Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, except Dalene, Aurora, and Delrei.
I woke to the sounds of dishes breaking in the kitchen. Mom was going at it with Dad again. I shook my head, got out of bed and got dressed. I felt bad really for the neighbors of our house that we rented in England so Aurora and I could go to Hogwarts. After all, they were all just Muggles.
What did he do this time? I asked my 10-year-old sister, Aurora, with a sigh. She pushed her auburn hair out of her brown eyes and shrugged sleepily.
Dunno. I think Dad got home too late. Mom thinks he's having an affair at work.
I said softly. I know about that. Aurora shook her head, glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and started eating my breakfast.
*************
OK, kids! It's time to go, Dad said, acting as if nothing was going on between Mom and him. He looked down at his watch, grimacing. Oh shit! We're going to be late! He grabbed Aurora by the wrists, picked up my stuff, and ran to the car.
I quickly pulled my long blond hair up into a ponytail and darted out to our Jeep. 30 minutes later, we arrived at King's Cross. It was filled with people waiting around to get to platform 9 and 3/4.
As I made my way over to the barrier, I heard my mom call after me. Dalene! Don't forget to say good-bye to us! I rolled my eyes and turned around.
Mom frowned. I glared back at her. You won't forget to write, will you? Mom demanded.
Yeah, yeah. I replied. Look, I have to go or I won't get a seat!
You are very privileged to go to such a good school. I hope you realize that. Your father and I weren't so lucky, you know. We had to go to -
Mom! I already know! I have to go! Bye! I yelled at her. She pursed her lips and turned to leave.
Aurora turned towards me and I gave her one last hug. Come, Aurora. Your sister obviously doesn't want to be with her family.
As I turned to go through the barrier, I almost ran into another girl going to Hogwarts. Sorry. I was having some family troubles, I said tensely.
I heard. It's OK. It happens to everyone. She gave a half-smile.
Do you think we'll make it? I asked nervously, looking at the clock and realizing we only had five minutes left.
If we run! She said and grabbed my arm, pulling me through the barrier.
*************
After what seemed like half an hour of looking for an empty compartment, we finally found one way at the end of the train.
I'm Delrei Lawrence, the girl said, pulling at her short brown hair.
I'm Dalene Andrews. I replied.
she continued, noticing my accent, where are you from?
I answered.
She said, impressed. I've always wanted to go there.
I muttered, not listening to what she was saying. Do they have food here? I'm starving!
Delrei looked at me, then started laughing.
************
We had just settled in when two boys entered our compartment. Delrei looked at them with disgust. One of the boys had long, white-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, and the other had sallow skin and oily hair.
I'm Lucius Malfoy, the first boy said. And this, he continued, pointing at the oily-haired one, is Severus Snape.
I muttered in Delrei's ear. Does he ever bathe? We broke out into giggles.
We were wondering if we can share your compartment with you? Severus said in a voice as oily as his hair.
Oh, I'm so sorry, but this compartment is taken, Delrei said in mock sympathy.
Oh really? Lucius said, surprised. By whom?
Oh, um... Delrei looked at me for help. I shrugged. Just then, four other boys entered our compartment.
There you are! Delrei said exasperatedly. We were beginning to wonder where you guys were! The boys looked around at each other, bewildered.
We were just taking a walk, said a boy with untidy black hair and glasses.
Yeah. There weren't any Chocolate Frogs left, a fat boy explained sadly.
Well, these are the people that are taking up all the room. I suggest that you leave, unless you like getting trampled on. I ordered.
The first two boys left with angry looks back at us. Delrei and I started laughing so hard that tears came to our eyes.
What happened? One of the boys asked. Delrei and I sat up, took a deep breath, looked at each other, and started cracking up again.
I started telling them the story. And we don't even know who you are! That sent Delrei and I into fit of giggles again.
I see, mused the first boy with untidy black hair. I'm James Potter, this is Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, he continued, motioning to each in turn, another tall boy with black hair, the one with brown hair, and the boy that wanted chocolate.
Nice to meet you all. I'm Dalene Andrews and this is Delrei Lawrence. Delrei smiled. Make yourselves comfortable, I added. We have a long ride ahead of us.
************
When we finally made it to Hogwarts, we had all become friends. Over 100 stories had been told about ourselves and we all left the train laughing.
I wonder what houses we will get sorted into? Sirius mused.
Oh, no! I shouted. Everyone looked at me. What if we get sorted into different houses?
We can still stay friends, James said. It really doesn't matter what houses we get put into.
We were already making our way to Hogwarts on the lake in little boats, discussing the different houses.
Personally, I think Gryffindor is the best, Sirius declared.
Yeah, me too. James agreed. Peter nodded.
I just hope I get sorted at all! Remus said in a mix of nervousness and sadness.
Why wouldn't you get sorted? I asked, puzzled.
he stared, but he was interrupted when Delrei cried out, Oh, look! It's a full moon! This is a perfect first night! We all looked up at where she was pointing and smiled... All of us except Remus.
*********
It was very cold to stand around waiting for the doors to the Great Hall to open since the wind was blowing so fiercely. I pulled my robes a little tighter around me. I thought that by the time the teacher finally got out here, all they would find would be popsicle-like witches and wizards. Finally, though, the giant wooden doors of the Great Hall opened and a young woman stepped out.
I am Professor McGonagall. Once inside these doors, you will be sorted into your houses. Your house will be like your family. There are four houses, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, at the mention of Gryffindor house, Sirius nudged James and grinned, and Slytherin. You may proceed to the sorting. She led the 400 or so first years into the Great Hall and had them wait while the Sorting Hat said it's little speech.
Lupin, Remus. McGonagall called out. Remus looked back at us, unsure. We all nudged him forward. As soon as he out the Sorting Hat on, it called out, The Gryffindor table exploded in applause. Remus smiled sheepishly and went off somewhere else in the castle.
Andrews, Dalene. I almost stopped breathing. Me? What if I didn't get sorted at all? I wondered. I shakily walked up to the Sorting Hat and put it on my head. Almost before I got it on my head, it cried, I barely heard the applause of the Slytherin house table as I numbly walked over and sat down.
There were lots of other people being called up, but I really didn't listen. I looked around the table at everyone in my house. Most of the people looked pretty sinister so I didn't try to talk to any of them. I was really hoping that Delrei would be in my house, or one of the other guys. I was hardly listening when I heard Professor McGonagall say, Black, Sirius. My attention snapped over to him. I saw his shocked expression and laughed.
He went up to the Sorting Hat and put it on his head. He looked so relieved when it finally called out, There was more applause as he sat down at the Gryffindor house table.
Lawrence, Delrei. I crossed my fingers under the table.
Damn it! I said out loud. Everyone that was in hearing range looked at me. I blushed and looked down.
Malfoy, Lucius. Oh, no! Not him! I thought. I winced, but I clapped along with the rest of my house.
Pettigrew, Peter. Although I didn't know him as well, I still crossed my fingers.
Potter, James. Please, please, please, I thought, can I have at least one of my friends in my house? I felt like crying. No one I knew was in my house!
There were more people called to the Sorting Hat, more Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins made, when McGonagall called, Snape, Severus.
He walked up to the hat, extremely nervous. He had to wait for what seemed like an hour before the Sorting Hat made its decision. During that time, I actually felt sorry for him. Finally, it declared,
To make matters even worse, he came and sat down next to me. he said in that oily voice he had. He gave a me a little smile.
I said back, confused and a little grossed out. Why was he sitting next to me?!
Sorry about that thing on the train. There really wasn't anyplace to sit.
He sounded sincere. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all, especially compared to Lucius. When Lucius joined the table, all he gave me was a very cold look. That's OK. I replied. I had no idea what to say.
That thing about the compartment being full, was that true? He questioned me. Here we go. He's going to get pissed at me when I tell him the truth. Then I really will have no friends in this house.
No, it wasn't. Sorry, Delrei doesn't like Lucius too much. I said slowly.
Much to my surprise, Severus started laughing. I don't blame her, not one bit! He is a bit of a snob, I know that. Also, he hates everyone that isn't from a pure blood wizarding family. There aren't very many of them left so he's going to have a hard time finding friends!
I laughed. He really wasn't that bad, once you got to know him.
Our conversation was interrupted when the headmaster, Dumbledore, stood up and gave a speech. Suddenly, the table was magically filled with food. I looked hungrily at it before filling my plate with everything I could reach and dug in.
*********
After dinner, the Slytherin prefect stood up and ordered us to leave the Great Hall and follow him down to the dungeons where the Slytherin house was.
The narrow stairs down to the dungeons were cold and damp. I almost slipped a couple of times and had to grab onto the wall, which had some sort of disgusting green slime oozing out of the cracks in the walls.
Finally we made it down to the Common Room, which was cold and was furnished all in green couches, chairs, and dark wood tables, all of which were bordered in silver. I looked along the wall. Most of the tapestries hanging there had pictures of snakes or of Salazar Slytherin. I shuddered.
That's a lot of green! I whispered to Severus. He nodded, trying to keep a straight face, but failed.
Girls' dormitories are down the stairs on the right, the boys' are down the stairs on the left. The prefect announced.
I said, turning to my new friend, I guess this is goodnight. See you tomorrow. I slowly walked down to the girls' dorms. I looked in at the five dark wood four-poster beds in disgust. So much green! I thought to myself. I changed and got into my bed, pulling the curtains shut, and fell into a deep sleep.
********
A/N - I haven't stolen any of the characters that Taskemus used. We actually made this story up together and I know she wrote one, but I'm just writing it from a different POV and different things happen in both...
