Well, here's the next chap. There's a Sorting Ceremony (I even made a
song!), and stuff like that. please tell me if you thought it was good!
Sasina (Sass for short) Chapter 4- Discovery
Suddenly a man, slightly worn looking, stepped up beside her. He spared her a quick glance of shock before saying the same charm she herself had spoken- "Expecto patronum." And the same silver shot out of his wand at them. But he was obviously better than her, because the creatures started to back away. Then, all in a rush, they turned, and jumped from the moving train.
Sass felt her legs start to buckle underneath her and reached out to the wall for support. She closed her eyes and assessed the damage. /Funny. I'm not really at all hurt. I'm just completely exhausted. Well, that's probably from the magic/. She opened her eyes when she heard the man say, "Who, exactly, are you?"
She replied, smiling a little at the expression of shock on his face, although she didn't know why it was there. "I'm a new student at Hogwarts. My name is Sasina. You?" She was too tired to be polite.
He smiled, and his expression grew a little less shocked. "I'm Professor Lupin. I'll be teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts. Er- sorry if I seem a bit peculiar. I was very surprised that you knew the Patronus Charm. I'm even more impressed since you're a first year. That's supposed to be very advanced magic."
"Oh, so that's what it's called." Sass let herself slide to the floor so she was sitting. "I don't really know it, just a weird coincidence," she said, concentrating to stay focused. "I'd tell you about it if I weren't so tired." /And something else/, she thought. Now that the danger was over, she was starting to relive the memories she had forced away while fighting. "What were those things?"
"Dementors. They guard our- wizards' that is- prison. It's called Azkaban." He sighed. "I don't agree with it. Dementors are evil creatures."
"I sorta figured that out." She put her head between her knees.
He nodded, a little. "I would like to talk about your 'weird coincidence' sometime, if you don't mind." At her nod, he continued. "But for now I would suggest that you rest up. The train should arrive at any minute now. And here," she heard a snapping sound and looked up to see him proffering a large chunk of chocolate. "Eat this. It will help with the memories and the tiredness." He bent over and helped her up, then put the chocolate in her hand. As she started to eat it, not knowing why she trusted him so much, she felt warmth spreading down to her toes. He smiled at her surprised expression, and then headed for the front of the train. She watched him go, then turned back to the compartment where her trunk was, wondering what, exactly, had just happened.
* * * * *
She sat in the compartment for the rest of the trip in something of a daze. Fortunately, the other girls seemed somewhat shaken by the dementors, too, and were disinclined to talk. She could not come to terms with the memories that haunted her, and the dementors had brought all of them rushing back. She remembered.
Sitting in a corner of the corridor, sobbing brokenly. Milord Paul had threatened to beat Bobby if she didn't improve in her training. Then there had been the grueling workout, which had ended in at least two bruised ribs for her, and, as always, the pain in her left foot.
She was alone. There was no one but Bobby, and he was little comfort. Far more often she was the strong one, caring for his small scratches the best she could, listening to his tales of the mean kids teasing him. She always tried the best she could to not let him know that her life was so much worse. She loved him, though, with all of her heart. /Not that there's anyone else to love/, was her bleak thought. She put her head between her knees, and cried, and cried, until the tears wouldn't come. Then she just rocked back and forth, unable to express her mourning. She was silent. Always silent, or else Milord Paul would find out, and then there would be more beatings, and more pain. / Why me?/ she cried out silently. /Why couldn't I be a normal five-year-old, with someone who loved me?/ But that would never be. She was alone here, forever.
Once again, the gradual stopping of the train brought her out of her reverie with a jolt. She stood up and went to get her trunk, trying to shake off her melancholy, but everyone else was just leaving. Noticing her confusion, Clara (the girl who had bought her lunch, she remembered) smiled kindly. You don't have to get your trunk. They take our things up for us. Didn't you hear the announcement? C'mon."
"Thanks." Sass followed her off the train and out into the cold rain. It beat down on her head as she looked around, trying to see where she was supposed to go now. Then she heard a loud voice yelling above all of the students and the rain. "Firs' years this way!"
Sass started towards the voice, and eventually could make out the figure of the person doing the calling. The only problem was that he seemed to be over ten feet tall! He continued calling into the rain as she made her way to his side. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Any more firs' years? All right now, follow me! And watch yer step!" He headed off into the darkness, and Sass followed him, stumbling along in the wake of his lantern. They started to descend a narrow path, and Sass could hear some of the others tripping and stumbling. The path bent suddenly, and Sass came around the corner, feeling her mouth open in shock. The path opened up onto a dark lake, and across it was a huge castle on top of a cliff. It had far too many turrets and towers to count, and the numerous windows twinkled brightly. She broke her gaze away from it with difficultly as the man pointed to a fleet of small boats. "In ye get, now," he said. "No more'n four to a boat! No more'n four!" Sass climbed into one, followed by a tall, strong-looking blonde, and a pair of twins with round faces and light brown hair. All of them looked just as drenched as she.
Suddenly, Sass heard the man yell, "FORWARD!" and the boats smoothly glided out onto the water. They were all silent, as the giant castle loomed closer and closer. Then it was right on top of them, and Sass ducked her head, as instructed by the man, as the small fleet swished through a curtain of ivy and into a dark tunnel, which was at least out of the rain. Then the boats stopped at a small gravel bar, where they all climbed out.
The man led them up a passage with rock walls, and then they came out on the lawn right in front of the castle. A last flight of stone steps, and the doors swung open to reveal a tall, severe-looking woman in black robes. She stepped aside, and they all crowded into the hall. It was huge! Sass had thought Michelle and Emara's home was large, but you could have fit twenty of them in here and still had space left over. Torches were lit in decorated brackets on the walls, and a large marble staircase led upwards. The woman nodded to the man who'd led them here. Then she gestured for the first years to follow her. Leaving him behind, they entered the stone hall. Sass figured the Great Hall must be through a door on the right, because there were sounds coming from it. However, the woman showed them into a small chamber to the left.
"I am Professor McGonagall." The woman's voice rang out over them. "I would like to welcome you, one and all, to Hogwarts. There will be a feast shortly, to celebrate the beginning of the term, but first you must be Sorted into your houses." Sass wondered what they had to do for the Sorting. Some kind of magic? But she didn't know any magic! "You will be Sorted into one of four Houses: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin," Professor McGonagall continued. "This is very important, because while you are at Hogwarts, your House will be like your family. Good behavior will earn points for your House, while rule breaking will lose points. The House with the most points at the end of the year will receive the House Cup.
"The Ceremony will take place shortly, in the hall. I will return when we are ready. Please be quiet while you wait." With that, she left.
All of a sudden, whispering broke out all over the room. The blonde from Sass' boat turned towards her. "My name's Sandra Woods," she said, holding out her hand. Sass returned the handshake as she replied.
"I'm Sasina Celeborn-Lantuan. Do- you know what we're going to have to do?"
Sandra smiled, a little hesitantly. "That's a mouthful. Yeah- we only have to try on this hat, and it says where we go. My brother- Oliver, he's a seventh year in Gryffindor. Graduating this year. He told me."
"Oh." Sass nodded, a little tongue-tied. "Thanks. Anyway, you can call me Sass for short. Everyone does." She smiled too.
"You can call me Sandy. Or whatever. I wish they would hurry up," she said. "I'm starving. Lunch seems ages ago."
Sass started to reply, but was interrupted by Professor McGonagall's return. "Come on now," she said. "We're about to start. Make a line and follow me."
Feeling slightly nervous, but not willing to show it, Sass fell into step with the other first years as they walked back into the hall, then through a large set of double doors into the Great Hall.
* * * * *
The place was amazing. The Hall seemed to open directly into the heavens. Furious purple clouds scudded across it. But there was no rain in the hall, and it was quite warm, so it had to be more magic. Sass wouldn't have been able to tear her eyes away if she hadn't been walking. But there was more. Thousands of candles floating in midair illuminated the Hall. All the other students sat at four tables, highlighting the sparkling golden cutlery that sat in front of them. Another table sat crossways to them, where all the teachers sat. Sass' eyes were drawn to a white-haired man sitting in the middle in a fancier seat, almost a throne. The candlelight flickered on his half-moon glasses. Professor McGonagall led them to this table, so they stood with their backs to the teachers, facing all the other students.
She placed a stool in front of the first years, and then gently put a ratty, torn hat onto it. Sass supposed this must be the hat they had to try on. Everyone in the hall was staring at it. Now Sass' nervousness came back in full force. What if she wasn't good enough? What if the Hat said she wasn't a witch, after all? Then she saw the hat twitch, and a long rip opened up along the side- and it started to sing.
Once, four great wizards lived,
Who were known in word and deed
They shared a single great idea
And all of them agreed,
That they should make a magic school
Hogwarts was its name
And so created was the place
That is now of great fame
Those four then made four houses,
One for each of them,
That they might pick the students
With traits that they thought gems
Godric Gryffindor chose those
Who were daring, brave and true
His students were all chivalrous,
Bold deeds they would all do
Sweet Hufflepuff was kind,
And unafraid of work,
Her chosen ones were loyal,
Their tedium was never shirked
Now Rowena Ravenclaw, she was
Most beautiful and most wise
She chose students bright and learned,
Or those that had old eyes
Slytherin was another sort,
He chose ambitious ones,
He was cunning, clever, he was shrewd,
His students usually won
Now in one of those four houses,
Each child had to be put,
But when the founders passed away,
How would they then do it?
The founders then created a hat,
That had some brains, for see,
Now that hat can Sort the children
And that hat is me!/
The song ended, and everyone clapped and cheered. Professor McGonagall stepped forward and spoke. "When I call your name, you will step forward and sit on the stool, then put the hat on your head. After you are sorted, go and sit at your house's table. Now," she unrolled a long piece of parchment, "let the Sorting begin!
"Avery, Lucille!" A redheaded girl stepped up nervously and put on the Sorting Hat. She sat there for a moment, then jumped as the Hat yelled, "Slytherin!" She ran over and sat at the second table from the right as they clapped. Sandra whispered into Sass' ear, "I almost feel sorry for her. From all accounts, she's really nice, but her parents were Dark Wizards who ran off and left her, and now she's been sorted into the house that turned out every bad 'un there was."
Sass frowned a little as "Calleigh, Tim!" was sorted into Hufflepuff, the table on the right. "Tell me more about that," she started to say, but was interrupted as Professor McGonagall's voice rang out. "Celeborn-Lantuan, Sasina."
Sass' head snapped up. She smiled nervously as Sandy winked at her, then stepped forward and sat on the stool, making sure she didn't betray just /how/ nervous she was. Sass put the hat on and let it fall over her eyes. There was silence for a moment, and then she heard a small voice in her right ear. "Hmmm. So. Clever, very smart, but strong, too- not afraid of dirt and hard work. But you're brave- ah, yes, and been through a lot. A right puzzle, you are. I wonder." and here it paused as if lost in memory, ". well, maybe.
~~~
What house is she gonna be in? PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sasina (Sass for short) Chapter 4- Discovery
Suddenly a man, slightly worn looking, stepped up beside her. He spared her a quick glance of shock before saying the same charm she herself had spoken- "Expecto patronum." And the same silver shot out of his wand at them. But he was obviously better than her, because the creatures started to back away. Then, all in a rush, they turned, and jumped from the moving train.
Sass felt her legs start to buckle underneath her and reached out to the wall for support. She closed her eyes and assessed the damage. /Funny. I'm not really at all hurt. I'm just completely exhausted. Well, that's probably from the magic/. She opened her eyes when she heard the man say, "Who, exactly, are you?"
She replied, smiling a little at the expression of shock on his face, although she didn't know why it was there. "I'm a new student at Hogwarts. My name is Sasina. You?" She was too tired to be polite.
He smiled, and his expression grew a little less shocked. "I'm Professor Lupin. I'll be teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts. Er- sorry if I seem a bit peculiar. I was very surprised that you knew the Patronus Charm. I'm even more impressed since you're a first year. That's supposed to be very advanced magic."
"Oh, so that's what it's called." Sass let herself slide to the floor so she was sitting. "I don't really know it, just a weird coincidence," she said, concentrating to stay focused. "I'd tell you about it if I weren't so tired." /And something else/, she thought. Now that the danger was over, she was starting to relive the memories she had forced away while fighting. "What were those things?"
"Dementors. They guard our- wizards' that is- prison. It's called Azkaban." He sighed. "I don't agree with it. Dementors are evil creatures."
"I sorta figured that out." She put her head between her knees.
He nodded, a little. "I would like to talk about your 'weird coincidence' sometime, if you don't mind." At her nod, he continued. "But for now I would suggest that you rest up. The train should arrive at any minute now. And here," she heard a snapping sound and looked up to see him proffering a large chunk of chocolate. "Eat this. It will help with the memories and the tiredness." He bent over and helped her up, then put the chocolate in her hand. As she started to eat it, not knowing why she trusted him so much, she felt warmth spreading down to her toes. He smiled at her surprised expression, and then headed for the front of the train. She watched him go, then turned back to the compartment where her trunk was, wondering what, exactly, had just happened.
* * * * *
She sat in the compartment for the rest of the trip in something of a daze. Fortunately, the other girls seemed somewhat shaken by the dementors, too, and were disinclined to talk. She could not come to terms with the memories that haunted her, and the dementors had brought all of them rushing back. She remembered.
Sitting in a corner of the corridor, sobbing brokenly. Milord Paul had threatened to beat Bobby if she didn't improve in her training. Then there had been the grueling workout, which had ended in at least two bruised ribs for her, and, as always, the pain in her left foot.
She was alone. There was no one but Bobby, and he was little comfort. Far more often she was the strong one, caring for his small scratches the best she could, listening to his tales of the mean kids teasing him. She always tried the best she could to not let him know that her life was so much worse. She loved him, though, with all of her heart. /Not that there's anyone else to love/, was her bleak thought. She put her head between her knees, and cried, and cried, until the tears wouldn't come. Then she just rocked back and forth, unable to express her mourning. She was silent. Always silent, or else Milord Paul would find out, and then there would be more beatings, and more pain. / Why me?/ she cried out silently. /Why couldn't I be a normal five-year-old, with someone who loved me?/ But that would never be. She was alone here, forever.
Once again, the gradual stopping of the train brought her out of her reverie with a jolt. She stood up and went to get her trunk, trying to shake off her melancholy, but everyone else was just leaving. Noticing her confusion, Clara (the girl who had bought her lunch, she remembered) smiled kindly. You don't have to get your trunk. They take our things up for us. Didn't you hear the announcement? C'mon."
"Thanks." Sass followed her off the train and out into the cold rain. It beat down on her head as she looked around, trying to see where she was supposed to go now. Then she heard a loud voice yelling above all of the students and the rain. "Firs' years this way!"
Sass started towards the voice, and eventually could make out the figure of the person doing the calling. The only problem was that he seemed to be over ten feet tall! He continued calling into the rain as she made her way to his side. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Any more firs' years? All right now, follow me! And watch yer step!" He headed off into the darkness, and Sass followed him, stumbling along in the wake of his lantern. They started to descend a narrow path, and Sass could hear some of the others tripping and stumbling. The path bent suddenly, and Sass came around the corner, feeling her mouth open in shock. The path opened up onto a dark lake, and across it was a huge castle on top of a cliff. It had far too many turrets and towers to count, and the numerous windows twinkled brightly. She broke her gaze away from it with difficultly as the man pointed to a fleet of small boats. "In ye get, now," he said. "No more'n four to a boat! No more'n four!" Sass climbed into one, followed by a tall, strong-looking blonde, and a pair of twins with round faces and light brown hair. All of them looked just as drenched as she.
Suddenly, Sass heard the man yell, "FORWARD!" and the boats smoothly glided out onto the water. They were all silent, as the giant castle loomed closer and closer. Then it was right on top of them, and Sass ducked her head, as instructed by the man, as the small fleet swished through a curtain of ivy and into a dark tunnel, which was at least out of the rain. Then the boats stopped at a small gravel bar, where they all climbed out.
The man led them up a passage with rock walls, and then they came out on the lawn right in front of the castle. A last flight of stone steps, and the doors swung open to reveal a tall, severe-looking woman in black robes. She stepped aside, and they all crowded into the hall. It was huge! Sass had thought Michelle and Emara's home was large, but you could have fit twenty of them in here and still had space left over. Torches were lit in decorated brackets on the walls, and a large marble staircase led upwards. The woman nodded to the man who'd led them here. Then she gestured for the first years to follow her. Leaving him behind, they entered the stone hall. Sass figured the Great Hall must be through a door on the right, because there were sounds coming from it. However, the woman showed them into a small chamber to the left.
"I am Professor McGonagall." The woman's voice rang out over them. "I would like to welcome you, one and all, to Hogwarts. There will be a feast shortly, to celebrate the beginning of the term, but first you must be Sorted into your houses." Sass wondered what they had to do for the Sorting. Some kind of magic? But she didn't know any magic! "You will be Sorted into one of four Houses: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin," Professor McGonagall continued. "This is very important, because while you are at Hogwarts, your House will be like your family. Good behavior will earn points for your House, while rule breaking will lose points. The House with the most points at the end of the year will receive the House Cup.
"The Ceremony will take place shortly, in the hall. I will return when we are ready. Please be quiet while you wait." With that, she left.
All of a sudden, whispering broke out all over the room. The blonde from Sass' boat turned towards her. "My name's Sandra Woods," she said, holding out her hand. Sass returned the handshake as she replied.
"I'm Sasina Celeborn-Lantuan. Do- you know what we're going to have to do?"
Sandra smiled, a little hesitantly. "That's a mouthful. Yeah- we only have to try on this hat, and it says where we go. My brother- Oliver, he's a seventh year in Gryffindor. Graduating this year. He told me."
"Oh." Sass nodded, a little tongue-tied. "Thanks. Anyway, you can call me Sass for short. Everyone does." She smiled too.
"You can call me Sandy. Or whatever. I wish they would hurry up," she said. "I'm starving. Lunch seems ages ago."
Sass started to reply, but was interrupted by Professor McGonagall's return. "Come on now," she said. "We're about to start. Make a line and follow me."
Feeling slightly nervous, but not willing to show it, Sass fell into step with the other first years as they walked back into the hall, then through a large set of double doors into the Great Hall.
* * * * *
The place was amazing. The Hall seemed to open directly into the heavens. Furious purple clouds scudded across it. But there was no rain in the hall, and it was quite warm, so it had to be more magic. Sass wouldn't have been able to tear her eyes away if she hadn't been walking. But there was more. Thousands of candles floating in midair illuminated the Hall. All the other students sat at four tables, highlighting the sparkling golden cutlery that sat in front of them. Another table sat crossways to them, where all the teachers sat. Sass' eyes were drawn to a white-haired man sitting in the middle in a fancier seat, almost a throne. The candlelight flickered on his half-moon glasses. Professor McGonagall led them to this table, so they stood with their backs to the teachers, facing all the other students.
She placed a stool in front of the first years, and then gently put a ratty, torn hat onto it. Sass supposed this must be the hat they had to try on. Everyone in the hall was staring at it. Now Sass' nervousness came back in full force. What if she wasn't good enough? What if the Hat said she wasn't a witch, after all? Then she saw the hat twitch, and a long rip opened up along the side- and it started to sing.
Once, four great wizards lived,
Who were known in word and deed
They shared a single great idea
And all of them agreed,
That they should make a magic school
Hogwarts was its name
And so created was the place
That is now of great fame
Those four then made four houses,
One for each of them,
That they might pick the students
With traits that they thought gems
Godric Gryffindor chose those
Who were daring, brave and true
His students were all chivalrous,
Bold deeds they would all do
Sweet Hufflepuff was kind,
And unafraid of work,
Her chosen ones were loyal,
Their tedium was never shirked
Now Rowena Ravenclaw, she was
Most beautiful and most wise
She chose students bright and learned,
Or those that had old eyes
Slytherin was another sort,
He chose ambitious ones,
He was cunning, clever, he was shrewd,
His students usually won
Now in one of those four houses,
Each child had to be put,
But when the founders passed away,
How would they then do it?
The founders then created a hat,
That had some brains, for see,
Now that hat can Sort the children
And that hat is me!/
The song ended, and everyone clapped and cheered. Professor McGonagall stepped forward and spoke. "When I call your name, you will step forward and sit on the stool, then put the hat on your head. After you are sorted, go and sit at your house's table. Now," she unrolled a long piece of parchment, "let the Sorting begin!
"Avery, Lucille!" A redheaded girl stepped up nervously and put on the Sorting Hat. She sat there for a moment, then jumped as the Hat yelled, "Slytherin!" She ran over and sat at the second table from the right as they clapped. Sandra whispered into Sass' ear, "I almost feel sorry for her. From all accounts, she's really nice, but her parents were Dark Wizards who ran off and left her, and now she's been sorted into the house that turned out every bad 'un there was."
Sass frowned a little as "Calleigh, Tim!" was sorted into Hufflepuff, the table on the right. "Tell me more about that," she started to say, but was interrupted as Professor McGonagall's voice rang out. "Celeborn-Lantuan, Sasina."
Sass' head snapped up. She smiled nervously as Sandy winked at her, then stepped forward and sat on the stool, making sure she didn't betray just /how/ nervous she was. Sass put the hat on and let it fall over her eyes. There was silence for a moment, and then she heard a small voice in her right ear. "Hmmm. So. Clever, very smart, but strong, too- not afraid of dirt and hard work. But you're brave- ah, yes, and been through a lot. A right puzzle, you are. I wonder." and here it paused as if lost in memory, ". well, maybe.
~~~
What house is she gonna be in? PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!