I promise more will happen next chapter. This is more character development. :)
I followed Daniel and Kirsten as we walked into the Great Hall. Candles floated nearly twenty feet above the chatting the students. Light flashed against the walls and ceiling. Or, was it the ceiling? To my better knowledge, I was staring up at the night's sky, the stars winking at me through the clouds once more.
"Its enchanted to look like the night sky." Daniel informed me, obviously seeing my interest. I nodded, tearing my eyes off the enchanted ceiling and to the rest of the room in front of me. Four long tables were spread out, outlined by students. They were talking fervently looking at us and then back at their friends. At the end of the room stood another table placed on a raised platform. I suspected it was the staff table, as the adults seating at it wore similar robes to Professor McGonagall.
At that moment the professor in question stopped and turned to face us. Standing behind her, in front of the staff table, was a hat sitting on a stool. The hat was old and looked worn down. Patches covered its dusty surface and wrinkles ran from the point to the brim. "The sorting hat!" Daniel breathed in awe.
"Shut up!" Kirsten hissed elbowing him in the gut. I smiled, as I was getting sick of his constant commentary as well.
"I will call your name," McGonagall called out. "And you will come forward to be sorted."
A hushed silence fell over the Great Hall. The scroll was unrolled and she began with, "Aberman, Stanley." A short chubby boy waddled up the stool and pulled himself up to sit on its surface. McGonagall placed the hat over his dark red hair. Seconds later a deep rip in the fabric pulled open and a deep voice echoed through the Great Hall.
"Yes, hmm, let's see. Right. Better be…Hufflepuff." It took me a second to realize that the voice was coming from nothing other than the hat itself. My eyes widened and I looked over at Kirsten, who looked as surprised as I did. Daniel smirked and rolled his eyes.
Stanley stood, walked over to his table and the sorting continued with "Ace, Timothy."
And so it went, for what felt like hours. Kirsten got called near the beginning with, "Andersen, Kirsten." She walked up and perched herself on the stool. The hat was placed over her spiky hair and sat there a few moments. Finally, it opens its mouth and shouted out "Ravenclaw!" Kirsten blinked in disbelieve and slowly made her way down to her new table.
Later on, Daniel got sorted as well. "Kralie, Daniel." He strode up to the stool and sat down, his forehead glistening with sweat. I wrinkled my nose and watched as the hat was placed on his head for nearly two minutes. Finally, once it had scrutinized enough, it shouted "Ravenclaw!" My eyes widened as Daniel stumbled down to sit next to Kirsten, who looked like she wanted to shoot herself.
I wet my lips in anticipation and squeezed my wand. Please, please, please, I muttered to myself.
Finally I heard my name being called. "Turner, Abigail." I gulped and bit my lips hard, my knees shaking as I forced myself to walk slowly up to the dreaded yet extremely anticipated seat.
I climbed onto the smooth surface and clenched the sides of the seat to keep my hands from shaking. My knees vibrated against each other and I tried to slow my breathing as I wondered if anyone had ever fainted while getting sorted. I watched Professor McGonagall place the hat over my hair. It felt down over my eyes and I heard a voice begin to whisper in my head.
"Ah, you're a difficult one as well. Sarcastic but sweet. Brainy but defensive. Hmm, right. Better be…" A second of silence followed where I'm sure the whole castle could hear my heart beating against my chest. "Slytherin!" My head snapped up, the hat nearly falling off my head. I looked over at the Slytherin table to find a mass of dark hair and pale faces. Sharp noses and quick, defensive eyes. Normally I would steer clear of people like this…and I was supposed to spend the next seven years with them.
I stood and walked over to sit at the table. I turned and saw Kirsten and Daniel frowning, disappointed I wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw with them. I sat in silence while the remainder of the students were sorted. A few other kids were sorted into Slytherin and they sat around me. I didn't talk to them or any of the other students throughout dinner. At one point I looked over to see Daniel and Kirsten talking and laughing with other fellow Ravenclaws. A feeling of dread settled in my chest and I spent the rest of the night gloomy and depressed.
Dinner finally ended, as did the dessert. Once it had a man stood at the staff table and held up his hands for silence. Once again the students fell silent almost immediately. "Students!" He cried and I was able to get a good look at him. He was old but, like McGonagall, had a certain look about him that caused me to believe he wasn't to be underestimated. He had long white hair running down his back and front by his beard. Half-moon glasses covered his eyes and smile crossed his face, the kind of smile that made me want to smile back at him. "Teachers," he continued. "I want to welcome you back to Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, your headmaster. Now that we are full to bursting I think we should retire to bed to sleep off this delicious meal. Prefects, please lead the first years to your dormitories. Sleep well, all of you."
And with that, everyone stood and began to walk away. I looked up at the rest of the first years and unfortunately saw my own confusion and terror mirrored on their faces. "First years. Right. I better tell you where to go. Follow me!" The voice was rushed, running off its owners tongue quick and tersely. However the authoritative tone wasn't missed and we all stood up almost immediately.
"My name is Carter Montague. No wise cracks from the drama department," he said pointing a finger at a short skinny boy who had opened his mouth to make fun of his last name. As I did, I craned my neck to up at the teenager standing before me. He was dressed in midnight black robes and deep green trim running around the edge, a shiny prefects badge hanging from his chest. He was tall but not just because he was a sixth year. Thick heavy boots peeked out from under robes, as did the legs of ripped, well worn jeans. He had long honey colored hair that fell around his shoulders and thick glasses sat on his nose around dark green eyes. He looked tough and wild but his smiled was sweet. "Come on," he called out and we quickly ran after him, three of our small steps matching two of his.
We walked out into the Entrance Hall and took a left. Not many other students were walking around us since we left the Great Hall a few minutes after they did. We walked deeper and deeper into the castle. Carter led us behind another staircase and then pulled a tapestry aside. Behind it stood another staircase and we continued down it. Finally we stopped in front of a blank wall, save a single torch that sent long shadows crawling down the walls. I shivered at the chill that seeped into our skin. "Fiendfyre," Carter said to nobody in particular. Suddenly a door appeared, carved out of the wall. "If someone says the wrong password then a trapdoor opens and they end up taking a quick trip to the lake."
I gasped and bit my lip, fear filling my lungs sharply. I followed the rest of the first years into the room and couldn't help but stare in amazement at the room in front of me. It was low ceilinged with bars covering the windows. Torches hung from the wall, carrying green flames in them causing the room to have a greenish glow. Arm chairs and couches were scattered throughout the room, all green with silver buttons on the pillows. They were all leather and looked quite comfortable. Dark wood cupboards were placed around the wall, holding secrets some students were already investigating. Older students were already sitting around the room, talking in hushed tones and glaring at the blabbering first years. A large fire place took up a majority of the eye space with a large silver snake sculpture wrapping up and over it. Out of some of the windows I could see water floating by. Because the room was very cave like, a chill ran through the air but I had the feeling it would have that feeling despite the water.
I stood in the doorway, mesmerized by it all. Carter saw me gaping open mouthed at the common room and stood next to me. "Scary isn't it?" He asked smiling. I started to shake my head in denial but eventually nodded, my true feelings taking over. "Ahh, you'll get used to it," Carter assured me. "Being a Slytherin is pretty intimidating. More so than any of the other houses I think." He placed one of his large hands on my shoulder and played with a strand of my hair. I flinched slightly at his touch but it wasn't because I didn't like it. I blushed slightly and looked down at the floor self consciously. "Don't worry," he continued patting my shoulder. "You'll fit in soon enough. Now, go straight up those stairs and you'll see your dormitory. See you in the morning, Blondie." My eyes widened slightly at his nickname but I didn't protest. I watched his retreating figure as he walked over to his friends sitting on one of the couches in front of the fire.
I turned slowly and made my way toward the stairs Carter had pointed out. The door opened with a slight squeak and I found myself in a small, nearly circular room. The walls were lined in slightly damp stone and lights flashed across them, like they do underwater at a pool, which made sense as I soon realized we were underwater in this room as well. Windows sat around the room in between the five four poster beds and I could see seaweed floating by.
The beds themselves had long dark wooden posts on the corner, emerald green tapestries and drapes hanging from them. Long silky looking comforters were laid over the twin mattresses, each with a green snake outlined in silver on it.
A small stove sat in the middle of the room with a thick iron ring around it, presumably used for drying wet clothes like socks. Small tables sat on the left side of the beds with an unlighted candle stick sitting plainly on each one. An empty bookshelf sat to the left of the door, ready to be filled with our books, I imagined.
Trunks sat at the end of each of the beds and were the only personal touches in the room. I found my own placed in front of a bed to the farthest right, close to the door. I walked over to it and sat on my bed slowly, my mind still spinning from the events of the evening. I fingered the snake blanket to find it extremely soft and comfortable.
At that moment I saw two other girls slip into the room. One of them was of medium height with thick curly red hair. Her body shape was slightly chubby, like she hadn't lost her baby fat yet. Her skin still had a light tan and her brown eyes scanned the room eagerly.
Her companion was shorter but taller than me. Her skin was a dark mahogany and her black hair was braided down her back. Her eyes were blue, which struck me as odd. Her clothes looked big on her, as if she was expected to grow into them.
"Wowwie!" The first girl cried, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "What a place! I bet the other houses don't have digs like this!"
"I hope none of the girls get seasick," the second girl joked half heartedly. Then they noticed me. "Hello there," she said walking over to her trunk.
"What's your name girl?" The first girl asked. Her voice had a hint of a country twang to it.
"A-Abby," I stuttered, cursing myself for my weak tone.
"Sweet name. I'm Leighann," the pudgy girl said.
I looked over at the black girl who was leaning over her bed, pushing down on the mattress. "Chloe," she said. I smiled back at her.
We stood in silence for a second that was broken only when two other girls walked in. A cat sprinted in behind them.
"Regina, control your insufferable feline!"
"Oh, big words! Kenzie must be mad!"
"Of course I'm mad! I've got a sister who can't even tell when she's making a god-awful fool of herself!"
"Oh sure! Me, the sister. I'm making a fool of myself!" The one who had been called Regina scoffed.
"Well, I'm glad you're finally accepting it!" Kenzie spat back.
"Oh shut up you twat! You're so annoying. We've been pushed together since the day we were born and I get my one chance for freedom and now I share a room with you of all people. My unbearable older sister!"
"Well it's no surprise to me! I always knew you'd be a Slytherin! Where else would you be?"
Finally they stopped to breath. They were obviously of Asian descent and twins but fraternal. Kenzie was tall and graceful, her arms and legs toned and muscular, like a ballerinas. Her long black hair was pulled back into a messy bun with a red ribbon. Her blue eyes were squinted in rage and her perfectly manicured nails made angry red marks in her hands where she was clenching them into fists.
Regina, her sister, was similar but extremely different. She wasn't as tall as her sister or nearly as toned. She too had black hair but it was cut shorter, handing limply and unkemptly around her shoulders, a few strands tied bright blue. Her blue eyes were outlined in thick black liner and mascara and her lips were coated in bright purple lipstick.
"Well, you two sure do have some problems," Leighann muttered.
"I have problems?" Regina cried incredulous. "Have you seen her, little miss perfect? Always doing what's asked of her! Just a stupid little kiss up!
"Answering teacher's questions doesn't make me a kiss up!" Kenzie argued.
"Oh sure, tell that to the other kids who hate you!"
"You tell yours and I'll tell mine!"
"Will you two just shut up?" We turned to find Chloe standing in front of her bed. Her arms were crossed and she rolled her eyes. "It's obvious none of us want to be here! None of us want to be a Slytherin but, for whatever reason, we are. Let's just make the best of it and stop the constant bickering!"
We stood in silence as she finished her rant. Once she finished with an infuriated huff, we all turned back to our beds and readied for bed.
Dear Mom, Dad and Selena,
Hello from Hogwarts! I'm so tired from the long day but I'll try to fill you in on what's happened so far…
My quill stopped and hovered over the page. I couldn't do it, I just couldn't do it. What would they say when they found out I wasn't a Ravenclaw? I was an evil Slytherin instead. A horrible thieving duplicitous Slytherin.
I turned over slightly to find all the other girls asleep in their beds. As I did, my letter fell onto the ground. I made to grab it but it fell out of my grip. Sighing, I placed my quill and ink onto the table and lay back under the covers. My parents didn't need to know I wasn't a Ravenclaw. Not yet.