For a long time, things were silent in the compartment and even when people started to speak, it didn't last. Passing comments about the weather, how far away they were and a few comments about what food would be at the feast later. The sweets trolley moved down the train frequently with the witch refusing to take any payments for the treats. Chatter had gradually risen up but there was still a great dear of fear within it. Gossip spread about the identities of the dead and the horrors that had been inflicted. Prefects wandered the train, trying to reassure the youngest students and cautioning the older ones against scaremongering.
As they travelled through more open countryside and passed alongside various towns and cities, Erica remained staring out of the window, only speaking when she was spoken to and trying not to think of the stretchers carrying the bodies. Even as hours passed, it seemed only like minutes since that green light had taken away that prefect's life.
Darkness crept over the world and at last the train rolled over the aqueduct that gave them their first view of Hogwarts in the distance. Erica lifted her head and marvelled at the brightly lit castle stood against the shadows of night. "It's beautiful," she murmured. James and Sirius peered out of the window too.
"You're all going to have a great time there. Despite what happened today. This will just be a bad memory." Andromeda remarked. "Once you're Sorted into your houses and school starts, you'll be so busy making friends and studying." She added and as she mentioned the latter, she looked towards Sirius. "That means opening a book."
"Ha ha," Sirius muttered though his mouth curved into a half smile. "I can't wait to explore the castle. All those secret passageways and rooms and all that." He rubbed his hands together.
"I'm excited for Quidditch," James joined in. "I can't wait to watch the house matches. Although, how soon can we try out for the teams?"
"Depends on if there are any vacancies," Grayson answered. "But first years can't join the house teams."
James pulled a face as he slumped in his seat. "That's a stupid rule," he murmured.
Sirius and Erica exchanged a look and Sirius began to smirk as he looked at James. "Speaking of Quidditch, what's your team?" he asked.
"Well," said James, "I used to be a Kestrel's fan but honestly I'm more of a Cannons fan these days."
"Oh really?" Sirius answered, grinning over at Erica who let out a tiny huff of laughter at him. "Not a Harpies fan? Interesting."
James wriggled her eyebrows at Erica. "The Holyhead Harpies, really?!"
Erica folded her arms and fixed the boys with a fierce stare. "I'm not ashamed to be a Harpy."
Andromeda sniffed. "Too right," she told Erica before inclining her head at the boys. "There's no accounting for taste is there?"
Grayson chuckled. "Personally I think Puddlemere United are quite underrated."
"Yeah, for good reason!" scoffed James.
For the first time in hours, the atmosphere began to loosen up in the carriage and many minutes of Quidditch talk passed by before
Andromeda suddenly rose to her feet. "I need to go back on patrol again, make sure everyone's ready. We're almost there," she said. As she stood in the doorway, she looked back towards them all. "Start getting ready," she urged.
Minutes after she'd left, Tyson stepped back into the compartment. "She's fine," he reported to Grayson and Erica. "Of course she begged me to leave her alone but she's fine."
"You have checked on her about five times," Grayson reminded him, his tone teasingly affectionate.
"Yeah," Erica said. She looked over at Tyson. "I wish I'd known where she was. She could have sat with us."
"Nah," said Tyson, "she was lucky she was sitting with her brother. Say what you will about Edgar," He remarked as he flopped back in his seat. "The boy knows his hexes. He kept her safe."
Yes but all it takes is one lucky curse, Erica thought as she settled back in her seat. The face of the prefect as he went to take on the Death Eater would remain with her forever, she was sure, along with that terrible light. She clasped her hands in her lap and took an uneasy breath. Seconds later, she felt Tyson's hand cover hers.
"It'll be okay," he whispered. In that moment she was seven years old and wailing because she'd had the dream about scarecrows with razor sharp teeth and gnashing pumpkins, all of them bouncing along the floor at super speeds, bearing down on her. She was back in her bed, shaking and scrabbling for the light and then a switch was flipped and Tyson was in the doorway. For a moment, she would see pure irritation on his face but seconds later it would disappear and the next thing she knew she'd be clinging to him. He'd be rubbing her back and reminding her of all the ways she could deal with those stupid pumpkins and scarecrows, Because she was going to be a great witch one day and such things would not stop her.
But she was not seven years old anymore and she was no longer shielded by the protection of her parents and older brothers. She was out in the real world where Death Eaters could halt a train and then embark and attack people. Where the lives of children could be lost in a few flashes of light. Erica felt a great swelling of discomfort rising up through her throat. Her mind was troubled by the thought that that Hogsmeade station was not within Hogwarts territory. They still had to get from point A to point B without being attacked on the road again,
"Is it far to Hogwarts?" she asked Tyson. "From Hogsmeade?"
"No, It's not far," Tyson told her. "You'll have Hagrid with you and the Aurors. You'll be safe."
"I thought we'd be safe on the train," she replied.
"We should have been," Grayson spoke with a growl. "Dumbledore's going to be furious. So will the Ministry. They'll have to tighten security on these trips until this bloody war is over." His gaze relaxed a bit as he looked towards his terrified-looking sister. "Dumbledore won't let anything like this happen again," he assured her.
Erica looked back out of the window but she could not say that all of her fears were abated. She didn't know when she would ever feel safe again. Meanwhile, the view of Hogwarts was becoming more and more obscured by trees as the train rounded the bend. The engines squealed and chugged as the train slowed down. It pulled up into the station and Erica looked at the dark shape of the station against the night sky and the lights that illuminated the platform.
Grayson and Tyson were the first to rise. "Leave your things," Grayson told them all. "They'll be brought up to the castle soon."
Erica nodded although she made no move to get up, letting her brothers and James go ahead of her. Sirius rose and was halfway to the door when he turned back to her. Panic overwhelmed her and she looked out of the window with shaky breaths. It was so very dark out there; perfect for Death Eaters to hide in. Who knew how many of them might be out there waiting to grab them? How many more lives would be lost tonight? How many more could the Ministry afford to lose?
"Hey," Sirius' voice slid through the fog of her thoughts and she felt his hand gently take her wrist. She lifted her gaze to his. For a second, she felt like she was in a dream and she was on the edge of waking up because none of this felt real anymore. "Let's go," his hand tugged her wrist but it wasn't a hard movement. It felt soft and reassuring; a guiding hand in her misty emotions.
Erica lingered a moment longer as she tried to summon the courage she knew she'd need to be in Gryffindor house. "Okay," she answered finally and stood up. Sirius' fingers closed fully around her wrist and he pulled her out of the compartment and along the corridor, towards the door.
There was an immediate sense of relief, leaving the train behind, Erica thought as she stepped down into the chilly night air and onto the stone platform. She gazed around at the sheer mass of students crowding onto the platform and took comfort from it. Surely they can't harm this many of us, she reassured herself. The older students were heading away from the platform while the first years remained. After a moment, Erica's eyes landed on the gigantic man stood with the majority of them as well as some of the Aurors. Erica recognized the Auror Thalia Dreamshade among them. The huge man waved over Sirius and Erica among the others.
"Over here firs' years, over here!"
"Come on!" Grayson was waving the pair of them over while Tyson lingered nearby. As soon as she and Sirius joined the crowd of first years, Grayson patted her shoulder. "I'll see you at the feast," he promised. "Good luck with the Sorting." And with that, he strode away with Tyson. Erica watched them go as more first years surrounded them.
The gigantic man waited until the train was empty of students before addressing the group. "Well hello there!" he boomed. "I'm Hagrid, Gamekeeper at Hogwarts. We're going ter take the boats ter the school. Yer in for a real treat!" he declared.
He began to lead them down a separate path to the others. James emerged through the crowd to join Sirius and Erica. Erica was glad to still feel Sirius' hand on her wrist as they walked. With James on her other side and the Aurors at her back, she felt some of her nerves settle a little. The path was dark but the light cast by the Aurors and Hagrid's lantern helped a great deal. They walked on for some minutes until the ground began to slope downwards until they reached the edge of a huge lake. The water looked black and shimmered under the moonlight.
"Alright firs' years! We're almost there now," said Hagrid.
Behind him Hogwarts rose up above them; its lights twinkled at them as if welcoming its newest crop of students. Erica stared at the castle with a growing smile. It was even more extraordinary than she had imagined and she had been thinking about this moment for quite some time. She turned to her new friends who were staring up in awe as well. Sirius' hand released her wrist but she didn't mind. James let out a small whistle.
"Wow," he breathed.
Hagrid gestured to a large number of small boats near him. "We're going to sail across to the school now. So no more than 4 to a boat please," he instructed. The first years quickly piled into a boat. Erica, James and Sirius climbed into one together. The Aurors took a couple of boats. Once everyone was settled, Hagrid looked over them all from his own boat and then turned to face the school. The boats moved as one and they began gliding over the lake towards the illuminated school.
For the first time fully since the train attack, Erica felt a sense of safety settle over her, calming some of the anxiety in her mind. This is Albus Dumbledore's territory now. You'll be fine. Instinctively, she leaned to the side, letting her hand slide into the dark waters. They felt good against her fingers, comforting and cool.
"This is it," James whispered. "Almost time for the Sorting!"
"Yeah," Sirius agreed though a cloud seemed to have taken over his face. Erica reached down with her other hand to touch his arm. He turned to her with a weak smile.
It didn't take long for the boats to reach the other side. They all climbed out after Hagrid and followed him up many stone steps until they reached a pair of huge doors. In front of these doors stood a witch in a black hat and emerald green robes. She looked towards the approaching group with an approving nod.
"Thank you Hagrid," she told the Gamekeeper who nodded his head and shuffled off, waving to the first years as he went. The witch then turned to the Aurors. "And many thanks you to you all," she added. "These students are quite safe though the Headmaster would like you to join us for the feast. He would like to talk with you afterward."
James, Erica and Sirius exchanged looks. The witch turned back to the first years.
"Good evening," the witch greeted them, "My name is Professor McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house. Welcome to Hogwarts." She clasped her hands in front of her and surveyed them. "In a moment, we will go into the Great Hall where you will be Sorted. Now, I know you've all been through a terrible ordeal and you should all know that you are safe here at Hogwarts. Extra security measures will be taken with the train in future. No one will allow this to happen again." She fell silent as she looked across the troubled crowd. Her face was lined and her expression seemed strict but there was a kind of kindness in her eyes as she took in all the new students. "Once you are Sorted, you will work towards helping your house earn points in our House Points Championship. Successes and good behaviour will win you points whilst rule breaking and bad behaviour and poor work will lose you points. For the next seven years your house is going to be like your family. Please be a credit to it."
She produced a pocket watch from her robes and examined it. "It's time," she announced. "Follow me."
Walking into the Great Hall was quite possibly the most wondrous moment of Erica's young life. The golden light embraced her as she followed her fellow first years into the crowded hall full of older students and the line of staff and Aurors waiting on the other side of the room. Her gaze jumped to the floating chandles dangling in their hundreds above everyone's heads. Above them, the ceiling her brothers had spoken off reflected a calm and starry night sky with some clouds drifting across it. She then turned her attention to the four house tables. Across the room, she saw her brothers smiling at her from the Gryffindor table.
McGonagall led them up to the space between the staff table and the house tables. "Line up here please." She stood to one side, next to a stool with a dusty-looking hat sitting on top of it. Once they had all lined up, she turned towards the staff table and Erica got her first look at Albus Dumbledore.
He looked just as eccentric and colourful as his chocolate frog cards with his purple, starry and glittering robes. But as he advanced towards a golden, eagle podium in front of the staff table, he positively radiated power.
"To our new students, I say a hearty welcome to Hogwarts," he declared, offering a kind smile to all of the first years, "and to our returning students, welcome back. I hope that you all had pleasant summers and are ready to return to your learning." There was a certain twinkle in his smile as a few students groaned. However the twinkle vanished after a few seconds. "As to the events that unfolded on the train, I must offer my sincerest apologies. No one anticipated that Lord Voldemort's-" here there was a collective muttering in response, "followers would make such a brazen move towards young wizards and witches like yourselves."
He paused and simply gazed over them all for a minute or so. All noise ceased under his watch and the atmosphere became heavy quickly.
"I have no doubt that the Dark Lord planned this to destabilize the Ministry of Magic and to frighten both yourselves and your parents. I believe today was a power move; a way of showing us that he is willing to take risks. As ever he seeks to break down our society through fear and malice. It is more vital than ever that we hold our nerve and do not bow to such evil. I can only imagine how frightening today was especially to our first years, for whom this particular journey was their introduction into travel to the school. It saddens me that Lord Voldemort has now tainted that memory. But I am exceedingly proud of the bravery shown by not only Aurors but many of the students as well. I expect the Death Eaters did not expect to find such formidable opponents in our students. You have done a great service today and it will not be forgotten."
Dumbledore turned his attention to the back of the hall where four hourglasses stood. He took out his wand and pointed it at the glasses. With four wordless flicks, coloured sand filled up a little of each glass. "In fact, I am awarding each house 50 points in honour of this bravery."
Turning back to the podium, Dumbledore's expression became solemn. "Of course, not all of the students made it out alive." He pocketed his wand and took out a piece of parchment. "I would like to give a special mention to those students who were taken from us." He cleared his throat.
Nausea climbed up Erica's throat again and her eyes began to water. She blinked them away furiously as she thought of the bodies on the stretchers. She looked around at the ashen faces of her year group. Dumbledore was right; Voldemort had tainted things. Not just the train but the whole damn day.
"Connor Hunt, our Ravenclaw fifth year prefect," Dumbledore began.
A tear slid down Erica's cheek. Thank you Connor.
"Jane Mackintosh," Dumbledore continued, "should have been being Sorted right about now." A shudder seemed to ripple through the room. A couple of people let out a sob, a few whimpered and a low level of chatter thrummed through the students. "As should Lesliegh Warren," Dumbledore continued.
Erica looked among the other first years suddenly reminded of how close she had come to losing her cousins on the train. In the row behind her, she saw her cousin Amelia stood with a group of girls, her face soaked with tears. After a moment she met Erica's gaze and tried to smile. It didn't quite work but Erica nodded all the same.
"Noel Prevot was in his sixth year and an excellent Beater for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team if I do say so myself," Dumbledore continued looking towards the Hufflepuff table who were looking particularly downcast. "And Rhiannon Weaver was a Gryffindor fourth year as well as a talented Gobstones player." He pocketed the parchment and looked out over the students again.
"I am sure you have all experienced enough horror for one day so I shall say only one last thing on the matter. Every attack the Death Eaters make and every loss we face, we must remember that we are never alone. There will always be support and help in these dark times. I do not believe the numbers supporting Voldemort outnumber those who value justice and fairness and safety. We must see these attacks as what they are; the works of monsters. Remembering that will keep our focus in this war."
He stepped back from the podium and walked around it to stand the other side of the Sorting stool. "But you do not have to worry about such things while you are in Hogwarts and when you are at home, safe with your families. Your only jobs are to learn and to live. Please remember that." He began to step back towards the staff table, his blue eyes twinkling beneath the candle light. "And with that note," he continued after a pause, "let us get on with the Sorting. It is time that the Hat has its say."
Slowly a round of applause built up over the crowded hall including the first years. Once Dumbledore had returned to his seat, quiet fell over the hall.
On the stool a tear in the hat began to open and immediately sprung into song.
"Oh it was many many years ago
When the four founders came together
They had so many skills to show
They thought their friendship was forever.
They decided to form a mighty school
To help the future of magic-kind
They bickered over each and every rule.
For they all had a different mind.
So houses they made to represent
Each of these wizards and witches
To me they gave their requirement
A way to sort with no hitches.
"I'll take the brave" declared young Gryffindor
"And I the loyal," said Hufflepuff with her grin.
"I'll nurture wisdom," promised Ravenclaw.
"Ambitions wiles, I'll teach," insisted Slytherin.
And so the houses came to be
The founders famous forever more
In paintings and Hogwarts memory
Their stories fading into lore.
To this day scarlet Gryffindor
Welcomes the courageous and the bold
For them life is a thrill more and more
From that house many wild tales are told.
In Hufflepuff people find their home
They find loyalty and acceptance
In hard work one is never alone
In each one is Helga's presence.
The child of Ravenclaw will always seek
Expansion of their mind
Noisy, quiet, bold or meek
Wisdom's grace unites them as one kind
Slytherin skills are built in stealth
Ambition lights the focus flames.
Shrewdness keeps the children's health
And their mind fresh with careful games.
To Hogwarts you all have come
Your future lies ahead
It does not matter where you're from
But the choices in your head."
The Hat finished its song and more applause sounded again. Erica looked back at the house tables wondering which one she would soon belong to.
McGonagall stepped forward and cleared her throat. "Bertram Aubrey," she called out.
A skinny, sour-faced boy stepped forward from the second row. He stepped up in front of the stool and sat down cautiously. McGonagall lowered the hat on his head and there was silence. The more seconds that passed, the more anxiety seemed to show on Bertram's face. One minute passed then another until the hat's brim opened.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" It roared to the crowd.
The table next to Gryffindor instantly applauded and some of the students called out to a relieved Bertram who handed over the hat and hurried to join his house. Sirius looked sideways at Erica and she could see her anxious reflection in his eyes. She reached down to take his hand and was relieved when he didn't pull his away. They both looked back to McGonagall who was looking at her list again.
"Nicholas Avery!"
A short boy with shaggy blond hair practically ran to the stool. The Hat took about twenty seconds before declaring him a Slytherin. The table nearest Erica, Sirius and James began to applaud. Sirius watched Nicholas join them, a troubled expression on his face. Erica caught sight of it.
"Whatever happens, you'll always be you. Not some dark wizard," she whispered.
Otto Bagman joined the Gryffindor table after a minute on the stool.
"Sirius Black!"
Sirius stiffened for a moment. He let go of Erica's hand and strode over to the stool, chin raised and shoulders squared. He perched on the stool.
There was silence for a few moments. Sirius' hands were clutching the stool, his knuckles whitening. He'd gone completely rigid. Finally the Hat spoke. "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius' face broke into a massive grin as the Gryffindor table cheered and clapped. Erica beamed at him, her heart full with elation for him. She clapped with James. She looked back towards the Slytherin table. She could see Andromeda smiling at Sirius but some of the older students looked like they'd been slapped.
Then she heard it; quiet booing coming from those students, all of them staring at Sirius. Andromeda was looking around at her housemates with a trouble expression. Erica felt her own fists clench. She thought back to what Sirius had told her earlier. Every member of his family had been in Slytherin up until now. Sirius had broken tradition.
Even when the booing stopped, Erica barely paid attention when Cecily Bode joined Ravenclaw. She kept looking between the Slytherin table and the Gryffindor table where Sirius was already speaking to one of his new housemates. But Erica's attention snapped back to the Hat when she saw her cousin Amelia Bones move towards it.
Unlike the Snowdrops with their dark hair, Amelia had inherited her father's golden hair though she shared the blue eyes of her cousins. As she settled on the stool, her gaze found Erica who gave her a thumbs up. Amelia nodded back and became still as the Hat was placed on her head. It had barely landed before yelling "HUFFLEPUFF!" Amelia removed the Hat, climbed off the stool and hurried to join the Hufflepuff table.
Dirk Cresswell joined the Hufflepuff table while Kaiden Diggory joined Ravenclaw.
"Lily Evans!" McGonagall called out.
"Excuse me," a smaller, red-headed girl squeezed between Erica and James. She approached the stool and sat down smiling nervously. Lily sat on the stool for a good few minutes before the Hat declared her a Gryffindor.
Lily was followed by a Remus Lupin, a tall boy with sandy hair. He was sat on the stool for about three or four minutes before he was deemed a Gryffindor. Mary Macdonald was also Sorted into Gryffindor. Adelina McKinnon broke the Gryffindor streak by being placed in Hufflepuff before McGonagall had even let go of the Hat. Marlene McKinnon followed shortly after but unlike her twin was placed in Gryffindor. Erica watched the two girls, kinda startled that they had ended up in different houses. She saw them exchange looks and mouth to each other before sitting down at their respective tables.
The Hat declared Dorcas Meadows a Ravenclaw after two minutes. Peter Pettigrew took her place on the stool. He was a lumpy-looking boy with mousy brown hair that kept poking into his face. Once more the hall went silent and remained that way for minute after minute.
Gradually Pettigrew surpassed the others for the longest time on the stool.
"He's a hatstall," James whispered to Erica. "I've heard about those. Or maybe he's a squib."
"Can squibs be invited to Hogwarts?" she questioned.
James shrugged. "I guess we'll soon find out."
Over five minutes had passed now and some of the other first years were looking around at each other curiously. One wondered if the Hat was broken. Another suggested it had gone to sleep. A third wondered if there was something wrong with the boy. But finally after three more minutes, the Hat's brim opened again.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it bellowed.
Pettigrew wobbled on the stool and tumbled off it, looking bewildered. McGonagall took the hat off him and pointed him to his table. He moved over there looking dazed.
"James Potter!"
James grinned at Erica and nudged her with his elbow as he went past. "My moment of glory," he whispered before sauntering up to the stool and planting himself on it.
Looking up at James and now that they had reached the P's, Erica felt a tiny thrum of nerves tingling through her veins. Soon they would reach S and soon she'd know.
The Hat sat on James' head for about ten seconds before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!"
James yelled in triumph, leaped off the stool, swept the hat off his head and swung it low in a bow and handed it to McGonagall who was distinctly unimpressed as she watched him race over to the Gryffindor table to sit opposite Sirius. Erica felt a stab of envy in her chest as she watched the two of them. She began to play with her fingers as she turned back to the Hat.
Fabian Prewett became a Hufflepuff. Kingsley Shacklebolt joined the Gryffindor table. Severus Snape, a boy with long, dark, greasy looking hair stepped up from behind her to take his place and joined the Slytherin table. Now Erica's stomach was fluttering like it had birds sitting in it.
"Erica Snowdrop!" McGonagall called out.
Erica took a deep breath and took one careful step after another until she had gotten to the stool. She sat down and felt the hat sink onto her head.
"Well hello there", the hat seemed to speak from inside her own head, "and what courage there is in this mind. I see much bravery in you. Cleverness too and compassion. You're loyal to your loved ones and you crave adventure. You are challenged by fear but not afraid to tell things as they are. Well, I think there's only one house for you and that is GRYFFINDOR!"
The last word was shouted to the hall and Erica felt the hat being lifted off her head. She looked over toward the cheering table ad suddenly her heart felt light and joyful for the first time since she'd boarded the Hogwarts Express. She hurried over towards her new house. Sirius was gesturing for someone to move so she could sit next to him and she took the opportunity with relish.
"We all made it," James grinned at her from across the table.
"We did," Erica said. She looked further up the table to where her brothers were beaming at her. She turned back to Sirius, tilting her head with a smirk. "Someone made waves," she declared with a laugh.
"Did you hear the booing?" James asked eagerly.
Sirius looked positively delighted. "Who booed? The Slytherins?"
"Some of them, yeah." James confirmed.
Sirius' smile could hardly had gotten much wider.
The rest of the Sorting passed quickly. Thorfinn Rowle sat on the stool for a minute before he was placed in Slytherin. Arcadia Vance and Anastasia Yaxley were also sorted into Slytherin pretty quickly. McGonagall took the hat and stool away while Dumbledore stood up to declare that the formalities were over and invited everyone to enjoy the feast. As he said the words, the tables instantly filled with heavily laden plates food and tall jugs of juice.
Erica marveled at everything before reaching to fill up her goblet with pumpkin juice. As she then began loading up her plate with food, she heard James speak up.
"So where are the house ghosts then? I wanna see - HOLY MERLIN!" he yelped as the ghost of a Renaissance-dressed man appeared right through him, rising up away from him and hovering a few feet above the table.
All around the hall, more ghosts were appearing. A round friar was hovering around the Hufflepuff table. A beautiful woman floated by the Ravenclaws and a stern looking ghost was currently floating through the Slytherin table chatting to some of them. There were many others, some of them flying around. The candlelight danced across their shimmering forms turning them a mingled silvery-gold whenever they passed right under the candles.
James fixed his gaze on the ghost hovering above the Gryffindor table. Erica drank from her goblet as she stared up at him.
"Hello there!" the ghost's voice was every bit as pompous as his attire. "My name is Sir Nicholas de-"
"Nearly Headless Nick," Sirius declared with a grin.
The ghost looked most put out. "I prefer Sir Nicholas-" he began to say.
"Nearly Headless eh?" Otto Bagman declared. "Show us then!"
Nicholas eyed them all with exasperation but he grabbed his head and yanked it to one side. He was met with loud "Ooohs" as well as some gags and groans. The sight of his head hanging on by a sliver of skin, exposing the damage done to his body, nearly made Erica choke on her drink. She covered her mouth with a frown.
James was staring up at Nick like he was the most impressive thing he'd seen today. "Blimey!" he said. "That's impressive."
Erica looked at him incredulously. "That's lazy," she pointed out. "If someone's going to do something that horrific, they may as well finish the job."
Nicholas puffed himself up a little, shooting Erica a delighted smile. "Thank you! That never gets said enough. I wish they had bloody finished the job. I could have joined the Headless Hunt many years ago."
"Did you ever find out why they didn't finish the job?" Erica questioned.
Nick returned his head to its place and shook his head. "I believe people just found it amusing," he remarked. "I however did not."
"Yeah but that's your thing now," James argued. "You get an interesting story to go with your head."
Nick eyed James disdainfully. "Maybe so but people are far more interested in the head than the story."
Erica looked down at her goblet, feeling rather sorry for Nick now. Even James had nothing to say to that. Some of the other staring first years were looking away too. She took another sip, not quite ready to resume eating after seeing Nick's neck.
Nick looked over them all. "But I expect you've all seen rather too much horror today so perhaps it's a story for another time." He began to float away. "Oh Helena!" he called out towards the silvery lady who turned mid-air and waited for Nicholas to join her.
"He's fascinating," Otto remarked before returning to stuff his face. "At least we get a cool ghost."
Erica thought all of the ghosts looked pretty interesting. She wondered what it would take for someone to become a ghost in Hogwarts or really a ghost at all. Maybe she would look it up in the library. Her brothers had told her about it. How big it was and all kinds of books it had. She was eager to see if Madam Pince was as much of a vulture as her brothers made her out to be.
Putting Nick behind her, she went back to her food and contented herself with listening to the conversations around her. People were talking about: lessons, about the grounds, about Quidditch and about the teachers. So much excitement for the new school year and yet she couldn't help but think about the students who never made it here today and the awful news their parents would received today.
"You all right?" Sirius asked once they'd moved onto dessert and he noticed Erica picking at a jam tart.
Erica nodded. "Yeah."
James looked over towards them both and his expression turned serious for a moment. "We're going to be safe here," he said. "And one day the Ministry will catch all the ratbags and throw them in Azkaban."
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, "and they'll be prepared next time we take the train. We'll probably have Aurors all the way next time."
"Yeah. I know. I just can't stop thinking about it all," she admitted. Erica knew her new friends' words were meant to help but they did nothing to shake the uncomfortable feeling sitting in her chest. She hoped sleep would help and she knew she wanted to write to her parents as soon as she could. She didn't want to wait a day before telling them that they were all okay and that she was a Gryffindor just like her brothers.
"You should ,keep eating then," James suggested. "If you eat loads of food, you'll be too sleepy to think. Always works for me," he declared. "Mum and Dad always serve too much at home," he added.
Erica managed to smile a bit at that despite the weight on her mind.
Before too long the food and plates vanished and Dumbledore stood up once again to make the announcements.
"I will not keep you long as it has been a difficult day for you all," he began. "I would like to inform our new students and remind our older ones that Mr Filch has a list of banned objects fastened to his door. Anyone caught in possession of these items will have them confiscated and receive detention. I would also like to make it known that the Forest remains as forbidden as ever and poses a dangerous risk to anyone who ventures in too deeply. Anyone caught going into the Forest will lose house points and find themselves in detention. Duelling is a dangerous practice even with good intentions and especially so in the school corridors therefore any students caught hexing each other in the hallways or between classes will receive detention and lose house points. If you wish to learn how to duel, we will be holding a duelling club on the weekend evenings. Details will appear in your common rooms very soon. For now though, it is time to retire and get some rest. Prefects, please escort your house up to their dormitories. Goodnight, all." With that, he clapped his hands and the students rose up at once.
It was a long climb to Gryffindor Tower but Erica didn't mind. She gazed around at all the moving portraits, clung on to Sirius and James when the staircases moved and watched the ghosts disappear along various corridors and passageways. By the time they had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady her legs were very achy.
"Dragon's breath," the prefect, Isla Cartwright, told the Fat Lady who looked at the group of new Gryffindors. Her portrait swung aside revealing the common room.
Erica climbed through the doorway and marvelled at Gryffindor's lounge. It was like a haven of scarlet. Lamps dotted about the room combined with an enormous lit fireplace gave the setting a comfortable glow. There were at least half a dozen crimson armchairs around the room and a large ruby sofa facing the fireplace. Gold and red cushions occupied most chairs and there were a few strewn around the floor too. Extraordinary tapestries and giant paintings covered most of the walls. The whole room had an inviting, lazy feel to it. She could quite easily flop into one of those chairs and not move for a couple of hours.
Erica looked towards the paintings again, watching the figures gathering to get a look at the newest members of Gryffindor house. They weren't the only ones. A dozen students gazed at them all, some of them whispering. The fireside seats were occupied as were many of the tables. Erica scanned the room for her brothers and spotted them, sitting at a table furthest away and closest to the window. She smiled back at them as they waved to her.
"Look at this," James whistled approvingly. "This is nice. Very nice."
"This is way better than living in the dungeons," Sirius declared as he looked towards the windows. "It's gotta be a hell of a view from up here."
"Follow me, please." Isla said as she led the first years towards a staircase at the very back of the room. They followed her up a flight of stairs until they came to a balcony looking over the common room with a door on either side. Isla stopped and turned to them all. She was a slender, pretty girl with auburn hair worn in tiny, thin braids. As she reached to open one of the doorways, Erica saw some faint coloured shapes drawn on her wrist and the back of her hand. "Okay girls follow me this way. Ben, can you show the boys? Great."
The doorway led to another staircase, rising further into the tower. It wasn't a long climb to the first year dorms, however, as Isla stopped them after the first set of stairs. Pushing open the door for them, she led them into a large circular bedroom. Four-poster beds with rich, thick scarlet drapes stood next to a bedside table. A trunk sat in front of each bed and various cat baskets and owl cages had been placed atop the bedside table. There was a wooden doorway between two of the beds.
"That's your bathroom," Isla told them all. "Try and get an early night. Tomorrow, I'll take you all down to breakfast. If you have any questions, I'll be downstairs for a few hours," she added before she slowly backed out of the room.
"Hey girl," Erica crossed the room to greet Athena who hooted at her within the cage. Erica unlatched the cage and the owl hopped out and onto her arm. She began to stroke Athena's feathers as she looked around at the dorm. Between her bed and another was a tall window, half open. She advanced towards it and looked out at Hogwarts.
The castle seemed to unfold beneath her from the rooftops of the lower buildings to the grounds and the road leading down into Hogsmeade. She saw a black stretch of forest stretching away to the side. Athena hooted softy at her and flapped her wings. Erica pushed open the window the rest of the way. Athena hopped onto the window ledge and took off into the night.
"She's beautiful," the red haired girl from the Sorting spoke at Erica's elbow. She was holding her own owl on her wrist. "What's her name?"
"Athena," Erica said as she stepped back to allow the other girl to move her owl closer to the window. Her owl was a fine specimen of snowy owl. Bigger than Athena, Erica supposed the owl was older maybe although it was hard to tell with owls. "What about yours?"
"Cecil," the girl smiled.
"He's gorgeous."
"I guess they make quite a pair," she said as Cecil hopped off her arm and followed Athena out into the night sky. She turned to Erica and offered her hand. "I'm Lily."
"Erica."
"This is all pretty amazing isn't it?" Lily smiled as she turned back to the window and looked out. "I mean a few years ago, this was all new to me."
"You're a muggleborn?" Erica asked. Lily nodded. "Nothing wrong with that," Erica continued, "despite what anyone says."
"Are you a pureblood then?" Lily asked.
"No, I'm a halfblood. Our family have mixed with muggles somewhere in our history. But I grew up with magic." Erica explained. She sat down on her bed and instantly felt some relief spread through her legs. "I kind of envy you though," she remarked.
"Why?" Lily perched on her own bed looking genuinely curious. "From what Sev says, muggleborns don't have the easiest time."
"Yeah well that's true enough. There are a lot of idiots among the purebloods. But I meant, well, this is all new to you magic. That's like twice the wonder."
Lily laughed lightly. "It's not a competition," she said. "But it's nice to meet you."
"You too," Erica said. She looked to the bottom of her bed and silently thanked the absence of the need to unpack. Everything was where it should be. Which meant she didn't need to move off the bed for quite some time.
Lily's smile died and when she looked out of the window again, it was with solemnity in her eyes. "I still can't believe what happened today," she mused.
Erica said nothing to that. Her hands grabbed her bed sheets and she tried not to think of that horrific green light again or the bodies on stretchers. She wondered how she would sleep tonight with those images in her head. She hadn't eaten enough to test James' food theory.
"I'm sorry," Lily said. "I just… I can't ignore it."
"No it's fine," Erica muttered.
"Sev— My friend Severus and I were lucky. Some older students told us to get in their compartment. They protected us," Lily said. "Sev told me some things he'd read in the paper but I never thought I'd see something like that. People being hexed. People screaming…"
After which point, Erica felt herself begin to zoom out. Her mind was rushing back to that terrible memory: the sounds of the screams and hexes, the lights flashing back and forth, the crashing and the mayhem of it all. It projected through her mind so vividly that it was like she was standing there in the compartment, watching the terrible things happen around her, feeling all of those sensations again, The charge racing throughout her blood. The feel of James' hand over her mouth and Sirius' arms around her. The cloak resting over her head. Being hugged by her brothers afterward. It all stampeded through her and her breath hitched.
She didn't have the arsenal of spells older students had. None of the three of them had. Unlike James and Sirius who had both managed at least one spell, she hadn't thrown a hex. She'd been cowering and crying the whole time. She had watched her brother being tortured. Like a coward.
"Erica?" Lily's voice sounded distant to her. Like being underwater and hearing someone speak. She remembered vaguely that Lily had been talking to her.
"Huh?" Erica murmured.
"Erica?" Lily's voice became clearer as some of the fog over Erica's mind began to lift. "Are you okay?"
"Oh y-yeah," Erica swallowed and shifted on her bed. "Actually, can we not talk about the train?" she asked and her voice sounded small to her own ears.
Lily nodded emphatically. "Yeah. That's fine. I'm sorry."
"No don't- don't be sorry. I just can't go back there," Erica said.
She rose to her feet and moved to crouch down by her trunk. She unlatched it and began rooting through it, searching for her nightdress. Just a simple thing to focus on and it helped. She could already feel some of the memory begin to float away, like bubbles into the night. She pushed her books to one side and sighed as she caught sight of white fabric trapped beneath her Transfiguration book. Why had she packed it that deep? She carefully eased it out and flattened the material on her lap. She also grabbed her wash bag and closed the trunk.
Wordlessly, she crossed to the bathroom and shut herself in. The bathroom was styled in dark, smooth stone and illuminated by wall sconces which lent the room a cozy glow. She changed into the night dress and looked at herself in the mirror above the sink.
You look scared. You don't look like a Gryffindor. She observed.
Once she had washed her face, brushed her teeth and tidied up her hair, she left the bathroom. Two of the other girls had left the dorm and Lily was holding her own washbag. She turned to Erica as the latter began putting her things away.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I really didn't mean to upset you."
Erica forced a smile at her. "Really, don't worry about it." She wished that she felt tired. She wished she could sleep. But her brain was so active right now. She felt on edge, like she was aware of everything around her. As she locked up her trunk, she rose to her feet. "I'm going to say goodnight to my brothers," she muttered.
Lily nodded and made a beeline for the bathroom.
Saying goodnight to her brothers too longer than expected. Both of her brothers asked her if she was okay and if she wanted to talk about the train. They also took the time to share some tips about being a first year. At first she was grateful for the distraction and the chance to wear herself out through talking. Tiredness had still not yet crept up on her and time was growing later.
She kept an eye on the antique clock that hung above the fireplace. But as ten o'clock passed and then eleven o'clock, she felt the edgy sensation in her blood becoming more and more prevalent. I just want to sleep. I just want to shut my eyes and forget this morning.
Eventually even her brothers' talk was just not sinking in anymore. She excused herself and hurried up to bed, rubbing at her temples as she went. Maybe once she was actually in bed, she would be able to sleep. She just need to lie down, relax and close her eyes.
On her return to her dorm, she found of her dormmates sleeping soundly. As she crossed the room to her bed, she envied their oblivion. After closing the window over somewhat, she slid into her own bed and drew the curtains across.
There, in the darkness, she felt a kind of peace settle over hero. So she closed her eyes and waited. But sleep did not come.
An hour passed and she listened to more people passing her dorm door, on their own way up to bed. Two more hours later and there was silence on the staircase.
Erica flung the covers off herself and climbed out of bed. There was a chill in the air so she closed the window. There was no sign of her and Lily's owls having returned. She supposed it would be morning before they returned. She just hoped that she would be able to sleep by then. Until; then, she decided there was nothing for it but to sit up for a while. Quietly she crept to the door and made her way down the two flights of stairs that brought her to the common room.
The fire was still going though it was a lot smaller. Still, there was a more intimate glow around the sofa and armchairs so Erica padded over, part of her quite content to be alone in the common room. However as she walked towards the back of the couch, she realized that she wasn't quite alone.
Sirius knelt on the floor in front of the fire. Dressed in a loose black shirt and pants, his dark hair hung in front of his face as he faced the fire. His shoulders were hunched as if he were on the verge of falling asleep.
"You can't sleep either?" Erica asked as she stepped around the couch and closer to the fire.
Sirius' head looked up instantly, his grey eyes turning to silver in the firelight. He shook his head slightly. "Nah."
Erica sat next to him, looking at the shrinking flames thoughtfully. "I wish I could sleep. At least then I wouldn't have to think."
"Yeah, I get that," Sirius murmured, gazing back into the fire. "But I don't think any of us are going to forget today in a hurry."
Erica smiled a little. It helped to hear that. To hear someone saying things as they were. Not offering speculation about how things might be. It made the truth a little easier to swallow - a kind of simplistic honesty that laid the foundations for something better to come along later. Something that would make this morning that bit less horrible. It was something her mother used to say. Denial never did anyone any favours and the truth was easier to wade through.
She put aside those thoughts for now though. "At least we all got what we wanted from the Sorting."
Sirius began to grin, his eyes shining as he did. "Yeah… that was just the best," he said before turning to her. "My mother's going to lose it when she finds out. I wish I could see her face," he laughed. "I bet one of the snakes has already owl'd her. I guess I should expect a howler any day now."
Erica grimaced. "That'll be fun," she muttered dryly.
"Oh no," Sirius was full on smirking now, "it will be fun. This is the golden move, the best of everything I've done," he explained. "She can't change this. She is gonna have to deal with that from now on." He added, still laughing quietly.
The more Sirius talked, the more Erica felt uneasy about the kind of reception Sirius could expect when he did eventually go back home. "Is it really so bad being in Gryffindor? I mean it means you're brave. I know you're breaking a tradition."
"My family is all about tradition," Sirius explained, "but they consider the traits Slytherin prized to be the best of the best. And nothing but the best for us Black." He shifted into a sitting position and stretched his legs out as he turned his back to the fire. His eyes turned from silver to almost black in the shadows. "Not anymore though," he remarked. "That's 600 odd year record of Slytherin Blacks ruined by me.
It was really quite hard not to feel overwhelmingly uneasy now. "Well sure but maybe they'll see some merits in being Gryffindor."
"Don't try and humanize my parents," Sirius eyed her with an amused smile. "They're of the backwards variety. Reason like that won't wash with them. I expect Dumbledore will get a letter asking me to be re-sorted or something. I guess it depends on how desperate she gets."
"Would she punish you for being put in here?" Erica asked in a whisper.
Sirius was quiet a moment too long. "Don't you worry about me. I can handle my mother." His tone sounded jovial but Erica got a sense that he wouldn't be pressed any further on the matter so she bit back a response and simply nodded at him. "Anyway," he continued, "look at us. I'm breaking a streak, you're adding to one. Three Snowdrops in Gryffindor eh?" he teased.
Erica managed a weak smile. "Yeah. If the Hat made the right choice."
"What do you mean? Of course it did."
"I wasn't very brave on the train was I?" Erica questioned. "I could have done more but I was too busy crying or too scared." She looked back into the flames. "What if the Hat has made a mistake with me? Brave people don't do nothing while their brother gets tortured."
"James and I had something to do with that," Sirius argued. "Besides he'd rather you were safe wouldn't he?"
Erica pulled a face. She couldn't argue with that. "Maybe…. Yes…. But. I still nearly got us caught and put us in danger. In fact we did get caught," she reminded him. "If Andy hadn't come along when she had-"
"Erica," Sirius said with determination. "Every reason you give for being sorted wrong, I can name a reason why you weren't. You punched a Death Eater in the face."
"Even so-"
"Anyway you not going to Grayson was us stopping you," Sirius insisted. "You would have gone to him. So, that's it. You're brave. You belong here. End of."
Erica didn't really know why but she started to laugh at the absolute certainty in Sirius' voice. And yet a part of her felt released by his words. Like a trapped breath was finally able to escape and leave her. It felt good. It felt like she was being shown another view of herself in that situation and… that version of herself she could handle.
"Thanks," she whispered.
The two of them sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Erica gazed around the common room, a growing smile upon her features. She pictured herself spending many a happy evening here: doing homework, reading, playing wizard's chess or exploding snap. There was a whole castle full of memories to be made here. That was something she could change. That was something over which she had a say. Her future.
As she smiled at Sirius, she decided there and then that she really wanted Sirius Black to be part of that future.