Chapter 1-September 1st, 1989
If I hadn't seen magic performed right before my eyes, I would have sworn that someone was loony if they had stated that it existed. Magic was a thing of fairy tales that the nuns would tell us to make us learn our morals and fear the wicked unknown. Anything that wasn't easily explained by god or tentatively by science they did not condone.
So, it wasn't any surprise to anyone that I turned out to be something that they did not smile upon in the least. I was the little girl with short choppy auburn hair, freckles sprinkled on her face, knobby knees, and wide hazel eyes that I am told change colors depending on my mood.
I was impolite to any of the good Christian families that came to the home in an attempt to adopt me, and the strange things that happened around me deterred further placement attempts by the time I was seven. Too many glasses shattered around me when I was upset, and Olivia's china doll that she got from Mother Agnes had burst to flame when she was rubbing it in the rest of our faces.
I was a freak, the orphanage's only freak, and the arrival of my eleventh birthday on New Year's Day further sealed the fact. I got a visit from a stern Scottish woman in a long emerald cloak like dress. She had in her hands my ticket out of this god forsaken place. It turns out that I am a witch. Sure, I didn't have green skin or warts, but magic, caldrons, and brooms were right up my alley.
The Scottish woman turned out to be one of my new professors. Professor McGonagall ended up hurrying along the meeting with my guardians the nuns, for she was not agreeing at all with the talk of fire, brimstone, and the eternal burning of our souls. To say the least it was probably the best birthday of my life.
Now here I am sitting in a compartment on a scarlet train engine that will take me to the castle of a school that I will be getting to call home for the next seven years of my life. I'd never had a home before, and that's what McGonagall swore to me this place would be. Apparently, I'm not the only orphan to ever grace the halls of this institution.
Lucky me, it seems that I'm the only one that was saddled with nuns for an upbringing beforehand. I do have to admit that I am nervous for what is awaiting me at this school. I have never exactly had friends before at the orphanage or at school. I didn't really get along with the teachers as well. I overheard Sister Margaret talking one time about how I have an authority complex.
If that means that I don't trust adults of any kind as far as I can throw them then they'd be right. There's only so much suspicion and contempt that a girl can take. I huff and turn my gaze out the window. There are so many people there dressed in the funny robes that McGonagall wore and I had to say that I was a bit jealous deep down at seeing all the loving parents and their kids.
Even the large redheaded family made me have to fight back the wistful sigh that wanted to break free. I could count six redheaded children around the teary plump woman and a balding man. I shake my head at the sheer number of them. I can hardly imagine having one sibling let alone five.
Then again, I did grow up sharing a room with nine other girls, and having a total of forty boys and girls in the orphanage. That was going to be an interesting subject to debate with myself later in the ride. It's not like I had anything else to really entertain me. The only things that I owned in this world were the clothes on my back and the school supplies and few other ratty hand-me-downs from the orphanage in my trunk.
The only thing that I wouldn't let out of my sight was the wand that Mr. Olivander gave me at his shop. Technically, he said that the wand had chosen me, but I find that hard to believe since I've never been chosen for anything in my life. I stare down at my prized possession with utmost care.
It's made of hawthorn and dragon heart string measuring in at twelve and a half inches. Mr. Olivander told me that it was slightly rigid and would be good for transfiguration. I honestly don't care. I have something of worth now. Something that is mine alone. In my book that makes in damn near priceless.
I'm not sure how much longer it is until I feel the train begin to move. I blink turning my gaze back out the window to see the platform start to shrink away in the retreating distance. I'm still alone in my compartment and I'm not sure if I should be feeling relieved or upset by the fact.
The compartment door bursts open before I'm allowed to ponder on it for any longer.
"Don't worry Charlie," a redhaired boy calls.
"We're just going to hide from pompous Percy in here!" another redhaired boy finishes. I rub my eyes for a moment to make sure that I'm actually seeing things right. The two boys now closing the door to my compartment are identical in appearance. Bright red hair, twinkling blue eyes, and freckles that outmatch mine hands down.
"Hopefully that holds him off." The first boy grumbles.
"Leave it to mum to sick golden boy on us before we've even stepped foot in the place." The second one agrees.
I am not sure if I should make myself known or continue to watch this free show. It only takes another second before the boys notice me.
"Blimey Forge, there's a girl!" The first boy cries grasping a hand to his chest. The second boy widens his eye comically.
"I ginger one at that Gred!" The second boy adds collapsing onto the bench across from me. I chuckle and can't help the eye roll that accompanies it.
"First off Gred, your heart is on the other side of your chest. Secondly Forge, if anyone here is a ginger it's you clones I on the other hand am in the auburn family." I state a smile growing on my face at the dumbstruck look on the twins.
"Blimely." Gred breathes.
"Will you marry me?" Forge blurts.
At that I can't help but giggle. I have no idea what has come over me, but this pair is definitely making my trip look brighter.
"As lovely as that sounds I'm only eleven." I respond. Forge's cheeks burn red and his brother cackles madly at his twin's expense.
"I like you. The name's Fred Weasley. The floundering bloke there is my brother George." Gred says introducing them. I can't help but raise an eyebrow.
"I think I liked Gred and Forge better. It had a certain character to it."
That has both the Weasleys perking up.
"That's what we've told mum!" George cries.
"Honestly the woman never believes a word that comes out of our mouths." Fred says rolling his eyes dramatically.
"I couldn't dare to guess why." I joke and the boys grin roguishly at me.
"Well fair maiden, you haven't even given us the pleasure of your name yet." Fred says, eyeing me a tad suspiciously.
"That's because I haven't offered it. But since you fine gentlemen have asked so politely, I guess I can give you that. The name's Iris. Iris MacNeal." I stick my hand out. I'm not sure what exactly has come over me. I never give people the chance to get to know me as much as they're getting.
When your name is the only think private of yourself that you have, you learn to be very protective of it. George grins at me while Fred strokes his chin like he has a beard there.
"I like it, its pretty and it suits you." George says before snapping his mouth shut again quickly in a blush. Fred grins at his brother again quickly before getting back into character.
"Well Ms. Iris MacNeal, you have been trading wits with us quite successfully for some time now. I think that we may have to come to a formal arrangement now." Fred says very seriously.
"I'm not marrying George." I say quickly and this time I'm sure that I blush along with the boy in question.
"If marriage is what your heart is set on dear Iris, we can work something out; but I was thinking more along the lines of partnership between the three of us." Fred grins.
"Or friends if that sounds more normal than partners." George pipes in excitedly. I can't help but drop my jaw a little in shock. I have never had a friend before in my life since the time I was three-years-old and abandoned at the nun's orphanage. Yet, here in the space of a few minutes two hyperactive boys are requesting to be my friend.
The twins are bouncing slightly in their seats, their matching grins not having lessened in strength in my bewilderment.
"Friends?" I say softly. Internally I curse myself at how weak that I sound. Something as small and foolish as friends should not have me breaking down. I've been through too much to be taken down by this emotion.
The pair soften a little. "Of course, friends. There's no one else in this compartment that we've been talking to." Fred responds easily.
"We like you Iris. We want to be your friends. Simple as that." George agrees with his brother. I swallow the lump that's been forming in my throat. Could it really be this easy?
"Okay then. Friends it is. Fair warning though, I haven't had one of these before so I might be shite at it."
Fred and George's eyes widen to the size of golf balls at the sound of my curse.
"Okay you are officially the coolest girl that I know." George declares, bouncing up from his seat to flop down next to me. Before I know it, he has me wrapped up in a big strong hug.
"You may just be my hero. Mum would've skinned us alive if she heard us talk like that." Fred applauds. I know that the boys are being overdramatic; but a warm feeling begins to spread through me.
The next few hours fly by in a series of gags, over dramatic acting, and causing a general ruckus. More than a few students have stopped by the compartment to see what exactly was going on in here. Generally, the three of us were in some state of madness jumping about and trying to make exploding snap cards explode in each other's faces. It was quite the fun game after the boys taught me.
By the time my stomach was growling the boys had produced some sandwiches that their mum had made for the trip. Fred seeing as how I had no food of my own proceeds to cut his and George's food into eight pieces so that we can all share. I'm more than slightly disappointed that none of us have money for the trolley witch that comes by.
With all the different types of candy and sweets on there, I'm sure that I would have gone broke if I had indeed had any money to begin with.
"Don't worry. We'll have mum send some in a care package. That way you can try some. She'll go mental hearing that you're all alone and have never had wizarding candy or food." George says a grin splitting his face.
"Think of how much we'll get out of her now! Iris you're a bloody godsend woman." Fred cries tackling me into a hug. I laugh while shoving him away from me. I should have known that there was going to be an alternative motive for all of this. The pair of them are just too troublesome.
By the time the train is pulling into the station at Hogsmeade, I've learned that my new friends are master pranksters at home, and are planning to spread their mayhem here. When I told them that I had never played a prank in my life, both boys dropped to the floor of the carriage lifeless.
It took many minutes of apologizing and swearing that they could teach me the art of deviousness, in order to get them to quit playing around. The only serious time that fell upon us was when their older brother Percy a third year stopped in the compartment and barked an order at the lot of us to change into our uniforms.
After taking turns in the compartment to change we were ready for the next step in our adventure.
"I still can't believe that I have to wear a skirt! Couldn't they just let me wear pants? I'm obviously a girl for crying out loud. My clothing doesn't need to reflect that." I huff crossing my arms over my chest with a glare at the twins in their long black pants.
They give me sheepish smiles.
"What can we say Iris," George starts.
"The world is just not fair," Fred adds.
"So, because of that," George grins.
"We must play pranks!" Fred finishes.
I curse myself for being unable to stay mad for so long because of the two of them. There are so many black robed students on the platform that it would be easy for the three of us to be lost in the sea of students.
"Firs years! Firs years this way!" A bellowing voice comes from the far side of the platform where a positively towering barrel of a man stands swinging a lantern. I'm pretty sure that if the three of us stood on each other's shoulders we wouldn't stand as tall as him.
"Who's that?" I breathe. George links his arm with mine and Fred takes my other.
"That dear lady is Hagrid." Fred informs me.
"He's the games keeper at Hogwarts." George grins.
"And how do you know this?" I ask somewhat faintly as we approach the giant of a man.
"Simple really. Our brother Charlie adores the man and his creatures." George states.
"We think that Charlie will marry a magical beast someday." Fred adds with a snort.
I can only giggle as the funny image goes through my head. Charlie is the twins second eldest sibling. He's in his seventh year at Hogwarts and I will see him at some point tonight. Apparently, he's Quidditch Captain this year, and that's a big honor. I still don't quite get the game even after the twins spent an hour trying to talk me through it.
In the end it was decided that I would just have to witness it myself. As we make it up to the giant the man looks down at us and groans.
"Hiya Hagrid!" George sings. I am confused at his look of dread.
"I don' have ter ask yer names. I 'ave 'eard enough abou' you from yer brother Charlie. I won't be chasin' you two 'round all year!" Hagrid proclaims, his bushy black eyebrows rising into his long grizzly hair.
"Why Hagrid you wound us so!" Fred cries staggering into me for support. Hagrid scoffs, but then his eyes land on me sandwiched in between the two troublemakers.
"If I 'ere you miss, I'd stay away from these two." He warns. I can't help but shake my head at that, as George pulls us away from the giant of a man and closer to the group of students gathering around a lake.
"I think I'm insulted Freddie." George pouts.
"I believe we are Georgie." Fred agrees. I untangle myself from the boys so that I can pat both of their ginger heads in sympathy. They're only a bit taller than me so it's no real struggle at this point.
"There there, you can't win them all. Besides, its just one person. There are plenty left in this castle to terrify." I chuckle. That perks up the twins and brings a smile to my face. A few minutes later Hagrid joins us hoisting himself into a boat.
"Three ter a boat. Come on now! Can't be leavin' Professor McGonagall waitin'." Hagrid cries and the rest of us scramble to get into boats so that we're not left behind.
The Weasley twins and I scramble into one only slipping in the mud of the shoreline once before clambering in. As soon as the last student is in the boats magically push off from the shore. I flinch at the action. It's just not natural for a boat to be skimming itself off the still black waters of the giant lake.
Seeing as all the other boats are doing the same thing, I guess that it is something pretty normal. Fred and George and shoving each other on their bench and taking turns daring each other and me to stick our hands into the lake. Not being one to back down to a challenge I stick my hand in the water and yelp at the icy cold that clings to me.
The boys cackle and I notice that we're getting more than a few nasty looks from some of the other students around us. I don't understand what's crawled up their butts and died. We can live a little. Besides this is probably going to be the most normal thing that I experience in a long time.
Once we get to the castle my world is going to finish changing and I am going to be learning magic. The possibility still seems confounding even now after I've gotten my wand and am seeing boats pull themselves across the water.
My breath is taken away when the castle comes into view for the first time. It's monstrous in size surrounded by forest and with mountains dotting the background. It shines eerily in the night from all the lights being on for the arrival of the students and the Welcome Feast. My stomach rumbles in hunger.
The meager sandwiches that they boys and I split are not nearly enough to satisfy any of us. I'm used to not getting a lot of food to eat living in the orphanage; but even that was more than what we had shared. It makes me even more grateful to the boys that have barged their way into my life and secured a friendship.
Even the twins are silenced in an awe at the sight of the castle. It's one thing hearing about it, but an entirely other thing to witness it for yourself. When the boats dock at the shore of the lake closest the castle, everyone clambers out trying not to stumble and fall as they follow Hagrid.
Unfortunately, this part involves countless stone steps so that we can ascend from the docks to the castle. The walk takes longer than anyone is prepared for so we're all out of breath by the time we make it to the grand doors of the castle. We're led inside and to a side chamber where we come face to face with Professor McGonagall.
I can't help but smile when I see the stern woman. She is after all the woman who saved me from the nuns. I'm not sure if there will ever be anything that I can do to repay her for that alone.
"If I can have your attention please." McGonagall says and immediately silence is brought upon the anxious group.
"Thank you, Hagrid, you may leave us." She says and Hagrid bows out of the room and disappears. "Now, let me be the first to congratulate you on your acceptance into the great school of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. You all are on your first steps to becoming the great wizards and witches that I know every single one of you will be."
"Some of you may know that there are four houses that you can be sorted into upon your arrival at Hogwarts. I am going to take a moment to introduce them all to you. There is Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each of these four houses is a testament to the quality of character that it takes to be a truly extraordinary wizard. Whichever house you are sorted into will be your home for the next seven years of your schooling."
"Now, I'll give you all a moment to gather yourselves together. When I return, the sorting will begin." McGonagall says and with that sweeps out a door. The murmuring starts up again. I glance at Fred and George. They both still have smiles on their faces but they are weaker.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" I ask, finally voicing the question I'd been sitting on all day.
"Probably Gryffindor." Fred responds automatically.
"Whole family was in it. Mum, Dad, and all our siblings who are older." George explains. I nod my head at that. What would it be like to have a family legacy? The pair now look a little green in the gills.
"How do we get sorted?" I ask now.
"Dunno exactly." George says shuffling his feet.
"Yeah, never can get a proper answer out of Bill, Charlie, or Percy." Fred grumbles.
There isn't any more time to talk, for McGonagall is back in the room and summoning us all forward. We make our way through the door and she leads us into a giant hall. There are four long tables going down the span of the hall before getting to a raised portion where another table goes along the front. I can see that the professors sit up there.
I'm nervous as we are paraded down the middle aisle of the hall and all eyes are on us. The students range from almost full-grown teenagers to kids who look only a little older than us now. I glance up at the ceiling and see that there are seemingly thousands of stars in the night sky above us.
I think that I am going to like this place, if only for the sheer magnitude of amazing feats that magic can come up with. Candles are floating in the air all by themselves and I can't help the small smile that graces my face. We come to a stop at the front of the hall where McGonagall stands with a scroll in her hands beside a three-legged stool with a ratty old brown wizards' hat on it.
I glance at the twins and see that they're both so pale that their freckles are standing out even more so. I guess that I must look somewhat the same. This next action is only going to define how the rest of my school years are going to take place. I feel a shoulder bump into mine and look up to see George trying to give me a slight smile.
"Let the sorting begin."