Author's note: This story will be told from Phoenix's POV unless otherwise specified.
When the story begins:
Teddy Lupin-Potter: 16, 6th year.
Victoire Weasley: 15, 5th year.
Molly II Weasley and Dominique Weasley: 13, 3rd years.
Fred II Weasley, Roxanne Weasley, James Sirius Potter, Phoenix Potter (daughter of Harry and Ginny Potter), and Lucy Weasley: 11, first years.
Louis Weasley, Rose Granger-Weasley, and Albus Severus Potter: 10, will be attending Hogwarts next year.
Lily Luna Potter and Hugo Granger-Weasley: 9, will be attending in two years.
I know that the ages aren't canon, but this will be how they are written in this story.
Thank you for reading!
The Fall of The Phoenix
Part One: From the Ashes
Chapter One: Frankie First Years
I'll never understand the Wizarding World's obsession with my family.
To an extent, I can understand the fame that my parents' generation and my grandparents' possess. They were, after all, crucial players in the defeat of Voldemort. The sheer extent of their fame, however, has always been rather mind boggling to me. My parents, as I can easily attest, are perfectly normal people-my mother leaves her socks lying around the living room, my father never remembers to pick up cheese at the store, and both of them get fiercely competitive over backyard Quidditch. Why people think that every aspect of their lives is newsworthy will never properly make sense to me. Even more confusing, however, is that my siblings, cousins, and I wound up just as famous.
The next generation of Potters and Weasleys were famous before we had even been born. The papers wrote articles about our mothers' pregnancies, interviewed anyone with even the smallest connection to our family, and, most importantly of all, held polls.
The polls were, my aunts and mother say, the epitome of disrespect. No fact escaped the polls. Simple details, such as due dates, genders, and names were guessed at, but so were some very personal matters. Where and when we were conceived was a popular subject, as were even more intimate details. They even went so far as to predict how long my Aunt Fleur's labor would be (though they ended that practice after Victoire's birth, as a furious part-Veela banging down the door of the press office was not something that they wished to make a common occurrence). As soon as we had been born, the front page of the newspaper was dedicated to the announcement. If they could get their hands on a picture, that was printed everywhere as well.
After that came the polls on our future houses, speculation as to whether or not we would play Quidditch, theories on how we would wear our hair, and anything else that the media could think of. They once wrote an entire article because a reporter had overheard my mum saying that Al's first word was 'broom'.
Many people throughout our lives have expressed how incredibly lucky they think we are. They never stopped to consider that the entire world avidly watching everything that you've ever done-and waiting eagerly to see you fail at something-is not exactly the thing of dreams. No one ever seems to realize that being forever marked "children of the leaders of the light" does more than give people high expectations for us. The Wizarding World never realized that, before we had ever even been born, they had marked us down as excellent targets for any lingering supporters of Voldemort, or for any new Dark Lord that may rise.
Prior to the moment that I raced through the brick column and onto Platform 9 ¾, I would have assumed that there was no possible way that a train platform could smell appealing. Standing on the platform, staring at the glorious scarlet locomotive that would soon take me to a place I had previously only dreamed of attending, I rapidly came to the conclusion that there was no sweeter scent than the heady smoke that filled the air around me. I had stood on the platform before, but this year it seemed like a new experience altogether.
Moving away from the barrier so that I was not run over by the rest of my family, I tried to take in everything around me all at once, hardly daring to believe that I would soon be allowed to board the train. I had spent the last five years watching my older brother wave goodbye as the Hogwarts Express whisked him away to a year of magic and adventure. Now, it was finally my turn.
A hand squeezed mine tightly, drawing my attention away from the coveted scarlet engine.
"Are you ready, Phoenix?" My little sister, Lily Luna Potter, asked me eagerly. Her freckled cheeks were tearstained, as the anticipation of saying goodbye to three of her siblings at precisely 11 o'clock had had her crying off and on all morning, but her expression was currently cheerful as she grinned up at me.
I gave the ginger-haired girl a wide smile. "I've never been more ready for anything!"
"Are you scared?" She asked, her doe eyes suddenly wide with concern, as though the thought had only just occurred to her.
"Never," I scrunched my nose up as though the mere thought was abhorrent before giving her a playful grin.
She giggled, but her gaze was steeped in admiration, making my cheeks burn slightly. I was grateful when our brother's voice cut across our conversation.
"Dad, can I please go to Hogwarts this year?" My youngest brother, Albus Potter, begged our father. He was clinging to dad's arm, as though the mere nuisance of having to lug Al along would suddenly change our father's mind on the much-debated topic.
"No Al," Dad laughed. He carefully removed Al from his forearm and steered him out of the way of the loaded trolley that he pushed as he spoke. "You're still too young. You can go next year though, with Rosie and Lou."
Our elder brother, Teddy Lupin-Potter, laughed along with dad before reaching out to ruffle Al's already messy hair. The blue-haired boy gave Albus a kind smile, one that crinkled the corners of his green eyes. "Don't worry Al, it'll be here before you know it."
"Yeah," James Sirius, my twin brother, said suddenly, "And then you'll be wishing that you could go back to when you weren't a nasty Slytherin."
"I will NOT be in Slytherin!"
"Will too, Severus," James laughed, drawing out the 's' in his name like Slytherin's famous mascot. I rolled my eyes at him as he leered at our little brother over the trolley that Teddy pushed.
"Shut up!" Albus cried, his face steadily growing red with anger. His eyes shone slightly with tears, likely borne of both frustration and hurt. James loved teasing and prodding at everyone, but he had never quite mastered how to do so in such a way that didn't genuinely upset our sensitive younger brother.
I debated cutting in. On one hand, I loved Albus dearly and desperately hated when James teased him. On the other hand, their arguments always ended the same way, one that greatly discouraged anyone else from getting involved…
"Alright, that's enough!" My mother snapped. Both boys jumped. We all shrank back from the fearsome woman as she folded her arms and gave the boys a sharp look. "I will not have you two arguing right now. James, apologize. Albus, you as well."
Both boys nodded, quickly apologizing to one another. Glancing at our mother, they decided to add a hug, just for good measure. Mum nodded at them before turning to straighten Teddy's collar and give him a kiss on the cheek. I hid a smile as I noticed that she had to stand on the tips of her toes in order to reach. Teddy's other mother had been on the short side, but his father had been well over six feet tall, and Ted clearly took after the man.
"You know mum, you're a bit scary," Teddy laughed nervously, running a hand through his cobalt hair as he spoke.
Mum gave him a wicked grin, adding a wink when James's back was turned. We all snickered as she ruffled James's hair. Of all of the men in my family, James prided himself on being the only one with neat hair. He chose to ignore the fact that Teddy's hair was messy by his own volition. He, my younger sister, Lily, and I had all missed out on the untidy Potter genes when it came to hair, much to our relief. My hair was dark red and curly, and Lily's was straight and ginger. James had the same black hair that our father and Albus sported, his was just far neater.
"Mum!" James cried, ducking and furiously attempting to tidy his hair.
I grinned as she gave me a hug before turning to face Levi Idogbe, Teddy's best friend, who had been all but adopted into our family years ago. He bent down, allowing her to press a kiss to his cheek before giving her a hug. She then turned to face all of us.
"Try to look out for one another, please," She pleaded, slight exasperation coloring her tone as James pulled a face at me. I waited until she wasn't looking to stick my tongue out at him in response. "Have fun, but also try to learn a thing or two. Also, please stop with the anti-Slytherin rubbish. You all know better. Levi, Teddy, enjoy your classes this year and try to do at least a bit of NEWT preparation. You'll thank yourselves for it next year-I promise. Phoenix, James, remember that we'll be proud of you no matter what house you get sorted into."
We nodded at her, grateful that we didn't have to endure a lengthy speech on what we should and shouldn't do at school.
"Hey Gin, there's 'Mione and Ron," Dad said, craning his neck to see over the crowd. I turned around to look as well, but I couldn't see a thing through the bodies that surrounded us.
"I think I see them," She replied, standing on the tips of her toes. "I'll go and get them; you stay here with the kids."
She walked off before dad had a chance to respond.
"Well, we all know who wears the pants in this family," Teddy said jokingly, nudging dad's side with his elbow.
"Watch it," Dad growled with mock-seriousness.
"What are you going to do about it, old man?" Teddy teased.
"Alright, you asked for it!" Dad lunged forward and grabbed Teddy in a headlock. He began mussing the bright blue locks while Teddy struggled, the tips of his hair beginning to turn pink.
I tuned my family out as the others cheered Ted on, choosing instead to marvel at all of the chaos that surrounded us. Owls of every shape and color screeched from within cages balanced atop trunks stuffed nearly to their breaking point. To what would surely be my Aunt Hermione's inevitable dismay, the "muggle" attire of the witches and wizards around me was an absurd array of garish colors, outlandish patterns, and comedically dated clothes. Though magic was supposed to be used sparingly on the platform, the shining glow of spells flashed frequently as parents lifted trunks, repaired hinges, and transfigured handkerchiefs. I was certain that my face would soon be sore if I maintained the broad grin that was currently stretched across my cheeks.
My attention was diverted away from people watching when I noticed a path quickly being cleared in the crowd-a sure sign that a member of my family or one of our close friends was approaching. Sure enough, I could see my mother, aunt, and uncle cutting through the throng of people around us. Their expressions were curiously grave-out of place on the cheerful platform and a far cry from the happy countenance that my mother had been sporting only moments ago. Dad released Ted, looking as though he wanted to ask what was wrong, but mum shook her head at him.
Lily frowned at our parents, opening her mouth to question them. Uncle Ron promptly scooped her up into a hug and spun her around until she was squealing with laughter. I gave James a pointed look, and he nodded. They were definitely trying to distract us from something.
My other pairs of aunts and uncles arrived at the same time that a flood of reporters did, their cameras flashing as they all attempted to shout over one another. It was a big year for them, as five of us (Fred, Roxanne, James, Lucy, and I) were starting Hogwarts this year-the highest number of us that would ever be in the same year. They had been dogging our every move for months, trying to find out any information they could on what houses we thought we would be in. The entire family determinedly ignored the press as we shifted closer to a door on the train, beginning our goodbyes as the whistle sounded.
I held out my arms as my two younger siblings raced towards me, the combined force of their hug knocking the wind out of me. "I'll miss you both," I told them, to which both squeezed me more tightly, as though they could keep me from leaving with their grip alone.
"Don't go!" Lily wailed, tears streaming down her face. She then quickly changed her tune, her sobs increasing in volume as she cried, "I want to go too!"
There was an increase in the number of cameras that were pointing in our direction at her words, and I knew that her tear-streaked face would head the papers tomorrow if I didn't do something quickly. Teddy, seeing the pleading look that I sent him, moved over to scoop Lily up and shield her from the press.
"Will you write me when you have the time?" Albus asked, and I could tell that he was trying to look nonchalant, though the way his glasses were fogging told me that he was anything but. "I know you'll be busy, but just a few letters would be cool."
"I'll write you so much that you'll be sick of my handwriting," I promised him, carefully smoothing his hair down a bit. He beamed at me, and I felt the corners of my own lips quirking upwards at the sight of his smile. "Just know that you don't have to wait for me to write first, okay? If you want to tell me something or if you just want to write, you can always write to me."
Albus threw his arms around my waist, once again squeezing the air out of me. "I'm going to miss you, Phoenix. This will be so weird."
"I know," I told him earnestly. "I'm going to miss you, too. I hope that this year goes by quickly."
"Oi!" James butted in before Al could respond. "Any chance of me telling Al bye, or does he only care that you're going to be leaving, Phoe?"
I rolled my eyes, giving Al one more hug before shoving him gently towards our brother. My mother caught me as I turned around, pulling me in for a tight hug.
"Be good, baby," She told me affectionately, smoothing her hands over my hair.
I grinned at her, hardly able to contain my excitement. "I will, mum! I'm going to miss you and dad."
"We're going to miss you, too. Now, more than half of our kids are going to be out of the house," Her brown eyes grew misty for a moment before she laughed, frantically fanning her face with her hands. "Oh Merlin, I am not going to cry."
I laughed as well, tugging on one of the random braids that she had tied in her waist-length hair. "You're allowed to have feelings!" I told her, mimicking the scolding tone that she took on whenever one of us were embarrassed to be seen crying. Of all of the Potter kids, Lily was the only one who could shamelessly cry in front of other people.
"Shut it you!" Mum chuckled, hugging me again before playfully shoving me towards Aunt Hermione.
Family members bustled around, kissing and hugging any child that they could get their hands on, including a few who weren't actually leaving for Hogwarts. After hugs and kisses were doled out, we were all shoved onto the train. The younger kids who tried to sneak onto the train were then caught and removed. Those of us who were old enough to attend Hogwarts then smashed into one compartment, climbing over its sole occupant with muttered apologies, to wave goodbye to our parents.
We waved until we could no longer see them and then, one by one, my family members wandered out to find their friends. Finally, all that remained in the compartment alongside me were James, Fred, Roxy, Lucy, and the compartment's original, glaring, occupant.
We all stared at the angry looking boy. He looked to be about our age; I guessed that he was a second year, as he wore Gryffindor robes. The brown-haired boy scowled at us with such ferocity that it caused a hot blush to rise on my cheeks.
"Erm…hi?" Fred said nervously. I envied the way that his dark skin hid any blush that he may have borne, well aware that my own cheeks must have been ridiculously flushed. He ran a hand through his curly hair as he and James exchanged awkward glances.
"Do you lot even realize-" the boy started angrily, a fairly thick Scottish prominent in his words, but I cut him off as I got a good look at the book hanging lazily from his hand.
"Holy cricket. Is that a signed copy of Oliver Wood's Quidditch Tips? Can I please see it? My dad's always going on about how he knew him in school, but we've only met him a few times, and I'm a huge fan and-"
This time I was the one being cut off as the boy sighed and shoved the book at me. "Here, you can keep it. I'll just get dad to send me another one. Merlin, I can't go anywhere without bumping into one of his fans. Now would you mind getting out?"
I stared at him blankly. His words, combined with the accent that he spoke with, suddenly made me realize who he was. I tried not to fall over with shock and excitement as I leaned closer to him.
"Oh Merlin," I heard Fred say. He plopped down into the seat across from Wood with an arm each around Roxy and Lucy's shoulders, causing both girls to let out squeaks of protest as his weight forced them into the seats beside him.
"You lot might want to get comfortable," James quipped, leaning up against the doorframe with a smirk.
I was too preoccupied to respond to their jibes.
"You're Oliver Wood's son? The Oliver Wood? And your mum is Alicia Wood. Oh Merlin…"
Wood sighed, leaning back in his seat with his arms folded and looking irritable. "That would be me."
"Jeez Phoenix, you sound like old people when they meet mum or dad!" James exclaimed, speaking over Wood in his effort to tease me.
Wood paused. We all watched as he slowly looked me up and down, mouthing my name. His eyes lingered on mine for a moment before he looked at my brother and our cousins. Finally, his gaze turned towards the door to the compartment, presumably recalling our various other family members. When he looked back at me again, his eyes were wide and his jaw was agape.
"Like a switch that's been flipped," I heard Fred mutter before he and James snickered. I then heard two twin slaps as Roxy and Lucy smacked them upside the head.
In front of me, Wood was finally regaining the use of his tongue.
"You're Harry and Ginny Potter's daughter?" He spluttered.
I nodded. "Phoenix Potter," I told him, holding out a hand for him to shake.
"Jay Wood," He returned, clasping my hand in his surprisingly warm grip. "Merlin. My parents talk all the time about how they knew your parents as well. Wait...I read in the Prophet that you beat your mum in one-on-one Quidditch once. Is that true?"
"Well, it was only a backyard game," I drawled, trying-and failing-to be modest as an uncontrollable grin spread across my face. "It's still the proudest moment of my life, though!"
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it when I read the article!"
"Yeah, everyone was pretty proud-especially mum," I laughed. I eagerly leaned even further forward, resting my elbows on my knees. I was delighted by both the conversation and a potential friend whom I wasn't related to. Wood mimicked my stance as he grinned at me.
"Your mum's a legend though-"
"So are your parents! Merlin, I went to one of their games last year-"
"The one against the Chudley Cannons? Yeah, that was brilliant, the Cannons didn't score a goal the whole game!"
"I know, my Uncle Ron was so disappointed! Your mum scored nearly every goal that her team made though!"
"She's really good. If I could be even half the player that she is, I'd be set."
"Luckily for you, you've got two fantastic Quidditch players for parents, so genetics are probably on your side. Your dad's stats are unbelievable! It's no wonder he was named the youngest Captain in the history of professional Quidditch!"
My brother's voice suddenly interrupted our conversation. "Alright, we get it, you're both Quidditch nuts. Now if you don't mind, Phoenix, we probably ought to go find our own section of the train. I believe Wood's friends are waiting to take our seats."
I glanced up, confused, before immediately feeling my face turn crimson. Two boys, one tall and lanky and the other a bit stocky, and a girl with jet black hair were standing before me, grinning. The door to the compartment was wide open behind them, though I hadn't heard them come in.
"Sorry," I mumbled, letting Roxy take me by the hand and drag me from the little room.
Behind us, the two boys began to chuckle, but the girl was quick to punch both of them in the arm and hiss "enough". The last thing I saw before we were too far down the corridor was Wood's grin and the girl giving me a tiny wink.
I turned around, facing my family.
"Shut it," I muttered, seeing the smirks on all four of their faces.
"We didn't say a word, Phoenix," James said, his voice teasing. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and ruffled my hair as we began moving down the corridor.
I let my gaze fall to the floor, keeping quiet as we found a compartment of our own.
Under the watchful eyes of my cousins and brother, I carefully tucked away the Quidditch book, pulling out a book on the different theories for the origin of magic instead. I sat in the corner of the compartment, pulling my knees to my chest and ducking my head so that my hair fell around my face like a thick red curtain, shielding me from view. I had to contain a tiny sigh of relief as the other members of the compartment took the hint and began a conversation.
After a moment, James looked across the compartment to me. "Nervous about the sorting?"
I grinned at him, holding my place in my book as I leaned forward slightly. "A bit."
"Anyone planning on breaking the pact?" Fred asked very casually, placing his arms behind his head and leaning back to survey the compartment. His expression was challenging, but the genuine curiosity in his eyes made me wonder if he had voiced the question due to his own interest in breaking the pact.
Lucy shook her head at once, rushing to assure us. "I'm not."
"I'm not either," Roxy said.
"No," James and I replied at the same time.
"I think it might be interesting had we all decided to be sorted into different houses, so that we could get into the other Common Rooms, but I don't like lying. We all swore to stick with the family pact, so I'm going to stick to my word," I added.
Fred gave me a crooked grin. "I like the way you think," He told me with a wink.
"You're not going to try and get sorted into another house, are you?" Roxanne asked her twin a touch nervously.
"And leave you?" Fred asked, clasping a hand over his heart as though she had wounded him. "Never."
Roxy rolled her eyes as he ruffled her hair, but I didn't miss the way that her shoulders sagged with relief. I understood why, too. Though the idea of not constantly being around my own twin was appealing at times, I knew that I would be miserable to be separated from him in such a drastic way.
"Are you sure that you don't want to break tradition, Rox?" James asked, his tone teasing. "I think you'd make an excellent Hufflepuff."
Roxy leaned across the compartment to smack his leg. "I would make an excellent Hufflepuff, I'll have you know. I know that that was a quip about me not being nice, but Hufflepuffs don't have to be nice, just loyal and hardworking. I'm both of those things, thank you very much. But no, I will not be breaking tradition."
I turned back to my book as they began bickering playfully.
Once they were consumed in their conversation, I lowered my book a bit to glance out the window. The rich, green, rolling hills of the countryside were rushing past the scarlet train. We were already out of the city, with only the occasional house dotting the landscape. The sky was clear and blue, as though Mother Nature, too, was celebrating the day that I had been eagerly anticipating for as long as I could remember. I felt a thrill go through me, and I pulled my knees more tightly to my chest as a gleeful smile overtook my face.
I was finally going to Hogwarts.
A few hours later, we were pulling into the station at Hogsmeade. James and Fred were practically vibrating with excitement as they gathered up our things, while Rox, Lucy, and I were pressed up against the window, trying to see into the darkness.
A knock on the door of our compartment made us all jump, and we whirled around to find Teddy, Victoire, and Levi standing outside.
"We figured we'd walk you lot over to Hagrid; make sure you don't get turned around in the crowd," Ted explained as Fred opened the door. "You can leave the trunks, by the way. Someone will come and get them for you. They'll be delivered to your rooms after the sorting."
We all exchanged excited grins at his words.
"Ready, Phoe?" Levi asked me, slinging an arm around my shoulders. I grinned up at the blonde, nodding eagerly. He gave me a wide smile in response, and we began shuffling along with the crowd.
We followed Teddy and Vic off of the train, glancing around until we heard a loud voice yelling, "Firs' years!"
At the sound, Roxy moved to grip my hand in her own, and Levi moved his arm away from my shoulders with a chuckle as Lucy quickly grabbed at my other hand.
"Well, this is where we leave you! See you after the feast," Vic called, the French accent that she had picked up from her mother causing her voice to stand out among the noise of the crowd as she, Teddy, and Levi walked away.
"Alrigh' there Weasleys, Potters? Forgo' how many of you there would be this year! Alrigh' now, four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted. He then pretended not to notice as all five of us squished into one vessel.
At his command, the boats lurched forward. The sound that the water made as it lapped at the sides of the boat made me ill, but I forced myself to ignore it. Roxy squeezed my hand with a squeal as I leaned forward, my eyes wide as I tried to take in everything at once.
We were gliding across the water, craning our necks desperately as gasps began emitting from the boats in front of us. Without truly thinking about the action, I freed my hand from Lucy's grasp to let my fingertips skim across the surface of the lake. The inky water was even colder than the air around us, but I had needed to reassure myself that it was real. I had dreamt of this day for so long. Upon realizing that I had, in fact, just trailed my hand through the lake, I quickly tucked it into my cloak and fought off a shudder.
Thoughts of my damp fingers left my head completely as the trees that had been lining the edges of the lake ended abruptly, leaving us gazing wide-eyed at the Hogwarts castle.
Our parents had told us that they had rebuilt the castle after the Final Battle, but after all of the war stories we had been told, I had somehow still expected to be able to see the damage done to the school. It seemed almost impossible that a place that had seen so much grief and death could once again look like the magical place that my father had spoken of falling in love with as a child.
And yet, the castle was in perfect condition. The magnificent building looked exactly as my parents had described it from their school years. The towers were taller than I had ever imagined. I squinted at them, imagining that I could pick out Gryffindor tower from the bunch. Thousands of candle-lit windows made the building look as though it were glittering. With the reflection of the castle lighting up the water, we were drifting through the stars. I could feel excitement coursing through me as I took my father's favorite place in the world, already falling deeply in love with the place myself.
"It's so beautiful!" Roxy gasped, leaning closer and causing the boat to rock dangerously. Fred quickly grabbed the back of my cloak in response to the movement, tugging me away from the water. Fear shot through me as we swayed, and I threw my arm out, fingertips still a bit damp, to keep Lucy from spilling over the side of the boat. Her fingers curled around my wrist and elbow in response, and I knew that my arm was probably lost to me for the time being.
"It really is beautiful," Fred whispered reverently over my shoulder, his hand still holding onto a chunk of my robes and hair. He was clearly unbothered by the boat's sudden movements, so I struggled to push the ordeal from my head in order to enjoy the moment as well.
I kept my eyes trained on the castle until I heard Hagrid shout, "Duck!"
We were plunged into darkness as we entered a small tunnel. For a few moments I blinked at the gloom around us, eyes straining uselessly against the sudden absence of light, before the rowboats left the channel and started to dock on the shore of the lake.
"Hang on," James instructed us as he carefully climbed out of the rowboat. Roxy helped him out as best she could, keeping her hands on his back as he stepped unsteadily over the side of the boat. Once he was out, he held a hand out for Roxy to take.
After we had exited the boats, much to my relief, we began the long walk towards the castle. The path was slippery and steep, and we were once again clutching at each other for balance as we made our way towards the building. As we found our way onto the grounds, the terrain smoothing out a bit, I turned my head, searching the edge of the forest until I found Hagrid's Hut. I took note of its location, knowing that I would be going to visit him soon.
The castle doors were open when we finally reached them, a small figure framed in the light pouring out of the entrance and into the gloom. I grinned at James, knowing that he too recognized the tiny professor.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor Flitwick, the Deputy Headmaster of the school. In a moment, we will walk to the entrance of the Great Hall, where I will leave you for a minute while I prepare the Sorting Ceremony. When that is finished, I will return, and we will begin the Ceremony. Hagrid, thank you for bringing in the first years. Please feel free to take your seat in the Great Hall," Professor Flitwick said, giving Hagrid a moment to enter before turning and leading us inside.
There were gasps as we entered the famed building. I felt my head snapping about, briefly wondering if I would give myself whiplash as I attempted to take in the majesty of the hall. It was far more beautiful than I had ever imagined, and I had spent a lot of time thinking about the place. Most of the students were fixated on the beauty, eagerly discussing the large chandelier, the paintings, and the other decorations with their neighbors, but I quickly found my gaze frozen on the great staircase to our left.
A plaque on the wall next to it read:
In loving memory of those who fell on and around this staircase, these steps have been dedicated to those lost in the Battle of Hogwarts. As you walk up each step, remember those who made it possible for you to do so.
We entered a small room, where Professor Flitwick told us to tidy ourselves as best we could. Though everyone else instantly began discussing the Sorting Ceremony, the five of us were far more concerned with what we had just seen.
"Did you see the staircase?" James asked immediately, stepping up to stand at my side. His hand came up to rest on my shoulder.
"Yeah. I think it's a good thought, but Merlin knows I'll be using it as little as possible," Lucy whispered, running her hands over her arms as though fighting a chill. "It feels…I'm not sure why, but it feels like it has its own sort of soul, you know?"
Roxy made a tiny noise of agreement. "Did you see the names engraved on the steps? I'll bet Uncle Fred's name is there somewhere."
We all nodded. What Lucy had said was true; as my gaze fell on the staircase, there had been an odd sort of energy present that had seized me. Grandma Molly had always told us that, even if someone did not leave behind a ghost, they would leave a magical residue. It was the reason that she set Uncle Fred's last Weasley sweater out by the fire each year at Christmas time.
There was a brief lull in the conversation as we all pondered the staircase, before James changed the subject.
"Guys, is my hair lying flat?" He asked, nervously smoothing his hands over the jet-black hair that he had inherited from our father.
Turning to face him, I stood on my toes, carefully pressing a particularly unruly tuft down. He had, fortunately for him, not inherited the mess of hair that our father and younger brother sported, but his hair often didn't quite cooperate in the way that he wanted it to, either. He pulled a few of my curls apart as I fussed with his appearance. I smiled nervously at him as I straightened his tie, to which he responded by tugging lightly on the ends of one of my curls.
"Nervous?" He asked very softly. His hands had started rapidly braiding a small section of my hair, the tiny braid just like the ones our mother always sported.
"Just a bit," I replied, smiling at him as he finished the braid off. It was certainly meant to make me feel more confident, as our mother inspired confidence in the both of us regularly, and her braids were a part of her signature. "You?"
"A bit," My twin echoed. James gave me a brilliant smile, which I mimicked unthinkingly. He glanced to the side as Fred elbowed him lightly.
James took a small step back as we both realized that people were staring at us, his expression smooth but his blue eyes glittering with the same nerves that I felt. Roxy grabbed my hand, gesturing slightly to her hair. I nodded, indicating that her curls were neat. She had far tighter curls than I, and I knew that she stressed about her hair becoming frizzy or flat.
I glanced around as casually as possible and found that everyone in our general proximity was openly gaping at us. An exasperated glance at the others told me that they had noticed as well, and we all stepped closer together, trying to look calm as we ignored the eyes of our peers. We remained quiet until Professor Flitwick returned and led us into the Great Hall.
I couldn't help but drop my collected façade at the sight of the hall. I found myself glancing repeatedly between the bewitched ceiling, the ornate decorations, and the five long tables. Lucy held onto the back of my robes as we walked, and a look backwards told me that she was doing so in order to keep from running me over as she tipped her head back and stared upwards. I spotted Molly and Dom waving at us, and nervously waved back before letting my gaze fall on the hat sitting on a stool just in front of the professors' table.
The hall fell silent as the hat opened its mouth and began to sing.
Welcome one and welcome all,
To our glorious, gilded Great Hall,
You all know just why you're here,
For now's the sorting time of year,
So sit and do not woe or fret,
For I have not messed up yet,
Whether I place you in bold Gryffindor,
Where adventure surely lies in store,
Or in with loyal Hufflepuff,
Where you won't have to fear for lie or bluff,
Or in with ambitious Slytherin,
Where accomplishment is sure to begin,
Or with our clever Ravenclaws,
Where knowledge and skill are their only laws,
Remember, I know your mind and heart,
And difference in thought should not mean you're apart.
Polite applause echoed across the hall, but people were also beginning to buzz with anticipation. I gave Roxy's hand, still clenched tightly in my own, a squeeze. She returned the gesture immediately. Professor Flitwick stepped up next to the stool and unraveled a scroll.
"Arnen, Jason," He called, and the sorting began. I could feel nerves growing in my stomach as he called name after name.
After what seemed like ages, the tiny professor yelled, "Potter, James."
The entire hall instantly erupted into whispers as my brother straightened up. Fred subtly patted him on the back as he stepped out of line. He appeared calm and collected, but I could tell by the way that he was clenching and unclenching his hands that he was anything but.
The hat sat on his head for about 5 seconds before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!"
I could hear my cousins and Teddy cheering loudly for him as he walked towards the ecstatic table. He gave me a huge grin just as Professor Flitwick called the next name.
"Potter, Phoenix."
I tried to keep my best "press face" on as the whispers spread again, but I was practically vibrating with nerves. Roxy squeezed my hand tightly before letting me go.
As I moved towards the stool, I could feel myself lilting too high onto the tips of my toes in my anxiousness. I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk normally. With a small smile at Professor Flitwick, I sat on the stool and the hat was slipped over my head, blocking out my view of the hall and causing a sudden quiet to fall over my ears.
My, my, look what we have here. You, like your father, would make quite the Slytherin. You have a thirst for knowledge, however, that tells me that you would also thrive in Ravenclaw. Still, such loyalty, kindness, and diligence is rare. Hufflepuff would be all the better to have you amongst their ranks. Lastly, your bravery and nerve is utterly befitting of someone who belongs to Gryffindor. Luckily for me, the difference in how you value these things is quite clear-after all, I'm inside your head.
'So, it is what we value that matters?' I thought at the hat, unwilling to let the chance to question the mysterious object pass me by. People had always debated how it decided, but there was very little actually written about the Sorting Hat beyond tales of its creation and role at Hogwarts.
The hat chuckled. Such curiosity. Indeed, I care more for your values than how you exhibit such traits. It leaves room for growth, you see, and I like to ensure that all students who pass through our halls are given the chance to grow in whatever direction they choose. You value and strive to be loyal, kind, and diligent because of the people that you have grown up with, but I do not think that you value Hufflepuff traits most of all. Your thirst for knowledge is entirely your own. You would make a fine Ravenclaw, but I do not think it is where you truly belong. Ambition, however, is undeniably a core value. As is the ability to be sly and cunning. Unlike Hufflepuff's favored traits, you learned to value slyness and ambition on your own. You would be quite at home in Slytherin.
'Please put me in Gryffindor', I thought a touch desperately, my desire to sit and question the hat lost to my unwillingness to accidentally break the family pact and wind up in another house.
Yes, I suppose that would be best. Though I am tempted to place you in Slytherin simply to watch you grow into your own, it is courage that you value most of all. You, dear child, had better be…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I walked away with a broad smile on my face, dropping into a seat next to James.
"Took you long enough," He muttered in my ear. "Thought you were going to be a hatstall, honestly."
"Yeah, sorry about that. The hat was just telling me how daft my twin brother is," I whispered back. He nudged my shoulder, glaring at me playfully before we turned back towards the sorting. Teddy reached across the table to squeeze my shoulder, and I gave him a grin.
There was no way that I was going to tell James what the hat had said to me. It was none of his business, after all.
We watched as several more children were sorted, until finally Professor Flitwick called, "Weasley, Frederick."
The same whispers that had started when James and I were sorted continued through all three of our cousins' sortings. Our table hardly stopped cheering as Roxanne, Lucy, and Fred all joined us in Gryffindor. Roxy was ecstatic, bounding over and flinging herself at Dom for a fierce hug before dropping into the seat beside me.
Professor McGonagall gave a short speech, went over a list of banned items (which included nearly all of our Uncle George's products), and then the feast began. We dug in gratefully when the food finally appeared before us. I hadn't been able to eat a bite all day due to nerves, and I was absolutely ravenous now that I had arrived and been sorted.
As I ate, I couldn't help but think to myself that my parents had been telling the truth: Grandma Molly's food was great, but Hogwarts's food was legendary.
We ate our fill, talking and joking with the other first year Gryffindors while we did so. Roxy and Lucy had struck up a conversation with another girl our age, Lana Phyllis. Fred and James, meanwhile, had begun talking about Quidditch with three of the other boys in our year. I talked with Phyllis for a while before I eagerly joined the boys' conversation. We merrily made our way through dinner.
Finally, when I felt that I could eat no more, the food disappeared, and everyone began to stand.
"First years, follow me to the Gryffindor Common room!" Teddy, who was a Prefect, called.
We exchanged excited glances, before rushing to follow him from the hall.
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