Nova Loyal sprung out of the bed and threw on her robes eagerly. Today was the day: she was going to Hogwarts! Finally she would be able to get away from everything. It had gotten worse since the day of the visit to the Blacks' after the Dark Lord had realized how little the Cruciatus Curse had appeared to have on her, she reminisced, her hand going to her right arm automatically. Nova pulled up her sleeve to reveal a long jagged cut from elbow to wrist. Good thing the robe sleeves were long. At least all of her other 'punishments' were also hidden. Nova picked up her Hogwarts letter from the dresser again, allowing herself a small smile.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
( Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock )
Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards
Dear Nova Loyal,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Second Year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Having received reports regarding certain extra abilities and an eidetic memory, we feel that you would be more suited to Second Year. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Looking at the clock on the wall, Nova cursed. She was late. Cursing under her breath Nova levitated her trunk down the stairs to where Rosier and his son waited. "About time too, girl", growled Rosier, grabbing her forearm roughly. Together, the three of them Apparated into Kings Cross Station, where Rosier left them. "C'mon, Nova, let's get a cart", mumbled Evan. He had been very awkwardsince the Dark Lord had cut her arm at a Death Eater meeting. Nova suspected that Evan Rosier disapproved of that punishment, not that there was really anything he could do about it.
Evan returned with the cart and loaded on the two trunks, before showing Nova through to Platform 9 and ¾. As soon as they were on the Platform, Nova took her trunk and took off without a word. She didn't have any real problem with Evan, having known him for so long, but Avery, Mulciber, etc. would be along any moment, and they weren't the type of friends Nova wanted to have. Come to think of it, she would keep an eye out for Regulus Black. He seemed nice and sweet, quite unlike his brother 'Siri'. Nova smirked, hoping that the two boys hadn't actually killed each other that day. They had seemed pretty close to it.
Fighting her way through the crowds of crying parents and embarrassed children, Nova was forced to levitate her trunk towards the train, ignoring Evan as he called out for her to come back. Just as she reached the Hogwarts Express, she heard what she presumed to be him again. "OY! NOVA LOYAL! HEY!" "FUCK OFF EVAN!", she bawled back, drawing several glares. Shrugging it off, Nova boarded the train and found an empty compartment.
Once seated, she played around with her wand, practicing several curses on the opposite seats. Looking out the window, Nova spotted Evan, Avery, Mulciber, Dolohov, the Lestrange brothers and Lucius Malfoy. They were strutting around like they owned the place, coldly mocking First Years. Nova's blood boiled when she heard Evan snidely call a poor girl "Mudblood." She would kill him!
The platform was slowly emptying as students boarded the train, but still Evan Rosier's gang strutted about. Eventually, after watching Lucius Malfoy for one minute too much, Nova simply couldn't restrain herself. Standing up, she imitated him for a good two minutes, strutting her stuff around the compartment, attempting to get his facial expressions right, laughing her head off. All was going well until Avery tapped Malfoy on the shoulder and pointed to Nova's window, eyes narrowing. "Shite!", shouted Nova, diving to the ground. She was sure Lucius had seen her!
"Wait? Shite? That's a new one, right Prongs?" Nova jackknifed to a sitting-position, then stood and turned around. Four smirking boys were standing outside the door of her compartment, which Nova now noticed was made of glass. To make it even better, one of the boys were Sirius Black, eldest son and heir of the House of Black.
"So, Loyal", asked Sirius absentmindedly, "What've you been up to?" He dropped down on the seat right next to Nova, while another of his friends, with messy black hair and glasses, sat on her other side, sandwiching a scowling Nova between them. Two more boys stood awkwardly in the doorway. The sandy-haired one was wearing a pair of reading glasses and a smile that was both kind and apologetic. The other boy had mouse brown hair and small mouse features, and was staring at Sirius and Nova's fellow seatmate with unabashed admiration.
Sirius noticed Nova staring over at the other boys by the door and decided to introduce his friends. "This is James Potter", he said, gesturing to the boy with the black hair and glasses, whom Sirius had called Prongs. Then he pointed to the sandy one, "Remus Lupin", and the mouse brown boy, "Peter Pettigrew."
"C'mon in, lads" Sirius waved Remus and Peter in. They sat down on the seat opposite, looking awkward. "So, Loyal, what was the dance about?", asked Sirius, eyebrow raised. Peter, Remus and James burst into laughter and Nova scowled. "Lucius Malfoy", she muttered under her breath, loud enough for the boys to catch. James looked impressed. "The sixth year?" Nova nodded. He four boys looked quite impressed. "So", James asked conversationally, "Is he always such a prick?"
Sirius clipped James on the ear but Nova just nodded, grinning. "Oh yeah!" She turned to Sirius. "Actually, he's dating your cousin, Narcissa!" Sirius started muttering under his breath as the others laughed at his expense. "Your hilarious! What year're you in?", asked Remus, crying tears of laughter at Sirius. Nova took the time to mutter a spell and send James at Sirius crashing into the walls as they shot away from her, allowing her to breath. Smirking at the boys' wounded expressions, she answered Remus' question. "Second year, with you, actually." All four looked shell-shocked. "B-b-but you s-said", spluttered Sirius, "That you were going into First!" Nova smirked. "Due to my special abilities and photographic memory, I'm not."
"Cool!", grinned James, "What 'special abilities'?" "I'm a Metamorhpagus", she replied simply. Nova decided against telling them about the Legilmency and Occulmency; being an unregistered Animagus was illegal; and being a Parseltongue was probably something best kept to herself. She really hoped that Sirius didn't know the full extent of her abilities.
The boys spent the next hour requesting that Nova show them just how developed her ability was. After showing them ten different types of pig noses, Nova decided to ditch the boys. "Sorry lads, but I've got to go find a bathroom. Sorry." Then she grabbed her wand and ran out of the compartment, abandoning her trunk. Wasn't much in there anyway. Nova took off down the train, looking for someone less- irritating -to spend the remainder of the ride with. Halfway down the train, she spotted Regulus Black sitting in a compartment by himself, looking bored. Hoping he wouldn't mind company, Nova knocked.
Looking up with a surprised expression, Regulus waved her in. Nova flopped down on the seat across from him gratefully. "Thank God, Regulus. I've spent the last hour with your brother and his friends, and I don't think I can take any more. Please let me stay here!" Regulus smirked, looking so like his annoying older brother that Nova nearly fled. "S'okay, Nova, you can stay here. And you can call me Reg, you know. 'Regulus' is a bit of a mouthful." Then he smiled. A genuine, kind, nice smile. And he looked so unlike Sirius that Nova stayed for the rest of the train ride.
The train pulled into Hogsmeade station just as it was getting dark. Regulus and Nova disembarked onto the platform, keeping an eye out for the Marauders. "Firs' years! Firs' years to me!", hollered a huge giant of a man, scraggy dark beard falling down his front, so unlike Dumbledore's elegant silver mane. The giant caught Nova's eyes with his own and shot her a wink. His bright beetle-black eyes gleamed with friendliness, and Nova liked him at once. "C'mon, Reg!", she urged, grabbing Regulus' hand and tugging him over to where the giant waited with the other first years. Regulus looked wary of the giant, but followed.
Just then they both saw Sirius and James poke their heads through the crowd, spotting Nova immediately. Sirius' hair stood out from his head like a scraggy mane, messed up from pushing through the crowd. James' hair looked similar and his glasses were askew. "NOVA! WHY'D YOU DITCH US! NOVA! NOT COOL", the two boys shouted, voices growing fainter as they were dragged away by the crowd. A large hand fell onto Nova's shoulder, causing her knees to buckle. Regulus caught her arm just in time, and Nova shot him a grateful smile. Turning around, the giant, for of course it had been him, looked rather embarrassed. "Sorry, girl, don't know me own strength!"
Nova grinned at him. "S'alright. So, not to sound rude or anything, but who are you exactly?" The giant looked flustered. "Oh sorry 'bout that. The name's Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of Keys an' Grounds a' Hogwarts." "Nova Loyal. I'm a new student here, but my letter says I'm supposed to be in Second year, which I don't get, 'cause I'm only eleven." Hagrid chuckled a little as Nova finished her statement and took a deep breath. "Well, girlie, you an' yer friend 'ad better come wi' me. C'mon now, don' delay!" He put a hand on each of their shoulders, lighter this time. Then he looked down at Regulus, a weird look crossing his face before recognition dawned. "Yer Sirius Black's brother, aren't ya, lad?", asked Hagrid gruffly, raising a hairy eyebrow. Regulus nodded stiffly. "With deepest regret, yes, that idiot is my brother." Regulus positively emanated a talk-to-me-and-die vibe, and Hagrid dropped the subject immediately, looking confused. Nova smirked, remembering the scene she had witnessed leaving the House of Black: Sirius and Regulus pounding each other, dislike, almost hatred, in their eyes.
Hagrid guided them to a dock and into a boat that already had two occupants: a boy with sharp, cat-like features, bright green eyes and spiked brown hair with the blond highlights; and a girl with soft, pretty features, dark eyes and ginger-brown hair cut into a short, spiky bob to her ears. The boy was leaning out over the edge of the boat, dipping his hands into the inky-black water, clearly a dare-devil. The girl was frowning at him, hands twitching ever closer to pushing the boy over the edge, obviously wanting nothing more than to push him into the Lake, for all her gentle-looking exterior. Nova grinned, liking the two already.
She hopped into the boat, Regulus following. It rocked dangerously. Nova sat down and tapped the boy on the shoulder. He straightened up, running a hand through his spiky hair and grinning cockily. "Yeah, hot-stuff?" The girl scowled furiously at the boy's back, making Nova smirk. "So, what's your name?", asked Nova. The boy ran a hand through his hair again, reminding Nova of Sirius and James Potter. "William O' Brien, but you can call me Will, babe", he said with a wink. Nova and the girl snorted at Will's cocky attitude. Nova looked at the girl over Will's spiky head. "And you?" "Lisa Wyatt. You?" "Nova Loyal. This is Regulus Black", Nova said gesturing at Regulus, who gave Lisa and Will a small polite smile.
Will was once again leaning over the edge of the boat, fingers trailing the ripples in the water. Lisa looked like she really really wanted to push him in. Nova raised an eyebrow and Lisa smirked wickedly. Regulus glared at Will's back in extreme annoyance. The three of them nodded. "ATTACK!", screamed Regulus, as all three of them dived at Will, who turned around, too late, green eyes wide with terror. The three of them hit the poor boy with the force of a wrecking ball, sending him flying over the edge, the boat rocking dangerously. Will hit the Lake with a splash and disappeared beneath its inky-black surface. Lisa, Nova and Will roared with laughter as Will's head, spiky highlighted hair now plastered to his angry face.
"WHA' ARE YOU KIDS DOING UP THERE?", hollered Hagrid from further back in the fleet of rowing boats. Lisa shoved her fist into her mouth, tears rolling down her face as Will thrashed around, moving out of their view as their boat neared the castle. Nova gasped in wonder. Hogwarts Castle stood tall, gentle orange light glowing warmly from each of its many windows. It was beautiful. Nova looked around and saw that all of the other students were also gazing in rapture at the castle, Lisa's mouth actually hanging open. Nova could see the glint of excitement in Regulus' blue orbs. Nova looked back and spotted a drenched Will swamped in a hairy-looking jacket sitting in Hagrid's boat. He caught her eye and glowered, before shooting her a quick wink. Nova grinned at him before turning back to the castle. She had just made two new friends, making the grand total… three, not including Sirius and his irritating eejits of friends.
The boat hit against something, and Nova looked up with a start, lost in her thoughts. The First years got out of their boats and climbed onto the small dock. They appeared to be in some underground cavern, beneath the school. Nova, Regulus and Lisa leaned against the wall and chatted about what House they were most likely to be Sorted into. Regulus, of course, would probably be a Slytherin. Lisa said that her mother had been a Hufflepuff and her father a Gryffindor, but that she was okay with whatever House. Nova said she wasn't sure, but privately thought she didn't care what House it was once it wasn't Slytherin, Evan Rosier and co.'s House. It really was a pity that Regulus was a shoe-in for that House, then.
A few minutes after they had docked, a drenched Will pushed through the other First years. Having managed to ditch Hagrid's enormous hairy coat, he was now clad only in soaked black robes. Lisa burst out laughing at the sight of him. Will slouched over and leaned against the wall, scowling at them. "So,", said Nova, trying to supress a snort of laughter, "What House do you think you'll be in, Will?" "Probably Ravenclaw. My two older brothers and my older sister are all in that House. My parents were too. I dunno if I'm as smart as them though. Maybe Hufflepuff." All four of them burst out laughing, and Regulus clapped Will on the shoulder as he chuckled softly. Nothing about Regulus was particularly loud or extreme, unlike his brother. It was calming.
As they were all roaring with laughter at Will, the patch of wall he was leaning on disappeared, and they now realized that it was a door they hadn't noticed in the dim light of the cave. Light streamed in the gap, revealing a still-sodden Will on the ground in front of a tall, distinguished-looking woman, her graying brown hair pulled back into a severe bun. She didn't look as amused as Nova, Lisa and Regulus. Will was scowling. The woman took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
When she opened them, she spoke, in a voice one could not help but feel the need to obey. "My name is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House. In a moment you will all follow me into the Great Hall, where you will be Sorted into your Houses in the presence of your fellow students. There are four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and all have produced great wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your House will be like you family, and you can gain or lose House points. The House with the most points at the end of the year will win the House Cup, a most prestigious honour. Now, if you would please follow me."
They formed a loose line and traipsed into the castle after McGonagall. She flicked her wand at a pair of huge, imposing wooden doors and they sprung open, revealing a huge hall, the walls seeming to stretch up forever, at the top a ceiling that seemed to be mimicking the outside weather. Everyone sighed in wonder before shyly following McGonagall as she wove through the four House Tables to the table where the teachers were seated. Ghosts swooped around everywhere, some sitting and conversing with students, one poltergeist Evan had told Nova about, Peeves, blowing raspberries in the teachers' ears. Professor Dumbledore smiled at the First years, electric-blue eyes twinkling over his half-moon spectacles, immediately making the new students feel more at ease.
Professor McGonagall gestured to an old three-legged stool, upon which sat a very old, raggedy-looking pointed hat. She turned to the First years. "When I place this hat on your head, it will call out the name of your House. You will then go and join you fellow students at the House table. Understood?" There was a flurry of mumbling. Then the Hat straightened itself up on the stool and burst into song, using a slit in its fabric as a mouth.
"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 of heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs 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 meet your real friends,
Those cunning folks 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!"
The entire school burst into applause, and then 'Abernathy, Aoife' was called and pronounced a Hufflepuff, to great applause. All too soon, it was 'Black, Regulus''s turn. Regulus walked gracefully to the stool and pulled on the hat. The moment it touched his head, it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" Regulus looked back at Nova before taking his place at the Slytherin House table.
The 'L's came and went, but Nova still as not called. She watched as her new friends Will O' Brien and Lisa Wyatt were Sorted into Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, respectively. Finally, the last name had been called and everyone was whispering and muttering as they looked at Nova, standing alone. Professor Dumbledore spoke up. "I would like to introduce you all to Nova Loyal, our new Second year. Although she is young, I and the staff believe that she is more than up to that standard. Nova, if you please?", he finished, nodding towards the Sorting Hat. Nova nodded and sat down, pulling the Hat on. It was so big that it slipped over her eyes, blocking her view of the Hall. It was then that she heard the small voice in her ear, and realized that the Hat must be talking to her.
"Nova Loyal, hmm… Always wondered when you'd come along…" "Get to the point, already!" "Ah, I see impatience… I remember your parents, both Gryffindors if I recall correctly. You do bear an awful lot of similarities to them, your father especially… And you do seem to be very talented… Where would you like to go?" "NOT SLYTHERIN! I don't think I could take being in the same year and House as Avery and Mulciber! Then again, the Marauders're in Gryffindor, so I'm not too keen on that option either, really…. Ravenclaw, maybe?" "Hmm.. I don't know, there's something else. Bravery, loyalty. Courage. As I said, a lot like you father. And after all you've been through. On that note, there's really only one place to put you… GRYFFINDOR!"
Nova took off the Hat and made her way over to the Gryffindor table to great applause. She sat down next to Lisa after doing a quick Marauder-check. After that public presentation, there was no way they could have failed to notice her. Uhhh! Dumbledore finished his speech and waved his wad merrily. Plates heaped with every food imaginable appeared on the table. Nova and Lisa dug in with squeals of delight. Just as she was about to dig in to a plateful of roast potatoes, Nova felt a tap on her shoulder. It was a pretty looking girl with long, glossy black hair, probably in Second year. "Hiya, I'm Marlene McKinnon. You're Nova Loyal, right? I'm in your year. Could you pass the carrots, please? I'm absolutely starving!" Nova grinned and gave Marlene the dish of carrots. The girl certainly was friendly! Marlene smiled back. It seemed that Nova had made yet another new friend, albeit one with questionable sanity.
Two hours and four heaped courses later, the prefects led them through the hallways to a portrait of fat lady in a pink lacy dress. "Phoenix", called the female prefect, Molly Prewett. The portrait swung forward, revealing a hole through which they climbed into the Common Room. The Gryffindor Common Room certainly was amazing: full of comfy-looking couches draped with scarlet and gold covers and cushions, all bordering a huge roaring fire. Nova grinned.
Molly led the girls up a spiral staircase to their dormitories, Nova glad to get out of the Common Room in case she ran into Sirius. Nova was about to walk into the First year girls' dormitories after Lisa when she felt Molly's hand on her shoulder. "You're in there, Nova", she smiled kindly, pointing to a door across the way with the sign 'Second Year Girls' on it. With a last look at a disappointed Lisa, Nova pushed open the door and went inside.
Four girls sat on four beds, all more or less twelve years old, about six months older than Nova at the very least. Marlene McKinnon was one of them, giving Nova a little wave from a bed near the window. The other three girls were kind if a little curious looking. Nova gave a little wave and nervous smile to try and break the ice. It worked: all four of the other girls burst into rounds of giggles.
"Hi Nova. I'm Lily Evans", smiled the pretty green-eyed red-headed girl. "Alice Prewett", said a girl with a sweet face and smile, and short spiky dark brown hair. "Emmeline Vance, but please call me Em", begged a girl with breathtaking facial features and glossy chestnut hair that fell down her back like a waterfall. "Marlene McKinnon, but you already knew that", said Marlene with a grin Nova couldn't help but match. "Well, as I'm sure you know, my name's Nova Loyal." Nova flopped onto the only empty bed, her trunk already at the foot of it.
"So", asked Lily, "Have you had the pleasure of meeting your other fellow Gryffindor Second years yet, the Marauders? Or, as I like to call them, the Four Great Wastes of Human Life?" Nova burst out laughing, as did Marlene, Alice and Em. "I have, actually. They forced their company on me on the train. Very annoying, that Sirius Black." "Sirius Black is the annoying one?", shrieked Lily, as though personally insulted. Nova must have looked confused, because Lily clarified, "Sorry, but I definitely think that James Potter has to be worse!" Em cackled. "Lils is only saying that because she luurves him!" "I DO NOT!", Lily yelled, throwing a pillow at Em's head, beginning the most epic pillow fight ever, in Nova's opinion anyway.
She giggled uncontrollably as Alice was hit with four pillows in the face, all at once, and was thrown back on her bed. Marlene's wild laughs were cut short when she was hit in the mouth with Lily's pillow. Nova was laughing at Marlene's muffled screams when Alice, recovered, got her in the stomach. The Epic Pillow Fight continued for at least an hour until Alice, completely exhausted, actually fell asleep right there and then. It was only then that the others agreed that they needed to go to bed as well. Nova fell asleep smiling, deciding that she really liked how the day had gone. She had made several new friends, and was in Gryffindor, where, according to the Sorting Hat, "dwell the brave of heart." Not bad for someone who was basically a Junior Death Eater, she mused deep in her dreams of swirling scarlet and gold flags and majestic roaring lions. Awesome, actually.
Thanks for reading, if anyone's actually reading this…. Anyway please review! J
