A/N: The long-awaited (well, to me) 9th chapter! I've had several people ask who the ten people were, and some guessed most of them. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm always thrilled to hear from my readers (I'm also thrilled that people read my stories!). Sorry for the wait, but I hope to make it up by putting up two chaps at once! Hope you like it! R & R!
Ten people entered the Great Hall.
Hagrid was first, having opened the doors. As he walked towards the Head Table, I froze. Behind him, in pairs, came a group I knew all too well. Drawing stares and hushed whispers, and growling quietly in response, were the Cullens – the last people I ever thought I'd see at Hogwarts.
Carlisle and Esme were first, walking so close their arms brushed against each other, and wearing smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes.
Emmett had his arm slung over Rosalie's shoulders as they followed behind. Gasps were heard across the room as students caught sight of Rose, and Emmett was the source of many glares.
Alice and Jasper came next, and my mouth opened in shock – what had happened? Alice was the opposite of the hyper, shop-a-holic pixie I once knew, and Jasper's eyes glowed with intense, untold pain, the pain of him and his family.
My eyes were drawn involuntarily to the next pair, and my heart thumped painfully. Leading a seemingly lifeless Edward was a gorgeous strawberry-blonde: Tanya Denali, who looked both annoyed and concerned.
Edward's eyes ripped apart the hole in my chest. They were dead, and showed the deep, crippling pain that was reflected in Jasper's. But worse than that, his eyes were dark, with hints of red. He had given up, his control had slipped, and that shredded my heart worse than the knowledge that he didn't love me. I knew how much he revered human life, how taking one must have killed him.
Filch trailed a ways behind, lugging a stool and the sorting hat, which he placed at the front of the room. Dumbledore raised his hand, and the hall fell silent.
"This is Dr. Cullen. He and his family are here at my invitation, so please, make them feel welcome." Carlisle and Esme sat beside Hagrid as Minerva rose.
"Brandon, Alice," she called, raising the sorting hat as Alice walked up the steps to the stool. The hall was silent as we waited.
Then, cheering erupted as the hat announced, "Ravenclaw!" Alice walked slowly over to the table and sat down, next to Luna.
"Denali, Tanya."
"Slytherin!" the hat shouted without a moment of thought. The far table cheered loudly as Tanya skipped over, sitting beside Draco.
"Hale, Rosalie." The entire male population of students straightened.
The sorting hat took its time before calling, "Hufflepuff!" The room was silent, in shock, before the Hufflepuff table recovered, hooting loudly. Rose ignored them all as she took a seat by Cho.
"Masen, Edward." I held my breath as he walked up the steps and sat. The hat spoke almost immediately.
"Gryffindor!" The cheering was deafening and I let out a shaky breath as he took the seat beside me, looking at no one and nothing. I barely noticed as the sorting continued. Emmett joined Rose in Hufflepuff, Jasper with Alice in Ravenclaw.
I was in shock. Partly because Edward was sitting next to me, making my heart beat out of my chest, but also at the odd results. The five Cullens, plus Denali, had been separated into all four houses.
Also, all had used their human names. Something had happened since Forks – they never used all five last names. What could have torn apart their family – a family I once felt part of? And where had Denali come from? The rational side of me knew I shouldn't care, but the other, darker side was ecstatic that Edward was in Gryffindor and Denali in Slytherin.
"Today, we will be learning about a very difficult, extremely dangerous form of transfiguration: Animagi," students straightened in their seats as Minerva spoke, this was what they'd been waiting for, "Miss Potter has agreed to join us this lesson, as she too has accomplished this form." Eyes flew to me in shock – Animagus Transfiguration was highly regulated by the Ministry, and I was their age!
"Every witch or wizard takes their own, unique form. There are dogs, birds, cats…" I said, waving my hand towards Minerva, who transformed, "…there are also more unusual, sinister forms, such as mine." My eyes closed as I reached inside of me, grasping the animal within and forcing it out. I felt my limbs morphing, bones stretching, and back exploding.
Gasps filled the room as I opened my eyes. I turned to Minerva, who had resumed her normal form.
"Who can see her?" she said, forcing the class's attention back to her. As both Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were present, several hands went up: Harry, of course, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna, who'd seen Mad-Eye's death at the Department of Mysteries last year, and all of the present Cullens: Edward, Alice, and Jasper.
Minerva nodded, "Who would like to tell the rest of the class what Miss Potter's Animagus form is?" Hermione's hand shot into the air.
"She's a… a thestral," she said quietly.
"Very good," Minerva said, "10 points to Gryffindor." I transformed back.
"Now, onto the magic behind such transfiguration."
A/N: Good? Bad? What do you think? Review!