I awoke to a pair of warm hands shaking me gently.
"Ten more minutes, Mom," I groaned. There was a soft chuckling, that definitely wasn't coming from my mom. My eyes shot open.
"Come on. We've arrived at Hogwarts," said I slightly blurry Ron. I blinked a few times until my vision cleared. Both Harry and Ron were watching me as I awoke. Hermione had her head in a book again.
"Where's my little brother?" I asked, now fully awake.
"Don't worry. I brought him and the other first years to the boats. That's how they get to Hogwarts. They'll get an escort from our Care for Magical Creatures teacher, Hagrid," Hermione assured me.
"Alright. How will we be arriving?" I wondered.
"Thestral carriages," Harry said.
"Excusez-moi?" I asked in perfect French. I still slipped into it after being so used to learning it at Beauxbaton's.
"A Thestral is a breed of winged horses with skeletal body, reptilian features, and leathery wide wings that resembles a bat," Hermione explained. "They aren't dangerous."
"Alright. Let's go," I suggested anxiously.
We left the train, and approached about twenty carriage cars. The shifted slightly every now and then, but nothing appeared to be pulling them.
"Where are the Thestrals?" I inquired. Harry approached an empty bug, and patted what appeared to be the air in front of it. "Uh..."
"Don't worry. If you can't see them it's a good thing. It's truly terrible if you can," Ron said shuddering. I rubbed his arm consolingly.
"What happens if you can see them?" I questioned quietly.
"It means you've seen someone die," blurted Hermione. I gasped.
"How awful," I voiced. Poor Harry.
I thought about how terrible my life would be without any member of my family. It brought tears to my eyes thinking of Cameron out of my life.
"How truly terrible." My voice quavered. Ron looked so concerned, I couldn't help but smile a little.
"Hey now. It's not the end of the world. You're fine, and everyone else is fine. They're all okay," he assured me. He tweaked my nose, "So, cheer up, okay?" I swallowed.
"I feel like a little kid," I told him quietly. He grinned a little, but sobered almost immediately.
"You are a little kid. You're only sixteen, and it's a big world outside of school," he spoke, gravely. I shook a little; I didn't want to think about this.
"Why so serious? Can we please keep it lighthearted for the new girl?" I asked half-joking, half-pleading.
"Of course. I'm sorry that I even brought it up; everything's just been so crazy lately-"
"It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. You can make up for it by explaining everything about the grounds," I told him, hopefully.
"Sure. So, over there is the Forbidden Forest. There are hundreds of species living in it, several still unknown..." I let him drone on as we road to the castle. I wasn't really listening anymore though. I just watched him; the way he talked, how he guided my shoulders to look at a certain sight, or even the way he-
"Hailey? Hailey?" Hermione shouted, grabbing my attention. I noticed she had been watching us the whole time in disgust.
"We're here," Harry happily cheered. I turned my head to see a castle obstruct my entire view. The magical building was made of huge slabs of various stone. There were stain glass windows on each of the dozen towers. Cobblestone paths led to and from the monument to a dark body of water I recognized as the Black Lake, and a large rock hut.
"It's so beautiful," I stared in awe.
"Yes, yes it is," Ron said. He didn't seem to be speaking about the castle, and I blushed.
"I have to go meet Professor McGonagall," I thought, suddenly. "She wants me to lead the new students into the Great Hall for sorting."
"Can you find your way?" asked Ron.
"Er-no I suppose I can't. Could you accompany me?"
"Sure. I'll meet you in the Great Hall, guys," he called over his shoulder.
We walked into the looming building, and he quickly directed me to the right corridor, then to a left, and another three rights, and two more lefts. I was getting a bit dizzy.
"How am I going to remember this? I might have to ask you to bring the meals to my room to eat," I expressed.
"It might take some time to get used to, but me and 'Mione got you covered. Here we are," Ron stopped in a hallway right in front of a pair of large, bronze doors. "And there's McGonagall now."
"Thank you for helping me. I should be fine from here. I'll see you inside," I rushed, kissing him on both cheeks like I usually did in farewell. His face turned pinker than his ears had been.
"Right. See you," he mumbled, as he stood there as if he forgot how to move. I wonder what that was about.
"Professor McGonagall, I'm Hailey. I'm the new sixth year," I introduced myself to the old witch.
"Ah yes, Miss Fossil. You're going to walk straight to the front of the room, and stop right before Dumbledore," she instructed. I nodded my head as the doors began to open. "Alright. It's time, children. Good luck."
With the doors open I gazed at the largest room I've ever seen. It was at least thirty feet tall; the ceiling being enchanted to look like the night sky. Large stone pillars supported the walls, and stain glass windows moved curiously to look at us.
On the other end of the expanse was a stretch of table where a wild assortment of people sat. I saw a woman with a dazed look covered in colorful shawls and beads, a large man with a walrus mustache and a smile, a kindly old lady with a mothering face, and what appeared to be a half giant with a thick beard. Four long tables made up the rest of the room, holding children hundreds of diverse children.
I stopped just before the staff's console. A man who must have been Dumbledore stood with great dignity, and walked to the podium; instant silence fell in the area.
"A warm welcome to all of our students, new and old. We have a great honor this year. Obviously, one of these pupils isn't a first year. Miss Hailey Fossil is a transfer from Beauxbaton's Academy of Magic. I'm sure our older students remember them." I curtsied daintily. "Let us see what house she will call home for the next two years." He put the Sorting Hat on my head.
"Hmm," it pondered exploring my head, "a decent mind, a pure heart, very hard-working, and sweet. You also stand up for yourself, and protect your family. This is quite too easy...Gryffindor!"
I don't suppose there is much to say at this point except I hope you enjoyed it! And thank you for reading. :) ~Des