Soon enough the train was pulling into the station at Hogsmead, and they were disembarking the train. At Daphne, Pansy, and Blaise's insistence, she left her things where they were.
"FIRST YEARS THIS WAY! FIRST YEARS FOLLOW ME!" Dominic turned towards the voice and followed Astoria towards it. It led to a man so big she had to look straight up to see his face. He had long, thick, wiry black hair and full beard, and was dressed in what appeared to be animal skins. He led them out of the quiet village to a lake, where a cluster of small boats sat just off the docks. "Alrigh' now, four ta a boat, then."
Dominic managed to get into a boat with Astoria and a stuck up looking boy she introduced as Theodore Nott, Jr. Astoria apparently called him 'Theo' for short, and had known him since they were little. From what Dominic could tell, he was absolutely smitten with Astoria, and, judging from the sneer her gave her when she first attempted to climb into the boat with them before Astoria introduced them, he didn't like Dominic. Astoria had batted her eyes at him and explained sweetly that Dominic's older brother had asked her to look after Dominic, so Dominic had to ride with them. Nott caved quickly and even relented to Dominic sitting next to Astoria. Astoria settled into the little boat happily, arms wrapped securely around one of Dominic's Another boy joined them, but neither Astoria or Nott knew him and he didn't say anything.
Once all the students were safely into the boats, the big man stepped into one of his own and the entire fleet began moving across the lake.
"Yeh'll be gettin' yer firs' look a' the castle jus' 'round this bend," came the big man's voice several minutes later.
"Bloody moron can't even speak properly," she heard Nott mutter from his seat behind her. Astoria gave him a cross look from over her shoulder, but didn't say anything. "Sorry, Astoria." The boats rounded the corner.
Dominic's gasp was one of many uttered. The castle was beautiful, a large, dark patch against the vast, star strewn sky. Windows seemed to glow with golden light, and for some reason Dominic was sure epic stories had taken place within its stony walls. She stared up at it in awe before stealing a glance at Astoria, who grinned over at her before she continued to gaze up at the structure.
Once the boats ere docked and all the students had clamored out onto the docks, the big man led them up what Dominic could only describe as a crap ton of stairs. The thought struck her as she was climbing that the trek to all of her classes (which were, with Dominic's luck, likely all at opposite ends of the large school) would likely keep her from gaining any weight. That, coupled with her daily workout routine (which she supposed she'd likely have to cut back to three times a week to ensure she got all her school work done) she'd have to eat twice her usual amount, plus an insane amount of sugary snacks just to keep her weight where it was. This school was going to turn her into a pig. When they reached the top of the mountain of stairs, Dominic supporting a slightly wheezing Astoria, she noted that she was the only one who didn't seem even the slightest bit winded. Nott gave her a dirty look. The big man led them to a set of impressive looking, heavy oak doors and knocked.
The door opened and revealed a tall woman in emerald green robes, dark hair in a severe bun, and a stern face. She said something quietly to the big man before motioning to the first years to follow her. They did, and were led into a smaller room and told to fix their appearances as much as possible while another woman looked them over. After she was done, they'd be led into the Great Hall where they'd be sorted in front of the entire school.
She left the room while the other woman, Madam Pomfrey, Began looking them over. When she came to Dominic and Astoria, offering them chocolate 'to rid any lingering effects from the Dementor,' Astoria explained that they'd had the biscuits, and the woman moved on to Nott. Soon enough the woman finish and the stern looking one returned.
"Single file, if you please." They obeyed, and she led them through the large entrance hall into another large room, filled with five large tables and many students and staff. At the front of the room was a 3 legged stool with a ragged looking hat on it. Dominic watched in shock as the seam of the brim seemed to rip open and it began to sing. The song wasn't one she'd ever heard before, and it didn't always rhyme properly, but it was about the four houses of the school, the traits each founder preferred, and how they were to be sorted. Once it was finished, the stern woman unrolled a piece of parchment and stood next to the stool.
"When I call your name, come forward and sit on the stool. Anderson, Dominic!" Of course, Dominic thought as she stepped forward from her place behind Astoria. I would be first. Calm as she could, she walked to the front and sat on the stool. The woman placed the old hat on her head.
'Hmm... Well this is interesting.' Dominic jumped when the voice echoed through her head. 'I think you're the first dhampire we've ever had.'
We're normally slaughtered at birth, deemed to be too dangerous.
'You don't seem to be. Never experienced the rage.'
My brother thinks my father's probably a pure-blood born, like himself.
'That doesn't say where we should put you. Let's see... You have the bravery for Gryffindor, coming to a school where you could be found out.' Dominic could feel the hall shift as the hat deliberated. 'You're smart, able to cover your tracks and hide it. You're loyal to those you care about. Loyal enough to do whatever it takes to protect them...'
I think I'd like Slytherin.
'And why is that?'
She thought of the people she'd met on the train and their uniforms.
'Ah, well, if you're sure-'
"SLYTHERIN!"
There was loud applause from the Slytherin table as the hat was removed from her head and she hopped off the stool and headed towards their table. She sat next to a tall, thin boy with dark hair and a look about him as though someone in his family had mated a mountain troll.
Several names later, and Astoria's name was called. Dominic sat up and stared at the hat. There was silence for about a minute before-
"SLYTHERIN!"
Grinning, Astoria waited until the hat was gone before hopping up and practically skipping to the seat next to Dominic. The other girl threw her arms around Dominic, who lightly hugged her back.
Several more names were called before Nott joined them at the "SLYTHERIN!" table, sitting directly across from the girls. Soon the sorting was finished and an older wizard in pale blue robes and half-moon spectacles stood.
"Bippity, boppity, boo!" Dominic blinked, confused as to why the old man was quoting Cinderella, and then food appeared before her. She grinned. Oh, this was definitely her kind of place.
She loaded her plate beyond full and began eating.
"You do know the food isn't going anywhere, Anderson, don't you?" She didn't look up from her food, doing a double check of everything she ate to make sure there wasn't any shellfish in it. She was deathly allergic.
"Oh, yes it is, Nott. It's going into my belly." Nott's upper lip drew back into a sneer.
"Well, if you want to gain a bunch of weight, be my guest." She snorted, rolling her eyes at him. She was always more expressive of herself around food and animals.
"Between my natural metabolism, workout regimen, and all the walking I'm going to have to do to get to my classes, I'm not going to gain weight." She took a swig of pumpkin juice. Nott opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the boy next to Dominic.
"Leave it, Nott. She's athletic and needs to eat to keep up her energy. You'll notice the quidditch players do the same." Nott's mouth snapped shut and he nodded. Dominic grinned up at the boy in thanks and turned back to her food. Feeling eyes on her, she turned to see Astoria gaping at her, looking for all the world like a fish out of water. Dominic shifted.
"What?"
"What?" Astoria echoed. "What, you ask? I spend all day trying to get you to open up and Theo manages it by insulting your eating habits. It's... it's not right. Not right at all." Dominic chuckled, and Astoria's eyes bugged.
"It has nothing to do with Nott, Astoria. I'm always more open about myself around food... and animals." Astoria deflated. Dominic grinned at her. "Besides. We're going to be roommates now, you'll have plenty of time to get me to open up." This seemed to cheer her up as she brightened and sat up. "Now eat up. This is really good." And with that she went back to eating. Soon her plate was empty and all the food on the table disappeared... to be replaced with desserts of different kinds. She grinned happily She'd always had a major sweet tooth. "Best. School. Ever." She vaguely was aware of Astoria giggling, the boy chuckling, and Nott sneering at her as she loaded her plate again. She loved her metabolism.
Soon enough that plate was empty too, and she was patting her bell, feeling contentedly full. After a brief speech from the headmaster about banned items, the Forbidden Forest, and the Dementors, they were released to bed. Dominic stood, linked arms with Astoria and followed her new housemates to the dungeons. The password was given ("Dragona") and they all clamored into the Common Room. She vaguely listened to the prefect explaining to her, Nott, and Astoria where they were and how to get to their rooms, nodding appropriately, and then headed up the girls staircase with Astoria. They came to a door marked 1st Years and they entered.
The room was circular, and had two four poster beds with green curtains at opposite ends of the room. Someone had brought their things to the room, and their trunks sat at the foot of the beds. Dominic's bag and basket were on top of hers, and Pixie was lying on her bed, purring happily.
Dominic moved the basket and bag, rooting through her trunk for her nightgown and toothbrush, changing quickly so Astoria wouldn't see the scars from the training she'd started with Corning, Inc as a child. Once the nightgown was floating around her knees she moved into the adjourned bathroom and brushed her teeth.
Soon both girls were settled comfortably into their beds, Dominic cuddling with Pixie. Drawing the curtains around her bed, she passed out.