A book was closed with a snap when for the thousandth time during the train ride James said, "I still can't believe that happened."
For the past few hours, Remus had been trying to read only to be interrupted due to James' apparent lack of conviction and now he had finally given in by closing his book.
"Cheer up Prongsie. Unless you'd rather have the alternative where Evans' childhood best friend turns up and they get romantically involved and you lose all the chances of wining Evans' heart." Sirius finally consoled his friend after spending the first few hours laughing at him and teasing him. But then that's how friends are. They laugh first, tease second and then only if they feel like it, they console.
"Yeah, I guess it's better this way." James agreed, "But how come we didn't see that she is a girl?" He wondered aloud.
"The short hair and the lack of makeup I suppose." Sirius suggested.
"Or maybe your lack of attention because of a particular brunette." James muttered quietly but apparently not quiet enough as Sirius threw Remus' book at him.
"Now if you are both done, does anyone know where Frank is?" Remus asked trying to divert their attention.
"With Alice, duh." Sirius stated as if it was the most obvious fact. But then, Remus thought, it was an obvious fact. Alice and Frank were quite good... umm... friends. And though he constantly denied it they, as his friends knew that Frank fancied Alice but was afraid to spoil their friendship by confessing it.
The train slowed as it neared Hogwarts and finally stopped. The three boys got off the express and onto the platform lazily, laughing and making jokes along.
"Isadora! Here." Sirius yelled waving his hand towards a brunette who was getting off the train. She looked around for the source of noise and smiled as she spotted them. Remus noticed that she was indeed as beautiful as Sirius made her out to be.
"Where's your cousin?" James asked as she joined them.
"With Lily." She replied as she turned around to look at the train from where Lily was getting off with a tomboyish and plain-looking but most certainly a girl. She appeared to participating in a very deep, mostly one sided conversation with Lily by nodding her head or smiling slightly at Lily's words. Sirius and James would have to be too much occupied by Isadora to mistake her for a boy.
"Hi, I am Remus." Remus introduced himself as he held out his hand.
"Isadora Hale." She smiled politely as she shook his hand but her smile faltered as her eyes became dazed and she stumbled. Remus caught her in his arms.
"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
" Yes, I'm fine." She said as she straightened though she looked anything but fine. But before any of the boys could say so or ask what happened, her cousin and Lily had reached them.
"Dora!" Her cousin said, worry written in her grey eyes and heard in her soft voice.
Both cousin exchanged a look in which the chestnut brown pleaded and the grey ones understood.
"Lina Hale." She said smiling as she held out her hand for Remus.
"Remus Lupin." His hand left Isadora's to shake hers.
Lina nodded as she held Isadora's arm and moved towards the carriage followed by Lily.
"Are we invisible?" Sirius muttered to James as the three followed the girls to the carriage.
Lily entered the carriage but the other two girls halted looking at the front where there was nothing at all. At least nothing Remus could see.
"Are those..." Isadora began.
"Yeah. Lets go." Lina interrupted as she entered the carriage and took the seat opposite to Lily followed by Isadora who sat next to her cousin. Remus took the seat next to her whereas James obviously sat next to Lily leaving Sirius to sit next to him.
Isadora was still looking pale, weak and deep in thought as Lina took a corked flask out of her bag and handed it to her. Isadora looked at her as if she had grown horns.
"What?" Lina asked.
"Nothing." Isadora replied looking amused as she took the flask, "Just wondering when did you grow so soft."
"Don't get used to it." She rolled her eyes and then added for general benefit, "It's a calming draught. Umm... for nerves."
There was an awkward silence during the ride after that. Remus couldn't help but wonder why Isadora would need a calming draught. Had it anything to do with her fainting or whatever she saw at the front of the carriage? Maybe it was just for nerves. He couldn't shake off the feeling that she fainted because she shook hands with him. Was it because he was a werewolf and she was maybe extraordinarily sensitive?
His train of thoughts was interrupted by a gasp as Isadora said with wide eyes, " Hogwarts."
The castle stood at its spot majestically and the boys couldn't help but smile at its sight. It was, after all, home.
They got off the carriage to be greeted by Professor McGonagall at the entrance hall.
"Miss Hale and Miss Hale, Welcome to Hogwarts." She addressed the cousins, "As I am sure you are aware that you will be sorted into a house first. Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you both in the chambers beside the hall. Miss Evans and Mr Lupin will take you there." She said nodding towards the two prefects.
James and Sirius promised to save him a seat at the feast as Remus and Lily led the cousins to the chambers.
"I really hope you two are in Gryffindor." Lily prayed.
"And if we are not?" Isadora asked with a smile, her eyes flicking towards Lina.
"Well, I suppose we can still be friends." Lily replied just as they reached the chambers and Remus held open the door for them.
"Albus!" exclaimed Isadora as she gave the headmaster a small hug who merely smiled brightly. Both Lily and Remus were shocked to say the least.
" I see your spirits are still high." Dumbledore said before nodding at Remus and Lily and then turned towards Lina who looked a little uncomfortable.
"Rosalina dear." He held out his arms a bit but Lina stayed at her place.
She merely tilted her head as she said, "Professor." Isadora gave her a disapproving look.
"I see you have cut your hair." He remarked, "Well since we are short on schedule, lets get you sorted. Now, who would like to go first?" He asked with a glance at the hat which sat innocently on the stool.
Isadora looked at Rosalina who merely shrugged. "I'll go first." Isadora offered.
She moved forward, sat on the stool and placed the hat delicately on her head. About two minutes later the hat yelled, "Gryffindor." as Isadora emerged from beneath the hat wearing a grin.
Without any delay, Lina moved forward. Remus couldn't fathom why the atmosphere tensed but both Dumbledore and Isadora watched with tensed expressions as Lina picked the hat and without bothering to sit down, placed it on her head. The hat must have said something the minute it touched her head as Lina bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.
"Gryffindor." The hat proclaimed as Lina took it off her head and placed it back on the stool. Dumbledore visibly relaxed as Isadora hugged her cousin.
"I am sure you both will bring nothing but honour to the name of Godric Gryffindor." He congratulated them, "You all should return to the Great Hall where the sorting will begin soon. I will see you there." He said as he left the room.
Remus congratulated them both and Lily hugged them. As they made their way towards the feast, Remus heard Lily telling Lina that they will share a dormitory with her and Alice. He was walking beside Isadora as he finally said what had been bothering him, "I'm sorry about you fainting earlier."
Isadora looked at him as she said with a sad smile, "Don't apologize for what's not your fault."
They continued walked in companionable silence as he got lost in the desert of his own thoughts. He will have to tell Sirius, James and Frank tonight about the events of the cousins' sorting and their closeness with Dumbledore.