Anyway, I'm glad you like it, it's fun to write, lots of grinning inanely at the computer screen ^__^
I actually have more chapters written but am withholding them in anticipation of writers block (nothing to do with wanting reviews) hehe. Ok that made no sense...ah well...enjoy!
Chapter 4Outside the rain poured down soaking everyone to the skin. A huge man towered above everyone calling, "Firs' Years, firs' years over 'ere."
"Come on," Lizzie said to her, "get into one of the carriages," they pushed their way through the crowds to climb into one followed by Cedric and Will. As she shoved dripping strands of hair from her face the carriage gave a lurch and began to move towards the castle.
While the others chatted she stared out the window, watching as the castle drew nearer. Her mind racing she struggled to come to terms with everything; new people, new school, and new memories. They felt like memories anyway, no-one else seemed to be complaining about hearing voices screaming. Loki licked her hand comfortingly; he always seemed to know how she was feeling. She stroked him absentmindedly.
"A dark horse that one," Will whispered to Cedric gesturing to Tanwen, "I…
Just then they reached their destination and he forgot what he was going to say, instead they all piled out and into the entrance hall. With a start she remembered that she was supposed to be with all the first years. Suddenly the thought of trying on a hat seemed a lot more daunting when it meant standing up in front of the entire school. Maybe she should have gone with that giant man, looking around she saw a tall, stern looking woman; she would know what to do.
With a wave to the others she pushed her way towards her, "Excuse me professor, my name's Tanwen Gray and I…"
"Oh yes, the new fourth year," interrupted Professor McGonagall, "Through those doors over there, just wait with the first years," Harry and Hermione appeared and she left with them leaving Tanwen to make her way to where she had pointed.
She found herself in a small annex room, with a bunch of terrified first years. She wasn't really that tall but she still seemed taller than most of them. A small man at the other side introduced himself as Professor Flitwick, asked them to line up and then led them out into the Great Hall.
Her heart beating ten-to-the-dozen she stepped out, first in line. She smiled at those she knew as she passed until they all came to a stop.
In front of her stood a three-legged stool and a ragged hat sat on top. As she looked at the hat it opened a tear in its brim and began to sing. She barely heard what it sung, she was just excited and nervous to find out what house she'd be put into. She'd heard more about the houses now, and she half hoped to be put with Cedric, Will and Lizzie. But she didn't think that she had the right attributes, she wasn't exactly the most diligent of workers. And then there were the other houses, she didn't think she wanted to be in Slytherin from what she'd heard, which left Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, Fred and George and all their friends were in Gryffindor so maybe…
Before she knew it Professor Flitwick had stood up the front and begun to speak.
"Before our usual Sorting of the First Years, we have one new addition to the fourth year," a murmur passed through the hall, "and tradition dictates that all pupils to the school must go through the Sorting," he paused before turning to face her and called out her name, "…Tanwen Gray."
At the sound of her name she walked nervously to the stool, she could feel the whole school watching her she blushed as she sat down on the stool and the hat was placed over her head.
"Hmmm, now let's see," muttered a voice, "where shall I put you? Plenty of brains and a thirst for adventure hmm…. and an overwhelming sense of loyalty, now that is interesting you want to protect at whatever the cost who? You have no relations as…oh my you don't know. No, not my job to say,"
"What? What is it?" she thought to the hat.
"Oh no, I'm just here to place you in a house, not to reveal anything…you'll find out in time…"
"But I want to know, it's my brain," she told the hat impatiently
"Now, now, temper temper…hmm let's see…"
"This isn't fair," she thought to the hat, she frowned with irritation, "do you know how annoying you're being? It's like someone saying to you 'I've got the best secret! But I promised I wouldn't tell….' Can't you just give me a hint?"
"No, no," the hat replied, "I'm not to interfere with the natural order of things. Now just keep quiet and let me think."
Tanwen stopped, fuming inwardly, "Stupid hat"
"I heard that!"
"Oops, sorry, I forgot,"
"Forgot?" she almost thought she could feel it grin, "….let's see…yes, I guess it'll have to be GRYFFINDOR"
The hat was removed from her head and she walked dazedly over to where the Gryffindor's were sat cheering. She shrugged apologetically at Cedric, Will and Lizzie. Will shook his head with mock solemnity.
"Welcome to Gryffindor," shouted George as he pulled out a chair next to him for her to sit on.
"Best house there is," agreed Fred.
She sat down and tried to commit to memory the endless streams of names that people from all sides told her.
As the meal ended she turned to the girl next to her, Cassie, she was also in her year,
"So what now?" she asked.
"Now, we go to bed," Cassie replied as several people rose to leave.
Yawning she followed the rest of the Gryffindors, chatting as they walked, as they made their way along passageway after passageway and staircase after staircase.
"Oh no," Tanwen groaned, "I'm never going to be able to find my way back, in fact anywhere at all really. My sense of direction is on a par with a dizzy hedgehog."
"You'll get used to it," replied Cassie grinning
"Yes, but I'd like to able to find the way to and from my common room before I'm in my final year!"
Cassie laughed.
Eventually they reached a portrait of a fat lady in a pink silk dress.
"Fortuna Major," said Percy, he was Head boy and the Weasley twins' brother, "that's the new password everyone."
The portrait swung open to reveal a large circular room with a fire roaring in the grate. All around the floor was scattered with poufs, large cushions and comfy looking armchairs. But she didn't have long to look around.
"This way," said Cassie, taking her arm and steering her to the left of the fire through a wooden door. They guys all headed through the door the other side.
"Night boys," Tanwen called waving back to the boys she knew.
Following Cassie she climbed the stairs to the very top of the turret and pushed open the door. "Welcome to the Fourth years room," she announced as she walked into the room and threw herself onto her bed. "You can take that one over there," she said sitting up and pointing to the bed opposite, "it wasn't here last year and neither was the extra furniture, but the room doesn't seem any smaller. Magic is so cool," she added as she flopped back down onto the bed.
Tanwen walked to her new bed and sat down. At the foot of her bed her trunk sat with fresh towels laid out on top. A small chest of draws and wardrobe stood to the right of her bed and a small window to the left. There were six beds in the room in total, all almost identical except for the small personal touches that remained from last year.
A yawn came from her bed, Cassie looked over just in time to see Loki reappear.
"What's that?" she asked jumping up.
"It's ok, he's with me," replied Tanwen fondling her friend, "his name's Loki, Loki this is Cassie."
"Hi," she said then stopped, "why am I talking to a pet?"
"That's no pet," two more girls had just walked into the room, one was tall with blond hair and the other was just as tall but had light, almost mousy hair. It was the latter that had spoken, "that Cassie, is an Argus." Her long, narrow face remained impassive as she nodded to Tanwen before crossing the room.
"Oh…" Cassie had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
Two more girls appeared and closed the door behind them, "Cool, an Argus! I've never seen one in real life, I hear they're real rare!" marvelled the first, "I'm Marcia by the way," she added coming to perch on Tanwen's trunk. "I guess we should do the introductions properly now that everyone's here seeing as you're new and all. Like I said, I'm Marcia, magic born and bred, only child, rubbish at Transfiguration and has a weak spot for shoes."
Tanwen laughed and moved up for the others to sit on her bed. Cassie and Marcia came and say next to her as did the quiet girl who had followed Marcia in, the other two sat on Tanwen's trunk.
"Ok, me next," said Cassie, "this is fun, hmmm, ok name's Cassie, muggle born, one muggle sister- older married with twins, favourite subject err Charms, allergic to cats and hopefully not Argus's."
"Alicia Spinnet," said the blond girl, "magical parents, one brother Sixth year in Ravenclaw, Quidditch player extraordinaire."
"Clem Drew," offered the girl sat next to her, "pure-blood, bored, tired and headed to bed,"
"Clem," reproved Alicia.
"What? We can play buddy-buddy in the morning, night all."
"What about you?" Tanwen asked a small girl with strawberry blond hair and wide brown eyes.
"I'm Lou, short for Lucy, half and half, only child, hate Potions and I like your friend," she smiled softly and reached out a hand tentatively to stroke Loki. He waddled across the bed to her and sat himself in her lap, she smiled at him.
"Ok, well I'm Tanwen, newbie, ex-Beauxbaton, dunno about my parents was raised by several people, and glad to be a Gryffindor."
"Hear, hear," agreed Marcia thumping on the bedcovers, "Now we really should sleep or I for one will never wake up in time for breakfast. And you four know what I'm like if I don't get my food!"
Cassie laughed and jumped off the bed and went to her own. Marcia crossed to the bed next to hers and Lou was next to Tanwen. Alicia and Clem were at the far end of the room.
As Tanwen got into bed that night she yawned widely, marvelling at the ease with which things seemed to be going. She had a feeling she was going to like it here. Closing her eyes she snuggled further under her duvet, Loki lay next to her, already sleeping.
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Et voila! Review! review!…..please?