End of a Tradition

Chapter 2

Soon the kids were off the train and looking around with amazement as a rather tall man walked their way.

"First years! Follow me, first years!"

Jaxon let out a yelp as the giant walked over to them. He grinned at them and motioned for them to follow before walking off.

"W-was that a g-giant?" Jaxon asked looking at Amberly.

"Yeah, he replaced the old Hagid I believe" said Braden following the others towards the lake. Amberly followed and smiled as Hogwarts came into view.

"It's huge," murmured Jaxon.

"And that's just the outside," commented Rebekah. Jaxon swallowed and followed his newly acquainted friends.

Soon the new Hogwarts students were on the boat and across the lake. As they walked up the steps and inside Amberly paused looking at the door to the Great Hall. Rebekah stopped, looking at Amberly.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Amberly was quiet for a moment with her head tilted to the side.

"I just feel like things are about to change. And I'm not sure I'm ready for it," she murmured.

"Ok, I know this will sound like a PBS special but here goes anyways," said Rebekah. "Things will change. Things are always changing, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's all about your choices whether or not the change is a good or a bad one. All right, now that my family special is over, do you feel better?"

"Only if you promise never to do that again," Amberly replied with a smirk.

"Okay," Rebekah agreed as they both busted out laughing. What they didn't notice until it was too late was that the boys kept trying to get their attention. However, the girls stopped giggling immediately when they heard someone loudly clear their throat just behind them. Amberly and Rebekah slowly turned around and saw a middle-aged woman in a set of deep red witches robes.

"Now, if you two are finished with your conversation, we will proceed. My name is Lily Potter. You will address me as Professor Potter as I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. We will all get better acquainted soon but for now let us proceed into the Great Hall and begin the Sorting Ceremony," and with that the professor waved her hand and the enormous doors opened as she walked through and led the first years to the front of the Great Hall.

Amberly and Rebekah fell quiet, their faces still red, and followed the professor while looking around. A few kids around them were whispering, trying to guess what houses they would be put in. As they stopped near the front, Professor Potter brought out a stool and put an old hat on top of it. Jaxon was watching the hat with nervousness while Amberly and the twins looked excited. Everyone got really quiet when the hat started to move on its own.

"Greetings all to a bright new year,

But hold your applause and excited cheer.

Great change is coming to those who at present have no foes.

You all seem so serious at my startling news,

But be of good cheer it's my job to confuse.

As the dawn of the new age comes, a dawn of new fun begins.

But the journey only starts when you decide to jump in.

The whole hall broke into cheers and only Amberly seemed to be thinking about the hat's message. To her, it seemed to be a warning but she was soon shaken out of her thoughts.

"When I call your name come up here and the hat will sort you," said Professor Potter as she looked at the list in her hand. "Daniel Alphely."

A small boy walked up and was sorted into Hufflepuff. Other kids were sorted into Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and a few even went into Slytherin.

"Braden DiAngelo."

Amberly watched as Braden went from being a jokester to looking extremely nervous. He even had to receive a little nudge before he went up to the stool. As the professor put the hat on his head it immediately yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table exploded into cheers at finally getting their first new student. Braden quickly relaxed and smiled as he walked over to them to wait out the rest of the Sorting Ceremony.

"Rebekah DiAngelo."

Rebekah swallowed and slowly started up towards the stool. Everyone was quiet, waiting. The hat was silent for a moment before proclaiming, "Gryffindor."

Braden clapped and cheered as loud as anyone and moved over to let his sister sit down. Rebekah smiled at everyone and watched as the sorting continued. A few others were sorted and the group of remaining first years was getting thinner.

"Jaxon Geren."

Jaxon froze and looked at the professor. No one had showed that it hurt but he was still a bit scared. Amberly smiled at him and nodded encouragingly. Jaxon stepped forward and sat on the stool. The hat was quiet for a long time as if unsure where to put the boy. Amberly watched with her fingers crossed.

"Gryffindor," the hat finally bellowed.

Jaxon visibly relaxed as he took a seat across from Braden. At least he would know someone. Below him he heard a small purr and felt something rub up against his leg. Not paying the cat any attention he smiled and waited for Amberly to get sorted.

"Cyrus Greyback."

Amberly tensed as a well muscled boy walked past her, throwing her an evil smirk as he did. Braden and Rebekah tensed too but Jaxon just looked confused.

"Why did everyone just go rigid?" Jaxon whispered looking at the twins.

Rebekah shared a look with Braden before replying, "That kid's granddad was one of the worst people in the Wizarding World a few decades ago. Rumor has it that he is just as bad or getting there at least."

She threw a worried look over to Amberly who was still stiff.

The hat barley touched his head before sorting him into Slytherin.

"Amberly Hackney."

Amberly nervously stepped up. A lot of people at the Ravenclaw table watched her with expectant looks. Amberly smiled at them but then she looked at her new friends at the Gryffindor table, she didn't want to leave them behind. As she sat down she saw her brother smile at her from the Ravenclaw table. For a few moments there was complete silence in the hall as the hat was placed upon her head.

"GRYFFINDOR."

Amberly just sat there, a cold feeling in her stomach. Not a sound was made in the Great Hall as shock filled the room. Even Gryffindor was stunned to be getting this new student. Amberly looked at her brother before quickly going to sit by Jaxon, for the rest of the sorting she just sat there, her hands shaking slightly.

"Amazing," Braden said once the sorting was through, not even noticing the Amberly's shock had not yet worn off. "All four of us in the same House this is going to be awesome."

"Shhh, the Headmaster is getting ready to speak," Rebekah interrupted him as Jaxon tried to comfort Amberly.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I am Professor George Weasley, Headmaster of this fine school. And to my right is your Deputy Headmistress, Professor Alyssa Dursley, who will also be your Potions Professor. You will get introduced to your other professors soon enough but I know you are all hungry so for now, let the feast begin," with that the Headmaster let out a laugh and threw a handful of licorice snaps to the group of excited first years.

Braden casually snatched one out of the air but before he could take a bite out of it, it jumped out of his hand and bit him on the nose and then committed suicide by diving into his still open mouth and down his throat.

At this everyone laughed, silently glad that they had failed in their own attempts to grab one, even Amberly seemed to be shaken out of her shocked state.

"Glad I didn't get one of those," said Jaxon through laughs as Amberly smiled a little more and got food. The others soon followed and were laughing and talking. Forgetting what had happened. However, it kept bothering Amberly and apparently it was obvious.

"You really didn't want to be here did you?" asked Jaxon softly. Amberly looked at him, startled, and sat there trying to find the words to help explain.

"You don't have to make me feel better, I just wanted to know," he said, putting down his fork.

"It's not like that…" she slowly replied. "It's just… look, they look at me like I'm a traitor. They were my friends."

"If they were really your friends they wouldn't care what house you're in." said Braden looking at her.

"Wow, you actually said something smart," said Rebekah, which earned her a glare, "But he's right. You're welcomed here."

Amberly smiled slightly, slowly feeling a better. Jaxon gave her a small one-armed hug.

"One question?" he said.

"Shoot."

"Are you going to eat your potatoes?" Jaxon asked. Amberly laughed and hit his arm, while Jaxon just grinned.

AN: Sorry it took me so long to update i've been busy but ch3 is done and i'll be uploading it in a few days. *Virtual cookies to the first one who reviews on this chapter*