Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter Fourteen
Sorted
Somehow, Diana managed to make it home in time. She was lucky, because five minutes after she got back her parents did.
Petunia examined the spotless house, and remarked, "Well, I guess you aren't quite as useless as I thought you were."
What happened to loving and confiding in me? "Thank you, mother."
Diana began to do today's chores. As she did the laundry, she thought about how many more days she had left. 19 days. Just under three weeks left until she would leave for Hogwarts with all her stuff.
She needed to come up with a way to make time fly and forget about Hogwarts until September 1. Diana remembered the list she had made while waiting for Harry to come back.
I could do that again?
List it was, then!
September 1 came, and with came a bubbly, excited Diana. She almost leapt out of bed when she heard the alarm.
She had her trunk packed, everything locked inside. Her room looked very bare. The bookshelf was emptied of all the good books, her wardrobe had been turned upside down and her desk had nothing left on it except the wood itself.
Diana grabbed the suitcase and heaved it to the door. Perhaps she'd over packed?
Ginny had informed her that the train left at exactly 11 o'clock.
Memories of Platform 9 3/4 came back to Diana last year. Finally she was joining them! As if she hadn't said it enough already.
A shadow crossed her face. Diana whipped out a pen and paper.
Dear Mum and Dad,
You are going to feel betrayed and hurt after reading this. You are going to be so mad your heads are going to explode. But you MUST read this letter.
I'm running away to Hogwarts, because the truth is, I belong there more than I belong here. I have friends going, in fact, I have family going! Literally and metaphorically!
Despite what you've both tried to install in me, I'm not like you both. I'm a magical Dursley! And you can't raise a magical Dursley like a normal Dursley. Just the same way you can't send a Muggle to Hogwarts.They just wouldn't belong. And I don't belong.
You don't need to respond to this letter. You just need to read it. Acknowledge it. Acknowledge the fact that I'm growing up, and I've got feelings too.It's not all about you. Going to Hogwarts is my decision, not yours, and you both better accept that I'm attending the full seven years, and I'm going to enjoy it, even if you don't.
This is for the best.
From, Diana
Diana lay the letter on the bed.
"This is for the best," she mumbled.
Diana arrived at King's Cross Station 10 minutes before they were supposed to leave. She didn't see Harry or any sign of a red-head, so she ran through the barrier.
It was the same as before. Great atmosphere, steamy train, families, etc. But something felt different somehow. Like it was happier.
She boarded the train (albeit a little struggle from the trunk) and found an empty compartment. There wasn't too many people on the train, so she had some peace and quiet to wait for Ginny and Colin.
She opened up her trunk and looked through her books. Most of them were the same: shiny, colourful and written by Gilderoy Lockhart, but one caught her attention.
It was a small black book. There was nothing interesting about the cover, so Diana flipped through the book and was surprised to find that it was blank.
A diary.
Diana had never really used diaries. Pouring her feelings out to a book, it didn't appeal to her. But perhaps it could pass the time.
My name is Diana Dursley, she wrote in black pen.
Diana looked at it. There was no going back now.
But before she could write another thing, a response popped up.
Hello Diana. My name is Tom Riddle.
She threw the book across the compartment. A diary that could talk back.
The sensible thing would've been to leave it. But Diana's curiosity got the better of her.
Who are you? How can you talk?
I just told you, I'm Tom Riddle. And I hope you know about the wizarding world.
Of course! I'm on the train to Hogwarts right now!
Great. Hogwarts is really great fun. It'll be like a new home.
Enough with this! How can you talk back?!
I got trapped in this diary many years ago.
I'm not freeing you, if that's what you're wondering.
No, there's no possible way to free me. Instead I bid my time by getting to know others.
Diana recognised Ginny on the platform, and slammed the diary shut, hastily shoving it in her heavy trunk. She waved to Ginny, and recognising her, Ginny gave her parents a big long hug and joined Diana in the compartment.
"I was getting worried you weren't coming,"commented Diana.
"We're the Weasleys, we're never early," laughed Ginny.
"Yeah, I should probably know that," admitted Diana.
A whistle for the train blew, and they were off. Diana sighed happily as the train whisked her away from the station. Finally!
"So, do you have any games?" enquired Diana.
"Well I do have one called Exploding Snap..." began Ginny.
After spending several hours of playing games and eating sweets with Ginny and (eventually) Colin, Diana left the train.
She stumbled around on the platform with her friends until a big booming voice called, "Firs' years follow me!"
Diana knew well enough that she was a first year, so she and her friends (along with other timid and scared looking 11 year olds) made their way down a narrow path through the trees.
It was dark, and if Diana hadn't been with around 40 other people she would've been pretty scared. But luckily that wasn't the case.
Everyone seemed to be shoving each other out the way so they could see something.
"Move!"
"I wanna see it!"
"Yeh'll get yer turn to see soon enough!" boomed the voice that had summoned them. They all turned a corner.
It was amazing. There was turrets stretching high to the sky, and towers that did the same. With the dark starry sky in the background Diana thought it looked like heaven. It was Hogwarts.
She was snapped out of her trance when someone called, "No more 'an four to a boat!"
She climbed into a boat with Colin and Ginny and was joined by an arrogant looking boy looking longingly at another boat.
Diana gazed longingly at Hogwarts. She couldn't believe it was happening. Harry and her could have so many adventures together, roaming the corridors and jinxing each other.
"Diana, do you think we'll all be in the same house?" asked Colin.
Diana smiled. "I hope that we'll all be in a place where we're happy."
She, Colin and Ginny were lined up outside two gigantic doors.
Diana trembled slightly. In minutes the Sorting Ceremony would take place, and she'd be sorted in front of everyone.
A stern looking witch appeared in front of them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Professor Mcgonagall and I am your Transfiguration teacher and Deputy Head. In a few moments, I will lead through the doors and into the Great Hall so you can be sorted, but first I need to run a few of the rules through you.
"There are four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Each house has its own merits and many famous wizards come from each one. House points will be awarded for achievements. They will be removed for rule breaking. Each house will be like your new family, so the Sorting Ceremony is very important.
"I shall return when we are ready for you." Professor McGonagall left the chamber.
"Oh Merlin!" whispered Ginny. "My brother told me you had a fight a fully grown mountains troll! We're all going to die before we can do anything!"
Diana wasn't under the impression that they'd have to fight a mountain troll, but the Sorting Ceremony was sounding more and more serious. Plus, she didn't want to cross Professor McGonagall.
Note to self: don't do anything to upset the Professor. This will only get you killed.
"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin!"
The large door opened to reveal a large hall with around 400 students. Everything about amazed Diana.
The roof was almost identical to the starry sky outside. Diana assumed it would just open up to the heavens. There was candles floating around, and four long tables with different people at each one. At one table, everyone's robes were green. At another, their's were yellow. At another, they were wearing blue, and at the last it was red.
One they'd reached the end of the tables, McGonagall rolled out a piece of parchment and stood next to a stool with an old hat on it.
Is this some kind of wizarding ritual? thought Diana.
The most bizarre thing happened next: the hat opened its mouth and began to sing.
Look at you new first years,
beginning a new journey.
But the first part of your journey is
the Sorting Ceremony!
I am the Sorting Hat, and it's my job to sort you into a house!
Gryffindor if you're brave and daring!
Ravenclaw if you're smart and witty!
Hufflepuff if you're kind and patient!
And Slytherin if you're sly and cunning!
Don't be afraid!
Don't look so worried!
Because I've been doing my jobs for centuries!
And not one mistake has been made!
Diana doubted their hadn't been any mistakes, but who was she to contradict an old hat.
Her nervousness has ebbed away at the bizarreness of the hat, but it piled back up again when Professor McGonagall unrolled the scroll.
"When I call your name, please come up and sit on the stool."
"Alderton, Ross."
Slim and sickly looking Ross stumbled up to the stool and sat down on it. Professor McGonagall lowered the hat down onto his head. A moment's pause...
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ross ran down the the house in blue, where everyone was clapping and cheering.
"Alves, Avery!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Avery ran down the green house. Diana noticed some people were giving the table... controversial looks.
Bones, Harriet and Boot Dahlia both went to Hufflepuff, and Cooper, Sally went to Gryffindor.
"Creevey, Colin."
Colin walked nervously towards the stool, and just before the hat was lowered onto his head Diana gave him a thumbs up.
A moments pause...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Colin smiled and ran down to the red table.
Creen, Cecilia went to Hufflepuff, Cresswell, Samuel to Ravenclaw along with Davies, Edgar and Diggs, Edward.
Finally...
"Dursley, Diana."
Diana's heart thumped in her chest. She wandered up to the stool and sat on it.
Hmm, yes, Diana Dursley. Well, you're not very ambitious; you're biggest dream is to free your cousin from your family. Not very patient, are you? Shame. Hufflepuff would've been good for you. I suppose you are brave, but Gryffindor doesn't seem like the right house for you. You are witty and intelligent, so it I think it best be... "RAVENCLAW!"
The hat was removed from Diana's head. She went over and sat at the end of the cheering and clapping table.
Diana noticed her robes changed. There was now a blue eagle on her robes, with the word RAVENCLAW embroidered underneath. The insides of her robes were now blue as well.
Smart house, eh? I wished I was smarter. Diana looked around. A lot of people looked quite intelligent or like a class clown.
She watched as Edwards, Noah, Ellen Ashley, Freddie, Norman, Finnegan, Oliver and Grey, MacKennedy were sorted, Ashley and MacKennedy making it into Ravenclaw.
They sat down across from each other and giggled as they looked at Diana.
"What?" she asked.
"You're face," cackled Ashley.
"Yeah, it's like-" MacKennedy pulled the expression of someone bored and upset.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Duh, you're supposed to be excited," explained Ashley as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I am!" protested Diana. She huffed and turned to face the front.
Diana didn't pay attention for a while. She looked at her plate until she realised that that were already at Ginny.
She saw Ginny sitting on the stool at the front, and hoped with all her might that Ginny would make it into Ravenclaw so Diana wasn't stick with Ashley and MacKennedy.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Diana clapped, but it was painful. She looked as Ginny and Colin began laughing and eating together. She felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Hello?"
Diana looked up. A girl with dirty blond hair and perturbing eyes was staring at her.
"Sorry to disturb you, I was wondering if you could pass me the mint humbugs."
"Oh, sure." Diana have them to the girl.
"You look lonely, Diana."
"How do you know my name."
"I recognise you from the sorting."
"Oh."
"But are you feeling lonely."
"A bit," admitted Diana.
"My name's Luna Lovegood," she said dreamily. "My daddy and mum were both in Ravenclaw, so it's an honour to be here as well."
"That's wonderful," muttered Diana, thinking of Vernon and Petunia.
Diana didn't touch much food. She was too busy looking at Colin and Ginny.
After an hour, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, told the prefects to guide the first years to their new dorms.
Lucille Boot and Danny Hartridge were the Ravenclaw prefects.
"Come on, follow us!" called Danny.
"This way!" called Lucille.
The stopped at a door knocker shaped like an eagle.
I provide life, I provide death. Too less of me, you'll die. Too much of me, you'll die. What am I?
"Easy. Water," said a second year girl.
The door swung open, revealing an amazing room.
It was circular. Graceful arched dows punctured the walls, which were hung with blue and bronze silks. Diana observed the fact that she'd have an excellent view of the mountains. The ceiling looked like a dome and was painted like the Great Hall. There were tables, chairs and bookcases, and in the opposite side of the room stood a statue of white marble. On the statue's tiara bore a message: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.
"Rowena Ravenclaw," Luna informed Diana. "She helped found Hogwarts, along with Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff. She was the head of Ravenclaw before she died a thousand years ago."
Diana nodded, but she was too immersed by the amazement of the Ravenclaw Common Room.
Lucille hastily guided the girls to their dorms, and Diana picked the bed at the end of the room. She changed into her pyjamas and leapt into bed without a second thought, brutally closing the curtains afterwards.
As she curled up under the blankets in her nightie, she thought of everything that had happened.
At least you're here, her conscience said.
Yeah. At least I'm here.