1 Bolus de Destinium

Chapter 2 – The Sorting

Well they made it to Hogwarts in one piece, though it was pretty close that thanks to James and company the might loose another driver. The lot of them, set off a series of dung bombs all through the Slytherin cars, unfortunately for Solstice she was in one of those cars when the bombs went off. Sending the young witch almost into a fit of rage to go knock some sense into the small sized brain that her brother and friends have. "It's not worth loosing House Points over," a fifth year Slytherin told her. "Leave the little freaks alone, the Professors will take care of it." Though that little pet talk didn't rival Solstice's notorious anger, after all she had a reputation for inheriting her father's werewolf temper. The mood for the first year girl was pretty sullen, even when James' boat flipped in the middle of the lake there wasn't much of a laugh there.

Solstice remembered watching as the five jokers, James, Adonis, Jessie, Cynthia and Christopher Weasely climbed back into their boat. Adonis looked around at the faces and noticing not one snicker. "Bloody hard crowd to please aren't ya," he muttered getting a small snicker from Jessie as she wrung her hair out.

"Hope yer al'ight," Hagrid called out.

"Yeah Hagrid we're fine!" James called back as their boat continued on their way.

From their boat, Thyra rolled her eyes at her stepbrother and friends, looking back to Solstice. "This is going to be a long seven years," she stated.

Sighing, the young girl continued to watch her twin. "I believe you're right," she said.

"Bloody idiots," Damien sneered. "Have no brains do they?" he asked.

"No, I am starting to think they there is nothing in their heads that can ever equal a brain," Thyra replied, working a small laugh from Damien. "At least once we get to the castle and sorted we won't have to face these 'children' anymore."

"Unless, one of us get sorted into the same house as they're in," Sol pointed out.

"Well it won't happen to us. Remember Thyra and I are both from Slytherin descendants…" Damien said.

"But I'm not! For all we know I'm stuck with them for seven long and deadly years. By the end of school I might of killed them all," Solstice interrupted.

Sighing a bit Thyra leaned back against the boat ledge. "Now that Sol would be such a nice thing to look forward to for when we graduate."

Laughing Damien shook his head and looked at Solstice. "Relax, that old hat will see that you are defiantly not Gryffindor material. Ravenclaw yes, Slytherin yes, Gryffindor," the young Malfoy shook his head. "You're not that good Solstice, you're not a Harry Potter wannabe like the likes of your brother and company. There is something else in you that isn't all good like," he said.

"Oh, like what smart one?" Thyra asked sarcastically.

"I don't know, Sol just seems kind of dark. Like an evil kind of dark, not the depression caused one."

Shrugging a bit Solstice moved and stepped off the boat waiting for her friends to follow her. "I honestly don't care where I end up, just not with James and Adonis," she said and continued on up the stairs to the Great Hall.

Like every year Professor McGognal was standing at the top of the stairs waiting for the first years to arrive. "As you all know," she started, "there was pranks pulled while on the train this morning. When these pranksters have been sorted there new houses will loose 5 points for each one of them so if two are you are sorted into Hufflepuff they will loose 10 points. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Professor," came the echoing responses of James, Adonis and friends.

"Good," she stated. "Now follow me the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." With that the Transfiguration Professor led the first years into the Great Hall, already so many students were enchanted by the floating candles and of course the ceiling. Though Solstice wasn't amazed that much, Damien's room has the same charm on the ceiling and walls.

Like every year, in the front of the hall by the teacher's table was the old wooden stool with the same old tattered hat on top of that. The Sorting Hat. Though like every year it burst into song.

"As the centuries gone by,

And as new generations have arrived.

It's been up to I,

To put you young ones,

Where you belong!

Maybe I'll put you in Gryffindor,

Where the brave and golden hearts arise.

Or maybe with Salzar's Slytherins,

Where you might be your demise.

1.1 Perhaps Hufflepuff is where

Your gentleness and hard work ready to show.

Now what about Ravenclaw,

With your wits blaring to go.

The Founders left me when they died,

You see only I know,

I get to decide

Where you should be."

The hall burst into a round of applause, as Professor McGognal looked at the first years. "When I call out your names you will come forward and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted," McGognal said. Opening the scroll in front of her, she called out the first name, "Avery, Samantha!" A girl ran up to the stool and sat down, as the hat touched her head it seem to burst to life.

"Ah, yes, yes. Another year another sorting…" Samantha paled a bit but still put forward a brave face. "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat called out. With a proud smile the girl ran down from the stool to the yellow banner table.

"Bassion, Louie!"

"RAVENCLAW"

One by one the students were called out, slowly the lines around them starting to thin out. Solstice was slowly beginning to feel nervous, where was that hat going to put her.

"Malfoy, Damien!"

With a shove from Thyra and Solstice the young Draco mirrored image stepped over to the sorting hat. The Hat took only a few seconds before calling out, honestly even before he touched Damien's head. "SLYTHERIN!" With an excited cheer the Malfoy shot his two best friends a smile and made his way to Slytherin table.

"Potter, Adonis!"

The young prankster paled but took a deep breath before leaving his circle of friends and putting the old cap on. Almost immediately came his response.

"GRYFFINDOR!" At this point stole a look at her father, watching as he clapped with so much pride showing as Harry's son ran to the Gryffindor table. Grimacing a bit she looked at Thyra.

"I don't want to go there," she whispered.

Nodding a bit Thyra squeezed her hand tightly. "It'll be alright, Sol. Remember Damien and I won't abandon you," she whispered back. Taking a deep breath the young girl continued to watch the Sorting Ceremony.

"Black, James!" McGognal called out. Stiffening a bit Solstice watched as James made his way across the short span between himself and the hat.

James smiled and sat on the stool, knowing very well that his father was watching him closely, as was Solstice where she stood with Thyra. As McGognal placed the old tattered piece of material on his head.

"Ah, I've been waiting for another Black for a very long time. Now lets see what do we have here…ah, yes. Another prankster, good, good, someone has to keep the Marauder's pride going. Oh whats this…even better…but you're not her. I know the best place for a new Marauder in GRYFFINDOR" the hat said.

Leaping off the stool, James tossed his fist into the air being applauding by his friends, Remus of course, and his new housemates. Yet something the hat said stuck to his mind, 'but you're not her,' did the hat mean Solstice? Looking over his shoulder at his younger sister, standing close with her best friend. James shook his head, Solstice was Solstice nothing special.

Leaning closer to her Thyra asked a question, "I thought your last names were Lupin-Black?"

Shrugging a bit. "I thought they were, maybe they decided to name us differently at school. I honestly don't know," she replied.

"Snape, Thyra!" McGognal called out. Taking a deep breath Thyra gave Solstice a quick hug before walking over to the hat. Giving her father a look before she sat down and allowed McGognal to place the Sorting Hat on her head. The whole time her eyes wouldn't leave Solstice's, as the hat talked to the young Snape.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat belted out, and Thyra just slouched a bit in relief. Jumping up at the table Damien cheered as hard as he can, as his other friend made her way over to them.

"Starshine, Jessica!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Trump, Candance!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Weasley, Christopher!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Weasley, Cynthia!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

As the rest of the crowd started to dwindle down, Solstice was a little scared that they forgot about her or she was never in the book. Finally as she was the last one standing there.

"Lupin, Solstice!" McGognal called.

Stepping up to the stool, Solstice sat down knowing very well being the last one to be sorted everyone was watching her. As the head was placed on top of her head the young girl just allowed it to do its job.

"Ah, I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Since the 1910's I have been."

'I'm afraid I don't quite understand,' thought Solstice.

"Of course not child! Now where to put you, like so many students you can probably do well everywhere. But wait a second, ah yes, I see now. Yes, yes, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw won't do, just won't do in this case. That leaves Gryffindor and Slytherin, but whats this another clue! Ah, I see, see it so well now. I have the perfect place for you…SLYTHERIN!" The hat bellowed.

Solstice's eyes widen much in shock as the hat was removed by McGognal who looked just as shocked as she was. Of course in their greens and silvers started to cheer, as did Professor Snape. Solstice turned on the stool to face her father, but Professor Lupin was staring blankly at his plate. 'Probably wondering where he went wrong,' Solstice thought. Slowly slipping off the stool she made her way over to Damien and Thyra who seemed to be saving her seat.

"I knew it!" Damien crowed, hugging Solstice tightly. "We're meant to stick together, through thick and thin."

Where he was sitting James was staring in shock at where the stool was. "He put her in Slytherin?" he asked blankly.

"Aye," Chris replied, looking over at the Slytherins. "I think the bloody hat made a mistake," he grumbled.

Adonis shook his head slowly and looked at his other friends. "No, the hat never makes a mistake which means there is something dark in Solstice…"

"All Solstice does is read books!" James snapped.

"Well either way, the hat knows something that we don't," Cynthia said.

Later after the feast, Remus made his way over to his daughter at the Slytherin table. "Solstice?" he asked softly.

"Yes D…Professor?" she replied.

Smiling a bit, Remus stroked his daughter's hair from her face softly. "Are you alright with this?" he questioned. "Being a Slytherin?"

Nodding her head a bit, getting her hair in her eyes again. "Yes Daddy, I'm alright with it. I have Damien and Thyra with me," she answered. Smiling a bit Remus bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I'll see you tomorrow than," he whispered, "Sweet dreams Sunshine." With that he headed away from the Slytherin table to the one that his son was sitting at.

"Slytherin first years, follow me!" the Prefect ordered as he left the table. Pulling Solstice up with them, the three pre-teens headed off towards their common room. To start the journey of being who they were meant to be.