The blond boy walked through the crowd as the students parted, holding their breath to see how the boy will fare as he brought himself to the attention of Voldemorts heir. The boy stood in front of her pausing, letting the silence and the tension grow. He was obviously loving the attention he was garnering.
"this is Theodore, Blake and Crabbe" He said gesturing to the people behind him "and I am Malfoy... Scorpius Malfoy" Heidi jumped as the tension was broken from a snort coming from behind her. Scorpius looked over Heidi's shoulder sharply, his light blue gaze sharpening in anger.
"You think that is funny do you stranger, and who exactly are you? Probably some sort of mudblood." Scorpius' statement caused another snort from Ren
"Sorry but Crabbe and Scorpius, really? did your parents have a fetish for shellfish or something." Heidi felt her lips quirk with that imagery, she heard a few chuckles from the students surrounding them aswell. Scorpius at this point had started turning scarlet.
"How dare you insult my family you filthy mudblood." Scorpius spat out. This only cause Ren to smirk.
"Mudblood... really, is that the best you could come up with. A 5-year-old has a better imagination than that... However for the offense against your family I can only apologize" at this point Ren bowed towards Scorpius "Please accept my apology and please have the mercy to give me your forgiveness" Scorpius looked shocked at first as her demeanor changed so quickly but then he smirked thinking that the girl had seen his superiority. So he opened his mouth to give what she groveled for, until Ren said.
"Princess" Straightening up Ren smirked at Scorpius' flabbergasted expression and beet red face, as many of the students were chuckling at him.
"How dare you insult me peasant, can't your pathetic eyes see that I am the prince of the renowned Malfoy family." Scorpius said straightened his back a proceeded to look down his nose at the unnamed female.
"But you lovely long locks and pristine robes suggest otherwise my lady." Ren shot back at him. Malfoy started doing an impression of a gold-fish as many of the students started laughing. Looking at Scorpius Heidi saw what Ren meant, his long platinum blond hair held back in a pigtail did look really well cared for and his clothes were pressed and worn in a way of someone who obviously knew about fashion and how to dress themselves.
"Since when exactly do YOU talk like an adult?" Heidi asked leaning towards Ren.
"I read too much Sherlock Holmes and Arthurian legends." Ren answered "the lingo rubs off on me"
"Silence" Vector's voice struck out, all the students turned quiet and faced her. she fixed them all with a hard stare. "we are ready for you, follow me."
the students followed Vector to the top of the stairs and through a big wooden door. Once they had entered they saw the great hall for the first time and as a collective group drew in a gasp at the wonder of the great hall. Heidi looked at the ceiling in amazement, the sky was displayed with clouds gliding steadily along it as if real. Heidi felt her neck start to hurt so decided to look round the hall instead of craning it upwards. There were many banners hanging from the ceiling decorated either red and gold with a lion, yellow and black with a badger, blue and bronze with an eagle or green and silver with a snake, Heidi assumed that these were the crests of the 4 different houses. there were four long tables on the floor of the hall lined on either side with older students, all of whom were staring at them. Heidi looked at the far end of the hall where they were headed and saw another table full of adults who she guessed were the staff. and behind them were four elongated hourglass' each were filled on their upper half with different color sand. What really caught her attention though was a stool a couple of meters in front of the adult's table, it wasn't however the stool that caught her attention though but the black brown mass that was on top of it. She had no idea what it was, perhaps a boot or a pile of old leather. The horde of students came to a stop at the foot of the few stairs that lead to where the hat was, they all stood there tense, wondering what was going to happen. They all jumped when the black brown mass straightened out to for the shape of an old hat and start singing.
"Welcome the new
welcome the old
welcome to school
be brave and bold
for your new adventure
is about to start
this adventure is learning
of the mind and heart
you house is your home
for this new year
you will have a new family
for while you're here
so which house do you belong
for there are four
the answer is in you
in who you are
Are you a Griffindor
full of courage
for those who are brave
here you'll stay
or perhaps a Hufflepuff
loyal and true
are you kind and gentle
then this is for you
or perhaps a Ravenclaw
sharp and smart
if you seek for knowledge
then here you'll start
Failing that a Slytherin
sly and cunning
for those who can handle it
here you'll be staying
I have finished my song
my song is done
enjoy your school year
as it has just begun"
Finishing there the hat stopped singing and slouched back into it's previous position of a black brown mass while the student body started clapping and cheering evidently used to hats bursting into song. Heidi wasn't surprised that this is the only singing hat in existence, it is obviously a VERY bad idea. When the applause had ended Vector stepped forward and unravelled a scroll.
"Selina Abott" she called out, a scared looking brunette came forward and sat on the stool shakily. Professor Vector slowly placed the hat on Abotts head who jumped as soon as the hat's voice started moving.
"am I the only one not hearing anything? did the speakers blow or something?" Ren asked leaning over to Heidi.
"Nah it is probably speaking in her head" Heidi whispered back, Ren looked at her quizzically.
"Why would it do that?" Ren asked looking puzzled
"because the hat did say where you would go depends on who you are, so it probably needs to examine the student's head. And i doubt that they would appreciate the hat blurting out their life story and secrets."Heidi said giving her opinion. Ren looked at her impressed
"Why Heidi I believe that you just said something smart. I guess there is a first time for everything." Ren whispered a smile on her face. Heidi gave her a playful elbow and let the conversation drop as the hat shouted out.
"Griffindor" the girl gave the hat back to Vector, and with a smile stretching her face she trotted to the Griffindor table where many people near her seat reached over to shake her hand.
"Gregory Creevy" Vector called out again. This time a scared looking dark-haired boy came forward to sit on the chair.
"Ravenclaw" the hat called out in 10 seconds, the boy got off the stool and walked over to the Ravenclaw table where he was also given a warm welcome. the housing continued in this way throughout the alphabet, the time taking to place a student ranged from a few second's to a minute. As everyone guessed Albus was put into Griffindor and Scorpius into Slytherin with the hat barely touching his head, he walked off to the Slytherin table with his nose stuck in the air.
"I REALLY hope i do not end up in the same house as him" Ren muttered, Heidi smiled at her nodding as she also wished not to end up in the same house as the pompous brat for more reasons than one. After this the housing continued on as normal until Vector reached the Ren's.
"Hesagona Rafforin" Vector called out Ren's name and she stepped forward as a few people in the hall snickered at Ren's weird name. Heidi watched her friend sit on the stool and have the ratty old hat be placed on her head. Ren looked surprised for a few second's and Heidi chuckled at her expression but then her face fell as Ren's brow scrunched as if confused. Heidi started to worry as a minute and a half passed by and the hat hadn't placed her anywhere and Ren still looked confused, even the other student's were beginning to notice as the hall started quieting down . Many worst case scenario's flashed through Heidi's head such as Ren turning out to not be a witch and being sent home leaving Heidi alone. However Heidi's panic ended when another minute passed and Ren finally smiled.
"Griffindor" The hat finally called out causing the Griffindor table to erupt into applause as Ren took of the hat and went down to join their table. Heidi assumed this enthusiastic applause was because the house had only three girls which was much less than any of the other tables.
"Hell Riddle" Vector called out. All noise in the hall stopped, Heidi froze, she forgot that she would be next. Slowly she climbed the few stairs that lead to the rickety old stool and she sat down worried about where she would end up.
"well well well" Heidi jumped as she heard the hats deep and rusty voice echo in her head. "the Riddle heir has come to Hogwarts, this has been an exciting evening. But enough of the pleasantries, where to put you... Well... this is interesting, very interesting. I see you have inherited the cunningness and quick wits from your father which will fit you into Slytherin quite comfortably, or even Ravenclaw with intelligence like that. However you are also exceedingly kind and loyal, interesting oxymoron. However you are also brave and courageous... very brave and courageous, where did you get that from I wonder? This is an interesting development, I haven't had such a hard deciding where to put someone since Harry Potter. Perhaps I will give you the same house as he was given... yes that is a good idea, if it worked out for him it will work out for you."
"Griffindor." the hat shouted out. Heidi sat on the stool unable to move, the hat's decision echoing throughout her head. She was confused as she was expecting to be put in Slytherin because of her father, She isn't kind, what was the hat thinking? Heidi felt a hand on her back gently nudge her off the stool. She walked numbly over to the Griffindor table in silence. All she could hear was the hat calling out Griffindor in her head over and over. However the mantra was cut off from the sound of clapping. Heidi looked up confused, until she spotted it was Ren who was clapping and she was moving up so Heidi could sit next to her. Heidi grinned and picked up her pace, when she sat down no one reached over to shake her hand or welcome her to the house, however she was cool with that as she had Ren hugging her from the side.
"so i guess we are family now" Ren said while smiling. Heidi looked at her and returned that smile, feeling hopeful that she may get that family that had so far existed only in dreams. The rest of the hall were still staring at Heidi in shock, both James Potter and his younger brother Albus also in Griffindor were wondering what was she doing here. She belongs with the snakes not with the noble lions, something must have gone wrong with the hat, it's age must finally be getting to it, its senile that's it.
The sorting after that was the usual, with three more boys and no more girls going into Griffindor meaning the house had only five female first years which was fairly unusual compared to the other houses.
"Heidi" the girl in question looked over to Ren "i think you scared all the girls off" Ren mock whispered, Heidi playfully hit her then motioned her to be quiet as the headmistress was stepping up.
"Welcome to a new year of Hogwarts I am your head mistress professor Mcgonagall" A woman with salt and pepper hair tied back into a harsh bun spoke out from the podium. "I will be brief as I know you will all be wanting to have the feast. However i must tell you all prank items from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes are banned and not allowed on school premises at all. Also the forbidden forest as the name suggests is forbidden and no student unless accompanied by a teacher is allowed in them. Also as before the third floor corridor on the right had side is out of bounds, out of respect to Nicolas Flamel dying because he let the Philosopher stone be destroyed many years ago. Now let the feast begin" At this Mcgonagall spread her arms and the tables creaked as they became laden with the weight of a large load of food. Ren and Heidi both got stuck in, Heidi however got full within three minutes much to the curiosity of Ren.
"Heidi, why did you stop eating?" Ren asked looking worried at her friend.
"Just a bit full" Heidi answered giving her friend a reassuring smile "not used to eating quite so much at once." Ren nodded, still looking a bit worried so put a bit of salad and vinegar on her plate.
"Try eating this, it's light and you need to gradually get your stomach to expand a bit. Otherwise you won't be able to get enough energy to last you throughout the school day." Ren suggested, not wanting her friend to collapse because she isn't able to eat enough. Heidi nodded and for the rest of the feast the two friends chatted between bites and occasionally speculated over the ghosts that appeared. Fairly quickly in Heidi's view the feast finished and they were sent to their common rooms with the house prefect.
"Heidi are those stairs moving?" Ren asked while looking up. Heidi curious as to whether or not her friend had turned delusional looked up as well... and was utterly gobsmacked.
"you know what ren" Heidi said still marveling at the sight "i think you may be right"
"you know what Heidi" Ren stated with a grimace "we will be having to climb those. Couldn't they have put in a hundred elevators instead of a thousand staircases because that is a bit OTT"
"OTT?" Heidi asked
"it stand for over the top, it's text lingo" Ren answered as the group of first years started climbing the moving stairs.
"texting?" Heidi once again asked looking confused.
"you don't know what... nevermind. Muggles as a way of communicating seeing as they don't have owls use a device called phones. they put in a number belonging to someone they know and will be able to speak into it and hear the other speaker no matter how far away they are. In effect they are able to have a conversation as if they were face to face, even if they are in different countries. Another thing that evolved from the phone is texting, which you can do on phones that are mobile thus being called mobile phones. With texting you can write onto your phone a letter, which when sent will be instantly retrieved by the receiver... How come you know what an elevator is and not a phone, you have also understood loads of other muggle references such as superheroes and films?" Ren asked confused.
"I've never used a phone before but I have used an elevator and watched films and read comic books." Heidi answered shrugging. Ren looked like she was about to say something else but was stopped by the crowd coming to a stop in front of a portrait of a fat lady. The house prefect whom Heidi never caught the name of turned around.
"behind this portrait is the Griffindor common room, where you will be staying for the rest of you school days. To get in you have to say the password which will change every fortnight on monday, so pay read the notice board on monday mornings as the password will disappear after twelve a clock." with his announcement done he turned around to the portrait and said "ruby-red" The fat lady nodded and opened up to the common room. The prefect smirked, anticipating the first year's reaction to the common room which is bound to be amusing. His smirked only grew when he lead the first years in and heard their murmurs and gasps, he turned around and looked upon the new Griffindors.
"this is the common room where you are welcome" his gaze paused on Riddle, he still couldn't understand why she was allowed in Griffindor "to relax here at anytime you please, treat it as your own home." He then turned around and gestured at the stairs "your living quarters are up those stairs, boys on the left and girls on the right. Every new school year you will go up another level so for this year you will be located on the first floor, you will find your luggage by your beds." All of the New student's then went up the stairs and through the two doors on the first floor. The room was circular with the beds divided evenly around the edges of the room, they actually had quite a lot of space. Heidi put that down to them not having very many new first years. Ren had instantly headed through the other door to go to the toilet. So Heidi sat down on her bed which was luckily for her next to Ren's. Heidi hearing the other three girls approaching looked up, and watched them advance untill they were standing right in front of her.
"look Riddle" the girl in the middle spat out her name "none of us know how you ended up in Griffindor, however it is a mistake as you don't belong among us lions. you should be crawling on your belly like the rest of the Slytherins, you will never be accepted here. By just being here you are ruining the noble name of Griffindor, no one wants you and the sooner you get that the better." with that the girl turned away and was followed by the rest of the girls, all giving her disgusted expressions. Heidi sat there shocked, she wasn't exactly expecting a warm welcome however she wasn't expecting though for people to speak against her that much. Ren finally came out wash bag in hand and saw Heidi sitting on the bed looking at her hands.
"Hey Heidi," Heidi looked up startled as Ren's voice pulled her out of her reverie . "are you ok?" Heidi forced herself to smile to stop Ren from being worried.
"yeah I was just lost in thought" Heidi then jumped of her bed an grabbing her wash bag, went into the bathroom to get ready.
"ok i'm going to go to bed, today was a long day." Ren said while yawning, Heidi nodded.
"too true, goodnight I'll see you tomorrow morning" Heidi walked off hearing Ren mutter the familiar bed bug sentence.
It didn't take Heidi long to finish and when she came out Ren was fast asleep. Heidi shook her head smiling, wondering how Ren was able to fall asleep that quickly. Heidi climbed into her bed and pulled up the covers, looking towards the other three girls who had stopped their whispered conversation and smirked at her sinisterly. Heidi shivered and laid down, soon moving onto her side so that she was facing Ren and shut her eyes, sleep quickly welcoming her into it's warm embrace. However even while in her peaceful sleep Heidi felt anxious about the days to come.