Author's Note: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I do however, own Faye, Beauty and this story-line adaptation. If you wish to share this story, then you should either ask, pm me or note that this story is by me.
This is the re-written version of my previous story; The Twins Who Lived and The Philosopher's Stone.
Chapter Two: The Sorting Hat.
When the door swung open, most the students took a small step back from the suddenness and Faye was very happy to note that Malfoy was one of those people. Glancing up at the doorway, Faye forgot herself because up there was Professor McGonagall in a pair of lovely emerald-green robes, a stern look on her face until she heard Faye, then it became a rather happy one as she enveloped her in a hug because you see the moment Faye had noticed her she'd called out 'Professor!' and dived into her arms.
"Hello dear, now back into line with the rest of the first years."
"Oh! Of course, sorry!" Faye remembering where she was darted back over to Harry as Professor McGonagall thanked Hagrid for bringing the first years and a stern look came back across her face.
Pulling the door open, most of the students gasped which included Harry and Faye, even though Faye had been told of all the grandeur to expect it was still a lot! The entrance hall was big enough to fit a house, stone walls were lit with torches and the ceiling was so high up you couldn't make it out! Magnificent marble staircases lead to the upper floors and if Faye remembered correctly, the staircases which were forever changing and would have vanishing steps.
Faye felt a tug on her arm and glancing at Harry and Ron, she realized they were meant to be moving, getting into motion she began to walk with them and attempted to ignore the drones of what seemed at least a couple of hundred voice coming from a doorway to the right. For a moment, Faye wondered if they'd be going into there but no, they were took into a small chamber just away from the hall and when all in there, it was quite crowded and it wasn't helping to calm anybodies nerves!
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and immediately, everyone's attention was upon her. She attempted a calming smile but gave up when she saw it wasn't being very useful for any of the frightened first years, well, expect maybe Faye who had calmed down almost immediately.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
She paused and looked about before continuing.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair whilst Faye gulped and played with the tip of Beauty's tail feeling Professor McGonagall's eyes upon her shoes, over the summer they'd come to the conclusion that trying to tell Faye what shoes she couldn't wear, generally didn't work out that well. All around her, Faye could feel people shifting uncomfortably, girl beginning to fuss over their hair and boys just trying to act like it didn't bother them when in all actuality everyone was scared.
People watched as Professor McGonagall assessed them with a critical eye before telling them to wait and sweeping off into the Great Hall. The moment she was gone, everyone began talking all at once, each as scared as the next, all on the same subject; how did they get sorted!
Faye tried not to laugh as she heard some of the suggestions; fighting a troll (Ron, from what Fred had told him), a test of logic, an actual test, the Head of each house would pick you out of a line, you had to show the amount of magic you knew, some magic assessment to see your magical core, a seer, a magical tablet which would say. They then began to get more and more wild, glancing at Harry and Ron, Faye could see them paling and deciding to put their minds at ease she spoke quietly to them.
"Hey, Professor McGonagall told me that the sorting is easy, pain free and you don't actually do anything. It's also nothing to worry about, she said."
"And just how do you know the Professor!?" snapped Ron before giving an apologetic look at the sudden hurt that flashed across Faye's face, he was just frightened and didn't mean it, she knew that.
"I spent my summer with her, I've been told I'll stay with a member of Hogwarts Staff for each summer more than likely, unless Harry's Aunt and Uncle would allow me to stay with them which we all doubt."
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
Just as Faye was about to speak, a loud noise behind them made Harry jump about a foot in the air along with a few others, though actually, it may have been the volume of the shriek emitted by Faye who actually managed to break somebody's glasses.
"What the-?"
People around them paled and Faye and Harry gulped whilst Ron took a nervous step back.
About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying:
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
"Uh ... well ... y-yes" stuttered Faye as the Fat Friar looked steadily at her as if expecting an answer. When she spoke he gave a huge smile.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice causing Faye to breathe a sigh of relief "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall giving a small wave to Faye and the others before they left. Grouping together Ron, Harry and Faye formed a line along with the rest of the first years when Professor McGonagall gave the order and then as one they all left the small room, through the hall and through a set of double doors which led to the Great Hall.
They had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The first thing Faye noticed was Fred, George and Lee sat at what she guessed was the Gryffindor table, as the three boys looked up, mainly George, Faye felt suddenly embarrassed and looked away. Harry oblivious to this was staring at the fact that the tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Faye buried her head into Harry's shoulder whilst Harry on the other hand looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
Harry quickly looked down again and nudged Faye into looking as much as she didn't want to, she looked up though and saw Professor McGonagall silently placing a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
Harry's first thoughts were 'Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let that in the house'. He glanced at Faye and saw wrinkling her nose as she was looking at it and Harry guessed that if Faye had a house, she'd rather not let it in either.
"What on earth are we meant to do with that?" whispered Ron.
"Bin it?" suggested Faye.
"Pull a rabbit out?" remarked Harry.
However, before the trio could go on, the hat twitched and a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth just as the hat began to sing:
"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 top 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.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set
Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in
Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient
Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old
Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in
Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Everyone began to clap in the Hall, all impressed by the song it seemed and as the first years joined in the clapping Faye whispered to the boys;
"Pulling a rabbit out? Really Harry!?"
"Hey, at least it's better than what Fred told me, wrestling a troll!"
"Who was the fool to believe him.."
"Shh, McGonagall's about to speak."
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moments pause -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
" Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Faye could see Ron's twin brothers catcalling and for some reason, upon spotting George, her stomach began to get all fluttery.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin.
Perhaps it was Harry's imagination, after all he'd heard about Slytherin, but he thought they looked like an unpleasant lot. He hoped neither him nor Faye got put into that house. He was starting to feel definitely sick now. He remembered being picked for teams during gym at his old school. He had always been last to be chosen, not because he was no good, but because no one wanted his cousin Dudley to think they liked him.
On the other hand Faye was fighting the urge to flee, she was starting to feel panic rising, her deepest worry being Harry would go into Gryffindor and she'd go into Slytherin, nobody would talk to her, she'd loose her brother and become a loner. She had always hated things being sorted like this, well not exactly like this, but you get the picture. People had always been arguing over who got her on their team because nobody wanted a self-harming idiot, nobody wanted a strange and freaky girl. What if that happened now, or worse, she was told that she couldn't go into any house because she wasn't magic enough! By the time she calmed down it was to hear Hermione being called up.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.
Ron groaned and Faye couldn't help it, she snickered, he jabbed her in the side and she glared at him, to glance over instead at the Gryffindor table where she spotted George, he looked up and she was sure he was looking at her, feeling awkward she looked away. Now she was paying attention she noted that Harry looked rather green and worried, reaching out she grabbed his hand reassuringly, he looked at her and mouthed a quick thank you.
When Neville Longbottom was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter. Beside them Ron whispered that he'd probably do something like that too, without thinking the twins reached over and grabbed his hands, he looked at them and bit down on his lip in an attempt not to laugh. A few moments later, all three soured as Malfoy was called.
He swaggered forward and the hat had barely touched his head, in fact Ron would later mention to Harry before they went to sleep that it hadn't touched his head, when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.
There weren't many people left now. "Moon" "Nott" "Parkinson" then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil" then "Perks, Sally-Anne" and then, at last - "Potter, Faye!"
As Faye's name was called she froze, Harry had to forcefully push her up to the stool. It didn't help that whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall. The only bit of comfort was Beauty coiled protectively around her neck.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Faye Potter?"
"Then isn't that her brother, Harry pushing her?"
The last thing Faye got to see before the hat dropped over her eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at her and also the main focus of her attention, George's curious gaze. Next second she was looking at the black inside of the hat. She waited and then uttered a small scream when the hat spoke inside her head only to feel the familiar presence of Professor McGonagall reach out and steady her.
"Hmm," said a small voice in her ear once she'd calmed down "A remarkable mind. There's talent you know, and a lot of it, you like to be knowledgeable too, that will get you a long way. Oh but this urge to prove you're not useless and that you aren't weak, now that's interesting... but what's more so is that you can fit into any house you know, they'd all help you, but I guess, Slytherin or Gryffindor would be best for you ... just ... which one?"
Faye gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, anywhere but where that twat faced pompous arrogant douche Malfoy was.
"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you so sure about that? They could help you, they're a very ambitious bunch you know... but ... I guess your loyalty and bravery out weight Slytherin and you are so much like your Mother was in her first year ... I guess it had better be the house of your parents ... so ... GRYFFINDOR!"
Faye heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. Shakily she took off the hat and fell to the floor, Professor McGonagall was immediately there pulling her up and holding her close whilst Harry was sorted and eventually he was put into Gryffindor. Once sorted, he helped Faye over to the table, ignoring all the whispers they were receiving and gladly accepting the help of Fred, George and Lee who the moment they'd started walking over had bolted from the table to come lend a hand.
When they all managed to reach the table, and quite a few of the Gryffindors had moved about to create enough room for Harry, Faye, Fred and George seeing as Lea had sat by some of his other friends, Harry ended up being seated opposite the ghost in the ruff from earlier with Neville on his left and Faye on his right. George was sat by Faye and gave her a small hug, Fred who was sat opposite George, next to his brother Percy and Hermoine which he didn't seem too pleased about gave her hand a reassuring pat. They all zoned in, just as Ron was called up to be sorted.
He was pale green by now. Harry crossed his fingers under the table and a second later the hat had shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Harry clapped loudly with the rest as Ron collapsed into the chair next to him as Neville had moved up a bit, giving Ron a small smile whilst Faye just about managed a thumbs up to him. Everyone noted that Faye was quite pale looking and not to mention she was now slumped into Harry's side, just like she'd given up trying.
Harry trying his best to keep Faye attentive whispered for her to look at the High Table. When she did she saw that on the end nearest them sat Hagrid, who was giving them the thumbs up and a small discreet smile. Harry grinned back whilst Faye gave a small wave before she lost her attention to seeing the Head Master; Albus Dumbledore. She recognized him from the Chocolate Frog card that Harry'd gotten on the train. Nudging Harry she pointed to him and she had a feeling from the look on Harry's face he was thinking the same thing, Dumbledore's silver hair was the only thing in the whole hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts. Harry then spotted and pointed out Professor Quirell, the nervous young man from the Leaky Cauldron. He was looking very peculiar in a large purple turban.
"Oh" whispered Faye and Harry turned to look in the same direction as she. Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. Faye let out a stream of giggles, Harry joined her in the end and had a small laugh.
"Is he - a bit mad?" the pair asked Percy uncertainly when they finished laughing.
"Mad?" said Percy airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, anybody?"
"Huh? W-WOW!" Faye's enthusiastic voice made Harry turn.
The previously empty dishes were now piled with food. It looked lavish and already so many were piling their plates up whilst a few muggle borns like Hermoine and those who'd lived without magic (i.e. Harry and Faye) were simply staring. For a lot of first year, they'd never seen so many thing on one table to eat and they could count at least a dozen things they liked, for example; Harry liked roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops whilst Faye was eyeing up the mashed potatoes, roasties, shepard's pie, sausages, peas, carrots and most of all the steak!
The Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry, but he'd never been allowed to eat as much as he liked. Dudley had always taken anything that Harry really wanted, even if It made him sick. Harry piled his plate with a bit of everything except the peppermints and began to eat. It was all delicious. Faye did the same.
Having lived in Orphanages and been bounced from place to place for most of her life, she'd experience a similar life to Harry in a way and unfortunately she was much skinnier than Harry was. It was because of this that Harry added some more to her plate raising an eyebrow when she went to complain.
"That does look good," said the ghost in the ruff sadly, watching Harry and Faye cut up their steaks and he even glanced over at Beauty who had curled on top of Fred's head as she'd decided he was comfy. Every so often he'd give her a bit of food to swallow.
"Fred you'll make Beauty fat!" cried Faye in shock as she caught sight of what the ghost was looking at, he grinned and she turned to the ghost muttering under her breath.
"Can't you ... well ...?"
I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."
"Pleasure to meet you" said Faye at the exact same time as Ron blurted out
"I know who you are! My brothers told me about you - you're Nearly Headless Nick!"
"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy -" the ghost began stiffly, but sandy-haired Seamus Finnigan interrupted.
"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"
Faye noticed that Sir Nicholas looked extremely put off and immediately felt sorry for him and just as he began to demonstrate how he could be nearly headless, George covered her eyes and in a way she was glad her eyes were covered because she could hear Harry gagging and Ron grossing out. After a moment, George removed his hand and she sent him a wordless thanks before looking to Sir Nicholas who coughed and began speaking.
"So - new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable - he's the Slytherin ghost."
Looking over at the Slytherin table many first years could see a horrible ghost sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood. He was right next to Malfoy who, the trio were pleased to see, didn't look overly thrilled about it.
"I tell you, Sir Nicholas, I'll try my best so long as you don't do that head thing again" Faye said cringing, Nick looked apologetically at her and nodded.
Soon desert appeared and there were blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding, among a hundred other things too!
As everyone began to help themselves to whichever pudding they most desired, in Ron's case a bit of everything, Harry's a tart and Faye's an apple pie with strawberries and some vanilla ice cream. People, mostly first years began talking of their families and Seamus turned to Faye as he began to explain about himself.
"I'm an irish lad meself, half-and-half too; me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."
"Wow, he must have loved her to have stayed then."
"Oh definitely, they're bloody brilliant together! Even if Mom does have the advantage during arguments, see things zipping about the house, I usually stay out the way then!"
The others laughed and Faye gave him an apologetic pat on the shoulder before turning to Neville who looked quite left out.
"What about you, Neville?"
"Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch," he began looking quite stunned to have been involved but at Faye's soft smile he carried on and the others tuned in to listen too "but the family thought I was all- Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me - he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned - but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced - all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here - they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad."
"Aw'r that's really sweet, if not a little odd but still sweet!"
"What about you Faye, where've you been living?"
"Oh, here and there. I'd rather not talk about it, it's not exactly been the best..."
"S-sorry I didn't know!"
"Don't fret about it."
Across the table Percy was being it seemed forced into a conversation with Hermione over the lessons, he didn't seem to have much chance at eating his pudding just yet...
"I do hope they start right away, there's so much to learn, I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration! You know, turning something into something else, of course, it's supposed to be very difficult-"
"You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that sort of thing - "
Faye glanced at Harry and they shook their heads.
Harry, who was starting to feel warm and sleepy, looked up at the High Table again whilst Faye became the victim of Fred and George's teasing, she didn't seem too bothered though so Harry didn't fret and instead scanned the table taking in what the staff looked like. Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor Dumbledore. Professor Quirrell, in his absurd turban, was talking to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.
It happened very suddenly as the hook-nosed teacher looked past Quirrell's turban and straight at Harry, a sharp pain burst into life in Harry's and Faye's scar which caused both to react in a most noticeable of ways.
"Ouch!" Harry clapped a hand to his head. Whilst Faye gasped and clutched desperately at her neck, immediately Beauty sprung off of Fred's head and across the table to her neck where she coiled herself protectively around the scar.
"What is it?" asked Percy.
"N-nothing." Harry said and at the same time Faye said "I-I don't k-know!"
He glanced at Faye and began to uncoil Beauty so he could check her neck, she gave a watery smile and he stopped. Instead he pulled her into a tight hug.
The pain had gone as quickly as it had come. Harder to shake off was the feeling Harry had gotten from the teacher's look - a feeling that he didn't like Harry at all. Harry was sure that Faye had gotten the exact same thing too but for some reason she seemed to have been affected worse than he did.
"W-who's that t-teacher talking t-to P-professor Q-quirrell?" she stuttered to Percy whilst cringing and slipping her hand under Beauty to rub at her neck.
"Oh, you know Quirrell already, do you? No wonder he's looking so nervous, that's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to - everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape."
Faye watched Snape for a while, but Snape didn't look at them again and in a way, she guessed she should be thankful.
When everyone had finished their desserts and were feeling full and sleepy, Dumbledore stood up, causing everyone to go quiet as he announced:
"Just a few more words, I have a few start-of-term notices to give you all. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
George nudged Faye and winked, her eyes widened in disbelief and she mouthed 'really?' to which he nodded and Fred mouthed 'oh yes!'. Shaking her head she turned to listen to the rest of what was being said.
"-held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Faye turned to Percy. "H-he's not s-serious?" she muttered.
"He must be but it odd because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere - the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore which cut all mutterings in the hall off completely and upon glancing towards the High Table Faye noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed. All of a sudden she remembered what Professor McGonagall had told her about Dumbledore being rather eccentric.
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, whilst Fred and George managed to persuade Faye, unfortunately not Harry, into singing the longer version with them, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Fred, George and Faye were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest whilst the trio laughed quite a bit.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Reluctantly Faye said goodbye to Fred and George before following the rest of the first years who were trotting along after Percy out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase to Gryffindor tower. Harry's legs were like lead again, but only because he was so tired and full of food, that and he was supporting Faye's weight as she leaned against him. He was too sleepy to push her off or help her properly, and even too tired to be surprised that the people in the portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed as they passed, or that twice Percy led them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries. They climbed more staircases, yawning and dragging their feet, and Harry was just wondering how much farther they had to go as he wasn't sure he could support Faye much longer when they came to a sudden halt.
There in midair above them were a bundle of walking sticks and as Percy took a step toward them they started throwing themselves at him.
"Peeves," Percy whispered to the first years. "A poltergeist." He raised his voice, "Peeves - show yourself"
A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered and almost instantly Faye pushed herself off of Harry, remembering what Professor McGonagall had said about him. So when Percy threatened about the Bloody Baron, and Peeves revealed himself, mid-air, cross-legged holding a bundle of walking sticks, Faye glared at the little man.
"Oooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!"
He swooped suddenly at them and everyone except Faye ducked, instead she stood there unimpressed with her arms folded, imitating the way McGonagall had showed her.
"DO you want me to physically grab you and cause you the most extreme pain I can muster Peeves? Because, believe me, I will mostly gladly do so!"
He stopped and looked at her before bowing to Faye, sticking his tongue out at Percy and then dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. He went zooming away, rattling coats of armor as he passed.
Percy turned to her,
"How on earth did you do that? The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects."
"Well, he acts like a little child but he's a grown man, ghost, thing ... I just thought talking to him like a child but threatening him with a punishment fit for an annoying man might work ... plus I'm tired and he's too loud!"
Percy chuckled and warned everyone else to stay away from Peeves and unless a teacher was around, he highly recommended they didn't try the same as Faye had.
"Ah, here we are." They had reached the end of a corridor where there hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.
"Password?" she said.
"Caput Draconis," said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall, the entrance to Gryffindor. They all scrambled through and found they were in the common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs. Percy directed the boys and girls to their separate dorms and Faye quickly bade Harry goodnight, all too willing to shoot off to bed.
Upstairs in the girls dormitory Faye and the others had changed however, before Faye went to sleep she turned to Hermoine who was looking quite remorse, probably from missing her family.
"Hey, I'm sorry for snapping earlier ..."
"It's fine. Friends?" Hermoine held her hand out and much to her surprise, Faye suddenly excited at the thought of a real female friend pulled her into a tight hug.
"Yeah, lets. I've never had a real friend before,well other than Beauty and I guess Ron, but I've never had a real female friend."
Hermoine smiled and patted Faye's head before the two settled into their beds and fell into a deep sleep.
Over in the boys dorm, Harry must have eaten a bit too much, because he was having a very strange dream. He was stood in the Great Hall wearing Professor Quirrell's turban and it kept telling him he needed to be in Slytherin at once or Faye would die. Harry told the turban he didn't want to be in Slytherin and that Faye was fine, she was in front of him playing with a teddy bear but it got heavier all of a sudden and as he tried to pull it off it began to tighten really painfully. Suddenly Malfoy had his hand around Faye's throat and was laughing at him as he struggled to get to her and then Malfoy turned into Snape whose laugh became high and cold before turning into some faceless man, the man raised his free hand and there was a burst of green light. Harry woke, sweating and shaking.
In the other dormitory, Faye was having a bad dream as well. She dreamt that she was in a strange room, there was fire around the edges of it and a large mirror in the center. A man she couldn't make out was screaming in agony by the mirror and Voldemorts face was flying towards her but it was made out of ash, Harry jumped in front of her and it slammed through his chest before disappearing into nothing. When she leaned down to touch Harry he suddenly morphed to George and there was a look of betrayal and hurt in his eyes, she opened her mouth to talk and he burst into green flames. She shot upright crying, Beauty was coiled around her arm looking at her worriedly. Shaking Faye wiped her eyes and looked around, good nobody had been woken up by her bad dream, sighing she laid down onto her pillow and at the same time, Harry and Faye rolled over and fell asleep again, and when they woke the next day, neither remembered the dream at all.
Hey Hey Hey! I hope you all liked it, I know it's probably quite a bit like the story and I do admit, I did copy from the actual book on some parts but the next chapter will be more unique and of my own creation, less from the actual story in there :D Please R&R guys! Taaraaar
