Thank you so much to Catbugmeow, Tots2go, Tehran, lalucocco, Dorea McH, and JeanneBlanche. It's been amazing to see even when i couldn't work on my story that many people were still finding it and enjoying it.
As the train rumbled beneath her, Ella watched the scenery go by, feeling a sense of peace and freedom wash over her. She was finally going to find herself and find a place where she could fit in. Not that she didn't fit with the Weasleys, she was truly an extension of their family, however, she wanted a chance to get to find out who she was within this magical world, and find what she was good at.
Fred, George, and Ella spent most of the train ride laughing and planning pranks for the upcoming school year, and, of course, talking about their houses. Fred and George were sure that they would be Gryffindors as their whole family was, Ella, however, was still a tiny bit worried about where she would end up.
"It's okay Ella," George said, putting his arm around her. "Even if we are not in the same house we can still eat together."
"And spend all our free time together," Fred added.
"I'm not that worried anymore," Ella said realising that it was true. "I know that we will always stick together. You never know it might be nice to get a break from you boys."
She laughed at the mock horror on their faces.
"Why would you ever want a break from us, Elly Belly?" Fred squished next to her, so she had no room to move between the boys.
"I'm wounded," gasped George. "We are perfect gentlemen, and a joy to be around."
They pulled her up from her seat, and whirled around the train compartment with her, all laughing as the train started to slow, causing them all to stumble on each other's feet and fall into a pile on the floor.
As they filed out of the train, Charlie and Percy came to find them before they boarded the boats that would sail them across the lake.
"Good luck Ella, I hope to see you make something of yourself this year and not be pulled into the failures of my brothers," Percy shook her hand and rushed back off to his friends.
"Pompous Prat," Muttered Fred.
Charlie stepped up and gave her a big hug. "Remember, Ella, you will do great anywhere, and if you ever need me, I'll always be there." He started walking off towards the castle in the distance, where there were carriages waiting to pull all the older students to school. Leaning over his shoulder, he yelled back, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"Wicked," said Fred. "Big brother Charles just gave us permission to do whatever we want."
"Yea," laughed George, "What wouldn't he do?"
They all climbed into the same boat, and watched as the castle got closer, silhouetted by a deep blue sky beginning to become speckled with the first few stars of the night.
Ella reached out and let her fingers trail in the water, already feeling the magic soaking into her very bones. As she sat back listening to the brothers talk, she imagined what it must have been like for her father as he crossed this lake. She knew that just as she was unsure of her house, so was he. She didn't know what was so bad about her family, but she knew that she was never taken to see them, and that they were not nice people.
She also knew that this day, many years ago, her father met his best friends. Uncle Moony and Uncle James.
She didn't have to worry if she knew her best friends yet or not, as for the last 7 years she had already spent with them. She smiled at her best friends, who had started talking about the rumors of a giant squid that resided within this very lake.
She hoped that one day she could find a way to prove her fathers innocence, as even though it had been 8 years since she had last seen him, she knew that deep in her heart he was innocent.
Ella had been so lost in thought that, when the tiny boat had bumped up onto shore, she nearly toppled out. Fred grabbed her and George was now helping her step out of the boat.
They started their way up the stone stairs, led by a giant of a man named Hagrid. Once stopping at a large door, Hagrid had knocked. After a minute of waiting, a stern looking woman stepped out to greet them.
"Welcome first years to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, I am the deputy headmistress here. Today you will begin your magical journey, but before that can happen you will be sorted into your houses. Within your house it will hopefully feel like your home. Good grades and behavior will earn you points for your house, and rule breaking will lose you points, so everyone is working towards a common cause. If you need help there will be students of all years in your house, and I'm sure many of them will be willing to help you learn your way and teach good study habits. We all become a family by the end of your schooling here, and I can't wait to see you all grow and learn. Now, if you would please follow me to the sorting."
All the first years followed Professor McGonagall, past large oak doors that lead into the great hall, where all the older students could be seen gathering with their friends and making their way to the tables. All up in the hall there were 5 large tables, 4 that ran the length of the hall, all with different banners overhead. The last table sat at the end of the hall where the teachers could be seen taking their places.
Before Ella could take in any more of the hall, they were ushered past, and led into a small room off to the side, where they were told to wait. Once they had all gathered the doors shut behind them, and the Professor disappeared out of the door, directly in front of them. People started to look around at their fellow schoolmates, and started talking about what they might have to do to find out their houses
"Charlie told me we had to fight something to prove how we would react to it," Fred said with a great deal of excitement in his voice.
"Why do you sound so excited to fight something? What if we get hurt?" Said a voice from next to him.
"Well it could be fun, plus maybe they want to see what our accidental magic is capable of," Fred said, turning to look at this new boy.
The ebony boy looked up at him as he brushed his dreadlocks out of where they had fallen in front of his eyes. "I'm sure they wouldn't want that to happen. After all, we are meant to be controlling our magic here. By the way, I'm Lee" He stretched out a hand.
Fred shook Lee's hand. "I'm Fred, this here is my twin brother George, and that's Ella," He said pointing to everyone.
As Ella was getting ready to speak, there was an eerie silence, as many ghosts floated through the walls, talking amongst themselves. As quickly as they appeared, they also disappeared, using the small room merely as a quick path to the great hall.
Just the last ghosts were drifting though, the doors leading to the hall opened and Professor McGonagall walked back in.
"Single file please, and follow me" She turned, her emerald robe whipping after her.
"Time to learn our houses, I guess," Ella said, stepping in front of Fred, and behind a girl with shoulder length blonde hair.
They entered the hall, the sky was shining above them, dusk silhouetted against the blue that was creeping in, stars taking their place shining above the tables.
Ella looked out and saw the long tables filled with older students. From the leftmost table she saw Bill, Charlie, and Percy smiling up at them from underneath the red and gold of Gryffindor. She saw the bright yellow and black colours of Hufflepuff over the next table with many happy people talking amongst themselves.
The next table was filled with the blue and bronze of Ravenclaw, and, whereas the other tables had a few people reading and most talking, this table had more readers than talkers.
On the right hand side, were the Slytherins with their banners of green and silver, and, as Ella looked at this table, she couldn't help but wonder about the side of her family that she never knew. She knew that her dad loved his brother, and that she had an aunt who had a girl in Charlie's year with a muggle. So she knew despite the stories that not all Slytherins were bad people.
In front of the staff table, which sat along the front of the hall ,was placed a rickety stool, and an old hat.
All the students seemed to be watching the hat, and Ella found herself wondering what they might have to do. She waited with baited breath, growing more worried at the silence in the hall. Suddenly the brim of the hat opened, and the folds in it blinked. Ella realised that hat was alive! Or at least enchanted. A soft song began to emit from the hat, filling the hall with its music
"Now the new year has began,
And everyone is glowing.
All students should prepare for fun,
As the new year gets to flowing.
Now it comes time for you,
To relearn all that was once known.
Time to see what is new,
And how much you have grown.
Moving now to our new students,
It's time to see what house you might belong in.
Looking ahead, you must be prudent,
For your future is not yet written.
You may find yourself in Gryffindor,
Where they are brave and true.
They path their way to start their day,
And nerve will see them though.
Perhaps you will be Hufflepuff,
Where love and light shine bright.
Their loyalty will never falter,
And they strive to do what's right.
Next could be old Ravenclaw,
Where wit is well rewarded.
Your family will help you learn,
And help to keep you ordered.
Last we have our Slytherins,
Who will always find their way.
To see it though, and find a path,
Into the light of each day.
So welcome new and old alike,
To these old hallowed halls.
Take every chance,
Once learning starts,
To see your best way though."
The hat fell silent, and then McGonagall pulled out a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, please step forward, and the sorting hat will place you into your houses."
"Arabella Black!"
Ella stepped forward, unaware that the name Black carried with it a dark history. Some of the other students looked worried, because they heard the rumors of Sirius Black the mass murderer, and they hoped that is Black was not related to him.
She sat down on the stool, taking in the silence in the hall, as the hat was lowered onto her head, and suddenly everything went dark, as she heard a whisper in her ear.
"My, my what do we have here. I remember your father was the first to break the Slytherin mold that your family was known for, however, I don't think that is the place for you either, dear Ella.
Hmmmm, could you be Gryffindor like your father, and your new found home with the Weasleys? I think not. There is bravery here indeed, but you care more about learning and others.
That leaves us with Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, what will it be?
Well no doubt you are loyal, and care a great deal about people. I think the fact that you prefer to study, and always seek new learnings means that you will find many likewise people in your house."
There was a moment of quiet and Ella thought about what the hat had said, then before she had even collected her thoughts she heard the yell of: "RAVENCLAW!"
She walked down to the blue table, looking sadly over at the Weasleys. So this was it. She was on her own again, at least her times at her mothers house had prepared her for this, and, as Molly said, they could still have meals together and spend time out of class.
"Amber Jones!"
A small girl with chocolate brown hair stepped forward to sit where Ella just sat. After a moment the hat once more shouted "RAVENCLAW"
As she stepped off the stool, her hair flowed around her, and she ran off to sit with Ella.
"Hi my name's Amber, well I guess you just heard that. I'm so excited to be here, my big brother has been talking about it for years. I can't believe it's my turn, I'm sure we will be great friends!"
"Hi, I'm Arabella, but I prefer Ella" She smiled at this small and eager girl, maybe she could make friends here after all.
"Adrian Pucey!"
Became the first Slytherin to be sorted, and joined the far table of green.
"Sarah Reid!"
Was sorted into Hufflepuff, and many people there hugged her as she joined them.
"Fred Weasley!"
To nobody's surprise the hat yelled "GRYFFINDOR!" and, after smiling at Ella, he walked off to sit with his brothers, knowing his twin would soon follow.
"George Weasley!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
McGonagall rolled her parchment up, and with that the new students had all found their places.
Thank you all to being so patient, in this last year that I was unable to upload. I'mhoping things are slowly getting more on track and Ican find more time to sit down and write. Even if this story takes long breaks Ican promise is it never ignored. This is one I'vehad for a while and have snippets planned out though Ella'swhole life, So Iwill always return to write her story.