Author's Notes: Thanks to all who reviewed. I just wanted to warn everyone that this chapter will seem boring and kinda pointless, but it is here for a reason. I needed to introduce characters and plotlines in this chapter. Believe me, the story will really pick up in the next chapter! Also, I am warning you that this first chapter is confusing, but it is meant to be. I had to write it without spoiling the rest of the story which was quite difficult. I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review afterwards! BTW, sorry for the sudden disappearance of lines between paragraphs later in this chapter. I've tried to change it, but my computer is screwing up at the moment. Please try to ignore it and know that I do know it did that. Thanks again!
The Sun From Both Sides
Chapter One: Elysium Is As Far
Elysium is as far as to the very nearest room,--Emily Dickinson
Fifteen years after prologue
The clock on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters signaled that there were five minutes left until the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross Station. Bustling students and nervous parents hurried through the small area, the brilliant scarlet engine the center of attention in the crowd. Wails of unhappy mothers and scared first years were mixed in with hollers of 'Goodbye' and "Behave yourselves.'
A teenage girl observed the scene before her with a smile, "It's great to be going back to Hogwarts, doesn't it?"
"Speak for yourself! I was having a perfectly fun time lounging about the house doing absolutely nothing for two months!" A redheaded boy answered with a hint of annoyance at her cheerfulness.
"I highly doubt that! If I remember correctly, you were complaining from boredom three days into vacation!" The girl answered, looking smug.
The boy frowned, "Oh bugger off, Taran!"
"Hunter Weasley!" He flinched at the high voice that could only belong to his mother, "Apologize to your sister this instant, young man!"
"But, Mom, why should I? It's not my fault she's being Miss Bossy Knickers!"
"I am not being bossy! I was just pointing out a minuscule fact that contradicted your earlier response to my question!" Taran yelled, her face flushing with anger.
Hunter groaned, "Merlin's beard, do you have to do that? Why do you always talk like a walking dictionary?"
"I am not being a 'walking dictionary' as you so cleverly put it...."
"You know what? Maybe you both should just be quiet?" A smaller girl, with bright curls, offered her idea of a truce.
"Stay out of this, Monica!" The siblings hollered in unison before going on with their rant.
Back away from the teenagers, a lanky redheaded man laughed, "Now, this is what I call entertainment!"
The children's angry mother almost blew her top, "Ronald Weasley! You are not helping matters! No wonder Hunter thinks he can get away with saying such ignorant things!"
Ron sighed, "Hermione, calm down. Just let them go at it. At least this way, we don't have to worry about them fighting too much on the train. They'll have used all their good insults beforehand."
"Honestly!" Hermione moaned, "Why do I torture myself like this?"
"Because you love and adore me so much?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Don't push your luck, Weasley!" A sinister drawl echoed from behind the arguing couple.
"Uncle Draco!" Monica flung herself into the new arrival's arms.
The blonde man smiled, "Hey, Moni! What's going on?"
"Nothing. Just watching Hunter and Taran make a scene," the young girl answered seriously.
"Just like their parents, aren't they?"
Hermione glared at Draco's response, "We do not act like that!" Ron looked at his wife skeptically, but wisely chose to keep his mouth shut. He instead turned to greet Draco Malfoy and his family. They seemed quite amused by Hunter and Taran's antics especially the two teenagers. The duo shook their heads and sauntered over, hauling their trunks behind them.
"And furthermore, Mister Weasley, exactly where did you hide my Inferno? I know for a fact you stole it for flying practice and I want it back!" Taran was shouting at the top of her lungs when the group neared.
"Do you two ever stop?" A blonde girl asked, mock annoyance on her pretty face.
Taran stopped ranting, "Felicity! Did you just get here? Are you excited about going back? I know I am...though this prat is ruining my day." She rambled as she hugged her friend tightly almost knocking her owl cage to the floor. Hunter ignored his sister's comment and greeted his best friend, Dimitri, who just shook his head at him.
Suddenly, a high-pitched whistle sounded throughout the platform. The group thrust forward with the rest of the crowd, trying to avoid getting stepped on. The four students, clutching bags, trunks, and cages, bade their parents and siblings farewell before climbing onto the scarlet train.
Once they managed to pile their stuff in a corridor, they hurried to a window to wave good-bye. Monica began crying at the thought of her older siblings leaving her again. Hermione bent to comfort her daughter softly.
Taran smiled at her sister, "I'll see you at Christmas time, Monica! I promise I'll get you some great presents from Hogsmeade! Bye Daddy!"
"Bye, Mom! See you tonight!" Hunter waved, "Bye, Dad! Don't forget to send me my birthday package from Uncle Fred and Uncle George!"
"What birthday package?" Hermione inquired, her cinnamon eyes flashing. Ron waved to his children quickly before grabbing Monica's hand and running from the platform, his wife at his heels. That was the last scene the quartet saw before the train picked up speed and went around the corner, heading for Hogwarts.
"Damn, your parents sure do know how to have an argument..." Dimitri concluded with a hint of laughter in his voice. Taran and Hunter looked angry for a moment, but had to agree with him. After all, where did most of their inspiration for rows come from?
Felicity noticed that they were steadily speeding up, "We should probably find an open compartment soon before they get all filled." The group agreed and they made their way down the train, checking compartments and greeting occupants.
"Here's one! There's only one person in it...we should be able to squeeze," Taran announced as she stuck her head into the compartment, "Hey there! Do you mind if we sit with you?" The girl inside shook her head and returned to the book she had been reading before being interrupted.
Felicity, Taran, Hunter, and Dimitri made their way into the compartment and, after a bit of shifting around, managed to fit all their belongings in the overhead. They then flopped into the cushioned seats with exhaustion and laughter.
After a few moments, Taran remembered the girl who's compartment they had invaded. She glanced over and saw that she was quietly observing them, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Oh, forgive me! We forgot to introduce ourselves. I'm Felicity Malfoy. I'm a fifth year."
"I'm a fourth year. My name's Taran Weasley."
"Hunter Weasley, fifth year."
"Dimitri Malfoy, sixth year."
The girl smiled as they finished their introductions, "I'm Heidi Wagner. I'm an exchange student...I'll be in fifth year."
"So you'll be with me! That's great!" Felicity said with excitement, "Maybe you'll be in Ravenclaw with me too."
"Or she could end up in Gryffindor with me..." Hunter pointed out.
Dimitri grinned, "She could be a Slytherin...."
"She's definitely not a Hufflepuff," Taran observed, looking the girl over. Heidi was different-looking with her messy black braid and intense green eyes. There was something familiar about her that Taran couldn't quite figure out. There was something about the structure of Heidi's face along with the color of her hair and her eyes that made her feel like she's know her for years.
Felicity interrupted Taran's thoughts, "I didn't think Hogwarts took exchange students especially so late as fifth year. Won't it be hard to keep up with O.W.L.S this year?"
"Usually they don't, but I'm a special case," Heidi answered, putting down her book, "My mother is the new Charms professor so naturally I came with her."
"Where are you from?" Hunter asked.
"Canada. Quebec actually. My mother was a professor at L'Academie de Magie. But, L'Academie was destroyed last year and Hogwarts offered my mom a job."
Dimitri spoke up, "What about your dad? What's he doing about his job?"
"I never knew my dad," Heidi said then quickly changed the subject, "So what's Hogwarts like?"
Felicity and Taran began talking nonstop about how amazing the school was and how wonderful the teachers were. Dimitri and Hunter listened for about five minutes then decided to entertain themselves with a game of Exploding Snap. The rest of the train ride went by quickly for the group. Before they knew it, they were pulling into Hogsmeade station.
As she exited the train, Heidi was surprised at the amount of students there were. They were everywhere in the station, swarms of black that stuck out against the red of the train. Dimitri, Felicity, Taran, and Hunter were all walking towards what seemed to be hundreds of carriages being pulled by skeletal horse-like creatures with wings.
Before Heidi could mention the creatures, she was stopped by a tall man with bright red hair and heavily freckled skin, "Are you the exchange student?"
"Yes...my name's Heidi Wagner."
He smiled at her, "Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Wagner. I am Professor Weasley, Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and you are to follow me." She nodded and set off after this redheaded man who called out at various times, "First years! First years, this way, follow me!"
The rest of the students had taken the carriages up to the school and already entered the Great Hall. Once there, they waited for the first years to enter so they could eat.
"I cannot wait until classes start again!" Taran told her friends, Carmen, Maureen, and Kit, as they waited.
Maureen grinned, "Only Taran would be excited about summer ending..."
"Yeah, but she helps keep us in line. Or else we might get kicked out of Ravenclaw!" Carmen answered with a laugh. Kit and Felicity joined in the laughter as they continued to tease Taran about her love for studying and learning.
At the Gryffindor table, Hunter was conversing with his cousins Samantha, Christian, and Aiden about their newest prank, "I think we should come up with something spectacular to say 'welcome back to school' to the rest of the students."
"Sounds good to me! And I've got the best idea..." Samantha whispered softly so no one else at their table would hear.
Christian grinned, "That is the best, Sam! I'll write to my dad and Uncle George to see if they could help us. You know they can't resist a prank!"
"So, how does it feel to be Quidditch captain, Dimitri?" A tall, dark-haired boy asked his best friend at the Slytherin table.
Dimitri had to stop himself from grinning as he was reminded of the position he had recently gained, "It's pretty cool, Hector! I can't believe Professor Loehle actually chose me! It's pretty obvious I'm not his favorite student..."
"But, Loehle also wants to win the Quidditch Cup so he'll do anything to accomplish that. Even if it is giving you the captain position," Hector pointed out.
Their conversation was then interrupted by a sugary sweet voice, "Hello, Dimitri..." The boys looked up and tried to smile at the girl in front of them.
"Hello, Zinnia. How was your summer?" Dimitri replied, trying to seem polite.
Zinnia rolled her bright blue eyes, "A total waste of time! My mother took me on all these trips looking for new clothes. And she didn't even find good items! Someone needs to tell her that orange frills are so not in this year. And please tell me what the deal with platinum jewelry....." Dimitri chose this moment to turn his attention to the Great Hall door's which had just opened.
About sixty black-clad people entered the large room, lead by the Deputy Headmistress. The seated students whispered amongst themselves as the group passed them. Most of them were wondering where these new students would end up sorted. The mass of black paused in front of a stool where a faded wizard's hat rested lightly. Everyone in the hall stared at the hat until it began to sing:
You could soar through the skies
And swim across the seas
But never will you find
A hat so clever as me?
Just slip me atop your head
And I'll reveal your destiny
I'll tell you the exact house
Where you ought to be!
Maybe you're a Hufflepuff
As fair as we can find
Loyal to all your friends
With a beautiful thinking mind.
Perhaps in Ravenclaw you'll belong
The wittiest of the all
Smarter than even worn old me
Standing proud and tall.
Or you could be a Slytherin
Getting life's locks to break
Pureblood's of the bunch
As cunning as the slithering snake.
Or a lion you could be
Hear Gryffindor's mighty roar
Brave and true they'll always be
Through magic's sky they soar.
So here, my friends, a piece of advise
For the sweet, the brave, and the boasters
Keep your companions close to you always
But keep your enemies even closer
So fair thee well and goodbye
Til next year when I see you
I'll think all year of a song
To Hogwarts I'll stay true.
Afterwards, the entire hall clapped their approval and the sorting ceremony began.
Pretty soon all the students had been sorted except for one. Felicity and Taran could see from their spot at the table that the girl they had met on the train, Heidi, was the only remaining person. The rest of the hall had noticed her due to the fact that she seemed so much taller and mature than the first years.
Professor Granger spoke aloud, "I would like to announce that this year at Hogwarts, we have an exchange student from L'Academie de Magie in Canada. She has just transferred here and will be in the fifth year. At this time, she will be sorted into the proper house. Will Miss Heidi Wagner please come forward?"
When Heidi heard her name called, she froze in place. She had never been comfortable in front of large crowds especially by herself. Taking deep breaths, the dark-haired teenager made her way towards the stool. She sat down and felt the pressure of the hat on her head. The hall waited for a few minutes until the hat shouted out, "Ravenclaw!"
The table where Felicity and Taran were sitting rose up in cheers. Heidi grinned inwardly as she hurried towards the table to join her new classmates. Once she got there, she was grabbed into a double hug from Felicity and Taran. She was also greeted by a large group of teenage boys and girls.
Clearing her throat, the headmistress, Professor McGonagall, rose from her place at the head table, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I hope you will have a wonderful time of learning and friendship! Before we begin with the feast, I would like to remind you of a few rules. Remember that the Forbidden Forest is off-limits to all students! Also, note that the village of Hogsmeade is forbidden to those under third year. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, would like me to announce that the list of forbidden items in corridors, dormitories, and other parts of Hogwarts School has extended to, I believe, 3045 items. The full list can be found outside Mr. Filch's office and he also would like to remind students that any item that was bought from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is strictly forbidden and if the item is confiscated, the user will receive detention."
The entire hall chuckled at that last comment. Mr. Filch always had the headmistress announce the forbidden items, but no one ever listened. As a matter of fact, Christian delighted in telling his father, who owned Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, all about the number of students who used their products for mischief.
"Also, I am sorry to say that our beloved Charms professor, Filius Flitwick, has retired from teaching. Professor Flitwick has been offered a job as a chief Charms instructor at the Ministry of Magic and has left Hogwarts. Therefore, I would like to welcome our new Charms professor. She is from L'Academie de Magie, which was destroyed tragically, last year and will be joining our staff. Please help me welcome Professor Grace Wagner to Hogwarts." A pretty witch stood up at the sound of her name. She smiled nervously as the echo of welcoming applause thundering through the hall. Professor Wagner took her seat and the feast began.
"So is that your mother, Heidi?" Felicity asked as she piled mounds of potatoes and steak on her glittering gold plate.
Heidi looked up from her chicken, "Yes..."
"You don't look anything like her," Taran pointed out as she observed the woman who was chatting with the Potions professor, Barnaby Loehle.
"I know. Mom says I look like my father. I don't know if that's true since I've never seen a picture of him."
"Why not? Where is he?" Felicity asked.
Heidi paused for a moment before speaking, "I have no ideaMom just said that he left before I was born. She never talks about himeven to me." The other Ravenclaw girls murmured sympathetically and continued chatting.
"So, do you play Quidditch, Heidi?" A tall blonde girl asked.
"Yes"
Taran squealed, "I didn't know that! What position do you play? We have two spots open this year."
Heidi looked at her with interest, "Which positions are available?"
"You can tryout for either chaser or seeker..." Taran answered.
"That's great! I played seeker at L'Academie and I was also a reserve chaser," Heidi clapped her hands together in excitement.
"Wonderful! My name's Cynthia Touchstone. I'm captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team as well as a beater," the blonde girl held out her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Heidi smiled, "So...who else is on the team?"
Cynthia began pointing to various students around the table, "The other beater is Micah Wellman...he's the one with that little bitch on his lap. Ian Milhouzer...that really tall boy at the end of the table...he plays keeper. Taran here is one of our chasers...and the other one is Leo Longbottom...he's the boy attempting to talk to Wellman."
"Micah seems quite busy at the moment, doesn't he?" Kit giggled. The group watched the dark-haired boy smile at the platinum blonde who was talking animatedly. Heidi noticed, as the two teens flirted, Cynthia was staring at her plate. She was obviously trying not to watch the spectacle before them.
"Cyn...you okay?" Taran asked her friend. Cynthia looked up and Heidi noticed that her eyes were red as if she was trying not to cry. She nodded at Taran's question and got up to leave shortly afterwards.
Heidi asked, "What was going on? Why was Cynthia acting like that?"
Felicity was the one who answered, "Cynthia has had a major crush on Micah since their second year. They've been beaters together for four years and...well...lets just say Micah Wellman is not the most observant person in the world."
"So...he's never noticed that she likes him?"
Taran shook her head, "Nope...plus all he seems to be interested in is the sluttiest girl he can get his hands on. Which is so typical of a guy! I mean...Cynthia is a great girl. She's third in her class, she's captain of the Quidditch team, and she's also one of the prettiest girls at Hogwarts."
"Of course...Micah's never noticed that. He just treats Cyn like another guy and never realizes how much she adores him. Poor girl..." Kit pointed out. Heidi shook her head at the stupidity of men along with the other girls. They chatted for a few more minutes before deciding to head up to bed.
Heidi followed Taran who was now asking tons of questions regarding the academics at her old school. The black-haired girl answered her new friend honestly and enjoyed watching Taran's responses to everything. She seemed absolutely fascinated by the idea that they gave Animagus lessons to all students above the age of fourteen.
"Have you mastered the transformation?" Taran asked.
Heidi shook her head, "Not yet. It usually takes two years to get it correctly. But, I have no idea how long it will take since they don't teach it here."
"My dad's an Animagus...maybe he can teach you..." Felicity offered as she joined them.
"No...that's all right. I'd rather work on it by myself..." Heidi hurriedly said as they approached the portrait that signaled the entrance to the Ravenclaw Tower.
A painting of a handsome man with brown hair dressed in dark blue robes peered down at the girls as they approached him, "Password, ladies?"
"Hello, Lord Sebastian. How are you?" Taran grinned at the man.
"Ah...Miss Weasley. What a pleasure to see you again. And who is your little friend here?" Lord Sebastian asked.
Heidi tried to cover up her surprise at seeing the talking portrait, "I'm Heidi Wagner, sir. I'm an exchange student from Canada."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Wagner. Now...password if you please?"
Taran spoke loudly, "Wildflowers." Lord Sebastian nodded as his portrait split in half and opened to reveal an opening in the wall. Heidi followed Taran and her friends inside the hole and entered a spacious circular room filled with dark blue and bronze furniture surrounding a fireplace in the middle of the floor. She spotted two massive stairways heading up into the tower.
"Welcome to the Ravenclaw Common Room," Heidi heard a tall brunette with a silver badge on her robes announcing to a group of first years who looked about nervously, "Girls' dormitories are up the stairs to your right...first years are on the first landing you reach and so on. The boys' are the same on the left. I hope you enjoy yourself at Hogwarts!" The group of children split then and headed up the stairs.
Heidi joined Taran and Felicity in front of the circular fireplace on a long, squishy couch. She had been sitting there for a few minutes just staring at the detail of the room when a steady tapping could be heard.
"It's an owl!" A second year girl exclaimed. Heidi glanced up and recognized the owl that was waiting outside. She hurried over to the window and let the dark brown bird fly onto her shoulder, a rolled-up piece of parchment clutched in its beak. Heidi headed back to the couch and unfurled the parchment. She scanned the letter quickly, her face growing dark and tense.
"Heidi? You all right?" Kit asked.
Heidi nodded, "I'm fine....just a letter from one of my friends in Canada. Um...I'm going to go visit my mum...see you later," She got up and sped through the portrait, clutching the parchment to her chest.
"Wonder what that was about?" Felicity asked, "She wasn't acting like it was a letter from a friend. She seemed upset..."
Taran answered, "Maybe she's just sad because she misses her friend? Anyway, I'm going on up to bed. I'm beat!" With that last word, the girls headed to their dormitories and readied themselves for the next day.
Thanks to my beta-reader, Nyoka Li! You are amazing!!! Also, thanks super bunches to my cousin, Marpessa. She was the one who wrote the Sorting Hat song in this chapter. You are the best, girl! Therefore, that song is her work, not mine.
Also, I would like to thank all the people who reviewed my first attempt at a romance story.
Marpessa, siriusforeva, MadJupiter, callie, Nia 88, OExpecto Patronum O, Trina, elijah'stheone, Jillian Jacobs, Neni Potter, harry&gin, alphaneon, luka-black, veronik, martajlp, Co0kieMonster09, cancan227, Nyoka Li, Charming Visions, ilive4cake00, Falrow.
You guys are amazing! I really appreciate the support!! Keep reviewing and I'll keep writing!!
Anaxandra