- Chapter 8 -
Enter the Students
On the day the students where scheduled to arrive on the Hogwarts Express, Willow had asked, or rather she had begged, the headmaster to allow her to accompany Hagrid to greet them.
She hoped to catch site of Harry and perhaps talk to him. She had made up her mind during the last two weeks that she was going to befriend the young hero. His other friends too, she added. She had rather liked the Hermione. Her eyes had shone with intelligence, and she had reminded Willow of herself back in highschool. Back in the time when she had been research and the net girl. And the Weasley boy was just so adorable, with his red mop of hair much like her own. And his cute freckled face. They had all three seemed easy going from the little conversation they had had that day in Diagon Alley.
Yes, she had finally gotten that pronunciation right. Although she was still having trouble with other words.
After a little heckling on her part, the headmaster had agreed, and Willow had had to force herself not to break out into a happy dance right then and there. That would not have been of the good, not with Snape and Lupin standing right there. Giles, for his part had gone to prepare a few things so that he might return and stay as a guest of Albus' for the school term. They had decided he needed to be close by to help observe how the prophecy was going to unfold. And also, they would most likely need help if Voldemort tried something.
And so it was that Willow found herself standing on a platform, when the Hogwarts Express rolled into the station. As kids filed off the train, Willow searched the crowd of youngsters, looking for Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"All right, all firs' years. Firs' years over hear. Mind yer step now. Firs' years follow me." Hagrid called, gathering all the first year students into a group.
Willow couldn't help but giggle at the looks of wonder and a bit of fright on some of their small faces. They probably rivaled the one she had had when she had first been introduced to him. Since then, she had gotten used to the gentle half giant and could not see how anyone could be scared of Hagrid.
Finally she caught sight of some redhair, and since Hagrid had told her she could ride with the students back to the school she simply told Hagrid she would see him at the castle and she ran over to the small group of friends.
"Harry!" She called as she caught sight of the black headed boy.
He looked up in surprise, but then smiled when he saw who had called his name.
"Well hello, Willow." He said with a grin. "Fancy meeting you here."
Willow laughed lightly. "Yeah, guess it's a small world, huh? Hey, Hermione. Ron."
"Hi." Ron said.
"Hello." Hermione added.
"So, how did your last two weeks go?" Harry inquired.
"Oh, fine. How about yours?"
Willow thought for a moment before answering.
"Oh, it's alright. I mean, I've mainly been studying to catch up on all the things I'm behind on or having trouble with. Mainly that's been charms." At this, Willow grinned at the memory of the kamakasie feather. "You should have seen my first attempt to float a feather quill. My charm went all wonky and it attacked Professor Flitwick. Hmm, it's been awhile since I've done a wonky spell. But of course I was having to use my wand. So that was mainly the problem cause I've never used one before. But I've gotten better over the past week and a half."
Ron, Harry and Hermione all looked at one another and smiled at Willow's babbling. It was then that Willow noticed something. Harry was holding hands with Hermione.
Aw. Willow thought to herself. They look so cute together.
"So," Ron began, bringing Willow's attention to the red haired boy. "Not meaning to sound rude or anything, but, what are you doing here?"
Willow smiled at him. "I wanted to come greet you. I mean, we didn't get a chance for much of a conversation last time, and I thought to myself, I said 'self, you need to go out to that train station and greet those students'. And what do you know, here I am."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted as a little red haired girl, along with a slim blonde girl, came running up to them.
Ron turned to the readhead and spoke in a slightly annoyed tone. "Ginny! Where have you been? We've been waiting ages!"
Hermione jabbed Ron in the ribs slightly with an elbow.
"oof."
Ginny Weasley looked up at her older brother in irritation. "You have not, you big git. The train just stopped."
Everyone giggled but Ron, who's face flamed in embarrassment. At this point, Ginny noticed Willow and simply extended her hand.
"Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley. Ron's younger sister. This is my friend Brandy Windgate." She added, gesturing to the blonde beside her.
"Hi." The blonde girl said, smiling timidly.
For a moment Willow's heart constricted. The little blonde reminded her of Tara the first day she had met her, and it hurt, though not as much as it should have.
Willow felt a little surprised and confused at this. She had loved Tara with all her being and now she was dead. She should be near tears now at the reminder of how innocent Tara had been just two years ago. She had been a true gift to the world, and to Willow. But all she felt was a dull ache at the memory. Vaguely she wondered if a certain tall, dark and cranky potion's professor had anything to do with it. Shaking off the thought, Willow focused once more on the two girls.
Taking Ginny's hand, Willow smiled. "Hi, I'm Willow Rosenberg."
Ginny's sharp intake of breath was all it took to tell Willow that the youngest Weasley knew just exactly who she was.
"Wow! Ron, did you hear that? It's the woman dad told us about. The one who nearly destro-mmph." Ginny's exclaimation was cut off as Brandy clamped her hand over the redhead's mouth.
Willow's smile faded as a look of pain took it's place. "Yeah, that's me, destructo girl." She said faintly.
The three friends shot Ginny a sharp look as the girl blushed furiously. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Ginny apologized.
"No, it's alright. It's the truth, I did try to end the world. But it was wrong, I know that now. I really, really regret it, but no matter how much I apologize, it'll never be enough." Willow said sadly, and now tears did come to her eyes. Tears on a face filled with not only sadness, but guilt, dispair, and defeat.
Harry knew that look. It was the look he had had the last time he had encountered Voldemort. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had almost killed him that time, if not for Snape casting a curse and distracting the Dark Lord until Harry could escape.
Harry walked over to Willow and laid a hand gently on the red head's shoulders. "You are right about one thing. It was a wrong thing for you to do. But as for it never being enough, you are wrong. I hardly know you, but for some reason, I know you would never try that again. That you would die before hurting another human being. And I for one, forgive you Willow Rosenberg."
Willow looked up into the kind eyes of Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, in surprise. This honest to God living legend was forgiving her? Giving such a dark and dangerous lady comfort? It was unreal. And yet, Willow clung to it like a lifeline. With a stiffled sob, Willow allowed the boy to gather her in his arms and hold her for a moment while his friends and a few passersby looked on.
~*~After Willow had composed herself, the group had made their way to the carriages. They seated theirselves inside, Hermione sitting in between Harry and Willow on one side, Ron in between Ginny and Brandy on the other.
"So, what year are you guys in?" Willow asked curiously.
"Well, Ron, Harry and I are 6th years. And Ginny is in her 5th year." Hermione answered.
Ginny answered for her best friend. "Brandy is in the same year as me."
Willow turned to the shy blonde. "Don't you ever talk?"
Brandy smiled a little before replying. "Yes."
Willow snickered a little. She was as monosylablic as Oz had been. The next fifteen minutes was filled with conversation between the occupants of the carriage. Mainly Harry and Hermione subltly flirting, with Ron making jokes and trying to embarrass the couple, while Ginny and Willow tried to coax the bashful Brandy out of her shell. By the time they made it back to the school, even she was chattering away just as noisely as the others.
~*~When they arrived at the front of the school, Ron got out and assisted all the girls in exiting the carriage.
"Well, it's good to know that chivalry isn't dead in this place." Willow joked.
Ron blushed at what she had said and mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like 'girls can be so silly' under his breath. Finally, Harry exited the coach and they all started up the stone steps leading to the entrance door to Hogwarts.
~*~Severus Snape was just making his way to the Great Hall for the Sorting Feast, when he heard the distinct sound of a heard of trouble makers coming his way.
Oh, Great. This is just what I need. A morning dose of Potter and his annoying little band of misfits. He thought. Then, to his surprise, he heard Willow's voice combining with Potter, Granger, and Weasley's. What in the world does that silly girl think she is doing?
Turning around and crossing his arms across his chest, Snape waited for the group to reach him.
When Harry caught sight of Snape standing outside of the doors to the Great Hall, he swallowed hard. He had not actually spoken to the Professor who had, without a doubt, saved his life last year. And for a second Harry felt ashamed, because he had never even thanked the man.
Willow, who had been standing beside Harry, felt him tense a bit, and she turned to look at the boy. His eyes where fixed straight ahead of them, and so Willow turned to follow his gaze.
Oh, there he is. Willow thought excitedly for about a second, before realizing who she was getting excited about. Oh, what is wrong with me? Better yet, what is wrong with Harry?
The boy had slowed his steps as they got closer to Snape. As if he wasn't really relishing the thought of walking past the Potions teacher.
Willow glanced back and forth between the two as they approached. She caught the look that Snape was sending her, and for a moment her heart gave a little jump. It surprised her, because the whole two weeks since she had met the man, his eyes had only one of these three looks. Annoyance, bitter sarcasm, or pure hatred. Yet this look was nothing like that. It was a hot, burning look. And it was directed right at her.
Hermione had noticed the tenseness in her boyfriend's body, and the way he had slowed his pace. She looked ahead and spotted Snape, staring in thier direction. Or more precisely, at Willow. She wondered at the sparks that were practically being thrown at the red headed woman. This was the first time that Hermione could recall in all her six years at Hogwarts, that she had seen any look aside from a cold and calculated one coming from Snape. But this look was totally baffling to her. And it seemed to be directed at one Willow Rosenberg.
Finally they came to a stop in front of Snape. Ron, who had been talking to Brandy and Ginny quietly behind the other three, looked up to see what had stopped their progression.
"Oh, bloody hell." He mumbled under his breath to Ginny and Brandy.
In a second Snape had swapped the spark flying look for his normal cold and unfeeling one. Letting a smirk slide onto his lips, he addressed them.
"Ah, Miss. Rosenberg. I see you waste no time in emersing yourself the glory that is The-Boy-Who-Lived." He said nastily.
Willow's back shot ramrod straight. How dare he. None of the group had so much as said a bad word to him, and he was already attacking them, mainly her, verbally. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Cranky in all his glory, or lack thereof."
This flippant comment sent the group of youngsters into a fit of giggles, which was quickly squelched by Snape's deadly glare he shot in their direction.
Snape's eyes shifted back to Willow for a moment, a look of murderous rage set firmly in place. He could not believe she had just usurped him in front of students. Oh yes, he could definitely foresee himself having a little talk with the redhead in the near future. But for now, he simply growled at her, spun on his heels and barged through the doors of the Great Hall, his robes billowing dangerously behind him.
Willow smiled as she watched his retreating back, then turned to her little entourage behind her, who were still trying to figure out what had just happened. Did someone actually just insult Snape, and not get their head bitten off? That was just unheard of. But yet, this tiny, fragile-looking woman had snapped at the Potions Master like it was a normal, everyday thing for her to do. Was she insane? Suicidal? She most definitely must have a death wish to have attempted something as crazy as mouth off to Severus Snape.
Willow turned back to her group to find them all staring at her the same look of horror and disbelief plastered on their faces.
"Bloody hell," Ron exclaimed. "Do you have a bloody death wish or something, lady? Do you know who that is? He's gonna kill you!"
Willow couldn't help but laugh as the others all nodded in agreement to Ron's prediction.
"I think not." Willow smirked. "If he killed me then who would give him his daily dose of verbal sparring."
With that comment, Willow motioned for the still in shock kids to follow her into the Great Hall.
~*~Willow parted with the group of Gryffindors at their table and walked up to the head table where she had been dining for the past two weeks. But as she reached the table she noticed that Professor McGonagall had rose from her seat and was walking purposefully toward her. Willow waited for McGonagall to reach her side. As she waited, she noticed that for some odd reason Snape was smirking smugly in his seat. She suddenly got a bad feeling about the entire situation.
"Oh, my dear girl. I am afraid that in our haste to set you about your studies, we completely neglected to explain about your sorting." McGonagall stated as she grabbed Willow around the shoulders and steered her back toward the Great Hall's main entrance.
"W-what sorting? My sorting? No. no no no no no. I don't need sorting. Honest. I could really do without the sorting. I like my status as non sorted, so you can just go sort other people that is not me." Willow babbled nervously. "Did I mention I don't do well under pressure?" She finished as she and McGonagall exited to greet the first years.
~*~Willow stood nervously outside the Great Hall doors with the group of 11 year olds, feeling very foolish and a bit afraid.
Get a grip, girl. It's only a little sorting ceremony. Nothing to get all worked up over. She tried to calm herself. It wasn't exactly working.
She jerked out of her inner pep talk as McGonagall began her yearly introduction speech to the first years.
"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 a is very important ceremony because...."
Willow tuned her out as she began listing the houses and where they would be staying. McGonagall had already told her she would be staying in her own room regardless of where she was sorted. She began making a list of pros and cons of each house, trying to decide which one she would prefer to be sorted into.
Hmm, let's see. Ravenclaw. House colors, blue and bronze. Ugg, definitely not. Hufflepuff? House of the loyal and patient. Hmm, it has possibilities. Slytherin? Head of house. Severus Sna- No! Oh no, no Snape. Gryffindor? Known for their courage. Well, I have spent my entire life on a Hellmouth. And spent the last seven years of that life fighting side by side with the Slayer. Of course, some people around here would just chalk that up to stupidity. But I ain't naming no names. Nope, not at all. Yep, I think I'm pretty brave for a stupid little girl, so Gryffindor would be great. Now, if I can just figure out how to bribe this Sorting Hat...
Willow was brought out of her babble by McGonagall winding down her speech.
"Now, form a line, and follow me." She stated, then lead the group into the Great Hall.
~*~Willow shifted nervously from foot to foot as she waited to be sorted. She had totally freaked when the Sorting Hat had actually started talking. She had gave a loud eep before she could slap a hand over her mouth, thus a wave of snickers had engulfed the hall.
Now, as McGonagall read from her list of newbies, she stood praying that it would be over soon. Then it happened.
"Rosenberg, Willow."
Willow walked up to the stool set up in front of the head table and sat down tentatively. McGonagall perched the hat on her head and almost immediately Willow heard a small voice in her ear.
"Oh, it's you." The hat began. "Darkness merging with light, fascinating. Courage and knowledge abounds I see. And fiercely loyal as well. Difficult, very difficult. But where should I put you?"
Willow took this chance to make her preference known.
"Uh, Gryffindor wouldn't be bad. I kinda like that choice, how about you?"
"Yes, you could easily go to Gryffindor." The hat stated, and for a moment Willow started to leap from the stool in joy.
"But..." The hat continued.
Oh, there's always got to be a but in there doesn't it. Willow thought ruefully.
"You could just as easily go to Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. But no, I think the best house for you should be...SLYTHERIN!!!!!"
"NO!!!" Willow screamed, the sound echoing throughout the Great Hall. She then slapped both hands over her mouth in surprise at her outburst. She looked around embarrassed at the others who just stared at her weirdly. Especially Snape, who had a look of confusion and...could that be hurt in his eyes. Willow immediately felt horrible about her reaction to the news of her house status.
Oh, great. Can this evening get any worse?
Willow immediately regretted her mental question. She had a feeling she had just jinxed herself in an already awkward situation.
Damn it.
~*~TBC...