angry at me, so I tried (key word there) to stop...
...And failed rather spectacularly. I have this incredible skill of pulling a straight face in the middle of a laughing fit, but it makes me laugh more. And there was a very attractive stain down one arm of his top.
Oh dear.
Jake looks more than angry now. His face went all read and blotchy, before he span around Ghost and tickled her flank.
...
Holy Merlin's gym shorts!
That pony kicks!
She did, too, and it almost hit my leg. Violent child.
The sad thing is, lee is not a very brave creature, as I once discovered when I first got him. A fox had appeared out of the track – MY track – and hissed at him. Lee bucked and ran away.
Wimp.
So of course, the idiot did the same again. I yelped and (quite literally, Lee is a big horse) hung on for dear life.
It is not good to die the day before going to Hogwarts.
Oh god, now I have a panicky, ARGHHH! feeling in my stomach. As well as being stuck on some lunatic horse.
My life is incredible.
I pulled him to a stop and turned to glare at Jacob, who was sat on ghost, laughing.
Hang on – one moment ago he was spitting fire balls and making his pony kick me! Now he's laughing?
I think he's mentally unstable. And possibly bipolar.
Evening,
Lying on my bed. Of pain.
Ohh I feel ill.
The horrible, horrible sick-y I-am-about-to-collapse/faint-and-not-be-able-to-go-to-Hogwarts ill.
It's not nice.
Upon saying that, though, mum did serve me pasta.
In bed.
A knocking had interrupted my (not so) many thoughts, revealing her.
She was holding a bowl of steaming, beautiful pasta.
"Katie, are you alright? You looked rather pale earlier,"
Don't worry, I'm feeling much better at the sight of the lovely food.
But if I looked ill, maybe if I played ill she would do it again...
Free Pasta!
In bed!
"Errgh, I'm okay" I sighed, "just a little nervous,"
She looked at me sympathetically, and wandered over to my bed, and popped the delicious pasta on my bed. Still in the bowl, obviously. Only an idiot would just chuck pasta onto white bedclothes, only to clean it off themselves.
She patted my head (How Dare she!) and sat down on my bed.
"Don't worry about it- you're doing better than I did at your age. I ran off to the bathroom every few minutes. You and your father are much braver than me at these things,"
Well, duh, I'm going to be a Gryffindor, not a Hufflepuff.
"So I brought you some pasta to make you feel better."
Oh I love this woman.
Really, really love her.
I think I forgive her for the book incident.
"Thanks mum. I feel okay now, so it's all good. I'll have the pasta still, though,"
She chuckled and ruffled my hair again, then got up and left me in peace.
Ohh, that pasta was nice. So very, very nice.
I could live on the stuff, if I could.
Seriously.
Oh god, only 14 hours until I board the train!
1st September
Some completely Ridiculous time in the morning.
Panicking.
Some complete berk has woken me up before 8.00. That is the official killing offence.
I blame Olivia.
I think she got back from 'David's' sometime last night – I don't know, I was hibernating in a dark, dark room, trying not to melt and die.
Anyway, she burst into my room screeching, telling me to get up and dressed so we won't be late.
It is only 7.30. We have 3 hours until we need to leave.
It's not very pleasant, either, to wake up to a half dressed girl, screeching like a banshee.
She could screech for England, given the chance.
I would become rich!
3 hours!
Ohh.
The ultimate things I need to do today so I don't die/hyperventilate/fall over and get very embarrassed.
Get to the station nice and early. Better chance of seats!
Say bye to the family and escape from 'Liv, avoiding all emotional scenes mum may/may not put on.
Remember something to do, so I don't look like some goon sat alone in a carriage
Stay away from the evil older Slytherins
Stay away from older years that may kick me out of my compartment.
Find someone so this doesn't happen.
Get there without making an absolute fool of myself.
Get sorted into Gryffindor.
Breath.
Survive.
About 10.30
Leaving to the station.
My stomach has decided to turn upon itself and have a feast on my intestines.
I am that nervous.
I am sat in the living room, on my own, waiting.
Again. I seem to spend half my life waiting.
Of course, that is because I was an evil person in a past life.
But if that is true, then why is almighty god taking it out on me?
It's not my fault!
Dad wanted to apparate to Kings Cross, but, we were supposed to be there quite a while ago.
Mum and Olivia took Jake with them and went by floo, with the trunks and bags, leaving me with dad to 'sort some things out'.
Oh dear.
That probably means we will hop on the train with two- oh, wait, wrong again. Here he is now.
"Come on Katie, hurry so were on time,"
I snorted – I had been the one waiting for half an hour.
With a pop we got to the platform.
I really, really hate apparating. It is awful.
I forgot my moment's displeasure by looking at the train.
It was a huge red old fashioned steam train, and it was pouring starry steam out of its funnel. It was amazing!
There were so many people there, to, loads of families hugging and boarding the train, or just standing around. Like us.
My stomach fluttered again. Ahh, I don't like this...
Dad had evidently spotted mum; he tugged on my arm and led me over nearer the back of the train. The three of them were there, and Jake grinned at me. Wow, he was being nice! Amazing!
I grinned back, and stopped next to mum and gave her a hug.
Tears filled her eyes and she patted my head AGAIN! Oh, I hate that.
"Don't worry about it, you'll be fine...-''who said I was worried? "-...and you can come home for the holidays, make sure you write lots, and your stuff is already on the train, we found you a compartment," I pulled out of her hug and smiled – she was being nice too! It makes a nice change from having books thrown at my head.
Olivia had left already, so I said goodbye to dad (he gave me practically the same speech of mum).
"Be a Gryffindor or I will disown you!" he smiled down. Well then. Thanks a lot, love you too.
Jake looked quite sad as I went to get on the train – so I gave him a hug.
How nice am I? Very. He instructs his pony to kick me, and then feels sorry. So I gave him a hug and a clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't be sad, I'm sure you'll find someone else to annoy when I'm gone." I told him. Apparently he was grateful for this piece of information, because he smiled and waved at me.
I got on the train, through the small carriage door.
It is a really, really small door- I doubt that the 7th years can fit through them standing up straight.
The fun of being short. And young.
I settled myself into the compartment – I was all alone. Bugger. I need to find someone so I don't get kicked out!
The train started to move, and it whistled. I think I have burst my ear drums; seriously, it was nearly as bad as the pigeons. I hate pigeons.
Mum and co. Waved at me as the train pulled out of the station.
Awww, I don't want to go. But then again, I do. Leave them, I mean. Not not go to Hogwarts! That's a scandal!
Eh, oh well. I have Leo to keep me company. Maybe he can live in my dorm...
Oh I am so tired. I was up quite literally all night, curled up in bed trying to sleep and prevent my stomach eating itself. Not fun.
Bloody hurt, actually, and that silly muggle medicine mum gave me is a failure. Mum has no magical remedies or medicines in the house, because she nearly poisoned dad when Olivia was 3. It's stupid.
I think I should take up healing, it looks good... then again, we choose stuff in 3rd year, and it depends what house I'm in and if I die. If I'm a Slytherin, I die. I don't want to be a Slytherin!
Have I mentioned that pigeons annoy me? If not, I REALLY HATE THEM!
There is one tapping at the window of my compartment, with the stupid blue thing spellotaped to its leg. Owls are better. Speaking of owls, Leo doesn't appear to like pigeons either. He has his head turned up in the air and is glaring, like a really, really evil die-now-stupid-pigeon glare. (I know it because I pull that face a lot too. I don't blame him.)
I let in the pigeon; stupid feathery git flew in and flapped around for a while, not letting me grab its leg. Stupid thing.
In the end Leo glared (again) at him – the bird dropped the letter and flew away. I slammed the door shut, and he was gone!
Yay for Leo, killer of pigeons!
I may make him a crown.
He deserves it.
Oh look, the letter is from my father, the only lunatic mad enough to use pigeons instead of owls!
What a surprise!
Dear Katie,
You managed to leave behind your hat and gloves, with a few other bits that we will send on to you soon. Yes, I know, you don't like pigeons, so I will use Jeremy for the journey. Have fun!
GET INTO GRYFFINDOR!
Love and hugs
Dad. x
Psh.
That bloke is far too over obsessed. I don't blame him – 'Liv was a Ravenclaw, and Jake may not even be going to Hogwarts at this rate – mum wants a 'change' and to send him to Beuxbatons.
What kind of name is that?
It's French though, so anything could be possible. And it's run (according to dad, according to his cousin according to his son) by a huge half giant. Oh god.
Anyway, why would you even want to go to somewhere that isn't Hogwarts? It's the best school ever!
I still feel rather lonely... dear god, if I take back all my sins that I don't even know I have committed, would you give me some company? And perhaps some food, and to go anywhere that isn't Slytherin?
Nah - didn't think so. My karma is too bad.
Still on the Hogwarts Express
Getting dark now.
Still lonely.
Oh good grief, I appear to have fallen asleep! Well, not now obviously, I just woke up. There are people yelling and running up and down the corridor thingy outside.
At least I haven't been kicked out of here yet. That's a first.
Oh, I see what the commotion is all about- the food cart is two compartments down from mine!
Yay!
I jumped up and went to get something, leaving my compartment alone.
Whoops. Big mistake no.1, successfully made.
When I got back, a small girl with dark red hair and green eyes was in my compartment.
...
Okay then...
I slid open the door and came back in, she jumped and looked up, blushing.
Wow! I think I'm taller than her! It's another miracle.
"Err, sorry... I didn't think anyone was in here and Sev just went off with some others so I was alone and-"
She broke off, blushing and looked down. I sat down on the opposite seat, swinging my legs in front of Leo's cage.
"It's fine, don't worry. I'm Katie Armstrong, by the way – first year. Want a bean?" I grinned at her, holding out a packet of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans to her.
I'm such a nice person.
She looked a bit confused, and then smiled back. Good, I wasn't too intimidating. She took one and popped it in her mouth.
"Thanks. I'm Lily, Lily Evans. First year too,"
"Thank god! I was wondering if I was the only one, I've been in here most of the time and actually haven't seen anyone as short as me."
Lily grimaced slightly and swallowed, wrinkling up her nose in disgust.
"What are these beans, anyway? Because that tasted like paper, and the boys I was in a compartment with before were eating frogs..."
Ahh. She's a muggleborn!
I like muggleborns, mum had a friend once, and she was a muggleborn and had a big black moving thingy in her garden.
I nodded at her. "Are you a muggleborn?"
She looked confuse again. I popped another bean in my mouth. Mmm, cherry. I like cherry. How cool would it be if they made pasta ones of these? I would marry Bertie Bott.
I tried again. "Are any of your family magical? Did you know about magic before you were eleven?" her expression cleared a little bit.
"No. I met Severus, though, and he sort of told me... but before that, no. And my sister hates me because of it." She let out a long sigh. Awww. I knew what it felt like, having stroppy siblings. Evil gits they are, too.
"Eh, she'll come round. Mine did. But the beans – look out for them. They are every flavour- literally. My dad got a rock flavoured one before. Not nice. Chocolate frogs are good, it's only a charm s it's not like you're eating an actual frog."
Lily laughed, and took another few beans.
We sat there for a while, jabbering on about life before Hogwarts, and muggle friends whilst eating beans. I found a rice flavoured one, but it isn't quite the same as pasta. Oh.
"Hey, Lily, did you say you knew a few of the other first years?" I asked eventually.
She looked a bit surprised (after all, a minute ago we were comparing sisters.)
"Err, yea, but the ones I saw weren't very nice. They kept raving on about houses or something, and one being forced into Slytherin because of his blood..."
"OH! The houses! There are four of them, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Everyone say Slytherin are evil, and I have no intention of going there. And blood purity is just a line of wizards – if your entire family were wizards, you are probably a pureblood. I am, but dad loves muggles. Then there are half-bloods – a muggle or muggleborn parent and a wizarding parent, then the muggleborns, who have no magic in their blood."
Lily looked a little bit put off.
"Like me..." she said softly. Oh god, I hope didn't offend her, Merlin knows what them others said to her about it.
"It doesn't really make a difference, you know. We all start from scratch, and the houses aren't all that bad. Just Slytherin are a funny bunch."
"So you don't want to be a Slytherin then, I take it?" she grinned. Ahah, I had uncovered a sense of humour! Success!
I grimaced back, "No, I'm okay. Dad wants me to be a Gryffindor. Mum was a Hufflepuff. Here, look at this. He's obsessed!" I held out the letter, and she read it before bursting out laughing. I grinned back, and she calmed herself down.
Mistake no.1, not made. Phew.
"Oh god, are all purebloods like that?" she asked
"Haven't a clue – only met one or two. But I think my family are mentally disadvantaged, and also bipolar,"
Lily shook her head, smiling and then got up.
"D'you think we should get changed? It's getting dark, and I think we're slowing down."
I nodded in agreement, and we grabbed our robes and went to the small rooms at the back of the carriage.
I only have black robes still, I'll get the house colours (RED) when I'm sorted (GRYFFONDOR). I hope. I don't like green; it clashes rather badly with my height. I could look like a blob of moss. Attractive.
As I came out of the room, a pair of boys came sprinting in – both with black hair and a big bundle of clothes in their arms, knocking me aside rather roughly.
Abuse!
Another paler boy with sandy brown hair followed them. I smiled, being the friendly person I am, and he weakly smiled back.
"Oi, Remus, get your arse in here, its empty!" one of them called through. A head of messy black hair appeared round the side of the door and grinned at me.
"Sorry 'bout that, Black here wanted that cubicle, the fussy git."
A pair of glasses slid down his nose, and he roughly pushed them up, and held open the door for the other boy.
"Eh, I'll live. You a first year?"
"Yup, and I WILL be a Gryffindor!"
Yay! More Gryffindor wanna-be's, like me!
"Haha, same! See you at the table,"
With a wave he disappeared round the door and it slammed – I heard a loud crash and a few swears come from behind it. Boys.
Complete and utter goons. Oh well.
Jake is worse.
I walked back to the compartment to find Lily sitting, staring out of the window. The train shuddered to a halt, and another whistle blew.
Oh I hate that noise!
"Come on then, mate, off we get!" I grabbed Leo's cage and lily grabbed a small bag, then we were shunted onto the platform.
Ohh, it's cold!
Surely it isn't always this cold? I'll die!
Normally it's really sunny back home. Sunny for England, that is.
When it's not raining.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, ove' here!" a booming voice came over the heads of the crowd.
I grabbed Lily's arm (she appeared to have frozen in shock, but that could have just been the cold,) and made our way across to a huge, huge man surrounded by more small people.
Well, I can't exactly talk, but they were all around my height. Apart from the 3 I saw earlier, who were reasonably taller.
Oh Merlin, the big guy's taking us to the lake! Surely we don't have to swim across? To find out the houses? Because I'd end up in Slytherin, oh my god, I can't swim very well and-
Oh. There are boats. Whoops.
Like I said, I am always wrong.
I blame you, spiritual me.
Stupid karma.
In the Great Hall,
Later Still
Bloody hell! It's amazing in here! There are huge long tables (oh god, look it's Olivia. Look away, look away!) And big gold plates.
What is strange is there doesn't appear to be a ceiling. Well, I was told it was enchanted to look like the sky, but I never thought it was that awesome. I thought it was blue. Whoops.
The boat ride here was fun; we were in little groups of 4. Lily and I got into one, followed by the sandy haired boy and a shorter blond.
Nothing too terrible happened – but I saw the squid! Some of the boys up front were prodding it's tentacles with a stick, and then it flinched and almost tipped over this boat. Sadly that boat held a bunch of fake girls slagged up in skirts and make-up, but they didn't fall out.
Now that would have been funny.
When we got out, we actually saw the castle for the first time. A really short girl behind me gasped, her hand shooting up to her mouth and sparks shooting out of the wand clenched tightly in her hand.
She could have set me on fire!
But I'm too nice to get stroppy with people shorter than me because, let's face it; I am shorter than most people myself. Even Jakes taller than me and he's eight.
The huge guy knocked on the front door, and a witch appeared in very dark blue robes, wearing a hat and holding a scroll.
We walked through the entrance in silence, and she stopped us at the bottom of a flight of stairs, preparing to give a speech. Oh such fun. I love speeches.
Haha, not.
"Now, inside these doors are all the students at Hogwarts. You will each go through a sorting into your own house, which will be either of the following; Gryffindor (WHOO!) Ravenclaw (Ehh) Hufflepuff (Pshh) and Slytherin (BOOO). Each house has their own noble history, and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. Your house will be your family for the rest of your years at Hogwarts – and when you are sorted, there can be no changes."
A boy at the back flinched slightly, whilst a few of the others (supposable new Slytherins) jeered.
The professor glared at them before continuing.
"I will call out your names in alphabetical order, where you will come and sit at the stool, and try on the sorting hat..."
Wait - WHAT!
Holy motherfu-
I'm first! A! A for Armstrong! Nooooooo...
Not good.
Not good at all! Prepare for mad hyperventilating attack!
Oh no. Nononononooooo...
I don't like it. I want to go last!
The group moved into the hall, and we got into a line.
The professor started to read out names.
"Abercrombie, Alexander!"
Oh, phew! I'm not first! Yes!
"Hufflepuff!" called the hat. I think it sang earlier, I can't honestly remember.
"Armstrong, Katie!"
ARGH! Holy Merlin's baggy right sock, no!
I small push on my back made me move forward and I stumbled to the stool.
The hall peered at me, before it vanished, under the sides of the hat.
"Ahh, look! Another one of you, young Armstrong," the hat said. Well, I think he said. I'm not too sure anymore.
"Err, yea. Me. Hi. Can I go into Gryffindor, please?"
"Hmm, let me have a look here first... ah, nice and loyal, and brave, not Slytherin for you, little one..."
YAY not Slytherin!
"But you have a decent brain, maybe, Ravenclaw?"
"No, let me be a Gryffindor!"
"No, no, far too insistent for Ravenclaw. Now you mother was a Hufflepuff, wasn't she?"
Oh god. I blame mum for this! I might be a Hufflepuff! Nooo.
"Yes she was, but apparently you have to be nice and kind and gentle for Hufflepuff. The other day she threw a book at my head."
The hat chuckled.
"Ahh, she was an experiment... would you like to be an experiment?"
Arghh, no! Silly hat, don't tease me! Let me be a Gryffindor!
"But you are good and brave, good reactions and a kind heart-"
That sounds so mushy.
"-So you had better be..."
"Don't you dare say Hufflepuff."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
YES!
Hah, I win!
The professor pulled the hat off of my head and gave a small smile.
I just realised how long I had been with the hat. At least two minutes. Whoops.
Eh, I'm a Gryffindor! What a silly hat, wanting to use me as an experiment for Hufflepuff!
Oh, god, Olivia looks a bit stroppy. I think she thought I would be a Ravenclaw. HAH.
I sat down at the end of the table, where a few people clapped me on the back, and others merely grinned.
The person after me, "Barton, Arnold!" went into Ravenclaw (Liv shot me a smug look. Git.)
And then the boy on the train stumbled up to the platform.
"Black, Sirius!"
He sat down on the stool, but this time, I noticed, there was a series of muttering spreading along the right side of the hall. Evidently the Slytherins wanted him.
Oh I am so hungry. I need pasta.
Lots of pasta. And pizza. And chocolate.
The hat seemed to be debating with itself, and sat on the boys head for a good five minutes, before announcing,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The hall was silent for a split second, then Gryffindor table broke out into applause, I helped. Slytherin sat glaring, grumpy gits.
The boy stayed a second to long on the stool and blushed madly.
After one glance at the Slytherins (now hissing rather menacingly) he came and sat on the bench next to me.
He sank rather low down; face still red and eyes wide in shock.
Oh dear.
Time for friendly Katie act.
The hall was relatively quiet, as the hat started to move a bit quicker, now in the D's. Slithering gained a student, so did Ravenclaw.
The boy looked up as a scattering of applause marked "Dodd, Kyle" into Hufflepuff, then looked at me.
"Hey,"
"Hi there,"
Oh dear awkward silence.
He sat up now and smiled a bit strainedly at me, but still, it was a smile.
"I'm Sirius, Sirius Black," he grimaced slightly. "First ever Black to become a Gryffindor."
Ahh. Pureblood families, grey wizards.
"I'm Katie Armstrong – almost the sorting hats new experiment to Hufflepuff. Stupid thing tried to trick me into being a Hufflepuff!"
Sirius smiled and flicked his hair out of his eyes.
"Armstrong... any relation to Paul Armstrong, of the Department of Mysteries?"
I nodded.
"Yep. The lunatic is my dad. And he keeps carrier pigeons."
A cheer disrupted our conversation, as Lily Evans approached our table, a silly grin on her face as she sat down opposite me. Sirius' face instantly dropped, and he sat brooding for a while.
I grinned at Lily – we were together! I was right about blood- it honestly doesn't matter.
Maybe God DID answer my prayer, and forgave me for my sins! Yay!
In the end, me, Sirius and Lily were joined by six other boys- the one from the train, two from the boat, mums friend Augusta's son, Frank, with a darker skinned bloke, and another blond, slightly plumper than the first.
We got another six girls too- six. A reasonable looking few that sat down with me and Lily, then the other 3 sat at the end, casting suspicious glances around.
Grumpy gits.
They were Gryffindors! Everyone loves us!
Apart from the grouchy black haired boy next to me, who still appears to be rather moody and broody.
The entire hall then went quiet, and I glanced to the head table.
Albus Dumbledore had stood up, tapping a spoon against a goblet, and then started to speak.
"To our new hands- Welcome! And to those returning – welcome back! We have two new professors joining us this year, so kindly put your hands together for Professor Casius, who will take Defence Against Dark Arts, and Professor Sinistra, who will take Astrology."
There is a time for speechmaking, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
He sat down, and instantly the plates were full of food. Oh. My. God.
I have honestly never seen so much food, ever.
And they had pasta. Delicious, delicious pasta.
"Hey, Lil? Could you pass me that pasta? Now?"
Oh it looked sooo good. I am in love.
Lily did as requested, and I popped almost the entire plate onto my plate, then handed it back.
Lily shot me a slightly worried look, but I smiled.
"Don't worry, Lily, I have an insane obsession for this stuff. Are there any other types?"
She passed me a big pot of green spaghetti (oh it was sooo tasty) and then we all (minus the three snobs) were caught in conversation.
The train boys were Sirius Black and James Potter, who had made quite firm friends along with Remus Lupin (the sandy haired one) and the short blond, Peter Pettigrew. There was Frank Longbottem and his friend Dominic Holder, his cousin Lance Walten, and the three other girls – Marlene McKinnon, Mary Macdonald and Emmeline Vance.
You have no idea (you wouldn't anyway, books don't eat) how amazing that food was!
The pasta was almost like Annette's, just without the Italianness. And we had pumpkin juice. Ohh, I am in love. Deep, unbreakable love.
Afterwards, dessert appeared. They had cakes and pies and pretty much everything there, but I saw it. The second love of my life.
Honey and cinnamon waffles.
I am not leaving this table ever again. I request we always have waffles. Even for breakfast (I have them at home, it's a routine!) and I will steal these house elves to make them make me waffles and pasta.
However, to the left of me, Sirius was being rather quiet. Now, I am being observant (What? Amazing!) And noticed this, which was strange, because on the train he and the other pair were running around merrily. And he wasn't eating, unlike pretty much everyone, including sticky slaggy over there.
"Sirius, what's up?"
The boy flinched slightly before shaking his head slightly and glancing at the Slytherin table. Oh dear.
I knew that face. It was the face dad pulled when he found that Olivia was a Ravenclaw – betrayal.
"Nothing... it doesn't matter."
"Were you expected to be in Slytherin? Or is it just a family thing?"
Sirius sighed, then glanced at everyone else in their mini conversations.
"Yes. You know when the hall went silent? That's because I'm a Black. All of us – apart from Drommie, she's a Ravenclaw, but that's acceptable – and I have just become a Gryffindor. That's pretty much treachery, a disgrace to the family... I'm not going to hear the end of it now."
Oh dear. He looked all mopey again, so I offered him chocolate. Chocolate is amazing.
"Yes, but really, it isn't your fault. I had a huge argument with the hat about being Gryffindor, but I would have been one anyway. You can't help it; the hat wanted you to be a Gryffindor."
Sirius accepted the chocolate and smiled weakly.
"But I chose to be. They'll kill me for being different. I didn't want to be Slytherin because it didn't seem right – but I don't know anymore.
"My grandfather –Arcturus Black - Minister of Magic, looks highly on us all being the same..."
I gasped. The minister? My dad had gone and met him occasionally, bringing me with him. The minister was with a pair of boys.
"Sirius, do you have a brother?"
He looked a bit shocked.
"Err, yea, Regulus. Two years younger than me. Why?"
I grinned – It WAS!
"Sirius, it's me! Katie! You know, about three years ago, in the ministry? Really short, accompanied Paul Armstrong, good friends that were actually allowed because I'm pureblood..."
His eyes widened and he grinned.
Yes! I am amazing at making people happy.
Katie: 2, bad mood: 0.
HAH.
"Oh yeah, I seem to remember getting Reg in a headlock, then he pushed me into the fountain..."
"And then I fell in to, because you grabbed me."
He chuckled. "Good times,"
I helped myself to a tiny blob of ice cream- across from me, James didn't – he kept the whole bowl, much to Lily's disgust.
I have a strange feeling those two are going to be in for a rocky ride together.
Oh well, it's all entertaining.
"How is Reggie? I haven't seen the two of you in years," I asked.
Sirius sighed.
"Being tricked by dear old mum. I don't know If he'll go with me, or them." A sour look entered his expression.
Don't be grumpy! I'm curious and have an inferior complex! At least he is sarcastic –I need a sarcastic person to understand my sarcastic ways. Lily has already proven she's useless with the talent.
James jumped in to save the day, and he and Remus soon had Sirius smiling again – their talents match mine.
The little blond – Peter – was watching adoringly.
That's quite creepy, actually.
I hope someone doesn't pull that face at me...
I reached out for another waffle, but the plates cleared, and I was left holding thin air. Oh. I wanted a waffle.
Someone sniggered behind me – I think it was Frank, only his voice is that deep at the moment.
The headmaster got up and gave another speech ("have fun, learn stuff, and don't go in the forest or out of bounds at night") then we all got up and left.
Bugger, Olivia tried to follow me! She came up behind me, Lily and Emma, trying to be sneaky. She failed, and we pushed through the slag group, leaving her behind.
Hah. Take that, evil sister!
She is going to really bug me if she keeps doing that. Il spend the rest of my life under a cape, hiding from her, being unable to do anything for the fear of finding me.
Fun.
Common Room (almost)
Late
Oh, god, look at the stairs! There are hundreds!
And Gryffindor tower is on the 7th floor.
And I am currently stood 7 floors below it.
Bugger. I really can't be bothered to climb.
We followed a prefect up there, slowly climbing and climbing, (well, I was going slowly, Lily was going slowly to stay with me) and the slag's had fallen at least a staircase behind. Lazy gits.
The seven boys, however, are easily making their way up. That's not fair!
I request one of those muggle things – a stair lift. That would beat them.
When we got to the common room, I collapsed into a huge red couch, with Lily next to me. There was a massive fire place and fire in the fire place (duh, where else would it be?) with banners everywhere.
And it smelt like vanilla. I like vanilla.
The prefect guy told us where our dorms where (I'm with Lily, Emma and Marlene) and then left us alone.
Bugger, I'm tired.
We all sat for a while, just chilling on the sofas (slaggo's went to bed, with Frank and co.) looking at everyone.
There are so many people!
Eventually I saw Lily's eyes drooping, and she would have fallen asleep. Me, being the lovely nice person that I am, got up and shook her, or she would have fallen asleep surrounded by the lads. Go knows what James would have done.
We dragged (literally) ourselves up to the dorm where Emma and Marlene were already in bed, sleeping.
Oh the lucky things. I'm so tired, and cold.
Lily went to the middle of the room, where a heat-y thing was sat (well, it think that's what it was) and clicked it – hot air came out.
Ahh. That's better.
I hopped into bed - after getting changed (duh) and snuggled down.
A small hoot came across the room. Leo!
My trunks are all up here and everything. Good.
So, I am all nice and warm, not alone, in Gryffindor, and I survived.
I think I deserve a medal.
Aren't I lovely, getting up a chapter now? This is my valentines present for you!
Thanks for adding to favourites, those that did. It made me happy, very, very happy.
Review? Please?
~Wolffe41 x
^see, I'm being nice because it's Valentine's day. Haha.