Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
When the train stopped, Fred and George helped Maera and the others grab their things - Neville had brought his trunk in when the boys had gone to change just as Fred and George had done. Maera and Draco reshrunk their trunks and put them in their pockets while the others stared enviously. Fred, George, and Neville prepared their things to remain on the train as expected of the students.
Before Maera could pick up her bag to put Loki in it, Fred had already grabbed both. He stuck his tongue out at her and refused to let her have it back.
"How about I keep the lil' guy while you're being sorted?" He asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Maera let out a long suffering sigh. "George, please make sure that my fox is well cared for and don't let your brother do anything too stupid."
The twins looked at her for a second, surprised that she had addressed them properly, but shrugged it off, figuring that it was a one time occurrence. George nodded while he and Fred directed the first years in the right direction. They looked at Maera for a second longer, before wishing each of the students luck and turned around, walking towards some carriages that Maera could barely see. For a second, she thought a skeletal horse was standing in front of one, but before she could look more directly at it the carriage had already moved away.
Maera held onto Draco's hand as they walked with Neville towards the very large man calling for all of the first years. She squeezed his hand, the size of the man definitely intimidating her. She was also grateful for his height though, since she was definitely the shortest of the students gathered and she probably would never have known what was happening if he didn't stick out so easily above the crowd. The tall man directed the students towards the boats, telling them to get in and that it was four to each boat - or, that's what she thought he was saying, his accent was a little difficult to understand for a second.
She rushed to a boat, pulling Draco and Neville with her. She had hoped that there would be an empty boat that they could use, but each boat seemed to already have at least one person inside of it. Maera looked before her, stopping to weigh out her options. She held onto both boys with her tightly, not letting them away from her side - they were her friends and she wanted to see Hogwarts for the first time with them.
The bossy girl, Granger as Neville had mentioned, was in the boat directly in front of Maera. There was no way that she was going in that boat, not after everything on the train. Turning slightly to the right, she noticed that the boat next to Granger's had two people. Sighing, she turned left. This boat had someone she didn't know already in it, but he didn't seem intimidating, so she pulled the boys with her into the boat.
The boy that had been in the boat, waiting for it to move, looked up. He had dark hair with tight curls that were cut short and startling honey colored eyes that complimented his dark skin tone beautifully. She blinked at the boy before smiling slightly, hoping that she was coming off politely despite her hurry to get into the boat.
"Malfoy and others?" The boy said, his eyebrow raised slightly. He looked to have a small spark of amusement in his eyes, mirrored by the slight upturn in his lips, but his mask was definitely in place. If she wasn't as close to Draco as she was, Maera likely wouldn't have noticed it.
Draco stepped forward and smoothed down his ruffled clothes, glaring slightly at her for what she had done to his previously wrinkle-free uniform. She rolled her eyes. "Hello, Zabini, mind if we join you in this boat?" The Malfoy heir asked, something that she, herself, should have done.
Zabini looked at her and Neville for a second, taking in the two of them, before nodding his ascent. Draco quickly sat down in the back of the boat, Neville taking a seat next to him. This left Maera with the spot next to Zabini. Taking a breath, she sat down carefully next to the other boy.
She turned to him and held out her hand, remembering everything that Draco and Mrs. Malfoy had told her about etiquette and introductions. "My name is Maera Potter Black, it is nice to meet you." She waited for him to shake her hand, hoping that he wouldn't turn it down as that would be highly embarrassing for her. To turn down someone's handshake was basically the equivalence of stating that they weren't worth your time. It was also an indication that someone could call you by your first name if they offered you their hand and you shook it.
Zabini looked at her in surprise. His eyes went between her face and her hand a couple times before he gingerly accepted her hand, a small amount of hesitance in his eyes. "Blaise Zabini." He stated, simply.
Neville cleared his throat, reaching forward with his own hand and saying, "Neville Longbottom." Blaise seemed surprised once again, though not as surprised as he had been by Maera's own introduction, before taking the other boy's hand into his own.
Draco rolled his eyes, seeming annoyed at Maera and Neville for giving the other boy permission to use their first names. He sighed and said, "Zabini, you may call me Draco."
Zabini smiled in a wicked sort of way, mischief lighting up his eyes. "Hmm, thank you, Draco, you may refer to me as Zabini." He winked at Maera when she clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Draco turned to the boy, frowning.
"What do you mean, Zabini?" The platinum blonde said through gritted teeth.
"Well, Draco," Blaise started, emphasizing his ability to use Draco's first name, "I mean that you can call me Zabini, just as you have the previous times we've met. But, thank you, for allowing me to call you by your first name." Blaise winked at Maera, gently nudging her with his elbow as if saying, 'Watch how angry he gets'.
Draco's face was beginning to turn a slight pink and Maera was somewhat concerned for the boy she had just met, she wouldn't put it past Draco to push the boy into the lake that they were slowly crossing in the boats. She was about to say something when she looked up and gasped. The others' heads quickly turned to her, looking to see what had made her react as she had. Wordlessly, she pointed at the magnificent sight in front of her. The castle was gorgeous. The lanterns from the boats around her helped to illuminate the grandness of the castle that they would call home for the next seven years of their lives. Everyone around them quieted at the sight. They were awestruck.
All of the first years remained quiet as they drew closer. Eventually, they arrived at the opposite side of the lake, and the giant man helped them to shore. He led them as a group towards the castle doors where a tall witch in stunning, green robes was waiting for them.
"Here're the firs' years for ye, Professor McGonagall." The tall man stated, indicating them to the stern woman. This was the woman that had sent her the letter inviting her to this school. Maera looked at the woman with wide eyes, taking in every detail and committing it to memory. She wanted to remember the person that had first told her of magic, even if it was through a letter.
"Thank you, Hagrid, you can go on inside if you would like." Professor McGonagall stated, turning back to the group of first years. "Follow me, we'll begin the sorting soon." She opened the large doors and led them inside. The entrance hall was gorgeous and grand, just like the outside of the castle. Maera looked around here in awe, dumbfounded by everything. The paintings that she could see were just like those at the Malfoy's manor - the subjects within them moved and had their own unique personalities. Everywhere she looked there was something that felt magical, she wasn't sure if this was just in her mind, but it made her smile all the same. She could already see herself enjoying her time at Hogwarts.
"Now, you all will remain here while I set up the sorting very quickly. Behave and make sure that you are presentable before going in." Professor McGonagall aimed this second statement at the twin's brother, Ron, who still had the smudge of dirt on his face. The redheaded boy also had a very wrinkled uniform on that appeared to be only partially tucked in. Altogether, he didn't look very presentable. His face turned a bright red in response to Professor McGonagall's words. As soon as her back was turned, he scowled before promptly ignoring her.
Maera quietly continued to look around, holding Draco's arm with both of her own lightly in excitement. She was leaning slightly on the boy and didn't think he minded too much, a soft smile aimed in her direction confirming her thoughts. She smiled at him and observed her fellow year mates. The bossy girl was a little in front of her group of friends, talking at people about Hogwarts and what she had learned about the school from Hogwarts, A History, a book that Maera had read before buying an older version from a small used bookstore that the Malfoys brought her to. She personally preferred the older version as it had more information on the different secret passages throughout the castle as well as information on the Room of Requirement, a room that was located somewhere within the castle that was capable of becoming whatever someone needed in that specific moment if found, and the Chamber of Secrets. No one around the bushy haired girl seemed to be listening to her, however.
Granger appeared to realise this and looked around for someone to speak with. Maera tried to look away quickly, hoping to be out of sight of the other girl due to her shorter stature, but, of course, she locked eyes with the other girl. It also seemed that Granger had recognised her as a dark look passed over her face before an overly cheerful smile took its place. She walked over to Maera's group and came to a stop directly in front of Maera.
Draco pulled Maera back a step, putting himself slightly in front of her. Blaise, not knowing exactly what was happening, stepped forward from where he had been speaking calmly with Neville, further hiding Maera. The blonde boy was holding his toad while looking at Granger in apprehension. He took a small step back, putting himself near Maera as well, something she was grateful for. The three boys were acting as a sort of guard and she appreciated them each for it.
Blaise seemed to notice the slightly crazed look in the other girl's eyes and asked in a calming tone, "Excuse me, but is there anything that we can do for you?" His hands were tucked in his pockets and he leaned back on his heels slightly, he looked calm and cool not at all like someone dealing with a crazy person (though Maera couldn't safely claim that Granger was crazy as of yet).
Granger looked at Blaise, taking in the boy in front of her, before dismissing him entirely for Maera - her real prey. "How'd you perform that spell earlier!" She demanded, lifting a hand as if to grab Maera's arm.
Draco moved further in front of Maera as everyone turned to watch as soon as Granger spoke. Some people had begun to whisper around the, 'Spell, what spell?' 'Who is this girl? Why does she keep bothering everyone?' .
When she didn't get a response, Granger stomped one of her feet down and demanded once more, "Tell me how you performed a spell taught in sixth year!"
Now everyone was looking at their group in awe as if thinking about which of them had performed such a spell. Maera was regretting having done so now that everyone was reacting the way they were, not to mention the way that Granger was reacting.
"Granger," Draco started, his soft drawl grabbing the girl's attention (as well as everyone else's), "Leave us alone, we don't have to tell you anything. Anyway, the simple answer is that she studied - just as you told us you had, as well. She just had the forethought to buy books beyond the first year curriculum. As you saw earlier, anyone can perform spells above their year level, after all that third year performed a fourth year spell for you as well."
Granger opened and closed her mouth, seeming to not know how to respond. Of course, as soon as one issue was taken care of, another decided to make itself known. Weasley stepped forward and stated in an incredibly condescending manner, "You don't need to talk down to her, Malfoy. I'm sure that your girlfriend didn't even perform the spell and is just taking credit for someone else's achievement. It'd be just like your lot, what with being evil and all."
While this statement seemed to appease Granger somewhat, it made the other first year students indignant. What did this boy mean, calling a group of students evil. Of course, Weasley then had to continue to run his overly large mouth, "Just you wait, Maera and I will put you all in your place as soon as she gets here. We're best friends and we both hate baby Death Eaters like all of you."
Maera twitched. She couldn't stand that this boy was using her name to gain fame, but she also was upset that he had called her friends and cousin Death Eaters. They were, after all, part of the group that had killed her parents. Not to mention, Mr. Malfoy had been forced to participate in the group by his own father. She held her breath to stop herself from doing something, her hands clenched by her side. She had noticed Draco tense at the mention of the Death Eaters as well as the other two boys that she had recently befriended - though she wasn't entirely sure why. Just as she was about to step forward to say something, another person beat her to the punch.
"How dare you, Ronald Weasley." Neville seethed, a surprising amount of anger in his voice and on his face. "How dare you call me a 'baby Death Eater' when it is known that I above many others hate them for what they have done to my family. From this day forward, you are no longer allowed to call me by my first name and you, specifically, are no longer a friend of House Longbottom." Many of the students surrounding them sucked in sharp breaths of air. Neville had essentially made Weasley an enemy of his house in all but name, something that Weasley seemed to have forgotten the boy capable of.
Weasley looked at Neville in surprise, seemingly shocked at this turn of events. Maera likely would have followed Neville's example, herself, if ghosts didn't choose that moment to appear in the hallway. The muggleborn students startled at their appearance, not seeming to know that they existed. Well, that is except for Granger.
Granger grabbed Weasley and pulled him to the side of the other students, talking to him about something that Maera couldn't understand from her current position. She did think, for a second though, that they had mentioned her own name as well as the name of the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore was someone that Maera didn't necessarily want to meet, though she suspected she would very soon. Mr. Snape (she'd need to remember that it was Professor Snape now that she was at Hogwarts) and the Malfoys had told her about the man and she had also read about him in countless books. Overall, nothing gave her a great impression of him. Not to mention, he had left her on the doorstep of her aunt and uncle, dooming her to live with people that he knew hated magic - there was no way that he didn't know at least Petunia's own opinions on magic given the fact that she had written to him before, something that Mr. Snape had told her about specifically. Maera turned from their conversation, tuning back in on the conversations going on around her with the different Hogwarts ghosts.
She met each ghost and enjoyed speaking to them for a second before Professor McGonagall walked back into the room. "Everybody," She started, commanding everyone's attention with ease, "Please form a straight line, the sorting is about to begin."
The students scrambled to form a line, Maera was sandwiched between Blaise and Draco with Neville just behind Blaise, and Professor McGonagall opened the doors to the Great Hall. This area of the castle was even more grand than the Entrance Hall. There were floating candles hanging in the air as well as an enchanted ceiling that reflected the night sky that was currently above them outside. Maera heard Granger talking about the ceiling to the others around her in a not-so-quiet whisper. McGonagall looked back at the girl and raised one eyebrow, quickly stopping Granger from speaking further.
Their group stopped just before the head table where it looked like the staff sat during meal times. Just in front of them was a raggedy, old hat sitting on top of a stool. Maera looked at the hat, expecting it to do something - the magic surrounding the object was quite vast, though Maera wasn't exactly sure why or how she knew that. Just as the other first years seemed to be growing impatient, a large tear in the hat opened and a face appeared within the fabric (the tear acting as a mouth). The hat began to sing some sort of song that spoke about each of the houses at Hogwarts, Maera still wasn't sure where she belonged. She felt Draco's hand reaching for hers and grabbed on to his, both of them were nervous about what would happen.
As the hat finished its song, Professor McGonagall came forward with a scroll in one hand. She picked up the hat and called out in a clear voice, "Abbot, Hannah".
The sorting had officially begun.