Harry Potter AU

"Griffindor!"

It was that one word that began the divide between my sister and I. For the entirety of its lineage, the family of Arendelle had always been sorted into Slytherin. There had never been a parent, sibling, or even cousin who had been anything other than a 'servant to the Serpent,' as my father once referenced.

So when I gazed upon my sister, Anna, as she smiled broadly at the Sorting Hat's announcement, I couldn't help but feel betrayed. I was a year ahead of the girl, and in the year I had spent away from her not a day had gone by without us corresponding in some manner, whether it be through letters or the connected mirrors my father had provided us so that we might remain close. I had spoken often to her about the Slytherin common rooms in the dungeons, of how quiet and warm it was compared to the raucous nature of the rest of the school. Especially the Griffindors.

And now my precious little redheaded sister was seated at the Griffindor table, chatting away with some other First Years as if I didn't exist. I was certain my glare would have been enough to at least draw the younger girl's attention, but it was useless as Anna's attention span had always been rather short. So it was with a heavy sigh I turned away from my only relative left in the world, facing the Headmistress as she took to the podium.

"Yes, yes," McGonagall was saying, "Calm down, now." Once the Great Hall had quieted, she continued, "Before we begin this years Feast, I'd like to welcome our newest addition to our staff, Professor Weaselton."

"Weselton!" a small nasally voice squeaked from the far end of the staff table. A short man no taller than myself stood and abruptly spun in a strangle little dance before ending in a sharp bow, his toupee tipping half off of his bald head, before whipping back into place as she stood just as suddenly.

Several giggles and outright laughter could be heard throughout the Great Hall, and I admit I couldn't help myself from giving in to the urge to chortle a bit. Of course, this man's actions weren't anything new to Anna and myself. This man, Weselton, had once been one of my father's closest friends and confidants, and I had grown up fighting not to snicker at the wizard's odd gestures and strange way of posturing.

I turned just in time to catch Anna's gaze, her face alight with laughter as we shared a brief smile in remembrance. Then I felt my gaze go cold as I turned away back to to the podium where McGonagall was currently attempting to corral the students back into silence. That feeling of betrayal was still weighing heavy on my thoughts and I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge my sister just yet.

"That's quite enough," the Headmistress said. "Professor Weselton will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, and hopefully the years thereafter." I sneered and rolled my eyes. It was rumored the post was cursed, but I knew better. The years of the famous Harry Potter attending school not withstanding, there had yet to be a teacher who lasted more than one year at the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. And it was all due to the fact that none of the teachers in the last three years since the Dark Lord's fall had been qualified to maintain the post.

There weren't a lot of people willing to own up to knowledge of the Dark Arts in general, let alone express that knowledge in the teaching of others. It was a pity, so many people had grown terrified of being associated with the former Dark Lord and his ilk that no one was strong-willed enough to risk the scorn.

Weselton was another matter, though. Since my parents had died two years prior during an experiment gone wrong, Weselton had stepped in during the interim and was more than willing to pass on his own knowledge. Since we were the last of our pure bloodline, we were given every edge needed to excel, which included flouncing the rules and allowing us to perform magic at home.

And now after a year of neglectful teaching in the class I loved most, I found myself excited for the appearance of the short, old man.

"...and remember, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all who do not wish to die a gruesome and horrible death." I finally tuned in to the old witch's final words as the Headmistress clapped her hands together, droves of fresh, warm foods appearing throughout the tables as the Feast began.

Yet my appetite left me as soon as I glanced across the Great Hall to see my sister eagerly digging in to whatever food was within reach of her small arms. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Anna had been sorted into Griffindor. It was unheard of for someone of our lineage to not be in Slytherin. Was she adopted or something? Was she really my sister?

Of course, I knew this line of thinking was foolish, as Anna's name and face appeared on our family's tapestry right next to mine. Only those descendant of Arendelle could appear on that old cloth. Maybe something was wrong with her? Was she damaged in some way, or just flawed?

Or was it that.

Images of Anna tossing her hands about carelessly as magic sprung from her fingertips passed through my mind's eye. It was a long protected family secret, the fact that Anna possessed unprecedented wandless magic. It had shown itself early in childhood, as such often occurred in normal witches and wizards. Except, it didn't dissipate or fade like it does normally. No, it was one of the main reasons we were given such stringent instructions in magic and its uses so early in our lives.

Anna could wield magic without the use of a wand. It had been a source of contempt between us, and I was mature enough to know that it was because I was jealous of her. She had always been our parents' favorite, doted upon and spoiled, given attention at even the slightest hint of need. I wasn't neglected, by any means, but when compared to the sweet, wondrous, magical child that Anna showed to be, I felt outclassed and overshadowed.

Regardless, it was my father's last words to me before he and mother died. "Keep her safe. She's...the future...of all magic kind." He had died without any further explanation.

Our family had always agreed that Anna's wandless magic should never be revealed to the wizarding world. She would become a circus freak, showcased and experimented on, tested into nothingness. And as much as I despised my sister's House placement, I loved the little brat with everything that I am.

We'd found long ago that any real wand wielded by the girl literally broke in her fingers if she tried to use it. And so Anna was given a core-less wand and told to always wield it when she performed magic so as to keep others from suspecting.

Before I knew it, the Feast was over and we were being corralled out of the Great Hall, while the First Years of each House were being lined up to be guided to their common rooms for the first time. I pointedly ignored the searching look from Anna as I left the Great Hall and made my way quickly towards the dungeons, passing through the common room and into my dorms.

My trunk was already situated at the base of my bed and I threw myself bodily onto the soft surface, sighing deeply as I felt the familiar comfort of the room embrace me. Though many would expect the dungeons to be cold and drab, it was actually quite warm and...well it was a bit drab, but I wasn't exactly one for aesthetics anyway.

A whisper of sound brought my head up, glancing around at the empty room curiously. It was only a moment before the sound repeated, coming from the foot of my bed. It was only as I was kneeling before my trunk that I could make out the voice of my sister.

"Elsa? Are you there?"

Sighing, I opened the trunk and retrieved the gilded mirror from its protective case. A tap of my wand to its surface revealed the pouting face of my sister. "What do you want, Anna?" She knew her voice sounded cold, but she was still dealing with the hurt of the girl's placement.

Anna's pout trembled on her lips, her brows furrowing as she no doubt caught my tone. "I want to talk to you. Why are you being so mean?"

I felt my lips curl up in a sneer. "Mean? You think I'm being mean? It is you who have betrayed our family name!"

The shocked look that twisted her features almost immediately crumbled into a deep frown. "I didn't mean to get sorted into Griffindor! It just happened!"

A fresh wave of anger welled up in my chest, and I was scared honestly of where it was coming from. "The sorting hat takes your choice into consideration! You must have wanted to shack up with those do-gooders. At least mom and dad aren't here to see you betray their legacy!"

As soon as the words had left my mouth, I wanted to snatch them back. I got front-row seats to watching my sister's face absolutely shatter as she immediate began bawling her eyes out. She muttered something unintelligible before she tapped the glass with her finger, the image disappearing.

"Anna!" I cried out desperately. "I didn't mean it! I'm sorry!" I couldn't help the desperation in my voice, even as I knew she had probably silenced the connection from her end. I hadn't meant a word of that, not really. There was no way I would say something so hurtful to my baby sister. I was just feeling so angry!

Sniffling, I tossed the mirror back into its protective case before placing it inside my bedside table. I burrowed myself under my blankets, curling up into a ball as I cried silently into my pillow. What had I done? Anna might never talk to me again after that. What would I do? I had to protect her, to keep her safe. But instead I just lashed out and hurt her for something that wasn't really her fault to begin with.

"Anna," I whispered harshly into my pillow, my tears running dry as I eventually gave in to sleep.