Anna flipped her hair as she walked up to the stool.
Hmm, said the hat. You have a mysterious past.
"What the heck?" Anna said loudly.
Shush. Your bravery would put you in Gryffindor, and your sneakiness would put you in Slytherin. I think we can rule out Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. You're not kind OR intelligent.
"Hey!"
I see you've already made friends with some Gryffindors, and in Slytherin I sense you would have trouble making friends. So, GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table cheered and clapped. James patted her on the back as she sat. She shot him a glare.
"Hi, Anna!" said Lily cheerfully. "This is Dorcas Meadowes, this is Marlene McKinnon, this is Molly Prewett, our head girl-she's a seventh year though, this is Emmeline Vance-Alice Prewett-Mary MacDonald. These are my friends," she said, smiling. Anna nodded, then groaned. Sirius Black had bounded over.
"Hello," he greeted. "I have BIG PLANS for this money."
"Do I LOOK like someone who gives two hoots?" she said as "Wemphrey, Nelly!" got into Ravenclaw.
"Yes," Sirius said, unfazed. "So, how was your weekend?"
"Wonderful," she said, looking incredibly bored.
"How's the weather?"
She looked up. "See for yourself."
"Too lazy."
"I don't like you."
"Xiper, Matilda!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Zen, Bob!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
McGonagall tucked the scroll of parchment into her robe pocket.
"The headmaster would like to say a few words," said McGonagall, looking disapproving. The headmaster's eyes twinkled. "First I would like to ask your advice. Do you think I should send a letter to the Chocolate Frog card company asking for a more complimentary picture of myself on the card? The picture already on the card has me wearing an ugly hat."
"What?" said Anna. "What the hell?"
"He's a strange man, Dumbledore," Lily said.
"I also would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds for everyone but Hagrid, our loyal game keeper."
"I'm hungry," grumbled Anna.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, but then his expression turned grave again.
"I'd like to give my greatest consolations to Marlene and Mal McKinnon who lost their father to an organization called The Knights Of Walpurgis. Drink to Michael McKinnon."
Everyone stood up and gulped from the goblet that had appeared in front of them.
"Michael McKinnon," they said.
Then the food appeared. "Wow," breathed Anna. "Delicious."
"I challenge you to an eating contest!" shouted Sirius. She looked at him. "How many galleons?"
"Ten," he smirked. Anna nodded.
"It's on."
She took up a chicken leg and devoured it in three seconds flat. Then she poured a packet of Bertie Botts down her mouth. She made a face and washed it down with lemonade. She ate the lemon floating on top of the lemonade, and then ate three bowls of rice. Then she moved on to dessert and she ate. A lot. Treacle tart, followed by mince pies and pumpkin pasties, fizzing whizzbees and chocolate frogs, muggle cupcakes filled with lemon drops. She ate and ate and ate...and Sirius just stared as she ate one thing after another.
"I think I win," said Anna smugly, holding out her hand for the money.
"HEY!" protested Sirius.
"Accio ten galleons from Sirius," said Anna, and Sirius' money flew into her hand. She grinned as she pocketed it.