The day finally arrived.
Lydia, breathless from giggling so much, tumbled out of Piper's carriage with Kitty. Mary exited with some amount of dignity.
"Lord, Lizzy, what an adventure!" Lydia exclaimed.
"Good evening, Lydia," Lizzy greeted. "Kitty. Mary, I am glad you've come."
Mary gave Lizzy a very loaded look, and Lizzy mentally conveyed her sympathies for Mary having to spend so much time enclosed in such a small space with the youngest Bennets.
"Come along, Kitty, Lydia," Jane coached, offering her hands. Kitty gratefully took her elder sister's hand. Though she was twelve and a full two years older than Lydia, she did not possess as much confidence and was grateful for the boon Jane offered. Lydia did not even notice Jane's hand and bounded off, forcing Lizzy to rush to catch her.
"Lydia, you must have some care!" Lizzy said exasperatedly upon catching her youngest sister. "You never know what you're going to trip across here!"
"La, Lizzy, I should have known you would be just as boring here as you are at home!"
Lizzy rolled her eyes and firmly took Lydia's arm with her own, preventing the silly girl from further gallivanting and slowing their pace enough to allow the rest of their sisters to catch up.
"You'll spend the time until the Sorting Ceremony in a chamber off to the side of the Great Hall with the rest of the first years and transfers," Jane explained to her youngest sisters as they continued across the grounds. "You'll all be shown into the Great Hall together and then – "
"That sounds like such a bore," Lydia interrupted. "I should much prefer to go back home and socialize with the militia than be shepherded about like some sheep!"
"Lydia!" Lizzy chastised.
"You were not doing any sort of socializing," said Mary bitterly. "I think it a fine thing you were removed from Hertfordshire before you actually found the opportunity to wander into the militia encampment!"
"How would you know our plans?" Lydia asked boldly, not bothering to deny the truth of Mary's assertion.
"I know a great deal more than you think, Lydia, and now that we are at Hogwarts I shall not be forced to bite my tongue any longer when you cook up ridiculous schemes that will make you and the rest of the family into a laughingstock!" Mary bit out.
Lydia was quick to snap back at Mary. Lizzy's attention, however, was diverted to Kitty. Normally, the girl would jump to Lydia's defense. Kitty stayed firmly attached to Jane's side and seemed determined not to join the fray. Something had shifted between them. Hope welled within Lizzy for her sister's future.
"That is enough!" Lizzy said forcefully as even Mary's voice began to rise. "Lydia, you will behave yourself at Hogwarts! Jane, Mary, and I have all spoken of what we expect from you and Kitty. The professors will have their own expectations, and you will live up to them all. Mama is not here to defend you, nor Papa to ignore you. Do not think you shall always get your way here."
"I shall do – " Lydia began.
"You most certainly shall not," said Lizzy in such a tone as Lydia had never heard before. It so shocked the girl that she closed her mouth.
Lizzy was pleased. She had long desired to take Lydia in hand but had been prevented by circumstances. She was no longer hindered by such.
Lydia pouted, but did so silently, and so Lizzy let it pass.
"Is it to be a very long time before the Sorting Ceremony?" Kitty asked.
"No, only an hour or so," Lizzy answered.
"W – Will we truly have to fight a troll?" Kitty squeaked.
Lizzy could not help but laugh. "Mary, what have you been telling our sisters?"
"I have told them nothing!" Mary objected.
"You shall not be fighting a troll, Kitty," said Jane soothingly. "Wherever did you hear such an idea?"
"At Ollivander's," said Kitty smally. "I overheard some older children recollecting their Sorting while Lydia and I were waiting yesterday."
"Did Uncle Gardiner take you?" Lizzy asked.
Kitty nodded. "So they were wrong? I won't be forced to use my wand tonight?"
"No, Kitty," said Jane.
"Of course they were joking, Kitty," said Lydia scathingly. "Lord, you are so gullible."
Jane gave Lydia a warning look, something Lydia had never before seen from her eldest sister. She was cowed into submission again, if only temporarily.
"They just wanted to scare you, Kitty," Jane patiently explained. She gave no exact details of the Sorting, but promised it was quick, painless, and required no magical knowledge.
"Would you like to show us your wand before we drop you off, Kitty?" Lizzy asked, consciously taking advantage of Kitty's current observance of proper decorum to draw the girl out.
Kitty smiled shyly, then reached into her pocket. She held a wand of average length. "It's larch and phoenix feather," she said lovingly.
Lizzy felt her eyes widen. In her studies with Flitwick, she had read much about wandlore. The combination of the wood and core of her sister's wand gave her great hope for the girl's future. "I think that an excellent match for you, Kitty."
"Take that compliment well, Kitty," Jane encouraged. "Lizzy has studied wandlore extensively, and knows what a wand says about a witch or wizard."
Kitty positively beamed and carefully stowed her wand away again.
"La, Kitty's wand is so boring!" Lydia declared. As per usual, she was not satisfied unless she was the center of attention. She fished her own wand out of her pocket. It was on the short side. "Dogwood and dragon heartstring!" she said proudly. "It is infinitely prettier than Kitty's, don't you think?"
Lizzy found herself thoroughly unsurprised that such a wand had chosen Lydia. "You'll come to discover, Lydia, that looks mean a great deal less in the wizarding world than they do in the Muggle."
Lydia huffed and stowed her wand again.
"What are your wands made of?" Kitty asked. The sisters had stopped outside a door, but felt no great need to split just yet.
"Black walnut and dragon heartstring," said Mary, putting her wand on display. "It keeps me honest with myself," she said, conflicting emotion evident in her voice.
"Mine is pear and unicorn hair," said Jane.
"Jane's wand is possibly the best matched of all," said Lizzy with a warm smile.
Jane blushed. "Stop it, Lizzy!"
Lizzy only grinned more before pulling her wand from up her sleeve. It was unorthodox, to say the least, for her to keep it in such a place over her pocket, but Lizzy found she liked always feeling her wand on her person, which was not so easily done from one's pocket as one's sleeve. "My wand is ebony and phoenix feather."
"We have the same core, Lizzy!" said Kitty excitedly.
"Yes," said Lizzy, pleased. "We do."
"Will you share with me your knowledge of wandlore?" Kitty shyly inquired. "I think I would like to know what a person's wand says about them."
"I should be happy to share with you, Kitty!" Lizzy enthusiastically replied.
Kitty beamed again, a sight Lizzy found herself hoping would appear often.
"We should leave you," said Mary pragmatically. "It won't do for the other first years and the transfers to judge you based on who you're seen with, not before they can get a measure of you for yourself, first."
"I shall refuse to be judged by my association with you," said Lydia stubbornly. "I shall be much more fun to be around than any of you, I'm sure. No one will believe I am sister to such bores!"
Lydia entered the door before them without another word.
"Let her discover her folly on her own, Mary," said Lizzy soothingly, laying a hand on Mary's shoulder.
Mary, who had gone red in the face, relaxed slightly. "If only she knew what people really thought of her!"
"Do people not think well of Lydia?" Kitty asked, quite confused. "How should you know what other people think, Mary?"
"I'm a Legilimens," said Mary.
"Mary can hear the thoughts of some people," Lizzy patiently explained when Kitty continued to look confused. "With further study, she will be able to look into the mind of anyone she so chooses, provided they are not skilled at Occlumency, though I'm sure she shall be respectful of the privacy of others."
"I have yet to divulge another's secret without their consent," said Mary, "and I have no intention to ever do so."
Kitty simply stood with her mouth open for several moments. "S-so you can hear my thoughts?"
Mary's face softened. "I do not blame you, Kitty," she said, surprisingly understanding. "I believe you've come to reflect many of the thoughts of Mama and Lydia. I have high hopes for what you'll become here at Hogwarts.
"Now, on you go! Make some new friends," Mary encouraged.
Kitty smiled in thanks before disappearing behind the door Lydia had entered earlier.
"That was very kind of you, Mary," Jane observed as the trio moved away.
"It's the truth," said Mary with a shrug. "I've learned a lot about all my family members this past summer. Kitty deserves to know she is capable of independent thought without fear of being censured and ostracized."
"I've often thought she could do with a bit of confidence," Jane admitted.
"Perhaps she will be sorted into Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, and either of you could help her along," said Lizzy.
"Let us pray for Hufflepuff," said Mary. "Coming to Ravenclaw and being associated with me would do her no favors."
"You are too harsh on yourself, Mary," said Lizzy.
"You know I am not," said Mary. "As much as it sometimes annoys me, I accept my lot in life. I came up with a way to better understand my peers, and it backfired marvelously. I have no one to blame but myself. I'll continue with my studies, and I will find my niche eventually."
"That is a very mature outlook on life, Mary," said Jane.
"I've done a lot of thinking while practicing the piano in the two weeks since you left," Mary said by way of explanation.
"What does Lydia's wand say of her, Lizzy?" Jane asked after a moment.
"That she is flighty and prizes her own entertainment above all else," Lizzy promptly answered. "Hardly surprising. I suspected she would find such a match."
Jane pursed her lips for a moment, then shook the thought off. "You two should get settled in the Great Hall," she suggested. "I am to greet everyone as they come in."
Lizzy teased Jane for her responsibility before entering the Great Hall with Mary. She went to Gryffindor table while Mary found her own spot at Ravenclaw's. If other students left seats empty around Mary, the girl chose not to make a scene about it, instead pulling out a book and allowing it to absorb her attention.
Lizzy was happy to greet many of her friends as the hall continued to fill. Josephine and Zebulon were flitting around Gryffindor table, as was expected of them as prefects. They would join her before the feast actually started. Until then, Lizzy spent most of her time speaking with Phoebe Weasley, one of her fellow Chasers and roommates.
"I've heard you came back with the prefects," said Phoebe. "Is it true, then? You're actually studying to be an animagus?"
"I don't see what all the fuss is about," said Lizzy with a shrug.
"You've already taken an extra year for studies," said Phoebe. "Will you graduate after eight years here, or nine?"
Lizzy laughed lightly. "I care not how much time I spend at Hogwarts," she said. "I care only that I shall be equipped with the knowledge I desire to live the kind of life I should like."
"Well, the longer Gryffindor can keep you on the team, the better, I suppose," Phoebe said.
It seemed like no time passed at all before Professor McGonagall led in a gaggle of first years, largely between the ages of ten and twelve, as well as the added group of Beauxbatons transfers.
Lizzy looked fondly at Kitty, noting that she had branched out on her own and entered with someone other than Lydia, who was near the back of the herd. She remembered her own Sorting well. She had been only nine and determined not to be afraid, no matter what she had overheard while out in Diagon Alley with Jane collecting their school supplies.
Initially, when sorted into Gryffindor and separated from Jane, who was put into Hufflepuff, Lizzy had been devastated and incredibly confused on what to do with herself. As time progressed, however, she appreciated the independence from her family, even one so beloved as Jane. The two had some classes together, anyway, which helped ease the transition.
Lizzy, though grouped with the students labeled as sixth years, was entering her seventh year at Hogwarts. She had chosen to take so many extra classes and independent studies her date for graduation had been pushed back. Lizzy did not mind in the slightest. She was only fifteen, and felt no rush to leave the comforts of Hogwarts.
Jane had been eleven when she was sorted, and instantly liked by all. Such had not surprised Lizzy in the least. Jane had taken a few extra courses, not nearly so many as Lizzy, but had added a year to her own school time because of travelling back home so frequently. In their first several years at Hogwarts, Mrs. Bennet had urgently summoned Jane home many times, stating she needed to come take care of some disaster or another. Lizzy had detected the insincerity of her mother almost instantly, but it took Jane longer to come around.
Jane and Lizzy had been preparing to enter their fourth year and Mary her first when Mary pulled them aside for a word. She urged Jane to stop coming home, as Mrs. Bennet was unabashed and unrepentant in her scheming to get Jane to drop from school and stay home to find a husband and save the family. Even then it had taken a fair amount of convincing from Mary and Lizzy, but Jane had finally been made to see reason. She no longer hurried home when Mrs. Bennet summoned.
"Which ones are yours?" Josephine asked, sliding into the space next to Lizzy now that her duties were done.
Lizzy pointed out Kitty and Lydia to Josephine and Phoebe. Zebulon had chosen to sit elsewhere.
"Lydia looks very much like you," Phoebe commented.
"And that is where the similarity ends," Lizzy sighed.
"That there is Charles Bingley," said Josephine to Phoebe, nodding her head in the man's direction. "Captured the attention of our Head Girl, he has."
Phoebe giggled. "So Jane finally likes someone back, does she?"
"Oh, leave Jane alone," said Lizzy.
"I still don't think John is over Jane's lack of interest in him," said Phoebe. She referred to her brother that had graduated the year previous, though not before declaring Jane to be the most beautiful woman he had ever met and asking her if she would agree to a courtship. Jane had not agreed, though she had been sweet about it, and John pouted for weeks after.
"John is a grown man and can get over the ordeal," said Lizzy.
Josephine continued pointing out the transfers to Phoebe and shared several of her speculations as to what House they might be sorted into.
Lizzy hardly tended to the conversation. She was focused on her younger sisters. Kitty was whispering animatedly to the girl she had walked in with. Lydia had shouldered her way through the crowd so she was standing next to Kitty, and had begun trying to insert herself into the conversation. After just a few of Lydia's attempts, Lizzy could see Kitty's confidence begin to wane, and she divided her attention between her new friend and Lydia until, finally, Lydia succeeded in gaining the whole of her attention.
Luckily for Lizzy, her anxiety over where her sisters would be sorted was short lived, as they were so near the beginning of the alphabet.
When McGonagall called "Bennet, Catherine!" Kitty stepped forward, her hands balled tightly in her robes. She carefully sat herself on the stool, her face red. Lizzy supposed she did not like being the center of attention when hundreds of eyes were observing her every move. Such a sign was further encouragement for Kitty's future.
"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat called after less than a minute of consideration.
Lizzy applauded enthusiastically, quite pleased Kitty would have Jane to watch over her. Kitty would fit in very well with the Hufflepuffs, and they would encourage her to achieve her full potential.
"Bennet, Lydia!" was called next.
Lydia bounded forward and practically threw herself onto the stool. Hardly a moment was lost before the Hat declared her to be a Gryffindor.
Lizzy was not surprised. Lydia was impulsive, lively, and adventurous, often to the point of stupidity. Of course she should be put into Gryffindor. As she clapped, Lizzy hoped her fellow Gryffindors would do an admirable job of showing Lydia her own insignificance. She had seen it happen before and allowed herself to relax with the thought in mind that other Gryffindors would not shy away from conflict with Lydia, as the girl was so used to happening.
The remainder of the first years were sorted before the transfers were started on. Mr. Bingley was put into Hufflepuff, which was as expected. Josephine and Phoebe exchanged a loaded look and giggled at Lizzy's expense. Miss Bingley was put into Slytherin. Again, Lizzy could bring herself to feel no amount of surprise. Miss Bingley's ambition and belief in the value of pure blood made such a thing a certainty.
Lizzy did find herself shocked, however, when Mr. Darcy was sorted into Ravenclaw. He had given every indication of fitting in well with the crowd of Slytherins with his wealth, pure blood, and aloof demeanor. That he should be put, instead, amongst the intellectuals, inventors, and forward thinkers was a great deviation from her expectations.
"Do pick your jaw up off the table, Lizzy," Josephine said casually. "People will stare before long."
Lizzy blushed as she closed her mouth.
"He's changed quite a bit," Phoebe mused aloud.
"You know the Darcys?" Lizzy asked.
"Well, sure, nearly all purebloods know each other on some level," said Phoebe. "I'm sure Jo's told you about the Darcys!"
Josephine shrugged in response to the looks she received from her friends. "I didn't think it was my business."
"It's a horribly tragic tale, and it's clearly weighed down on the latest Mr. Darcy," said Phoebe. She had a good heart but enjoyed spinning a good tale perhaps a little more than was justifiable. "I saw him not three years ago, and he was not nearly so grave!"
"Phoebe, leave the man be," Josephine said irritably. "Lizzy knows him well enough already."
"Do you?" Phoebe asked interestedly, wiggling her eyebrows.
Lizzy briefly summed up her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy and the Bingleys as the last transfers were being sorted.
"Well of course he should be aloof in the Muggle world!" Phoebe said. "He's a very eligible match! So young, and he's already inherited one of the largest estates in the country."
Dumbledore rose before more could be said. He greeted all his students, taking care to welcome the first years and the transfers, especially. He then deferred further announcements until after dinner had been eaten, much to the students' delight.
"Perhaps his distance in the Muggle world could be justified, though by no means excused," said Lizzy as she placed her napkin in her lap. "He has continued to display poor manners here, however."
"His manners have been fine, Lizzy," said Josephine. "You're just still sore about his comment at that assembly."
Lizzy bristled. "I don't care three straws what he thinks, and I should not let such a rude and – " she stopped herself in the middle of her rage, recognizing Josephine's knowing look. She deflated. "My opinions have not been affected by a single snide remark."
"Of course they haven't been, Lizzy," said Josephine, clearly unconvinced.
"Have a bit of compassion for him, Lizzy," Phoebe suggested. "His mother died giving birth to his sister some six years ago, and two years ago his father got dragon pox. I heard he took a full year off school to get everything in order."
"No, it must have been last year that his father died," Josephine countered, despite her declaration that Mr. Darcy should be left alone. "He's entering his sixth year now."
"How odd," said Phoebe. "I'm certain it was two years ago. My father went to the funeral. But then he should be in his seventh year…"
Josephine shook her head and cleared her curious expression, blushing slightly as though embarrassed to have been caught up in the story. "Well, it is none of our business whether Darcy took one year or two off school to get things in order after he inherited. Let's leave the subject be."
Lizzy was eager to agree, and the rest of the feast passed pleasantly.
After a second speech from Dumbledore, in which he outlined the expectations for the year, Lizzy moved along with the crowd of Gryffindors to their tower. She was exceedingly pleased to have the tower bubbling with activity again. It had seemed so empty and cold with only herself and the prefects to occupy it.
Lydia wasted no time in securing an invitation to play gobstones. Lizzy was well satisfied that those she played with did not allow her to bend the rules to her satisfaction. Lydia soundly lost, and it was clear to all involved that she was not used to such.
Pleased that Lydia was already being schooled in humility and the fact that the world did not revolve around her, Lizzy milled about only a few more minutes to greet those she had missed before, then went to her room. Josephine and Phoebe were already unpacking their trunks.
Before long, Lizzy had unpacked as well and bid all her roommates goodnight before drawing the curtain around her bed, eager to begin her classes in earnest the following day.
Author's Note
You may be asking why all the childrens are entering Hogwarts at different ages. Well, that's largely because I wanted Jane and Lizzy, Kitty and Lydia in the same years. I feel perfectly justified in doing so with the idea that schooling was much less uniform in this time frame. When I started writing this, I imagined that little wizards and witches would head off to Hogwarts after meeting some sort of magical bar rather than by reaching a certain age. -shrug- Let's just roll with it, shall we?
Please share your thoughts with me in a review!
