And I Bleed When I Dream
Disclaimer: Don't own HP, own only Alanna. I'm not making any money and no infringement was intended. Please don't sue.
I know it's been days since I've updated this story, but I swore on my Grandpa's grave. If anyone is still interested, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
As always, thanks, and enjoy! Reviews, questions, and constructive criticism welcome. And don't forget if you want to be notified by e-mail when I update, include your address in your review.
Chapter Four: Arrival
The next morning, the departing members of the group, Mrs Weasley, the twins, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Alanna got up early and traveled by floo powder to a wizarding shop near King's Cross. It was hidden in much that same way as The Leaky Cauldron.
The eight of them went into the station and went to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
"Okay, here's how you do it," Fred—or maybe it was George—said. "Push your trunk in front of you—"
"—and just walk into, well, through the barrier," the other finished.
"Really," she replied flatly.
"Like this," Ron said. He pushed his trunk in front of him and disappeared into the brick.
"If you're nervous you'd better run," Ginny advised.
"Go ahead," Mrs Weasley said.
Alanna raised an eyebrow but pushed her trunk in front of her with one hand, holding tightly to Mo Ghra with the other arm, while muttering something about just another crazy form or wizardly transportation. She faced the wall and began to run. Just as she was about to hit she closed her eyes. When she didn't slam into anything, she opened them She was facing a red and gold sign that read, "Platform 9 ¾."
She looked around. Spread out around the platform were several hundred students, their trunks and their families. A scarlet train sat on the tracks, small puffs of steam coming from the stack.
Mo Ghra mewed in her arms.
Hermione, Harry and the rest of the Weasleys soon followed through the barrier.
Mrs Weasley began to hug the children and say goodbye, putting in a few comments as to how they ought to behave themselves while at school. The trunks were left in an area to be loaded in the luggage compartment, and Alanna was forced to give up Mo Ghra to ride with the other pets.
They boarded the train, and Hermione led Harry, Ron and Alanna to an empty compartment.
"Is it a long ride?" Alanna asked, having never actually ridden a train before.
"A few hours," Hermione answered.
"Oh."
"Don't worry, it's not that bad," Harry told her.
"Especially when the candy comes around," Ron offered.
"You and your candy, Ron, I swear." Hermione shook her head.
* * *
Hermione and Ron both turned out to be right: the ride didn't seem that long, and the chocolate frogs made it shorter.
The train pulled into the station just after dark.
"Here we are!" Ron announced.
The four got up, holding their newly-donned robes away from their ankles, and got off the train.
The platform was crowded with black-robed bodies, swarming mostly in the same direction. Off to the right, a huge man with unruly hair and a bushy beard called for the first year students.
"I'm supposed to go with the First Years!" Alanna yelled over the noise of all the people.
"Okay, we'll see you at the feast!" Hermione yelled back.
"Maybe you'll get Gryffindor!" Ron yelled.
Alanna made her way over to the big man who was ushering students into boats on the edge of a large lake.
"Four to a boat!" he yelled, though Alanna suspected his normal speaking voice would have sufficed.
Soon most of the First Years were loaded and waiting in the boats. The older students had been taken away in carriages, and Alanna was still waiting on shore. He big man noticed.
"Hello," he said, somewhat quieter now that the majority of students was gone. "You must be Alanna Stalmer." He walked over and shook her hand.
She nodded.
"I'm Hagrid. Go ahead and get in a boat. Professor McGonagall'll take you aside when we get there I s'pose."
She walked over to a boat that had only three people in it and got in.
"Hi," she greeted the two girls and one boy.
"You're not a first year," one of the boys said. It wasn't a challenging statement though, simply a fact. She was obviously several years older than them and a lot less aware of what was going on."
"Ow!" the boy said as the girl sitting next to him shoved an elbow in his side.
"Don't be an idiot, Rob," the girl said. "That's Alanna Stalmer."
Alanna was surprised. "How do you know who I am?"
"We all know who you are," the girl replied. Then, glancing at the boy, "Except Rob, I mean. Professor Dumbledore sent owls to all the students that you'd be coming. Amelia Williamson, by the way."
"Um, okay," Alanna replied.
"This is Rob McEvan," Amelia said, introducing him.
"Andrea Innis," said the last girl, who until now had been silent.
"Nice to meet you all. So, um, what's happening right now?" She looked around at the lake they were magically gliding across. "I mean, besides crossing the lake."
"We're going to the castle for the sorting ceremony," Rob said, brightening up. "I hope I get Ravenclaw. Both my parents were in Ravenclaw."
Again lost, Alanna just nodded.
The boats glided into a large cave and soon landed on a sandy, underground beach. A flight of stone stairs led up into the torchlit rock.
"Ever'body out!" Hagrid called. "Up the stairs and be ord'ly."
The group of slightly nervous students climbed out of the boats and began their ascent.
After several turns of the staircase, so they could no longer see the beach below, the First Years and Alanna stopped before a large set of double doors. Several minutes of muted chatter later, one of the doors opened.
A tall, stern-looking woman walked in and immediately all conversation ceased. She frowned down at the group. "Welcome to Hogwarts. You will be sorted shortly. You will follow me quietly into the Great Hall. When I call your name, come to the front of the Hall, sit on the stool, and put on the hat. Once you are sorted, you may take a seat at your table." She looked around. "Miss Alanna Stalmer?"
"Yes?" Alanna called loudly, to be heard. She raised a hand to make sure she was seen, but it wasn't necessary as she was taller than anyone else there.
"Come with the First Years into the Great Hall. Once they are all sorted you will be introduced." She turned to take in the whole crowd again. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall. Let's go in and get a good start on your time here at Hogwarts, shall we?"
Professor McGonagall turned and led the group through the doors, into a stone hallway, and through another set of double doors into the Great Hall.
The Hall had five tables, four set up parallel to each other and one crosswise at the head of the room. In front of the crosswise table, which Alanna took to be the teachers' table, was a stool with a raggedy hat sitting atop it.
Professor McGonagall told the First Years to stay at the back of the room and she went up to the front. She stood next to the stool and began to call names in alphabetical order. As each student went up, he or she put on the hat, and a moment later was called into a house, either Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor or Slytherin.
At last, Alanna was the only person in the back of the room.
Professor McGonagall moved the stool and hat to one side of the room and took a seat at the teachers' table.
A wizard in the middle of the table stood, a man with a long white beard, and hair, and half-moon spectacles in front of friendly eyes. This was clearly the Headmaster, from the way he stood and the way others looked at him.
"Welcome, and welcome back," he called, smiling at everyone in the room.
The students cheered.
"We have someone special with us this year," Dumbledore announced, looking at Alanna. A few people followed his gaze and turned to look at her. "Miss Stalmer, will you please come forward?"
She walked the length of the room down the middle, aware of everyone's eyes on her. She reached the head of the room and stood a little to the side of where the stool had stood.
"Miss Alanna Stalmer is a witch who has a unique type of magic. She has come to learn about ours and teach us about hers. Because of her situation, she will not be sorted into a house, but will have separate rooms, and be allowed to associate with any house she so pleases.." He looked around the room. "For now there seems to be an empty seat at the Gryffindor table. I hope you all welcome Miss Stalmer, and have a productive year. Let the feast begin!"
The room burst into noise as food suddenly appeared on the tables. Alanna made her way over to the empty seat and sat down.
"Hullo," said the boy she sat across from. "Dean Thomas."
"Nice to meet you."
"Here, have something to eat," he said after a moment when she didn't move. He held out a bowl of potatoes.
She smiled in relief and let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "Thanks."
"You'll have a great time here," he said, grinning.
She grinned back. "I plan to."
Finí
