::sighs:: Finally, chapter five. I'm surprised you made it this far into
the story! Er . lesse now . standard disclaimers apply . bow to the
almighty cheese . Oliver Wood is hot . yeah, I think that's about it. Oh!
Nearly forgot, the Sorting Hat song is MINE! I created it, therefore you
cannot take it! (And by that I mean the lyrics, not the concept.)
Enjoy!
Chapter Five - The Sorting
It was finally September first. Despite the detention spent in the Dark Forest with Hagrid, Makoto held no ill feelings towards her brother.
After all, she reasoned, it was mostly my fault.
Harry had even persuaded her to explore the secret passages in the castle with the Marauders Map. Lupin didn't talk about James or Lily much after she'd run out on him, despite all the apologies she made, but his kind attitude towards her never wavered, as Snape's dislike for her remained constant. She eventually made it to a third year level in all her classes; even in Potions and Transfiguration, which were her worst subjects. From the stories told about Professor Trelawny by Harry, she was glad that she'd chosen Arithmancy over Divination, which she would start at the start of the term.
Makoto, Ami, and Rei stood with the other first years just outside the Great Hall, being lectured by McGonagall. The Transfiguration professor told them the four houses that they would be sorted into and about the House Cup and how they could gain points for their house, as well as lose them. She ended her speech with: "First years will wait here until we are ready for you. When I come back, you will walk through these doors and wait to be sorted into your houses."
She was met with nervous nods and mutters from the younger students. McGonagall nodded crisply and walked away. Now the first years, Rei and Ami included, began to talk nervously amongst themselves, each wondering which house they would be placed in. All noise abruptly stopped when McGonagall came back, a thick scroll in her hands.
"Follow me, please," she said.
The students obeyed, and the Doors opened by themselves, allowing the large group to enter the Great Hall, which was lit by thousands of floating candles. The first years, minus Rei, Ami and Makoto, all looked up at the ceiling in awe, which displayed the stormy night sky, pointing and whispering. Some eagerly listened to others explaining how the ceiling was bewitched, others were too nervous to care. On the raised platform sat the Head Table, where Dumbledore and the other professors sat. McGonagall stepped onto the platform and motioned for the students to stop, which they did. Dumbledore stood and smiled kindly down at the first years, before addressing the Hall.
"Before we start the Sorting Ceremony, I have a few words: Twitting! Gobbledygook! Coville! Thank you."
Some of the students laughed, some rolled their eyes in good humor, and some, like Draco Malfoy, sneered into their goblets. Then attention was again focused on the first years. An old hat that was very much patched sat on a stool. The first years stared at it, not noticing how the hall had suddenly gone very quiet. A wide hole near the brim suddenly became very apparent as the hat suddenly burst into song.
Welcome Hogwarts students,
I'm ready for you all,
Just come on up and try me on,
I'll tell you where you'll fall.
It may be you're in Gryffindor,
If you can play the part.
Just remember Gryffindors,
Are always true to heart!
Perhaps it is in Hufflepuff;
Where you'll feel at home,
If you are made of loyal stuff,
And can work to the bone.
Then there's the house,
Where logic is the key.
If you've a mind of comprehension,
In Ravenclaw you'll be!
Of course there's always Slytherin,
Where dwells the clever rogue;
If you've a mind of great craft,
You'll fit right in their fold!
So come on up! Sit right down,
I know you're not that shy,
There's lots of room to go around,
To start off this new year!
Every student, and even some of the teachers, in the Hall burst into loud applause, as they did every year. Some of the first years visibly relaxed and the others, though still nervous, began talking excitedly. They were soon silenced by Dumbledore holding up a hand, however, so the actual Sorting could begin.
"Now, when I call your name," Professor McGonagall started, "You will sit on this stool, and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head."
Makoto snuck and quick glance at Ami and Rei, then at Harry, who smiled encouragingly back at her. She offered him a nervous half grin in return to which Harry replied with a wink, leaving Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, whom Harry had pointed out to her, very confused.
"Apostle, Rohnda!"
A girl who looked to be younger than eleven stepped up and allowed McGonagall to place the hat on her head.
"RAVENCLAW!" proclaimed the Hat, and she shuffled off.
Jacob Brhamson went to "SLYTHERIN!", Silver Digne was set off to "RAVENCLAW!", and James Freud was sent to "GRYFFINDOR!".
"Gram, Isaac," McGonagall called.
A nervous looking boy stepped forward and settled himself on the stool.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat declared, and the Hufflepuff table went wild.
"Grint, Rupert."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Hino, Rei."
"Your turn, Rei-chan," Makoto whispered, grinning encouragingly.
Nervous though excited, Rei was nudged forward by Makoto and Ami. She took a deep breath and sat on the stool, watching the hat descend on her head.
"Hino ... now there's a name I've not heard in a long time. Intelligence, cleverness, a desire for knowledge ... Yes, all signs point to RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table cheered and whistled as Rei took her place among them. The sorting continued with Agatha Keys being placed in "HUFFLEPUFF!" and the twins Sally and Troy Martin being placed in "SLYTHERIN!".
"Mizuno, Ami."
With a reassuring squeeze, Makoto pushed her shy friend towards the stool. The blue haired girl gulped down air to calm herself and sat on the stool.
"Aaah, Mizuno ... yes, I remember your father. Hmm ... a desire to know more about him, eh? Talent, yes, and cleverness. But I see a loving girl, that rules out Slytherin ... A good mind ... Right, better put you in RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table went politely wild as they welcomed their new student, who immediately took her seat next to Rei. Mitchell Nelson went to "HUFFLEPUFF!", then came Janis Port who was put into "SLYTHERIN!", Access Silverlake who was placed in "HUFFLEPUFF!" and Hotaru Tomoe, who went to "GRYFFINDOR!". Makoto was stunned, hearing Brian White get put into "RAVENCLAW!". They had skipped her. Finally, she was the last student standing.
"Potter, Jillian," McGonagall said clearly.
The room went deadly silent, except for a few excited whispers from the students, which included Ron and Hermione trying to drill answers out of Harry, which he, apparently, didn't answer. Makoto couldn't hear what they were saying, and wasn't sure that she wanted to. Taking a deep breath, she sat on the stool.
"Another Potter, eh? Late, aren't you? Well no matter. Let's see now ... bravery I can see here, courage, and talent aplenty yes. Not a bad mind, either, very crafty you can be indeed. ... A desire to prove yourself to others ... like your brother you are. But where shall you go?"
"Please," Makoto whispered, "Put me with my brother."
"Ah, your brother you say? But you could do great things in Slytherin."
"No! Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, anywhere but Slytherin! I want to be with my brother!"
"Hmm ... stubborn. Right then, if you're sure ... better be ... GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table went completely wild; throwing hats around, whistling, cheering, clapping, standing on their seats. They now had claim to two Potters. Dennis and Collin Creevey were ecstatic. Makoto grinned widely as she hopped off the stool and sat next to Harry, who immediately enveloped her in a big hug, which caused her robes to slip a little, showing her scar. Ron and Hermione congratulated her politely, unsure as to why she merited all the attention from their friend, then nearly fell off the bench when they saw the scar and finally realized she was Harry's sister.
"You never told us you had a sister, Harry!" Hermione accused.
"I didn't know until a few months ago," he replied, "When our parents died, I was given to the Dursley's and a Memory Charm was put on me so I wouldn't remember Jillie, here. The Dursley's would have flat out refused to take two of us. We should've been reunited two years ago, with ... er ... Snuffles, but Dumbledore couldn't find her."
Harry's friends then turned on her, pointed looks demanding answers. Makoto wasn't sure what exactly they wanted to hear, but she was sure it had something to do with why she hadn't received her invitation two years ago.
"I've been living in Japan. I lived in Britain for six years before my adopted parents decided to move to Japan, and my "parents" never told me anything -- " Makoto began, but was cut off by McGonagall tapping her spoon against her goblet, signaling for quiet.
When the students complied, Professor Dumbledore stood from his chair and leaned on the Head Table.
"First year students please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. Third years please note, that you must have a signed note of permission to visit Hogsmead. Quidditch tryouts shall be held in two weeks from tomorrow. All those who wish to play for their house should see Madam Hooch about obtaining a broom, should you not have one, and for tryout rules and regulations. And one last announcement: let's eat."
The tables, which had been empty but for plates, goblets, bowls and silverware, were suddenly filled to the brim with chicken wings, breaded chicken cutlets, roast beef, pork chops, lamb chops, pumpkin juice, and everything else that a person could possibly want. The Great Hall was a flurry of excited talking and hungry children eating everything they could get their hands on without throwing up. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Makoto paused from talking long enough to eat what they wanted, then interrogation began again.
"Where have you been for two years?" Hermione asked curiously, "And how are you going to catch up in all your classes? You've missed so much!"
"Hermione!" Ron groaned, "Leave the poor girl alone! She doesn't need to be worrying about classes tonight."
Makoto grinned at them.
"It's okay, Ron, really," she assured him, then turned to Hermione, "I've been in Japan, like I said. I guess Dumbledore wasn't expecting my family to move, so they didn't know where we'd moved to. That's probably why the owls couldn't find me until this summer. As for classes, I've been here since July first or so, for exactly that reason: to catch up," she ticked classes off on her fingers, "I'm not perfect in Transfiguration, and Snape I'm sure would love to have any excuse to fail me, but Sprout and Lupin seem to think I'll have no trouble. Charms isn't so hard, either, and flying lessons are wonderful. As for Arithmancy, I suppose I'll have to get a tutor or something to make sure I don't fall behind."
"Hermione's your girl, then," Ron grinned, "She gets top marks for our year, every year. With you on board, maybe she'll stop naggin' us, eh, Harry?"
Harry grinned at Ron and nodded. Hermione rolled her eyes, but Makoto was thrilled. She did want to become friends with all of Harry's friends, and this would be a perfect opportunity.
"Really? You'd help me?" she asked.
Hermione nodded kindly.
"I'd love to," she replied, then a thought struck her, "Hagrid didn't try to expose you to Flobberworms or Skrewts, did he?"
"To what?" Makoto asked, wide eyed, "No, no, nothing like that. I have yet to actually take a class with him. Dumbledore assured me that I wouldn't be left behind with him, but I'm not sure what he meant."
Harry grinned at his friends from across the table and they responded in kind. Hagrid's classes were among the easiest to take, if he didn't try to subject his students to fire-breathing dragons. Only too soon, it seemed to most, was the main course finished and the plates magically cleaned to start desert. Ron and Makoto dug into everything they could while Harry and Hermione laughed at them.
"Ron, I reckon you've met your soul-mate," Hermione teased, "This is the first person I've seen who can meet up with your sweet-tooth."
Harry laughed. Makoto and Ron blushed, but that didn't stop them from snatching another cake or two. When at last the start of term banquet was over, everything on the tables were cleared away magically, leaving no trace that anything had ever been there. Their house Prefects herded all the sleepy students, and the not so sleepy ones, up to their dorms. Makoto and Hermione walked in front of Ron and Harry, keeping close to each other.
"So ... Potter has a sister ... " drawled an all too familiar voice.
Harry and Ron froze in their tracks, turning angrily on Draco Malfoy. Hermione and Makoto also stopped, but for different reasons. Makoto wanted to know who the boy was and Hermione wanted to make sure Ron didn't do something foolish, like attacking him.
"Yes, Malfoy, I do," Harry ground out, "And frankly, I don't see what that has to do with you."
"Oh, it has everything to do with me," Malfoy replied, "You see, it's my job to make sure at least one of you knows the truth. It's interesting ... your sister doesn't look eleven."
"I'm not," Makoto snapped, not liking him at all, "I'm thirteen. I really don't see why that's so interesting."
Draco gave her an appraising sneer.
"Well, at least you dress better than Weasley here. Perhaps you'll turn out smarter than your brother. It's not right to go mixing with mud- bloods and poor folk like the Weasley's; the wrong sort. I can help you find your true friends."
He stuck out his hand, much like he had four years ago when he'd first met Harry. The said boy was now trembling with anger, Ron was positively livid, and even Hermione looked ready to hurt him. Makoto looked at her brother and placed a comforting hand on his arm, then one on Ron's. She stepped forward, moving towards Malfoy.
"I've got friends, thank you. I think it's you who needs help in that area," she glanced at Crabbe and Goyle, who were flanking Malfoy, "Either way, I think I can tell the right sort from the wrong quite well. Good night."
She turned on her heel and marched off. Ron, Harry, and Hermione scurried after her, leaving a stunned Malfoy behind. Crabbe and Goyle didn't seem to understand what had happened. The four didn't speak until they got to the Gryffindor Common Room, and none of them saw the flashes behind them.
"Um ... what's the password?" Makoto asked, looking at Ron.
"Dunno," said Ron, looking at Harry.
"Don't look at me," said Harry, looking at Hermione.
"I don't know."
Fred and George Weasley ran up behind them.
"It's Plum Cordial," George said, breathlessly, "That was amazing, Potter!"
The Fat Lady swung open even as Makoto and Harry both looked up at him, confused. Fred came forward eagerly and shook Makoto's hand heartily. George picked up where he left off immediately, pretending not to notice the annoyed look on the Fat Lady's face at being left open.
"Jolly good show!" Fred said while his twin shook Makoto's hand, "You should have seen Malfoy's face! As a matter of fact, you will! We caught it on camera!"
"Really?" Ron asked eagerly, "Brilliant! ... Where'd you get the camera?"
"From me," replied Lee Jordan's voice from inside the Common Room.
He was standing in the entryway, grinning madly. The six entered and Lee immediately shook hands with Makoto, before giving Ron, Fred and George high fives for the excellent task of capturing Malfoy's embarrassment on film. Makoto grinned slightly, but even though she thought that Malfoy deserved what he'd gotten, she still felt slightly guilty about it. She quickly dropped that line of thought as she looked around. The Common Room was filled with excited new students chatting happily with older students and with other first years, and was noisy and crowded as she'd never seen it.
"Is it always like this in here?" she asked.
"Yep," grinned Lee, "Especially when you've got these two."
The twins grinned back, pretending to be embarrassed at the attention, and gave sweeping bows. A few packages fell out of their robe pockets, which they quickly snatched up.
"We do only what we can," Fred sighed as he stuffed them back into his pockets, "There just aren't enough people who appreciate what we go through."
Harry and Ron grinned at each other and then at the twins, Hermione snorted delicately and rolled her eyes, Makoto stared at them confused.
"They're known to most, of the Gryffindor House at any rate, as the Pranksters of Hogwarts," Lee explained.
At that Makoto nodded, then nearly doubled over laughing, remembering what Harry had told her about their dad, godfather, professor, and the betrayer. The twins and Lee were looking at her strangely and idly she wondered if the twins knew who had made that map. Harry suddenly started laughing along with her, thus gaining strange looks from the twins, Lee, Ron and Hermione for himself.
"Er ... what did we miss?" Fred finally asked.
Everyone shrugged.
"All right then. Exploding Snap, anyone?"
"I'm in," said George.
"Yeah, deal me in," added Lee.
"Me too," Ron sighed, "I don't think I'll be able to hold any sort of intelligent conversation with those two."
"Well of course not. You have to have intelligence to hold an intelligent conversation, don't you?" Fred quipped, grinning.
The youngest Weasley boy glared at his older brothers, but said nothing else. Hermione giggled behind her hand, but luckily for her it was drowned out by the sounds of Harry and Makoto. When they finally stopped laughing, the others were half way into their game of Exploding Snap. Hermione, who had watched them with a bewildered and amused expression on her face, quirked an eyebrow at them.
"Later," Harry promised.
Giving him a sort of untrusting look, but one that accepted his promise, Hermione nodded and turned to some of the younger Gryffindors. She smiled down at one or two who looked desperately nervous and they immediately badgered her with questions that she was happy to answer. Ron caught Harry's eye and flicked his over to the scene, then grinned. Harry looked over at their old friend and grinned back, moving to sit next to Ron while Makoto hung over their shoulders.
"Were we ever that nervous?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so. I think I was more worried about the Sorting than anything, thanks to two of my brothers," Ron said, pointedly staring at the twins.
"Who, us? Nah, we never said anything about a Sorting," George grinned.
"Exactly! You said I'd have to pull a rabbit out of a hat or something."
Makoto laughed, leaning on Ron and Harry's shoulders to get a better look at the game they were playing. So fixed was she on trying to figure out how Exploding Snap was played, that she never noticed the blush that graced Ron's face. Luckily for Ron, neither did his brothers, who were too busy explaining the rules as they played.
"I'm out. I'm gonna go upstairs and sleep. See you all in the morning," Ron said finally.
"Right then. Good night," muttered a pair of distracted twins.
"Oyasumi nasai!" Makoto called after him.
Ron disappeared up the stairs to his dorm.
"Oya - what?" Lee asked.
"Er ... sorry ... it means 'good night'," she flushed, embarrassed.
Across the Common Room, a first year looked up sharply, with an extremely happy look on her face. She stood and walked over a bit, holding a thick book in her hands. She seemed to debate whether or not to speak, but finally settled on speaking.
"Sumimasen!" she called, "Jirian-san!"
Makoto looked up upon hearing her name called in Japanese, looking for the speaker. Her eyes rested on a small girl with chin length black hair and violet eyes. The others looked on in interest, particularly Harry.
"Hotaru-san!" Makoto cried in delight, recognizing the Senshi of Silence, "Hisashiburi ne!"
Hotaru grinned weakly, looking both shy and confused.
"Gomen nasai ... Ware-ware ga shitte iru tagai ni nasu ka?"
"Ara?" Makoto asked, looking surprised.
Suddenly she realized that not even Hotaru recognized her. Of course, Makoto herself didn't really know why she recognized Hotaru, but it was still a bit of a disappointment.
"Oya ... iie. Watashi wa, anata no otousan shitte iru. Anata ga miru izen ni."
"Kaigi ni ka?"
"Mm."
"Aa, sou desu ne. Saa ... yoroshiku onegai shimasu, Jirian-san!"
"Yoroshiku, Hotaru-chan."
Makoto smiled warmly down at the young girl, who grinned happily and rushed up to her dorm. Harry and the others goggled at her, and Hermione looked very impressed with her.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Never mind that, Fred, what were you saying?"
"Oh come now, George, it's her business."
"Shut up, Lee."
Makoto laughed gently. She held up a hand to stop the talking, eyes sparkling with pure amusement.
"It's all right. She called out 'excuse me, Jillian.' I've seen her before, her father is a famous scientist in Japan, and I know him from occasional meetings, so I said 'Hotaru! Long time no see.' She got confused and asked if we knew each other. I said no, but I know her father and I've seen her before. She asked if it was at one of his meetings, and I said yes. Then we basically said to each other, it's a pleasure to meet you. That's all."
The others stared, unblinking.
"Um ... I'll try not to speak Japanese, then, shall I?" Makoto asked, grinning nervously.
No responce.
"Oh come now! It's another language, I haven't grown another head!"
Makoto huffed slightly and settled back into the couch she was sitting on, muching on one of the cakes she'd taken from the Start of Year Feast. There was a bit more silence from the others, before Fred and George caught each other's eye and started laughing hysterically. Soon Lee joined in, then Seamus and Dean, then Neville and Harry, and finally Hermione. Makoto gave them all looks that suggested they were insane and thanked God that Ron was not there.
"Jillian?" Hermione asked softly, sobering a bit.
"What?"
"Do ... do you think you'd teach me? How to speak Japanese, that is?"
"If you'll tutor me in Arithmancy."
"Is that all?"
"And Potions."
"Deal."
Harry sighed, "I think we've definately been a bad influence on you, Hermione."
"Just because she wants to do well in classes has nothing to do with your influence on me. I've always wanted to learn another language."
There was more laughter from the Common Room until Hermione happened to glance down at her watch.
"Oh no! It's nearly twelve o'clock!" she cried, "and breakfast is a eight! We should have gone up when Ron did."
Her statement was met with various groans and moans and other annoyed sounds from her friends, but they all saw the logic in it. Shouting out wishes for their friends to have good nights and sweet dreams, the Gryffindor house went to up to their dorms. Makoto waited until there was no one else on the stairs and she was in front of her dorm before she called to her new friend.
"Hermione?"
The older girl stopped on the stairs and turned around, "Yes, Jillian?"
"Um ... thank you ... for being Harry's friend ... for keeping him alive. He's told me all you and Ron have done for him. You mean a lot to him, you know. In a way ... you mean a lot to me."
Makoto grinned awkwardly, then disappeared into her dorm, leaving Hermione on the stairs, blinking. After a minute she smiled and turned away, shaking her head all the way up to her dorm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Okay, in chapter one I said that there were going to be characters that I own (the ones whose name's you've never heard before). Well, I lied. No, actually, I didn't, but there is one character who I don't own from the Sorting, and that is the dear Rupert Grint. Have you seen the movie? Then you know why.
Right then, Hotaru has made her appearance, but don't expect her to be in too much of the story, folks.
Enjoy!
Chapter Five - The Sorting
It was finally September first. Despite the detention spent in the Dark Forest with Hagrid, Makoto held no ill feelings towards her brother.
After all, she reasoned, it was mostly my fault.
Harry had even persuaded her to explore the secret passages in the castle with the Marauders Map. Lupin didn't talk about James or Lily much after she'd run out on him, despite all the apologies she made, but his kind attitude towards her never wavered, as Snape's dislike for her remained constant. She eventually made it to a third year level in all her classes; even in Potions and Transfiguration, which were her worst subjects. From the stories told about Professor Trelawny by Harry, she was glad that she'd chosen Arithmancy over Divination, which she would start at the start of the term.
Makoto, Ami, and Rei stood with the other first years just outside the Great Hall, being lectured by McGonagall. The Transfiguration professor told them the four houses that they would be sorted into and about the House Cup and how they could gain points for their house, as well as lose them. She ended her speech with: "First years will wait here until we are ready for you. When I come back, you will walk through these doors and wait to be sorted into your houses."
She was met with nervous nods and mutters from the younger students. McGonagall nodded crisply and walked away. Now the first years, Rei and Ami included, began to talk nervously amongst themselves, each wondering which house they would be placed in. All noise abruptly stopped when McGonagall came back, a thick scroll in her hands.
"Follow me, please," she said.
The students obeyed, and the Doors opened by themselves, allowing the large group to enter the Great Hall, which was lit by thousands of floating candles. The first years, minus Rei, Ami and Makoto, all looked up at the ceiling in awe, which displayed the stormy night sky, pointing and whispering. Some eagerly listened to others explaining how the ceiling was bewitched, others were too nervous to care. On the raised platform sat the Head Table, where Dumbledore and the other professors sat. McGonagall stepped onto the platform and motioned for the students to stop, which they did. Dumbledore stood and smiled kindly down at the first years, before addressing the Hall.
"Before we start the Sorting Ceremony, I have a few words: Twitting! Gobbledygook! Coville! Thank you."
Some of the students laughed, some rolled their eyes in good humor, and some, like Draco Malfoy, sneered into their goblets. Then attention was again focused on the first years. An old hat that was very much patched sat on a stool. The first years stared at it, not noticing how the hall had suddenly gone very quiet. A wide hole near the brim suddenly became very apparent as the hat suddenly burst into song.
Welcome Hogwarts students,
I'm ready for you all,
Just come on up and try me on,
I'll tell you where you'll fall.
It may be you're in Gryffindor,
If you can play the part.
Just remember Gryffindors,
Are always true to heart!
Perhaps it is in Hufflepuff;
Where you'll feel at home,
If you are made of loyal stuff,
And can work to the bone.
Then there's the house,
Where logic is the key.
If you've a mind of comprehension,
In Ravenclaw you'll be!
Of course there's always Slytherin,
Where dwells the clever rogue;
If you've a mind of great craft,
You'll fit right in their fold!
So come on up! Sit right down,
I know you're not that shy,
There's lots of room to go around,
To start off this new year!
Every student, and even some of the teachers, in the Hall burst into loud applause, as they did every year. Some of the first years visibly relaxed and the others, though still nervous, began talking excitedly. They were soon silenced by Dumbledore holding up a hand, however, so the actual Sorting could begin.
"Now, when I call your name," Professor McGonagall started, "You will sit on this stool, and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head."
Makoto snuck and quick glance at Ami and Rei, then at Harry, who smiled encouragingly back at her. She offered him a nervous half grin in return to which Harry replied with a wink, leaving Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, whom Harry had pointed out to her, very confused.
"Apostle, Rohnda!"
A girl who looked to be younger than eleven stepped up and allowed McGonagall to place the hat on her head.
"RAVENCLAW!" proclaimed the Hat, and she shuffled off.
Jacob Brhamson went to "SLYTHERIN!", Silver Digne was set off to "RAVENCLAW!", and James Freud was sent to "GRYFFINDOR!".
"Gram, Isaac," McGonagall called.
A nervous looking boy stepped forward and settled himself on the stool.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat declared, and the Hufflepuff table went wild.
"Grint, Rupert."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Hino, Rei."
"Your turn, Rei-chan," Makoto whispered, grinning encouragingly.
Nervous though excited, Rei was nudged forward by Makoto and Ami. She took a deep breath and sat on the stool, watching the hat descend on her head.
"Hino ... now there's a name I've not heard in a long time. Intelligence, cleverness, a desire for knowledge ... Yes, all signs point to RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table cheered and whistled as Rei took her place among them. The sorting continued with Agatha Keys being placed in "HUFFLEPUFF!" and the twins Sally and Troy Martin being placed in "SLYTHERIN!".
"Mizuno, Ami."
With a reassuring squeeze, Makoto pushed her shy friend towards the stool. The blue haired girl gulped down air to calm herself and sat on the stool.
"Aaah, Mizuno ... yes, I remember your father. Hmm ... a desire to know more about him, eh? Talent, yes, and cleverness. But I see a loving girl, that rules out Slytherin ... A good mind ... Right, better put you in RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table went politely wild as they welcomed their new student, who immediately took her seat next to Rei. Mitchell Nelson went to "HUFFLEPUFF!", then came Janis Port who was put into "SLYTHERIN!", Access Silverlake who was placed in "HUFFLEPUFF!" and Hotaru Tomoe, who went to "GRYFFINDOR!". Makoto was stunned, hearing Brian White get put into "RAVENCLAW!". They had skipped her. Finally, she was the last student standing.
"Potter, Jillian," McGonagall said clearly.
The room went deadly silent, except for a few excited whispers from the students, which included Ron and Hermione trying to drill answers out of Harry, which he, apparently, didn't answer. Makoto couldn't hear what they were saying, and wasn't sure that she wanted to. Taking a deep breath, she sat on the stool.
"Another Potter, eh? Late, aren't you? Well no matter. Let's see now ... bravery I can see here, courage, and talent aplenty yes. Not a bad mind, either, very crafty you can be indeed. ... A desire to prove yourself to others ... like your brother you are. But where shall you go?"
"Please," Makoto whispered, "Put me with my brother."
"Ah, your brother you say? But you could do great things in Slytherin."
"No! Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, anywhere but Slytherin! I want to be with my brother!"
"Hmm ... stubborn. Right then, if you're sure ... better be ... GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table went completely wild; throwing hats around, whistling, cheering, clapping, standing on their seats. They now had claim to two Potters. Dennis and Collin Creevey were ecstatic. Makoto grinned widely as she hopped off the stool and sat next to Harry, who immediately enveloped her in a big hug, which caused her robes to slip a little, showing her scar. Ron and Hermione congratulated her politely, unsure as to why she merited all the attention from their friend, then nearly fell off the bench when they saw the scar and finally realized she was Harry's sister.
"You never told us you had a sister, Harry!" Hermione accused.
"I didn't know until a few months ago," he replied, "When our parents died, I was given to the Dursley's and a Memory Charm was put on me so I wouldn't remember Jillie, here. The Dursley's would have flat out refused to take two of us. We should've been reunited two years ago, with ... er ... Snuffles, but Dumbledore couldn't find her."
Harry's friends then turned on her, pointed looks demanding answers. Makoto wasn't sure what exactly they wanted to hear, but she was sure it had something to do with why she hadn't received her invitation two years ago.
"I've been living in Japan. I lived in Britain for six years before my adopted parents decided to move to Japan, and my "parents" never told me anything -- " Makoto began, but was cut off by McGonagall tapping her spoon against her goblet, signaling for quiet.
When the students complied, Professor Dumbledore stood from his chair and leaned on the Head Table.
"First year students please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. Third years please note, that you must have a signed note of permission to visit Hogsmead. Quidditch tryouts shall be held in two weeks from tomorrow. All those who wish to play for their house should see Madam Hooch about obtaining a broom, should you not have one, and for tryout rules and regulations. And one last announcement: let's eat."
The tables, which had been empty but for plates, goblets, bowls and silverware, were suddenly filled to the brim with chicken wings, breaded chicken cutlets, roast beef, pork chops, lamb chops, pumpkin juice, and everything else that a person could possibly want. The Great Hall was a flurry of excited talking and hungry children eating everything they could get their hands on without throwing up. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Makoto paused from talking long enough to eat what they wanted, then interrogation began again.
"Where have you been for two years?" Hermione asked curiously, "And how are you going to catch up in all your classes? You've missed so much!"
"Hermione!" Ron groaned, "Leave the poor girl alone! She doesn't need to be worrying about classes tonight."
Makoto grinned at them.
"It's okay, Ron, really," she assured him, then turned to Hermione, "I've been in Japan, like I said. I guess Dumbledore wasn't expecting my family to move, so they didn't know where we'd moved to. That's probably why the owls couldn't find me until this summer. As for classes, I've been here since July first or so, for exactly that reason: to catch up," she ticked classes off on her fingers, "I'm not perfect in Transfiguration, and Snape I'm sure would love to have any excuse to fail me, but Sprout and Lupin seem to think I'll have no trouble. Charms isn't so hard, either, and flying lessons are wonderful. As for Arithmancy, I suppose I'll have to get a tutor or something to make sure I don't fall behind."
"Hermione's your girl, then," Ron grinned, "She gets top marks for our year, every year. With you on board, maybe she'll stop naggin' us, eh, Harry?"
Harry grinned at Ron and nodded. Hermione rolled her eyes, but Makoto was thrilled. She did want to become friends with all of Harry's friends, and this would be a perfect opportunity.
"Really? You'd help me?" she asked.
Hermione nodded kindly.
"I'd love to," she replied, then a thought struck her, "Hagrid didn't try to expose you to Flobberworms or Skrewts, did he?"
"To what?" Makoto asked, wide eyed, "No, no, nothing like that. I have yet to actually take a class with him. Dumbledore assured me that I wouldn't be left behind with him, but I'm not sure what he meant."
Harry grinned at his friends from across the table and they responded in kind. Hagrid's classes were among the easiest to take, if he didn't try to subject his students to fire-breathing dragons. Only too soon, it seemed to most, was the main course finished and the plates magically cleaned to start desert. Ron and Makoto dug into everything they could while Harry and Hermione laughed at them.
"Ron, I reckon you've met your soul-mate," Hermione teased, "This is the first person I've seen who can meet up with your sweet-tooth."
Harry laughed. Makoto and Ron blushed, but that didn't stop them from snatching another cake or two. When at last the start of term banquet was over, everything on the tables were cleared away magically, leaving no trace that anything had ever been there. Their house Prefects herded all the sleepy students, and the not so sleepy ones, up to their dorms. Makoto and Hermione walked in front of Ron and Harry, keeping close to each other.
"So ... Potter has a sister ... " drawled an all too familiar voice.
Harry and Ron froze in their tracks, turning angrily on Draco Malfoy. Hermione and Makoto also stopped, but for different reasons. Makoto wanted to know who the boy was and Hermione wanted to make sure Ron didn't do something foolish, like attacking him.
"Yes, Malfoy, I do," Harry ground out, "And frankly, I don't see what that has to do with you."
"Oh, it has everything to do with me," Malfoy replied, "You see, it's my job to make sure at least one of you knows the truth. It's interesting ... your sister doesn't look eleven."
"I'm not," Makoto snapped, not liking him at all, "I'm thirteen. I really don't see why that's so interesting."
Draco gave her an appraising sneer.
"Well, at least you dress better than Weasley here. Perhaps you'll turn out smarter than your brother. It's not right to go mixing with mud- bloods and poor folk like the Weasley's; the wrong sort. I can help you find your true friends."
He stuck out his hand, much like he had four years ago when he'd first met Harry. The said boy was now trembling with anger, Ron was positively livid, and even Hermione looked ready to hurt him. Makoto looked at her brother and placed a comforting hand on his arm, then one on Ron's. She stepped forward, moving towards Malfoy.
"I've got friends, thank you. I think it's you who needs help in that area," she glanced at Crabbe and Goyle, who were flanking Malfoy, "Either way, I think I can tell the right sort from the wrong quite well. Good night."
She turned on her heel and marched off. Ron, Harry, and Hermione scurried after her, leaving a stunned Malfoy behind. Crabbe and Goyle didn't seem to understand what had happened. The four didn't speak until they got to the Gryffindor Common Room, and none of them saw the flashes behind them.
"Um ... what's the password?" Makoto asked, looking at Ron.
"Dunno," said Ron, looking at Harry.
"Don't look at me," said Harry, looking at Hermione.
"I don't know."
Fred and George Weasley ran up behind them.
"It's Plum Cordial," George said, breathlessly, "That was amazing, Potter!"
The Fat Lady swung open even as Makoto and Harry both looked up at him, confused. Fred came forward eagerly and shook Makoto's hand heartily. George picked up where he left off immediately, pretending not to notice the annoyed look on the Fat Lady's face at being left open.
"Jolly good show!" Fred said while his twin shook Makoto's hand, "You should have seen Malfoy's face! As a matter of fact, you will! We caught it on camera!"
"Really?" Ron asked eagerly, "Brilliant! ... Where'd you get the camera?"
"From me," replied Lee Jordan's voice from inside the Common Room.
He was standing in the entryway, grinning madly. The six entered and Lee immediately shook hands with Makoto, before giving Ron, Fred and George high fives for the excellent task of capturing Malfoy's embarrassment on film. Makoto grinned slightly, but even though she thought that Malfoy deserved what he'd gotten, she still felt slightly guilty about it. She quickly dropped that line of thought as she looked around. The Common Room was filled with excited new students chatting happily with older students and with other first years, and was noisy and crowded as she'd never seen it.
"Is it always like this in here?" she asked.
"Yep," grinned Lee, "Especially when you've got these two."
The twins grinned back, pretending to be embarrassed at the attention, and gave sweeping bows. A few packages fell out of their robe pockets, which they quickly snatched up.
"We do only what we can," Fred sighed as he stuffed them back into his pockets, "There just aren't enough people who appreciate what we go through."
Harry and Ron grinned at each other and then at the twins, Hermione snorted delicately and rolled her eyes, Makoto stared at them confused.
"They're known to most, of the Gryffindor House at any rate, as the Pranksters of Hogwarts," Lee explained.
At that Makoto nodded, then nearly doubled over laughing, remembering what Harry had told her about their dad, godfather, professor, and the betrayer. The twins and Lee were looking at her strangely and idly she wondered if the twins knew who had made that map. Harry suddenly started laughing along with her, thus gaining strange looks from the twins, Lee, Ron and Hermione for himself.
"Er ... what did we miss?" Fred finally asked.
Everyone shrugged.
"All right then. Exploding Snap, anyone?"
"I'm in," said George.
"Yeah, deal me in," added Lee.
"Me too," Ron sighed, "I don't think I'll be able to hold any sort of intelligent conversation with those two."
"Well of course not. You have to have intelligence to hold an intelligent conversation, don't you?" Fred quipped, grinning.
The youngest Weasley boy glared at his older brothers, but said nothing else. Hermione giggled behind her hand, but luckily for her it was drowned out by the sounds of Harry and Makoto. When they finally stopped laughing, the others were half way into their game of Exploding Snap. Hermione, who had watched them with a bewildered and amused expression on her face, quirked an eyebrow at them.
"Later," Harry promised.
Giving him a sort of untrusting look, but one that accepted his promise, Hermione nodded and turned to some of the younger Gryffindors. She smiled down at one or two who looked desperately nervous and they immediately badgered her with questions that she was happy to answer. Ron caught Harry's eye and flicked his over to the scene, then grinned. Harry looked over at their old friend and grinned back, moving to sit next to Ron while Makoto hung over their shoulders.
"Were we ever that nervous?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so. I think I was more worried about the Sorting than anything, thanks to two of my brothers," Ron said, pointedly staring at the twins.
"Who, us? Nah, we never said anything about a Sorting," George grinned.
"Exactly! You said I'd have to pull a rabbit out of a hat or something."
Makoto laughed, leaning on Ron and Harry's shoulders to get a better look at the game they were playing. So fixed was she on trying to figure out how Exploding Snap was played, that she never noticed the blush that graced Ron's face. Luckily for Ron, neither did his brothers, who were too busy explaining the rules as they played.
"I'm out. I'm gonna go upstairs and sleep. See you all in the morning," Ron said finally.
"Right then. Good night," muttered a pair of distracted twins.
"Oyasumi nasai!" Makoto called after him.
Ron disappeared up the stairs to his dorm.
"Oya - what?" Lee asked.
"Er ... sorry ... it means 'good night'," she flushed, embarrassed.
Across the Common Room, a first year looked up sharply, with an extremely happy look on her face. She stood and walked over a bit, holding a thick book in her hands. She seemed to debate whether or not to speak, but finally settled on speaking.
"Sumimasen!" she called, "Jirian-san!"
Makoto looked up upon hearing her name called in Japanese, looking for the speaker. Her eyes rested on a small girl with chin length black hair and violet eyes. The others looked on in interest, particularly Harry.
"Hotaru-san!" Makoto cried in delight, recognizing the Senshi of Silence, "Hisashiburi ne!"
Hotaru grinned weakly, looking both shy and confused.
"Gomen nasai ... Ware-ware ga shitte iru tagai ni nasu ka?"
"Ara?" Makoto asked, looking surprised.
Suddenly she realized that not even Hotaru recognized her. Of course, Makoto herself didn't really know why she recognized Hotaru, but it was still a bit of a disappointment.
"Oya ... iie. Watashi wa, anata no otousan shitte iru. Anata ga miru izen ni."
"Kaigi ni ka?"
"Mm."
"Aa, sou desu ne. Saa ... yoroshiku onegai shimasu, Jirian-san!"
"Yoroshiku, Hotaru-chan."
Makoto smiled warmly down at the young girl, who grinned happily and rushed up to her dorm. Harry and the others goggled at her, and Hermione looked very impressed with her.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Never mind that, Fred, what were you saying?"
"Oh come now, George, it's her business."
"Shut up, Lee."
Makoto laughed gently. She held up a hand to stop the talking, eyes sparkling with pure amusement.
"It's all right. She called out 'excuse me, Jillian.' I've seen her before, her father is a famous scientist in Japan, and I know him from occasional meetings, so I said 'Hotaru! Long time no see.' She got confused and asked if we knew each other. I said no, but I know her father and I've seen her before. She asked if it was at one of his meetings, and I said yes. Then we basically said to each other, it's a pleasure to meet you. That's all."
The others stared, unblinking.
"Um ... I'll try not to speak Japanese, then, shall I?" Makoto asked, grinning nervously.
No responce.
"Oh come now! It's another language, I haven't grown another head!"
Makoto huffed slightly and settled back into the couch she was sitting on, muching on one of the cakes she'd taken from the Start of Year Feast. There was a bit more silence from the others, before Fred and George caught each other's eye and started laughing hysterically. Soon Lee joined in, then Seamus and Dean, then Neville and Harry, and finally Hermione. Makoto gave them all looks that suggested they were insane and thanked God that Ron was not there.
"Jillian?" Hermione asked softly, sobering a bit.
"What?"
"Do ... do you think you'd teach me? How to speak Japanese, that is?"
"If you'll tutor me in Arithmancy."
"Is that all?"
"And Potions."
"Deal."
Harry sighed, "I think we've definately been a bad influence on you, Hermione."
"Just because she wants to do well in classes has nothing to do with your influence on me. I've always wanted to learn another language."
There was more laughter from the Common Room until Hermione happened to glance down at her watch.
"Oh no! It's nearly twelve o'clock!" she cried, "and breakfast is a eight! We should have gone up when Ron did."
Her statement was met with various groans and moans and other annoyed sounds from her friends, but they all saw the logic in it. Shouting out wishes for their friends to have good nights and sweet dreams, the Gryffindor house went to up to their dorms. Makoto waited until there was no one else on the stairs and she was in front of her dorm before she called to her new friend.
"Hermione?"
The older girl stopped on the stairs and turned around, "Yes, Jillian?"
"Um ... thank you ... for being Harry's friend ... for keeping him alive. He's told me all you and Ron have done for him. You mean a lot to him, you know. In a way ... you mean a lot to me."
Makoto grinned awkwardly, then disappeared into her dorm, leaving Hermione on the stairs, blinking. After a minute she smiled and turned away, shaking her head all the way up to her dorm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Okay, in chapter one I said that there were going to be characters that I own (the ones whose name's you've never heard before). Well, I lied. No, actually, I didn't, but there is one character who I don't own from the Sorting, and that is the dear Rupert Grint. Have you seen the movie? Then you know why.
Right then, Hotaru has made her appearance, but don't expect her to be in too much of the story, folks.