Lara Grisham sat proudly, cat-ate-the-canary grin plastered on her face as a fire crackled behind her against the cold stone. Her brand new robes had a slight spattering of maroon against them, and her knuckles ached something fierce but by God she was pleased with herself. In record time she had made a name for herself in Hogwarts, despite being there only for a couple hours, and it was for punching that elitist arse right in his smug little mouth.
Footsteps echoed loudly, warning of an approaching body before the large door swung open and in marched a disheveled teenager, eyes looking tired already and her green robes looking slightly askew. Morgan Grisham was four years her sister's senior, and if she had a chance to tell you, one of the rising stars of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. She was prompt, studious, and an avid learner, and was currently trying not to rip her younger sister's head off her shoulders.
"Ten minutes. You couldn't last ten minutes without embarrassing me." Her control was slipping and Lara smirked at the true face being revealed. "And to take it out on a Malfoy, you know mother and father both work with his father. Are you really that stupid?"
Her shoulders rose nonchalantly, an infuriating brush off she knew. "He insulted the Weasley kid for having hand me down clothes. You can already tell he's a royal prick. Those Weasley's are the nicest people out there, I always loved when they come to Dad's Ministry party. Someone needed to stand up for him."
Morgan pinched the bridge of her nose, a last ditch effort not to throttle her family. "I don't care if he declared himself king of the castle and ordered everyone to dress like house elves, you DO NOT PUNCH A FELLOW STUDENT IN THE FACE!" The voice echoed within the stone, bouncing off on all sides of Lara's head as if the echo was trying to emphasize the point. The younger sister didn't look away as it died down, answering only once the silence had returned.
"Well apparently you can." Lara smiled sweetly, which was the last straw for Morgan as she lunged for her little sister.
"Miss Grisham that is enough!" A clear voice rang out, awakening the echoes in the stone walls again. Morgan quickly released her younger sister's collar and backed up into the corner, bowing her head apologetically at the trio of adults that had just entered the room. The woman who had reprimanded her stood on the right of the group, her stern face clearly judging both sisters. She had been the one to pull Lara to this room once she had landed a punch on that Malfoy kid. The man on the left looked as if a raven had come to become human, with large black robes to match his hair and eyes, offset by only the large beak of a nose in the middle of his pale face. That left the man in the middle, who's name had graced many chocolate frog cards in Lara's collection. Albus Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry professor McGonagall. It won't happen again." Morgan had the audacity to look ashamed when they both knew it would damn well probably happen again. But her sister's ability to look innocent when she was so clearly guilty was a trick Lara had yet to master, and was one that often left her facing the punishment alone.
"It seems that Miss Grisham was merely trying to teach her sister that school rules do not allow the students to accost one another. Or perhaps she was just trying to defend one of her housemates who was simply stating an observation." The raven man drawled in a deep voice offered up without looking away from Morgan.
She kept her eyes on the ground, hands firmly clasped behind her back. "Yes, Professor Snape."
Ah, Lara thought. This was Morgan's head of house then. The infamous Severus Snape of Hogwarts, who didn't like any student aside from those in his own house, and even some of those he just tolerated. She had heard stories from some of Morgan's friends who had visited. This man was apparently a massive prick too. It fit that her sister and apparently that Malfoy kid were both in Slytherin if this was the guy in charge.
"Severus," Professor McGonagall chimed back in. "While I understand wanting to protect your students we cannot have one sister harm another. Especially when if pattern suggests, the sister will join her in your house as well."
"Ah yes!" Albus Dumbledore spoke for the first time, but it wasn't enough for Lara to miss the annoyed look shot her way from the dark and gloomy man. "It is not often we have someone in a detention before they even get sorted." Lara would not grin, she had promised herself this. No matter how much Malfoy had deserved it, no matter how funny his or her sister's infuriated faces were, no matter how she knew that at least everyone in her year had to know her name at this moment. She must not smile now because certainly punishment for a physical altercation was not going to be taken lightly.
"I must admit Miss Grisham you missed some of the finest pumpkin pasties I can recollect in recent memory. I believe that is punishment enough."
Everyone's head snapped to look at the Headmaster, who had a smile on his face and clapped his hands together firmly in confirmation.
"Albus, you can't possibly be serious?" McGonagall looked completely dumbfounded. It was a look that Lara would bet a Galleon on she didn't often wear.
"Sir, I am inclined to agree with Minerva." Snape was trying to mask his fury at this declaration. Now it was clear where Morgan had perfected the art from. Speaking of her sister she was still in the corner, her mouth opening and closing in carp like fashion. Lara could just hear the wheels turning, wanting to see her younger sister punished because rules were there for a reason, but not wanting to speak against, to have the gall to disagree with the Headmaster.
Dumbledore held up his hands and the voices of him compatriots died down. "I believe that while young Miss Grisham's actions were brash and uncalled for, she may have believed that she was standing up for someone else. Are we not a school to teach these young minds about how to control themselves and put them on the right path?" No one answered his question. "I believe that this will hopefully be a one time incident. That being said though," he looked at Lara over his half moon spectacles, and the light from the fire glared against the glass. "I do believe that an apology is owed to young Mr. Malfoy for the injury caused. If you don't mind Severus fetching him. Madam Pomfrey should have healed his lip by this time."
Snape stood frozen for just a split second before nodding his head and exiting the room. Lara swore it warmed up about ten degrees when he did.
"Now, I believe before Severus returns we should go ahead and get the sorting out of the way." Dumbledore was back to that twinkle and smile while McGonagall produced a shabby looking pointed had from under her arm. Lara sat up straighter as they approached her, placing the hat on her head before backing away a couple steps each. Even Morgan seemed more curious than angry right now as she finally peeled herself out of the background and returned to the fire light.
Lara looked up at the brim at her brow and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
When minutes had ticked by and she was certain this was all some joke and she was about to find herself expelled for punching people, a voice echoed inside her skull and she practically jumped out of her skin.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Lara shot a glare towards Morgan for not telling her how sorting worked or that the hat frickin talked. Of course the hat talked, but still the surprise had the hair on her arms standing up. Now the question was how to communicate with the talking hat inside her head?
Your thoughts are there child. No need to open your mouth.
Well that answered that. What's so interesting to you? The hat hummed at her question.
Usually families are simple, quick. They always belong in the same house. But you, you are desperate not to be with your sibling in Slytherin. Why?
Lara looked at Morgan, with her sleek black hair and green eyes, she matched her put together personality to a key. Everyone from her parents, to family friends, to apparently staff here thought she was faultless. She knew what was underneath all it though. Her sister could manipulate anyone around her and she would often use it to get her way and toss aside collateral damage of other people. She was smart, ambitious, and talented. But she was selfish and that fact overshadowed the good qualities in Lara's eyes.
I can't hurt people the way she does. I can't put myself above all else.
The hat chortled, an action up until this moment she was unaware hats could do. You can't hurt people? Are you not sitting here because you hurt that young Slytherin earlier this evening? Gave him a prominent split lip if the gossip of the night was correct.
That's different, Lara argued, He deserved it for one. And two I was upfront with it. I don't go around smiling while stabbing people in the back just to make them feel better.
Is that so? The sorting had continued to ponder. Such envy, and yet no desire to be in her spot. As I said, interesting.
Lara huffed at the therapy session. Look are you going to talk my…uh…. Brain off or are you going to sort me so everyone can stop staring at me like I'm a zoo exhibit?
The hat grew silent for a few more seconds, driving her impatience further up the wall, before it finally opened a large fold open and shouted for all to here.
"Gryffindor!"
There were a multitude of reactions throughout the room. Dumbledore was beaming as he removed the hat from her head, words of congratulations being heaped upon her. Professor McGonagall had huffed, and though she hid it well the slight irritation had flashed across her eyes. Lara had been temporarily confused until Dumbledore turned the congratulations on her for receiving a new student into her house. Now her response was almost comical, and Lara quickly hid a snort as a sneeze before her mind betrayed her.
Morgan stayed still and stern looking in the firelight, crossing and uncrossing her arms in front of her. Over the years she had formed the habit as her version of pacing and she was trying to work out emotions or a problem that she couldn't quite grasp the concept of. No one seemed to notice her indecisiveness besides Lara, who was concerned her sister was simply overloaded from all the excitement of the night. Finally, she rested her hands to her sides and walked over to clasp a hand on the younger sister's shoulder.
"I'll write to mother and father right away. You'll do well, just stay out of trouble." The fingers squeezed gently against her collar bone. A silent warning to behave and that mom and dad would be hearing about her antics tonight in detail. That incoming howler was going to be fun. Without another word to Lara, Morgan turned and with permission left the room to return to her dormitory.
As her shadow receded, in came Professor Snape, with a smug looking Malfoy in tow. Lara groaned as his eyes met her and screamed nothing except mockery that she had to swallow her pride and apologize to this giant twat.
"As you asked sir, I have brought young Draco Malfoy so Miss Grisham can make amends." With a little push Professor Snape had moved the boy further into the room and closer to Lara. She held her ground as his smirk made every inch of her want to run. Snape wasn't much better, barely concealing that he was enjoying this uncomfortable moment.
"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore turned the attention of the room back onto her. Lara kept flip flopping on whether he was on her side or not. "Now, would you care to say anything?"
She kept another groan inside as she pulled down a brown curl with both hands. Somehow having almost complete strangers reprimand you was worse than when her parents did it. That was an unwelcome surprise. Determined to look anywhere besides Draco Malfoy she focused back on the warm flames.
"I apologize for punching you in the lip in front of anyone." If anyone noticed that her statement was dripping with sarcasm they didn't say. Malfoy was reveling too much in the moment to complain about her tone. In fact return matched her tone perfectly.
"Apology accepted. Consider it forgotten." Lara looked at him as he held out his hand to shake. There was no way to get out of shaking his hand without getting into more trouble so she grasped it firmly. Both their hands tightened around each other signaling this obviously was not forgotten by either party. She was somehow surprised at the mutual understanding and it made her meet his eyes. Grey like hers, but piercing instead of the clouded look of her own. There was a challenge in them and she was certain she was going to match it.
"Well done." Dumbledore smiled despite the tenseness in the room from all other parties. "Now I do believe it is time to escort these fine young students back to their rooms for the evening. I do hope you all have a pleasant evening." A quick nod to the two professor's and suddenly in a flourish of deep red robes he disappeared down the corridor.
Snape waited until the coast was clear before motioning to Malfoy to follow him. "Minerva." He nodded toward McGonagall before he met Lara's eyes. "Do try and control yourself Miss Grisham. It is a long school year." And with every semblance of a large bat, he and Malfoy left the room.
Lara watched the duo leave before turning back to her head of house who was standing there looking her up and down. Unclear on what the next step in this situation was to be she merely waved one hand quickly and kept her eyes on her shoes. A frustrated sigh answered her before McGonagall beckoned her to follow.
They walked in silence for several minutes before the expected lecture began. "I hope you are aware how lucky you are not to be in greater trouble for your actions this evening. Professor Dumbledore will not be so lenient if this incident is repeated. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes…"
"Speak up Miss Grisham. You weren't timid earlier this evening, there's no use in trying to be now."
"Yes Professor." Lara instinctively stood up straighter. She was unsure why but she found herself wanting to impress this woman. Over the next few moments she listened as she was told the rules of the castle, where she would find her items, and when she would receive her class schedule. McGonagall relaxed here and there, taking time to introducing her to the portraits who greeted her warmly. Aside from Merlin, but he was understandably busy. As they were waiting for a staircase to move where they needed she suddenly called for two teenage boys coming down the stairs.
"Mr. Weasley's! Would you please come here for a moment?" The boys came down to meet them and Lara realized it was the Weasley twin boys she had met sporadically. "Miss Grisham, these are Fred and George Weasley."
"Professor, how are you this evening?" George smiled as Fred shook Lara's hand.
"I'm fine, though I'm wondering why you two are out so close to curfew?" She looked over her glasses at them, but the twins merely smiled.
"Poor Fred here ate too much at the feast. I was simply walking him to the infirmary to make sure he stays out of trouble." It was clearly a lie, they all knew it was a lie, and yet somehow Professor McGonagall didn't push it.
"Very well. Perhaps you both could escort Miss Grisham back to Gryffindor tower then? I have some last minute items I need to finish before classes begin."
"Of course Professor. We'd be happy to." Fred moved his arm around Lara's shoulder and started to lead her back up the stairs. "Goodnight Professor McGonagall."
"Right back to Gryffindor Tower." She pointed her finger at all three of them before wishing them good night and taking another staircase to a far corridor.
"W-what just happened?" Lara looked between the tall twins. "How did she not get you in trouble for being out this late?"
The two laughed. "Poor McGonagall looks like she's had a long night. Probably just thinking out of sight out of mind." George beamed before grabbing both of Lara's arms and pulling her from Fred's grasp. "But you! You are our new hero right now!"
"Me? Why?"
"Because," she was going to form whiplash as she was passed back again to Fred. "You went and defended our younger brother for one. Two, you somehow got under Snape's skin in record time." They both did a fun salute and bow to her before she was suddenly walking between them. "Anyone with that level of skill we knew we needed to meet. Not only meet but rescue from what we can assume was a very boring lecture."
Lara couldn't help but laugh at the flourish's the twins were putting in their movements. "And how did you know I needed rescuing? Or even where I was?" The two looked at each other and then around the grand castle, as if someone was listening in on their small group.
"That is a secret we can only tell our most trusted allies! We will have to send you through some rigorous tests before you can reach that!" George tried to look affronted while grinning like an idiot in between.
"Well what are the tests?" She was genuinely curious, and figured it would be good to make some allies tonight instead of just enemies.
Fred motioned toward something in the distance, unseen by anyone but him. "Well you definitely earned some bonus points for the Malfoy stunt earlier. But still, how can we be sure you would be able to handle what we ask of you?"
Lara straightened her shoulders and looked them dead in the eye. "I am. Trust me."
With matching thoughtful looks the twins glanced her up and down. "She says she is George."
"I know she did. But how can we be sure?"
"I guess we never can be until we test her."
"This is true. And if she betrays us she looks like a good snack for the giant squid."
"Hey!" Lara wasn't sure what she was calling out the insinuation that she would betray them or that she could be food for some monster. Neither one was great. "Would you two just tell me already?" They smirked her impatience, a refreshing reaction, and leaned close to share their secret plans.
"Well you see," Fred smiled easily. "We promised our little sister that we would send her a gift from Hogwarts. What do you know about blowing up toilet seats?"