The pathway was bright as the midday sun beamed down on the well trodden pathway, she paused as she came to a pair of large metal gates, they stood tall and proud, they were nestled between thick stone wall that was just as tall, which of either side a large stone boar with wings spread wide stared down at her. She said nothing, but eyed the gates, it was still for a second, and she felt like she was being inspected by them before they shook slightly before creaking open, allowing her access to the vast grounds.
She walked the long path, up a steep hill, taking a moment to pause as the castle came into full view, it was majestic as it stood there, atop of the cliffs that lined the lake. Golden light shone from a large hall, and tall towers stood proudly from the castle, it was proud and unashamed looking as it basked in the sunlight.
Her eyes turned to the beautiful glittering lake, a single large tentacle rose from the depths and seemed to wave to her, she smiled and waved back.
With a deep breath Aimee continued her journey along the path, enjoying the cool summer breeze as she continued along the path. It was a long but enjoyable journey until she reached the castle, walking across the cobbled courtyard towards the great oak doors that were the entrance to the ancient castle. Again she said nothing as they swung open for her, creaking loudly, and closing promptly behind her as she stepped across the threshold.
She needed no directions to find the destination she was looking for, knowing her way without a second thought. She moved silently through the stone corridors, and feeling the power held within these walls, it was crackling around her, measuring her as she measured it.
Finally she reached the large stone gargoyle; there was no need for words as it jumped aside for her, revealing a staircase. She reached another oak door, and knocked out of politeness, before entering the room.
Inside she found herself in a large circular room, the walls lined with paintings, she knew they were past head teachers of Hogwarts, she smiled, as some of them begun to look interested at her presence.
"How are you Miss Cullen?" Albus Dumbledore asked as he sat behind his desk,
Aimee smiled at him, walking across the room, up a few steps and happily taking the seat across the desk from him.
"Tired, but otherwise fine," She answered honestly, though as they both knew there was a reason she was here. "Can I ask why you requested that I move back to England? I was quite happy in America." Aimee asked, she did not take her eyes from the old man before her, as he did not take his from her.
They both seemed highly interested in one another, friendly in their manner they were familiar as they spoke, and as Dumbledore looked and the brilliant young woman before him he could not hold back the shine of delight in his electric blue eyes, which seemed more alive than ever.
Aimee however was slightly different, she was friendly with him, however there was an noticeable snipe in her voice as she spoke, it was clear she was annoyed at him. Even so, there was a care in her face, like she was speaking to a grandfather who had bothered her with his crazy ideas.
"I believe you know the answer to that," Albus replied, smiling at the girl, he leaned back in his chair, looking at her own his half moon glasses.
"Really? Humour me," Aimee retorted, as she too leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, a show of defiance.
"The Feast will be starting shortly; perhaps you should be getting ready, instead of conversing with an old man such as me," Albus said with amusement, taking no insult form her tone, he understood her annoyance.
Aimee glared at him.
"I didn't buy the school uniform. I didn't have to wear one in Salem's." Aimee replied coolly, her attempt at defiance was failing as Albus smiled at her.
"You are no longer in Salem's, Aimee, and while you are here, I ask that you respect the school rules," Albus said, firmly, but friendly. Aimee snorted, and Albus chuckled. "Go on now; I'm sure you'll work something out."
Aimee was sitting on her own as students filed into the Great hall, distracting her from the ceiling above her, the thousands of flickering candles that floated like stars in a night sky, though that too was visible, as if there were no ceiling at all above the floating candles, she knew otherwise. Many students stared as they wandered past her, not brightening her mood. In fact, she was pretty damn pissed off. All these people had their friends, they all knew everyone else, she was the new girl, and that was hard enough without the other issues that came with her.
So it was surprising then when a lanky blonde girl came and sat next to her, seeming completely unbothered by the fact that Aimee was a new girl.
"Hello," Her wide silver eyes were looking at her, but not quite looking at her… "I'm Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw, I haven't seen you before." The girl informed Aimee.
"Aimee Cullen. I'm new." Aimee replied, grateful that at least one person was talking to her, she turned towards the girl, taking in her appearance she seemed odd, but there was something decidedly innocent and lovely about her.
"Have you been sorted yet?" Luna asked Aimee, seeming interested in the new kid, and friendly.
"No, not yet, I'm not too bothered about it either," Aimee replied honestly, she didn't wish to sound rude or dismissive of this girl.
"I don't blame you, really, it's a little silly," Luna agreed, she smiled at Aimee before looking at the table. "I hope there's desert."
Aimee watched as one of the teachers, McGonagall, she believed, came to the front of the room, carrying an aged hat, and a stool; she placed the hat on the stool and looked at the group of first years that had gathered before her.
"Once long ago,
when I was new,
A school was formed,
Four friends came together,
To teach those with talents,
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
loved those of great ambition
However not long after,
Strife and anger tore them apart,
And dear Slytherin left,
The three never recovered, and
Soon left the school,
I however was to remain,
To sort those who needed me,
However I fear I have the worst job,
For I must separate you,
When you need to remain united,
Do not doubt the danger,
The only way to beat,
To unite and fight, together.
Though do not fear,
For something is coming,
What way it shall sway,
Is yet unknown,
But trust me my children,
I have seen,
I do know,
Stay together,
Or fall separately,
You have been warned.
Now let's sort."
Aimee stared at the hat, its words seeping into her brain, and worried about what it knew, she had seen it sitting silently in the Headmasters office.
"Ackerley, James." McGonagall called, pulling Aimee from her thoughts, she looked around the room, and realised she was one of the very few who seemed to have even noticed the speech the hat had given. Most of those around her were chatting to their peers, not noticing anything was going on at all.
Finally however, she too had to really stop thinking about the song the hat had sung because it was her turn to be sorted.
"Aimee Cullen is a transfer student from Salem, it is unusual for this to happen, however I do hope you accept Aimee into the school with open arms, now Miss Cullen, if you would," Albus Dumbledore announced from the teachers table, Aimee got to her feet and look around the room, all eyes were on her, and it made her uncomfortable.
Aimee glared at Dumbledore before sitting on the stool, and allowing the hat to rest upon her head.
"Strange," The hat said, making her jump, it was in her mind. "Very, very strange." The silence around the great hall was terrifying, as hundreds of pairs of eyes stared at her. "We haven't had one of you around for many years, since the time of-"
"Can you just get on with it?" Aimee snapped at the hat, rolling her eyes, and hearing a few chuckles as the hat sighed dramatically – drama queen.
"And attitude of a Slytherin, of course you're intelligent, and when not in a bad mood you can also be a Hufflepuff, however you and I both know what house you'll be in," The hat said with clear disdain, knowing it wasn't really fulfilling his job when presented with such a student.
"Then get on with it or surprise me," Aimee snapped, feeling this process was rather more a show than anything else.
"Gryffindor!" The hat called finally and reluctantly.
Aimee got to her feet, dropping the hat down on the stool and walked towards the Gryffindor table, the blonde girl, Luna, waved happily at her, pointing towards a redheaded girl who smiled at Aimee.
"I'm Ginny, see you've met Luna," The redheaded girl said, she too sounded friendly.
"Yeah, she seems nice, which is such a relief, I was hoping Hogwarts wasn't full of attitude," Aimee admitted to the redhead, everything had been quite easy at Salem, though things in America were quite different to what was happening in England.
"Sorry, but have you met any of the Slytherins?" Ginny asked, Aimee shook her head and smiled. "Well there's not enough room for attitude in the rest of us, the Slytherins make up for that."
"Ah, well I'm guessing they are the grumpy looking ones in the green?" Aimee asked, looking towards the table farthest away, her eyes landed on a girl who seemed her age with an inky black bob, she was glaring at Aimee.
"How'd you guess?" Ginny asked, giggling slightly. "So what year you in?"
"Fifth," Aimee replied. "You?"
"Same, so you'll be sharing a dorm with me then."
"Sounds alright. Who should I be wary of?" Aimee asked grinning, Ginny laughed and looked amused at Aimee, before looking up and down the table, before pointing to a girl with lots of curly blonde hair.
"Lavender Brown, and beside her Parvati Patil, biggest gossips in Hogwarts, last year decided that I was an awful slut for dating a lad, but that's history," Ginny informed Aimee, before her eyes landed on another lad. "And well, there's Harry Potter, too I guess."
"Why would I need to be wary of Harry Potter, isn't he meant to be the hero of all this?" Aimee asked, looking at the black haired boy, he was deep in conversation with two people, a girl with masses of honey brown hair, and a boy who looked a fair deal like Ginny.
"Yes, but see the two with him? That Hermione Granger and my brother Ron, they're his best friends, and yet always seem to find themselves in some sort of trouble… I was with them last year w-"
"Ginny, who's your friend?" Hermione asked politely turning towards the two girls, she smiled at Aimee. Hermione was a pretty girl Aimee noted, her mass of curls were distracting but she had a slightly tanned complexion, with rosy lips and cheeks, and unlike a lot of the girls she didn't seem to create her prettiness with makeup, in fact she wore none.
"This is Aimee," Ginny replied, she looked at Aimee for confirmation, to which Aimee realised she'd not actually introduced herself yet.
"Yeah, Aimee Cullen," She confirmed and smiled at the brown haired girl, there was a spark interest in her deep brown eyes.
"I'm Hermione; this is Ron, and Harry," Aimee looked curiously at Harry, as he looked back at her with the same expression, he was handsome, his nose was straight and upon it sat a pair of round classes which framed large emerald eyes.
"Do I know you?" Harry asked her very suddenly, almost seeming to blurt it out before he realised what he was saying.
"No, no you don't."