Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight.
A/N: good news: I have winter break this week and next so I can write more.
Bad news: My internet is down... Sorry! I'll see how much I can update when I go to the library.
Enjoy! and Merry Christamas!
The next morning, I wake up with a weird feeling in my stomach. It was a feeling of dread mixed with an anticipation of a next day full of opportunities.
Forks High School has a frightening total of only three hundred and fifty-seven — now fifty-eight — students; that was more than the whole of Hogwarts put together!
I would be the new girl from the "big" city, a curiosity, a freak.
Maybe, if I looked like a girl from Phoenix should, I could work this to my advantage. In their minds since I come from phoenix. I should be tan, sporty, blond — a volleyball player, or a cheerleader, perhaps — all the things that go with living in the valley of the sun. Hmph.
Instead, I appear ivory-skinned, without even the excuse of my blue eyes or blonde hair, despite the constant sunshine.
When I finish putting my clothes in the old pine dresser, I take my bag of bathroom necessities and go to the communal bathroom to clean myself up after the day of travel.
I look at my face in the mirror as I brush through my tangled, damp hair. Maybe it was the light, but already I looked sallower, unhealthy. My skin could be pretty — it was very clear, almost translucent-looking — but it all depended on color. I have no color here.
I let out a small laugh. I have been in this form for over five years, and I already began to think if it as my natural form. But I have not seen my regular appearance in just as long though. For all I know I could look like a troll.
Facing my pallid reflection in the mirror, I was forced to admit that I was lying to myself. It wasn't just physically that I'd never fit in. I didn't relate well to people my age that had nothing to do with what I really was. I didn't know how to converse with people that didn't know about dragons, mermaids, phoenix's...magic. Maybe the truth was that I didn't relate well to muggles, period.
But the cause didn't matter. All that mattered was the effect. And tomorrow would be just the beginning.
I didn't sleep well that night, even after I was done crying. I smile sadly remembering Daddy saying that a Malfoy never cried. Especially not in public.
"Drakey! Give me back my Dolly!" I scream tears falling down my face. I stop in the middle of the sitting room in a heap.
"Celestia?" I look up at my daddy. His stern expression immediately softens, and he bends down to my level.
"Drakey and Scorpy stole my dolly!" I wail immediately seeking to take off the blame off my crying. He gives me a stern look, but I could see the corners of his lips pulling up.
"Now what have a told you?" I rub my eyes drying my tears, and look up at him.
"Malfoys don't cry." I say sniffling. "Especially not young ladies."
"Exactly. I mean you're six years old now! How can such a big girl be crying?" He says giving me a fake scowl. I look up alarmed.
"I am a big girl Daddy! Promise!"
"Oh, I know you are. That's why I got you this for your birthday sweetheart." He pulls a small box from the back of his suit. I look curiously as he pulls out a small box.
I gasp when I see a very pretty ring inside.
"This ring has been in the family for a very long time. Your mother and I thought that it was time for you and Scorpious to have a Malfoy heirloom." I cling to his neck. I can't believe that they would give me a priceless family heirloom!
"I love you papa."
"I love you too my sweet girl."
The constant whooshing of the rain and wind across the roof wouldn't fade into the background. I pull the faded old quilt over my head, and later add the pillow, too. But I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight, when the rain finally settled into a quieter drizzle.
Thick fog is all I see out my window in the morning. You could never see the sky here; it was like a cage.
Breakfast with Charlie is quiet. He wishes me good luck at school. I thank him, and go back to eating.
Charlie leaves first, off to the police station that was his wife and family. It pained me to see that this kind man was alone.
After he leaves, I sit at the old square oak table in one of the three unmatching chairs and examine his small kitchen, with its dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and white linoleum floor. Nothing has changed. Mother would have had a blast redecorating...and remodeling for that matter.
Supposedly Renee had painted the cabinets eighteen years ago in an attempt to bring some
sunshine into the house. Over the small fireplace in the adjoining handkerchief-sized family room was a row of pictures. First a wedding picture of Charlie and Renee in a city named Las Vegas, followed by some very convincing pictures of me from my birth to now..
It was impossible, being in this house, not to realize that Charlie had never gotten over Renee. It made me sad. Would mother and Daddy ever end up like them as a cause of his actions?
I didn't want to be too early to school, but I couldn't stay in the house anymore. I put on a rather unflattering huge fluffy coat.
— and headed out into the rain.
It was just drizzling still, not enough to soak me through immediately as I reach for the house key that was always hidden under the eaves by the door, and locked up. The sloshing of my new waterproof boots was unnerving. I missed the normal crunch of gravel as I walked. I couldn't pause and admire my truck again as I wanted.
I was in a hurry to get out of the misty wet that swirled around my head and clung to my hair under my hood.
Inside the truck, it's nice and dry. Either Billy or Charlie had obviously cleaned it up, but the tan seats held an unfamiliar smell.
The engine started quickly, to my relief, but loudly, roaring to life and then idling at top volume. Well, a truck this old was bound to have a flaw. The antique radio worked a plus that I hadn't expected. I had grown quite fond of radios. I loved listening to music.
I drove slowly. Even though I had been taught to drive by Renee two years ago, it still unnerved me.
Finding the school wasn't difficult, though I'd never been there before. The school was, like most other things, just off the highway. It was not obvious that it was a school; only the sign, which declared it to be the Forks High School, made me stop. It looked like a collection of matching houses, built with maroon-colored bricks. There were so many trees and shrubs I couldn't see its size at first. Where was the feel of the magic? With it's huge towers, ghosts, and magical creatures?
I park in front of the first building, which has a small sign over the door reading front office. No one else was parked there, so I was sure it was off limits, but I decided I would get directions inside instead of circling around in the rain like an idiot. I step unwillingly out of the toasty truck cab and walk down a little stone path lined with dark hedges. I take a deep breath before opening the door. You can do this Celestia. You are a Malfoy after all.
Inside, it was brightly lit, and warmer than I'd hoped. The office was small; a little waiting area with padded folding chairs, orange-flecked commercial carpet, notices and awards cluttering the walls, a big clock ticking loudly. Plants grew everywhere in large plastic pots, as if there wasn't enough greenery outside. The room was cut in half by a long counter, cluttered with wire baskets full of papers and brightly colored flyers taped to its front. There were three desks behind the counter, one of which was manned by a large, red-haired woman wearing glasses.
The red-haired woman looks up. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Isabella Swan," I inform her, and see the immediate awareness light her eyes. I was expected.
"Of course," she said. She digs through a stacked pile of documents on her desk till she finds the ones she's looking for. "I have your schedule right here, and a map of the school." She brings several sheets to the counter to show me.
She goes through my classes for me, highlighting the best route to each on the map, and gives me a slip to have each teacher sign, which I was to bring back at the end of the day. She smiles at me and hopes, like Charlie, that I will like it here in Forks. I smile back as convincingly as I can.
When I go back to my truck, the other students are arriving. I drive around the school, following the line of traffic. I am glad to see that most of the cars were older like mine, nothing flashy. In Pheonix I'd lived in one of the few lower-income neighborhoods that were included in the Paradise Valley District. It was a common thing to see a new shiny car in the student lot. The nicest car here was a shiny Volvo, and it stood out.
Still, I cut the engine as soon as I was in a spot, so that the thunderous volume wouldn't draw attention to me.
I look at the map in the truck, trying to memorize it now; hopefully I wouldn't have to walk around with it stuck in front of my nose all day. I sigh. If I could find my way through Hogwarts, I could get around here. I stuff everything in my bag, sling the strap over my shoulder, and suck in a huge breath. I can do this, I lie to myself feebly. No one is going to bite me.
I finally exhale and step out of the truck.
I keep my face pulled back into my hood as I walk to the sidewalk, crowded with teenagers. My plain black jacket didn't stand out, I notice with relief. How I wished just to do a charm to stay dry.
Once I get around the cafeteria, building three was easy to spot. A large black "3" was painted on a white square on the east corner. I feel my breathing gradually creeping toward hyperventilation as I approach the door. I try holding my breath as I follow two unisex raincoats through the door.
The classroom is small. The people in front of me stop just inside the door to hang up their coats on a long row of hooks. I copy them. They were two girls, one a porcelain-colored blonde, the other also pale, with light brown hair. At least my skin wouldn't be a standout here.
I take the slip up to the teacher, a tall, balding man whose desk had a nameplate identifying him as Mr. Mason. He gawks at me when he sees my name — not an uncommon response to either of my names it seems — and of course I flush tomato red. But at least he sends me to an empty desk at the back without introducing me to the class. It was harder for my new classmates to stare at me in the back, but somehow, they manage.
I keep my eyes down on the reading list the teacher had given me. It was fairly basic: Bronte, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Faulkner. I'd already read mostly everything. Over the years I had found that I loved muggle literature.
When the bell rings, a nasal buzzing sound, a tall boy with skin problems and hair black as ink comes to stand by me.
He leans across the aisle to talk to me.
"You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?" He looks like the overly helpful, chess club type.
"Bella," I correct, fighting the urge to correct him. Everyone within a three-seat radius turns to look at me.
"Where's your next class?" he asks.
I had to check in my bag." Um, Government, with Jefferson, in building six."
There was nowhere to look without meeting curious eyes.
"I'm headed toward building four, I could show you the way…"Definitely over-helpful.
"I'm Eric," he adds.
I smile tentatively. "Thanks."
We get our jackets and head out into the rain, which had picked up. I could have sworn several people behind us were walking close enough to eavesdrop. I hope I wasn't getting paranoid.
"So, this is a lot different than Phoenix, huh?" he asked.
"Very."
"It doesn't rain much there, does it?"
"Three or four times a year."
"Wow, what must that be like?" he wonders.
"Sunny," I tell him.
"You don't look very tan."
"My mother is part albino." I say smiling wryly.
He studies my face apprehensively, and I sigh.
A few months of this and I'd forget how to use my Malfoy sarcasm.
We walk back around the cafeteria, to the south buildings by the gym. Eric walks me right to the door, though it was clearly marked.
"Well, good luck," he says as I touch the handle. "Maybe we'll have some other classes together." He sounds hopeful.
I smile at him vaguely and go inside.
The rest of the morning pass in about the same fashion. My Trigonometry teacher, Mr. Varner, who I would have hated anyway just because of the subject he taught. I was never really good with math.
He was the only one who made me stand in front of the class and introduce myself. I stammered, blushed, and tripped over my own boots on the way to my seat. It reminded me of my sorting. Except this time it was me it was happening to.
"'irst yers' ovur here! 'irst yers'" I look up, and am quite startled to see a very huge man. Oliver, Charlie and the Weasley twins chuckle under their breath. Scorpious holds my hand tighter in his.
"Don't worry about him Lassie. That's Hagrid. He's very nice once yeh get to know him. I'll see you soon Bells."Oliver gives me a small smile before following the Weasley to some carriages that seemed to be pulling themselves.
"Come on Celestia." Scorpious pulls me to where the other first years were headed. We all stop infront of the giant man.
"A'right. Y'ull be crossin' to 'ogwarts by boat. No mur than 'our to a boat." Scorpious sit by another girl that introduces herself as Daphe Greengrass, and a funny boy named Lee Jordan.
When we get to the school, a stern looking witch greets us. She leads us a great massive door, where I could hear hundreds of different conversations.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall." said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly. You will be sorted into your houses before you take your seats in the Great Hall. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your houses will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
She looks around, scanning our faces.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each and every house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I will come back for you when we are ready for you." She leaves us.
"Nervous?" Both Scorpious and I ask each other at the same time. We laugh softly. I hold onto his hand, and he gives it a comforting squeeze.
"Don't worry Princess. It will be alright."
"But what if I don't make it into Slytherin?" I would be blasted off the family tree for certain.
"Then you can come hang out with us!" I look over an see the Weasley twins grinning ear to ear with the boy, Lee Jordan, behind him.
Scorpious smirks. Professor McGonagall comes back for us.
"We are ready for you now. Get in a line, and follow me." We get into a line, with Scorpious beside me, Daphe in front of me, and the Weasley twins behind us. The great hall was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting.
These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall leads the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind us.
The hundreds of faces staring at as looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. I look all around me in wonder. Scorpious nudges me to look up. I stretch my neck back to see the extraordinarily beautiful ceiling. It was enchanted to look like the night sky as mother had told us. Tonight it was pitch black with thousands of sparking stars.
"What do you think they'll make us do?" Fred or George asks leaning forward.
"We don't know. Mother and father wanted us to experience it for ourselves." Scorpious says. The other twin leans forward as well.
"Our parents too, and our brothers wouldn't tell us a thing."
From the table that was red and gold, Charlie and Oliver give me a small smile. I turn back to the front when I hear singing. I stare transfixed at the the old hat that was sitting on the old stool.
"Now, I will call your name, you will come up,put the hat on, and wait to be sorted." I frown as I start to feel nervousness creeping up on me. Many students had already fallen on the way to the stool, and that was definitely not helping my nervousness.
"Malfoy, Celestia." I take a big breathe, and walk confidently up the steps. I try to ignore the whispers. When I get to the top, I sit down on the stool. A few seconds later, my eyesight is gone when the hat is placed on my head.
"Hmm...very interesting mind. Very smart possibly even smarter than the Ravenclaws,but you don't like to boast about your intelligence. So you wouldn't get along well with them. Loyal, but much to tough for Hufflepuff. Definitely brave...but very cunning. You have great power, but you're different than most. Better be SLYTHERIN!" I exhale relieved, and hop down from the stool.
The table decorated with green and silver burst out into joyous excitement. I smile brightly as I make my way over to my new house, and sit at the end by Daphne Greengrass.
"Daphne." I smirk shaking her hand.
"Celestia."
I turn back to see my brother's sorting. It's not even to his head when he is placed into Slytherin.
I smile brightly when he sits by me.
"Told you." I scowl at him.
After two classes, I start to recognize several of the faces in each class. There was always someone braver than the others who would introduce themselves and ask me questions about how I was liking Forks. I tried to be diplomatic, but mostly I just lied a lot. At least I never needed the map.