Chapter Three
A Princess at Hogwarts
As the day progressed, Angel became more talkative and laid-back around her new friends. She and Hermione's cat, Crookshanks became friends, and Angel managed to teach him that Fleet Wing, Hedwig and Pig weren't food, and that mice, rats and small birds were. A they neared Hogwarts, she became very quiet again, and started replying to people with one syllable words. As the train began to slow and the students started getting changed into their black robes and pointed hats, she wandered off to the front of the train and didn't appear after that.
As everyone began to file off the Hogwarts Express, Harry saw his great friend, Rubeus Hagrid who taught Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid was one of Harry's best friends. Despite being half giant, Hagrid was extremely gentle and a lot of fun. Although he did have a strange obsession with large dangerous animals. Dragons mainly.
"Hi Hagrid!" Harry called over the crowd of students.
"All righ' Harry!" Hagrid called back he waved, and grinned. "All first years, over this way!" He yelled calling over the new students of Hogwarts. They followed him and Harry walked over to the Deputy Head, and head of Gryffindor house Professor McGonagall.
"All fifth years follow me!" Professor McGonagall called shrilly leading the way up some stone steps which went passed the lake which housed the Giant Squid, and up to the main bulk of the castle.
She led them in and into the Great Hall where all the other teachers and houses were already settled. But there was something strange about the atmosphere up at the head table. It seemed tense, as if they were worried about something. In the centre was Professor Dumbledore. An elderly wizard and by far one of Harry's favourites. To his left would be Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher. On Dumbledore's right was Harry's least favourite teacher, the Potions teacher, Professor Snape. Snape disliked Harry the same amount, despite the fact his father had once saved him. There were other teachers too, and a new teacher Harry didn't recognise. He nudged Ron in the rib and nodded in the new teachers direction.
"Must be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Ron said darkly looking over the new teacher. He was rather white faced with small beady black eyes that were darting around the hall. The teacher was wearing grey robes and gold rings on all of his fingers. Hagrid was sitting in his seat at the end of the table with his big old brown coat on. He was speaking to the new teacher and laughing a bit too.
Suddenly McGonagall entered leading a line of new students and carrying a battered old hat in her hands. A stool zapped into the centre of the Hall and she placed the hat on it. This hat was no ordinary hat, it was the Sorting Hat, the hat that decided which of the four houses you were in. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin (the house that produced the most dark wizards) and Gryffindor. She unrolled a scroll and began reading out names.
"Andrews, Levi." She called out first. A small boy with black hair went, sat on the stool and put the hat on.
"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat yelled. There was a great cheer from the Ravenclaw table as Levi walked over with a smug look on his face.
"Andrews, Belle." McGonagall called out. A girl, much the same as Levi walked towards the stool sat down and placed the hat on her head. There was a long silence.
"Hufflepuff!" The Sorting Hat. Belle breathed an obvious sigh of relief as she made her way over to the cheering Hufflepuff table. McGonagall continued to run through the new students, when the last boy, Zac Yellstone had been sorted into Gryffindor, she walked back up to her seat and left the stool and Sorting Hat in the middle of the room. Professor Dumbledore stood up and smiled warmly at the Hall of students who when quiet as he stood.
"Welcome back, to old students and welcome to new students. It's good to be back and I hope you are all ready for a busy year." Dumbledore began as a few groans went up from different tables. The loudest came from Fred and George. "I see our jester's have not retired from their tricks." Dumbledore smiled at them and went on with his introduction. "I have most news to tell you all, and it is of the utmost importance. We are very proud to have a member of royalty in our mists this year." He began. There were gasps and murmurs from students all around the room. Dumbledore chuckled as he shushed the Hall. "Yes, yes, it's all very exciting. Her Highness should be along in a few minutes, but before she arrives, I'd like to say that she is most timid and shy. She is not much older than most fifth years. Her coronation will be taking place at Hogwarts near the end of the academic year." Dumbledore said. The Great Hall doors opened suddenly and a great gasp went up from the students, but alas, it was only a barn owl who landed on Dumbledore's arm. Dumbledore stood up, as the owl departed to the owlery. "She comes." He said as the Hall doors opened fully.
Suddenly a huge procession entered the Hall containing Dragons blowing flames and flying around the room, Unicorns spraying silver dust everywhere and over everyone from their horns. Phoenixes were flying around the room singing their beautiful song and flapping small gold and red flames everywhere which went out as they hit the floor, table or a person. There were Veela dancing to the phoenix song and a huge amount of the male students were falling off their chairs, including Snape, which caused Ron to go into hysterics, not that anyone noticed. The procession suddenly stopped and everyone, teachers, student, Unicorns, Phoenixes, Dragons and Veela all looked at the open double doors as a huge black unicorn appeared being ridden by a hooded girl. The Unicorn neighed loudly and sprayed silver dust out of it's horn. The rider kicked it's sides and it began to canter down the hall, and to everyone's amazement, just as it was about the crash into the end table, two huge black wings spread out from it's body and it flew in the shape of the ceiling, upside down and landed, a little way in front of the stool which had the Sorting Hat on.
The whole Hall burst into a roar of yells, applause and whistles. The rider climbed off the unicorn and rubbed it's nose. It neighed to the rest of the unicorns all of which followed it out of the Hall on the grounds. The Phoenixes, Veela and Dragons followed them.
"Your Royal Highness! It's so good to see you again! It's amazing how much you've grown." Dumbledore smiled walking down from the top table to the hooded girl.
"Thank you Professor. It's good to be back." The hooded girl replied. "Hagrid, would you be so kind as to take my cloak?"
"Oh, yes yer 'ighness!" Hagrid smiled, obviously gobsmacked a member of royalty had even acknowledged he was in the room. He took her cloak off and revealed a sixteen year old girl with copper hair down to the middle of her back tied with a blue band at the end, she had soft brown eyes and was smiling slightly. She was wearing a white shirt with a red overall over the top, she had brown leather heeled boots on and orange/red gloves on (much like what Garnet wears in FFXI).
"It's Angel." Ron whispered to Harry who nodded just as Fred fell off his chair and hit the stone floor with a thump.
"Students, this is Princess Angel Bless, the next ruler of the Witch, Wizard and Sorcery World." Dumbledore said. Students began to whisper to each other and talk quietly. "Hush! Hush!" Dumbledore said firmly. The Hall went quiet again. "Your Highness?"
"Yes. Erm...I'm not to good at this. I will be here for the majority of the year and will be in normal fifth year classes. I'd like it if you all treated me as you would treat any other students." Angel turned to the top table. "That includes the teachers too." She looked back at the students. "Just so you know I did used to go to Hogwarts, and I know how everything works. I won't keep you any longer, enjoy your meal." Angel smiled and backed up towards the top table.
"Wait Your Highness. You must be sorted first. Please. Sit." Dumbledore said directing the way to the stool. Angel sat down and Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Gryffindor! Gryffindor! Gryffindor!" Fred, Harry, Hermione, Ron and George whispered at the same time watching intently. Harry could see Malfoy watching just as intently and mouthing 'Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin!' The silence was almost unbeaable, but finally the Sorting Hat spoke.
"Gryffindor!" It yelled. Angel's face flushed colour back into it as she smiled at Harry as Du,bledore removed the hat.
"YES!" Fred yelled jumping out of his seat. Everyone looked at him. Harry, George, Ron, Hermione and Ginny trying as hard as possible not to laugh.
"Mr. Weasley was there something you wished to say?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Ah...err....yeah...erm..." Fred stammered.
"Fred was just expressing his excilleration that a Princess would be in, by far one of the best houses. Weren't you Fred?" Angel smiled sweetly.
"Yeah. Would you like to sit over here, Your Highness." Fred asked bowing. Angel leaned on one hip and sighed. "Sorry. Angel."
"That's better. Thank you." Angel smiled walking over and sitting next to him.
"Welcome to Gryffindor." Fred said to her as food appeared on the table. "Why didn't you tell us?" He whispered.
"Didn't want to. It was the first time I actually had friends who liked me for who I was. Not for my power or status. You understand, don't you? You're not angry with me?" Angel said doubtfully.
"Nah. 'Course not. I'm just glad you're with us, and not in Slytherin." Fred smiled and put and arm around her shoulders.
"Thanks. I wouldn't be able to stand being in Slytherin with sleazer over there." Angel pointed to Malfoy and giggled.
"Yeah. He would've gotten annoying." Fred smiled and kissed her hair.
The feast was a lot of fun. Loads of good food. Loads of noise, loads of laughter and a lot of friend making for Angel. She was quite upset when she had to go to bed. But before she did, Fred said he'd show her the quickest route to Gryffindor tower. As he did they just talked about a lot of different things. Fred was most interested in the winged Unicorn, what Angel told him was actually called a Uniaus (Unicorn/Pegaus) called Sliver Mane. A good friend of hers. Whereas she was more interested on finding out about this joke shop idea of his, which he said started out as a really stupid idea, that he and George mainly did it to whined their mum up, but over the years, it'd actually taken flight and they found that they could really make funny tricks and amuse people, so they'd set their sights on making a joke shop.
When they got to Gryffindor tower, the Portrait of the Fat Lady who demanded the password.
"I'm not sure what it is, I wasn't listening proberly." Fred said guiltily.
"Don't worry about it. It's 'Animagmus'" Angel smiled as the portrait door swung open and they walked into the tower. The common room was completely deserted. They both sat down on soft chairs for a little bit and stared at the fire. Angel then looked at the old golden clock on the fire place mantle. 12:15 am. They'd been talking for quite a long time.
"I guess we better be going to bed." Angel said heaving her self up from the deeply soft and comfy chair she was sitting in.
"Yeah. See ya at breakfast." Fred smiled. Angel smiled back and turned to go up to the girls dorms, when Fred's voice stopped her. "Hey Angel." He said.
"Yeah?" Angel said turning round to be facing Fred. Despite being quite a bit taller than Angel, she still felt their lips brush against each other, and allowing their lips to melt into a kiss. Neither pulled apart until they heard a noise from the boys dorms and someone coming down stairs.
"See you in the morning." Frd grinned cheekily.
"Yeah." Angel smiled warmly and started climbing the steps to the girls dorms. When she got there, she shut the door behind her and leaned on it. She sighed deeply and replayed the moment when she and Fred had just kissed in her head, over and over until she was finally asleep.
Over in his dorm Fred could help the things he was thinking wizzing round his head. He was feeling overly proud of himself, as well as humilliated.
I just kissed a Princess. She must hate me now. He thought climbing into bed. I know, I'll apologise to her, tomorrow at breakfast. Say it was an accident and that I didn't mean for it to happen and that it'll never happen again. Yeah. That'll work. He smiled to himself as sleep slowly took over. That is, unles she'd like to say something first. He thought to himself and fell asleep finally.
