"Psst, Willow!" a voice whispered.
"What?" Willow hissed sleepily.
"Wake up!"
Willow sat up, rubbing her eyes. She glanced at the clock, which read four thirty. Willow returned her gaze to the two figures in her door frame.
"What could you possibly want to do at four thirty?"
"Just get dressed! Come on!"
The twins shut the door. Willow, not at all bothered by the time, obeyed. She stepped out of her and Ginny's bedroom, noiselessly closing the door.
"You needed me for something?"
"We're going to prank Ron," Fred whispered.
"On the day we go off to Hogwarts?"
"Why not?" George grinned.
"I suppose it would be funny..."
"That's the spirit, Willow!"
"Let's get it done!"
The three went into the twins' bedroom to discuss.
"Alright, we're going to make Ron think he's late," Fred began.
"We need to cover up his windows-"
"Steal his trunk-"
"And change his alarm clock."
"Then, he'll wake up-"
"And be presented with a lovely spider."
Willow smiled. "Afraid of spiders, is he?"
Fred and George nodded. "Deathly."
Willow smirked. "I'll change the clock and take the spider. You guys go ahead and do whatever you need to do first."
"Perfect."
Fred handed Willow the fake spider, enchanted to be life-like. Even Willow thought she would mistake it for a real one if she hadn't any prior knowledge that it wasn't real. After a few minutes, the twins returned.
"Your turn."
Willow tiptoed into the hallway, then quietly opened Ron's door. She found his alarm clock, changed its time forward a few hours, and hung the spider from the ceiling. Its legs moved so realistically that Willow had to do a double take. When it was all set and done, Willow returned to the twins' room.
"All done," Willow concluded.
"Great!"
"Now, we wait for him to wake up."
"In the meantime, George forgot to pack his bags-"
"No I did no- !"
"- so I'm going for a walk before we're whisked away for several months. Care to join me, Willow?"
"Sure!"
George groaned and began gathering things from all corners of his room while Willow followed Fred outside. They headed for the woods. The dew in the grass soaked Willow's bare feet, but she didn't care. Willow loved getting dirty outside. A cloud of steam rose from the ditch nearby, giving the morning a wonderful serene atmosphere. Willow wondered if every morning could be like this if she lived in the country.
"Are you ready for Hogwarts?" Fred asked, his voice quiet in the stillness of the morning.
"Yes, I think so, thanks to you," Willow replied curtly. "Without you guys, I would probably have starved to death in my mom's dungeon."
"You're welcome," Fred said cheekily.
"Is it hard, being away from home for so long?"
"Not really. You can come home over holidays, if you'd like. There's so much to do at Hogwarts that it's impossible to get bored, honestly."
"That's good. The only thing I'm worried about is how my dad is going to do without me."
"Carlos? Nah, he'll be fine."
"This is the first time he's spent more than a week with me without leaving."
"Well...that might affect him a bit, but I highly doubt he can't live without seeing you until the holidays. He's also very busy."
"Tell me about it."
"You were awful lonely before, weren't you?"
Willow's face fell slightly. "Yes. Not having brothers or sisters around to keep your spirits up makes it quite difficult to stay positive when your mum and dad are apart."
Fred was silent for a moment before saying, "That would suck. I can't imagine being without George."
"I'm pretty sure no one can," Willow chuckled. "You two are inseparable."
"That's not far from the truth."
"What is it like, having a twin?"
"It's bloody amazing, really. Your twin is your best friend. You know them almost as well as you know yourself. You've always got a shoulder to lean on, and they know exactly what to say to cheer you up. Your twin is like another half of you that's impossible to live without. I can't remember not being with George every second of every day."
"Do you ever get tired of each other?"
"Yes, but not for long. We might fight and bicker, but it never lasts for longer than a few hours, and we're back to loving each other again."
"I wish I had a twin," Willow wistfully thought out loud.
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Oh, shut up." Willow gently punched Fred in the shoulder.
"I've been hit!" Fred exclaimed, feigning injury. "Man down! Man down! George, go on without me!"
"The great Fred Weasley, in all his glory, struck down by a little girl!" Willow announced mockingly.
"George! This is end! Goodbye, dear brother!" Fred proclaimed, pretending to fall limply against a tree.
"Thus passes Fred Weasley, expert prankster of the land! What will George do without him?"
Suddenly, a scream sounded from the Burrow.
"FRED! GEORGE!" Ron roared. Fred and Willow exchanged a glance.
"I think George might be dead, too," Willow joked.
The two began cracking up, watching as George exploded out the front door, Ron hot on his trail.
"Help! My brother's a maniac! Help!" George yelled as Ron pelted after him.
Willow and Fred couldn't stop chortling as George ran in circles around the Burrow, Ron angrily shouting threats at him.
"Do you think we should help him?" Willow asked.
"Nah, he's fine," Fred declined. "I'm rather enjoying the show."
"On second thought, me too."
Willow was nearly crying she was laughing so hard when Ron face-planted into a patch of mud. Fred fell into the tree for real this time. He was laughing even harder than Willow.
"He's such a klutz!" Fred guffawed. "Ron's always been terribly uncoordinated!"
"I don't even care how mean that was anymore!" Willow gasped. "This is all worth it!"
Ron got up, shaking the majority of the mud off of him, then slumped his shoulders and shamefully marched inside. Fred and Willow emerged from the woods at this point and whistled to George, who trotted over to them.
"You- two- are- in- so much- trouble!" he panted.
"Hey, you're the one that forgot to pack your trunk yesterday, not me." Fred raised his hands in surrender.
"Uh oh," Willow said, pointing to the front door. The twins turned and slowly began retreating into the woods.
"Boy!" Molly shouted. "You are in so much trouble!"
"Oh no."
"Mum's mad."
"Not the first time-"
"But still not good!"
"Get in this house now!" Molly commanded.
"Willow, you can hide here for now if you'd like," Fred offered.
"No, I'd rather come see you guys get chewed out." Willow grinned mischeiviously.
"Blimey, Fred, you've recruited a tough one!" George remarked.
"Perfect pranking material. Come on, then. Let's get this over with."
The three held their heads low and didn't meet Molly's eyes until they were at the front door.
"Sorry, Mum," the twins said.
"You better be more than sorry! You're so lucky I'm letting you go off to Hogwarts. It's more an opportunity for you two to get out of my hair!"
The three secretly grinned, but quickly hid it before Molly could see it.
"Oh, and you've dragged Willow into this! Dear God, she'll be at it with your crazy antics before the year is out as well!"
Willow suppressed a small giggle at that one. "Too late," she whispered to the twins. They had trouble containing their smiles after that.
"Alright, go up to your rooms," Mrs. Weasley ordered. "Finish packing your stuff. And no more silliness! You hear me?"
"Yes, Mum!" the twins said in unison.
Willow followed them upstairs to their room, and no sooner had they shut the door than the three of them burst out laughing.
"Can you believe her?"
"We always end up going to Hogwarts!"
"You've dragged Willow into this!"
"She'll be at it, too!"
"I'm already too far gone to be saved now!" Willow said between fits.
"Welcome aboard, Willow!" George congratulated.
"You're one of us now!"
"I'm glad to be!"
After a few minutes of composing themselves, Willow returned to her room to wake up Ginny and finish up packing her stuff. Ginny happily played with Snuffles and Achelous while Willow gathered her remaining toiletries.
"I'm going to miss you, Ginny," Willow sighed.
"Me too. Every year I'm left behind, and now even Ron won't be here to play with me anymore," Ginny said.
"I promise I'll send owls and come to see you over the holidays."
"You better! Snuffles will miss his buddy!"
Two hours later, the Weasleys, Carlos, and Willow were driving through the countryside in a small blue car, the luggage stuffed in the trunk with the help of a few charms.
"Why can't we just fly there?" Percy whined.
"Shut up, prefect," George snapped.
"As if that's an insult."
"It would be a shame if something happened to his badge, wouldn't it, George?" Fred thought aloud.
"Yes, Freddy, a shame."
"What on Earth are you tal-" Percy tried to say.
"What would happen if it were, say, stolen, or tampered with?"
"I don't know, Fred, but I bet the consequences would be dire."
"You better not-"
"Perfect Percy would be running through the halls, in all his fury-"
"Give me back my prefect badge!"
"How dare you treat your superiors this way!"
"I would not!"
"I'm better than all of you younglings!"
"My perfect teeth, perfect grades, perfect attitude-"
"Boys!" Molly scolded. "That's enough!"
The twins snickered while Percy pouted, sticking his nose in the air. Willow gave them both a high five. Soon, they arrived at King's Cross Station. It was getting close to departure time- nearly eleven o'clock.
"Blimey, Dad, I thought we'd never get here. We're cutting it awful close," Ron pointed out.
"Relax, ickle Ronniekins," George said.
"Yes, you'll be fine," Fred assured him.
"They always get like this before first year," Ginny breathed to Willow. "They're nervous about something; maybe the Sorting Hat?"
"What's the Sorting Hat?" Willow asked as they began lugging their trunks into the station.
"It's a magical hat that they bring down on the first day of school for the sorting ceremony. Every year, it sings a song, then Professor McGonagall calls the first years up one by one to get sorted into their house."
"Woah! It reads your personality?"
"Kind of, yeah."
"That's bloody brilliant! I hope I get into Gryffindor," Willow added.
"So does Ron. That's why he's so scared right now."
"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm a bit scared, too."
"Why?"
"My entire line on my mother's side was Slytherin, and my dad's line has never lived in Europe."
"Oh, that does sound a bit worrying, but knowing you, I don't think you'll get placed into Slytherin."
"Really?"
"Of course! You're too good and have actual morals. Slytherins never turn out good."
Willow remembered back to what Draco had told her about Slytherin being the best house. She wondered why there would be two such conflicting views. Deep down, she had a feeling that neither were true. Willow filed that information away for later discussion.
"We're here!" Ginny squealed.
Willow looked up. They had come to a stop between platform nine and platform ten, facing one of the brick columns that lined the station in between train tracks. Willow, confused, turned to Ginny with a questioning expression.
"Just watch."
Percy, pushing his trolley, went first, running straight towards the column. Panic seized Willow.
"What is he doing!"
"You'll see!"
Willow bit her tongue to keep herself from shouting. Percy picked up speed, getting closer and closer. Right when he was about to run into the brick, his cart disappeared where it touched it. Willow went numb with surprise as all of Percy and his trolley vanished.
"Woah!" Willow exclaimed. "How did that happen?"
Willow watched as both Fred and George went through, still in disbelief.
"Not much of a pureblood, are you?" Ginny teased.
A boy with black, ruffled hair drew Mrs. Weasley's attention away for a moment. Willow stared, feeling like she'd seen the boy before. It dawned on her as he charged the column that it was the boy she had met when she first went to Diagon Alley.
"I think that's Harry!" Willow said.
"Harry Potter?" Ginny repeated, in disbelief.
"If I'm not dreaming!"
Ron went through, and finally it was Willow's turn. Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly at her.
"You can do it, dear! Just run straight at it, and don't doubt yourself. You'll do perfectly."
Willow took a deep breath. "You right behind me, Ginny?"
"Yes ma'am!" Ginny replied.
Willow stared down the column. "I can't believe I'm doing this. If I crash, I'm blaming all of you. Actually, nevermind. I'm the one crazy enough to do this. Here goes nothing."
Pushing off with her strong legs, Willow charged the bricks, not daring to close her eyes, not daring to breath. She tried to empty her brain of Muggle reasoning, and pretended she had done this every day of her life. Willow was so close now, only meters away. One more second and she would be through. Forcing her mind to go blank, Willow unconsciously braced herself for the unexpected.
Suddenly, Willow was staring at much different scenery. She was no longer at King's Cross Station, but platform nine and three quarters, as the sign hanging above her head announced. A scarlet colored train puffed clouds of steam high into the ceiling above. Big, bold lettering on the side of it read, "Hogwarts Express". The train was long, and covered in big glass windows. Willow appreciated that little detail especially. Families covered every available inch of the platform, saying goodbye to their children, helping them get their trunks onto the train, assisting in last minute luggage checks. Ginny and Molly appeared behind Willow as she began walking towards the back of the train.
"Willow, over here!" Ron called.
Relieved to find a familiar face within the crowd, Willow trotted over to an overwhelmed Ron, standing at the entrance to the second to last train car. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley weren't too far behind.
"Oh, Ron," Ginny sighed. "You've got dirt on your nose still. From this morning."
"Blast those bloody twin brothers of mine," Ron cursed, attempting to wipe his nose off.
Molly called for the twins, who promptly hopped out of the train. They now carried Willow's trunk in for her while Mrs. Weasley got out her handkerchief to clean Ron's nose. Willow turned to Ginny, the reality of the situations causing her smile to turn sad.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye, for now," Willow said.
Ginny hugged her tightly. Willow stood still, surprised for a moment, before wrapping her arms around the smaller girl.
"You better write to me," Ginny ordered, her voice muffled in Willow's chest.
"I promise."
Ginny stepped back. "Good. Go learn magic so that you can teach me some when you get home!"
"I will! Don't worry!"
Willow thanked Mrs. Weasley profusely and gave her a good hug, too, before boarding the train. She glanced to her left and saw Harry sitting alone in a compartment. Willow opened the glass door, surprising the dark-haired boy.
"Harry! How are you?"
"Oh, hi! Good. Better than I would be if I'd stayed home."
"Aren't we all." Willow sat down next to Harry. "You have a horrible home life too?"
Harry seemed to lighten up a bit, the redness in his cheeks subsiding. "Yes. I live alone with my cousin, Dudley, and my aunt and uncle. They're bloody awful, I tell you."
"What happened to your parents?"
"I've recently been informed that my aunt and uncle lied to me, that my parents did not die in a car crash, but at the hands of Voldemort."
Willow paused a moment. "I think I've heard that name before."
"He was the dark wizard that started the First Wizarding War."
"Ah, yes. That would be the one."
"So...what happened to your parents?"
"Well...my dad is fine, except for him being at the Ministry more than home, and I live with him in his mansion. My mum, though, she...she...she's an interesting case."
"Dead?"
"Might as well be, as wrecked as she is now."
"Oh. Your parents are divorced, then?"
"No, only separated. My dad and I keep hoping that she'll come around someday."
Just then, the train's whistle blew. Three redheads jumped on the train just as it began to move. Fred and George made goofy faces at Ginny to make her feel better, promising to send her that toilet seat, and Ron simply waved goodbye, embarrassed by his older brothers.
"Well, I better go. See you at Hogwarts, Harry," Willow said.
"See you at Hogwarts, Willow."
Willow passed Ron in the hall as she found the furthest back window in her train car to stick her head out of. Ginny was running after them, tears streaming out of her eyes despite her laughter.
"Bye, Ginny!"
"Bye, Willow!"
Willow blew a kiss to her friend as Ginny stopped, reaching the end of the platform. Ginny giggled, pretending to catch it, and waved goodbye. There was no question; Ginny was pretty much Willow's sister at this point. She sighed as she brought herself back into the accelerating train. Finding the twins, she followed them to where Ron was now seated with Harry. They bade goodbye to him, saying that someone named Lee Jordan had a tarantula.
"Can I come with you guys?"
George shrugged. "I don't see why not."
"You're obviously not afraid of spiders like ickle Ronniekins, here."
Ron ignored the last comment as the three moved farther up the train. They eventually reached a compartment crowded with curious children. Every once in a while, a student would scream after touching the spider.
"Lee, what do you have there?" Fred asked coolly.
"If it isn't my favorite two pranksters! Sit down, sit down!"
George sat next to Lee while Willow took the window side across from him.
"Fred, who's you're friend?"
"This is Willow, our new recruit."
Lee sized up Willow, a twinkle in his eye. Willow returned his gaze, taking in him as well. Lee was a slightly overweight boy with darker skin and chocolate brown eyes. She personally liked his dreadlocks, which seemed to fit his personality as far as Willow knew. He was on the short side for a third year, but Willow sensed that he was a boisterous one, and his enthusiasm made him seem ten times bigger than he actually was.
"She looks perfect to me," Lee approved. "You can see my tarantula after this lot is done pestering it."
After a few minutes (and a few screams), the arachnid was replaced on the table between them.
"Wow!" Willow exclaimed. "It's so big!"
"Go on, Willow, pet the thing," George encouraged.
"Yes, do it!" Fred commanded.
Willow gently began petting the spider across its back. The creature tensed up at first, then relaxed when it realized she wasn't a threat. Its spindly little legs were fuzzy and soft, but its feet were prickly, and they actually tickled her a little bit. The tarantula laid itself on the table when Willow apparently found its itchy spot.
"I think it likes me."
"You didn't even hesitate," Lee observed. "That's unusual for a first year girl."
"Yeah, I know," Willow said, shrugging. "I'm the farthest from normal you can get."
The twins and Lee chuckled. "She'll definitely make a fine prankster to stir up the school every once in a while."
The spider began to inch towards Willow until it rolled off the table into her arms. Shocked at first, Willow froze, then began tickling its stomach. Its legs began convulsing as if ticklish.
"I didn't know you were great with animals, Willow," George remarked.
"Well, this is an arachnid, not an animal, but whatever," Willow corrected.
"Watch out, George," Fred warned. "We've created a monster."
Lee smiled. "I like this one. Maybe I'll have to put in a good word for her at school."
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Willow said coyly. "I'd rather a teacher hate me from my first day on than be disappointed."
"I don't think any teacher could hate you," George countered. His face contorted into a wince, though, when he reconsidered. "Well, except for Snape. I'm pretty sure he hates every student that's walked through his doors."
"He hates the world, for the most part," Lee agreed.
"Watch out for him in particular, Willow."
"He's a nasty one."
"I'll pretend I'm an angel," Willow promised. "But then I'll surprise him with a trick or two."
"Perfect."
The sliding glass door of their compartment slid open. A boy with dark hair and a tearful expression appeared, along with a wild-haired girl looking rather exasperated.
"Have you seen a toad anywhere?" the girl asked. "Neville here lost his."
"Yes, actually, when I was getting on the train earlier," George answered. "It was hopping towards the front, but I haven't seen it since."
"Thank you," the boy said in a defeated voice before trudging after the girl. George turned back to their conversation.
While the boys chatted about what they had done over the summer, professional Quidditch teams, and other such things, Willow stared out the window at the countryside racing by. Sheep, cattle, horses, and other barnyard animals dotted the horizon, giving Willow a sense of coziness. A hot, bright sun livened up the sky and gave warmth to everything in sight. The thrum of the engine and the monotony of the wheels chugging along drifted her off to sleep.
Of course, she had nightmares.
A woman burst into the bedroom, wand drawn against Carlos, who was standing in the doorway to a child's room.
Grace, no!
I have to, Carlos. If I don't, he'll kill me.
You don't have to do this. I'll protect you.
How? There's no where to run, no where to hide.
There's always a way.
Stop saying that! I'm trapped in a corner. There's nothing I can do.
Let me talk to him.
Never. He'll kill you the moment he sees you.
I can change anyone's mind.
Not his.
Since when were you on their side?
I was never on their side. My parents dragged me into this, plain and simple.
So you are?
No! I just don't have a choice in the matter!
You always have a choice!
Not this time, Carlos!
Grace, please-
He will kill us all if I don't do what's asked of me.
Suddenly, the roof collapsed. Several dark faces were behind Grace.
Go on, do it! one hissed.
Yes, get it over with!
Move, Carlos!
Kill him too!
No! Grace refused. The Dark Lord's orders were very specific. I will not kill anyone other than who I was instructed to. I do not want to face his wrath if I make a mistake.
You won't kill anyone!
You're a coward!
How can you disgrace us like this?
Stop it! Grace shouted. She glanced tearfully at her husband. Please, let me do what I have to do.
You know I can't let you do that!
Step aside, filth!
If you wanted to save your family, you should have joined us when you were summoned.
No! Grace! Don't do this!
Grace stepped into the room. Her arms trembled, her wand tip not able to steady itself on its target. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
I'm so sorry.
Grace stared at the child. She broke down sobbing, unable to contain her grief.
It's only a child. Why must I kill a child?
Because it's a danger to us all!
It's filth cannot coexist with our kind!
Kill it! Kill it now!
Grace stepped closer to the child, wand now against the it's heart.
Why me? Why must I belong to this cursed family?
Do it now!
Grace gazed at the child's perfect face, its beautiful dark hair. She suddenly lowered her wand and collapsed against the wall.
I can't do it!
Fine! I guess I'll have to make you, then!
Grace, look out! No!
Imperio!
No! Grace! No!
Avada Kedavra!
"Willow, wake up! Willow!"
Willow's eyes flew open. Fred had shaken her awake, worry clouding his eyes. George and Lee wore the same expression on their faces. Willow sat herself up, cheeks reddening.
"Sorry, just bad dreams," Willow explained.
"You sure?" Fred inquired. "It seemed a lot worse than that."
"Well..." Willow trailed off, fear paling her face. "I'd rather not say."
"I see."
There was an awkward silence before George said, "We're almost at Hogwarts. Any final words?"
Willow smiled. "Yes, actually. Please slap Fred for me when I die."
"Hey! Why me?"
Willow shrugged. "I have a feeling you're the one that comes up with all of the crazy ideas."
"You guessed right," George said quickly. "Put all the blame on him!"
"Oh, shut up. He's lying! George comes up with everything! I carry most of the plans out!"
"You dragged me into all of it!"
"I did not..."
"It's all Freddy! He's held me captive this whole time!"
"Okay, that I doubt," Willow commented. "Fred couldn't hold a Puffskein captive."
"Only because I'd use it for a Bludger first!"
George and Lee began to snicker while Fred tried to insult Willow, but ultimately failed.
"You know, you still have my tarantula on your lap, Willow," Lee began.
"Oh, sorry!" Willow exclaimed, picking up the sleeping spider and putting it back on the table.
"You are really good with nature. How is that?"
"I don't know, actually. My mother is awful, naturally, and my dad, well, seeing as he works in the Department of Magical Creatures in the Ministry, he's pretty great. Thankfully, I inherited my dad's loving touch for the natural world.
"That's good."
Just then, the conductor's voice came on the loud speaker, announcing that they'd arrive at Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Willow hoped her Puffskein wouldn't get jostled around too much in its bag.
"Don't look so nervous, Willow," George said. "There's nothing to worry about."
"Trust me, you'll get into Gryffindor," Lee assured. "If you're anything like us, you're Gryffindor material."
"One could only hope."
The train began screeching to a stop. Willow frantically glanced out the window, only to find that they were now surrounded by a dark forest. Her heart spiked in her chest. She was terrified of the dark, but not the forest.
"Jeez, Willow, the Forbidden Forest got you all worked up?" Fred whispered.
"The Forest isn't the part I'm scared of," Willow breathed back.
"Scared of what's in it, then? That's a reasonable motive."
"I guess so."
The train halted completely. "We have arrived at Hogwarts. Have a good term, and see you next holiday season!"
Fred helped Willow get off the train, then find the first years. A giant man with a lantern in his platter-sized hand called out to the first years, gathering them at the beginning of a dark path.
"This is Hagrid, the gamekeeper," Fred explained to Willow. "All the first years have to get to Hogwarts by boat."
"Wait, really?'
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Fred admitted. "I have to go catch a carriage with George and Lee. See you at the Gryffindor table!"
Fred parted and ran to catch up with his twin. Willow felt cold now that he had gone, and very alone. The woods were getting to her.
"Willow, is that you?" a voice called from the group of first years.
"Harry!"
Willow practically tripped herself running to her friend, relived beyond belief that she had someone to share her fear and anxiety with.
"Firs' years, this way!" Hagrid called, now lumbering down a dark path.
Harry and Willow found Ron, the bushy-haired girl, and Neville, and together they followed the bright lantern of Hagrid's down a dark, slippery path. Willow was quickly informed that the bushy-haired girl's name is Hermione. Her friends started down the slope at a pace much too fast for Willow's liking.
"Watch your step," she warned her friends. "It's super slippery here."
"How do you know it's slippery?" Ron asked.
"Can't you hear the dripping?"
The five were silent, but no one heard anything except Willow.
"Um, Willow? I think you need your ears checked," Harry suggested.
"Harry! I don't think that's it at all," Hermione berated. "Maybe you just have really good hearing, Willow."
"Now that I think about it, I've always passed my hearing tests with flying colors at Muggle school, and I've always been the first to hear things. Maybe I do have really good ears."
"I think your senses are- " Neville paused as he slipped on a rock, then regained his balance. "-good."
Willow laughed. "Glad to help."
They continued the treacherous journey down the slope, all the while Hermione making comments on how unsafe this was, and how this was giving first years the wrong idea of what Hogwarts was all about. Neville began to fall behind, but Willow waved the other three ahead.
"You guys go on. I've got a lot of traction."
Harry, Ron and Hermione continued at their normal pace while Willow guided Neville's feet to the right nooks and dry surfaces.
"Willow...I'm scared," Neville whimpered.
"Me too."
"I'm...still afraid of the dark."
"You're not the only one, Neville. I've been terrified of it since I was four."
"Oh, I've just been scared of it my whole life."
"Most people are. Careful! Don't put your foot there; it's soaking wet."
Neville began to increase speed when he didn't slip for several seconds at a time. Willow gently increased her pace, not wanting to rush him.
"Where are you from, Neville?"
"I'm not sure, really. I've never been good at remembering things."
"Really?"
"I'm bloody terrible at it. My grandmother barely got me a toad before I lost it!"
"I heard about it; I'm sorry I couldn't find it for you."
"That's okay. Trevor is just a toad, after all. Although, it was kind of a special gift..."
"Do you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes. My parents- aren't able to take care of me at the moment."
"Oh."
There was a lull in conversation before Willow asked, "Are they...in a mental hospital?"
"I guess you could call it that. It's not that their mental health is lacking, it's that their brains aren't exactly working right anymore."
Willow could tell she had touched a tender subject when Neville sniffed. She decided to open up to him to make things right.
"My mother's brain isn't working right, either."
"Really?"
"It's not like your parents, though. It's much, much worse."
Willow frowned at the same time Neville did. "My Mum has...fits, you could call them, where she is this awful, mean, vengeful beast. But every once in a while, the old mother I used to know shines through. It kills me. Every time she does that, I remember what she was like before she went crazy, and it makes me feel- it gives me hope that she can come back."
"Do you believe she can be fixed?"
Willow paused in thought for several moments. "Yes, I truly do. And what's more, I think your parents can, too."
Neville brightened up at that comment. "You think so?"
"I think anything is possible if a wizard puts their wand to it."
"Hey, you're rearranging a Muggle quote!" Neville chuckled.
"But it's a good one nonetheless."
"I can't disagree with that."
Willow smiled to herself, satisfied that she had cheered him up. The pair cleared the treeline and arrived at a dock filled with canoes. Their oars seemed to be moving by themselves, surprising Willow.
"I though for sure we'd have to row ourselves across the lake!" she whispered to Neville.
"Good thing we don't; I don't have any upper body strength."
Willow giggled. "Me neither, quite honestly."
Neville parted with Willow and went into a boat with Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Glancing around, the only other first year she recognized was Draco, sitting in a boat with two oversized boys.
"Well, if it isn't Willow coming to join the party," Draco drawled as Willow seated herself in front of him.
"There weren't any other boats open, so I hope you don't mind," Willow said courteously. Draco shrugged.
"Any pureblood can have my company at any time."
Willow tried not to be put off by that statement as the boats began rowing themselves across the lake. When she glanced to her right in curiosity, Willow gasped in astonishment.
There was Hogwarts, in all its glory. The castle gave a new meaning to vast, covering the entire mountainside it perched on. Its numerous turrets and towers stretched high into the sky, practically touching the clouds. Windows lit in warm candlelight flickered as if welcoming the first years home. Many sheer cliffs tumbled down its sides, giving it an old, safe feeling, as if it were meant to protect all its inhabitants from the outside world. Its strategic position allowed for warding off attacks on most sides while providing those inside with many a place to defend their home. Willow could almost see her imagination seep into real life: archers firing volley after volley onto enemy ships, knights with swords cutting the ropes of cliff scalers, flag bearers waving their armies in day and night, spreading hope and kindling the flame of fury in their fellow soldiers. It was the most magnificent sight Willow had ever had the chance to lay eyes on.
Soon, Hogwarts disappeared overhead as the canoes entered an underground tunnel. Braziers lined the walls, glaring off the water. Willow's senses were overwhelmed with echoes as the water sloshed against the walls of the archway. She tried to tune it out, but it was very difficult, as the passage amplified every noise to ten times its original sound.
"What's the matter? Claustrophobic?" Draco teased.
"No, I've got much worse things to fear in life."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, maybe accidentally getting expelled for punching an inconsiderate idiot that's getting on my nerves?"
Draco smirked. "I see you're a smart one. Hopefully you aren't wasted on Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Don't even get me started on those useless Hufflepuffs."
Willow frowned, her stories conflicted once more. "What's so special about Slytherin?"
"Only purebloods get into Slytherin. Salazar was the only one smart enough to see that wizards of unpure blood aren't worth the time to teach."
"Oh, so you're saying you shouldn't be taught? Because if your mouth is anything close to your blood, then it's one of the dirtiest I've ever heard of."
Draco's eyes burned with anger. "Watch your tongue, traitor."
"Who put that idea into your head?"
Draco was taken aback for a moment before regaining his composure. "No one. I make decisions for myself."
"Hey, I'm just asking a question to an apparently worthy wizard that knows his stuff."
Draco's nostrils flared. "Keep quiet."
"Sorry, your highness. I forgot that you can make whatever decision you want, even though you've never had enough experience with anything to form opinions on them."
"I said shut your mouth!"
"Make me."
Draco huffed. "Fine. See what I care that you get expelled on the first day."
Willow waited a moment, then burst out laughing. Draco angrily rounded on her.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You should have seen your face! It was ridiculous!"
"What- was this all a joke?"
"Of course not! But it was hilarious!"
Draco growled. "You'll regret this."
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll see."
The canoes arrived at a large door where a platform jutted out from the wall, containing enough room to stand twice the amount of children that were exiting the boats. Hagrid got out, then began helping people.
"Right this way, firs' years!"
Eventually, Willow was out of her boat and standing with the rest of her fellow classmates. A tiny creature suddenly hopped on Willow's shoe while she waited. Picking it up before it could hop away, she handed it to Hagrid.
"I think this is someone's," Willow said.
Hagrid announced the finding of the toad, and Neville came forward almost immediately. He cradled Trevor in his hands as to not let him escape again.
Hagrid banged on the door. It swung open to reveal a witch dressed in robes of Willow's favorite shade of green: emerald. After a few formalities, Willow figured out that this was Professor McGonagall, and she would take them to the Sorting Ceremony.
"Do you get the feeling that we shouldn't cross her?" Ron whispered to Willow.
"Not at all," Willow replied. "She seems like she's not afraid to discipline, but would rather not."
"Hm. I think everyone else must agree with me."
Now that Willow thought about it, everyone's faces were slowly draining of all color as they kept their eyes fixed on McGonagall. She wondered why no one could see what she saw in her.
"Maybe I'm just lost...?" Willow thought aloud.
They soon reached a grand archway that's ceiling was no where to be found. The walls towered high, and it was big enough to contain a normal house from suburban London. Willow noticed a grand marble staircase off to her right that lead up into the higher levels of the castle, spiraling out of sight. She could hear the jumbled whispering of several far-off adults coming from that way. The door that she assumed lead to the Great Hall leaked plenty of noise to let her know that the rest of the school was already in place. Despite all the space, the first years were crowded into a small corner so that Professor McGonagall could address them.
McGonagall explained about the start-of-term-banquet that was about to occur, and how before that can begin, they must be sorted into their proper houses. They would pretty much eat, sleep, and breathe these houses, being stuck with them whether they like it or not for the rest of their Hogwarts career. According to McGonagall, all the houses were equal and produced great witches and wizards. Somehow Willow found herself believing her more than anyone else's take. She went to about the House Cup at the end of the year, lighting a competitive fire within some first year's eyes. Eventually, she left them to themselves for a few minutes, promising to come back for them when all was ready.
The first years began talking among themselves about this test that the Sorting Hat would try them with. Willow found herself relaxing, able to handle stress better than others. On the inside, her stomach may have been doing flips, but she was protected by her ignorance of how important this moment actually was. She soon overheard Ron and Harry chatting about it.
"A test?" Harry worried out loud.
"I'm almost positive Fred was joking," Ron reassured him, but his cheeks had lost all color, too.
"What did Fred tell you?" Willow skepticized.
"That the sorting hurts."
Willow chortled. "Ron, you don't seriously believe that, do you?"
"I don't know what to believe! He lies just as quick as he'll tell you the truth and disguise it as a lie!"
Willow grinned. "Your brother hasn't lied to me yet, and he informed me that it simply reads your character and figures out where to place you based on that."
"The keyword is yet, Willow."
Willow sighed. "Suit yourself, but it's helping me stay calm."
While the two boys fretted together, Willow found Neville, trying his best to fix his cloak in one hand while holding Trevor in the other.
"How do you- Trevor!- oh, blast this stupid thing-"
"Need any help?" Willow offered.
Neville gratefully accepted. "Can you hold Trevor for me?"
"Sure!"
Willow gently pet the toad as Neville took his time fixing his robes. Trevor croaked a few times in appreciation.
"Thanks, Willow!" Neville said, taking Trevor back.
"Glad I could help!"
Happy that she had distracted Neville enough, Willow wandered around aimlessly, simultaneously shoving down her anxiety at being placed in the wrong house. The only other person who didn't look scared out of their wits was Draco. Willow rolled her eyes. Of course pretty boy Draco knows he's going to be a Slytherin, if he's anything like the rest of his family, which he one hundred percent seemed to be.
"Hellooo, first years!" a voice boomed.
Willow turned to see several wispy forms cascading from the ceiling. She gasped when she saw that they resembled humans, floating over their heads and making small talk with other students.
"They're ghosts!" Willow cried.
All of the ghosts wished them well at getting into their houses, then flew off at the sight of McGonagall returning, ordering the students to form a line. The double doors then opened slowly on their ancient hinges, making way for the first years to be paraded into the Great Hall.
"Wow!" Willow gasped.
The hall was so large that Willow had to squint to see the other side of it. Its ceiling twinkled with stars amid a few clouds, leaving Willow to wonder if this was an enchantment or whether there was simply no roof at all. Four tables of immense length seated hundreds of students across the hall. Candles floated above the entire length of each table, giving the room a more comfortable, warm light. There were two fireplaces centered along either wall. At the end of the room sat another long table, where several professors watched over the procession. It was here that McGonagall took the first years, spreading them across the raised platform. All eyes were on McGonagall as she mutely placed a stool in front of the first years, a dirty, shabby, worn-out pointed hat on top of it.
"That's the sorting hat?" Willow asked. Ron barely nodded, his face beginning to turn green.
Suddenly, the hat began singing a song. It was a smart hat, it said. You couldn't hide anything from him because it was all inside your head. Gryffindors were chivalrous, brave individuals; Hufflepuffs were patient and loyal; Ravenclaws were wise and witty; Slytherins were cunning and relentless. Willow was put at ease. The way the hat described it, all the houses seemed equally great in their own way. Still, she hoped she didn't get Slytherin- the only people she knew so far that weren't first years were in Gryffindor.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
The hat stayed silent for a few seconds before announcing, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
A table with students sporting black and yellow merchandise erupted in cheers as Hannah took her place among them. Willow smiled.
"At least we know we'll be appreciated, right?" she whispered to Harry. He nodded, afraid to open his mouth.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat cried again.
Willow couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she wasn't placed in Gryffindor. Hufflepuff sure looked nice, but she didn't think much would become of her there.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table to the left of HufflePuff cried out as one and stood up to meet their new member. They were just as exuberant, if not more, than Hufflepuff. The boy sheepishly shook hands with a few older boys and girls before seating himself, cheeks bright red.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Willow nervously shuffle her feet, wishing that they would hurry up and call her already.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table on the far left exploded into friendly cat-calls and enthusiastic cheering as Lavender Brown took her place at the table, practically skipping with glee. Willow thought maybe there was a chance for her after all.
"SLYTHERIN!"
All good sensations vanished at the sight of the next girl and her placement. Millicent marched over to Slytherin, receiving a strong, overenthusiastic welcome. It didn't help Willow to feel any better at all. She thought her stomach must be tearing itself apart at that point.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
One by one, the houses received their first years. Willow's gut twisted in fear every time Slytherin was called, wondering if her fate would be sealed with that single word. She knew Slytherin was not a bad house; it was the people in it that caused her conflict.
"Finnigan, Seamus!"
A sandy-haired boy placed himself on the stool, the hat falling over his eyes. Whispers began floating around as the hat talked to himself for ten seconds, then twenty, then forty.
"What's taking him so long?" Ron asked.
"I think that hat's having trouble deciding," Hermione whispered.
The poor boy lost all the color in his face as the talking in the hall got louder and louder. Willow pitied him. It was only the first day of school and already everyone was staring at him longer than was comfortable. At long last, after a minute, the hate decided, "GRYFFINDOR!"
More cheering and applause from the Gryffindor table. Another Ravenclaw was called, then, "Granger, Hermione."
Hermione practically sprinted to put the hat on. Unlike the last boy, it didn't hesitate for a millisecond before calling, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron groaned. "Now I don't know if I want to be in Gryffindor."
Yet another Hufflepuff was called. Then, McGonagall read the next name on the list.
"Guerrero, Willow."
Willow's blood ran cold. She froze up, unable to move her suddenly lead feet. Harry pushed her from behind.
"Go on, Willow!" he urged. "Go!"
Willow forced herself to move forward. McGonagall smiled empathetically at her as she inched towards the stool, her wits scattered. Willow glanced at the Gryffindor table, frantically searching for Fred's face. He made eye contact with her, giving her the thumbs up. Lee and George crossed their fingers for her.
Now a tiny bit more confident, Willow inhaled deeply and allowed Professor McGonagall to lower the hat onto her head. It sprang to life immediately, moving about.
"Let's see what we have here...My, my, very peculiar, very peculiar indeed. Quite the lineage, I'd say."
Willow's knuckles turned white, her whole body tensing on the stool.
"Interesting...Plenty of wit, lots of talent, strong determination- you'd do well in any, but where shall you benefit most?"
Please say Gryffindor, please say Gryffindor! Willow begged internally.
"Gryffindor, eh? You have lots of cunning, you'd go so far, but also loyalty and wisdom- still set on Gryffindor?"
Willow weighed up the possibilities. Her house would shape her and her future. Slytherin would no doubt send her dangerously close to darkness, but Hufflepuff would do almost nothing. Ravenclaw would benefit her drive for learning, of course, but when did she not have that?
Yes, Willow admitted.
"So much ability, so much power, so much nerve- what better than GRYFFINDOR!"
Willow nearly threw off the hat and ran to the Gryffindor table. Her heart and spirits soared, she was so ecstatic. The twins and Lee cheered the loudest, welcoming her and allowing her to sit in the seat they saved for her.
"That took forever!" George remarked.
"Well, it couldn't decide," Willow explained. "It thought I could be in any of the houses, really."
"Naw, you're a Gryffindor, through and through, just like us," Lee affirmed.
"What did I tell you, Willow?" Fred reminded her. "There's nothing to worry about at the Sorting Ceremony."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Longbottom, Neville!"
Neville started, then tripped over himself getting to the stool. His cheeks burned scarlet as the hat sat on his head for a while.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Neville got up and began running with the hat. McGonagall called after him, and he walked back amidst a wave of laughter to return it. He finally seated himself across from Willow, his round face scarlet.
Next, it was Draco's turn. He swaggered up the the hat, a devilish smirk on his lips. The hat didn't even need to touch his head before it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
A group of first years were split into other houses when suddenly McGonagall announced, "Potter, Harry!"
Whispers broke out among the students, excited to have the Boy-Who-Lived in their school. Harry sat on the stool for a while, gripping it hard, concentrating hard.
"What do you think is the matter with him?"
"Why would it take so long?"
"Which- "
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally shouted, cutting off all the students' theorizing.
Willow stood up to cheer for Harry as he made his way to the table. The entire hall clapped for him, but the Gryffindors gave him the loudest hurrah of the night. All this didn't bother Harry, though; he seemed immensely relieved that he didn't get dumped into Slytherin. The twins made quite the racket about how their house got the great Harry Potter, and Percy shook his hand profusely. At this point, only four first years were left, including Ron.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Weasley, Ron!"
Ron stepped up, his face pale green. His misery ended in a few short seconds, however, when the hat cried, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Yes, Ron!" Willow shouted with the rest of Gryffindor.
The last kid was sent to Slytherin, and Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school, stepped up to give a short speech. Willow's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she stared at all the food suddenly piled across the table. Everyone cheered at the end of Dumbledore's address, then began loading their plates.
"Where do they get all this food?" Willow questioned, still in shock.
"From the house elves down in the kitchen," Fred replied.
"Do they treat them well?"
George glanced quizzically at Willow. "Yes, of course they do, with Albus as the headmaster. In fact, they get paid to work here."
Willow relaxed, shaking her head. "Sorry, it's just...my mum..."
"I understand," Fred sympathized.
"God, Willow, are you going to eat or what?" Lee said, his plate already overloaded.
Willow grinned. "I've never been known to turn down a meal."
"Eat, then!"
Willow filled her plate full of roast beef, potatoes, gravy, carrots, peas, and bacon. She enjoyed listening to the twins pester each other while she ate, remembering how lonely she used to be eating dinner every night at her father's mansion. Neville chatted with her a bit during the meal, but otherwise, Willow was content to listen.
Nearly Headless Nick scared a few people with his head stunt, and dessert appeared shortly after. Willow couldn't resist and helped herself to some ice cream. While serving herself, she overheard everyone speaking about their families.
"Oy, Willow, what is your family like?" the boy named Seamus asked.
"Oh, um..." Willow hesitated. "My mum is a witch and my dad is a wizard, but I don't see much of either anymore."
"Hey, Neville, it sounds like you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Seamus teased. Neville turned even redder than he was before.
"Come off of it, Seamus," Willow said. "I'd like to see you try and get one by your seventh year!"
A chorus of "Oooh!" passed around those nearest. Seamus rolled his eyes and returned to stuffing his face with desert.
"Sharp tongue, eh, Willow?" Lee observed. "Good thing Gryffindors are tough and don't take things to heart."
"Well, most of us," George said, casting a glance at a group of girls at the end of the table.
"There's a handful like that in every house. You usually want to avoid them."
"Or you're likely their next target to be hexed."
"Or jinxed."
"Or cursed."
"I've dealt with worse in Muggle school," Willow said. "Usually, if I got on their nerves, they'd try to humiliate me. It never worked. I'd just read a book or laugh the entire time, and they'd run out of the room crying or screaming."
The third years chortled. "You continue to convince me that you're perfect material for our business."
"I aim to impress."
"Students!" Dumbledore bellowed from the front of the room.
All attention turned to Dumbledore as he began the start-of-term announcements. First, he reminded everyone that the Forbidden Forest was off limits to everyone, pointedly locking eyes with the twins for a moment. Willow gently punched Fred as Dumbledore moved on.
"What on Earth did you do?" Willow whispered.
"We may or may not have done a special Halloween joke last year," Fred answered slowly.
"Fred!"
"George was equally responsible!"
They listened to the final few announcements before commencing the school song. The twins, naturally, were the last to finish, and awarded with the biggest applause by Dumbledore. Then, they were sent off to their common rooms.
"You have to go with our prefect brother Percy," George said.
"We'll have to catch up with you tomorrow."
"Bye, guys!" Willow called as they went away with Lee.
Willow found Harry, Ron, and Hermione all following Percy. He lead them up staircases, through corridors, across the castle, and past many artifacts that Willow made a mental note to revisit that weekend. Peeves the poltergeist messed with them until Percy succeeded in shooing him off. At length, they reached a dead end. A portrait of an enormous woman dressed in an elegant fashion was singing quietly, her voice that of an opera singer. She stopped when she saw Percy leading all the first years.
"Password?"
"Caput Draconis."
The fat woman's painting swung open to reveal a tunnel. Everyone made it through, including Neville after some help from Willow and Hermione.
The Gryffindor common room was round, large, and very tall. Two spiral staircases lead up to the dormitories, girls on one side, boys on the other. There was a fireplace on one side and cozy, comfortable looking furniture scattered across the whole room. Willow's favorite part was, of course, the gigantic windows that allowed for an amazing view of the grounds.
"Girls, follow me," Percy said. "I'll show you boys where to go in a moment."
Willow said goodnight to the boys, then followed Hermione up several flights of stairs until they reached their dormitory. Seven beds lined the walls, shuttered windows separating each. Their trunks were already waiting for them on each bed. Oddly enough, one was empty.
"Here you are," Percy declared, shaking Willow's thoughts. "Goodnight."
The six girls thanked him before squealing and jumping on their beds, excited to move into their new home for the year. They unpacked their trunks and each chose a wardrobe to stuff their clothes in. Willow decided to let Achelous sleep on her nightstand. After an hour of chattering in the dark with her housemates, Willow fell asleep, and for once, didn't dream at all.