For Julie. Congratulations for getting into the combined school team!
Chapter 2
Riley was trembling as she and Julianne stepped off the train. She glanced at Julianne who looked like she was queuing up for an amusement park ride; her eyes were bright with excitement, and her fair skin positively glowed with anticipation.
Riley turned and saw a giant holding a lantern and calling loudly for the first-years to follow him.
Julianne nudged Riley, and said, "What the hell's that?"
But Riley wasn't interested in what the 'creature' was. She wanted to know where she and Julianne had to go. "Julie?" Whispered Riley. "Do we qualify as first-years?"
Julianne stared at Riley. "Do I look eleven?"
Riley rolled her eyes, then turned, and headed for Fred and George who were trying to stuff something down Ron's sweater.
"Fred!" Called Riley. "Fred!"
Fred and George turned and waved as Riley inched towards them with Julianne behind her.
"What's wrong, Stevens?" Said George smiling down at the scared-looking girl and her friend who looked rather bored.
"Do we - Do we follow the first-years?" Asked Riley glancing desperately around her.
"I don't know," admitted George. "But why don't you ask Hagrid?"
"Hagrid?" Said Riley. "Who's Hagrid?"
"Hey, Riles! Chill out! You're starting to sound desperate!"
"Shut up, Julie! George, who is Hagrid?"
In response, George took Riley's hand and practically dragged her towards the 'creature'.
"Hagrid!" Called George. "Hagrid! This is Riley - Riley, this is Hagrid -."
"Hi," said Riley breathlessly, just as Julianne caught up to them.
"Can I 'elp you?" Said Hagrid kindly.
"Yeah. Yeah, please tell us if we should follow the first years or take the carriages?"
For a moment, Hagrid looked puzzled. Then, realization began to dawn on his face. "Oh, you're tha new girls from Durmstrang, aren't yer? Riley and Julianna?"
"Julianne," snapped the girl.
Hagrid ignored her. "You're to follow me, then."
"But - our bags -," stammered Riley.
"They'll be taken to tha school separately. Don' worry. Now -," Hagrid raised his voice, "all off tha train? Good." He turned to the girls. "Follow me."
Trying not to shiver as she waved goodbye to George, she followed Hagrid.
"Don't worry!" he called, before he left. "You'll be seeing us sooner than you think!"
"So," said Hagrid. "You're fifth-years?"
"Yes," said Riley, jogging to keep up. "Are you a teacher here, Hagrid?"
"Yes," said Hagrid, beaming down at her. "And the game keeper too."
"Game keeper?" Repeated Riley, glancing at Julianne and wondering why she wasn't participating in the conversation. She made a mental note to ask her over dinner.
"Yeah. Keeper of the keys."
Riley nodded and said no more. Teeth chattering, more from the fear of going to a new school than the chill, Riley wrapped her pink knitted sweater around her tighter.
Julianne, whose face was a blank, merely followed Hagrid, not complaining about the cold or the distance they were walking. Her thoughts began to stray. She wondered where her uncle was and whether he was safe. She hadn't heard from him in 3 weeks, and the last time he'd written to her, he'd mentioned another living relative who was her age. Julianne had immediately written back to ask who he or she was, and if she could meet him or her, but until then, there was no word from him.
Yet, she hoped.
If there really was another living relative, she didn't have to live with her grandmother anymore over the summer and Christmas breaks. It was not that Julianne didn't like her grandmother, who adopted her, but the old lady was strict and refused to allow Julianne to wear skirts above the knees or tank tops. So, Julianne had kept her stash of 'forbidden clothes' at Riley's place where her parents were more relaxed and less strict about what their daughter wore.
Perhaps she could stay with her relative instead, where she could actually wear what she wanted, and stay out all night! 'Bliss', thought Julianne. Without a real parent or a younger guardian, Julianne had grown up rather wild. She defied her grandmother's orders of not staying at friends' houses just to 'annoy the old girl', she told Riley. The only reason why Julianne agreed to wear 'decent' clothes around the house was so she would get a larger allowance.
"We're here!" Announced Hagrid.
Julianne snapped back to reality. She had to admit she was rather excited, but forced herself not to show it. Faking a bored look, she stepped through the doors, which Hagrid was holding open, and gasped at the sight, which greeted her. The walls were polished, and the candles gave off a rather romantic look. Julianne was a sucker for romantic scenes.
Walking on a bit more, they came to a door.
"I'll leave yer here," said Hagrid. "Professor McGonagall will see yer inside. And whatever you do, please be polite!" Hagrid stared pointedly at Julianne.
Pretending she hadn't seen his look, she opened the door after knocking, Riley, who was trembling, behind her.
Inside was a circular room, in which furniture was neatly arranged. Behind a desk, which had obviously seen better days, sat an old woman, who was looking down at a small stack of parchment.
"Sit down," she said curtly, not looking up.
'Whoa, scary,' thought Julianne, trying not to laugh, as she took a seat in a chair with bronze tarnished armrests. She tried not to cringe.
"So, Julianne, Riley," said Professor McGonagall, finally looking up. "You will join the first years in the Sorting, and go to your respective house tables. I expect you to get used to the rules here at Hogwarts, and any - how should I put it - extra charms or spells you've learned back at Durmstrang are strictly not to be used. I trust you will fit in quickly and happily, and have fun in lessons. You will be taking the same subjects as you did in your old school, except 'Further Studies of the Dark Arts'. Your uniforms will be sent to your rooms by owls later after dinner, and you are not to wear make-up or jewellery with your uniforms."
Julianne, who had been trying hard not to make any comments, couldn't resist. "Not even lip balm?"
Riley and Professor McGonagall stared at her. Julianne knew that Riley was trying to use her eyes to tell her not to push it, but she didn't care.
"Lip balm, Miss Black is acceptable, unless, of course you are using the tinted ones." Her nostrils flared before she continued. "Anymore questions?"
"Er, Professor?" Said Riley, nervously twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
"Yes, Miss Stevens?"
"Do you have a school owlry? My owl -."
"Yes, there is an owlry. Hagrid will ensure that your owl will be taken there safely."
"I'm not counting on that," muttered Julianne, rolling her eyes.
Pretending to not have heard, she dismissed them. "Hurry up, girls," she said, or you might miss the Sorting."
"Professor?"
"Miss Stevens?"
"How do we get to the Sorting?"
"Oh, right," said Professor McGonagall. Julianne smirked. "I'll take you there. Come on now. To the Great Hall."
After walking a short distance, they reached a hall. Glancing up, Riley realized that there was no ceiling. Before she could nudge Julianne, Professor McGonagall's voice had disrupted her chain of thoughts.
"Hagrid!" The professor called. "Wait! Bring the chair back. These two girls have not been sorted!"
"So much for keeping our heads down," muttered Julianne, as she watched Riley act as though she couldn't hear the loud buzz the students were making from wondering who they were.
"Come on, girls!"
Jogging, they reached the front of the hall where a four-legged stool sat. On top it, perched a shabby wizard's hat.
Feeling stupid, Riley glance at Hagrid, wondering what to do.
"Go on, sit on it!" Said professor McGonagall sharply.
Stiffly, Julianne walked up to the stool, lifted off the hat at sat down. Then, she put the hat on her head - it seemed the most logical thing to do.
"Ha!" Said a voice inside her head, making her start. "From Durmstrang, aren't you? Where should I put you? You've got plenty of courage, and you want to prove yourself. Maybe you'll be best in... GRYFFINDOR!"
Shakily, Julianne took off the hat, and made her way to the table, which had the most applause.
Sitting down next to a blond girl with braces, she watched Riley put the hat on her head.
Less than a while later, the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!"
Grinning broadly, Riley hopped off the stool and joined her best friend at the Gryffindor table.
Before Riley could ask Julianne what the hat had said to her, a respectable looking wizard with a long silver beard rose.
"Dumbledore," breathed Riley, awestruck, under her breath.
"First of all, I'd like to welcome you back to good, old Hogwarts. There are no new rules - yet," the corners of his mouth twitched, "but our caretaker, Mr Filch, had promised to put up the list tomorrow."
The Weasley twins groaned.
"Next, we have two new students joining us this year. They are Miss Riley Stevens and Miss Julianne Black."
"What babes!" Yelled a sandy-haired boy down their table.
After the laughter from the school subsided, Dumbledore continued. "They are both fifth-years, and I expect you to help them fit in."
Riley realized that he talked as though he was only addressing one person, though he was talking to the whole school. Thirdly, we have a new Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Joseph Bennington."
All the students clapped politely, though they gave each other knowing looks of "This guy won't last that long either."
Finally, after one more minor announcement, the feast began.
"What did the hat tell you?" Said Riley, trying to be heard over the clatter.
"Oh, nothing much." Julianne didn't want to reveal what the hat told her. It felt like a secret she had to keep to herself.
"Fine if you don't want to tell me,' sniffed Riley.
Then, for the rest of dinner, she talked to the blond girl next to Julianne and beside her. The blond girl introduced herself as Anna Bennet, while the brown-haired girl next to Riley introduced herself as Jazz Luther.
"Is your name really Jazz?" Giggled Riley, wondering what names Jazz's parents had.
"No," admitted Jazz. "My name's Jasmine, but everyone I know calls me Jazz. Except, of course, my parents."
"Do you both have parents who - I mean, are you both pure-blood?"
Jazz nodded, while Anna shook her head. "No, my mother is a muggle. Bit of shock for her."
While Riley, Jazz and Anna talked, ate and laughed, Julianne looked around her. At the furthest side of the hall, sat the blond boy who was Draco Malfoy. Studying him carefully, Julianne realized he was pretty good- looking. From the way he carried himself, Julianne could tell he was well- to-do. 'He would be good for Riley,' she thought. 'The typical bad boy.' Then, realizing that she was thinking of Riley, she studied other familiar faces. However, she kept glancing at Draco.
As she was gazing at his shiny blond hair, Draco looked up and met her gaze head-on. Realizing she'd been caught, she dropped her gaze, and stared at her plate. For the rest of dinner, Julianne did not look up.
Finally, dessert was cleared and dinner was over. Head feeling heavy with food, Julianne rose to her feet and followed a tall seventh-year prefect from her house up to the dormitories. Suddenly, she feeling a rush of blood to her head, everything in Julianne's world faded into darkness as she fell to the cold marble floor.
Chapter 2
Riley was trembling as she and Julianne stepped off the train. She glanced at Julianne who looked like she was queuing up for an amusement park ride; her eyes were bright with excitement, and her fair skin positively glowed with anticipation.
Riley turned and saw a giant holding a lantern and calling loudly for the first-years to follow him.
Julianne nudged Riley, and said, "What the hell's that?"
But Riley wasn't interested in what the 'creature' was. She wanted to know where she and Julianne had to go. "Julie?" Whispered Riley. "Do we qualify as first-years?"
Julianne stared at Riley. "Do I look eleven?"
Riley rolled her eyes, then turned, and headed for Fred and George who were trying to stuff something down Ron's sweater.
"Fred!" Called Riley. "Fred!"
Fred and George turned and waved as Riley inched towards them with Julianne behind her.
"What's wrong, Stevens?" Said George smiling down at the scared-looking girl and her friend who looked rather bored.
"Do we - Do we follow the first-years?" Asked Riley glancing desperately around her.
"I don't know," admitted George. "But why don't you ask Hagrid?"
"Hagrid?" Said Riley. "Who's Hagrid?"
"Hey, Riles! Chill out! You're starting to sound desperate!"
"Shut up, Julie! George, who is Hagrid?"
In response, George took Riley's hand and practically dragged her towards the 'creature'.
"Hagrid!" Called George. "Hagrid! This is Riley - Riley, this is Hagrid -."
"Hi," said Riley breathlessly, just as Julianne caught up to them.
"Can I 'elp you?" Said Hagrid kindly.
"Yeah. Yeah, please tell us if we should follow the first years or take the carriages?"
For a moment, Hagrid looked puzzled. Then, realization began to dawn on his face. "Oh, you're tha new girls from Durmstrang, aren't yer? Riley and Julianna?"
"Julianne," snapped the girl.
Hagrid ignored her. "You're to follow me, then."
"But - our bags -," stammered Riley.
"They'll be taken to tha school separately. Don' worry. Now -," Hagrid raised his voice, "all off tha train? Good." He turned to the girls. "Follow me."
Trying not to shiver as she waved goodbye to George, she followed Hagrid.
"Don't worry!" he called, before he left. "You'll be seeing us sooner than you think!"
"So," said Hagrid. "You're fifth-years?"
"Yes," said Riley, jogging to keep up. "Are you a teacher here, Hagrid?"
"Yes," said Hagrid, beaming down at her. "And the game keeper too."
"Game keeper?" Repeated Riley, glancing at Julianne and wondering why she wasn't participating in the conversation. She made a mental note to ask her over dinner.
"Yeah. Keeper of the keys."
Riley nodded and said no more. Teeth chattering, more from the fear of going to a new school than the chill, Riley wrapped her pink knitted sweater around her tighter.
Julianne, whose face was a blank, merely followed Hagrid, not complaining about the cold or the distance they were walking. Her thoughts began to stray. She wondered where her uncle was and whether he was safe. She hadn't heard from him in 3 weeks, and the last time he'd written to her, he'd mentioned another living relative who was her age. Julianne had immediately written back to ask who he or she was, and if she could meet him or her, but until then, there was no word from him.
Yet, she hoped.
If there really was another living relative, she didn't have to live with her grandmother anymore over the summer and Christmas breaks. It was not that Julianne didn't like her grandmother, who adopted her, but the old lady was strict and refused to allow Julianne to wear skirts above the knees or tank tops. So, Julianne had kept her stash of 'forbidden clothes' at Riley's place where her parents were more relaxed and less strict about what their daughter wore.
Perhaps she could stay with her relative instead, where she could actually wear what she wanted, and stay out all night! 'Bliss', thought Julianne. Without a real parent or a younger guardian, Julianne had grown up rather wild. She defied her grandmother's orders of not staying at friends' houses just to 'annoy the old girl', she told Riley. The only reason why Julianne agreed to wear 'decent' clothes around the house was so she would get a larger allowance.
"We're here!" Announced Hagrid.
Julianne snapped back to reality. She had to admit she was rather excited, but forced herself not to show it. Faking a bored look, she stepped through the doors, which Hagrid was holding open, and gasped at the sight, which greeted her. The walls were polished, and the candles gave off a rather romantic look. Julianne was a sucker for romantic scenes.
Walking on a bit more, they came to a door.
"I'll leave yer here," said Hagrid. "Professor McGonagall will see yer inside. And whatever you do, please be polite!" Hagrid stared pointedly at Julianne.
Pretending she hadn't seen his look, she opened the door after knocking, Riley, who was trembling, behind her.
Inside was a circular room, in which furniture was neatly arranged. Behind a desk, which had obviously seen better days, sat an old woman, who was looking down at a small stack of parchment.
"Sit down," she said curtly, not looking up.
'Whoa, scary,' thought Julianne, trying not to laugh, as she took a seat in a chair with bronze tarnished armrests. She tried not to cringe.
"So, Julianne, Riley," said Professor McGonagall, finally looking up. "You will join the first years in the Sorting, and go to your respective house tables. I expect you to get used to the rules here at Hogwarts, and any - how should I put it - extra charms or spells you've learned back at Durmstrang are strictly not to be used. I trust you will fit in quickly and happily, and have fun in lessons. You will be taking the same subjects as you did in your old school, except 'Further Studies of the Dark Arts'. Your uniforms will be sent to your rooms by owls later after dinner, and you are not to wear make-up or jewellery with your uniforms."
Julianne, who had been trying hard not to make any comments, couldn't resist. "Not even lip balm?"
Riley and Professor McGonagall stared at her. Julianne knew that Riley was trying to use her eyes to tell her not to push it, but she didn't care.
"Lip balm, Miss Black is acceptable, unless, of course you are using the tinted ones." Her nostrils flared before she continued. "Anymore questions?"
"Er, Professor?" Said Riley, nervously twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
"Yes, Miss Stevens?"
"Do you have a school owlry? My owl -."
"Yes, there is an owlry. Hagrid will ensure that your owl will be taken there safely."
"I'm not counting on that," muttered Julianne, rolling her eyes.
Pretending to not have heard, she dismissed them. "Hurry up, girls," she said, or you might miss the Sorting."
"Professor?"
"Miss Stevens?"
"How do we get to the Sorting?"
"Oh, right," said Professor McGonagall. Julianne smirked. "I'll take you there. Come on now. To the Great Hall."
After walking a short distance, they reached a hall. Glancing up, Riley realized that there was no ceiling. Before she could nudge Julianne, Professor McGonagall's voice had disrupted her chain of thoughts.
"Hagrid!" The professor called. "Wait! Bring the chair back. These two girls have not been sorted!"
"So much for keeping our heads down," muttered Julianne, as she watched Riley act as though she couldn't hear the loud buzz the students were making from wondering who they were.
"Come on, girls!"
Jogging, they reached the front of the hall where a four-legged stool sat. On top it, perched a shabby wizard's hat.
Feeling stupid, Riley glance at Hagrid, wondering what to do.
"Go on, sit on it!" Said professor McGonagall sharply.
Stiffly, Julianne walked up to the stool, lifted off the hat at sat down. Then, she put the hat on her head - it seemed the most logical thing to do.
"Ha!" Said a voice inside her head, making her start. "From Durmstrang, aren't you? Where should I put you? You've got plenty of courage, and you want to prove yourself. Maybe you'll be best in... GRYFFINDOR!"
Shakily, Julianne took off the hat, and made her way to the table, which had the most applause.
Sitting down next to a blond girl with braces, she watched Riley put the hat on her head.
Less than a while later, the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!"
Grinning broadly, Riley hopped off the stool and joined her best friend at the Gryffindor table.
Before Riley could ask Julianne what the hat had said to her, a respectable looking wizard with a long silver beard rose.
"Dumbledore," breathed Riley, awestruck, under her breath.
"First of all, I'd like to welcome you back to good, old Hogwarts. There are no new rules - yet," the corners of his mouth twitched, "but our caretaker, Mr Filch, had promised to put up the list tomorrow."
The Weasley twins groaned.
"Next, we have two new students joining us this year. They are Miss Riley Stevens and Miss Julianne Black."
"What babes!" Yelled a sandy-haired boy down their table.
After the laughter from the school subsided, Dumbledore continued. "They are both fifth-years, and I expect you to help them fit in."
Riley realized that he talked as though he was only addressing one person, though he was talking to the whole school. Thirdly, we have a new Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Joseph Bennington."
All the students clapped politely, though they gave each other knowing looks of "This guy won't last that long either."
Finally, after one more minor announcement, the feast began.
"What did the hat tell you?" Said Riley, trying to be heard over the clatter.
"Oh, nothing much." Julianne didn't want to reveal what the hat told her. It felt like a secret she had to keep to herself.
"Fine if you don't want to tell me,' sniffed Riley.
Then, for the rest of dinner, she talked to the blond girl next to Julianne and beside her. The blond girl introduced herself as Anna Bennet, while the brown-haired girl next to Riley introduced herself as Jazz Luther.
"Is your name really Jazz?" Giggled Riley, wondering what names Jazz's parents had.
"No," admitted Jazz. "My name's Jasmine, but everyone I know calls me Jazz. Except, of course, my parents."
"Do you both have parents who - I mean, are you both pure-blood?"
Jazz nodded, while Anna shook her head. "No, my mother is a muggle. Bit of shock for her."
While Riley, Jazz and Anna talked, ate and laughed, Julianne looked around her. At the furthest side of the hall, sat the blond boy who was Draco Malfoy. Studying him carefully, Julianne realized he was pretty good- looking. From the way he carried himself, Julianne could tell he was well- to-do. 'He would be good for Riley,' she thought. 'The typical bad boy.' Then, realizing that she was thinking of Riley, she studied other familiar faces. However, she kept glancing at Draco.
As she was gazing at his shiny blond hair, Draco looked up and met her gaze head-on. Realizing she'd been caught, she dropped her gaze, and stared at her plate. For the rest of dinner, Julianne did not look up.
Finally, dessert was cleared and dinner was over. Head feeling heavy with food, Julianne rose to her feet and followed a tall seventh-year prefect from her house up to the dormitories. Suddenly, she feeling a rush of blood to her head, everything in Julianne's world faded into darkness as she fell to the cold marble floor.
