The Journey to Hogwarts
Chapter VIII
Anna spent the remainder of her glorious holiday at The Leaky Cauldron.
Part way into August, Witt had some business to attend to, so she left Anna on her own for an entire week. Each morning, she would go down and have some breakfast at the bar, while talking to old Tom. Then, he'd give her the pocket change that Witt had allotted for each day. Most of this was spent at Flourish and Blotts, though a healthy amount went toward ice cream, candies, and extra supplies for school as well.
Anna had discovered one shop that was nothing but stationary, pens and art supplies. She spent an entire afternoon looking at their inventory, from paper that would make your doodles take on their own life, to ink that would shimmer and magically change color. The photography equipment in the back was fabulous as well, and the man who ran the shop gave Anna a lesson in how to take and develop a wizarding photo. He let her keep the picture – one of her and Greymalkin – as a souvenir. She hung it above her bed in her small room, along with the growing collection of receipts and flyers she had kept from Diagon Alley.
The bookstore was naturally her favorite. The clerks there knew her by name now. Each morning she would come in – "Good morning Andy!" – and settle herself in her spot. She would read until lunch, and sometimes would come back afterwards to continue an especially wonderful story. With only two weeks left of vacation, the store was becoming more crowded daily, with family's in to buy books for the upcoming school year. Anna, when she was not too involved in her books too see these newcomers, would sit and watch them from her spot. Children of all sorts and all ages passed through. Several times Anna spotted girls that looked about her age, and she longed to go up and meet them, but they were always with a group of family or friends, and Anna discovered that when alone, she was quite shy.
Miss Wittikins returned from her trip, looking slightly worn out. Anna inquired about her journey, but Witt abruptly changed the subject. Instead, Anna told her of all her adventures in Diagon Alley, and showed her the new purchases with enthusiasm.
"See – this one writes violet. But look – it changes to silver as you go along. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Quite."
Soon enough however, it was time for the best summer of Anna's short life to come to a close. On the morning of September 1st, Anna stood packed and ready out on the curb, her bag in one hand and Greymalkin in her free arm. Witt hailed them a Muggle taxi. "King's Cross please."
They arrived at the station, all hustle and bustle with workers, and children on the end of holiday. Anna would have usually enjoyed watching the people, but today, she was desperately trying to keep up with Miss Wittikins. She fought against the crowd, working their way up the station.
Anna's suitcase, as small as it was, was becoming quite heavy from all the things magically compacted inside. They passed platforms 5 and 6. People kept glancing at Miss Wittikins with odd expressions on their faces. Anna's stomach began to make sounds, but she wasn't hungry. In fact, she felt quite the opposite. 7… 8… they passed a girl with a cage under her arm. Inside was a sleeping owl. Anna tried not to stare. 9…10…but where was 9 ¾? Anna looked at Miss Wittikins, beginning to panic, as they stopped by a large barrier.
Greymalkin mewed pitifully. Anna had been holding him in her left arm for the past half hour. A guard looked over at the noise. "Miss, I'm afraid all animals must be in carriers on the trains."
Miss Wittikins raised an eyebrow and gave him one of her superior smiles. "Not on our train." The guard paused, then nodded (looking a bit afraid and foolish, Anna noted) and moved on quickly.
"Where is 9 ¾?" Anna whispered, desperately eyeing the large clock over the arrivals board. Miss Wittikins had taken her to the right station, hadn't she? Perhaps they'd changed it since her days as a student. Anna set down her suitcase and reached into her dress pocket for the ticket. Miss Wittikins gently grabbed her hand, and her suitcase..
"Lean against this post. Carefully…Now!" She yanked Anna into the barrier.
But instead of feeling the force of a solid object, they kept moving. Anna gasped, and stuck a leg out to keep herself from falling. After regaining her balance, she lifted her head to the scene around her. A bright red engine was sitting on the track, steam pouring from it's stack. The platform was crammed with people, crying mothers and proud fathers, clad in multi-colored robes. Small children ran about, past older ones with trunks and bags of all shapes and sizes. Greymalkin cowered as an enormous owl flapped it's wings in a cage nearby. Lot's of people had owls, Anna noted, and cats too – of every color. A large, square girl holding a black cat crossed their path. A round-faced boy chased after his leaping toad, running right between Anna and Miss Wittikins. Anna surveyed the scene in awe. She looked up to find Miss Wittikins smiling down at her.
"You'd better go find a seat. They fill up fast."
They walked down to the end of the train together. They stopped at the third compartment from the end. Anna hoisted up her suitcase. Then she turned back to Miss Wittikins, gulping down a knot in her throat that felt remarkably like sadness.
"Well?" asked Miss Wittikins. Anna threw her arms around her, taking the old lady by surprise. But then, Anna felt the woman hug back, squeezing her close.
"Thank you," Anna mumbled into her deep blue robes. Witt smelled wonderful, she noted – like peppermint tea and evergreens and snow. She suddenly didn't want to leave her.
Miss Wittikins released her gently. "You'll have a wonderful time at Hogwarts, dear."
Anna grinned up at her, then turned quickly and boarded the train. As it started to move, Anna rushed into the nearest compartment and opened the window. Holding onto her hat very carefully, she stuck her head and free arm out the window. She could see Miss Wittikins on the platform, dabbing at her eyes. Anna began waving enthusiastically. Miss Wittikins waved back, just once, then watched the train go, until she was a small speck in the distance. The train rounded the corner, and she was gone.
Anna pulled her upper body back into the train and sat down in the seat nearest the window. There were footsteps in the hallway, and someone slid the door of the compartment open. A short girl with an upturned nose walked in, followed by the bulky girl with the black cat that Anna had seen in the station. Greymalkin hissed, and all his fur stood on end. The girl with the upturned nose stared at him nastily. "Has it had all it's shots?"
Anna laughed. "I'm sorry, Greymalkin hasn't been properly socialized yet." She turned to the kitten crouched in the corner. "Malkie…" she cooed, attempting to coax him back to her lap. He just glared at her.
The two girls sat down. "I'm Anna, Anna Moon."
"I'm Pansy Parkinson, and this is Millicent Bulstrode," said the pug nosed girl shortly. Millicent just grunted. "Do you know if you'll be in Slytherin?" Pansy inquired.
"Pardon?" Anna asked.
"Slytherin," said Pansy, exasperated. "Are your parents Muggles?" She said the last word as if it were a curse.
"My parents," retorted Anna stiffly, "are dead."
"Oh," said Pansy, eyeing her up and down. "So that explains it. Did you live in an orphanage?" Anna self-consciously smoothed her faded dress.
"I did when I was little. But for the past four years, I've worked for a family by the name of –"
"Oh, I see, you're hired help," interrupted Pansy, a smirk on her face. Anna started to protest, but Pansy cut her off again.
"Well, anyway, I want to be in Slytherin. The Malfoy's are all in Slytherin."
"Who –" Anna began, but Pansy cut her off once more.
"Draco Malfoy. Honestly," she rolled her eyes, "the types they let in these days. Millicent, don't you think Draco's a looker?" Millicent grunted. Pansy sighed, and stared out the window dreamily, strongly reminding Anna of the way the Snydley-Pinkenweiler pugs used to look right before they were served dinner.
Anna began to worry. How could Miss Wittikins think she could ever like Hogwarts? Was everyone like this there? The rumblings in her stomach turned ominous. She wondered, if she wished hard enough, could she make herself go back to King's Cross? Then what would she do? Live with Miss Wittikins? No, she would be too disappointed in her. She could go find Linnea. And then what would they do? Live on the streets of London together? Go back to another orphanage? The sky outside was turning darker. Anna hugged Greymalkin close, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Food Dears?" asked the lady (no, witch, Anna corrected herself) standing outside the door. Millicent jumped up with a motion surprising for her size, and was quickly followed by Pansy. They returned with loads of strange candy, and proceeded to eat through it voraciously. Anna's stomach rumbled again. As she watched the two girls noisily consuming the sweets, she curled up in a miserable ball in her corner, and tried to fall asleep.
She was walking through the same garden, her hand running lightly over the roses. She could hear the voice singing, but was in no hurry to reach it's owner. Instead, she ambled down off a little path, her hand skimming over the flowers. The voice echoed through the trees gently, like a lullaby. Then – the voice was abruptly cut silent.
She awoke with a start. It took Anna a moment to realize where she was. Pansy had just closed a large, black trunk in the middle of the floor. Anna supposed the noise had surprised her out of slumber. The train seemed to be slowing down. Pansy and Millicent had both changed into their long black robes. Pansy glanced up. "You'd better change. We'll be arriving in ten minutes, and you don't want to look like you do now."
Anna mumbled a sort of thanks, and took her suitcase and her cat out into the hall. She headed toward the back, in search of the lavatory. A girl with bushy brown hair rushed past in the opposite direction. Anna stopped at the marked door at the end of the corridor, and pushed it open.
It was quite dim inside. The room was larger than Anna had thought a train's bathroom would be, but then again, she had never been on a train before. Candles hung inside red glass globes, illuminating the brown papered walls. A cold draft blew through. Anna shivered, pulling her robes on over her head.
Out in the hallway, she passed the bushy-haired girl again, heading in the opposite direction. Anna supposed it would be alright if she stayed in the hall. The conductor's voice resonated down the hall. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately. Anna looked down at Greymalkin. Did these people consider him luggage too? Just then, the candy lady passed by. "I'll take your cat for you dear. Everything will be brought to your room shortly, while you're in the Sorting." She gave Anna a warm smile. Anna handed over Greymalkin, reluctantly. She watched the lady continue on down the hall, and a strange emptiness fell over her.
The train was going slow, slower… it had stopped. People began filling the corridor. Anna followed the crowd out onto the platform. She was glad to have her long black robes on over her thin cotton dress. They must be a good distance north, judging by the time traveled, perhaps in Scotland. It was too dark to see much, but a strong voice boomed out over the babble of the students.
"Fir's years! Fir's years over here! All right there, Harry?" the voice cried. Anna looked up where a head should be and saw a lantern. And above that was a face with a wild dark beard; the face of the biggest person Anna had ever seen. He towered over even the tallest, oldest students. "C'mon, follow me – any more fir's years? Mind yer step, now! Fir's years, follow me!"
After the initial shock of seeing someone so large, he seemed quite friendly, Anna decided. She joined the group at the tail end.
They traveled down the steep, narrow path. The tall black boy in front of Anna tripped on a hidden tree root, but there was no other sound from the first years. The giant called over his shoulder.
"You'll get yet fir's sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here." The people in the front of the line gasped. Anna forgot about her loneliness, and pushed impatiently toward the turn.
"Ohhh…" she breathed.
There, on top of a high cliff, was the castle of her dreams. It looked just like the castles in the storybooks she used to read. Below lay a dark lake, reflecting the starry sky above. The castle itself was tall and majestic, with turrets and towers worthy of the best fairy-tale. The windows sparkled with warmth and light. It was the most beautiful sight Anna had ever beheld.
"No more'n four to a boat!" shouted the giant. He gestured toward a fleet of small boats at the edge of the lake. Not wanting to take her eyes off the castle, Anna followed the boy in front of her into a boat. A pink faced girl with blonde pigtails followed her. They too remained silent in awe.
"Everyone in? Right then - forward!" called the giant, who was up front in a boat all by himself.
The boats magically glided across the surface of the water like dark swans in the moonlight. Anna looked around. People were still staring at the castle in awe, although they were almost to the cliff. Now what, Anna wondered. She was gripped by a sudden fear that they would have to swim. Anna had never had a lesson in her life.
As if to calm her fears, the giant shouted, "Heads down!" The first of the boats vanished through a thick green curtain of ivy on the cliff side, as their occupants ducked their heads. Anna and the boy and girl did the same. Sitting up, she saw they were in some sort of underground river. Anna wondered if they were now directly below the castle. Soon the boats bumped against the sandy shore of the cave. Everyone clambered out, looking expectant. "Now what?" whispered the pigtailed girl. The tall boy shrugged. The giant, who had been checking the boats, discovered the toad that Anna had seen hopping away form the round faced boy in the station. "Trevor!" the boy cried blissfully. Anna blinked. The station, and Miss Wittikins, now seemed so long ago, and far away.
The giant led them up a passageway, his bobbing lantern casting a mysterious light on the slimy walls. Finally, they reached the other side, pouring out onto the green grass. Anna looked up. There was the castle, looming large in front of them. The giant led them up the steps to the huge oak doors.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" He raised his enormous fist, and knocked three times on the castle door, causing it to shake.
The door opened instantly. Anna's first thought was of magic. But then she saw the tall witch with square spectacles. Her dark hair was drawn tightly back in a bun, and she wore emerald green robes. Anna was reminded strongly of Miss Wittikins.
"The fir's years Professor McGonagall," said the giant.
"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here.
Hagrid turned to go. The rest of the small crowd entered the hall. It was gigantic. Anna looked up, but the ceiling was out of sight. The walls were rough stone, and the area was lit with burning torches. From the right came the murmur of voices. Anna wondered how the rest of the school had arrived. A great marble staircase led up into the darkness. Anna wondered how high it went. Her head was popping with hundreds of questions, but she felt it would be disrespectful to ask at the moment. Professor McGonagall led the group into a small, empty room to the left. Everybody crowded together in a small huddle in the center of the floor. Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history, and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
She turned and left. A rash of nervous whispering broke out. "How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Anna heard a dark haired, bespectacled boy ask. A tall, red-headed boy answered in a whisper.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
Anna blanched. A test? She didn't know any magic, at least not yet. Was she the only person here that didn't have living wizard parents? Her stomach rumbled ominously. She glanced about, and was glad to see that everyone else looked quite scared as well.
Right at that tense moment, something happened that made everyone gasp. A group of ghosts had glided through the wall, into the room. They were a pearly transparent shade, like a bottle that all of the milk had been poured out of. The ghosts didn't seem to notice the students, in fact, they were absorbed in an argument.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance - "
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not even really a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?"
One of the ghosts, one dressed in clothes that Anna would've expected with an old castle like this, had realized the room was full of new students. Nobody answered him.
"New students!" said the Friar, smiling around the room. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
A few of the students nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now. The Sorting ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. "Now form a line and follow me," she commanded. Anna fell into line. The first years crossed the entrance hall, and passed through the double doors into the Great Hall.
Anna had never in her wildest dreams thought the inside of a castle could look so splendid. There were four long tables side by side, and above each table, floating in mid-air, were rows and rows of candles. Above the candles, the roof faded away, showing the starry sky above. Returning to earth, Anna noted the hundreds of faces, with their eyes all trained on the line of first years.
Professor McGonagall walked down the line of the first years and silently placed a four legged stool in front of the head table, where the adults were sitting. On top of the stool, she set a battered old wizard's hat that was falling apart at the seams. Anna would've hated to see the hat's owner, if the poor hat was so beaten up. What were they supposed to do now? Anna glanced down the line, to see everyone's eyes riveted on the hat. She did the same. Then, to her astonishment, it moved. A rip at it's brim opened like a mouth, and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may
not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge
on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep
your bowlers black,
Your top hats
sleek and tall,
For I'm the
Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat
can't see,
So try me on
and I will tell you
Where you ought
to be.
You might
belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the
brave at heart.
Their daring,
nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors
apart;
You might
belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are
just and loyal,
Those patient
Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of
toil;
Or yet in wise
old Ravenclaw,
If you've a
ready mind,
Where those of
wit and learning,
Will always
find their kind;
Or perhaps in
Slytherin
You'll make
your real friends,
Those cunning
folk use any means
To achieve
their ends.
So put me on!
Don't be afraid
And don't get
in a flap!
You're in safe
hands (though I have none)
For I'm a
Thinking Cap!"
With this the entire hall applauded. The hat bowed to each table, from right to left, and then resumed it's stationary state. A whisper of simultaneous relief and terror swept down the line of first years. So that was all they had to do, try it on… Anna felt much better. Then her stomach sunk again. What if she was placed in Slytherin with Pansy and Millicent? She'd rather die! Anna watched closely as Professor McGonagall stepped out with a long piece of parchment and began to speak.
"When I call your name you will step forward to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!"
The girl who had sat in the boat with Anna rushed over to the stool. She plopped down on the seat, and lowered the hat onto her head. It sank down well past her eyes. A moment later the hat shouted out – "HUFFLEPUFF!"
While Bones, Susan was also put in Hufflepuff, Brocklehurst, Mandy was sorted into Ravenclaw, and Brown, Lavender went to Gryffindor. Millicent Bulstrode was put into Slytherin after a long pause. Any house but Slytherin, Anna thought. All the rest of the girls looked pleasant enough.
Fawcett, Ophelia, a tall, willowy blonde, went to Ravenclaw as well. Finch-Fletchly, Justin went to Hufflepuff, and Finnigan, Seamus and Granger, Hermione went to Gryffindor. The last girl was the one she had seen rushing up and down the hall on the train. Maybe Anna would go to Gryffindor, she thought hopefully. The hat took it's time putting Longbottom, Neville into Gryffindor. Anna recognized him as the boy that had lost his toad.
Now, the hat started on the M's, starting with MacDougal, Morag. Malfoy, Draco, a pale boy with a sneer on his face was put in Slytherin. Anna thought that he looked very well suited for Pansy Parkinson, but her thoughts were interrupted as Professor McGonagall called out her name. She jumped, a bit startled, and quite nervous.
Although the distance between Anna and the hat was really only ten feet or so, to Anna it felt as if it were miles away. Her heart leapt wildly, and her stomach did somersaults as she walked up to the stool. She picked up the hat with trembling hands, and, sitting down on the stool, set it upon her head. It slid down over her eyes blocking out the Great Hall, with the hundreds of ghostly faces turned toward the stool where Anna sat. Anna stared into the blackness for a moment. Then a small voice, almost as if it were her conscience, whispered in her ear.
"Hello there," said the voice. "Hmm… where shall I put you? Kind… gentle… loyal… oh, I see you like to read as well… hmm… you show signs of bravery… so where will you go?"
Anna's first thoughts were of the horrible time she had had on the train. Anywhere but Slytherin she thought, concentrating hard. The hat let out a small laugh that surprised her.
"Slytherin, oh dear me no, I wouldn't dream of putting you there!"
Anna sat for a moment, thinking hard, as if to show the hat all that was in her mind to help it choose. Then, she had a sudden flash of inspiration. "Put me in my mother's house," she whispered.
"Ravenclaw?" the hat questioned. "Are you certain, you have many qualities of both…" the small voice trailed off. "No, you will make an excellent "RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted out the last word, leaving Anna's ears ringing. Very relieved, Anna hopped up, placed the hat back on the stool, and headed for the table on her left.
As Anna started to sit down, a familiar voice called out her name.
"Anna!"
"Roger?!"
"Anna, I could've sworn that was you when you came in - and then McGonagall called your name. Wow, Anna, it's really you! Here, you can sit here…" Anna sat down, dazed. It was Roger. She had never expected, not in a million years to see someone from the orphanage here. And especially not Roger, although now that she thought about it, he had told her that funny story, so long ago… Her confused thoughts rolled through her head as she listened to him talk.
…and after the shop, I was adopted by the Davies, and then I got the letter – what have you been up to?"
"Oh, not much…" she replied faintly, not wanting to think about the Snydley-Pinkenweiler's at the moment. "I was a nanny for awhile– I can't believe you're here!" Right then an excited whisper ran through the room. Roger looked up, peering over the heads of the crowd. He looked at the Asian girl sitting beside them questioningly.
"It's Harry Potter!" she whispered, as her pretty eyes widened.
"Who?" asked Anna.
"Harry- oh that's right, you wouldn't know. I'll explain later," he replied, with an impatient wave of the hand as he craned his neck to see. The hat shouted out "GRYFFINDOR!" Anna was disappointed to see that all the whispers concerned this thin boy with messy dark hair and glasses, as the said Harry Potter took his place at the Gryffindor table.
Roger shook his head. "Too bad," he said. "Ravenclaw needs a new seeker, and since Cho can't play with her arm this year," Roger glanced at the Asian girl, who smiled apologetically. "Harry's father was a great Quidditch player, but who knows, maybe it's not hereditary." Roger sighed. Quidditch? That was the wizard sport, right? Anna's head spun as she tried to remember the Daily Prophet headlines. She turned back to the sorting in time to see Thomas, Dean become a Gryffindor. A pale, thin girl with dark bobbed hair replaced him on the stool. Anna's breath caught in her chest; for Turpin, Lisa strongly resembled a certain Linnea Gray that Anna had left behind at the Snydley-Pinkenweiler's. "RAVENCLAW!" the hat cried out.
"Hey, Roger, I think I'm going to go sit with the other first years." Roger just grinned and nodded, as he was now deep in a conversation about the national "Quidditch" team with the boy sitting across from them. Anna stood up and slowly walked over to the place where Brocklehurst, Mandy; Fawcett, Ophelia; and a dark skinned girl with beautiful long hair were sitting. "Mind if I sit?" she asked. Brocklehurst, Mandy nodded and smiled.
"Already made a friend?" she questioned, jerking her head toward Roger.
"Oh, no, that's just Roger" Anna responded, "I know him from a long time ago." Mandy started to ask another question, but at that moment Turpin, Lisa joined them.
"Oh," said Anna. "I was hoping you'd be in my house," said Anna breathlessly, the moment she sat down. "You look just like my very best friend."
"I'm glad," responded Lisa Turpin with a soft laugh. "would you mind if I was your friend as well, all of you?" she asked, looking about at the four other first year girls.
Mandy grinned. "I was hoping we'd get more girls. We're going to have fun, I just know it," she added, a mischievous glint in her eye.
At the high table a man with a long crooked nose and a white flowing beard stood up. He looked just as Anna thought a wizard should look. Merlin, she thought. Then her common sense kicked in, and she realized he must be the headmaster, Witt's friend – the famous Dumbledore. The wizard opened his arms wide and smiled at the room of people in front of him.
"Welcome. Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you!"
He sat back down in his chair, and the room burst into applause and cheers.
"That's Dumbledore for you!" said Mandy, giggling.
As Mandy spoke, the empty plates were suddenly filled. Anna let out a little gasp of delight, and beside her she felt Lisa jump up off the bench. At this Mandy and the dark girl began to laugh. Ophelia Fawcett said nothing, but smiled sympathetically as she helped herself to lamp chops, peas and potatoes. Mandy began piling her plate, and the dark girl added carrots and Yorkshire pudding carefully to the side. Anna's stomach rumbled as she realized how hungry she actually was. She piled her plate high with everything, and devoured it quickly. The bowls were still full, so she helped herself to seconds. It was more food than she'd ever seen in her entire life, more even than the Snydley-Pinkenweiler's fancy dinner parties.
The others were finishing their food and beginning to talk. Mandy's parents were both wizards, as were Padma's, the dark haired girl. In fact, Padma had a twin sister who had just been sorted into Gryffindor.
"I'm a little disappointed," Padma admitted. "But at the same time, it'll give us a chance to get away from one another. I'm getting a bit tired of being known as one of the twins. It happens that way…" she said wistfully. "How about you 'Phelia?"
Ophelia answered to this name, so Anna assumed the two girls knew each other already. "Actually I was expecting to get into Ravenclaw," she said with a shrug. "The other houses didn't seem to suit me. I've always been the smart one, Beatrice is the flirtatious one and Juliet – well, Juliet is just good in everything she tries." She turned to the other three girls. "Juliet and Beatrice are my sisters. They are in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Juliet is Head Girl this year," she informed them.
"How about you Lisa?" Mandy asked.
"Oh, my father's a Muggle, I live with him," she said rather shortly. Sensing that this topic was closed, everyone looked toward Anna. Her stomach did a slight flip-flop, but she managed to answer without showing any emotion. "I worked for a family before coming here. Both my parents were wizards, but they're dead," she said, trying to sound casual. The other girls looked a little shocked. Finally Mandy spoke.
"Wow, Anna, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, really, they died when I was very young. I can't even remember them." Lisa put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"Do you know how they died?" asked Padma. The other girls looked at her, shocked. "Because of You-Know-Who," she quickly added.
"Who-Knows-Who?" asked Lisa. Apparently she didn't know about Voldemort even. This made Anna feel slightly better.
"Oh, that's right, you wouldn't know," said Padma. "So you don't know why Harry Potter's so famous either?"
Anna glanced over at Harry Potter. "I know about the Dark Lord, but not Harry Potter. What's the story?" She leaned in closer, feeling quite conspiratorial.
"Do you see the scar on his forehead?" Anna and Lisa leaned to the side to look; Anna spotted a thin streak of red, shaped like a jagged lightening bolt. "I see it," she said. Lisa nodded.
"Well," said Padma, "Ten years ago an evil wizard named – oh, you say it Mandy," she broke off.
Mandy closed her large green-blue eyes. When she opened them again, she dramatically breathed out a single word. "Voldemort." Ophelia let out a small shudder. Padma winced, but continued her story.
"Ten years ago he was taking over everywhere, killing lots of people. On Halloween, he arrived at the Potter's house. Not much is known about what happened next, but Voldemort killed Harry's parents. Then he turned to curse Harry, and – somehow, he couldn't. Harry survived with nothing but that scar, and no one knows why."
"And You-Know-Who disappeared," whispered Mandy. Her glasses cast spooky shadows across her face in the candlelight. Anna felt a shiver run down her spine. She had never thought to ask Witt what had become of the evil wizard. Beside her, Lisa had pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. There was a very silent pause within the little group. Around them the school buzzed cheerily. How odd that they should, thought Anna, as she watched Harry Potter talking to "Weasley, Ron" over at the Gryffindor table. She knew that this Voldemort was the 'Dark Lord' that Witt had spoken of, but she didn't feel like sharing the story of her parent's death with her new friends quite yet.
Soon everyone had finished the last of the food. Desserts now appeared. Anna was too full to eat another bite, but she wrapped some brownies in a napkin and stuck them in her pocket for later. She gazed about the room as others ate the desserts. This had been a long, wonderful day. In fact, it had been the best day of Anna's life. Despite the train ride she thought, glancing at the Slytherin table. Anna had noticed Pansy Parkinson attempting to move toward Draco Malfoy all evening, and now she sat across from him, chattering away. Malfoy sat between a gaunt ghost splattered with what looked to be blood, and a rather large, gorilla-like boy. He still had that dour scowl on his face, and Pansy didn't seem to be improving his mood, Anna noted with a certain amount of pleasure.
By this time everyone was finished eating, and the remnants of the desserts disappeared from the golden plates. Dumbledore stood once more. The hall fell silent.
"Ahem – just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
" First year students should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well," he said, his eyes twinkling.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Anna turned to the others incredulously, for he must have been joking – but very few people had laughed.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick. A long golden ribbon flew from the tip and formed itself into words over head. Anna had seen a magician pull a scarf out of his pocket at the twin's birthday party once, but this was true magic, she thought with delight.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"
The room shook as hundreds of voices rang out:
Hogwarts,
Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us
something please,
Whether we be
old and bald
Or young with
scabby knees,
Our heads could
do with filling
With some
interesting stuff,
For now they're
bare and full of air,
Dead flies and
bits of fluff,
So teach us
something worth knowing,
Bring back what
we've forgot,
Just do your
best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until
our brains all rot."
The last two left singing were a pair of identical twins, with fiery read hair and loads of freckles. Mandy started giggling and Padma shot her a look. "Shh! They'll hear."
Mandy shrugged. "I don't care, I think they're stellar."
"Stellar?" Padma made a funny face. Mandy just stuck her nose up in the air, and tried to look serious.
"Um… do you two know each other – from before, I mean?" asked Lisa.
"Yes," said Padma, rolling her eyes.
"Unfortunately," added Mandy, but Anna could tell by her grin that she didn't mean it. The five girls got up to leave the hall with the rest of the crowd. A tall, slender girl with wavy hair strode over to them, with several boys following her.
"Hello, my name is Penelope Clearwater," she said, introducing herself cheerily. "I am a prefect for Ravenclaw, and I'm so happy that you're all in my house. Sorry I didn't come over earlier, but I saw you enjoying each others company, and didn't want to break up the party quite yet." Her eyes twinkled. "So… er, I'll lead the way, shall I?"
The Ravenclaw first years obeyed her, falling into line. They walked back out into the entrance, and up the great marble staircase. Anna gazed about in wonder once more. She tripped over a tapestry at the top of the stairs, and stubbed her toe. "Ouch!"
"Mind where you're going," remarked Penelope absent-mindedly, her gaze following the bespectacled red-head leading another group of first years up another flight of stairs. Padma raised her eyebrows meaningfully at Ophelia.
Just when Anna's legs were starting to ache from climbing, and her brain was turned in knots from so many turns, and hidden doors, Penelope stopped in front of a suit of armor. "Nunquam Titallandus," she ordered. The armor took a life of it's own, bowing and stepping aside to reveal a doorway. Penelope led the new students into the room.
"This is our common room," said Penelope, arching out her arm once the armor had resumed it's former state. Anna liked the space right away. It was a circular room, with a blue carpet on the floor, blue armchairs, bookshelves that lined the walls, and a blue fire crackling merrily in the hearth. Penelope grinned as she saw this. "Looks as if the welcoming committee already arrived. You'll find your rooms at the top of the stairs. Boys to the right, girls to the left." She gestured at the two spiral staircases that continued out of sight.
Anna followed Padma and Mandy, as they hopped up the stairs two steps at a time. They reached the door at the very top, and Mandy thrust it open. "I call the window bed!" she shouted with glee. Even Padma couldn't help but grin at this remark.
Anna chose one of the five beds, the second from the door. She sat down, smoothing the blue bedspread with her hand. A small weight fell at her side, attracting her attention.
"Greymalkin!" she cried, picking up the kitten, and hugging him tight. Lisa walked over, holding a Siamese cat in her arms. The cat stared at Greymalkin with it's wide blue eyes.
"I see you brought a cat too," said Lisa. "I hope they get along. This is Isis." She held the larger cat out for Greymalkin to sniff. She batted at the kitten, who hopped back into Anna's lap. Anna and Lisa looked at each other and grinned.
"They'll learn to live with it," laughed Anna. Padma came over and sat next to Anna.
"My sister and I drew straw on who would get our cat," said Padma, stroking Greymalkin wistfully, "and Parvati got her. All I get is the family Mongoose – that's Kip," she pointed.
"I didn't know you could have mongooses here," said Mandy, padding over in her slippered feet. She had already drawn her bed curtains, and changed into her pajamas.
"Mum sent Dumbledore a letter, and he said he could make an exception. They kill snakes and all." She raised her eyebrows at Mandy, reminding Anna of that similar gesture out in the hall.
"What was that about?" she asked, "When you looked at Ophelia on the way up?"
Ophelia looked up from the bag at her feet – she had been placing books on the shelf – "Oh, that. Penelope seems to be in love with my neighbor."
"Your neighbor?" Mandy turned and questioned.
"Yes – Ottery St. Catchpole. It's our family, and the Diggory's and the Lovegood's and the Weasley's. The one Penelope was watching was a Weasley – Percy to be precise. Those were his brothers, the ones who were the last to finish singing. And Ronald was sorted into Gryffindor. Juliet used to play Quidditch with the boys when we were younger. You're not related to the Weasleys, are you Anna?" she inquired.
"No," replied Anna, knowing all of her relatives must be dead. Otherwise – well, Anna didn't think she wanted any relatives that wouldn't take in a poor orphaned child.
"Just wondering – the hair and all." Ophelia smiled, as Anna brought several of her books over to the bookcase. "Oh! Lydia Trendille – I love that one!"
"You've read it?" asked Anna eagerly. Ophelia smiled, and nodded, but Padma cut in.
"Oh, dear, she'll be talking about it for days now. Anna, you're in for it."
"No, I love to read!" exclaimed Anna. "Especially Lydia, she's my favorite."
"May I read that sometime?" Lisa asked.
"Certainly! Any of my books – you can borrow." Anna was more than happy to have someone to share something with, after having so little for so long.
"But tonight," interjected Padma, "I'm planning on sleeping. I, for one, am exhausted."
"And we have class tomorrow," added Ophelia, placing the last book gently on the shelf.
"Already?" asked Anna.
"Shame, isn't it?" quipped Mandy, but Anna could tell she was excited too. "Goodnight everyone."
"Goodnight, Mandy," came the chorus of four voices. Each girl made their way to their beds, got into their pajama's and under the covers, and promptly fell asleep. The last sensation of Anna's wonderful day was that of a small, warm cat curling up to her, and falling off into dreams-so-sweet.
A/N: Wow, that was a long one! So Anna's a Ravenclaw – big surprise given the title, huh? Maybe she should've been a Hufflepuff just to throw everyone. Nah… Kudos to those of you who figured out Roger's last name. J Now there's another big gap I have to write (I wrote this chapter in October). So… it may be a while. Sorry! But review always help… er – inspire me. *Isn't that horrid?*
