The Phantom of Hogwarts
Chapter Nine
(Disclaimer: I own none of the characters except my own.)
With his hand still fiercely clamped to his face Erik gazed up at the source of the voice. A chestnut haired witch with striking yet stern features stood there holding a long piece of parchment and an eagle feathered quill. Erik knew immediately that this was not a woman who smiled much if at all. She wore faded black robes marked with the Hogwarts crest and perched on the brim of her black fedora was a small Scoop owl with piercing yellow eyes.
"Hello there, Vesta. Have a good summer?" Anatoli asked politely.
"Not bad considering Peeves being himself and all. Good to see you, Professor Garron. I think you dropped this, young man." Vesta said as she handed Erik his mask.
Erik smiled gratefully and slipped his mask on, "Thank you Miss…"
"Vesta Thornburg, caretaker of Hogwarts. Don't perform magic in the corridors or cause trouble and I'm sure the two of us will get along splendidly. Now off you get. My husband Bill is in the village square to lead the first years towards the boats. Older years, you know where to go. Parents may accompany their children as far as the path. You can say your good-byes there but then you have to clear off." Vesta said gruffly.
Anatoli patted Erik's shoulder, "Here is where we must part, Erik. As a professor I have to be up at the castle earlier than the students. You and your mother go with Vlad and Vanessa. I'll see you in the Great Hall when its time for the Sorting." Anatoli explained.
Erik nodded and Anatoli said a few quiet words to Madeline before turning on his heel and quickly vanishing into the rapidly darkening night. Erik and Madeline exchanged nervous smiles before following Mr. Le Mort, Mr. Daee, and their children towards the square.
Hogsmeade's Square was crowded with masses of parents and students. While a thin sickly looking man with a lantern shouted for the first years to follow him to the boats the older students were climbing into a group of at least a hundred horseless stagecoaches that had assembled.
Before Vlad and the twins could join their friends Mr. Le Mort pulled them aside and fixed the three of them with a piercing glare, "I expect all of you to be on your best behavior and set a good example for your sister. Take care of her as well." Mr. Le Mort snapped.
"You needn't worry, Father, wee wittle Nessiekins will be safe with us." Vlad said smiling as he ruffled Vanessa's hair.
Vanessa snarled and stuck out her tongue causing her brothers to have a good hearty laugh as they quickly hopped into a nearby coach and waved good-bye to their father before they sped away.
"First years! First years, this way! Follow me to the boats, first years!" the man with the lantern shouted.
"That's us." said Mr. Daee.
The first years and their parents followed the man to the outskirts of the town. It was when they reached the edge of a thick wood that the man told them to say their good-byes.
Christine was sobbing heavily as she and her father embraced.
"Don't cry, Christine. We'll see each other again at Christmas." Mr. Daee said soothingly.
"I promise to write to you every single day and please make sure you take your medicine. I hate that I can't stay to take care of you." Christine whimpered through her tears.
"Mamma Valerius will be an adequate substitute. I'll be fine, Christine, don't you worry." Mr. Daee assured her before they reluctantly drew apart and Christine merged with the crowd of departing students.
"Will you be all right finding Dr. Barye?" Erik asked his mother.
"Of course I will, Erik. You needn't fuss about me." Madeline stated firmly.
"I'm glad you came." Erik said hugging his mother.
Madeline smiled, "I am too. Have a good term, Erik, and do make an effort to eat more. I won't stand for you being skin and bones." she replied.
Erik smiled back, "I will, Mother. Be safe. I love you."
"I love you too, Erik. Good luck." Madeline said as she kissed him good-bye.
Erik kissed his mother and waved good-bye one last time before he hurried off to join his fellow students.
Madeline's gaze followed her son until he disappeared inside the forest and she was forced to go journey back to Hogsmeade, where Etienne was to meet her at a local pub called The Three Broomsticks.
Erik, meanwhile, was trying so hard not to dwell on how much he already missed his mother and sister that he didn't notice when Vanessa Le Mort suddenly appeared at his side and the sudden sound of her voice startled him immensely.
Vanessa didn't notice. She was rolling her eyes and gazing up at the trees with exasperation.
"I thought he would never let me go. I love him dearly but he can be such a pain at times." Vanessa grumbled.
"Your father?" Erik guessed.
"Who else? I'm the fourth child in my family to attend Hogwarts but since I'm the first girl and Valora won't be going for a while my parents are taking this far too seriously. Charna's guts! I thought Valora being born would've stopped them from babying me!" Vanessa ranted.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Erik asked hoping to change the subject.
"Ravenclaw I expect. Mum was in Ravenclaw, Father was in the Romanian equivalent of Ravenclaw, and all my brothers are in Ravenclaw. I'll just die if they put me in Slytherin or Hufflepuff." Vanessa made a face, "What about you?" she asked.
"My father is the Head of Ravenclaw House so I guess I'll be in Ravenclaw. Is the fact that my mother is a Muggle a bad thing?" Erik asked nervously.
"No and it's certainly nothing to be ashamed of. My Mum's gran was a Muggle born witch. Half-bloods and Muggle borns are nowhere near as uncommon as you might think. Trust me there are worse combinations. You'll see soon enough." Vanessa muttered.
Before Erik could ask the group stepped off the slippery steep path and rounded a much more level and wide bend. When they came around the bend and were met by the lapping shores of a vast black lake they received their first glimpse of the Hogwarts castle. It was an immense castle with many towers and turrets and was perched on the top of a high mountain. The bright orange lights from its numerous windows were fractured beautifully by the churning lake waters.
"No more than four in a boat! Hurry up now! We haven't got all night!" the man snapped.
The students quickly obeyed and hurried to fill the fleet of small boats sitting by the shore. Erik and Vanessa shared their boat with Christine and a boy with thin spectacles. Once all the boats were filled the fleet glided across the shimmering water carrying their gawking passengers towards the shores of the cliff face where after passing through an ivy concealed hole they arrived at a small harbor and promptly disembarked.
The man with the lantern led them through a passageway in the rock then up to a courtyard of smooth grass that was shadowed by the imposing structure of the castle. They quickly ascended the small flight of stone steps and were silent as the man took hold of one of the door's massive knockers and rapped it against the door three times with all his might.
The huge door swung open to reveal a tall, blonde haired and blue eyed witch in shocking pink and lavender robes. She had a bright cheerful face and Erik's first impression of her was that of someone who knew how beautiful she was and wasn't afraid to display it.
"Here are your first years, Professor Pomfrey." the man said.
"Oh wonderful. Thank you dearly, Bill. I will take them from here." Professor Pomfrey said cheerfully.
The exposed side of Erik's face grew pale and he immediately wished that he could melt into the floor. It was Priscilla Pomfrey, the woman who had been pining for his father! Erik uttered a silent prayer hoping she wouldn't see him right away.
Professor Pomfrey eagerly led the students through the massive entrance hall to a small room empty room off the hall. Everyone crowded close together and nervously glanced up at the smiling woman.
"Let me be the first to bid you welcome to Hogwarts! Now before you sit among your class mates you must first be sorted into your houses. While you are here your houses will be like your family. You will sit at house's table for meals, sleep in your house dormitories, attend classes with your houses, and spend your free time in your house common room. Triumphs will be rewarded as points for your house and any rule breaking will result in a deduction of points. At the end of the year the house with the most points will be awarded the house cup, a truly great honor. There are four houses Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house shines in its own special history and glory. I'm sure each and every one of you will be a valuable asset to whatever house you are chosen for. Now please wait quietly. I will return when we are ready for all of you." Professor Pomfrey explained merrily.
She swept from the chamber and nervous chatter broke out. Though the rather rude talk to Erik's left seemed anything but nervous.
"So it's true? Anatoli Garron's bastard half-blood son has come to Hogwarts?" a drawling pompous voice asked.
Erik and Vanessa turned to face the source of the voice. It was a tall boy with shoulder length light brown hair, vicious hazel eyes, and a face curled into a permanent snarl. Standing beside him was a thin pale boy with blonde hair, piercing gray eyes, and an arrogant smile. They were flanked by two huge boys, both of whom reminded Erik of two gorillas.
"I believe you're correct, Raoul, and look he's already got a girlfriend and a Le Mort none the less." the blonde boy commented.
"Ah yes. My brother told me all about the Le Morts. They all have black hair, pale skin, an obsession with the letter V, and a talent for picking up strays. Aren't you going to bow down before us, half blood?" Raoul asked.
"Why would I do that?" Erik asked through gritted teeth.
"To respect your superiors of course. I'm Raoul de Chagny and this is Brutus Malfoy and this Crabbe and Goyle." Raoul answered pointing to each of the boys.
"We're all pure bloods descended from the finest wizards in the land. You on the other hand are nothing more than the result of a fling at the local pub. So you can easily see why you don't belong." Brutus spat.
Erik would've lunged forward and given both boys a black eye had Vanessa and the boy with the spectacles not seized him and dragged him away while Raoul, Brutus, Crabbe, and Goyle laughed and jeered.
"Don't listen to them. They're all bad news. Bad blood those families caused by years of luxury and in breeding." the boy with the spectacles said quickly.
"He insulted my family." Erik growled.
"I know and this won't be the last time he does. You have to learn to deal with it. My name is Mordrid Warbeck by the way." the boy said holding out his hand.
"Erik Garron." Erik said shaking the boy's hand tightly.
"Are you actually Professor Garron's son?" Mordrid asked before he could stop himself.
Erik nodded, "Yeah." he said shortly.
"I didn't mean anything by it. Professor Garron was my brother Merlin's mentor. He was the reason Merlin studied to become an Auror." Mordrid explained quickly.
"Your brother's name is Merlin?" Vanessa asked incredulously.
Mordrid nodded and grimaced, "My parents are historians for the Ministry and great admirers of the Arthurian legends. They decided to name my older siblings and me after their favorite wizarding characters. Merlin works as an Auror, Guinevere is in the History of Magic office with my parents, and Morgan is training to be a healer at Saint Mungo's." Mordrid grumbled.
Vanessa laughed and shook her head, "And I thought my parents' preference for V names was bad. Nice to meet you, Mordrid. Do you know which house you'll be in?" Vanessa inquired.
Mordrid shrugged, "Don't know. Merlin was a Gryffindor, Guinevere was a Hufflepuff and Morgan was in Ravenclaw. Mum and Dad were in Hufflepuff. My Mum had a sister who was in Slytherin but we don't talk to her much." Mordrid answered.
Professor Pomfrey soon return smiling as brightly as ever, "We're ready for you. Now everyone line up. There is no need to shove, boys." she remarked as Raoul and Brutus shoved Erik and Mordrid out of the line.
Erik and Mordrid took their places in the near back of the line with Vanessa and Christine, who was giddy with excitement.
The Great Hall was unlike any place Erik had ever seen. The ceiling (bewitched to look like sky outside) was velvet black and dotted with stars, an elegant crescent moon, and a few slow moving pale gray clouds. The hall itself was lit with thousands upon thousands of candlesticks, which floated above four long tables, which were laid with gold plates and goblets. At the top of the hall on a raised dais was another long table, where the teachers sat.
Professor Antoinette Giry sat in the center of the table in a high backed gold chair carved with more ornate designs than the ones of the teachers. She was a stern looking woman with auburn hair and deep gray eyes. She wore mauve robes trimmed with silver and struck Erik as the kind of woman that it's best not to cross. It was hard to imagine someone like Antoinette Giry had a deputy like Priscilla Pomfrey. Anatoli was seated on her left now wearing formal black robes, which reminded Erik of a priest.
Professor Pomfrey led the students to the top of the hall so that they stood with their backs to the teachers. Anatoli winked at Erik before the younger Garron was forced to turn and face the mass of students seated at the four tables. Erik and many of the other first years gasped as half a dozen shimmering ghosts glided in from the walls and hovered above the candles to watch the ceremony.
Professor Pomfrey brought out a spindly stool and an ancient looking wizard's hat. It was patched and extremely dirty. Some of Madeline's more pompous relatives would have fainted at the sight of something so grimy.
Erik's stomach tightened nervously. The Sorting Ceremony was one subject Anatoli had avoided telling his son about. Maybe they had to make the hat do something or turn it into something else. Erik would've settled for cleaning it.
The hat was placed on the stool and an unusual silence had fallen upon the Great Hall. All eyes were focused on the battered hat. After a few moments the hat twitched and a rip near the broom became a mouth, which the hat opened wide, and began to sing:
Long ago the founders four,
Chose me for a task,
That would last forevermore,
To place the student,
Who on this stool sit,
In the house where they best fit,
So watch in wonder,
For you see I never blunder,
If you have brains,
With no flaw,
You belong in Ravenclaw;
Loyalty and patience,
Are more than enough,
To get into Hufflepuff;
If you are cunning,
And want a real friend,
Then step right in,
You're welcome in Slytherin;
If you are brave,
Join the last of the four,
In daring Gryffindor!
So sit down.
Don't frown.
I won't bite,
I'll find you a house with all my might!
At the conclusion of its song the hat bowed to each of the four tables while the Great Hall shook with the sounds of thunderous applause.
"The hat is only used for the Sorting Ceremony and every year it sings a different song. At least that's what Morgan told me." Mordrid whispered.
"I'll kill both Vince and Varick! Those idiots told me that the Sorting involved drinking the blood of a cat and whatever table you got sick on was the house you were in!" Vanessa hissed.
Both Vincent and Varick Le Mort smiled and waved from the Ravenclaw table.
Professor Pomfrey plucked the hat off the stool with one hand and held a long piece of parchment near her face with the other.
"When your name is called please step forward and sit on the stool. I will then place the hat on your head and you will be sorted." Professor Pomfrey explained.
Reading off her list Professor Pomfrey called out, "Adams, Alaric!"
A boy with messy sand colored hair hurried out of line and was trembling as he sat down and the hat was dropped on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted moments later.
The table on the far left erupted with applause as Alaric hopped off the stool, handed the hat off to "Allen, Cody" then took his place at the Gryffindor table.
Moments later "Allen, Cody" became the first Hufflepuff and sat at the table on the right. He was soon joined by "Baker, David".
"Barnes, Devona" was the first Ravenclaw to sit at the table second from the left. Vlad Le Mort stood and bowed to Devona as she approached.
The hat then placed "Black, Tariq" in Slytherin. After that "Brooks, Brea", "Bryson, Jillian", and "Butler, Jared" joined Ravenclaw. Then "Conner, Robert" and "Crabbe, Jeffery" became Slytherins and "Crawford, Larissa" was placed in Gryffindor.
After "Croft, Amelia" took her place at the Hufflepuff table. Christine Daee's name was called. The hat took longer than most to sort Christine. When it finally placed her in Hufflepuff Christine squealed with delight as she handed the hat off to Raoul de Chagny.
Raoul sat on the stool as if it were actually a throne. The hat merely hovered over his head when it cried out, "SLYTHERIN!"
The Sorting passed by quickly. "Dumont"…, "Eldreth, Edward" and his twin sister Edith…, "Fleming"…, "Foster"…, then "Gallo, Nicholas" and at last-
"Garron, Erik!"
Erik's legs felt so heavy as he walked to the stool that it was a miracle that he didn't fall flat on his face. 'Raoul and his thugs would just love that.' Erik mentally grumbled.
Erik slowly sat down on the stool and quickly pulled the hat on trying not to think of all the people in the Great Hall staring at him and picking him apart piece by piece with their eyes.
Erik breathed a sigh of relief when all he could see was the dark interior of the hat.
"My you are an intriguing boy." whispered a small voice in his ear. "More than your fair share of courage and one of the sharpest minds I have ever sat on. Best to put you where those brains will be put to good use, eh?" the voice asked.
Erik nodded eagerly and smiled as the hat yelled out, "RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table exploded with cheers and claps as Erik jumped off the stool, handed the hat to "Jarvis, Fiona" and sat down at the Ravenclaw table. Several of the older students stood and shook hands and patted Erik's back as he sat down. Erik sank down in his chair and sighed happily as relief flooded his body.
From his place at the staff table Anatoli filled his goblet with a small amount of wine and raised it slightly as if he were making a toast and quickly downed it. Erik beamed and sat back to watch the rest of the sorting.
"Le Mort, Vanessa!"
Vanessa sat down on the stool as her brothers watched anxiously. Erik crossed his fingers under the table.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Well done, Nessa, well done." Vlad commented as Vanessa sat down beside Erik.
Finally after "Shay, Jayme" was placed in Gryffindor and "Turner, Lisette" became a Hufflepuff the name "Warbeck, Mordrid" was called. Mordrid strode confidently to the stool and adjusted his spectacles as the hat was put on his head.
Erik clapped and cheered the loudest when the hat yelled out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Mordrid was smiling as he sat down across from Erik. "Mum and Da will be so proud." Mordrid whispered excitedly.
The Sorting concluded when "Young, Sarah" was made a Hufflepuff. Professor Pomfrey rolled up her parchment and glided away taking the Sorting hat with her.
Professor Giry stood and a rare smile appeared on her face as if nothing pleased her more than the assembled students.
"Welcome, students! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now without further ado let the feast begin!" Professor Giry announced.
The first years gasped as food suddenly appeared on the table before them and everyone began to help themselves. The foods included several different types of warm breads, fresh fruits, delicious pastries, meats, and stews. Erik was helping himself to a bowl of oyster stew when the ghost of a tall handsome woman passed through him. Erik shivered feeling as if he had just been drenched in cold water.
"So sorry, dear. I must have floated a bit too low. You are Professor Garron's boy, are you not?" the ghostly woman inquired.
Erik nodded and told the ghost his name.
"I am the Grey Lady, resident Ghost of Ravenclaw House." the ghost said curtsying in mid air, "It is always good to see new editions to the Ravenclaw House. I hope all of you will study hard this year and snare the House Cup. Gryffindor or Slytherin always manage to snatch it from us. Sir Nicholas and the Bloody Baron grow more unbearable with each victory and quite frankly I have had enough." the Grey Lady declared indignantly.
Jared Butler favored the Grey Lady with a bright smile and a mock salute, "Don't worry, your Ladyship. The House Cup is Ravenclaw's this year." he assured her.
"I certainly hope so." the Grey Lady commented as she flew down the table and disappeared into the far wall.
"Probably gone off to the library. The Grey Lady was quite the scholar when she was alive and if she catches a Ravenclaw slacking in their studies she sicks Peeves on them." Stella Cloud, a fourth year, commented.
"Who's Peeves?" Devona Barnes asked.
"The school poltergeist. He's been around forever and there's no way to get rid of him. He likes to torment everyone with practical jokes and tricks. You'd best keep one hand on your mask when you go through the corridors, Erik. Because until the Bloody Baron or the Headmistress tells him otherwise that poltergeist will be on a mission to somehow get it off and under the most embarrassing conditions." Vincent answered.
Erik nodded and mentally made a note to tell his father about it as soon as he could. At the conclusion of the feast the food disappeared, Professor Giry made a few start of term announcements, the school song was sung and the students were dismissed to their common rooms for bed.
Tessa McRaven, a Ravenclaw prefect, had taken on the duty of leading the first years to their common rooms. Erik couldn't help but be disappointed when he saw Christine and the Hufflepuffs head down towards the kitchens while the Ravenclaws were being steered towards Ravenclaw tower located on the west side of the castle.
Erik was so drowsy that he quickly lost track of where they were being led. Finally after climbing a flight of winding stairs Tessa halted the group. They were now in a long gallery lined with suits of armor. Tessa then led them to a suit of armor bearing a shield and wearing colors of blue and bronze.
"Password?" a deep baritone voice from inside the armor snapped.
"Polaris." Tessa supplied.
The knight snapped his sword in a salute and swung aside to reveal a hidden doorway. Tessa opened the door and ushered them all inside.
The first years gasped in astonishment. They had entered a spacious room with a roaring fireplace, a long wood table and chairs, several large bookcases, huge squishy armchairs and sofas, an elegant stain glass window with the Ravenclaw crest, many intricately woven tapestries, and a grand stone staircase which led up into yet another study area.
Tessa led them up the staircase, past the study area, and towards two other staircases divided by a stone archway.
"Boys to the right and girls to the left. I suggest all of you get to bed immediately. You'll be dead on your feet tomorrow otherwise." Tessa said.
She bid them all good night and went with the girls up the left staircase. Erik, Mordrid, Jared, Edward Eldreth, and Nicholas Gallo wearily climbed the spiral staircase to the near top when they came to a door marked with abronze plaque that said First Years.
When they opened the door they discovered five four-poster blue curtained beds all arranged in a circle. Easily finding which bed their trunks were located by the boys quickly changed into their pajamas and climbed into bed. Erik pulled the curtains around his bed and as soon as Nicholas and Edward extinguished the room's candles Erik took off his mask and placed it on his bedside table. Erik burrowed under the covers and was asleep mere seconds later.
Hope you all like it! This chapter was proved an interesting one to write! Remember I love reviews so bring it on!