- September 1, 1991-
"Come one, we've got to hurry!" cried Mariela as she jumped on her brother's sleeping body.
Harry only groaned in response. Since the day they had met Harry had never had the opportunity to sleep in. Instead he found himself constantly awakened by his sister's antics. He mumbled into his pillow.
"What was that?" asked Mariela as she leaned down to listen.
"Is it even dawn yet?" asked Harry wearily.
"Yes," replied Mariela, "five minutes ago."
Groaning louder, Harry collapsed back down into the bed. Sighing, Mariela tossed herself next to him.
"This will be the last we'll do this," said Mariela in an airy voice.
"What?" grumbled Harry.
"I know you've read Hogwarts a History," said Mariela before explaining, "There are separate dorms for boys and girls at Hogwarts."
"So?"
"So! We haven't slept apart since-since…forever!" exclaimed Mariela.
"So?"
Mariela sighed quietly and Harry joined in. "What are you really worried about?"
"How-never mind. What if we're in different houses?"
"Ella…we've talked about this."
"Yes, but, I have this terrible feeling that we'll be Sorted into different Houses."
"A terrible feeling?" asked Harry dryly.
Shoving at Harry, Mariela screeched, "You know my feelings are always right."
"Ella…just because Great-great-great-grandma Lujan was a Seer does not mean that all your bad feelings are right."
"When have they ever been wrong?"
"Urgh…Mariela, it doesn't help you to worry. Let's just get ready to go," grumbled Harry.
"Really?"
Harry nodded slowly as he carefully removed himself from the bed. Mariela sprang out of the bed and began darting around the room collecting all the things they had yet to pack, namely pictures and other knick-knacks. Meanwhile, Harry decided to head downstairs and start the kettle.
…
Dahlia had been awake for several hours, too restless to sleep any longer. Today was the day that her youngest would be heading for Hogwarts. It seemed to strange that just a few short years ago, they were just learning to read. Now, they were rambunctious and eager to read everything. She smiled as she heard thumps of movement from the room overhead and then quiet footsteps coming down the stairs.
Harry crept into the kitchen and stopped when he saw her sitting. He smiled, still half-asleep before setting the kettle to boil more water before slumping into a chair. Dahlia smiled to herself again. Eight years ago, Harry had been an underfed, small and quiet child. Now he was as spirited as his sister who he towered over (by a handful of inches). In fact, Harry had finally reached her own height of 5'3". Another few inches would have him even with Jorge who was 5'5". Julian wasn't much taller at 5'6" and Juan Dalmacio stood taller than his father (5'7") at 5'9". Dahlia wondered, as she had only ever seen a handful of pictures of Harry's parents, what Harry would look like as grew older.
Her gaze was so intense that Harry had finally taken notice. He squirmed under his mother's eyes, wondering what she was thinking of.
"Mum?"
"Oh, sorry dear," said Dahlia absentmindedly.
Tilting his head to one side, Harry asked, "what were you thinking of?"
With a slow smile, Dahlia reached over to tug Harry into her lap. She wrapped her arms around her youngest son and explained, "I was thinking of how much you've grown. How much your siblings have grown."
"Ella hasn't grown an inch."
Snorting quietly, Dahlia shook her head. "Harry," he ducked his head, "you've all grown. Why soon you'll be too big to sit in my lap."
"Mum!"
"It's true," said Dahlia, "Now before you grow anymore, help get breakfast started."
Hopping off her lap, Harry began pulling out the necessary cookware as Dahlia considered what was sure to be the best Christmas present possible.
…
"Now, you're all sure you've packed everything?" asked Dahlia as she led her children toward Platform 9 ¾ .
"Yes, mum" they chorused in unison as they passed through the wall and onto the platform.
Gasping in wonderment, Mariela and Harry shared a look of excitement.
"Boys, help your brother and sister with their things," said Dahlia as she rushed to hug her older boys before they squirmed away. "Remember to find them a compartment before you look for your friends!"
"Yes, mum."
"James, Mariela, remember to keep an eye out for each other and for your brothers."
Nodding earnestly, Harry and Mariela hugged their mother tightly before sprinting after their older brothers. Sighing quietly, Dahlia followed them with her eyes until she could no longer see them.
"Your youngest?" came a voice from her right. Looking over Dahlia saw a friendly looking red-haired woman who had a small red-haired girl by her side.
"Yes, my youngest two, James and Mariela. I have two others- one sixth year, that'll be Julian and one a third year - Jorge. My eldest has already finished Hogwarts, he started Auror training last week," shared Dahlia.
"My youngest boy, Ronald, started this year. One of my sons is a fifth year and my twin boys, Fred and -
"-George! Why you're the twin's mum! My Jorge is friends with your boys," exclaimed Dahlia.
"Yes, I knew I had heard your boys' names before! My Charlie is a friend of your eldest! He's working with dragons in Romania. Bill is Curse-Breaker, and this one is Ginny, my youngest," finished Molly.
The two mums chatted quietly until the Hogwarts Express began to move. They each caught sight of their children and managed a final wave goodbye before they left the platform.
…
Harry and Mariela spoke quietly to each other in the compartment their brothers had found for them. They had quickly departed once they had fit their trunks in to look for their friends. The compartment door slid open and a red-haired boy looked in.
"Could I join you?" he asked. "Everywhere else is full."
The siblings looked at each other before nodding in acquiescence.
"I'm Ron Weasley."
"I'm Mariela and this is James," said Mariela. "I was just asking James what House we'll get sorted into. We're hoping for Gryffindor, all our brothers have been Gryffindor. How about you?"
"Oh. Gryffindor! All my family has been in Gryffindor, my brothers and my parents too," said Ron.
"Brothers? How many do you have? We've got three older brothers. Juan Dalmacio, Julian and Jorge. Juan's training to be an Auror - he just started actually. Julian's a sixth year and I heard him tell Juan that he's thinking of being an Auror too!"
"Really?" asked both Harry and Ron.
"Yes! I overheard them talking last week before Juan left for his training," explained Mariela.
"Wow. Er…I've got five brothers. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George. Bill and Charlie have finished Hogwarts. Ginny's the last one of us, she starts Hogwarts next year," shared Ron.
"You've got a little sister!" exclaimed Mariela. As she opened her mouth to speak more - "Mariela!"
"Sorry," said Mariela not looking sorry at all, "Mum says I need to listen more often."
Harry nodded as he rubbed his forehead.
"Is that? No…is that a scar? On your forehead?" asked Ron.
Sharing a look of surprise with his sister, Harry nodded.
"Wh-why... are you Harry Potter?" exclaimed Ron.
Making a shushing motion, Mariela got up to check that the compartment door was firmly locked.
"You're Harry Potter," repeated Ron.
Harry nodded his head.
"But, you said your name was James," said Ron stumbling over the name.
"Well of course it is," said Mariela, "Harry James Potter. We just say it a little differently."
"I don't understand."
Sighing, Mariela sat down next to Harry. "It's up to you."
Groaning to himself, Harry explained how he came to live with and be adopted by the Paredes family. Ron's eyes never lost their widened state as he listened to Harry, and Mariela, explain their parents plan to keep Harry safe.
"So…"
"Harry needed to be safe and with family. What's so hard to understand?"
"It…just…urgh!" exclaimed Ron as he sat back into his seat. At that moment the compartment door opened again.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."
…
The rest of the train ride had been uneventful and soon the trio found themselves changing into their robes. They waited anxiously as the Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop. A large man called for the first years to load into boats and they did as asked, eager to see Hogwarts. Indeed, as they caught sight of Hogwarts for the first time, Mariela couldn't even recall what had had her so anxious at the beginning of the day. At least until they were lined up in the Great Hall.
Mariela held tightly onto her brother's hand as Professor McGonagall explained the Sorting Hat. Later, when questioned, Mariela would be able to recall absolutely nothing that was said or even a single line of the song sung by the Sorting Hat. She saw the bushy haired girl looking for a toad, Hermione Granger, sorted in Gryffindor and the pale blond boy from the bookshop, Draco Malfoy, sorted instantly into Slytherin. When her name was called it was the push from her brother that made her move forward. The terrible feeling was back.
Ah. Yes. Brave, loyal, a thirst for knowledge… I know the perfect place for you…better be RAVENCLAW!
Mariela caught sight of her brothers sitting at the Gryffindor table looking disappointed and confused. Glancing back at Harry as she walked disappointed toward Ravenclaw, she tried to give him strength. She hardly noticed the small smile that crept across the Headmaster's face as she sat at the Ravenclaw table.
The Patil twins were next, one to Gryffindor and one to Ravenclaw and then it was Harry's turn.
…
"Harry Potter," Professor McGonagall paused briefly, "Harry Potter Paredes."
A murmur spread across the Great Hall as students attempted to get a good look at Harry.
"Hmm…difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent…and a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you…"
Harry worried and chanted in his head: Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.
"Not Slytherin? You could do great things. No? If you're sure, better be… GRYFFINDOR!"
A loud cheer broke across the Great Hall, loudest from the Gryffindor table. Harry caught sight of his sister and sent her a small smile before his brothers pulled him down to sit between them.
"We knew you'd be in Gryffindor," said Jorge.
"Strange about Mariela, though. We were sure she was a Gryffindor, through and through," added Julian.
All the while the Weasley twins chanted "We got Potter! We got Potter!" until a stern glare from Professor McGonagall settled them down. Harry cheered half-heartedly when Ron was sorted into Gryffindor wondering if his sister's terrible feeling was right after all.