Grace of the Devil
Part Twelve:
Grace looked around the crowded alleyway, her eyes wide with wonder. She'd never been anywhere with so many people before, except when she was in Athens and Naples. But she'd been on a mission then, and had barely noticed the crowds.
Now, she was in Diagon Alley for the first time, and she was torn between fear and excitment. She wanted to run into all of the shops and look at everything. She save a crowd of children around her age gathering around the window of a Quidditch supply store, and she went to join them when she felt a tug on her arm. Her father wasn't eager to let her out of his sight.
"Come, Grace. We have things to take care of."
"But, Daddy, I want to see!"
"Later, Grace," Lucius said, tugging her along gently. "Come on."
Grace sighed, gave the crowd of children one last, fleeting glimpse, and followed her father to the book store. There, they bought the books on the list she'd recieved from Hogwarts. Grace was excited to carry her own school books, excited that she was going off to school at last, but her happy mood was a little dented. Her father wore a tight-lipped look on his face all day, one that Grace only saw whenever he sent the Grigotts notes to her mother every month.
"After we've gotten your robes, we will stop for something to eat," Lucius said, his voice business-like and cold.
"Yes, Daddy," Grace muttered obediantly. The charm of the alley was lost on her as she worried about what her father must be thinking. Did I do something wrong? she wondered. Why does he look so angry? Why isn't he SAYING anything? She cleared her throat and tried to speak to him. "Daddy?"
"Not now, Grace," Lucius mumbled, distracted as he examined her supply list for the millionth time. He hadn't even bothered to add a loving sentiment to soften his words. Grace fought back tears. Don't be such a baby, she told herself. He's probably just tired or something.
Grace got fitted with her school robes, and was eager to model them for her father. But when she came out of the fitting room, and witch at the front desk gave her his message. "He said he'd meet you at Three Broomsticks when you're finished," she said, and Grace had to work extra hard to fight back tears as her robes were packed up. As she stepped out onto the crowded alley, she was surprised that her father had left her alone, even if Three Broomsticks was just three shops down.
She found him at a table in the back, and she set down her parcels and sat down. "Did the fitting go alright?" he asked, but he didn't sound as though he cared much.
"I wanted to show you my robes, but you left," Grace said, trying to keep any whining out of her voice.
"You can show them to me some other time," Lucius said carelessly. "Now, I've already ordered for you. Is..." But Grace had blocked him out. Don't cry, don't cry, DO NOT CRY, she told herself as she stared into her lap.
"Gracie?" For the first time that day, Lucius sounded gentle. "My darling, what's the matter?"
"I...I'm just excited about school, that's all," Grace lied quickly, ashamed that he'd seen the tears she couldn't hold back.
"Oh." And Lucius became cold and silent again.
This behavior continued for the last two weeks of summer. Lucius stayed shut up in his bedroom most of the time, and Grace was left to her own devices...with the house elves to help her, of course. When Grace tried to ask Trixie what was wrong with her father, Trixie snap, "Miss Grace is being nosey again. You must stop that!"
"Sorry," she mumbled apologenicly, feeling ashamed all over again. Grace had gone from doing no wrong to doing EVERYTHING wrong. What was going on?
The night before Grace was to leave for school, Lucius set up an eleborate meal for her, with all of her favorites. Grace was too nervous about the next day to eat much, but she gave it an effort. She knew that the poor house elves had been slaving away all day.
But during the meal, Lucius was still silent. Finally, Grace couldn't take it anymore. She blurted out, "Daddy, what's wrong with you?"
Lucius's head snapped up, for he'd been staring at his uneatten plate, and looked at his daughter, wide-eyed with surprise. "Darling, what do you mean?"
"These past few weeks, you've been so...cold to me," Grace said, for lack of a better word. She'd wanted to say "mean", but he technically hadn't been.
"Oh, my dear," Lucius sighed, putting a hand over his daughter's. "I'm sorry, Gracie. I hadn't even realized. I've been so selfish."
"What's wrong?"
Lucius smiled, but Grace could tell that it wasn't a happy smile. "I'm just...scared. You're growing up so quickly, and tomorrow...you're leaving."
"It's just for school," Grace said quickly. "I'll be back for the winter and summer holidays, and-"
"I know, my darling, I know," Lucius said quickly. "But...things will never be the same again."
"Daddy..."
"You'll never be a little girl again," Lucius sighed sadly. "You're going to grow up and get married and forget me-"
"I told you, I never would!" Grace cried, remembering that night months ago when she'd run away from home. "Please, Daddy, don't talk like this! I'm only going to school, and I'll always come back!"
Lucius sighed sadly. "Oh, my," he sighed. "I've been such an old fool, haven't I?"
"Yes," Grace teased. "But I still love you."
"I was never this bothered when Draco went to school," Lucius said thoughtfully, almost to himself. "I guess it was because he wasn't all I had...you ARE all I have, Gracie."
"I know, Daddy."
Lucius smiled again. "I shouldn't be troubling you like this on the night before school. Don't you worry about the ramblings of an old man, my dear, and eat your dinner."
But Grace WAS bothered by the "ramblings". She barely slept that night when she thought about their dinner conversation. He thinks I'm going to forget him, Grace thought as she tossed and turned. How ridiculous! He's my daddy, I love him. Why would he think I'd hurt him, just because Draco died and Mother left. I'm not like them, she told herself firmly. I'm going to stay by Daddy. He can count on me, always.
But the next morning, Grace forgot about the night before as reality sunk in: she was going to school! She'd never traveled alone before, and never so far away. All that morning, she had knots in her stomach, and couldn't eat when her father offered her breakfast...not that he was eatting himself.
They went to the train station just before nine, and Lucius had to say a quick goodbye to Grace before the train left. He knelt down to her height and hugged her close. "I'm going to miss you so much, Gracie."
"I'll miss you, too, Daddy."
"I'll write to you every week. You must do the same."
"I promise."
"Don't work too hard, but don't slack off. And don't-"
"I KNOW Daddy," Grace said. "Don't worry so much."
Lucius hugged his daughter again. "I love you, Grace."
"Love you, Daddy."
The train whistled, and Grace picked up her trunk the best she could. "Go!" Lucius cried, smiling. "And good luck."
"'Bye, Daddy." And with that, Grace boarded the train.
She found an empty compartment in the back, and hoisted her trunk onto the rack above the seats. She looked out the window to the platform, where she saw her father standing away from the crowd. She waved vigorously to him, and he gave her a small smile and wave. When the train began moving, Grace stared out of the window until the light blond head of her father disappeared into the distance. Then she sat back in her seat and closed her eyes.
"Uh...is there room in here?"
Grace was interuppted from her train of thought as a voice called to her from the doorway. She opened her eyes to see a tall boy, with freckles on light skin, light red hair, and blue eyes. He appeared to be a first year, like her. "I mean," he continued shyly, "you seem to be the only one in here, so I thought-"
"Yeah, sure, sit," Grace said quickly, nervous. After all, she'd never been around other kids before. Her playmates of childhood had been house elves.
The boy put his trunk on the rack and sat opposite Grace. He appeared nervous, too, but he held out his hand to shake. "My name's Micheal Weasley."
"Is that short for 'Mike' or 'Mickey', or-"
Micheal snorted. "No, just Micheal."
Grace smiled, for she thought those nicknames were obnoxious. "Alright, Just Micheal," she said teasingly. "I'm Grace Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" Micheal asked, but he shook her hand and said nothing more of her surname.
After a few minutes more of silence, Micheal stood up and reached into his trunk. He pulled out a chess board and two sets of chess pieces. "Wizard's Chess?" he offered.
"Alright." Grace had been playing that game with her father since she was young. She slid down to the floor and Micheal set up the board and pieces between them, and Grace reliezed that she'd left her set at home. Damn! she thought. I'll write Daddy for them.
As they played Wizard's Chess (Micheal stomping on Grace because he was more familiar with his pieces), they got into the conversation of what house they'd be in.
"Well, I'll probably be in Gryfindor," Micheal said confidently. "The whole side of my dad's family was in it. 'Course, I don't know about my mum, 'cause she went to Beaubaxtons. What house do you think you'll be in?"
Grace hadn't really thought about it, and frankly, she hadn't really wanted to. Her father and mother had both been in Slytherin...then again, her father wasn't REALLY her father, and she wasn't a pure blood, so...
"I mean, I know that Malfoys usually get into Slytherin," Micheal said. "But..."
"But what?" Grace snapped irritably.
"Nothing, nothing. I just mean...you never know, right? I could end up in Hufflepuff!" Micheal laughed as he ordered his chess piece to move. "Check."
"Damn," Grace muttered. She started at the board, not wanting to think about the school houses anymore. She probably WOULDN'T get into Slytherin...what would Daddy say? she wondered. What if I get into Hufflepuff...or worse, Gryfindor? Grace just hoped that she would get into the only acceptable house: Ravenclaw. Yes, she thought. Daddy would be pleased if I got into that house.
"Mate," Micheal said. "You're not very good at this, are you?"
"I am with my own pieces," Grace snapped. "But I've forgotten them at home."
"Right, right," Micheal said with friendly sarcasm.
The rest of the train ride was fairly pleasant, in spite of Grace's lingering fear about the Sorting. She and Micheal indulged in sweets after the witch with the cart came around, and Grace ate more candy then her father would've ever let her eat at one time. She and Micheal traded Chocolate Frog cards: she was just starting a collection, and his was quite large. After stuffing themselves to contentment, they played a game of Cobblestones, which Grace was better at after years of practice with the house elves.
But when the announcment came that they be at Hogwarts in five minutes, Grace grew nervous and silent. Micheal tried to ask her what was wrong, and she just smiled (the same smile she used on her father) and said, "Nerves."
"Don't be nervous," Micheal said as he put his trunk on the floor. "The Sorting Hat will put you in a good house."
They got off the train, and Grace could hear someone call out, "Firs' years! Firs' years, over 'ere!" Grace and Micheal made their way through the crowds of students and to the giant, grizzled man holding up a lantern. The giant looked down at Micheal and said, "Well, nice to 'ave a Weasley back 'ere."
"Hi, Hagrid," Micheal said, and Grace wondered how Micheal already knew this huge, scary man.
When all the first years had gathered, they all got into little boats that took them to the other side of the lake. Grace and Micheal shared one, and Grace was so nervous that she was close to trembling. Micheal tried to comfort her with akward words, but he didn't seem sure of what to say.
They went up the stairs to the castle, and waited for the Sorting to begin. Grace was so nervous that she barely took notice to the ghosts that flew overhead. Besides, it wasn't like Malfoy Manor didn't have ghosts.
Finally, a tall woman with square glasses and a stern face came in to get them. "I am Professor McGonagall," she said, addressing the nervous first years. "I will be your Transfiguration professor. We will now go into the Sorting. Follow me." And they did.
Grace looked around at the Great Hall. Students were sitting at one of four huge tables, and there were floating candles all around, lighting up the huge room. Grace felt a strange pain in her heart, a longing for the smaller, familiar dining hall at home, but she fought it back as they neared the head table. There sat the teachers and the headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore. He isn't dead yet? Grace thought curiously, remembering things her father had said about him.
The first years lined up, the Sorting Hat was brought out. After it sang it's song (Grace hadn't heard a word of it), the Sorting was began with "Anderson, Meleah" put into Hufflepuff.
On down through the B's, D's, G's, and L's. And finally...
"Malfoy, Lenore!"
It took Grace a moment to remember that her name was Lenore, and she stepped up to the hat. The whole hall seemed to have grown strangly silent, or was she imagining it? She sat on the stool and put the hat on.
"Hmmm..." the hat said. "I see Slytherin blood in you. How strange that it's mixed with Muggle blood."
"Hey!"
"Don't take it personal, my dear," the hat said. "Let's see...you're quite unique, and talented. Smart, too."
"Ur...thanks."
"There's only one house that can properly enhance those talents," the hat said. "And I have a feeling that this is the one you wanted. RAVENCLAW!"
Instead of cheers from the Ravenclaw table, like Grace was expecting (every table cheered enthusiasticly for a newcomer), there were murmurs around the whole Hall that Grace knew she WASN'T imagining. What's going on? she wondered. She stood there, frozen stiff.
She felt someone prode her back, gently. She turned to see Professor McGonagall, her harsh old face softened. "Go on, Ravenclaw is waiting."
"But-"
"Go on."
Grace walked down to the Ravenclaw table, feeling all eyes in the hall on her. She turned as she walked, and her eyes met Micheal's, who was still waiting to be sorted. He gave her an enthusiastic smile, and she felt somewhat comforted as she took her place at the Ravenclaw table.
And, in spite of the reaction of all the students, they welcomed her with open arms. Grace was in her new home, now.
Part Twelve:
Grace looked around the crowded alleyway, her eyes wide with wonder. She'd never been anywhere with so many people before, except when she was in Athens and Naples. But she'd been on a mission then, and had barely noticed the crowds.
Now, she was in Diagon Alley for the first time, and she was torn between fear and excitment. She wanted to run into all of the shops and look at everything. She save a crowd of children around her age gathering around the window of a Quidditch supply store, and she went to join them when she felt a tug on her arm. Her father wasn't eager to let her out of his sight.
"Come, Grace. We have things to take care of."
"But, Daddy, I want to see!"
"Later, Grace," Lucius said, tugging her along gently. "Come on."
Grace sighed, gave the crowd of children one last, fleeting glimpse, and followed her father to the book store. There, they bought the books on the list she'd recieved from Hogwarts. Grace was excited to carry her own school books, excited that she was going off to school at last, but her happy mood was a little dented. Her father wore a tight-lipped look on his face all day, one that Grace only saw whenever he sent the Grigotts notes to her mother every month.
"After we've gotten your robes, we will stop for something to eat," Lucius said, his voice business-like and cold.
"Yes, Daddy," Grace muttered obediantly. The charm of the alley was lost on her as she worried about what her father must be thinking. Did I do something wrong? she wondered. Why does he look so angry? Why isn't he SAYING anything? She cleared her throat and tried to speak to him. "Daddy?"
"Not now, Grace," Lucius mumbled, distracted as he examined her supply list for the millionth time. He hadn't even bothered to add a loving sentiment to soften his words. Grace fought back tears. Don't be such a baby, she told herself. He's probably just tired or something.
Grace got fitted with her school robes, and was eager to model them for her father. But when she came out of the fitting room, and witch at the front desk gave her his message. "He said he'd meet you at Three Broomsticks when you're finished," she said, and Grace had to work extra hard to fight back tears as her robes were packed up. As she stepped out onto the crowded alley, she was surprised that her father had left her alone, even if Three Broomsticks was just three shops down.
She found him at a table in the back, and she set down her parcels and sat down. "Did the fitting go alright?" he asked, but he didn't sound as though he cared much.
"I wanted to show you my robes, but you left," Grace said, trying to keep any whining out of her voice.
"You can show them to me some other time," Lucius said carelessly. "Now, I've already ordered for you. Is..." But Grace had blocked him out. Don't cry, don't cry, DO NOT CRY, she told herself as she stared into her lap.
"Gracie?" For the first time that day, Lucius sounded gentle. "My darling, what's the matter?"
"I...I'm just excited about school, that's all," Grace lied quickly, ashamed that he'd seen the tears she couldn't hold back.
"Oh." And Lucius became cold and silent again.
This behavior continued for the last two weeks of summer. Lucius stayed shut up in his bedroom most of the time, and Grace was left to her own devices...with the house elves to help her, of course. When Grace tried to ask Trixie what was wrong with her father, Trixie snap, "Miss Grace is being nosey again. You must stop that!"
"Sorry," she mumbled apologenicly, feeling ashamed all over again. Grace had gone from doing no wrong to doing EVERYTHING wrong. What was going on?
The night before Grace was to leave for school, Lucius set up an eleborate meal for her, with all of her favorites. Grace was too nervous about the next day to eat much, but she gave it an effort. She knew that the poor house elves had been slaving away all day.
But during the meal, Lucius was still silent. Finally, Grace couldn't take it anymore. She blurted out, "Daddy, what's wrong with you?"
Lucius's head snapped up, for he'd been staring at his uneatten plate, and looked at his daughter, wide-eyed with surprise. "Darling, what do you mean?"
"These past few weeks, you've been so...cold to me," Grace said, for lack of a better word. She'd wanted to say "mean", but he technically hadn't been.
"Oh, my dear," Lucius sighed, putting a hand over his daughter's. "I'm sorry, Gracie. I hadn't even realized. I've been so selfish."
"What's wrong?"
Lucius smiled, but Grace could tell that it wasn't a happy smile. "I'm just...scared. You're growing up so quickly, and tomorrow...you're leaving."
"It's just for school," Grace said quickly. "I'll be back for the winter and summer holidays, and-"
"I know, my darling, I know," Lucius said quickly. "But...things will never be the same again."
"Daddy..."
"You'll never be a little girl again," Lucius sighed sadly. "You're going to grow up and get married and forget me-"
"I told you, I never would!" Grace cried, remembering that night months ago when she'd run away from home. "Please, Daddy, don't talk like this! I'm only going to school, and I'll always come back!"
Lucius sighed sadly. "Oh, my," he sighed. "I've been such an old fool, haven't I?"
"Yes," Grace teased. "But I still love you."
"I was never this bothered when Draco went to school," Lucius said thoughtfully, almost to himself. "I guess it was because he wasn't all I had...you ARE all I have, Gracie."
"I know, Daddy."
Lucius smiled again. "I shouldn't be troubling you like this on the night before school. Don't you worry about the ramblings of an old man, my dear, and eat your dinner."
But Grace WAS bothered by the "ramblings". She barely slept that night when she thought about their dinner conversation. He thinks I'm going to forget him, Grace thought as she tossed and turned. How ridiculous! He's my daddy, I love him. Why would he think I'd hurt him, just because Draco died and Mother left. I'm not like them, she told herself firmly. I'm going to stay by Daddy. He can count on me, always.
But the next morning, Grace forgot about the night before as reality sunk in: she was going to school! She'd never traveled alone before, and never so far away. All that morning, she had knots in her stomach, and couldn't eat when her father offered her breakfast...not that he was eatting himself.
They went to the train station just before nine, and Lucius had to say a quick goodbye to Grace before the train left. He knelt down to her height and hugged her close. "I'm going to miss you so much, Gracie."
"I'll miss you, too, Daddy."
"I'll write to you every week. You must do the same."
"I promise."
"Don't work too hard, but don't slack off. And don't-"
"I KNOW Daddy," Grace said. "Don't worry so much."
Lucius hugged his daughter again. "I love you, Grace."
"Love you, Daddy."
The train whistled, and Grace picked up her trunk the best she could. "Go!" Lucius cried, smiling. "And good luck."
"'Bye, Daddy." And with that, Grace boarded the train.
She found an empty compartment in the back, and hoisted her trunk onto the rack above the seats. She looked out the window to the platform, where she saw her father standing away from the crowd. She waved vigorously to him, and he gave her a small smile and wave. When the train began moving, Grace stared out of the window until the light blond head of her father disappeared into the distance. Then she sat back in her seat and closed her eyes.
"Uh...is there room in here?"
Grace was interuppted from her train of thought as a voice called to her from the doorway. She opened her eyes to see a tall boy, with freckles on light skin, light red hair, and blue eyes. He appeared to be a first year, like her. "I mean," he continued shyly, "you seem to be the only one in here, so I thought-"
"Yeah, sure, sit," Grace said quickly, nervous. After all, she'd never been around other kids before. Her playmates of childhood had been house elves.
The boy put his trunk on the rack and sat opposite Grace. He appeared nervous, too, but he held out his hand to shake. "My name's Micheal Weasley."
"Is that short for 'Mike' or 'Mickey', or-"
Micheal snorted. "No, just Micheal."
Grace smiled, for she thought those nicknames were obnoxious. "Alright, Just Micheal," she said teasingly. "I'm Grace Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" Micheal asked, but he shook her hand and said nothing more of her surname.
After a few minutes more of silence, Micheal stood up and reached into his trunk. He pulled out a chess board and two sets of chess pieces. "Wizard's Chess?" he offered.
"Alright." Grace had been playing that game with her father since she was young. She slid down to the floor and Micheal set up the board and pieces between them, and Grace reliezed that she'd left her set at home. Damn! she thought. I'll write Daddy for them.
As they played Wizard's Chess (Micheal stomping on Grace because he was more familiar with his pieces), they got into the conversation of what house they'd be in.
"Well, I'll probably be in Gryfindor," Micheal said confidently. "The whole side of my dad's family was in it. 'Course, I don't know about my mum, 'cause she went to Beaubaxtons. What house do you think you'll be in?"
Grace hadn't really thought about it, and frankly, she hadn't really wanted to. Her father and mother had both been in Slytherin...then again, her father wasn't REALLY her father, and she wasn't a pure blood, so...
"I mean, I know that Malfoys usually get into Slytherin," Micheal said. "But..."
"But what?" Grace snapped irritably.
"Nothing, nothing. I just mean...you never know, right? I could end up in Hufflepuff!" Micheal laughed as he ordered his chess piece to move. "Check."
"Damn," Grace muttered. She started at the board, not wanting to think about the school houses anymore. She probably WOULDN'T get into Slytherin...what would Daddy say? she wondered. What if I get into Hufflepuff...or worse, Gryfindor? Grace just hoped that she would get into the only acceptable house: Ravenclaw. Yes, she thought. Daddy would be pleased if I got into that house.
"Mate," Micheal said. "You're not very good at this, are you?"
"I am with my own pieces," Grace snapped. "But I've forgotten them at home."
"Right, right," Micheal said with friendly sarcasm.
The rest of the train ride was fairly pleasant, in spite of Grace's lingering fear about the Sorting. She and Micheal indulged in sweets after the witch with the cart came around, and Grace ate more candy then her father would've ever let her eat at one time. She and Micheal traded Chocolate Frog cards: she was just starting a collection, and his was quite large. After stuffing themselves to contentment, they played a game of Cobblestones, which Grace was better at after years of practice with the house elves.
But when the announcment came that they be at Hogwarts in five minutes, Grace grew nervous and silent. Micheal tried to ask her what was wrong, and she just smiled (the same smile she used on her father) and said, "Nerves."
"Don't be nervous," Micheal said as he put his trunk on the floor. "The Sorting Hat will put you in a good house."
They got off the train, and Grace could hear someone call out, "Firs' years! Firs' years, over 'ere!" Grace and Micheal made their way through the crowds of students and to the giant, grizzled man holding up a lantern. The giant looked down at Micheal and said, "Well, nice to 'ave a Weasley back 'ere."
"Hi, Hagrid," Micheal said, and Grace wondered how Micheal already knew this huge, scary man.
When all the first years had gathered, they all got into little boats that took them to the other side of the lake. Grace and Micheal shared one, and Grace was so nervous that she was close to trembling. Micheal tried to comfort her with akward words, but he didn't seem sure of what to say.
They went up the stairs to the castle, and waited for the Sorting to begin. Grace was so nervous that she barely took notice to the ghosts that flew overhead. Besides, it wasn't like Malfoy Manor didn't have ghosts.
Finally, a tall woman with square glasses and a stern face came in to get them. "I am Professor McGonagall," she said, addressing the nervous first years. "I will be your Transfiguration professor. We will now go into the Sorting. Follow me." And they did.
Grace looked around at the Great Hall. Students were sitting at one of four huge tables, and there were floating candles all around, lighting up the huge room. Grace felt a strange pain in her heart, a longing for the smaller, familiar dining hall at home, but she fought it back as they neared the head table. There sat the teachers and the headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore. He isn't dead yet? Grace thought curiously, remembering things her father had said about him.
The first years lined up, the Sorting Hat was brought out. After it sang it's song (Grace hadn't heard a word of it), the Sorting was began with "Anderson, Meleah" put into Hufflepuff.
On down through the B's, D's, G's, and L's. And finally...
"Malfoy, Lenore!"
It took Grace a moment to remember that her name was Lenore, and she stepped up to the hat. The whole hall seemed to have grown strangly silent, or was she imagining it? She sat on the stool and put the hat on.
"Hmmm..." the hat said. "I see Slytherin blood in you. How strange that it's mixed with Muggle blood."
"Hey!"
"Don't take it personal, my dear," the hat said. "Let's see...you're quite unique, and talented. Smart, too."
"Ur...thanks."
"There's only one house that can properly enhance those talents," the hat said. "And I have a feeling that this is the one you wanted. RAVENCLAW!"
Instead of cheers from the Ravenclaw table, like Grace was expecting (every table cheered enthusiasticly for a newcomer), there were murmurs around the whole Hall that Grace knew she WASN'T imagining. What's going on? she wondered. She stood there, frozen stiff.
She felt someone prode her back, gently. She turned to see Professor McGonagall, her harsh old face softened. "Go on, Ravenclaw is waiting."
"But-"
"Go on."
Grace walked down to the Ravenclaw table, feeling all eyes in the hall on her. She turned as she walked, and her eyes met Micheal's, who was still waiting to be sorted. He gave her an enthusiastic smile, and she felt somewhat comforted as she took her place at the Ravenclaw table.
And, in spite of the reaction of all the students, they welcomed her with open arms. Grace was in her new home, now.