Chapter 6- Daises
She gazed down on Sirius before flickering over James to me as slowly her face crunched up to look as if she were smelling something foul. Looking back down to Sirius she said, "I always knew you were common, brother, but I never imagined even a troll of a Black would befriend a Potter." She said as Sirius stood up. "Mother will not be pleased."
"Tell her whatever you want, I told you lot I was done with you the day I was accepted." He said firmly. James was in obvious shock.
She stiffened, "No matter what blood says, I disown you as my brother. And to think I didn't believe Malfoy when I first heard." She said leaving. "I should have known." The door slid shut behind her as I sat their utterly dumbfounded. The only thing I could figure out is that their families must be rivals.
Sirius turned back to James who closed his mouth. "so," James said, "You're a Black." Sirius shrugged his shoulders as I caught on. "Anyways, would you like another chocolate frog?" he asked as relief flowed over Sirius.
We just got back from changing into our Hogwarts robes when a voice boomed through the train stopping our conversations in mid-sentence. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train. It'll be taken to the school separately." The announcer said as if someone was holding her nose. My stomach jumped and my throat clogged, in five minutes time I would be in the strangest, yet I was assured, the coolest place possible.
"Oh. My.." I said, knowing who weird I must appear.
"Oh- my- Gowd!!!" James shouted dropping to his knees. "At LAST!". I couldn't hold back my laughter at his silly gimmicks. I could not remember ever laughing so much.
The door flung open as a shaggy blond, green-eyed male entered the room with Abby. "Keeping on top of things like usual James, eh?" he asked as Abby came to return her book in the trunk by me.
"Only trying to, without you here, it's a tough job!" he declared, his finger in the air.
"Are you trying to make me blush?" The stranger growled as Abby whispered in my ear…
"That's Bones, his father works for ours in the ministry. He's a fourth year. Pretty clever, and always likes to take charge, that's why we call him Captain most of the time, or Bones… never by his first name."
I watched as James pretended to whimper some more, "Cause, it's working…" Bones smiled as Elizabeth snorted. "By the way, why are we waiting in here instead of a corridor? We will lose our place in the shoving crowd if we don't hurry up. Personally, I counted on gaining more then one bruise this year!" He exclaimed as he sliding the door open and everyone evacuated the room, as the train started to slow.
"First years! First years! This way, hurry up now!" A towering shadow yelled with a lantern in their massive hands.
"I'll see later, try and get into Grinffydor… if you can!" Abby yelled through the crowd to me as Bones pulled her away.
"Grinffydor?" I asked my self questionably as we started to move. The cold was biting, but the night, beautiful. The dark quickly engulfed us in it's one of many swaying shadows. We climbed pass darker objects what I guessed to be towering trees. We slowly walked to the top of a hill gasping we finally reached our destination. Wooden boats floated, side by side in front of us in tune to the nightly crickets. I gasped at my first sight of Hogwarts. It wasn't hard to hear that I wasn't the only one. The lights shone and lit up its reflection on the lake like a looking glass. Towers of all shapes and sizes erupted from the massive surrounding walls. The gigantic castle floated surrounded in mist as if in a fairy tale. Only then the reality of the whole situation hit me like a thousand bricks, I was living a fairy tale.
"Hogwarts," the giant said, "Is as wonderful as it looks, you'll be have'n the best time of your lives. I know I did." He said reassuring to no one in peculiar. He led us to the lake's edge where he stopped. A cool breeze blew past, chilling me down to my bones, and over my head. I pulled my cloak tighter as we waited.
"Four to a boat!" The voice boomed, "No more then FOUR!" He shouted over the gasps, as small docks popped out of no where, unrolling themselves swiftly. Using the magical docks, we all quickly pilled into each of the small brown boats. Oddly enough, James, Sirius and I ended up in the last one. As animated as James and Sirius were they couldn't find even a word to say as the docks disappeared in a sliver sparkling cloud of mist. I should have known their stunned faces wouldn't last. They soon made a game out of trying to capsize our boat in the middle of the lake as I held on for dear life. We glided over the lake(well if you didn't have the makings of the two most notorious future pranksters in your boat), and ducked under a covered overhang.
"Everyone out!" the giant shouted as we reached a small stony underground dock. A large oak door lay in front of us; the giant plummeted three times with his fist. In reply the door swung open a couple seconds later. A tall, kind yet stern looking, older Wizard, stood in front of us, draped in maroon and gold robes. He had the longest beard I ever saw, to mid-stomach. It was a shiny auburn and sliver beard that lit up like a new gem.
He suddenly broke into a smile, his eyes crinkled up, as if he found something humorousI looked around and saw nothing even a bit amusing. Shivering I looked up at him, couldn't he just let us in? James and Sirius had succeeded in drenching me in lake water, it was amazing in its self I actually had not fallen over board. "The first years I presume, Hagrid." He stated more then questioned, raising his graying eyebrow higher up on to his forehead.
"Yep, Professor Dumbledore, the lot of them." He replied, fidgeting nervously under his stare. For what reason I couldn't tell, he looked nice enough. I really liked his beard. It always moved when he talked or smiled, I could stare at it forever.
"Very well," he said turning to us, the first years, "Follow me now." he turned, our group followed him in to the brightly-lit gigantic interance hall. The ceiling disappeared in height, taller then my whole town turned on its side, it was simply marvelous. So stunned, I didn't utter any of the gasps that filled the hallway as we moved up the staircase, packed for as we would get lost other wise. I was looking around filled with wonderment, that I didn't notice when he led us off into a small room. My stomach rumbled with hunger at the very smell of food wafting through the hallways. "Welcome to Hogwarts." he begun, "The banquet will began shortly, but before we eat, you'll have to be sorted into your houses."
"Can't we just eat?' James whined in my ear as I tried to hide my giggles. Still I received an amused look from Dumbledore.
"The Sorting Ceremony is very important, for what house you are in you'll gain the responsibly of trying your best to win the house cup, a great honor. Your triumphs will earn you points, yet your mistakes will lose you points. It's your responsibly, to your house and fellow housemates, to do the best you can at this school."
"So don't mess up!" James whispered in my ear, this time Dumbledore ignored me completely and raised an eyebrow at James.
"You just did." I whispered under my breath.
"The houses are, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Your house acts as a family to you and you to them. You take classes with them, share the dormitories, eat, and spend time in your common room. Each house has produced many noble wizards and witches, and due to them I suggest you straighten your selves up as you are waiting." he suggested looking at the untidy cloaks of James and Sirius. Until now, I ceased to realize they appeared to have rolled in mud.
"What did you do?" I sniffled a laugh as I looked at them.
"Rough hiking." James threw out as I shook my head.
I pulled out my wand, "Stand still," I ordered "Luckily I learned some basic charms." I muttered under my breath. "Accio sucio." I waved my wand as the dirt jumped off of his cloak and fell to the ground with a jerk of my wand. Just in time too, Dumbledore sweeped into the room looking in surprise to see James and Sirius's cloaks dirt free. They greeted him with a 'too innocent' eyelash bating stare and a sweet grin in return to his curious face. The expression that would be known throughout Hogwarts after another of their many famous pranks were pulled.
"The Sorting ceremony is ready." He annouced leading us through the doors. Whispers greeted us in the dining hall as we made it down the isle.
"That's my brother I tell you!"
"See my sister? I bet she'll get Ravenclaw, bloody brilliant that one." I made my way along trying to look more confident then I felt, still I could feel the chunks of mornings' breakfast rising slowly in my throat. Silently, Dumbledore picked up an old frayed hat, and placed it on a stool. I stared at it, completely stumped. What were we supposed to do? Before I had anymore time to ponder this subject, the hat jumped to life, starling more then just me. A flap raised on the brim, as a mouth, and the crinkles of wear seemed to form an odd face.
A delimma,
Caused the great sorcerers to be,
How shall we pick a way to sort the students,
When we're no longer to be?
Why Ravenclaw studied,
Hufflepuff at her side,
Slytherin brewed,
And Gryffindor, moved me too and fro at his side,
That's the time Gryffindor came to how it ought to be.
Soon filled with a bit of the four sorcerer's brilliant minds,
I'll be damned if you can find a smarter hat then me.
So pull me snug,
Over your head,
Tonight is the Sorting Ceremony.
Do you belong in Ravenclaw,
The wisest far and wide,
Their intelligence could make you eat your hide.
Is Hufflepuff where you should rediside,
Where loyalty and hard working ethics,
Are not a problem to provide.
Or will Gryffindor Challenge you,
Bravery, and courage fill their corridors,
Not for those easily slide into fright.
Or does Slytherin settle your nerves,
You'll make the best of friends,
With only them, you will achieve all of your ends.
Try me on, what do you have to fear,
The rest of us are all hungry for what comes tonight.
I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
Don't be in fright,
Let's put this Sorting on the map!
"Dwella Abitt!" Dumbledore shouted, a small black haired, sickly looking girl dragged her self up to the stool. Dumbledore raised the hat to her head, gently placing it on. "Slytherin!" The frayed flap shouted almost immediately causing me to jump. A cheer erupted from the Slytherin table as she slowly made her way over. I stirred nervously looking at the gloomy lot. I didn't think I wanted to end up with them. But then again I could be mistaken. I stood tiredly, bursting with nerves watching the hat take a longer time on some students then others. "Lily Evans." He shouted as I started to float over, what if the hat spat at me saying I didn't belong? How embarrassing that would be! Don't trip, that would be even worse! I told my self as I passed the blur of faces unsteadily. I slipped uncertainly on to the stool, facing a crowd of strangers. My heart beated so fast, I prayed it wouldn't stop under the stress.
The hat flopped onto my head, really over, I was blinded and yet started to calm like a wild animal. "Interesting…" a soft voice whispered in my ear musically. "Difficult, yes very…" the voice sung in my ear. "There is Knowledge, oh goodness yes, far beyond… A courage streak, hmm interesting…" The hat whispered softly.
"What houses do I qualify for?" I thought. "Difficult…" the hat mumbled. "You treasure loyalty, beyond most. Yet your thirst for knowledge wouldn't be satisfied… oh my goodness no, Ravenclaw would be a glorious place for you to finally rest. Courage…oh such the large amount….Hmmm…" The hat thought shifting itself. "Best to make it… GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted as Dumbledore pulled it swiftly off my head. A table to the left exploded with claps, the second new Gryffindor, people smiled relieved as I floated over and sat next to Abigail who had switched places with a second year.
"I knew it!" She smiled, and then threw her arms around me in a warm hug that I returned, warming my cold body, still chilled from the night air. "We're going to have so much fun, you and me!" She smiled as I grinned back.
"Hey why didn't I get a hug?" whined Sirius Black, from across the table.
"Oh, Black did you really want one?" She teased as he pretend to vomit behind the Captain's back.
"Girls." Bones muttered "They barley know each other and they'll all ready touchy, feely." He said disgustedly to Black as he joined him in rolling their eyes, looking back at the Ceremony.
"Umm… Lily, why are you wet?"
"Lupin, Remus." Dumbledore called as a boy in worn cloaks sat on the stool. "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.
"Do I even have to tell you who I shared the boat on the way over with?" I turned to smirk at her smiling face.
"Longbottom, Frank!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"So you and James shared a boat, eh?" she smirked knowingly back.
"Ozzlia, Pamela."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"You can't forget Sirius." I grinned at his innocent face.
"I swear officer Abby, I didn't do nothing!" he said throwing his hands in the air.
"Yeah, you just did something." She said shaking her head, glancing back up at the ceremony. "Oh, James is next! He better get Gryffindor! I don't know what father would say if he didn't!" Abby whispered as we turned in interest to watch his Sorting.
"Potter, James!" Dumbledore called as he walked swiftly up to take his place on the awaiting stool. The hat barely touched his head when…
"GRYFFINDOR!" rang through the hall. I clapped as madly as Abby when James joined us.
"Good job, James! Father will be so proud!" Abby gushed happily. James pretended to cry but the blush of the compliment lit up his checks.
"Snape, Servus!" He called as we all watched interest.
"Slytherin!" The hat called almost as quickly as James.
"That was an obvious call." James snorted as the Gryffindor table snickered.
"Welcome, old students and new alike, before we feast," stalled the headmaster, Armando Dippet. "Please note the Dark forest is out of bounds to ALL students. The second floor of Dungeons is forbidden to ALL, along with laziness. The forbidden forest is forbidden to all students. If You can't decide if something is against the rules or not, then DO NOT do it." He grinned, "Now we feast!" He shouted clapping his hands as the tables filled with food. I quickly grabbed chicken and potatoes digging in.
"Hungry, eh Lily?" Bones asked as I nodded in agreement. "Ravenous!"