Author's note: constructive criticism is always welcome, I only own my OCs. I'm only going to do a few moments from first year before I move on to second year where things start to get interesting
Sorting
Shawn and I make our way off the train with Hermione. We look around for where we're supposed to go until we hear a booming voice calling for the first years. We follow that voice to a huge man by a lake. The three of us get in a boat, only to be joined by a short boy shortly afterwards. Soon, the man calls for the boats to go forward and, with a jolt, we start moving. The boats around us are filled with chatter, but our boat remains silent in awe of the surrounding area. We're soon joined in our silence when Hogwarts comes into view, even the purebloods gasp in wonder at the magnificent castle.
Before I know it, we're being ushered inside through huge doors to Professor McGonagall. She looks us over carefully before landing on my brother and I standing next to Hermione. I swear I see her lips quirk upwards, but it's gone before I can double-check. After carefully examining us, she begins her speech.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," She starts, "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 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-" That's when I start to zone out. It's hard paying attention for so long so I'm just going to stare at the wall behind her until she stops talking. She talks for a little while longer until I see a break in her mouth moving. When I zone back in, she's saying, "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." She quickly leaves the room after looking over us one last time. Mutters break out once the door closes behind her.
"How do you think they sort us?"
"My brother said we have to fight a troll."
"Pfft! No way, they were messing with you."
"Wait, we have to do this in front of the whole school?"
"Geez, they all need to chill out." I mutter to Shawn and Hermione. "It's not like we'll have to do something really hard, we haven't even taken any classes yet."
"They're just nervous," Hermione mutters back, "Aren't you?"
"Yeah, but I'm still not an idiot." Shawn laughs at my remark and even Hermione can't keep the smile off her face.
"You're so rude," Hermione tries to seem serious, but the smile ruins the effect.
"Maybe, but you don't mind because I'm funny about it." I grin at her and Shawn.
"Quiet down." McGonagall has a severe expression on her face, "It's time. Please form a line and follow me." She opens the door. We follow her into the Great Hall where my eyes are immediately drawn to the ceiling.
"Woah," I whisper, "Look at that, Shawn."
"It's enchanted to look like the sky outside." Hermione explains. "It's in Hogwarts: A History."
"Oh yeah, I remember that now." Shawn and I comment at the same time. We grin at each other while Hermione looks at us in surprise.
"I thought only twins did that?" She questions us.
"Who says we aren't?" I chuckle before reassuring her, "No, we're just really close." She goes to respond but the line stops moving as McGonagall brings out a ratty old hat. We look at it expectantly. I open my mouth to say something to Hermione, but the brim of the hat rips open and it starts to sing?
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
The Great Hall erupts in applause around us as the first years stare in amazement.
"Now the Sorting may begin," McGonagall pulls out a long scroll, "Abbott, Hannah." A blonde girl walks up to the stool the Sorting Hat is sat on. The Hat barely touches her head before shouting out.
"Hufflepuff!" And so the sorting went. I ignored most of it, but a few names stuck out to me.
"Bones, Susan."
"Hufflepuff!" Comes shortly after.
"Granger, Hermione."
"Gryffindor!" Takes much longer to be said than any of the other sortings so far.
"Malfoy, Draco."
"Slytherin!" The hat didn't even touch his head!
"Nott, Theodore."
"Slytherin!" This one took more time.
"Potter, Harry."
"Gryffindor!" He took just as long as Hermione did.
"Tremaine, Aria." Oh. I guess it's my turn. I slowly walk up to the stool and sit there as the sorting hat is placed on my head.
Hmm. Interesting, interesting. You've certainly seen a lot haven't you?
Are you the sorting hat? How does this work? Can you see everything in my head?
All these questions, you might belong in Ravenclaw at this rate. To answer your questions, yes, I am the Sorting Hat, the founders put their magic in me, and yes, I can see everything in your mind. Including the… eccentricities.
If you can see everything in my head, then why didn't you sort me right away? Why have a conversation with me when you have many others to sort tonight?
Blunt, are you? Maybe Gryffindor is better suited than I thought. Or maybe not, based on the way you recoiled from the idea, even though your only friend went into Gryffindor.
I'm not a blind follower. I'll go where I'm best suited.
Even if it subjects you to worse treatment than you've experienced before?
I stand by my statement.
Hmm, no hesitation. Very well. Better be…
"Slytherin!" I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I stand up tall as I walk to the silent Slytherin table. At first it looks like no one will make room for me, then the Nott boy slides down some without speaking. I nod at him as I take the seat and turn back to the front to watch Shawn be sorted.
"Tremaine, Shawn."
"Ravenclaw!" That was quick. I clap with the rest of the hall as he passes me to go to the end of the Ravenclaw table. I zone out until the last one ("Zabini, Blaise." "Slytherin!") is sorted. Zabini sits on the other side of me. I guess that's two people that don't care about blood purity. Before anyone can start talking, the Headmaster stands up. I zone out for most of his speech until he gets to the tail end of his welcome speech.
"While the rest of our professors are familiar faces, please welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gideon Prewett." His eyes twinkle as he introduces the new professor, "Now, as you've all been waiting for, enjoy the feast!" The rest of the night goes by in a blur until we get to the girls' dorms and it doesn't let me in.
"Ha! Looks like the little mudblood doesn't belong here!" Parkinson laughs harshly to Greengrass' amusement and Zabini's indignation.
"Bugger off, Pansy." Zabini comes up beside me. "Don't you have something better to do than be an arse to someone you don't even know?" I feel Nott's presence on my other side, even if he doesn't say anything. Parkinson huffs before turning around to walk into the girls' hallway.
"Have fun sleeping in the common room, freak!" She calls over her shoulder.
"Why did you defend me, Zabini?" I immediately turn on him once Parkinson disappears from view.
"Do I have to have a reason?" He asks with a smirk. Nott hides a snort at his words, which makes me turn to him.
"What about you, Nott? Why stand with the freak?" That grabs their attention.
"What makes you think you're a freak?" Nott remarks casually, "Because to me, you seem as normal as anyone else in this school." That gives me pause, he makes a good point. Except for the fact that the dorms won't let me in.
"Except that the girls' dorm won't let me in." I voice my thoughts.
"So, we'll stay out here until everyone else leaves." Zabini seems so sure of himself as he says it.
"I don't even know you."
"Well, then let me introduce myself. Blaise Zabini at you service." He says with a flourish before gesturing to Nott. "And this is Theo Nott, bookworm extraordinaire." Nott- I mean, Theo- doesn't even object to that title.
"Aria Tremaine, creature extraordinaire," I say with the same dramatics Blaise employed.
"Now that we know each other, how about you let us sit with you until we can tell our Head of House about your predicament." Blaise smiles as he suggests this idea, but it fills me with panic. What if they kick me out? What if this means I don't belong here? Blaise continues with no knowledge of my spiraling thoughts, "He'll know what to do about your sleeping arrangements."
"No!" They both look at me confused, so I clear my throat and explain, "Surely, we can come up with something that doesn't involve teachers?"
Nott seems to understand my hesitance, "We could call a house elf for help."
"Um, yeah. Let's try that," I say despite only vaguely knowing what a house elf is.
"Do we even know the names of a Hogwarts house elf?" Blaise asks incredulously.
"Nope," Theo pops his 'p' but stops Blaise from interrupting, "We should just be able to call for a Hogwarts elf by saying we're students in need." Blaise mutters his disagreement but allows Theo to do whatever he's about to do. "Attention Hogwarts House Elves, a student needs your assistance." Nothing happens for a few moments until a small, wrinkly creature appears in front of us.
"How may Tiggy be helping young masters?" The creature speaks to us in an eager tone.
"Aria," Theo gestures to me as he says my name, "Wasn't let into the girls' dorms, we were wondering why."
"They is not being a girl," Tiggy speaks slowly, as if talking to idiots.
"What do you mean?" Blaise looks as confused as I feel, despite the relief blooming in my chest at the words.
"Tiggy means, they is not being a girl, and definitely not being a boy." Tiggy continues speaking slowly to ensure we understand his words.
"So where is she supposed to sleep?" Theo ignores our confusion to ask the next logical question.
"Tiggy can conjure a room for Mastress Tremaine, if they wish." Tiggy seems eager to show off what he can do.
"Where would you do that?" Blaise asks before Theo can continue his line of questioning.
"Just beside the girls' dorm hallway, Tiggy can also make sure no one sees it that Mastress does not wish to see it." Tiggy looks proud of his abilities.
"That would be wonderful, Tiggy. Thank you." I interject before either of the boys can continue asking questions. Only seconds after I finish talking, a door appears beside the girls' hallway.
"Mastress' belongings have been placed in the new room. Only Masters Nott and Zabini are seeing this room from now on, okay Mastress?"
"That's perfect Tiggy," I beam at him as he disappears again.
"So, are you not going to inform our Head of House of this development?" Theo asks me nonchalantly.
"No, and neither will you two." I respond curtly. Realizing that might've sounded too harsh, I continue, "Thank you both for your help tonight. I would be happy to talk to you in the morning." They both smile at me before saying their goodnights and walking down the boys' hallway. "What a day, Cosmo." I mutter as I walk into my room and collapse onto the bed.