Chapter 6: Entry Into the Great Hall
With Leila's hand clasped tightly around Harry's, the Potter twins ascended the stairs inside the enormous castle. Ron Weasley, their newfound friend, from the train stayed close behind them. He was practically tripping over the twins' heels as they tried to push their way through the crowd of students attending Hogwarts for the first time.
Leila's eyes were full of wonderment and amazement at the sight of the grand castle when she spotted a rather stern looking woman with spectacles waiting for them at the top of the stairs. For a moment, Leila thought she had caught the woman looking at her and Harry rather wistfully, but the woman must have noticed Leila watching her. The woman stiffened her stance and adjusted her gaze beyond the Potter twins at the other students filing-up the staircase. Leila, Harry, and Ron came to a stop a few stairs below the stern-looking woman. Like most of the first years, they were panting for breath.
As the others continued to climb the stairs, their footsteps pounding against the marble floors; Leila took a moment to take in her surroundings. The entrance room they were standing in could have easily fit all of number four Privet Drive and even had room to spare. Torches were hung on stone walls that seemed to go on forever. In the distance, Leila could see more staircases and she would swear that she saw one move. Staircases didn't move...did they?
Ron tugged at the sleeve of her robe and she looked at him in confusion. "What was that for?" Leila asked him. Ron looked up at the woman at the top of the stairs, not saying anything. But Leila knew what he was trying to tell her: pay attention.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor McGonagall," the stern-looking woman a few steps above addressed them. "Shortly, you'll pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you take your seats you must be sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you're here, our House will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup…"
A shout of "TREVOR!" resounded in the entryway, interrupting the professor. The dark-haired boy, whom Harry had shared a boat with lunged forward from behind that Hermione girl. Leila maneuvered herself so that she could see over Ron's shoulder. She saw a rather nasty-looking toad seated on the stairs, practically at Professor McGonagall's feet. The toad croaked and Professor McGonagall looked rather perturbed, who looked down at the boy reaching for his toad. Leila felt second-hand embarrassment for the boy as she bit her bottom lip.
Thankfully, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and continued to talk. "The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily." She then turned swiftly on the heel of her boot before she walked toward the two giant doors in front of them.
Leila tried to sneak a peek of what was inside as Professor McGonagall entered the room, but the door was only opened wide enough to allow the woman entrance. The only thing Leila could see from where she stood was more stone flooring when the door closed behind the professor. Leila turned toward Harry with a somewhat nervous expression on her face. He gave her a reassuring smile as she released a slow breath. She felt completely out of her element. The unknown terrified her, but she had to remind herself that whatever might happen had to be better than staying with the Dursleys.
"How exactly do they sort us?" Harry asked Ron.
"Some sort of test I think," Ron responded. "Fred said something about battling a mountain troll, but he might have been joking."
"A troll?" Leila whispered as her face blanched white and she swallowed hard.
But she didn't have long to focus on her fears because the pale boy from the train pushed himself between two rather large boys before approaching the Potter twins. "It's true then. What they're saying on the train," the boy spoke with an arrogant confidence. "Leila and Harry Potter have come to Hogwarts."
The boy smirked toward Leila as whispers of Harry and Leila's names erupted through the children. Harry placed himself between Leila and the boy, shielding her. Confused by her brother's gesture, Leila watched the pale boy over Harry's shoulder. The boy seemed to scoff at Harry for a moment before he took another step closer. "I just wanted to introduce myself to you, Potter," the boy said eyeing Harry. "Nothing to get your wand in a knot over."
There was an awkward moment of silence with all eyes carefully watching the Potter twins and the pale boy, whose name Leila couldn't remember. She could only remember it being a rather odd sort of name. Harry then straightened his stance and said, "Well, are you going to introduce yourself or not?"
The pale boy's face contorted at Harry's response as several children in the crowd snickered, but he wasn't to be distracted. Instead, the boy took a breath before pointing toward the two larger boys beside him. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
Leila heard Ron snigger behind her as she bit her bottom lip to keep herself from doing the same. She did have to admit that Draco Malfoy was a rather strange name, but then again, most of the names in the Wizarding world were foreign to her tongue.
Draco narrowed his eyes at Ron. Clearly he wasn't happy about something. The blonde boy took a step closer toward Ron before he raised his eyebrows. "Think my name's funny do you?" he hissed. "There's no need to ask yours. Red hair? Hand-me-down robes? You must be a Weasley." The boy spat Weasley as if it were some sort of insult. Leila looked back at Ron who was tightly clenching his fist, trying his hardest to ignore Draco's insult.
From his spot atop the stairs, Draco looked rather pleased with himself after insulting Ron. The boy then turned his attention back to Harry. "You'll soon find out that some Wizarding families are better than others, Potter," Draco said matter-of-factly. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
The boy stretched his hand out for Harry to shake. Leila watched as her brother looked as Ron over his shoulder before looking at Draco's hand. She knew her brother was probably about to do something stupid. He had that look on his face. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks," Harry said when he noticed Draco looking at Leila. "And that goes for my sister as well."
Initially, Draco's face paled at Harry's decline, but at the mention of Leila a smirk stretched on the boy's face. "That's where you're wrong Potter. Your sister and I are already good friends, you see. Aren't we, Leila?"
Harry looked to his sister incredulously as Leila opened her mouth to argue with Draco, but Professor McGonagall returned and halted the conversation. The woman had a rolled up scroll in her hands which she gently used to tap Draco Malfoy's shoulder to usher him aside. Draco looked up at Professor McGonagall who motioned for him to move before he slowly took a few steps to his right. Professor McGonagall ordered the first years to form an orderly line.
Leila looked to her brother, who still looked rather miffed. "Since when are you friends with him?" Harry hissed toward his sister.
"I only met him on the train and…" Leila started.
"He's a git, Leila!" Leila rolled her eyes at her brother. She already knew that. But what her brother responded with next, irked her. "I don't want to see you with him ever again."
"Don't tell me what to do, Harry." It wasn't that she felt a need to defend Draco, because in fact, she didn't like the boy very much either. But even more than that, she hated Harry telling her what to do. He knew-he knew how much she hated being told what to do...especially because of the Dursleys. And it bothered her that he thought he could boss her around...just like they did. She had thought he would understand that. But he didn't. Instead, he shook his head and turned his back on his sister.
"Fine, be that way," Leila hissed toward her brother, immediately regretting the words that had vomited from her mouth. But she didn't regret her words for long as Harry moved in front of Ron in line, using him as a barrier between the two of them. All Leila could do was roll her eyes at her brother's stubbornness. Granted, she could be just as stubborn, but he was the one who had jumped to conclusions without hearing the entire story. He was a git for thinking that she would ever be friends with a prat like Draco Malfoy.
Leila slowly exhaled nervously as Professor McGonagall led the first years into the room she referred to as "The Great Hall." As the doors swung open, Leila couldn't help but gasp when she finally managed a decent glimpse of the room. The room was huge, larger than any room Leila had ever been in before. Thousands of candles hovered in midair above the hundreds of students that sat at four long tables with glittering gold plates and goblets. The place seemed like a dream, to Leila. It was so...enchanting and the grandeur immediately soothed her frazzled nerves. Forgetting the little tiff she had with her brother moments earlier, Leila turned to speak to him when she noticed the boy walking beside her wasn't her brother.
"There's no need to be scared," Draco said when Leila finally glanced his direction.
"I'm not scared," Leila lied to the boy before facing the front again and trying to ignore the boy to her left. She tried to pick up her pace so that she was walking beside her brother, but Ron's gait was impossible to maneuver around.
"Then why did your face turn all white when you were talking to Weasley about battling a troll?"
Leila looked to the boy with a bewildered expression on her face. He looked quite pleases with himself. Had he been watching her and listening to her conversation? Why would he do that? He didn't even know her. Wisely, Leila chose to say nothing but the boy continued to speak anyway. "Weasleys are known for being utterly ridiculous. You shouldn't believe a word he says...especially about that."
"Then who should I believe? You?" Leila rolled her eyes for emphasis.
"Yes."
She had set herself up for that one. Leila turned to look at Draco again. "Why? Why should I believe you?"
"Because my father told me what to expect. He's been to Hogwarts and gone through the Sorting before. I can tell you, if you'd like."
Draco smiled at Leila and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. Why was he being so nice to her? It didn't make any sense. She certainly didn't like him, but he might know something more about what was going to happen with the Sorting. She liked to be prepared and nothing she had read thus far told her what to expect. She needed to be sure. Surely, Harry couldn't fault her for that. She sighed before pulling her hair behind her ear. "Well, go on then."
"Father said that they place the Sorting Hat on our heads and it places us into our Houses." Draco stood a little taller and seemed quite proud of himself as Leila bit down on her bottom lip.
"Does it hurt?" she questioned nervously.
Draco looked to Leila for a moment, a flicker of doubt rippling across his face. "Father never said."
Some help you are, Leila thought to herself. With a sigh, she scanned the students looking for any sign of comfort, but she found none. Instead, a voice that reminded her of nails on a chalkboard caught her ear. It was that Hermione Granger girl, droning on about what she had read in Hogwarts, a History. The girl was acting like she had been the only one to know anything about Hogwarts, which irked Leila. Leila groaned and covered her ears as she tried to quicken her pace and maneuver around Ron once more, but failed once again.
The Potter girl wanted absolutely nothing to do with that know-it-all Hermione Granger. There was no way that she was ever going to like the girl and no way she would ever want to be in the same House as her. No, that would never happen. Over her dead body would Leila wish to be placed in the same house as Hermione Granger. Professor McGonagall had said that their Houses were like their families and Leila knew that Hermione Granger would never become family to her. Never.
"Why are you doing that?" Draco questioned, looking at Leila curiously.
"Her," Leila groaned exasperatedly with a nod toward Hermione Granger. Draco stiffly nodded his head before narrowing his eyes toward the girl in question.
At that moment, Harry chose to glance back to find his sister talking and walking next to the one person he had told her to stay away from. He found Draco Malfoy smirking in his direction. When Leila noticed Harry looking back at her, she quickly tried to speed up to get away from Draco. Only, she wasn't watching where she was going and she crashed right into Ron. Ron squeaked in surprise as Leila clung tightly onto him for balance. Students already seated at the tables broke into laughter causing both Ron's and Leila's faces to turn bright red from embarrassment.
Not wanting to continue in the embarrassment, Ron pushed Leila off him causing her to collapse on the floor, but much to Harry's chagrin Draco was there to help her. Once again, Draco offered Leila his hand and she accepted it as he pulled her back to her feet amidst the snickers of the older students. Harry witnessed the entire exchange between Draco and Leila and needless to say, he wasn't pleased. He didn't want that git anywhere near his sister. So, Harry pushed against the crowd, snaked his hand around Leila's wrist, and pulled her with him so that they were in front of Ron and away from Draco.
Professor McGonagall began to gather the children at the front of the Great Hall, just below the platform that led to what looked like the staff table and more importantly, a single wooden stool with a rather sorry looking hat. Leila looked over her shoulder at Draco, who nodded in her direction. Maybe he wasn't as mental as she thought he was...at least, about this.
When Leila turned toward the front again, she caught Harry's annoyed expression focused on her. It was probably the most annoyed she had ever seen her brother...at least toward her. Normally, she would cower and try to appease the other person, but Leila knew her brother and specifically, she knew he would never do anything to hurt her. Which was why she continued as she did: folding her arms across her chest and whispering to him "Now who's the one being a git?"
But Harry didn't respond. Hopefully, it was because he knew that she was right. He was being a prat for no reason. It wasn't like she was going to ever like Draco Malfoy or anything. The thought was absolutely preposterous. But Harry was acting as if she had just accepted a proposal of marriage from the git rather than a bit of information which could have helped them both out. No, Leila's stubborn streak reared its ugly head as she decided not to share with her brother what she knew about the Sorting. Served him right for being a prat.
All of a sudden, an unnerving silence overcame the first years as their eyes focused on Professor McGonagall standing above them, beside the stool. Each one of them seemed to be breathing a little heavier, even those with some knowledge of what was to happen knew how important this moment was...it could be life-changing.
Suddenly, the Sorting Hat came to life and began to sing. It sang about the four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. It certainly seemed easy enough and not at all painful, but Leila was distracted by a someone behind her clearing their throat. She turned to see that Hermione Granger was standing behind her. Couldn't she get rid of that girl? And to make it worse, the girl started muttering to herself to stay calm. Leila balled her hands into fists at the girl's antics.
Professor McGonagall stiffened her stance before addressing the students in front of her. "Now, when I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into your Houses. Hannah Abbott."
Hannah Abbott wore her blonde hair pulled back into pigtails and sat nervously on the stool as Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. After only a few seconds the Hat roared: HUFFLEPUFF! One of the tables to the right cheered and clapped as their newly sorted Housemate made her way over to the Hufflepuff table. Leila watched as the people at the table eagerly congratulated the girl and how the girl practically beamed to have been sorted with them.
Then the Sorting continued. Leila couldn't keep track of all the students being Sorted, but she did know that Terry Boot was the first of their lot to be named a Ravenclaw. Mandy Brocklehurst was deemed a Gryffindor. Then one of the girls from Leila's boat, who was named Millicent Bulstrode, was placed in Slytherin. Leila could feel her stomach twisting and turning because of her nerves. What if she was separated from Harry? She had a feeling deep down, that she was going to be separated from him. She didn't know how or where or anything but she just knew. Leila was so distracted that she didn't hear any other names until Hermione Granger's name was called.
Hermione Granger made her way to the front, gently pushing Leila to the side in the process. Leila narrowed her eyes at the girl as the know-it-all sat down on the stool. Professor McGonagall was about to place the Sorting Hat on the girl's head when Hermione jammed the Hat down on her own head. Leila could hardly believe the girl. So, she narrowed her eyes and watched Hermione Granger intently. Wherever the Sorting Hat placed the Granger girl, Leila was bound and determined to not be in the same House. After several minutes, which seemed like an eternity, the Sorting Hat declared Hermione Granger a Gryffindor. Leila made a mental note to try and avoid Gryffindor at all costs. She only hoped that she had some say in the matter.
After the Granger girl, another girl from the boat was called up to be sorted: Daphne Greengrass. It was only a few seconds before the Sorting Hat cried that the pretty blonde girl was a Slytherin. The blonde girl looked in Leila's direction for a moment and smiled before she ran toward the Slytherin table which seemed happy to have the blonde girl join their ranks.
Leila slowly exhaled before absently reaching for her brother's arm. He didn't say anything to her, but he could tell just by looking at her that she was nervous. He let her hold onto him because he knew that it was what she needed. Harry knew that sometimes they fought over silly things, but in the end they were all the other had in this world...and that always came first. But Harry didn't give up the opportunity to glare at Draco Malfoy who had been watching Leila.
Leila's head was spinning. It seemed as if her brain was going a million miles a minute. What if the Sorting Hat decided that she didn't actually belong at Hogwarts? What if they only wanted Harry? What if they sent her back to the Dursleys? What if they let Harry stay and sent her packing? She didn't want to be separated from her brother...even if she was a little miffed at him.
More and more students were placed into the four Houses, but it wasn't until Draco Malfoy was placed in Slytherin that her thoughts came back to reality. The Hat hadn't even touched the boy's head before it sorted him. The boy seemed pleased with himself as he practically ran over to his table.
"Slytherins," Harry scoffed toward Ron. "They seem like a rather unpleasant lot."
"There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin," Ron responded with his eyes narrowed toward the Slytherin table.
"Surely there had to be some from other Houses," Leila questioned.
"One would think, but just look at him."
It was obvious Ron was referring to Draco who was practically beaming as he sat down at the Slytherin table. Leila bit her lip before responding,"He looks more annoying than evil."
"But he's a Malfoy." The way Ron spat Malfoy was just as disdainful as the way Draco had spewed Weasley. Clearly, there was something Leila didn't know, but she didn't have a chance to ask because her name was called next.
"Leila Potter," Professor McGonagall called.
Leila's eyes widened before she did a double-take at Professor McGonagall. They were going in alphabetical order. Harry should be next. "But Harry…" Leila tried to argue, but her voice seemed to fail her as the older woman repeated her name.
Leila turned toward Harry, nervousness clearly written all over her face. "Go on," Harry told her. "I'll be right behind you."
Professor McGonagall motioned with her hand for Leila to come forward. Leila took a deep breath before Harry gave her a small push in the right direction. She stepped onto the platform and slowly walked toward the stool. Her palms were sweating and her breathing began to quicken, clearly, she was nervous. It wasn't until she was almost to the stool that she noticed something was missing: the chatter of the students. The Great Hall had gone completely silent after her name had been called and all eyes were on her. Leila didn't like that feeling.
Professor McGonagall reached for Leila's arm and gently pulled her onto the stool. Leila quickly shut her eyes, not wanting to see everyone watching her. But she could still tell that they were and it made Leila rather uncomfortable. Hardly anyone had ever taken an interest in her before.
The Sorting Hat was then placed on her head. "Well, well, what do we have here…" the Sorting Hat pondered. "Interesting….very interesting."
Leila winced, waiting for the Hat to call out her placement. But instead, the Hat just made thinking noises for over a minute. "Did I break it?" Leila whispered, looking to Professor McGonagall. The woman curtly shook her head as the Hat continued to think.
"Hmm…" the Sorting Hat mused. "Hmmm…"
Leila slowly blinked a few times before she tightly closed her eyes again as whispers began to ripple through the Great Hall.
"Intelligent, very intelligent, I see…"
"I did well at my old school. Ms Mulready said I was best in my class," Leila told the Sorting Hat.
The Sorting Hat mused some more before responding. "And loyal, especially to those you trust and let it."
Leila opened her eyes and looked at her brother, who was listening to Ron whisper to him. The Sorting Hat resorted to thinking noises again. Leila sighed, it seemed like this was taking forever. Even Professor McGonagall was looking at the watch on her wrist. Leila shut her eyes once more and tried to focus...hoping that might hurry the Hat along.
"Determined, I see and hmmm...some nerve too. Resourceful...and a thirst to prove yourself. The very qualities of greatness. Now where to put you? You could do well in any House, but Gryffindor…"
"No, that Hermione Granger girl is there," Leila whispered.
"Not Gryffindor, you say? Yes, yes-I can see where you might do well elsewhere." Leila breathed a sigh of relief before the Sorting Hat continued, "Although, Gryffindor seemed to suit your parents just fine…"
"What?" Leila gasped aloud as her eyes flashed open at the mention of her parents.
"But perhaps you're the one this House has been waiting for…" and before Leila could say anything more, the Sorting Hat thundered, "SLYTHERIN!"
For a moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion, almost as if it were a dream. She watched as Professor McGonagall, trying to hide her shock, looked at her wristwatch and declared a Hatstall-whatever that meant. Leila then looked to Harry who looked confused. Ron's mouth was agape and there was a hint of betrayal in his eyes. The only two people she actually somewhat liked so far and she this happened. Leila truly felt like she had just betrayed them.
Breathing heavily, in her own confusion, Leila's eyes found the Slytherin table. All of the students were on their feet. Most of them were jumping up and down wildly. They were clapping and dancing as they shouted "WE GOT POTTER!" As Leila scanned the Slytherin table, she spotted Draco Malfoy smiling at her before he continued to cheer with their Housemates. They didn't seem so bad, but that didn't stop that sinking feeling in her stomach.
Leila still sat there, frozen to the stool as Professor McGonagall explained to the students about a Hatstall-how rarely they happened...maybe once about every fifty years, how that student must possess qualities of multiple Houses in order to make the Sorting Hat take longer than five minutes to sort. But Leila didn't hear any of that.
No, the only thing echoing through Leila's head were the words Ron Weasley had spoken minutes ago. There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin.. she wasn't evil, was she? She couldn't possibly be evil, could she? Then logically it made sense that she shouldn't be a Slytherin. Harry already didn't like them and now she was part of that unpleasant lot he had mentioned earlier. She looked at Harry once more, but he quickly looked away from her.
For whatever reason Harry had rationalized in his head, he was upset; but Leila didn't know if he was upset at the situation or if he was upset with her. But Leila always, always assumed the worst-she always assumed that she was the problem. She hated the times when Harry's emotions weren't transparent to her and this was one of those moments. She wanted nothing more than to cry, but she knew she couldn't without making a scene.
Leila closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe the Sorting Hat made a mistake. Maybe is she just sat there a little longer she could get a do-over. But apparently there weren't do-overs because Professor McGonagall walked over and plucked the Sorting Hat from Leila's head. She gently grabbed her arm and helped her off the stool. Leila looked up at Professor McGonagall unsure of what to do next and for a moment as the woman looked at Leila sentimentally...as if she were remembering something. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, stiffened her stance, before pointing Leila in the direction of the Slytherin table.
Slowly, Leila trudged toward the Slytherin table until Professor McGonagall called Harry's name. The Potter girl stopped just short of the long Slytherin table and turned to watch her brother, despite her new Housemates' insistence that she join their table. Leila watched as the Sorting Hat was placed on her brother's head. Harry looked shocked for a moment but soon took up an argument with the Hat. Leila couldn't help but feel that he was arguing with the Hat about her. Or maybe he was telling the Hat how he couldn't stand his own sister...now that she was placed in Slytherin. Oftentimes, Leila couldn't help but think people were talking about her...and talking terrible things about her. It was one of the side effect of having grown up in the Dursley household.
Harry suddenly made eye contact with his sister. He looked quite torn as his gaze was suddenly directed toward the Gryffindor table. Leila's heart suddenly sank. She knew that her prediction...her fear was about to unfold before her very eyes. The Sorting Hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" confirming Leila's fears. Leila waited for Harry to make eye contact with her again...but he didn't. No, instead he seemed to forget all about his sister as he was ushered to the Gryffindor table. The Gryffindors were now on their feet shouting the same cheer the Slytherins had been shouting only moments before.
But the Slytherins weren't to be outdone. They were now on their feet trying to chant louder than the Gryffindors. Leila felt lost in it all as she stood there waiting for Harry to notice her. But Harry was too consumed by his new surroundings. Leila watched as he stood by the Weasley twins who were shouting at the top of their lungs to try and help the Gryffindors efforts to drown out the Slytherins.
It was absolute madness in the Great Hall...and rightly so. The Potter Twins' Sorting was one that would someday be written in the history books...not only for Leila's Hatstall, but because the most famous set of twins had been sorted into rival Houses. Houses that would be changed and defined by their newest Potter residents.
The mass chaos continued until the man, Leila recognized from Harry's Chocolate Frog Card as Professor Dumbledore stood to his feet and called, "SILENCE!" The noise in the Great Hall greatly diminished, but whispers still engrossed many of the students.
Leila hung her head and sighed before she walked to find an empty spot at the Slytherin table. They were all eagerly watching her, trying to make room for her; but Leila still wasn't quite sure where to go. It wasn't until a hand clasped on her arm that she noticed Draco Malfoy pushing the boy beside him away. "Potter have a seat," Draco said, yanking on her arm. "Nott, move over."
She tried to walk away from Malfoy, knowing that when Harry finally looked over, he wasn't going to be pleased. But both Malfoy and his friend, called Nott pushed her onto the spot they had made for her on the bench. Leila sat there timidly, staring at her new Housemates. They weren't even paying attention to the Sorting anymore. No, they were focused on her. Leila tried to ignore their attention by looking to her brother at the Gryffindor table. Harry already seemed to be enjoying himself. He was sitting beside Ron's twin brother Fred...or was it George. Either way, he was too engrossed in conversation and the Gryffindor's attention to even notice that she was sitting beside Malfoy.
With a sigh, Leila folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. She knew she shouldn't be so sad or mopey, but she had just been separated from the only real family she had...and it didn't even look like Harry cared. He had promised her that they wouldn't be separated...and yet, he wasn't in Slytherin with her. He was over there in Gryffindor.
Someone tapped her shoulder. Leila flung her head up and looked to her left, where the boy called Nott sat. This boy was rather thin with sandy blonde hair and dark blue eyes. "What?" Leila asked sullenly.
"Just because your brother is being a prat doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself," the boy responded.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm not blind. I have eyes you know...and ears. Saw the little spat you two had."
"But he's my brother. He…"
Leila was stopped short when the boy interrupted her. "Yeah, he is but we're your Housemates for the next seven years whether he likes it or not. Be miserable or enjoy yourself. The choice is yours."
The boy turned away from her to talk to the girl seated across from him. Leila swallowed hard. The boy did seem to have a fair point. No matter how she acted, nothing was going to change the fact that she was now separated from her brother. Plus, she really didn't want these people to hate her. That was something she was always worried about...people hating her. She didn't know why, but the thought was always there in the back of her head. No, the boy was right. She hated making the first move...but in this situation, she didn't see any other choice.
Timidly, Leila tapped on the boy's arm. He turned toward her and Leila gave him a faint smile. "I-I'm sorry about that. Can we...can we start over?" Leila asked. The boy shrugged nonchalantly until she extended her hand, hoping that it might change things. "I'm Leila, Leila Potter."
The boy returned a smile before accepting Leila's hand. "I'm Theodore Nott, but you can call me Theo."
"Nice to meet you, Theo."
"Welcome to Slytherin, Leila. My whole family has been in Slytherin for ages. We…"
Theo was interrupted by Draco, "Enough of him," Draco said before he grabbed Leila's arm and pulled her so that she was facing him. "There's plenty more of us to meet. You already know me." Leila was tempted to roll her eyes, but instead she just pulled her arm from his grasp as Draco pointed across the table. "And you've met Crabbe and Goyle. That's Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Flora and Hestia Carrow, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis, Duncan Pike, Callum Pritchard…" It seemed like information overload for a moment as Leila tried to match each name with each face.
"Look at her face, Drakie," the girl across the table chuckled. "Don't overwhelm her."
"What have I told you about calling me that, Pansy," Draco hissed.
"What? They've all heard it before."
"Not all of them." He glanced toward Leila, who was still sitting there, trying to process an alarming amount of information.
"Well, now they all have. So it doesn't really matter if I call you that or not." Pansy smirked toward Draco. Leila watched the boy mutter something under his breath. Clearly, he didn't like being one-upped...and only later would Leila find out that he really didn't like being upstaged in front of her.
"Blaise should be up soon," the girl named Daphne said lightly, trying to diffuse the tension and change the subject.
"They're only to that Weasley boy," Draco scoffed.
Leila turned to watch as Ron walked toward the stool. Only a few other students remained standing, waiting to be sorted. Ron looked much paler than he had earlier as he slouched on the stool. Professor McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on the ginger boy's head. "Another Weasley!" the Hat shouted almost immediately having been placed on Ron's head.
"Such a shame that there's another one here," Draco told them. "Something should have been done to have stopped them from breeding."
The Slytherins around him laughed, except for Leila who was too preoccupied with watching Ron, who continued to squirm beneath the Sorting Hat. When the Hat finally shouted, GRYFFINDOR! Ron seemed to relax and breathe a sigh of relief. Leila then turned to watch Harry, who was vigorously clapping his hands along with Ron's brothers. Why couldn't he have been that happy for her? Briefly, the thought flickered through her mind that Harry had purposely left her, but he wouldn't do that, would he?
Leila's eyes moved back to the front as Professor McGonagall called Aubrey Williamson's name. Leila recognized the girl from the wand shop. She had seemed nice and for a moment, Leila hoped that maybe the girl would be in Slytherin with her. But Aubrey was declared a Ravenclaw and Leila lost sight of the girl in the sea of people in the Great Hall.
"Blaise is up." Blaise was the final new student to be sorted. He was tall and had a dark complexion. A few seconds after the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, it named Blaise Zabini a Slytherin. The boy joined the group of first years that were congregated together at the Slytherin table. He sat down next to Daphne and across from Theo. He looked right at Leila before looking beside her to Malfoy. Blaise grinned before giving Leila a wink, which confused her and made him chuckle.
A lull fell over the Great Hall as Professor Dumbledore stood to his feet once more. All eyes were drawn to their headmaster. The man had a long beard that was salt and pepper coloured...but a little more salt than pepper. He wore ornate looking robes, a pointed hat, and half-moon spectacles. Some of the Slytherins seemed to sneer a bit, but they still sat there and listened as he opened his arms to greet all his students: old and new.
"Welcome!" he greeted in a loud, but pleasant tone. "Welcome to Hogwarts! Before we being our start-of-term feast, I'd just like to say a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" There wa a moment's pause and Leila looked to her fellow Slytherins, who thankfully looked just as confused as she did. Dumbledore then continued, "Thank you! Now, let the feast begin!"
The Headmaster clapped his hands and suddenly the table was weighed down with food. More food than Leila had ever seen before. She almost seemed in shock as those around her practically dove right into the food. Leila could hardly believe it. The Dursleys had never offered much food to the Potter twins and especially not this much variety. Why, here there was: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and a bowl of peppermint humbugs.
With a dazed look on her face, Leila turned to her right as Draco was helping himself to a rather large portion of roast beef. He caught her glance and stopped mid-stab, looking at her oddly. "Well, don't just sit there," he said. "Go on, eat something."
"Don't tell me what to do," Leila muttered. She could already tell that Draco was going to annoy her, so she surprised herself with the words that left her mouth next. "Besides, maybe I'm waiting for you to get your grubby paws out of the way."
Draco looked at her momentarily unsure of whether he should be insulted or impressed by her retort. He chuckled to himself before returning his attention back to the roast. He handed Leila the serving fork. She straightened her shoulders before she plucked the fork from his hand and stabbed at a smaller piece of roast beef before plopping it on her plate.
Leila ignored Draco, who still seemed to be watching her with a smirk on his face. Truth be told, Leila could hardly believe how bold she was acting just to ruffle the boy's feathers. Her cheekier side was usually reserved for Harry, sometimes Dudley...and maybe that Hermione Granger girl. She didn't know why, but she was able to act that way with Draco and he didn't retaliate back toward her. Although, deep down, she did feel a bit of contempt over her cheeky actions...especially since she had only known the boy a few hours. It wasn't really fair of her. She blushed a bit when she noticed that Draco's gaze was still focused on her, so she released the hair from behind her ear to try and shield herself from him.
Looking to the left, Leila noticed Blaise Zabini looking her way with a grin on his face. Had he just witnessed what had happened? Please say that he hadn't. Leila tried to force a smile on her face for him and he nodded his head in her direction. "So you're Leila Potter," Zabini said. "About bloody time we finally meet you."
"You've heard of me?" Leila asked slightly puzzled.
"Of course, we've heard of you. How could we not have heard of you with Mal…" Zabini suddenly stopped speaking, with his mouth still hanging slightly open. Something had stopped him and Leila wasn't sure what. She looked around the table in confusion as Blaise shifted in his seat before finishing, "Yeah, we've heard of you."
"That's just lovely," Leila groaned. "More people who seem to know more about me than I do." Leila rested her elbow on the table and placed her head in her hand.
"I'm sure Malfoy will be able to help you would with that problem," Theo chuckled to Leila's left before looking over to Draco.
"Why?" Leila asked looking around the table at the faces of her Housemates. Each of them seemed to be wearing a tightlipped expression.
"Because Malfoys are very prominent in the Wizarding world and we make it our business to know what's going on," Draco explained rather hurriedly as he looked to their small group with narrowed eyes. "Isn't that right?"
Most everyone in the group nodded their heads or muttered in agreement. Although, Leila didn't miss some of the eye rolls or Theo's scoff. She was definitely missing something. With a sigh, Leial looked at her new Housemates and felt overwhelmed. She seemed to be the only one that didn't already seem to know someone and she had a feeling that it wasn't because of her somewhat more reserved nature. Then it clicked. All the little things that had already been said…"Hang on, you all already know each other?" Leila asked.
"Of course, we do," Pansy Parkinson responded. "Most of us have known each other since we were in nappies."
"Some of us know some better than others, though," Theo added. "Kind of depends on family loyalties and whatnot."
"But that tends to happen in Pureblood families," Draco said. "Wouldn't want to mix with the other kind, now would we?"
Other kind? Leila thought. But before she could ask what he meant by that Pansy seemed to steer the conversation in another direction...to her.
"Leila, how does it feel having your brother as a bloody Gryffindor?" Pansy questioned.
"I-I don't know," Leila stammered. "I haven't really had time to think about it." She didn't want to let on that being separated from her brother was becoming a living nightmare. "I-I guess, I don't know as much about Hogwarts as all of you."
"I would be absolutely mortified...having a sibling in that House. Don't even get me started."
"Siblings aren't always put together," Theo said after taking a bite of potatoes. "The Potter twins are just proof of that."
"Not to mention that the Patils were also separated tonight. Padma went to Ravenclaw and Pavarti to Gryffindor," Daphne added. "To be fair, it wasn't nearly as exciting to watch as the Potter twins, though."
"Fine, but to be a Slytherin and then have a sibling in Gryffindor," Pansy stopped for a moment and shuddered. "I never thought it actually happened."
"It's happened before," Draco said knowingly after swallowing a piece of roast. "Happened to my Mum's cousins. Now, of course, the Gryffindor was disowned from the family. Don't know what happened to him, though, not like it really matters...he was a Gryffindor after all."
Leila still wasn't exactly sure what to think if her Housemates at that point. They didn't seem evil as Ron had said they were, but she just couldn't be sure. Thankfully the conversation turned away from her and toward their upcoming classes as the desserts appeared on the table. There were so many tasty sweets that Leila hardly knew where to start. So, she simply grabbed a pumpkin pasty and chocolate eclair to start as she listened her her Housemates discuss classes.
The group almost unanimously agreed that Potions was going to be their favourite, mostly because Professor Snape was known to favour Slytherins. The only one, beside Leila because she kept silent, didn't agree was Flora Carrow, who was quite looking forward to Astronomy. Although, this was because they were allowed to stay up late on Astronomy nights. Her rationale made most of the Slytherins giggle and then the conversation turned once again.
The discussed which classes they were least looking forward to. Defence Against the Dark Arts was rate high on that list because the class seemed like it was a joke. Transfiguration also rated high because Professor McGonagall was very strict. Not to mention that she supported Gryffindor in Quidditch. Apparently, she was Gryffindor's Head of House.
"Who is Slytherin's Head of House?" Leila asked timidly.
"Professor Snape, silly," Pansy snickered at Leila's question. "Merlin, you really don't know much, do you?" Leila ignored the dig directed toward her mostly because it was true, she didn't know much about the Wizarding world.
"Play nice, Parkinson," Zabini chuckled.
"Yeah. Leila's one of us now," Daphne added.
"I didn't mean anything bad by it, Leila. You know that," Pansy spoke. "I mean, you just don't normally run into a Slytherin of your kind. That's all."
"My kind?" Leila asked in confusion.
"See what I mean?"
"Pansy will be shutting her mouth now," Draco said with a coldness to his voice. This caused a slight look of shock on Pansy's face, but that was probably the point. "Slytherins look after their own," he continued. "You know that."
"Malfoy's right. We start taking sides now and it's going to be a long seven years," Theo concurred.
"Not to mention that if we want any chance at keeping the House Cup for the seventh year straight…" Daphne started.
"Then it's settled.," Draco said with finality.
Without saying anything, Leila looked to Pansy who was watching Draco. Clearly, the girl wasn't as settled on the matter as he had told her to be. Leila had to admit it was unsettling for Draco Malfoy to keep coming to her defence like that. He was still an annoying prat but then he had to go and do something like that for her. Either way, she would still be staying away from him as much as possible. She didn't want to cause a rift with her brother because of some git.
Leila looked over to the Gryffindor table to check on Harry. He and his new friends were talking to one of the Hogwarts' ghosts. The ghost they were talking to suddenly pulled his head off, causing Leila to get a bit squeamish as she shuddered and turned away. Theo chuckled beside her, having witnessed the scene himself.
"Nearly Headless Nick is always showing off like that," Theo said to her. "Don't worry, he's all Gryffindor's. Slytherin has the Bloody Baron."
"Why is he called the Bloody Baron?"
"Not really sure," Theo said with a shrug. "But be thankful he doesn't pull his head off."
"I think I am already." Leila smiled at Theo and he smiled back at her. It was probably the first moment that evening, since being sorted, that Leila actually felt like she was enjoying herself, a little.
Leila snatched another pumpkin pasty just in time because the plates and bowls of dessert suddenly disappeared. But she still had the one in her hand, so Leila brought it to her mouth and nibbled on it as all eyes turned toward Professor Dumbledore once more. "Now that we're all fed and watered, I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please take note, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. And a few of our older students could do well to remember that as well."
Leila didn't miss Dumbledore looking over his spectacles right at the Weasley twins. Fred and George both pretended to be upset by the accusation but within seconds they were laughing.
Dumbledore continued, "Also, our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors." There were several groans from the students after that. "Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their House team should contact Madam Hooch." Dumbledore waited a moment for Madam Hooch to stand and wave before he spoke again. "And finally, I must tell you that the third floor corridor on the right hand is out-of-bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."
The first year Slytherins looked to each other in surprise at the last bit. Leila was apprehensive about dying a most painful death. What could possibly be in a school that could kill a student? But her imagination came up with nothing. So, she made a mental note to stay away from the third floor at all costs.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" The expression on Dumbledore's face had completely changed from the somber moment before. He was smiling.
The teachers seemed to be forcing smiles behind him as Dumbledore flicked his wand and a long ribbon banner shot out from his wand. On the banner were words, which Leila assumed were the words to the school song. She looked at the first phrase curiously. It was odd, but still rather intriguing. Leila always enjoyed singing. It often calmed her, especially after an incident with the Dursleys. But she didn't know this song. So she had decided to listen that was, until Professor Dumbledore told them to each pick their own tune. He raised his wand like a director with a baton, "And off we go!"
Leila softly started to sing the words to the first tune that popped into her head. They didn't all quite work, but she was singing quietly so that no one could hear her.
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
Everyone finished the song at different times and Leila was fairly certain that the boys beside her didn't sing at all. Draco and Theo talked the entire time, not much impressed by the song. And they were even less impressed by the Weasley twins singing the song at a very slow death march, finishing far after the rest of the school. Leila couldn't help but giggle as Professor Dumbledore directed their last few lines and she could have sworn she saw Daphne Greengrass smile too.
When everyone was finished, the school burst into applause. "Ah, music," Dumbledore sighed. "A magic beyond all we do here. Now off to bed. Pip! Pip!" He clapped his hands and then mass chaos seemed to descend upon the Great Hall.
Slytherin prefect, Gemma Farley approached the first years. It was her job to make sure that the first years found the Slytherin common room and dormitories and knew the password. Gemma began shouting directions for them to follow her, but Leila took that opportunity to look at the Gryffindor table to see her brother one last time that night. While she would never admit it to those surrounding her, she was nervous to spend her first night without her brother. Who would she talk to when she had a nightmare? Who was going to reassure her that everything was going to be fine? Who was going to care for her when she was ill? Who would kill those nasty spiders for her? Harry had always been there for her...always...and now he wasn't going to be there. The very thought made her feel sick to her stomach.
A hand snaked around her arm and began to tug her. "C'mon, Leila," Draco said, pulling her toward him.
"Let go," Leila groaned as she attempted to remove his hand from her arm.
"We have to follow our prefect. We don't want to be losing House point the first night because we got lost."
"I just...I just…" Leila looked toward the Gryffindor table, hoping that he would understand.
Draco scowled. "Don't be stubborn. I'm just trying to help you."
"Maybe I don't want your help."
"You didn't seem to mind all the times I helped you earlier."
Leila bit her lip. She just wanted him to leave her alone. Thankfully, someone came to her rescue. "Let her be, Draco," said Daphne Greengrass, who stood there with her arms folded across her chest.
"What's it to you, Greengrass?" Draco questioned.
Daphne raised an eyebrow before she put her hands on her hips and gave him a pointed look. The boy with slicked-back hair muttered something under his breath before he turned to catch up with his friends Crabbe and Goyle.
"Thank you," Leila muttered to Daphne, who simply nodded her head. The Potter girl hoped that eventually he would take the hint to leave her alone...that she really wanted nothing to do with him...for the most part. Leila scanned the Gryffindor table for her brother, but he wasn't there. Her heart sank. Had he been so excited again that he had forgotten about her again? If this was how it was going to be, Leila wasn't so sure she was going to like Hogwarts.
Slowly, Leila trudged toward the doors of the Great Hall when she spotted Harry leaning against the wall, near the door, waiting for her with Ron. Harry waved her over. Leila was torn between following her Housemates or going to her brother, but she knew that for her own sanity, she needed to see her brother. Leila stopped directly in front of Harry and sighed as Ron walked toward the door.
"I'll go distract Percy for a bit, mate," Ron said before he disappeared into the corridor.
Leila nervously looked toward her brother, with eyes on the brink of tears, as she pulled a strand of hair behind her ear. "I-I thought you'd forgotten about me," she admitted to her brother. "Again."
"Listen, about before, I'm sorry," Harry apologised. "I could never forget you, Leils. I really am sorry."
"Sorry's getting old with you, Harry." Leila wiped at her nose with the back of her sleeve.
"I'm sor-," Harry stopped short. "Just promise me that you won't go anywhere near that Malfoy git."
"He's in my House. I can't entirely avoid him."
"Can you at least try?"
"Of course, I'm going to try. He's bloody annoying." Harry slightly smirked at his sister before she continued. "But you need to stay away from that Hermione Granger girl."
"Leila…"
"It's only fair, Harry."
Harry exhaled and then nodded his head. For a moment, the Potter twins stood there staring at each other. Neither was really quite sure what happened next. After everything they had been through together...they were about to start their lives apart from each other. Ron ran back into the Great Hall and motioned wildly with his hand for Harry to follow.
"I guess this is it," Harry said. Leila slowly nodded her head, feeling the tears beginning to well up. "I'll see you first thing in the morning, Leils. I promise."
"You shouldn't make promises you don't intend on keeping," Leila whispered.
Harry was about to ask his sister what she had said when Ron said, "Mate, we need to go. Percy keeps tapping his wrist."
Harry nodded his head. "So, I'm going to go then."
"Bye," Leila mumbled.
She fully expected Harry to walk away from her without looking back. So it came as somewhat of a surprise when Harry enveloped her in a tight hug. She wanted to be angry with him or disappointed, but right now, she really needed her brother. Leila clung tightly to him for a moment. She knew that it was rather embarrassing and that none of the other siblings were doing this, but she and Harry were different. It seemed like they were on the brink of change and for one more moment, she just wanted to be Leila and Harry; while the rest of the madness ensued.
"Alright, now I really have to go, Leils." Leila nodded her head and then slowly released her brother. "Love you, little sis." Harry ruffled her hair and then turned to walk away.
Leila wiped at the tears that threatened to fall before she waved to her brother. He looked over his shoulder and waved back before he and Ron disappeared into the corridor. Leila looked out the door to see if Gemma Farley and the rest of the Slytherins were anywhere in sight, but she didn't spot a single one of them. Uh-oh, what if Draco was right? What if she did get them into trouble because she was lost and hadn't a clue where she was supposed to be going.
On the brink of a panic attack, someone tapped Leila's shoulder. Leila turned to find the Daphne, the girl who had saved her from Draco earlier, now standing behind her. "Gemma already left with the others," the blonde girl said. "So, I talked to my cousin Ursula. She's a fifth year. She said that she'd take us down to the Slytherin dungeon."
"Why are we going to the dungeon?" Leila asked somewhat worriedly.
"Because that's where we live," Daphne chuckled.
"Oh, right. Erm-that makes sense."
"It's really not that bad. I promise."
"I guess I'll just have to trust you."
"I guess you will."
"You're Daphne, right?" Daphne nodded her head and then Leila continued. "I'm-"
"You're Leila Potter, I know. Everyone knows about you and your brother. You two are famous. Although, most people talk a bit more about your brother. Except for Malfoy, that is."
"So, I've heard," Leila groaned which made Daphne smile. "By the way, thanks for saving me from him earlier. I owe you."
"Draco's really not so bad once you get to know him."
"I don't want to get to know him."
"No, but he wants to get to know you." Daphne smiled at her.
Leila furrowed her brow. "He's been nothing but a prat."
"To everyone but you. In fact, I have to say he's been quite sweet on you."
Unsure of what to say, Leila was glad they were interrupted. "Alright ickle firsties, let's go," a tall blonde girl said as she walked up to them dressed in her Slytherin tie and robe.
"That's my cousin," Daphne said.
"Already looks better than my cousin," Leila muttered to herself.
"Ursula, this is Leila Potter," Daphne said introducing her cousin to the Potter girl.
Ursula nodded her head before saying, "I'm Ursula Flint. Now, both of you, follow me."
Daphne and Leila followed closely behind Ursula. Ursula's friend, Meredith walked with them as they went through numerous corridors and down many flights of stairs. Leila only hoped that she would remember how to get to and from the Slytherin dungeon. When they reached what was considered the dungeon, Ursula began to pick up her pace. Apparently, she wanted to get to the common room rather quickly. Suddenly, the two older Slytherin girls came to a stop at a stone wall in the middle of a corridor. Leila looked to Daphne in confusion who simply shrugged her shoulders.
Ursula turned toward them, "Take a good look where you're at. This is the entrance to the Slytherin dungeon. Saying the password to this wall will produce a passageway to get in. You must never reveal to anyone where our entrance is or the password. Understood?"
Both Daphne and Leila nodded their heads.
"Passwords change every fortnight and Professor Snape will post the new one on the notice board inside. So make sure you keep an eye on it. It is your responsibility to know the password and Snape doesn't take kindly to those who can't be responsible," Ursula continued. "And I don't want to be looking after the two of you either."
"I think we get it, Urs," Daphne groaned. "Can we just know the password already?"
"You might want to hold onto your knickers because this is bloody awesome," Ursula said with a coy smile before looking to her friend. Ursula then looked straight at the wall and said, "Wanglewort."
Suddenly, the wall began to shake a bit and then a passageway appeared in the stone wall. Leila and Daphne looked at each other in surprise. Ursula chuckled at them before she and Meredith walked down the passageway.
Leila and Daphne quickly followed after them. The passageway was one long staircase with stone walls on both sides. Torches eerily lit the passage to the stone archway to the left on the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Once at the bottom of the stairs, both first year girls stopped and looked through the archway into what was going to be their common room. Both of their mouths hung open. Ursula reached over to her cousin's mouth and popped Daphne's jaw back up before chuckling. "This is where we spend most of our free time...if we're not in the library."
The Potter girl examined the room, full of people. The ceilings were high above several archways, which was quite unexpected for what she had pictured to be a dungeon. Leather sofas and chairs were scattered around the room. On the wall was a large fireplace with a gently roaring fire. A long business-like table with leather chairs was to the right. Dark woods cupboards, desks, and bookcases also lined the room. But what intrigued Leila the most were the windows which seemed to give an eerie glow to the room. They couldn't see the night's sky, but she wasn't exactly sure what the window looked out upon. Ursula motioned for them follow her further into the common room. Both Daphne and Leila obliged.
As Leila walked further into the room, she could feel people's eyes gazing at her as they talked in hushed tones. "They're talking about me, aren't they?" Leila asked.
"Can't really blame them. No one expected you to be in Slytherin," Daphne responded.
Leila sighed as she looked to her new Housemates. Where had they expected her to go? Gryffindor? Well, she had certainly botched that one, now hadn't she? But the Hat had said something about being the one her House was waiting for. It was all a bit confusing.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a dark-haired boy asked as he skulked toward them. "Or should I say...who do we have here?"
"You know who she is Marcus," Daphne groaned. "Now bugger off."
"Aw, c'mon. I just wanted to welcome my cousin and her new friend to the snake pit, that's all."
"Daphne's right, bugger off, Marcus," Ursula said as she reached out and took hold of her brother's left ear.
"Hey, watch it! No need to get your knickers in a twist, sis," Marcus said raising his hands in the air in surrender. "Besides, I have things to do, people to see...and I don't need my sister getting in the way."
With that, Ursula released her brother's ear and then he walked away from them. Daphne explained that the boy was her cousin, Marcus Flint. He was a sixth year in their House and sometimes, he could be downright annoying. So far, annoying seemed to be a trait many Slytherins had in common..
"C'mon, you two. We have one more stop," Ursula said with a flip of her ponytail. The girls walked through the common room until they came to a small corridor on the right. The corridor had a narrow spiralling stone staircase. Ursula stopped at the base of the stairs and turned to face Daphne and Leila. "This staircase leads to all the girls dormitories. First years are all the way at the top. Your other roommates are probably already up there."
Ursula turned to go when she suddenly stopped and looked over her shoulder. "One more thing, not that you two are stupid enough to try it, but boys aren't allowed in the girls' dormitories. Girls can go to the boys, but not the other way around."
"What happens if a boy tries?" Daphne asked.
"Ask Marcus," Ursula groaned as she rolled her eyes. "My git of a brother tried it last year and ended up in the hospital wing." Leila and Daphne both looked to each other and giggled. Ursula smiled. "Now, this is as far as I take you. I have other things to do tonight. So, up you go. Have fun and good luck."
The older Slytherin pointed up the stairs before the two young girls quickly scurried past her and up the stairs. They went by the first door which had a silver metal plate that was engraved with the words: Seventh Year Slytherin Girls. Daphne led the way as the continued up the stairs, passing the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second year doors. Both girls were practically out of breath by the time they reached the top.
"After you," Daphne offered with a smile.
Leila reached out and twisted the silver doorknob to the room labeled First Year Slytherin Girls. The door slowly opened to reveal the room in which she would be sleeping for the school year. The room was a long rectangle with silver and dark green twisting vines on the walls. Slytherin tapestries also hung on the walls, some depicting famous Slytherins. The floors were a dark hardwood with dark green rugs scattered throughout. The wall on the right had seven alcoves, each with a window that glowed eerily. Between the alcoves were dark wooden desks. Some already had Slytherin pennants hanging above them. The wall on the left had seven canopy beds with emerald green bedding and hanging curtains for privacy.
Leila was in shock and awe. She had never lived in a room so ornate as this one. In fact the fanciest room she had ever lived in up to this point, was Dudley's second bedroom and that was only for a little over a month.
"Daphne, your things are on the bed second to the end. Leila, yours are at the end," one of the Carrow twins said. Leila looked at her wanting to thank her by name, which the girl must have caught onto. "I'm Flora," she said. "Hestia's my sister. Don't worry too much about mixing us up. Mother and Father do it all the time."
"Thanks," Leila said with a slight smile. "I don't have that problem with my twin."
"No, I suppose you don't," Flora said. There was a moment's silence before she said, "Your cat is adorable, by the way. What's his name?"
"Roman!" Leila gasped.
Up until now, Leila had completely forgotten about Roman. She had been so preoccupied with being split apart from Harry and being placed in Slytherin that she had forgotten the one thing that would be familiar to her. Leila practically sprinted across the room, nearly knocking over Tracy Davis. She found Roman in his cage, which was in the alcove across from the bed. After unlocking his cage, Leila pulled him out and snuggled the black kitten close to her. He purred contentedly in her arms and Leila felt a little better with the only companion who wouldn't be abandoning her tonight. If she didn't have Harry, at least she had Roman.
Holding Roman, Leila took a few steps closer to the window to have a look, but things didn't look quite right. Things seemed to pass by the window unnaturally. Leila pressed her fingertips against the glass to find that it was cold to the touch, which was especially unusual for the time of the year. She looked at it with a puzzled expression on her face, trying to figure out what exactly lay outside.
"It's the Black Lake out there," Daphne said, watching Leila from her bed. "Father said that sometimes the Giant Squid or other creatures swim by."
"A lake?" Leila choked out, taking a few steps backward and clutching Roman a little tighter. Roman meowed in discomfort as Leila looked to the window in pure terror. "What if the glass breaks and we all drown?"
"There are enchantments in place, Leila." Leila wasn't quite so sure, so she took a few more steps away from the alcove. "We're perfectly safe in here."
"Who cares if it's safe," Pansy interrupted. "I think it's brilliant. It's the best view of all the Houses, if you ask me."
"Have you seen the other Houses?" Leila asked curiously.
"Don't need to. Slytherins always have the best. Always have. Always will."
The girls continued to unpack their things. Leila finally managed to relax a little, but she wasn't quite ready to go back into her alcove. So, she put Roman's cage on top of her desk and hoped that she wouldn't need to use her desk for awhile.
After the girls, except for Leila and Daphne, were done unpacking, Flora addressed her roommates. "Did anyone see the notice on the board?"
"What notice?" Millicent Bulstrode questioned as she slipped some sort of sweet into her mouth.
"Apparently not," Flora said with a raised eyebrow. "It said that Professor Snape wants to meet with the first years before breakfast tomorrow in the common room."
"So. Early," Pansy groaned.
"There goes my night," Daphne sighed. "When I'm finished unpacking I'll be heading to bed. I suggest you girls do the same. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
Pansy looked pointedly at Daphne before she jumped onto the blonde's bed and sat on her friend. "Where's your sense of fun, Daph?" Pansy groaned. "It's our first night at Hogwarts. We should be having fun not going to bed early like old grannies."
"Oh? And what do you suggest we do then?"
"Well, everyone else is in the common room. Besides, I want to see how the boys are doing."
"You mean, you want to see how Draco's doing." Daphne looked up at Pansy pointedly.
Pansy looked over to Leila, who was just standing beside her bed oddly holding her kitten. Pansy shrugged her shoulders. "Same thing."
"Ugh-fine," Daphne moaned. "Only for a bit. I do want to get a decent night's sleep. But you have to do something first."
"What?"
"Get off of me." Daphne kicked and Pansy landed flat on her arse on the floor. The girls giggled at Pansy's expense. Even Leila, who still stood there silently watching.
The girls then headed for the door, except Leila, who sat gingerly on her bed as if she thought that at any moment it might disappear. Daphne was the one to notice that Leila wasn't with them. So, she blocked the doorway with her arm to keep the other girls from exiting before she turned to Leila.
"You coming?" Daphne asked.
"I-I think I'm just going to stay here," Leila said. Truth was, she just wanted a moment alone with her thoughts.
"You sure?"
"She said she wanted to stay here," Pansy scoffed.
"I wasn't talking to you," Daphne said with a roll of her eyes. "Leila?"
"Maybe next time," Leila sighed. "It's been a long day."
"You heard her," Pansy said before she ducked under Daphne's arm and exited the dormitory. Flora, Hestia, Tracey, and Millicent followed after Pansy.
Daphne stayed behind only for a moment after the other girls had left. {I'm going to hold you to that, you know," she said lightly. "Next time." Leila nodded her head. "G'night," Daphne told her.
"G'night," Leila responded with a slight smile before Daphne left the room, leaving her alone with Roman.
Leila sighed as she fell back against her pillows. This had to be the most comfortable bed she ever had touched. It was way better than the dirt floor she and Harry had shared about a month ago. After a few minutes, Leila got up to finish exploring the room. There were two doors on her side of the room. One door led into cupboard that was divided into seven sections. Each one of them had a space for their clothing and some of the girls had already hung their clothes. Leila sighed, she didn't have much of anything to hang up, but the thought was nice that if she ever needed it, she could hang her clothes.
Door number two led to a small lavatory. It only had one toilet, one shower, and one sink. It was convenient, but Leila was almost certain there had to be other lavatories available to them, because expecting seven people to share seemed ridiculous. It was hard enough trying to share with five people when she lived with the Dursleys. Granted, the Dursleys probably took longer in the bathroom than your average person.
Leila then changed into a ratty pair of pyjamas, one of Dudley's old t-shirts, before she crawled into her bed with Roman. She then shut the curtains around her bed for privacy...and because she didn't want to look out into the lake and be reminded that she could die at any moment...despite what Daphne told her.
Holding Roman close, Leila wondered what Harry was doing at that moment. Was he having a good time with his new friends? A good enough time to forget her and the promise he had made to her? Was he finding the whole situation just as overwhelming as she was? Was he liking Gryffindor?
But Leila knew that she wasn't going to get an answer to her questions anytime soon. So instead she began to hum a haunting melody that she had known for years. She wasn't quite sure how she had learned it; it was as if the melody was a part of her. Leila closed her eyes and hummed as Roman settled by her feet. Leila wasn't sure how long she lay there humming that melody, but eventually her exhaustion overtook her and she drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note: And now Leila is sorted (into Slytherin) and somewhat settled in. Things are going to get bumpy for Harry and Leila, just an FYI...but they'll eventually come around. Just so you know, this chapter was not beta-d, but beta doesn't currently have internet. So, I'm posting it anyway. Any errors are completely my own. Thanks for all the response I've gotten, it means the world to me! :)
