Chapter 2
By the time we were close enough to Hogwarts, Scorpius and I had already become rather good friends. After stuffing ourselves over Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans (Scorpius reckons he got a bogie flavored one-I knew that Uncle Fred wasn't lying) and me smacking him for teasing me heatedly about my incredibly bushy auburn hair, I guess we both decided that our parents were complete liars. Or had a horrible problem with holding grudges.
Once we got off the train, we were cackling madly from too much sugar intake and our new robes were dusted in a light film of crumbs. "Father is going to kill me when he finds out I have already stained my new robes. He got these hand-tailored at Madam Malkins!" I sniggered at the state of his robes, which, indeed, had a large orange spot spreading along the trim from the puddle of pumpkin juice we left on the floor of the compartment.
"Oh, do shut up, you great—"
But he was interrupted by a great, gravelly voice echoing from the end of the platform, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Attention firs' years!" I practically squealed with delight—Hagrid! He had visited every summer for tea at least once a month, always bringing the most disgusting rock cakes and a happy mood with him. Abandoning Scorpius, I sprinted towards him, to envelope him in a large hug. Al and James, my cousins, were already there. Before I could even say a small 'hello,' James ran off towards the carriages, waving at a pretty girl down the path a bit. Flicking y hand half-heartedly at him, I turned towards Albus, who looked at me with an insecure flicker in his green eyes.
"Rosie, what if the Sorting Hat says I'm not welcome at Hogwarts? What if I'm a Squib? What will I do then?" He bit his lip nervously, looking up at me.
"Oh, Al, don't worry. You are the son of Harry Potter. 'The Boy Who Lived,' remember? You will be just as amazing as him. Alright?" he nodded, though his face was still a slight tinge of green. He looked up at Hagrid, who was beaming down at his boarhound, Fang, and back at me. Smiling to myself, I turned away to find Scorpius, when I remembered—Hugo!
"Hey, Al, have you seen my idiot brother recently? I got on the train before him, and haven't seen him since. I would've expected him to be here with Hagrid, but he's not, as you can see. Well, have you seen him?" Al shook his head regretfully, and turned back to Hagrid. Sighing, I turned to look for him, but there was no sign of the boy.
Most twins never left each other's side. Most twins knew each other like they knew themselves. Most twins had the uncanny ability to find each other in large crowds!
"Hey, who ya looking for?" a smooth voice hissed in my ear. I jumped nearly a foot in the air, twisted violently around, and came face-to-face with Scorpius. He was smirked in delight at my apparently funny reaction. I glared in his direction for a moment, planning on doing a very suave hair flip and back-turning, and was just getting started on the former when—
"Looking for me?" an equally smooth voice whispered in my other ear. I yelped, leapt around, and raised my hand to smack upside the head whoever did it this time. Luckily, I paused to look before I swung, for who could it be standing there but my darling brother Hugo?
"Why—you—where did you—how—HUGO!" I spluttered, glaring spitefully at his gleeful face. He shrugged in the incredibly annoying way of his, and stared with innocently wide eyes at me.
"Where were you?! I haven't seen you since we left the station!"
"My dear sister, I was with James. He was telling me about all these hidden passageways he found last year; we already have a whole thing planned! He even said this ghost called Peeves was in on it!" I nodded, eyebrows raised. Good luck with that, Hugo…. "And who is this, Rosie?" he continued, gesturing towards the smirking fellow behind me. Merlin, I'd forgotten about Scorpius!
"Oh, yeah, this is Scorpius Malfoy, we met on the train. And before you jump to any conclusions, whatever Daddy has told you about them, he is actually relatively decent!" Looking suspicious, Hugo stepped forward to investigate this new prodigy. "Oh, and Hugo, before you go messing around with James, please remember that he almost got expelled last year, and the year before!" When Hugo ignored me completely, and Scorpius began an animated discussion about the Chudley Cannons, I decided to act on my previously forgotten suave hair flip and stalked away, swearing to myself when I realized that Hagrid was making the mass of other first years migrate down towards the lake. The two boys noticed, too, for the next moment, something hit my shoulder, and Scorpius yelled at me,
"Race you to the bank!" Forgetting my previously exasperated mood, I sprinted down after him and my brother, laughing and stumbling all the way.
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your tops hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be
I could tell you you belong in Slytherin
Where the cunning and the sly
Reside therein
Or maybe Ravenclaw
Is just where you are suited
Where the quick of mind and love of learning
Is quite greatly saluted
And then there is Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart
Their nobility and loyalty
sets them far apart
But we must not forget dear Hufflepuff
The kindest of the lot
Patience is their virtue
And a love that cant be bought
But new lyrics
Are added to the song this year
Mystery and confusion
Though not new to us, I fear
Is falling down upon us
Four chosen, new again to you
Withhold a great new task
For only they, these four
Can rid the school of horrors past
Beware, have faith
Wipe the dust off the memory shelf
For how well don't we know
History repeats itself
Such was the Sorting Hats' song, followed by tumultuous applause and much whispering. Indeed, it was odd. Four chosen? And what did they mean by history repeating itself?
"This sounds kind of dodgy, if you ask me. Wipe the dust off the memory shelf? Oh, bugger," Scorpius whispered to me, laughter underlining his words.
"Oh, come on, history repeats itself? That's the most cliché line I have ever heard, even if it is coming from a hat," I replied. However, the both of us snapped our mouths shut when we heard a scraping of chairs from the staff table.
A tired and grayed-looking woman, who had introduced herself to us as Professor Vogel; our Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house (according to Dad, she had taken over for the schools Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, some years back) stepped forwards, a long scroll of parchment trailing from her hands.
"Now," she began in a crisp, but oddly kind voice, "I shall read your names, one by one, from this list. When you hear your name called, you will sit on this stool here, and I shall place the Hat on your head. When your House is decided, you shall proceed to that table where you will eat for the remainder of your time at Hogwarts. Ready, everyone? Alright, then. Achtien, Gerta!"
A tall, rather stretched looking girl swayed forwards; with her long swishing blonde hair to accompany the look, she rather reminded me of a willow tree. I relayed this information on to Scorpius, who merely nodded in agreement, though I noticed his mouth twitch slightly. After Achtien, Gerta swayed over to the Ravenclaw table and Allen, Sara was called forth, I had stopped paying attention all together. The list went on and on; I was almost falling asleep on my feet by the time "Malfoy, Scorpius!" was called. I threw him a not-so-discreet thumbs up, but he had all the confidence in the world. He positively knew where he was going to be; Slytherin. His whole family, except for a few Unspeakables, had been in Slytherin, he had told me earlier that day.
Before the worn old cap had even touched his head, it sang out, "Ah! Another Malfoy! I think I know exactly where you should go! But what is this? Does something separate you from your predecessors'? Ah, there it is! Hm, well, I have changed my mind! You shall be in….GRYFFINDOR!" Scorpius went slack jawed, and the whole hall went silent as if waiting for someone to yell, 'April fools!' When it was apparent that no such thing would happen, the Gryffindors broke out into cautious applause as its' newest member took a surprised seat.
By the time Hugo was called up, Scorpius seemed to be adjusting to the new surroundings quickly enough. He wasn't exactly grimacing, per say, but wasn't looking overjoyed to be there. Al, who had been sorted only a few minutes after, was sitting across from him, and the two seemed to be getting on pretty well.
I was so distracted by Scorpius that when my name was called, several people poking me in the back to get me to move. Suddenly, butterflies exploded in my stomach, and I was horribly reminded of how Al must have felt for the past two weeks. As I sat on the stool, and Professor Vogel placed the musty smelling hat on my head, I could feel a hot blush creeping up my cheeks.
I could feel a breathe of wind on my neck…the hat was moving, twisting my head so I could view the whole hall. A deep voice, reminiscent of many many years, whispered in my right ear, and then my left, as if an old man was standing right behind me. I had a small inclination to turn and look, though I knew It was only the Sorting Hat speaking.
"Rose Weasley…Its' been too long since I have seen one of you. Hmm, lots of bravery, yes, and I see an astonishing amount of loyalty towards your friends….much of your father in you, I see, and a brain fit for Lady Ravenclaw herself…but not enough love for learning. There is no doubt where you belong…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I sighed in relief, happiness spreading from my head to my toes. For a moment, as I was struggling up the steps, I had had a brief image of the Hat saying I was a Squib and the only hope for me was to be apprenticed to old Filch. Thank Merlin that dream didn't come true.
"Oh, Father is going to be furious! I wouldn't be surprised if he paid Professor McGonagall to switch me into Slytherin! Mother might just disown me—nobody in the family has ever been anywhere else! Aw, Rosie, what am I going to tell them?" Scorpius moans to his chocolate mousse; this was the first time he had spoken since the food had appeared ten minutes ago.
"Well, you could always tell them you had a sudden fit of self identification and decided to turn over a new leaf, you know. I am sure old Daddy Draco wouldn't mind in the least, just as long as you don't dye your hair purple."
It made some improvement on his grim mood; his grey-green eyes lit up and the corner of his mouth turned up.
"Don't tell him that, Rosie! I think a nice lavender would go excellently with that pallid complexion," Hugo cackled, reaching over me to fluff up the other boys' hair. I couldn't help giggling at the way it stuck up, in a most ridiculous fashion—I could hear Al snorting into his hot chocolate as well.
"May I ask what is so funny?" Scorpius asked, that stuck-up lilt coming back to his voice. He raised his head, trying to make himself look taller.
"Why, Scorpy, I don't know why you didn't notice, but you look like a duck." I stated this simply, managing to keep a straight face before cracking up completely.
2nd chapter done! If any of you are amazing writers, can you give me a few tips on concluding sentences? I have a huge problem with that….haha. Remember, people, review! I had 32 hits on my 1st chapter yesterday, and how many people reviewed? One. Come on, people!
Avanell~thanks! I'm glad you like it, keep reading!
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok so i know i havent updated in a while and I probably wont for a while. My grandma just broke her hip, and seeing as she is my gaurdian things have been hugely hectic. This is the first time ive been able to get any time on the computer for several weeks. I AM NOT GOING TO ABANDON THIS STORY! As soon as i get any free time, i will continue posting. So im extremely sorry, but dont give up on me!