"Slytherin!" The old decrepit hat shouted from atop Alyson's shaky head. Her expression hadn't change the moment the hat was pulled out and placed on her by Professor McGonagall. She had a look of complete disgust that only intensified as she hopped of the stool and ran next to her sister.
Professor McGonagall looked over to Olivia with a faint smile pressed upon her lips. "Your turn, Miss Pruitt." She spoke softly.
Olivia hesitated a few seconds before making her way over to the stool. The darkened office made her feel uneasy for some reason, especially since the pictures of past headmasters' and headmistress' chatted away curiously about the two girls as if they weren't there. Quickly, Olivia looked to her sister who gave her a thumbs up. Olivia shook her head, smiling, and perched herself on the stool.
The sorting hat wiggled around on Olivia's head, scrunching it's wrinkly face as it began to make its decision.
"With the purest of blood, there is no doubt, Slytherin, suits you. However…-" It trailed off.
Olivia blinked confused. "However, What?!" She whispered
The hat shook abruptly, obviously agitated, cleared its throat and began, "Your possess the heart of a Gryffindor, strong, and loyal. But with the lineage of a royal….hmmm…you wish to be put in Slytherin? The choice is yours then. Slytherin!"
As Professor McGonagall reached out to remove the hat it began to shake once again, making the Professor shy away.
"Ah, ah, ah." The hat's tone had dropped an octave. "Be warned child. Use your strength to soothe the battles that will rage within and around you." And with that the hat lay motionless.
What is that even supposed to mean?! Olivia thought as the Professor finally took the hat off of her head. She walked over to her sister who was mirroring the same look of puzzlement in her eyes.
"Well, ladies, now that we've gotten that out of the way, I can fill you in on the rules. You will obviously be sitting with the Slytherin table tonight at the sorting ceremony for the first years. I can a..-" She stopped as the door of the office opened, "Albus."
"Minerva."
A tall older looking man with hair as white as snow had walked in greeting Professor McGonagall. He turned to the Pruitt girls and smiled warmly. It was a genuine smile Olivia could tell right away. He must have been Dumbledore. She knew him from the stories her mother told them back home. Alyson smiled back.
"Hello. You two must be Olivia and Alyson, I presume?" His voice was low and almost lyrical.
Olivia answered first. "Yes, sir. You must be Professor Dumbledore?"
He looked to Olivia. "My, my, how you look just like your father. I'm assuming you are Olivia." He turned to Alyson, "And you Alyson?"
Alyson put out her hand. "Yes! It's nice to meet you!"
Dumbledore shook her hand and walked over beside McGonagall. "So have they already been sorted, Minerva?" He asked.
"Yes, sir, both in Slytherin." She replied.
"Ah, good. They may go to the ceremony now if they wish. I can call them in later and brief them on the rules." There was a small glint in his eyes of something Olivia couldn't quite make out.
Professor McGonagall nodded and turned the girls around, taking them by the shoulders out the door and into the large corridor outside. She instructed them where to go and at which table to sit. Olivia got the strange feeling her and her sister would get lost in the large school, but Professor McGonagall reassured them that they wouldn't and that there were students who could help them find their way. She bid them good luck and headed on her way to the Great Hall.
Alyson yawned and punched her sister playfully on the arm. "So which way was it again?"
Olivia rolled her eyes. "This way." She grabbed Alyson by her robes and dragged her toward a group of kids filing down a flight of stairs.
"So, Sirius, I heard you got rejected on the train." Lily Evans mocked as she sat down in front of him, a wide grin spread upon her lips.
Sirius Black looked up abruptly from his pumpkin juice and quickly socked an equally shaggy haired boy in the arm. The boy's glasses were now skewed on his face from the jolt.
"Prongs! You told her?" He scowled.
James Potter fixed his glasses and socked Sirius back harder on the shoulder. "No, mate!"
Lily snickered. "No…he didn't. The girl did."
"Of course! Leave it to miss-goody-two-shoes to make friends with a bird like her." Sirius scoffed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She retorted.
James shook his head. "Lily-pie, all Padfoot meant was…-"
"Don't call me that, Potter!" Lily fumed.
Sirius smirked. "Girls like you are all the same. That's what I meant. Right, Moony?"
A sandy haired boy looked at Sirius and raised a brow. "No Comment." Remus Lupin was more of a peacemaker in the group and didn't feel like taking part in their argument.
"See!" Sirius pointed to Remus.
"That is not what I mea…-"
"Quite right, though Padfoot!" Peter Pettigrew, the dirty blonde, mousy boy chimed in.
Lily sighed, exasperated and watched in disbelief as the four boys began arguing amongst themselves. Why do I even bother? She thought.
"Well, well looks like the new girl finally showed up." James said eyeing Olivia and Alyson as they walked into the Great Hall. He scoffed. "No wonder she snubbed you! She's in Slytherin."
Lily smacked him in the head, making his glasses tilt again. "Slytherin or not, Sirius was still a jerk."
"Ow, Lil." James mumbled.
Sirius watched as Olivia made her way to the Slytherin table. "Well she's sure a loss then. Especially with those legs."
Lily rolled her eyes. "See what I mean?"
Olivia let go of Alyson's robes as they reached the inside of the Great Hall. She quickly looked around for people who had the same color as they did. It was then that she felt the strange feeling someone was watching her. She looked to the red and gold table and saw him again. Ugh…good. At least he's not in the same house as me. She thought spitefully.
She saw Lily as well and waved to her, then made her way to her own table with her sister closely behind.
"Hmmm, the girl with her ain't half bad either." Sirius said sizing Alyson up.
Remus looked at Sirius. "Sirius, don't you ever get tired of being a womanizer?"
"Why, no moony, I don't think I do." He said with a philandering grin.
The sisters took seats next to each other as they watched everyone talking about the new year. Alyson bit her bottom lip nervously. Olivia brushed a few loose hairs from her face.
"Hey, do you think we'll make any friends?" Alyson whispered anxiously to her sister.
Olivia was tempted to roll her eyes. "No. I think we're going to be loners." She replied sarcastically.
Alyson shook her head. "No, for real."
"Why does it matter?"
"Becau..-"
The candles that floated above the students began to dim and mimic the night time stars. Professor Dumbledore walked out from behind his place at the elongated teachers table towards a golden podium whose candles were brightly lit. He went on to clear his throat and began a long speech about the new year. The Sorting Ceremony was short and sweet with all the first years eagerly rushing to their house tables. Olivia watched them and felt the exact same way on the inside. Scared. Shitless. She watched as Dumbledore took his place again at the podium.
"Also, I would like you to all know we have two new students all the way from the United States. Miss Olivia and Alyson Pruitt. I hope you all make them feel welcomed here at Hogwarts." He gestured to the Slytherin table and all eyes fell to the two sisters.
Olivia felt her ears heat up as she tried to shy away from all the unwanted attention. Alyson on the other hand, ate it up, and smiled waving excitedly to everyone.
"Very well then, enjoy the feast!" With that the lights returned to their normal brightness.
Food was now appearing on the long tables as students swiftly took up their plates and grabbed whatever they could reach.
"That was so embarrassing." Mumbled Olivia as she covered her face with her hands.
"It's not so bad, actually."
Alyson giggled. "No, my sister just likes to overreact."
"I do not!" Olivia dropped her hands and looked at the boy who was now sitting across from them.
He had lanky black hair straight as a board with a rather immense shine. His pale skin was very noticeable under his black and green robes. He had a coldness to him but Olivia pushed it aside.
"Uh, yea. I guess not." Olivia replied.
The boy took up a goblet of pumpkin juice and took a sip. "My name's Severus Snape. Welcome to Slytherin."
