School's great, thanks for asking. And now that I am back at school, I decided I should bring a few people with me.
Yep, you guess it. Welcome to Hogwarts!
Disclaimer: I used a lot from Philosopher's Stone (well, Sorcerer's Stone in my case) in this chapter, so I shall remind you again that I do not own anything Harry Potter. That's all J. K. Rowling's. I'm just borrowing. Fantasizing. Pondering. Envying. Admiring.
Enjoy!
Chapter 10 – Flight to Hogwarts
A group of eight people lied on the grass in the middle of a vacant Quidditch pitch. They formed a star of some sort with a familiar wooden box set in the middle. Each of their heads was next to someone else' and the tip of a broomstick. They all wore their favorite black cloaks, as it was cold this early in the morning. The cool breezes that passed them made the only sounds.
Everett broke the silence, "So this is it, huh?" More than one person sighed.
"Yeah," Angelina answered. It was quiet enough around them for everyone to hear her.
"We'll still see each other," Sebastiaan offered.
"Just not as often," Teddy replied.
"Not like this," Damyan added.
"Maybe at the reunion," Liam murmured. Though it was a light thought, his voice was dull, almost emotionless.
"We'll be too old then," Jamie joked gently.
"We could form a band," Raven suggested softly, a smile ghosting her lips.
"The Black Wings," they all whispered.
And it was silent once again.
Midnight...
"So this is it, huh?"
Raven took a shaky breath. Less than a day ago, one of her best friends uttered the same thing, in the same mournful way. She decided to repeat what some of her other best friends said, "Yeah, but we'll still see each other. Just not as often." She curled up more into her father's embrace. He tightened his arms around her. About a year after they first met, Raven finally convinced the guards to not restrain Sirius during their visits. The first time he went without wards, Raven ran into her father's lap and made that her place for the rest of her visits. Today was no exception.
Sirius kissed the top of her head. "I know. I'm just going to miss you so much. A whole school year without seeing my daughter. It's cruel."
Gray eyes met gray. "Not the whole school year," Raven argued gently, "I'll still visit during breaks." She also planned to talk to Dumbledore about visits during the year. She didn't say this though. Remus was in his usual chair in the corner, and she did not want to get Sirius' (or her) hopes up.
The prisoner grinned and nodded. "I know," he croaked then tried to swallow the lump forming in his throat. He couldn't help it. His daughter was going away, off to enjoy life and its wonders, yet he couldn't be there for her. And it was all his fault.
Raven frowned up at the worn man she'd come to know as her dad. He had that look again. The look that said everything bad that's ever happened to them was his fault. "It's not."
Sirius' eyebrows raised a second in shock, then he composed himself. She had not read his mind, she just knew him too well.
Isn't it? Remus thought to himself. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head slightly. He was tired of this. Tired of years of coming to this tiny, dark cell and having to watch his former friend receive attention from his cub and benefiting from it—as if she really was the Patronus he constantly compared her to. But if she was the Patronus, watching them was his dementor. He decayed as if he were the prisoner and Black was the...father. Remus ran a hand through his hair. He tried to hide his exhaustion from Raven, and he did it well; but in this cell, his true, haggard form showed. Luckily, she ignored it.
"I'll write to you every week," Raven reminded. It was almost time to leave. She had to be on a red train in eleven hours, and she still hadn't slept. Raven begged Remus to come at this time because this was her and Sirius' Sunday; but, unfortunately, this Sunday was also September first. Raven figured the very beginning of this day would be the best (and least rushed) time to make her last visit before Hogwarts.
"And I'll write back as soon as possible," Sirius replied. The guards still didn't trust what Raven sent to him, and it took a couple of days for them to check. They never found anything though. Probably never will, Sirius thought stoically.
Raven nodded but said nothing. The three sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts that were dark like the old, stone cell they all knew too well.
"Bye, Remus." Raven's voice was muffled by her godfather's shirt as she hugged him.
Remus gritted his teeth, trying to hold in his tears. "Bye, Raven." They stood there for a while, neither wanting to let go.
"Hey, don't I get a hug?"
Raven sighed and let go of Remus. She looked up...and up, to see her eighteen-year-old friend, Liam, grinning down at her. He was here to see her (along with Bastiaan, Teddy, Ange, Evi, and Jamie—wherever they were) off. "Sure," Raven replied, squeezing the older boy tightly.
He kissed the top of her head and rested his on hers. "I'm gonna miss you, Ray," he croaked. It wasn't fair he graduated the year before she started school. If he'd been just one year younger, most of the gang would've been together, taking Hogwarts by storm. Not that he doubted they would, but it would've been nice if he were there too. He sighed and reluctantly let go of his young friend—no, she was more than that. My sister, he corrected. That suited her.
Raven looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm gonna miss you too, Lili."
That nickname and her tears nearly broke Liam, but he refused to cry in public. Besides, it's not like they would never see each other again; or that they've never been apart for this long. He went to Hogwarts way before she did. Then again, she did start visiting that one September, Liam thought to himself, It's been a while since we've been apart for this long. He kissed her again on the forehead.
"I want a hug, too, Lili." Everett walked up to the three of them with his large arms opened wide.
Liam grinned and held one arm open. The three shared another hug and stayed there. After a minute, Jamie walked up and joined. Then Sebastiaan, and Angelina, and Teddy. Finally, Damyan surprised them all by joining in, but no one said anything. They all stood there for a minute, trying not to think too much. Then they broke apart.
Everett made the first effort to brighten the moment by asking Damyan, "So, how'd you get here?"
Damyan smirked. "My mum drove. I'm taking a portkey to school." He looked down sheepishly. "I wasn't going to miss this," he mumbled. Raven smiled at him. She knew how shy the Bulgarian boy could be and how hard it was for him to show his feelings. By just coming here showed how much this group meant to him. Damyan saw her smile and gave her a hug.
"We love you too," the gray-eyed witch whispered in the older wizard's ear.
He gave her a gentle squeeze and nodded before letting go. Angelina was the next to hug Damyan and the rest of the group exchanged hugs and goodbyes. By the time they finished, not a dry eye was left, including their parents (and guardians) that came here.
Just a few minutes before eleven, Raven, Sebastiaan, Angelina, Teddy, Jamie, and Everett made their ways to the train with their luggage. They found a compartment to store their belongings then went back to the platform to give their last farewells.
"Have fun, and be good. And if you need anything, just ask, okay?" Remus said.
Raven nodded and gave him one last hug. "I will, Remus." She let go and looked up at him. "I love you."
The amber-eyed man smiled at her. "I love you too, Raven."
With a smile and a light wave, the young witch made her way back to the train. As the clock struck eleven and the train started to move, she waved to everyone left on the platform and wondered if moving forward was really better than what she left behind.
The six students in the small train compartment sat in silence. Five of them waited subconsciously for Everett to speak first like he always did.
They were surprised someone else beat him to it. "So this is it," Raven sighed.
Sebastiaan raised an eyebrow at her and replied, "You and I both know too many people have said that." He turned to the rest of his moping friends. "Enough of the pessimism. Yes, we just lost a friend to the real world and, yes, one is off to Durmstrang; but it's not like we've never been apart before. What about Teddy, Raven, and me? We spent last two years alone, and none of us went to the same school. But look at us. We're fine, still as close as ever, because we're all friends for a reason. None of us will let anything ruin a friendship we all try desperately to keep." Sebastiaan was breathing a little heavier than before and his cheeks were a little pink. His eyes were on fire.
Everyone looked shocked, but then smiled. He had a point.
"So do we clap now, or...?" Everett smirked.
"Shut up," Sebastiaan answered.
Everett chuckled then started to clap anyway. Everyone else followed his lead, and soon they were applauding and cheering loudly. Sebastiaan sat with his arms crossed and his cheeks pink. He fought a smile.
The applause was broken by a woman's voice, "Anything from the trolley, dears?"
The group turned to smile at her. Before anyone could order, Jamie said to his friends, "Get four chocolate frogs—each."
They shrugged and did as he said. As everyone got out their money, Raven turned to Sebastiaan and asked, "Did you bring Muggle and wizard money?"
Sebastiaan rolled his eyes, but answered, "Yes, I did."
Teddy snorted, "Why Muggle money?"
"Because Raven's got me on her 'Just in Case' plan." He rolled his eyes again.
Teddy laughed. "Well, that's—"
"Great thinking ahead," Raven interrupted.
Everett snorted. Then coughed, "Ravenclaw."
Raven stared blankly at him, then coughed, "Pussy cat!"
Everett looked at her with his mouth open, then said, "I'm not a pussy cat."
Raven gave him an innocent look. "I never said you were, I was just coughing."
Everett barked a laugh. "Yeah, 'just coughing' my—"
"Everett!" Jamie interrupted. He glanced pointedly at the old lady with the trolley. "She's waiting."
Raven and Everett hurried to pay the lady then took their chocolate frogs back to the compartment. Jamie waited for Everett with his arms crossed. "What have I told you about cursing in front of Beth?" he chastised.
Everett pouted. "Not to," he grumbled. He sat down a muttered to himself, "When did you become my mom?"
"When my mom taught me right," Jamie answered.
"So my mother didn't teach me right?" Everett asked heatedly.
"I never said that. Mrs. C's great. You on the other hand..."
Everett narrowed his eyes at the other boy then threw all of his frogs at him. "Just charm those, you prat."
Jamie smirked then started to charm everyone's candy.
The next few hours were spent messing around, pigging out on wizard and Muggle candy, and showing off magic tricks.
"Is this your card?" Sebastiaan pulled a three of hearts from a deck of Muggle playing cards and flashed it to Everett.
The larger wizard had a baffled and amazed expression. "How did you do that?"
Sebastiaan smirked. "A magician never tells." Teddy, Raven and he shared a laugh. Over the past two years, the three took an interest in Muggle magic and practiced it. They all quickly started to master the subject. This was the first time anyone else from the group found out.
Everett narrowed his eyes then picked up a Chocolate Frog card. He pulled his wand from its holster and pointed it at the card. He levitated it and the card floated to right in front of Teddy, Sebastiaan, and Raven. The three first-years watched the Dumbledore in the card wave as his robes changed colors. Once his robes turned ruby, Everett floated another card over—this one of Morgana—next to Dumbledore. Raven, Sebastiaan, and Teddy watched in amazement as Dumbledore walked out of his own card and into Morgana's. Then, the two greeted each other and started to dance!
"Whoa!"
"Wicked!"
"Show me how you did it!"
Sebastiaan and Teddy turned to Raven with identical grins.
The witch looked back. "What?"
Teddy shook his head as Everett smirked. "You can never just be amazed," Teddy answered, "you have to learn how to amaze yourself."
"He's right," Everett chuckled, "You are, no doubt, a Ravenclaw."
The others nodded in agreement.
Raven rolled her eyes. "So there's no possibility that I will be sorted in another house?"
"No," Jamie immediately answered.
Raven giggled. "Not a moment of hesitation."
Angelina laughed and wrapped an arm around the younger witch's shoulders. "I hope you are in Ravenclaw. We don't have one of those in our group. Just lions and a snake." She motioned to herself and Everett, then Jamie. She turned and pointed to Sebastiaan. "And we're counting on you to be our badger."
"What about me?" Teddy smirked.
Angelina mirrored his smirk. "I'm sure we all know how the hat will sort you."
Teddy faked a surprised look and asked, "A hat will sort us?"
The older witch rolled her eyes. "As if you haven't read Hogwarts: A History a thousand times with Raven."
"Hey! I haven't read it a thousand times."
"Yeah," Everett scoffed then said in his squeaky girl-voice, "more like a million. Get it right, Angelina."
Raven and Angelina laughed, but the older witch smacked his head, and the younger one said, "We do not sound like that."
Everett rubbed his head and grumbled, "I make them laugh, they hit me and criticize my jokes."
Angelina rolled her eyes. "Oh, you poor baby. Want me to kiss your boo-boo?" She cooed teasingly.
Everett smirked. "I have a few things you could kiss."
Angelina raised a brow at him. "As do I," she smiled. Raven hid her smirk as the other boys stupidly watched in interest.
Everett perked up. "You do?"
The older witch nodded slowly. "Would you like to know where?"
The curly-haired wizard nodded vigorously. "Yes."
Angelina smirked seductively then motioned him over with her finger. Everett quickly moved forward. The witch turned and stage-whispered in his ear, "You may kiss...my...ass." She suppressed her snicker only long enough to move back and look at the wizard's face.
Everett had a dumbstruck expression on his face. It quickly melted into a frown. "You're mean."
Angelina and Raven howled in laughter as the other wizards frowned at them. "Oh, you boys," Raven said through her giggles, "You're...so...stupid..." Both witches held their sides as they guffawed.
"Shut up." Everett pouted.
This only amplified the witches' laughter. Eventually, Jamie started to snicker, and Sebastiaan and Teddy quickly followed. Everett frowned at the five people laughing at him, then couldn't help his own chuckles. Soon, the entire compartment was full of giggling goons that, not so long ago, were crying as if they would never laugh again.
A disembodied voice rang over the still smiling students. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Everyone in the compartment quickly changed into their robes and cleaned up the area. By the time the train stopped, the compartment was spotless, the luggage was out of the way, and the students were ready to leave.
Everyone made their way out of the train and Everett, Jamie, and Angelina waved to their three friends. The three waved back and followed the voice bellowing out, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Raven smiled as she saw the half-giant she'd come to know and love. "Hagrid!"
The very large man looked down at the tiny witch and beamed. "All right there, Raven?" He looked around (the three were the last of the first-years to arrive) and called out, "C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
The large group of small children followed the giant man down a steep, narrow path through the dark. It was pretty quiet as they all walked, only a few whispers and some kid sniffling were heard. After a minute, Hagrid announced, "Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here." As if summoned by his words, a large castle with many turrets and towers shined through the darkness, reflected by the large black lake before it.
Most of the children let out cries of awe as they beheld their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Raven smiled at the familiar castle. Hogwarts never ceased to amaze her with its beauty.
Hagrid pointed to a row of little boats floating in the water by the shore. "No mor'n four to a boat!" Raven, Teddy, and Sebastiaan sat in a boat by themselves. They smiled at each other, but said nothing as they stared around at the scenery. Once everyone found a boat, Hagrid asked from his own boat, "Everyone in?" Some nodded, some made affirmative sounds. "Right then," the giant man shouted, "FOWARD."
The fleet of boats did as the large man commanded, gliding across the inky surface of the the Black Lake. No one said a thing as they stared up at the awesome castle overhead. It became larger and more magnificent as the boats sailed toward the cliff it rested on.
"Heads down," Hagrid warned as the first boats reached the cliff and the curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They sailed through a dark tunnel underneath the castle to an underground harbor where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
Raven saw Hagrid pick up a toad as he did a boat check. He looked over at the sniffling kid and said, "Oi, you there! Is this your toad?"
"Trevor!" the boy cried out joyfully, then he held out his hands. Hagrid handed him the toad and lead the students up a passageway in the rock. They all followed the large man's lamp light and came out onto groomed grass at the base of the castle.
They all walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door.
Hagrid looked around and asked, "Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" He raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
At once, the door swung open and a tall, black-haired witch wearing emerald-green robes stood there. Raven smiled as she saw the stern face of Professor McGonagall.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid announced.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide, giving everyone a good look at the Entrance Hall. Professor McGonagall walked across the flagged stone floor, passed the large, marble staircase and a door to the right that seemed to have the whole school behind it. She led them into a small, empty chamber off the hall; and the students piled into the room, standing closer than they would normally.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house 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.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. 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 suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on the sniffling kid's cloak and on a tall ginger's nose. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.
Sebastiaan, Teddy, and Raven looked at each other with nervous expressions. They were all giddy yet excited for the Sorting. They looked around and saw the terrified faces of their peers.
Teddy smirked slightly. "I bet they think they have to get passed a troll or something for the Sorting," he whispered.
Raven and Sebastiaan snickered quietly. "Probably," the witch replied.
"Not everyone gets passed the troll, I heard," Teddy said a little louder. The students around them looked purely horrified, even a bit green.
Raven and Sebastiaan had to hide their grins as they tried not to laugh. "Teddy," Sebastiaan quietly admonished, "don't be so mean."
The other boy smirked. "Do you really expect anything else from a Slytherin?" he asked. "Plus, it made you laugh."
Raven smiled at her dark-haired friend. "He's got a point, Bastiaan. Thanks, Teddy."
Teddy beamed. Raven wrinkled her nose cutely back at him. Sebastiaan rolled his eyes. "You guys are—"
Several screams interrupted him. The three looked around to see about twenty ghosts stream through the back wall. They glided across the room, deep in conversation, barely noticing the frightened children around them.
Raven recognized the two ghosts. The one she knew to be the Fat Friar was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance—"
"My dear Friar," the ghost Raven knew as Nearly-Headless Nick (or Sir Nicholas) interrupted, "haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost—I say," Sir Nicholas finally noticed the first-years, "what are you all doing here?"
Raven was about to answer, but the Fat Friar called out, "New students!" He smiled around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few students—including Raven and her friends—nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" the Fat Friar said, "My old house, you know."
Professor McGonagall came back and said sharply, "Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
The ghosts did as she said, and one-by-one, they floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," the professor ordered, "and follow me."
Raven stood in the middle of Sebastiaan and Teddy and walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. She smiled again as she beheld the beauty of Hogwarts. She'd never seen the Great Hall at night, so the floating candles and the starry sky above her took her breath away. One day, she promised herself, I will paint a hundred pictures of this great hall.
As the line slowed, Raven glanced around at all the pale faces glowing in the candle light separated by the four house tables. She quickly looked over to the long table at the top of the hall and spotted her favorite Potions professor. She beamed at him and he nodded subtly before turning to glare at a student further up in the line.
Professor McGonagall led the first-years up to to the head table, and they came to a halt in a line facing the other students with their backs turned to the teachers. She placed a four-legged stool in front of the young students, and on top of it, she set an extremely old wizard's hat. Raven watched as the Sorting Hat twitched, then opened up and began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of the line. Raven recognized her as one of the people Teddy frightened with his troll theory. She put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. After a moment's pause—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down. Raven saw the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Black, Raven!"
Some gasps followed her name as people in the hall started to realize just who Raven was related to. Sebastiaan and Teddy gave her quick, reassuring pats before she made her way to the stool. She took the proffered Sorting Hat and placed it on her head, then sat down.
"Hmm," hummed a small voice in Raven's ear. "Quite intelligent, I see. Ravenclaw, perhaps?"
"Erm," Raven answered, not sure if she should. "Maybe. I've been told I am one."
The hat chuckled softly. "But you are not sure you are just a Ravenclaw." It wasn't a question.
Raven answered anyway, "Yes. I have traits of all the houses. I'm just not sure which is the dominant one. Well, Ravenclaw is the obvious one, but I'm not sure if it defines me."
"You have thought this out." The Hat sounded amused.
Raven giggled. "Maybe I am a Ravenclaw."
"I can see it in your mind just how you could be in any of the houses, but I do believe that whichever one you are Sorted in, you will always know which is right for you," the hat said wisely.
Raven let those words sink in then made a decision.
"I agree with you, young one. You are a RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table didn't have nearly as loud of a cheer as Hufflepuff gave Hannah, but Raven didn't care. She had been Sorted into the right house. She sat down and ignored the stares from her table as she faced the rest of the hall. She smiled at Teddy and Sebastiaan and they returned it.
"Bones, Susan!" Professor McGonagall continued.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The girl walked towards the Hufflepuffs two tables down from where Raven sat. Raven sighed as she realized if Sebastiaan and Teddy were Sorted into the houses they were expected to, their tables would not be near hers. But, she thought, looking around, Gryffindor is right there. She quickly spotted Everett staring at her.
Before she could frown at him in confusion, he crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. Raven giggled quietly. He smiled at her, then elbowed Angelina. She frowned at him then followed his gaze. Angelina and Raven smiled at each other, then faced the front as McGonagall called out another name.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Raven's table burst into loud applause—comically louder than what they gave her—as Terry sheepishly made his way over to them. Raven beamed at him and he grinned back, sitting down next to her.
"Hello," he whispered shyly.
Raven smiled. "Hi."
Terry flushed a little then turned back to the Sorting Hat as it sorted another Ravenclaw ("Brocklehurst, Mandy.") Raven, Terry, and the rest of the table greeted Mandy. She smiled, but sat across from Raven, glancing at her warily. The gray-eyed witch frowned but knew there was no way to escape the early prejudices of her peers.
The next person sorted was a Gryffindor named Lavender Brown. She was the first and the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers. Raven heard the red-headed Weasley twins catcalling along with Everett. She'd never met them, but Everett, Jamie, and Angelina spoke highly of their two twin friends.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" became the first Slytherin and their table cheered like the rest of them.
"Crabbe, Vincent!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus!" A sandy-haired boy sat on the stool for almost a minute before, "GRYFFINDOR."
"Granger, Hermione!" A bushy-haired girl with large front teeth nearly ran to the stool and jammed the hat onto her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. The tall red-head that Raven saw earlier did not seem to like this sorting. She looked closer at him and realized he was probably a Weasley and expected to be in Gryffindor like the rest of his family. He must not like Hermione if he isn't happy about her being Sorted into Gryffindor, Raven thought.
"Goyle, Gregory!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Holmes, Sebastiaan!"
Raven perked up as her best friend walked over to the Sorting Hat. He place it on his head and sat down. Like with Raven, the hat took a short while and made him laugh a little. After another moment, the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hufflepuff table cheered loudly. As they should, Raven thought. They could cheer as quietly as they wanted for her, but for any of her friends, they should go crazy with cheers.
When the sniffling kid, Neville Longbottom, was called next, and the hat Sorted him into Gryffindor, he ran off with it still on his head. Raven watched as he made his way back to "MacDougal, Morag," with a red face to hand him the hat.
Two more people were called ("Malfoy" and "Moon"), then, "Nott, Theodore!"
Teddy strode up to the stool, a cool look on his face, as he gracefully put on the hat and sat down.
Not much time passed before, "SLYTHERIN!" The table farthest from Raven cheered loudly as her best friend strode to his new table. He walked passed the Malfoy boy and sat next to Jamie in the middle of a group of older students. He nodded to Sebastiaan, Everett, Angelina, and Raven. They all smiled back. Raven and Sebastiaan also waved to Jamie, who smiled back.
A few more people were Sorted. "Parkinson," a pair of twins, "Patil" and "Patil," then "Perks, Sally-Anne" and "Potter, Harry."
Raven's stomach jolted as she sat up straighter to see the person she hadn't thought about in years. Harry Potter, the son of James and Lily Potter; godson of Callia and Sirius Black! Harry Potter—the Boy Who Lived—Raven's forgotten godbrother.
Raven didn't see much of Harry before he hid himself under the hat. She did see enough to know he looked James—or at least the few pictures of James she'd seen. He was a bit skinny, but nothing abnormal for a boy his age. He wore glasses like his father's over eyes—Raven was sure—emerald like his mother's.
Raven wondered again why her mother never adopted Harry. Her mum had only said that his aunt and uncle could take care of him. She never explained why she didn't want to do it herself.
The Sorting took a little while, almost as long as Sebastiaan's, or even that Seamus kid. After almost a minute, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR" and Harry joined the house his parents did so long ago. The loudest cheering yet came from the Gryffindor table, and Raven heard the Weasley twins chanting, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
Harry sat next to an overly enthusiastic red-head (another Weasley, perhaps?) facing away from Raven, opposite his house ghost who patted him on the arm. Raven didn't see his face again, but got a good look at the cowlick in the back of his messy, black hair.
Only four first-years were left to be Sorted. The first was a tall, Black boy named Dean Thomas that was Sorted into Gryffindor. The second was a nervous-looking girl named Lisa Turpin who was Sorted into Ravenclaw. The next was that tall ginger Raven saw earlier, the Weasley. Ron Weasley, to be exact. He looked almost white except for the green hue. He set the hat on his head, and after a few seconds, the hat declared him a "GRYFFINDOR."
Raven watched Harry clap along with the rest of his housemates. Ron's brothers all cheered proudly as their youngest brother joined them. They all ignored the last person to be Sorted, "Zabini, Blaise," a Slytherin. The Slytherins tried to cheer over the Gryffindors, but were only slightly louder. They all finally started to settle down when Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and carried the Sorting Hat and stool away.
Albus Dumbledore stood and beamed at the students. "Welcome." He held his arms wide open, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Raven didn't know whether his words held meaning or not. One glance at an eye-rolling Potions master was enough to make her laugh and decide the headmaster's words were just nonsense.
Raven licked her lips as a buffet appeared before her. She greedily gazed at the roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled and roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, and peppermint humbugs. She placed a small bit of the roast chicken and roast potatoes onto her plate. She wasn't that hungry and wanted to save a little room for dessert.
Raven finished her meal long before anyone else. She decided to spend her time observing the Great Hall. She turned to the High Table and caught Professor Snape glaring at a student again. She followed his gaze and found Harry at the end of it. Harry must have seen it because as his hand shot to his face, the professor looked away and didn't turn back. He returned his attention to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell.
Raven scowled at the weak-willed excuse of a man and his new purple turban. She didn't understand why anyone could like that person. Raven didn't despise him for his stuttering or constant twitching. She loathed him for his weakness and how easily swayed he was. Quirrell reminded Raven of Pettigrew—or at least her idea of that rat.
"Would you like to try the strawberries? They're really good." A soft voice broke through Raven's thoughts. She turned to see Terry holding up a strawberry.
Raven hadn't noticed the desserts come out, but didn't complain. She nodded and reached for a few strawberries along with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. She dipped the fruit in the frozen dessert and took a large bite out of it. "Mmm," she hummed then swallowed. "You're right. They are really good."
Terry flushed and smiled slightly. "Glad you like them."
The two finished their treats in silence. Once they finished, Terry prepared himself to ask Raven something, but the headmaster beat him to it.
"Ahem—just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First-years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Raven didn't laugh. She wondered what was in the third-floor corridor and why something so dangerous would be held inside the school.
"And now," Dumbledore continued, "before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Raven noticed some of the teachers' smiles became rather fixed.
The headmaster gave his wand a little flick and a long, golden ribbon flew out of it. It rose high above the tables and twisted itself into words Raven already knew by heart (thanks to Everett, Jamie, and Liam.)
She smiled at Sebastiaan and Teddy, who nodded subtly back. Over the summer, Sebastiaan and Teddy discovered Raven's singing talents, and the three spent time practicing the school song as one of their ways to "take the school by storm" as Liam put it.
"Everyone pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains rot."
Raven, Teddy, and Sebastiaan waited until the Weasley twins (who were the slowest with their funeral march) to finish, then broke out into an intricate, and melodious three-part harmony.
"...Bring back what we've—"
"—Bring back what we've—"
"—Bring back what we've forgot!"
"Just do your best," Teddy sang.
"We'll do the rest," Sebastiaan added.
"And learn," Raven followed, "until—"
"Our brains rot!" The three sang the last part together, in separate pitches.
The entire hall froze in a stunned silence then burst into deafening applause.
Raven smiled as her house seemed to forget just who her father was and instead cheered her for her and her friends' performance.
Once the hall finally calmed down, Dumbledore spoke up. "Ah music," he said, wiping his eyes, "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Fourteen pages. What a chapter. Did you like my extra-long chapter?
I think I should get at least four reviews for it. Don't you think?
What do you think of the Black Wings? Who's your favorite so far?
Do you have any questions, confusions, or comments?
Thank you for reading. Please review.
PS - I'm not sure when the next chapter will come. Probably sometime next week.
