Author's Note: TIME SKIPS! Gotta love Time Skips, ya know?! They help us writers get past that horrible, horrible thing called...argh *shudders*...Writer's Block! Oh my gosh, I said the WB words! Oh God, oh my god, oh-oh-oh! *faints and mutters weakly, 'Enjoy the chapter…'*
Expecto Patronum
Chapter Three: Sorted and Slytherins
Bella
I led my family through the crowded Kings Cross Station, pushing our carts. "Bella, there's no such thing as Platform 9¾!" Rose called as they caught up with me. I chuckled at her. "You really believe in the phrase 'no such thing'? After all this? Really Rose, be serious. Of course there's a Platform 9¾!"
Sirius trotted beside me as Padfoot, and Moody walked unevenly next to him. "Your godfather is a supreme idjit, Potter. (A/N: If you know where that's from, and I doubt you will cause most of you are too old for it, PM me and I'll add your name to a chapter!) He's going to get himself killed!" Mad-Eye grumbled. I laughed as Sirius gave me a wink before biting Mad-Eye's left ankle playfully. The Cullens looked at Sirius in confusion, not knowing he was an Animagus.
The day the Cullens brought me to Sirius's was like a twelve-hour-long explanation to the Cullens of everything magic, and everything that I'd done in my life, including Voldemort incidents, leaving the Cullens dazed at the role I played in the Wizarding World.
As we reached the barrier, I turned to face the vampires. "Just do what I do, 'kay?" I said, and they nodded. I spun to face the wall and ran at it, slipping through onto Platform 9¾. Edward and his family followed shortly, astounded. Sirius and Mad-Eye came through just to say goodbye (well, Mad-Eye ignored the Cullens altogether and gave me a look and a nod. From him, that was a huge hug filled with I love you's.) Sirius licked our ankles, giving us apologetic looks.
"This keeps getting weirder and weirder, so can you just get us on the train before my heart restarts and then stops again?" Jasper said as we walked down to the Hogwarts Express, golden eyes darting to and fro. Before I could reply, a familiar voice cut me off. "Well Potter, it seems you keep filthier company than I thought."
Draco Malfoy, a snobby, stuck-up, arrogant, bigheaded Slytherin was leaning against a column, his two goons flanking him, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. I rolled my eyes, and I heard the Cullen boys cracking their knuckles, hissing. "Look who's talking, Malfoy. Bigfoot 1 and 2 don't seem like they are of high status, but to each his own, I suppose," I said back, leading the Cullens away from the Slytherins. "Go, Bella!" Emmett cheered as we boarded the train and slid into a compartment.
A red-headed boy and girl, a bushy haired brunette, and a dark haired boy were all seated in the compartment. I sat down on the taller boy's lap, the one with red hair. "Hey, mate," I laughed as Ron turned to grin at me. He wrapped his arms around me and tackled me to the seat. The Cullens stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Uh, Bella?" Ginny said. "Who are they? Why do you have vampires with you?" Her voice was weary and a little fearful.
"They won't hurt you. They drink from animals, and since I can't live without them, Dumbledore said they could come to Hogwarts, even though they can only take the classes that don't require magic. Golden Quartet and Ginny, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend and his family," I announced. Harry and Ron were immediately on their feet, and being around the same height, placed their wands at Edward's neck.
"If you hurt her," Harry began, his eyes bright with mixed emotions. The Cullen siblings were amused, doubting the power of Harry.
"We will turn you into a ferret," Ron went on, growling.
"And stuff you down Malfoy's pants!" Both wizards finished. They did this every time I'd had a boyfriend. Third time now. I giggled as Edward gave me a crooked grin before looking back at my friends, who were sitting again, looking normal and content.
"I will never hurt Bella, and if I do, you have permission to do whatever you just said," Edward promised. Ron and Harry laughed, sticking out their hands for a shake. Edward complied before sitting beside me. Emmett and Jasper bowed. "Emmett, Jasper, the goofiest brothers in the world. But you guys are way cooler," I teased, looking to my brothers (Ron and Harry). They smirked at the vampires, who pouted and sat next to Harry. Alice and Rose stepped forward last, waiting for my announcement. I laughed.
"Alice and Rosalie, the girls who are coincidentally always nearby when someone drools," I stated grandly. The girls (Alice, Rose, Hermione, and Ginny) all laughed. We slid the compartment door shut, and continued the introductions.
"This is Harry James Lupin. He was adopted by my...well, I don't know his title. Technically, he's my new godfather because Sirius adopted me, making me his daughter, but...I dunno. I guess he's my uncle or something. Remus Lupin adopted Harry when he was six. Remus is a werewolf, not a shapeshifter, by the way. This is Ronald Bilius Weasley. His family's huge. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. By the way, Fred and George, my other best friends. They rock. This is Hermione Jean Granger. Her parents are Muggles, and yet she's still the best witch in Hogwarts. This is Ginevra Molly Weasley, but don't ever call her Ginevra. It's Ginny. She's Ron's younger sister. Year below us," I finished. That's when the train started up and puffing down the tracks.
"So, are you all in Gryffindor?" Rose questioned. Everyone nodded. "Was that Malfoy kid a Gryffindor?" Alice asked. "No way. He's Slytherin through and through, including his goonies, Crabbe and Goyle," Ron replied, his face filled with disgust.
"What house do you think we'll be in?" Jasper wondered. "I have a pretty good idea," I mused. I did.
Emmett would be in Gryffindor. There was no doubt about that. He was one of the bravest people I knew.
Jasper...he would be Ravenclaw. His unique outlook on life and intelligence would put him there.
Alice would be either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. It depended on what qualities the Sorting Hat saw in her.
Rosalie...I didn't know. She was like a closed book: unreadable.
Edward could be anywhere. He was a mixture of everything. I couldn't tell. We'd have to wait and see.
"Alice, can't you see what house you'll be in?" Edward asked. Alice shook her head. "I can't see magic or anything magic-related," she replied sulkily. I laughed at her expression, and we spent the rest of the ride like that. Laughing.
Emmett
Once at Hogwarts, the train stopped. I looked over to Bella with the rest of my family, wondering how to proceed. "C'mon you guys. I have orders from Dumbledore to bring you to Hagrid to take you to McGonagall," Bella told us. She, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny rose from their seats and led us out to the path beside the tracks. I thought it was super cool how the Hogwarts staff brought in your trunks and all.
Bella had told us the plan for the next two years. We would stay in seventh year while Bella got older. At first, I wondered what the point of repeating the year was, but I realized I could just be by my newest little sister, Bella.
Harry accompanied my ginger-haired sister as she brought our little party to a giant man. He was even huger than me! He had to have been at least twelve feet tall. Bella had warned us, though. Otherwise, I'd be stunned into eternal silence.
"Bella! S'good to have yer back this year! And wha's this? The Cullens, oh yeah, Dumbledore told me about yer all comin'! Righ' this way, Cullens, you two, go to the carriages, will yer?" Hagrid boomed. He embraced Bella and Harry before shooing them off. It was strange to see my tiny sister against a half-giant. But there were a lot of things in this world that were strange.
Hagrid called over the first years. They cowered away from my intimidating size, but gasped and shrieked at Hagrid's stature. He gave them a friendly smile. "Hello, young un's! Yer all 'xcited fer Hogwarts, eh? Let's go then, come on!" With that, Hagrid led us and the young wizards and witches to an inky black lake, like the color of Alice's hair. The lake stretched across a large piece of land, and was surrounded by what Bella called the "Forbidden Forest". At the end of the water, a magnificent castle awaited us, glowing with magic. We stared in amazement, and Hagrid directed us with a chuckle to a long canoe in the water.
The five of us vampires filed into the boat, and I reached for the oars on the side, but Rose smacked my arms down. She pointed to the oars now, eyes filled with excitement. The oars were paddling the boats by themselves! Magic was awesome.
The boat ride took five minutes, and we stepped out of our canoe, waiting for Hagrid and the little ones. "THis is so cool. We need to get our own magic boat," Jazz muttered. "My thoughts exactly," I nodded, grinning. The first years and Hagrid arrived, and we all went up into the castle.
Edward
I marveled at the secret world filled with magical surprises. I was so glad to be part of Bella's world. The world where she shone.
The friendly half-giant gestured for us and the younger students to follow him past the front doors. I am not lying when I say they had to be at least thirty feet high. I was beginning to think this was all an impossible, venom-induced dream, and I would wake up to see Bella asleep with no wand in hand. But I was a vampire, and vampires didn't dream. Therefore, this was somehow real.
Hagrid led us around a corner to more giant doors, almost as large as the front doors. A tall woman with set lips, black hair pulled into a tight bun, and sharp green eyes waited for us. She didn't smile; she gave Hagrid a nod and he trudged into the room, not letting us see inside.
"Now, welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My name is Professor McGonagall, and I am the Transfiguration professor here. You will be soon be Sorted into any of the four Hogwarts Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. I shall go prepare the students, and I will retrieve you shortly," the woman declared. I should speak with the vampires separately, to inform them of the potions, McGonagall observed mentally. Potions? What potions? Bella never told me about any potions.
My throat began to burn as McGonagall disappeared into the Great Hall. I had forgotten about this: although these were witches and wizards, they still had blood running through their veins. I covered my nose, seeing my family do the same. So mouthwatering... I stopped my thoughts. I would be strong. For Bella.
The children backed away from us. Did they know what we were? I couldn't tell. Their thoughts were filled with excitement for their future education of magic.
"We are ready," McGonagall came back out, beckoning us forward. The five of us Cullens walked in the back of the large group of first years as they rushed in, smiling broadly. The Great Hall was astounding. Floating candles were lit above our heads, and a starry night sky covered the ceiling. (Sorry, I'm not good with description!)
Banners hung around the hall, emblems of the Hogwarts Houses on each one. Gryffindor, the lion, Ravenclaw, the eagle, Hufflepuff, the badger, and Slytherin, the snake. Four long tables stretched across the room, and I could obviously tell which was which. Slytherin was at the left side, Ravenclaw beside it, the aisle seperating the two pairs of tables, then Gryffindor, and lastly, Hufflepuff. Bella was seated with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and three other boys I didn't recognize at the Gryffindor table. In my opinion, Bella was adorable in her Gryffindor robes and tie. Bella in a tie was my new favorite thing.
We marched up to the platform at the end of the hall, where the professors sat (Can we just pretend he doesn't really look at the table where the professors sit?). McGonagall stood before us, and placed an old, weatherbeaten hat on a stool in front of the hall. To my amazement, 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 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 make 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!"
(I chose the 1991 song because it'll really explain to the Cullens what each house represents. The 1995 song was too long anyways!)
I knew Bella was brave. Bravest person I knew. But what was I? Before I could question myself, McGonagall read out the name, "Alice Cullen." Alice gave Jasper's hand a squeeze and danced up to the stool. She carefully sat on the stool, and McGonagall lowered the hat onto Alice's spiky hair.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Sorting Hat boomed. I heard groans from the Gryffindor table, and I knew Alice was happy that Bella and her friends wished she was with them. But Alice was also glad to be considered smart and she skipped off to the applauding Ravenclaw table.
"Thomas Belkin," was the next name. "Hufflepuff."
"David Perry." "Slytherin."
"Rachel McKnight." "Ravenclaw."
"Liana Starr." "Gryffindor."
"Jackson Ford." "Gryffindor."
"Ella Short." "Ravenclaw."
"Gregory Zapp." "Hufflepuff."
"Quincy Tine." "Slytherin."
"Emmett Cullen," McGonagall announced, and I heard Bella and the others lean forward in their seats. Emmett sat on the stool, and McGonagall had to reach up to place the Sorting Hat on his dark hair. "GRYFFINDOR!"
I felt my heart tug with jealousy. Emmett grinned and jogged to Bella's table, where they scooted over for him.
"Jasper Hale." "Ravenclaw."
"Rosalie Hale." "Slytherin."
"Rose!" Emmett's soft moan as Rose seemed to freeze. She stiffly walked to the cheering Slytherin table. "Edward, tell Bella that I'm sorry," Rosalie whispered, too low for the witches and wizards to hear.
I turned to see the Golden Quartet murmuring to each other. "Edward Cullen," McGonagall called, her eyes landing on me. I stepped up and felt the material of the Sorting Hat fall on my head.
"Where to put you, Mr. Cullen? You'd do well in Ravenclaw, yes, you're very clever, hmm, Hufflepuff is also an option...but what about that dark side, hmm, Mr. Cullen? Why, I say you have to be..."
Author's Note: Where should Edward be? I don't think he should be Gryffindor, but if everyone says that they want him there, that's where he'll go. Review and tell me which house Edward should be in.