Chapter 6

We had returned to the Leaky Cauldron five minutes late. Harry chewed us out for quite some time before Ginny stepped in and turned his attention away. It was odd seeing him so worked up about something so trivial. Even James had stepped in to comment about how I was an adult now and I ought to be treated as such. He argued that I was fully capable of watching over Rose and Al and that in any case the three of us could handle ourselves if worse came to worse. Besides, we were in Diagon Alley. Nothing bad could possibly have happened to us there.

He apologized shortly afterwards and blamed it on being stressed out from work.

It was September first and the Potter house was abuzz with activity. Everyone was dashing around to make final preparations for school. A car had been sent for to take us all to the train station. It was supposed to arrive at any moment and Al still couldn't find his socks.

I had finished packing the night before and my trunk was stashed neatly by the door. I had managed to stuff everything in there as tightly as I possibly could so that all of my things (minus my cauldron, which Al said he would take for me) fit. All morning I had been helping Molly make breakfast for everyone while assisting with packing everyone else's things.

"Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you darling," Molly exclaimed as we finally got to sit down and eat some for ourselves. I had to eat quickly as the cars had just arrived, but it was nice to get a chance to pretend like I didn't have to worry about school.

"You'd get along fine," I said smiling at her. "But it was lovely seeing you again."

She got up and hugged me, sniffling a little as she got a tad emotional. She walked us all to the door and waved as we pulled away. I watched the manor disappear with a heavy heart.

"You can always come back for Christmas, you know?" Ginny commented when she saw the look on my face.

I smiled a little at her. "Oh, I know." I rested my arm on the car door and set my head in my hand. "But I couldn't do that to my family. It wouldn't be fair."

None of this is fair, I had thought to myself guiltily.

On the train I spent most of my time making a list of things I had to do. I would have to talk to the Headmistress again about any work she needed done. Professor Sinistra usually had things for me to do as well along with Hagrid. There was also a matter of reconnecting with the students who often asked me for help with their Astrology and Ancient Runes homework. As a group they'd generally each pitch in a sickle at the end of the night and I'd make ten for one hour of studying. It wasn't a bad deal and I liked helping them. It also helped me get better at the trade.

"Oi! Elizabeth! We aren't even at school yet and you're already hard at work," Al said knocking into me.

"Well," I said giving him a look. "Some of us have things to do with their lives."

He leaned in close with pinched brows and said, "Yeah, like have fun every once in a while."

I sighed and pushed him away. "Yeah, yeah Al. I've already had my fun. I should have done this a few days ago now let me finish so I don't have to stay up late tonight."

He grumbled to himself for a little while but eventually joined back in with his siblings and their loud chatter about Hogsmeade and their plans for the year and which boy or girl they fancied. James had disappeared to go hang out with his friends and Rose had gotten to whispering to me about one of them while I finished up my list.

"He's the taller one. Maverick? He's the Keeper on the Quidditch team and he's got an incredible arse. You should definitely check it out sometime it's worth it," she murmured.

"Oh really?" I laughed as I marked down everyone that had been a part of my little study group last year. I'd have to find them either tonight or tomorrow and see if they were still going to participate. "And I'm assuming you've spoken to him?"

She blushed a little at my question. "Well, yeah. Just a few times during practices and stuff. And then for a little while when he came over during the summer. He's got an amazing jawline. Did I tell you that already?"

"Definitely not. I would have remembered."

"Oh Merlin," she sighed sitting back in her seat. "He's perfect."

I couldn't help but laugh a laugh a little. She gave me a sharp jab in the ribs before joining in herself. "You know," I said waving my quill at her. "He is James' friend still. I mean, I doubt James would have a problem with it in the first place, but that could start of a bit weird, so you ought to handle it carefully."

"You're right." She crossed her arms and tilted her head up, looking to the ceiling. "And I think you're right about James too. I'm not too worried about him. The only thing I'm worried about is the competition that's lined up in front of me. I mean I didn't really even start to like him until this summer and that's when I realized how much every other girl liked him."

"That's very true. Even Pepper Lang likes to talk about him sometimes."

She gave a little 'humph' and turned away. "I have to admit that's a little troubling. Not only is she extremely smart, stunningly gorgeous, and the star player of the Ravenclaw team...she's also older than I am! That's sort of an explosive combination in a woman."

"Yes well she may be stunningly gorgeous but you're naturally beautiful. Some blokes like gorgeous some like beautiful. It's all a matter of perspective. Maybe Maverick sees you a little differently than you think he does. You'll never know unless you try."

"You know, when words come out of your mouth they always give me a sense of confused satisfaction. I think that made me feel better but I'm not sure," she said shaking her head at me.

I shrugged a little. "Well, that's how it is I suppose. There are no certainties in life."

"See? There you go again."

.

.

We'd changed into our robes minutes before the train pulled into the station. I had noticed every year that more and more people had begun to stare at us. They were mostly first and second years who still admired how cool the older students were. Not to mention the fact that the Potter and Weasley family were practically famous on campus. It just seemed odd to be a part of it.

Rose and I snagged a carriage and I listened to her talk about Maverick some more. She seemed extremely optimistic about the whole situation but she was masking some fears that seemed rather apparent every time she asked me about Pepper. "I don't know. She seems much cooler than me doesn't she? I'm not nearly as good of a Chaser as she is. She even looks flawless when she plays the game. Have you seen her? Well, of course you have. You're in the same house. But I mean...come on. That's completely unfair."

For a while I played along and just nodded my head. But after the fifteenth mention of her I started to get a little agitated.

"Look Rose, you obviously are jealous of her. And you clearly want a very specific answer from me. But I can't give it to you. Even if I did know more about her I couldn't. You can't let her sway you in any of your advancements because, to put it plainly, she doesn't really matter a whole lot. All you need to worry about is you and Maverick. And if you just do that this whole thing is going to be much, much easier on you. Like I said, you never know what's going through his head. And if he doesn't share your feelings that doesn't mean that by default he's going to like her. And even if he did it won't matter to you in a year. Just take it one step at a time okay? And stop worrying about how perfect her hair looks after a Quidditch match."

She was silent for a minute before looking down at her feet and saying, "Yeah you're right. It's just hard I guess."

"Well of course it is!" I gave her an encouraging smile. "It will be extremely difficult. But don't let that stop you Rose. You never have before. Just remember that your value is based off of you alone and not someone else."

"You're so insightful," she said grudgingly.

"It's a curse really."

She snickered. "So how's your family doing this year?"

"Oh, um—" My stomach dropped. I didn't want to admit to her that my mother had been laid off of her second job. I didn't want anyone to know because I didn't want their pity. She would offer to give me money and I couldn't have her doing that. There was nothing that my mother and I couldn't fix together, and while she was busy searching for something to fill that income slot I would just have to work a little harder to help make up for the lost money. But Rose, nor any of her family, could ever find out about it. I slapped on a fake smile. "Everything is really good. Madison took over my position at the bookstore and I think she also started volunteering at the local girls' center as well."

Rose nodded, satisfied. "Perfect. You know I'd really like to see more of her. She seems just as knowledgeable as you."

"Probably more. She doesn't have to pretend," I joked. But it was true.

"I wouldn't be surprised."

Rose laughed.

Once we made it up to the school we headed into the Great Hall together and then parted ways with promises to meet up for breakfast in the morning. I headed towards the Ravenclaw table while she claimed her throne among the Gryffindors.

I sat with Peonie Urtha and her boyfriend Festus Crowley. They regularly came to my study sessions and were all around nice people. We often sat together during classes and had a generally good time together.

"So how was your summer Elizabeth?" Peonie asked when she saw me approaching.

"Probably not as exciting as yours," I said taking a seat opposite to her. "Did you ever get to go along with your dad to Japan?"

She immediately lit up and started gushing about her trip. Festus interjected a few times to correct some of her exaggerations which she ignored altogether. They were a fun, normal bunch to hang around and they offered me a welcome break from the showiness of the Potters. And I enjoyed listening to Peonie talk about her trips. She always had such a colorful way of describing things.

"You probably would have really loved it, Elizabeth. The Japanese wizards are so cool. They're really into divination and the stars and things like that. At least the ones that I met," she concluded.

Festus looked at me with raised brows. "Speaking of stars and divination, are you still planning on keeping up with that study group of yours? Because thanks to you I actually got an E in Astrology."

"Yeah," Peonie chimed in. "Those are really helpful. Please tell me you're still doing it!"

"Of course I am. I was actually just going to ask if you guys were still interested."

"Hell yes," Festus smiled.

I pulled out my list (Festus gave a snort and muttered 'You and your damned lists') and checked off their names. "Great. We'll probably still meet in the library then on Friday during breaks. If it changes I'll make sure to let you know by the end of the week."

"That sounds perfect."

Just then the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor Longbottom came strolling in with the first years in tow. Peonie stopped talking and watched him walk up, garnering a strict glare from Festus. She blushed a little and turned away. "What? He's rather fit for a teacher."

Festus rolled his eyes.

The first years lined up as Headmistress Wendelin stood up and made her way to the podium where she began to speak. She didn't say much of anything exciting except for the usual stay out of the forbidden forest, don't leave the castle after dark, and stay out of trouble spiel. There were a few vague references to Fred and Al's shenanigans which they both had a laugh over but other than that it was completely routine.

Then came the sorting hat.

The first years watched in awe as the Professor brought out the battered old hat and set it on the stool placed in front of them. As the song began I could have sworn the lights of the enchanted ceiling began to flicker.

Our school so grand

Our school so proud

We stand a very merry crowd

Who could ever break us?

We've seen war

We've seen death

But we never broke

No, who could ever break us?

But the rifts are there

And we aren't as fair

As those outside see in

Someone could surely break us.

With our petty grudges

And bickering factions

We aren't so strong

Watch out before they break us.

So for the sake of our school

And the sake of your lives

Cast aside your judgements

Because they will surely break us.

Stand strong

Stand fast

And stand together

So they can never break us.

Because when it comes time

And your life is on the line

Trust is all you have

So never let them break us.

And your silly quarrels

And nasty dispositions

Won't help when the time comes

Or they will always break us

So trust your friends

And don't make enemies

Because in the end

We won't let them break us.

And with that final ominous note, every light in the Great Hall went out.

There was a momentary panic and screams echoed through the room as the bright light of a spell flashed and the ceiling suddenly came back to life.

Everyone looked around to find the source of the disturbance. Several students took to laughing at the first years who had all huddled together in a big group.

Headmistress Wendelin cleared her throat. "Now some of you may find it funny to torture our new students, but I assure you that that sort of behavior won't be tolerated. You've had your fun, now let's get down to business. Let the sorting begin!"

A/N: This chapter was a little hard to write for me, but hopefully that doesn't show through. For the next chapter I'm going to be adding something a little different (and hopefully rather interesting) which I am very excited for!

If you enjoyed the story please leave a review telling me why!

- Chumett