Chapter 9: Slytherin?
"I thought the train went directly to Hogwarts?" Emily asked as she stared out the window, the small town lying before her.
"Hogsmeade is the last stop. All the students take other means of transportation up to the school." Hermione explained.
"It's not that far. Third years and up can go into town on the weekends." Harry stated as he grabbed her box from the top compartment. "Don't forget about this."
"Thanks." She replied as she took it from his hands.
Emily followed her friends as they made their way off the train and onto the large platform. The small window didn't do the view justice. The crisp air filled her lungs as her eyes scanned all that was before her. It was absolutely remarkable. She had never seen anything so majestic in her life. Great mountains surrounded them on all sides, a lake as black as night stretched out before them, a dense forest etching itself in between the lake and the hills. Yet it was the stone castle, which gleamed in the sunlight that caught her eyes. So this was Hogwarts. It was breathtaking. Harry was right it was nothing like she had ever seen. It was seeing it now for the first time that she was finally able to comprehend why her grandfather wanted it so. As her eyes gazed out at all that lay before her, she could sense a magical quality in it all, something sacred, something powerful.
"Incredible." She muttered under her breath.
"Pretty spectacular isn't it?" Harry commented upon seeing her face.
"Hogwarts Hogwarts bloody bloody Hogwarts teach us something please—"
"Ron!" Hermione laughed, a large smile crossing her face, as she swung her bag across her shoulder.
"The view only gets better as we get closer." Harry spoke softly so that only she could hear. With a smile he waved his hand beckoning her to follow them.
Emily made her way down the platform following closely behind her friends. Yet she wasn't prepared for them to abruptly stop in front of her forcing her to come to a quick halt as well. It wasn't until she looked up that she realized why, for before them stood an abnormally large, rustic man.
"Hiya Hagrid," all of three of them said at once.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron. Gud to see all of ye again. It's gonna be a great year. Who ya got here?" The man said as he glanced behind Harry at Emily.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hagrid this is…" but before Harry could say any more Hagrid gasped as if he recognized her.
"Rebecca?" Hagrid asked.
"Sorry, but… I'm Emily…Black." Emily replied.
Harry was shocked. Of course Hagrid would have known Rebecca they were in the same year. Yet, why did Emily act as if she didn't know her own grandmother's name? After a few moments Harry realized that maybe even Emily didn't know the whole truth.
"Oh, sorry…of course you arn't. How silly of me. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Emily. I've got to hear a lot about you, Order business and all. I'm Hagrid, Keeper of the grounds at Hogwarts. I'm also your Care of Magical Creatures Professor." Hagrid said with a gleam in his eye.
"Well, we had better be off. Don't want to be late for dinner. Emily still has to be sorted. It was nice seeing you Hagrid." Hermione replied as she turned to lead them towards the carriages.
As Emily approached them she noticed the creatures that were harnessed to the pristine black carriages. They looked like skinless horses with wings.
"Harry, what are those creatures pulling the carriages?" Emily asked trying not to stare at them.
"They're therstrels. Not everyone can see them, only those that have seen or experienced death." Harry replied as easily as he could, opening the door to let everyone in.
"Oh…" Emily couldn't say anymore for the memories began to flood back to her. She remembered the blood-curdling scream before the still silence.
"You alright Em?" Hermione asked placing a hand on her arm gently.
"I'm fine." She mumbled as best as she could, forcing the memories back into the corners of her mind.
The four of them made their way towards the castle. Emily sat in awe of her surroundings. Hogwarts was exactly like she hoped it would be, exciting, daring, and yet a seeming since of home as well. Hogwarts itself seemed to be growing as they made their climb up the grounds. Turrets, sections of arches, courtyards came into view. She noticed the great black lake as they rounded the corner. It looked so still not a single break of waves to be seen.
"Over there's the Quidditch Pitch." Ron pointed out to her. "Games should be starting up pretty soon."
"The outskirt over there is the Forbidden Forest, it's off limits to all students." Hermione smiled to Ron and Harry. "Well, most of the time."
"Here we go." Harry said with a smile as the carriage came to an abrupt stop almost forcing them out of their seats. Emily knew her mouth must be slightly open as she marveled at the great wooden doors, and stone archways of the courtyards. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. "Be careful."
Harry's voice broke her thoughts as he pointed towards the stepladder on the ground. She gave him a grateful smile; she, however, upon seeing his extended hand simply stepped out of the carriage and onto the stone without placing hers in his.
Upon entering the castle it seemed that her friends were making their way towards the Great Hall. Emily reminded herself to breathe. A sudden sense of anxiety made its way into her mind as she looked around at all the students whose eyes still hadn't seemed to leave her. What if she couldn't do this? What if she failed?
"Alright Emily, we have to go sit at our house table. Professor McGonagall will be here in a moment so that she can tell you the procedure for being sorted." Hermione said as she gave Emily a hug before turning and heading into the Great Hall with Ron.
"We'll catch up with you after the sorting is over with." Harry said as he gave her a wink, which she took as good luck, and turned to follow Ron and Hermione.
Emily stood there in the entryway suddenly feeling desperately out of place amongst kids four and five years younger than her.
"Are you a first year?" A voice spoke up from behind her. She turned to find a rather tiny young girl with extremely long black hair smiling at her.
"I don't think so, but I am new." She replied. "I'm Emily."
"Jade." The girl said with a bright smile.
"Anything I should know about this whole sorting thing?" Emily said jokingly.
"Wilson, my brother, is in Ravenclaw, he said the hat talks to you, to everyone. I don't know how but I guess it just knows where you're supposed to be. My mum's whole family was in Ravenclaw but my dad's was in Gryffindor. Who knows where I'll be sorted! What about your family, what house where they in?"
"Slytherin I think." Emily saw Jade's eyes get wider at the mention of it. "My dad was in Gryffindor though." Jade's smile returned at this.
"Maybe we'll both be in the same house?"
"Maybe." Emily mumbled. It was then she heard her name being called.
"Emily Black. Is there an Emily Black here?" A high-pitched voice called out.
"I'm here." Emily said as she turned.
"Emily, I'm Professor McGonagall. I know that you are a new student at Hogwarts this year, and for that you must be sorted along with the other new students."
For the next five minutes the older woman explained the procedure, and the houses to everyone. Emily noticed that she was the only upperclassman. A notion that wasn't exactly comforting. When the Professor had finished speaking she opened the large wooden doors to the Great Hall and asked everyone to follow her. Everyone did as they were told. The younger kids went first and Emily hung back allowing them all to go ahead of her. She glanced around her as she followed the other students to the front of the hall. Once again everyone's eyes were on her. Emily would have given everything to simply turn and retreat back out into the entryway. Yet, she knew she couldn't.
The Great Hall was lavishly decorated in all the houses themes. There were five tables. Emily noticed that there were four representing each house, and then one that was reserved for the Professors.
Routher Aberdouth was the first to be called. Emily was surprised when the Sorting Hat's voice echoed throughout the Great Hall. It was not what she expected. Emily waited in the back as each new first year took their turn being sorted. One by one a house was called and the young student would file to their assigned house table which each erupted in a great clapping of hands and cheering. Jade seemed excited upon being sorted into Ravenclaw and took her seat next to a boy who must have been her brother. The group became smaller and smaller until finally she was the last one standing there. It was only then that Professor McGonagal finally called her name.
"Emily Black. You shall conclude our sorting ceremony."
Emily walked up the wooden stairs glancing towards Professor Dumbledore as she made her way towards the stool. She noticed that his face was rigid as if he was deep in thought. She took a seat carefully on the old wooden stool, her eyes scanning the large expanse before her, filled with hundreds of eyes all of which were staring at her. She smiled at how only hours ago she had been unnerved walking through the train compartments; this took it to a whole new level.
Harry's eyes were locked on Emily. This was a moment he had been dreading ever since he knew she would be coming to Hogwarts. He knew that rightfully Emily belonged to Slytherin, she was the true heir of the house. Harry knew that this moment would change everything. Emily had the choice. It was just a question of what she would choose.
Emily felt the hat being placed on her head, it was then that she heard its distinct voice.
Ah… this is what I have been waiting for.
I know who and what you are, Emily, you are an heir.
You belong with your rightful ancestors, do you not think?
Please not Slytherin, I am not like by ancestors.
I see great evil in your past. Evil no one should ever see in a lifetime.
Yet you have the traits of your mother running through your veins, there is no doubt about that.
Courage, resilience, passion it's all here you know inside you.
Decisions, decisions. I see bravery in your heart as well.
Slytherin is where you belong, don't you think, you are like him you know,
He was alone too, he was powerful too, he was betrayed by those closest to him as well.
You must know that. You are too much like him.
"I am not like him. I will never be him." Emily exclaimed yet soon realizing by all the shocked expressions in the crowd that it had been aloud.
Temper. Temper. He had that too you know.
I can see it all. It is all here inside your mind.
Yet I see your heart as well, my my, quite intriguing
You possess a strong heart, Emily.
Then may I ask, where do you belong?
Emily shut her eyes as his words echoed through her. Where did she belong? She felt her heart pound hard in her chest. Emily forced her eyes to open and searched the crowd until she found what she had been searching for. She glanced and saw Harry starring at her with his blazing emerald eyes, a worried but hopeful expression across his face.
Well if, that is what you have chosen, then that is where you shall be.
GRYFFINDOR!
A wave of relief flooded Emily as she took off the hat and stepped down the stairs towards the Gryffindor table that had erupted into a great applause. The hard part was over. Emily took a seat by Hermione. All three of her friends had a look of joy upon their faces, as they congratulated her, yet the rest of the room had gone silent, even the Professors' faces looked concerned.
"Its never done that before." Hermione spoke.
"Never done what?" Emily asked upon seeing her face change from joy to confusion.
"The Sorting Hat always speaks aloud." Ron mumbled to her.
"It did though. I mean it told me—"
"The only word the Sorting Hat spoke aloud, Em, was Gryffindor." Harry's whispered across the table. "The rest was inside your head I guess."
"But why—" yet Emily was cut off by the echoing sound of Dumbledore's voice.
"Welcome new students" Dumbledore caught Emily's eye and winked. "as well as returning ones. A couple of things need to be said before we begin the feast. All students should note the Forbidden Forest is off limits to any student; also Hogsmeade is off limits to any student younger then third year. Now, this would be a time to introduce our new Professors, but I just received a letter saying that our new Defense Against the Arts teacher shall be late, so until further notice our own Professor Snape will be taking over the class, only for a short time though, I assure you…so with out further a due, let the feast begin." Dumbledore then sat down and began to talk among his fellow colleagues.
Emily jumped at the sudden appearance and the aroma of so much food. There was potatoes, muffins, steak, ham, twelve kinds of pudding and everything looked absolutely delicious. Emily had finished filling her plate, as Ron was already on seconds.
"So, wuaht wer yu yellun abut?" Ron said with a mouthful.
"What do you mean? " Emily asked cautiously.
"Wun yu wer bein surtud. Yu wur yellun somthun abut how yu wurnt hum." Ron said with another mouthful.
"So everyone heard that." Emily replied as she began to blush.
"Yeah, you looked pretty upset." Hermione chimed in.
"Um, it was nothing." Emily said with a little hesitation. For only Harry knew the truth.
"I can't wait till Quidditch starts up again. We had better start training pretty soon, Harry."
"Yeah, we probably should. Tryouts are in a week."
"Oh, no, not this already. Quidditch this, and quidditch that. It never ends Emily, you better get used to it." Hermione replied as she began pulling out a book from her bag and began reading.
"Speaking of getting used to things, Emily, you had better get used to Hermione's pestering you about if you did your homework, or if you studied. It never ends as well." Ron muttered.
Emily could only laugh at the scene before her. It seemed for the first time in so many years she was happy.