Chapter 3: O.W.L.s and Sorting

*Ding*

Lucius Malfoy stepped off the lift and walked the dark halls of the Ministry of Magic's ninth level. He headed purposely toward the room at the very end, the soles of his fine dragon-hide shoes clacking loudly against the tiled floor. As he passed an adjacent hallway, a wizard coming from there almost stumbled upon him.

"Would you watch—Ah, Rookwood."

"Young Lucius." greeted the grey haired wizard with a toothy smile. "I see you're in a pleasant mood. As always."

"One can't be helped but be a little on edge these days. Times such as these bring out the worst moods in people."

"They do don't they. Especially when it affects one's work. For the past months, the Department of Mysteries has been inundated with all manner of evidence collected from the Schweinfurz site. I tell you, going over every singularity has made for some very tedious and harrowing work hours."

"A necessary burden to bear in such a case. A lot of people have a great desire to know exactly what happened on that fateful night…as you must well know." Lucius looked at him pointedly.

The pockmarked old wizard seemed to sober in an instant, his genial smile vanishing.

"I do. But lamentably answers don't fall off broomsticks. Just now I've been ordered to release custody of the wand found on the girl." He gestured towards a slim rectangular box he'd been holding.

Lucius frowned. "That should be a vital piece of evidence. Is it wise to surrender it so soon?"

"Be it wise or not, the Minister has already signed the order. Seems the girl is getting released from the Hospital and so it's in need of it."

"But surely the fact that this wand participated in the unusual killings of seven grown and powerful wizards would warrant a more..careful approach."

"All sorts of inspection and verification spells have been done to it. The whole Unspeakable team worked on it day and night and though it, and the robes she'd been wearing, were coated in minute traces of unidentifiable magic, we still didn't find any hard evidence to justify keeping the wand."

The pockmarked man opened the box and with careful fingers, plucked the wand from its notch.

"Seems like a normal wand. Vine with Dragon Heartstring core. Good craftsmanship too. More Ollivander's style than Gregorovitch's. But that old fool Ollivader didn't remember ever having made one like it."

"Dragon Heartstring? They've been known to boost the power of spells." mused Lucius.

"Yes, but the last spell that wand did was a sealing charm. And the girl certainly didn't seal them to death." said Rookwood with a derisive tone.

Lucius gritted his teeth as a wave of annoyance washed over him. "Then perhaps her mind will provide us with something more concrete. I was heading for court to question the state of my custody petition. Once I get granted we should be—"

"Oh that isn't happening." The Unspeakable snorted as his previous teasing smile made a comeback.

"...and why is that?"

"Because Arthur Weasley and his wife beat you to the punch. Or more or less Dumbledore did, with his impressionable recommendations. One good word from him and the Wizengamot ruled in Weasley's favor."

A thunderous frown twisted the blonde's regal features, his hand tightening on his cane with restrained fury.

"Weasley."

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At the Burrow, Dumbledore and the Weasley family waited by the fireplace for the arrival of their new ward. There was an air of nervousness surrounding the young red-haired parents. Every few minutes, Arthur would display his disquiet through jittery movements of his feet and shuffling of his sleeping 4-year old son Charlie. Meanwhile, the heavily pregnant Molly would find some smudge to wipe in the furniture nearby or invisible dust to fuss over in her children's clothes, much to little Bill's displeasure.

"Moooom, I'm clean already." complained the 6 year old.

Dumbledore made an effort to pacify the woman when she scourgified the same chair for the third time. "There is no need to worry so much, Molly dear."

"I can't help it. I mean this girl,…it was a horrible thing what happened! And she was so brave. But…are we really the best people to care for her? Out of all?" She looked down in hesitance, her small hands twisting the cloth of her modest robes. "It's just, with the baby coming, and the kids as well….we..we don't have much to offer her."

Dumbledore watched her with sage like expression. "Molly, for what this girl needs, right now you have in abundance. A warm home filled with love."

"That we do." Arthur smiled widely throwing his free arm over his bashful wife. "Also, knowing that we stopped Lucius Malfoy from ever getting his no-good hands on that innocent girl brings a hop in my steps. Besides, the Weasley family hasn't had a girl in centuries. It would be a pleasant change."

Just then, the fireplace flared, warning the waiting people of an incoming floo. As the fires brightened, the girl named Jean emerged in a burst of ashes, falling to the floor in a daze. Molly immediately went to the disoriented girl, helping her get up and dust off her clothes.

"Th-thank you." The brunette then noticed the ring of soot she'd tracked all around her. "I'm sorry for the mess. I've just never done this before."

"You never flooed?" asked little Bill incredulously. "Are you a muggle?"

"Bill! You don't say things like that!" Molly turned to Jean with embarrassment coloring her face. "I'm sorry dear, he didn't mean anything by it."

But the brunette witch did not hear her as she had remained staring at the 6 year old toddler in a trance. Suddenly, a tear sprang from one of her lost eyes and slipped down her face. Jean blinked, touching her wet cheek in confusion.

"Why is she crying?" asked Bill, followed by a concerned "Are you alright?" from Arthur.

"I..yes, I.. I don't know why that happened." And she really didn't. Somehow seeing the little boy had brought a temporary and strange tightness inside her chest. Then from nowhere, that tear had slipped out.

It was a new experience. Until now, she'd only ever shed tears in her early physical therapies.

"Oh….perhaps some ashes got in your eye then." Molly smiled to assure the befuddled girl.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, calling the attention of the room's occupants.

"I believe some introductions are in order. Ms. Jean, these are Arthur and Molly Weasley along with their sons Bill and Charlie." He gestured to each one of them and the red-heads beamed back upon hearing their names, all except the young Charlie, who despite all the commotion, remained sleeping peacefully on his father's shoulder. "The Weasleys have agreed to be your sponsors and share their name with you. They shall be your caretakers while we search for your family."

Jean grinned at them with enthusiasm. "It's good to meet you all. I promised I won't be a bother. I can help with chores a-and the boys if you wish."

"Oh you don't have to do that." replied Molly.

"But I want to. Please. You've all shown me such kindness, taking me in. Naming me…It's the least I could do."

"Sweetie, you just make sure to study hard so that you pass your O.W.L.s."

"That's right. You only have a few days left to prepare." added Mr. Weasley "And you don't want to miss out on going to Hogwarts."

Jean nodded with vehemence. Somehow, being in this cozy house, seeing this happy family….She had an identity now. She was Jean Weasley. And deep down, she curiously felt that even though her family had yet to be found, she was on the right path. This people were right for her.

The new addition to the Weasley family spent the next week reviewing her textbooks. She had studied them thoroughly when she was at the Hospital, but a part of her feared that her efforts might still not be enough. Failure seemed to her like a very real possibility, and the thought scared her into compulsively going over and memorizing every detail she encountered on the books. She would work herself into a fit over the smallest thing she'd forget.

It didn't help that young Bill had taken a liking to teasing and playing pranks on her. Charlie was a shyer boy, and tended to go quiet whenever she entered any room he was in. But Bill was another thing. Jean had become a new fascination for him, being someone old, but not too old like his parents were. Although she sometimes became deeply annoyed by his interruptions, she didn't know why, but one look in the boy's small freckled face instantly doused any sentiments of retribution. It was an advantage the little boy perceived quickly. And like any decent unruly rascal, he used and abused it.

By the time the examiners from the Ministry arrived at the Burrow in mid-August, she was a wound-up ball of nerves. They visited the entire week, providing her with written and practical tests that left her exhausted each day, sometimes with a pulsing headache. The only reprieve she had was that during that week, Bill had been explicitly prohibited from bothering her while she rested. Still, she was immensely glad when all the testing was finished. She'd been told by a Professor Griselda Marchbanks that since she was the only student left to be evaluated, she would receive word from them by next week.

It was the longest week she'd lived in her short life.

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August 28, 1976

Griselda Marchbanks flooed into the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, carrying with her a green velvet bag. She promptly sat down on a conjured seat and gazed at the Headmaster with an uncanny expression.

"Well," inquired Dumbledore after a moment had passed without a sound from his old friend. "How did Ms. Weasley perform?"

The witch opened her mouth to reply but stopped right after, at a loss for words. She shook her head and with a breath, recomposed herself.

"Albus…If I didn't believe the Prophet before, I certainly believe it now. This girl is a wonder. You told me she only had one month to study five years of schooling. The most I expected were Acceptables, but this…"

With tremulous hands, the older woman removed a thick brown envelope from within the folds of her bag. It hadn't yet been sealed with the wax insignia of the Wizarding Examination Authority and so Dumbledore was able to remove its contents.

His brows lifted upon seeing the results. "This is indeed a curious occurrence."

"Curious? I would say magnificent! Her wand work on the practicals was flawless. The movements almost seemed to come natural. Why if it wasn't for that P in Divinations then she would've had a perfect score! And you of all persons know who was the last wizard to achieve twelve Outstandings with such ease."

The bearded wizard reclined back into his high chair, fingers steepling, he's blue eyes pierced Madam Marchbanks from behind his half-moon glasses. "I believe Ms. Weasley will grow to do great things."

"Then let us hope they are of the good variety."

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September 1, 1976

The Great Hall at Hogwarts bustled with the sound of laughter and the chatter of friends amicably greeting each other after a long break. Many of the students from the four Hogwarts houses were already sitting at their respective tables, awaiting the grand Start of Term banquet. Sorting had already taken place and some of the hungriest students were grumpily questioning the delay of the food. The most astute and perceptive students noticed the fact that Professor McGonagall had remained standing besides the stool where first years sat to be sorted. The Sorting Hat was held firmly in her hands.

Dumbledore stood up from his place at the table and walked to the pulpit where he usually gave his speeches. The young witches and wizards quickly quieted in favor of listening to what their Headmaster had to say.

"Students of Hogwarts, as most of you most know by now, this summer gave us a historic turn of events."

Murmurs quickly roused amongst the students as they understood what Dumbledore meant.

"A terrible and unspeakable tragedy occurred. Because of it, an entire school of magic has been vanished from existence. Many innocent lives were lost. Families have mourned their children."

The occupants of the hall sobered. Some of them thought of loved ones they'd lost in the years. Others thought of their families and how they feared something might happen to them while they were at school.

"But, something else happened. Like a ray of sunlight breaking through the thick clouds of a tempest…a miracle grazed the wizarding world. One young girl…survived. It is because of that, that Hogwarts is now proud to become her host and welcome her with open arms into our community."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the hall exploded, this time with louder murmurs. The great doors at the entrance of the hall opened and all students swiveled in their seats to watch. Hagrid, the Gamekeeper, marched into the hall. And walking just a little behind him, was the fabled wonder girl which many recognized from pictures in the Daily Prophet.

Jean walked behind her large escort with even steps, though her insides were going crazy with everything that was happening. From all around her she felt the students staring and heard them talking about her with the people next to them. Comments like "That's her!" "I thought she was going to Durmstrang." and "She looks smaller in person." ran across the hall.

The walk to the sorting stool felt like a type of gauntlet run. Jean was relieved when she reached the end. There, the half-giant bade her goodbye and a strict looking woman gave her tight smile gesturing her to sit on the stool. After she sat, Jean felt her place upon her the wrinkly old hat she'd been holding.

Hmmm, this is very curious.

She jolted when the hat began talking inside her head. After a second she dared answered back.

"…W-what is?"

But the hat ignored her question and continued with its musing.

..Weasley is it. But is by name. If not I would have known were to put you…..

Anywhere would be nice. she thought, her eyes parading over the many faces that stared expectantly at her. They were all grouped by four different colors. The houses of Hogwarts. Although their names escaped her mind at the moment, the only thing that mattered to her was that the people in them were all part of something. She wished to become a part as well.

.Your mind, it is hard to read. All broken. But still…I see intelligence. Thirst for achievements. A desire to be recognized, yes?

She nodded distractedly, her attention still lost amongst the crowd of students. She then sighted a boy in one of the tables. His face had made her halt her crowd watching, eliciting feelings inside her she couldn't really described. For some reason, she wanted to be near him.

Alright. I decided on "RAV—"

"Wait!" she cried, stopping the hat's shout with her own. The crowd of students shifted in their seats and whispered to each other at the unusual sorting.

There is no need to shout Ms. Weasley. I can hear your thoughts.

Oh..sorry. It's just…I wish to be on the red house.

Gryffindor?

Yes. That one. If is not too much trouble…I..I like to be there.

Hmmm…you can do well in Gryffindor too…and maybe Weasley is not just a name. Very well then…

"GRYFFINDOR!"

There had been a small silence and then the table on the inner left sprang in thunderous cheers and whistles. The other houses clapped politely, Slytherin being the least animated.

To her surprise, the strict woman that took the hat back gave her a wide smile and told her with a soft Scottish brogue to join her new housemates. Jean made her way along the table, receiving many enthusiastic handshakes and pats on the back. A lot of the Gryffindors offered her a seat, but she had already made her mind on where to go.

The boy wasn't exactly looking at her, so she only saw his profile. She sat on the seat besides his, surprising him and the boys nearby.

"Hi!" she called.

"Hi." he responded, eyes wide behind his glasses.

There was an awkward pause in which people sitting around them watched their interaction with curiosity. The brunette girl then extended her hand in greeting.

"I'm Jean."

He smiled, confidence returning. "I'm James. James Potter. And these are my mates Sirius , Remus and Peter."

She gave the other boys a smile and greeted them each. Peter was so speechless he barely managed to stutter back a shy "Hi". Sirius, who had been sitting on the other side of James, quickly slid closer to speak to her.

"I've got to say after I read that first article, you became my second favorite person in the whole world."

"I'm…flattered?" she said, not knowing well how to answer.

"Aw Padfoot" James leaned onto the curly haired boy at his side "You make me blush. I'm the first right?"

Sirius pushed him off. "No you poof, I'm the first."

"You can't be first of your own list!"

"You can if you are as vainglorious as Sirius." commented Remus, who was sitting on the seat across.

"Right!...wait, what was that?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes at the brown haired boy, who made an effort to sip his pumpkin juice and look innocent.

"So did you really fire seven killing curses at once?" suddenly inquired Peter.

"Peter!" the other boys shouted at the short boy, who immediately seemed cowed.

"You dolt, don't you know she doesn't remember?" said Sirius.

"S-sorry. I forgot."

"Don't worry. People ask me that all the time. They always seem so excited to know. I wish I could answer them. It seems really important to them."

"I'm not surprised. I believe there isn't a corner of the Wizarding world who doesn't know who you are." opined Sirius. "You are the talk of every social circle."

Jean grimaced.

"What's wrong?"asked James. His concerned look brought back the strange feeling she felt when she first noticed him. But before she could understand what it meant, the feeling was gone.

"It's just…everyone is going to be expecting so many great things from me. I'm afraid I might not live up to this..wonder-girl image. I've only really known about magic for three months."

"That's alright. If it's learning you want to do, then you've come to the right place." Remus reassured her. And his words did make her feel a whole lot better.

James then threw an arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, and don't worry. In this world, Hogwarts is the best place you'll ever find, and you're in luck because we just happen to be the best of Hogwarts."

"Well aren't I fortunate."

"Very much!"

The other boys laughed at James self-important posturing, and she couldn't help but grin and laugh along. And it was nice, to laugh and share at this table. Little by little she felt she was regaining the person she had been. Soon, other Gryffindors joined in their joy as James started describing to her their most famous pranks at the school.

Meanwhile, from a few seats down the table, a red-headed girl watched them with an odd expression on her face.


A/N: I'll take the time to thank my reviewers: Casia4u, Dreamsb223, polykleitos, dm17, jujulicia and KJA. For the rest, while alerts and favorites are good, reviews let me know a lot better how the story is doing. What is working, and what isn't. It also lets me know about things I've missed, like was the case with jujulicia.

You commented about Jean's wand, which I had forgotten to write about. I fixed it in this chapter and you're lucky I speak Spanish, or else I would be a tad confused with the Portuguese. :)

Also, Polykleitos I hope this chapter gives you a clearer picture on who Jean is.

Coming up next: The Slytherins welcome Jean to Hogwarts.