Chapter 7

By the time the Hogwarts Express reached its destination, it was nighttime. Elsa could not have been more relieved that it was finally time to leave the train. Patrolling the corridors with Hans had been as bad as she had anticipated, even if it had barely lasted an hour.

Hans had made it a habit of proclaiming, "Make way! Head Boy and Girl coming through! Hide your dung bombs!" every time he and Elsa entered a different carriage. Elsa couldn't tell if this was more humiliating than arrogant or the other way around, but she knew that if she had done the patrol alone she would not have done it this way. As if being with Hans the whole time wasn't bad enough. The last thing she wanted was her fellow students looking at her as though she were a pompous, attention-seeking bully like Hans rather than a socially impaired, glove-wearing coward. Leave it to Hans, who couldn't have cared less about the welfare of his fellow students, to callously announce her presence to so many people at once.

After her rounds had finished, she had rejoined Belle and Rapunzel and the three girls changed into their Hogwarts robes. She now stood on the platform of the Hogsmeade train station with the other two, dreading the rest of the year more than ever. She had already told them about how Hans had lashed out at Merida Dunbroch, how he'd made Tiana lash out at him, and every moment thereafter.

Belle scoffed. "That boorish troll doesn't deserve to be Head Boy. I've known that from the beginning."

"Seriously. You're already a better Head Prefect than he is without even trying," Rapunzel said to Elsa.

Elsa half smiled. She knew as well as her friends did that Hans didn't deserve the title of Head Boy, but she hardly agreed that she was better. This must have registered on her face as Belle suddenly put a caring hand on her shoulder.

"Let's just forget about him and go enjoy the feast," she told Elsa.

Elsa, who had not had the opportunity to eat on the train, then realized how hungry she was and nodded. The three girls made their way to the carriages that carried students to Hogwarts castle. They got into an empty carriage, which almost immediately began to wheel up an uphill path.

Minutes later, Hogwarts, which was perched at the top of the hill, came into view. The three girls looked up at the magnificent castle in awe.

"Even after six years, it still takes my breath away," said Rapunzel.

"It's like something from one of my books," Belle agreed.

Elsa, though equally mesmerized by the size and splendor of the ancient castle, nodded silently. Even now, she could concentrate on little more than Hans, the other Slytherins, and how they were sure to find some way of ruining her life in the following year.

After the carriage ride, the girls joined the rest of the students in the Great Hall. It looked the same as always with its enchanted ceiling that reflected the stary sky outside, thousands of glowing candles floating in the air, four long tables for each of the four Houses, and a fifth table at the front of the Hall where the teachers sat. The students took their places at their respective House tables, which were glittered with the usual golden plates and goblets. Elsa was relieved that the Ravenclaw table was farthest away from the Slytherin table.

Before long, Professors Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, the Deputy Headmistresses and Heads of Gryffindor House, entered the Great Hall. They were short, cheerful women who were capable of great magic despite their childishly innocent dispositions. They placed a simple wooden stool just a few steps in front of the teachers' table so the whole Hall could see it. On top of the stool was what many believed to be the world's oldest, filthiest hat. Everyone in the Great Hall was familiar with this hat. They'd all worn it once at some point of their lives. The Sorting Hat, which alone was responsible for sorting every first year student into his or her most appropriate house.

Elsa remembered her own experience with the Sorting Hat as if it had happened yesterday. She'd only been eleven years old. Her name was the second one called, after Gaston Archer, and she'd nervously trotted out of line and Professor Flora placed the Sorting Hat on her head. She was thoroughly aware of Slytherin's negative reputation and hoped that her glaciatous powers would not earn her a spot there. She'd worn the hat for nearly five whole minutes before it finally shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" She sighed and joined the applauding Ravenclaws at the table on the far left. Almost no one else that year had taken as long as she had. The Sorting Hat had barely touched Belle's head and had only been on Rapunzel's head for three seconds before placing them each in Ravenclaw. Hans had been sorted into Slytherin before the hat had touched a single hair on his head. That event had made a statement to Elsa, one that she'd expected the moment she'd received her Hogwarts letter. She was different from the other students.

After placing the Sorting Hat in its proper place, Professors Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather left the Great Hall. Less than a minute later, they returned. A long line of curious looking first years entered behind them.

The Sorting Hat then sang its introduction song that changed every year. Elsa was too deep in thought to listen, but it didn't matter. Even though the lyrics to the song always changed, the message was the same. The Sorting Hat could see everything inside the head of the person who had put it on. Gryffindors were brave, bold, and daring. Hufflepuffs were loyal, hard-working, and honest. Ravenclaws were clever, creative, and witty. Slytherins were ambitious, cunning, and sly. Blah, blah, blah.

Over the next hour, names were called, students were sorted, and the House members applauded their newest additions. Elsa was still too deep in thought to focus completely. During the sortings of the first few students, she was thinking about all the usual stuff that bothered her. Her secret glaciatous powers. Why she had to keep them a secret. How they affected her and the people she loved.

The first name she'd actually heard was, "Darling, Wendy."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The next names, which were all called together, made her focus on the sorting a bit longer.

"Dunbroch, Hamish. Dunbroch, Harris. Dunbroch, Hubert."

A set of identical triplet boys boldly ran up to the Sorting Hat. Their last name, as well as their mops of flaming red curls, made them seem familiar to Elsa. When they were sorted into Gryffindor, she looked over at the Gryffindor table. Merida, the fifth year Prefect whom Hans had given a hard time on the train, jumped up from her seat and proudly shouted, "YES! YES! THOSE ARE MY BROTHERS!"

This also made Elsa think, this time about how Hans had treated Merida. What if that incident was only the tip of the iceberg? Would Merida do something else later in the year that would make Hans angry? Would she still be a Prefect this time next week? Were any of the Prefects safe from Hans' arrogance and thirst for power?

"Foxworth, Jennifer."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Come to think of it, were any of the students safe from Hans? He was proud of his new power and he'd made it clear with everyone earlier on the train.

"Pan, Peter."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Parr, Dashiell."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Pendragon, Arthur."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

But most of all, were the students safe from her, Elsa? She was in the same position as Hans and by now the entire school knew it. She didn't want them thinking she was like him, especially not these poor first years. She already had a reason to be feared that she was forced to keep a secret for that purpose. She didn't want to be burdened with another reason to be feared.

Finally, the last name was called. "Wonders, Alice."

"RAVENCLAW!"

The Sorting Ceremony was over, but Elsa's train of thought was not. So many questions and fears were spinning around in her head. Thinking about it all made her feel dizzy. She snapped out of it at the sound of Rapunzel's voice asking her a question she had not heard.

"What?"

"I said would you like a baked potato?" said Rapunzel.

This seemed like an awkward question until Elsa noticed that the Ravenclaw table was covered from one end to the other with delicious looking food.

"When did all this get here?" Elsa asked.

"About a minute ago," said Rapunzel in a questioning tone. "Didn't you hear Professor Merlin say 'Let the feast begin'?"

Elsa chuckled. "Uh, must've missed him. But yes, I'd love a potato. Thank you."

The food, as usual, was delicious, but it did not prevent depressing thoughts from penetrating Elsa's mind for the rest of the night.

End of Chapter