Lights and Shadows
Chapter Seven
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin?
Author's Note: Okay, I'll just cut to the point. My friend Arwen - yep, she's a real person - told me that her name should be spelled 'Arwen' after that elfish princess in the Lord of the Rings rather than 'Arwin'. So her name would be Arwen from now on!
Enjoy! It's a long chapter! And I would appreciate it if you don't skip the conversation between the hat and Serafina. Rest assured, she will be Sorted into the House we want her to be! *hisssssssss*
And of course, THANK YOU, whoever you are, for favouriting my story MUAHAHAHA! I am so HAPPY! I would be even more grateful if you would kindly leave a review, thanks! Gods bless you! Tom Riddle is yours for one night, haha! Well... Have an enjoyable read! Will update soon - I hope!
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'It's time to change into our robes, I guess.' Emerald popped up.
The five of us got up and went to change. Not soon after this the train stopped and a wave of overwhelming excitement flushed through me, causing me to grow slightly dizzy but only Tom noticed this, none of the others were listening.
'Are you alright?' He asked without emotion, but I would bet all my family possessions in Gringotts that he does care.
'Fine, just excited! Aren't you?' I answered with another question.
For a moment he just stared at me, as if patronizing my soul. 'You are a strange one, Serafina, do you know that?' Tom said finally.
'Oh, yes, I know it very, very well.' I smirked.
We followed the crowd out of the train, and a hoarse voice called from somewhere before us, 'First years! First years over here!'
I caught snickers from the older students, and looks of contempt from their eyes even. I felt white hot anger boiling in me, and I stole a glance at Tom to see if he was experiencing the same unpleasantness as me. He was, and there seemed to be a dark menacing light in his eyes. He caught my eyes and moved closer to me, whispering in my ear, 'Don't anger yourself, Serafina, they will pay. We will make them pay.'
My mood lightened considerably at the promise of revenge, and I smiled reassuringly at Tom, 'I know we will.'
He smirked, putting a protective and possessive hand on my shoulder, keeping me close to him.
'Serafina?' Arwen tugged at my sleeve, a mischievous light in her eyes, 'I think I might get my furs wet.'
I narrowed my eyes, confused, until I heard Emerald groan out loud, and as the sound was not befitting for a Pureblood lady I got curious looked ahead of us. A gasp escaped my lips as I saw a giant black lake, with many small boats on the surface, waiting for us to board. We are going to get to Hogwarts by water! That must be a special first-year experience! Ah, this is going to be fun.
'Ha, I think I'll like this!' I told my friends.
'What, in need of a bath?' Tom asked sarcastically.
I hymphed, and Arwen laughed. Emerald's face was one of disgust when she finally gave up trying to find an escape route. 'I am going to tell father...' She muttered.
'And I am going to tell mine - what a useless experience!' Abraxas drawled.
I sent a withering glare at Emerald while Tom sent one at Abraxas.
'Are you a man or not?' I shot at the blond haired boy and his cheeks grew pink.
'Serafina, don't scold Abraxas, he just doesn't want to get wet!' Emerald came to his rescue, whining, but shrank back as she became the first victim to the famous 'Sundavar stare'. It wasn't full of anger or any other emotions, but simply ice cold and blank, but the beholder would instantly know where she or he did wrong.
Me, Arwen and Emerald climbed into a boat but Tom insisted in keeping me in the same one as him, so he and Emerald switched places, and the girl looked positively relieved to be able to sit with Abraxas - someone she knew - instead. Arwen turned herself into a fox, but strangely this time she had only one tail, different from what I remembered from Diagon Alley. As she danced around in our boat happily I made a mental note to ask her about it later. I kept myself rather close to Tom, he raised an eyebrow questioningly at me and I mouthed 'I can't swim' to him. His smirk gradually turned into unsuppressed laughter.
'It's not funny! I love water but I can't swim...so what?' I glared.
'I didn't say anything, did I?' Tom asked, perfectly innocent.
I shook my head in exasperation and didn't say anything else to him. Then I saw it...
Hogwarts. Perfect Hogwarts! The magnificent castle, standing mysteriously in the faint light, full of dignity, full of secrets, full of power... Inviting me with a silent call. At last!
This was definitely the first time I failed to mask my shock - my instantly burning love toward this school was just too much for words.
Some students yelled and squeaked, I turned to the others in my boat and saw that Arwen, still in fox form, had stopped jumping around and sat, bolt straight, staring transfixed at the castle. Tom, was having something being close to respect (which was a rare thing for him) in his dark eyes. If eyes tell the secrets of the soul, then Tom's would be dark, mysterious...and intriguing. Somehow he sensed me staring, turned to my direction, and I can feel his cool breath against mine. I tried to look indifferent, but as he smirked my cheeks started to burn. Oh dear Hecate, am I blushing?!
'Ow, Serafina, you're blushing!' Emerald giggled from the boat to our right.
'Oh, yes I am, because I love this castle on first sight, so what?' I growled, but not in an intimidating way.
Arwen turned back to her human form and glared at Tom with such intensity that the air seemed to grow heated. 'You had better stay away from my friend, Riddle!'
Tom glared at her coldly. 'And what can you do about that, Fox?'
Those two, will they ever be able to get along, or just pretend it, for my sake?!
Fortunately for us, all of a sudden the boats stopped, raising my head, I found myself staring right up to the magnificent body of Hogwarts. Before us was the land of magic and wonder. We followed the others out of the boats, walking toward the castle. I didn't skip like the other first-years, but simply smiled from ear to ear.
'Keep smiling like that and you can't close your mouth anymore.' Tom taunted and me, Emerald and Abraxas laughed. Arwen just let out a small huff, crossing her arms, as if ready to defend me against Tom every second.
I put a hand on her shoulder and she read the silent command in my eyes, and nodded, saying nothing.
I thought I saw purple robes somewhere ahead of us, and sure enough, Professor Dumbledore was beaming amiably at us, waiting at the entrance hall. 'First years, a most warm welcome to Hogwarts! I would ask you to wait a few minutes here for the Sorting. Hogwarts is divided into four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each one of you will be Sorted into one of the four Houses. The Sorting will begin in five minutes. Good luck!' He winked and walked away.
Now the Houses were the only topic among us.
'I will surely get into Gryffindor - the bravest House!'
'Anywhere but Slytherin...'
'Ravenclaw: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!'...
'What House do you think you will get into?' I asked my friends.
'S-L-Y-T-H-E-R-I-N!' Emerald shouted, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. But then again, for a Lestrange, it probably was.
'Good, you've spoken my mind.' Abraxas smirked.
'And mine.' Tom said a moment later.
Three pairs of eyes turned to me and Arwen.
'Well... I suppose there's a fat chance I'll get into Slytherin or Ravenclaw. No offense, but I love books!' I added hastily.
'Oh, well, Ravenclaw is alright, don't worry!' Emerald said.
Arwen pondered for a minute. 'If Riddle is in Slytherin, then I'd like Gryffindor better. But if Serafina is Sorted into Slytherin as well... I'd be wearing silver and green gladly!'
Something in my heart twitched, as I felt that her words were sincere. Our eyes met, and I can see the unquestioned loyalty she was already offering me. I was touched, to say the least.
None of us were able to say anything else, however, as the gate to the Great Hall sprung open, and a beaming Professor Dumbledore welcomed us to the Hall. It was exactly like the one I read in the books, only better. Hundreds of magical candles were floating in the air, brightening the hall, lighting up the happiness and laughter. The roof was enchanted to look like the sky outside (according to Hogwarts: A History), and now I can see clouds overhead. The illusion was quite realistic. Four long tables full of senior students, splitting the school into four Houses. Everyone's eyes were upon us first-years, and I calmly observed them. What I found was boring, yet amusing - hunger. They can't wait for the Sorting to end, so the feast can start!
The centre of the teachers' table sat the headmaster, Dippet. Personally, I thought that he didn't look half as energetic as Professor Dumbledore, maybe it was because he didn't have that powerful air around him. Upon seeing us first-years, he stood up, beaming.
'Welcome, welcome, first-years! Let the Sorting... Begin!' Everybody clapped enthusiastically. 'This,' He gestured to a dirty old hat on a stool, 'is the Sorting Hat. It will decide for you which House you are best suited in, when your names are called, just put it on your head. It won't bite you, you know!'
Some people laughed at this, but I can see some first-years visibly relaxing a lot more.
'Black, Cygnus!' A boy that was without a doubt a pureblood walked confidently to the school, and only seconds later, the hat suddenly opened its 'mouth' and shouted, 'SLYTHERIN!'
The Slytherin Table cheered as he joined them.
'Diggory, Edward!' A brown-haired boy walked up and less than a minute the hat yelled, 'HUFFLEPUFF!'
'Malfoy, Abraxas!' Smirking, my blond-haired friend walked to the stool and the hat had barely touched his head before it screamed, 'SLYTHERIN!'
No surprise here. I mean really.
'Lovegood, Serena!' A dreamy-looking blond girl put the hat on, and not long later the hat shouted, 'RAVENCLAW!'
'Lestrange, Emerald!' My newly acquainted friend/follower walked gracefully and confidently to the hat and the hat was extremely quick in deciding, 'SLYTHERIN!'
Again no surprise here.
She half smirked, half smiled and walked to join the rest of the Slytherins.
'Potter, Charlus!' A boy with messy hair and glass went up and the hat yelled, 'GRYFFINDOR!'
'Riddle, Tom!' Tom gave me a proud smirk and went to the hat. Before I can even see how it looked on his head it screamed, 'SLYTHERIN!'
He winked at me and walked to the Slytherin table. Can't say I didn't expect that, he was a true Slytherin, being a Parseltongue and all.
'Weasley, Septimus!' The red-head boy skipped to the stool and the hat at once yelled, 'GRYFFINDOR!' He was probably too excited, and almost carried the hat to the table.
I laughed with the rest, until...
'Sundavar, Serafina!' I nearly froze, but remained calm nonetheless. Tom, Abraxas, and Emerald were giving me nods of encouragement at the Slytherin table. With every bit of grace and pride I can master I walked to the stool. On my way there, whispers filled the Great Hall.
'Is it really her?'
'The only heiress of the Sundavar Family is here?'...
I sat down and put the hat onto my head. My visions were instantly blocked, and I found myself staring into the blackness inside the hat.
'Ah, I see you have joined us at last, Miss Sundavar.'
'Nice to meet you too. And please, call me Serafina.' Oh this is sounding so ridiculous...
'Ridiculous is it?' It chuckled inside my head, 'Now let's see... First, you have bravery buried deep inside you that would fit in Gryffindor, but, no, you are not reckless and rush. Oh no, not at all.'
'Thanks for the, uh, compliment, Mr. Sorting Hat.' I am not a fan of lions anyway.
It chuckled again. 'Interesting girl. I don't remember anyone offering him that much respect for a long, long time. Well, let's move on. Hufflepuff... You are unusually loyal for the ones you care about, that's for sure. But you are not a down-to-earth sort of person, too much fantasies inside that little head of yours... No, you are not really a Hufflepuff.'
Thank gods.
'Not interested in that House, I see! Mmh, you do share a quite a few precious Ravenclaw qualities. A love for books, definitely. And extremely intelligent, lots of wits, wise beyond your age...'
I held my breath. If I would be put into any other House besides Slytherin, it was this one.
'However... You crave for knowledge, yes, but you do not grow too fixed on them. And you are not going to dwell on academic achieves too much, so far I can see... Uh, hard to decide! Let's keep the option open, and see what you have for the last House. Oh dear, you killed someone already?!'
'Some thing,' I thought back through gritted teeth, 'and I fail to see why this would be any of your business.'
'A touchy subject here, isn't it? Well, you are certainly very, very, very cunning, and you have a strong desire to prove yourself. And an even greater thirst for power, for revenge. You will do anything to get what you want, and can be frighteningly cruel and cold if you want to be. You have a surprising sense of self-preservation, and can be very selfish when it comes to protecting yourself. And lastly, ambition... You are a rather ambitious little girl, aren't you! Already planning world-domination?' Its voice was lace with a mixture of awe and amusement, and confusion.
'Ah, but I see the conflict here. You deem that there is no good or evil, only shades of grey. Impressive theory for someone so young. But at the same time, you value love. Not boys swooning over you, but true, immortal love. But you tell yourself that your greatest goal is unchallenged power! You want people to fear you, but you also want to be loved? How odd. How curious! Are you sure you do not have splitting personalities?! So difficult, so difficult for even me to decide. You are very determined, and will stop at nothing to get what you want. So should I put you in Slytherin? Or perhaps Ravenclaw? And maybe, if you wish it, Gryffindor? Or, if possible, will you rather be loved and admired in Hufflepuff?'
'Just consult me before making your final decision, alright?' I thought back hastily.
'Very discreet, ha! And can be manipulative and calculating, why hadn't I see that? And yes... Mmh, unnaturally perceptive, never fooled by others' facades, I'm impressed. But you yourself tell lies with such ease! My, my, you have too many personalities. Now, your fate lies out two paths before you. One is full of lights, where you will without a doubt be loved and admired, The other is formed by shadows, where you will have power and revenge. Which one do you choose?'
I sat there stiffly for half a minute and made my ultimate decision. After all, this is the true destiny I want. 'I want to be above everyone else. I want to rule the world. I want to make those who hurt me and the ones I love pay... I want power.'
'Very well, I see you've chosen the shadows over the lights. Well, it's your destiny! You will be great, this is a certainty. May you shine ever brighter in the light of-'
Author's Note: Pardon me for the cliffhanger. You see, darlings, this one and the next chapter used to be together as chapter seven, BUT: I found it's too long - not that it's not a good thing, but because of my own experience while reading over-long chapters. Because of the less-than-lacking of words, I would often skip a dozen lines to read the point I want to most. So... Thanks for the understanding!
