Chapter 2: Magical New Friends
Nora was alone at the King Cross station. Her aunt had helped her to train station in Watford, but from there Nora was on her own. Her aunt Laurel had explained that she couldn't miss another day from work for her, but Nora knew that was a lie. She had seen it from her aunt's eyes: she was terrified of her. The realization had made Nora sad. Nora felt that the gap between them had become wider, and she had no idea what to do to make it smaller.
Nora looked at the train ticket and recalled Professor Sinistra's words: "You must walk through the platforms 9 and 10. It's the only way to the train. Don't be scared, the wall won't hit you. Just remember to remain calm. Don't be late!" As she walked towards the wall between platforms, she closed her eyes. Nora still expected to be hit by the wall, but slowly opened her eyes, as she didn't feel any pain.
She had arrived in the right platform and saw large red train. Nora moved out of the way and started to head out to the vehicle. She saw lots of families. Some children were already on their uniforms, while others still had their everyday clothes on. She noticed how people were wearing different house colors, that she had read about Hogwarts: A History.
As Nora entered the train, she changed to her school uniform. She longed to feel like she belonged in. After changing Nora entered in empty carriage. She wasn't brave enough to go in one with full of people. Well, we can rule the Gryffindor out, Nora thought to herself and sighed, as she sat down. She took out a muggle book Dragonfly in Amber and started to read, while she waited for the train to start moving.
After reading the first chapter, two beautiful girls entered in the carriage. Shorter one of the girls was clearly from multiracial family as her skin was beautiful color of chestnut. She had large, deep brown eyes, that were framed with naturally long eyelashes. Her hair was dark and had natural African curls. The hair was wild, but it didn't reach on her shoulders. She was wearing stylish muggle top and blue jeans.
The taller one of the girls was the polar opposite of the shorter one. Her hair was straight and crystal blonde. Her nose was crooked, and eyes different pair. Her right eye was light blue while left one bright green. Still the only word to describe the girl was stunning. She like Nora had already dressed in her school robes. She wasn't wearing any house colors, so Nora assumed that she was also first-year student.
"Hey, can we sit here? All the carriages are starting to get full." The blonde girl asked.
"S… sure", Nora answered shyly.
The girls put their luggage to up save and sat down. Nobody said a word for a good minute, until the blonde girl broke the silent:
"I'm Olivia, Olivia Underwood. You can also call me Liv, Livvy, or Livia. Are you also a first year?"
"Um… ye… yes… I'm No… Nora Wilkins. Ni… Nice to meet you."
"Is that the sequel of Outlander?" the other girl asked.
"Um, yes…" Nora answered awkwardly. She was surprised that the girl knew about the muggle book.
The girl's brown eyes started to sparkle with a new kind of light: "Oh Mon Dieu! I have waited a whole year for it to be published. I was supposed to buy it when I visited London, but we ran out of time. Have you read the first book? Wasn't it fantastique? The plot was so interesting!"
"Ye… yes, I couldn't le… let it down. It was s… so good."
"I know, the same happened to me. Have you already read that one, or are you re-reading it?"
"Ye… yes, this is my se… second time. If you wa… want to I can borrow it to y… you."
"Really!? You're the best! Your name is Nora, isn't it?"
"Yes, a… and you are?"
Realization came to the girl, and she blushed a bit: "I'm so sorry for being so rude! I'm Michelle Abreo." Next to Michelle, Olivia started to laugh. "Wow, I just met both of you, and I can already say that this year is going to be so interesting! I hope we'll be in the same house. Which one do you hope to be sorted in?"
"I have no idea. Mon papawent to Beauxbâtons, he wanted me to get my education there, but ma maman said: 'No child of mine will go to France to study! You said yourself there's a good school in here, so she'll study there! No objection!'" Michelle said, mimicking her mother's voice. Her eyes were sparkling once again.
"What about you Nora? Any hopes?" Olivia asked with mischievous smile that suited her face perfectly.
"Umm… I'm n… not certain. I'm the fi… first wi…witch in my whole family."
Olivia's eyes started to sparkle: "Wow really! My parents have told me and my sister all our lives to watch out for people like you, but you're not scary at all. And you seem super nice!" Nora blushed and muttered thanks with small smile on her face. "My whole family has been Slytherin. Before leaving my mother scolded me and said: 'I know that you haven't gotten the most traditional kind of pureblood training, because of your grandmother, but you better not embarrass us! You better be sorted in Slytherin, that's all I ask for or I'll sent you a howler for rest of your life!'" Olivia imitated her mother's voice with a strange accent.
"What's with the accent?" Michelle asked shamelessly. Nora would have been too shy to ask a question like that so directly.
"My grandmother was Polish, and Grandfather Russian so they spoke Slavic languages at her home", Olivia grinned. "So, Nora you're a muggle-born, what about you Michelle? Pureblood or half-blood"
"Half. Mon papa is a wizard, so are my grandparents from his side of the family, and my little brothers, they'll be joining me in two years", Michelle smiled. "Ma maman is a muggle. She was working in a restaurant in London, where she metpapa. He was there for holiday. They fell in love, and a year later he moved to Britain for maman. My grandparents from both sides were about to have a fit."
"Oh, that's so interesting! You have been able to see both muggle and magical side of life!" Olivia's eyes shined from excitement and curiosity. "But why were they about to have a fit?"
"Ma maman family comes from Ghana. They moved to Britain when my grandpa was asked to fight in muggles' World War II. So, they weren't expecting maman to marry someone… umm… so white." Michelle said while small blush appeared on her face. "Papy was angry with papa when he heard he wanted to marry a British muggle woman. Especially with non-European origins. Aïeule refused to speak with him for years. But papa kept his head and married maman, I guess my birth softened papy and aïeuleup."
"Th… that's so s…sweet." Nora said with watery eyes.
"Wow, so what all languages do you speak?"
"English,français and my nana has thought me a couple of words of Twi."
"Amazing!" Olivia awed. She started to ask all kinds of questions about muggle life from both Michelle and Nora. Nora found herself to relax with the company of the two girls and felt that she had made friends for the first time in her life.
Corvus Lestrange tried to find a carriage, where he could sit comfortably. Pureblood families knew him, and most wanted to avoid his company. Half-breeds were afraid of him, and he would be strangled if he was seen with mudbloods.
"Hi, Corvus!" Familiar voice piped out. Corvus saw one of the rare purebloods that he got well along with: Astoria Greengrass. "Looking for carriage?"
"Hey Tori. Yeah, you as well?"
"Yup", she popped. "Wanna sit somewhere together?"
"Sure!"
"Great!" Let's search!"
The train was moving as they looked for place to sit down. From the two of them Astoria was the one, who found the carriage, that would change their life forever. "Hey, Livia is there! Want to sit here?" All three of them had met in formal family meetings. Corvus didn't know Olivia that well, but she was in friendly relationship with Astoria, and that was enough for him.
"Yeah, why not." Corvus shrugged.
They knocked the door and entered in. "Hi Livia! Me and Corvus were looking for place to sit down. Is it okay if we also stay in here?"
"Sure, more the merrier!" Olivia piped happily.
As Corvus sat on the door side next to Astoria, he saw the two girls sitting across them. He immediately recognized the girl with green eyes and freckles: "Hey Nora. How have you been?"
All the eyes turned into Nora, who began to blush: "Um… hi Corvus… I'm go… good, a bit ne… nervous, bu… but good."
"That's good to hear", Corvus said and looked at the other girl, whose name he didn't yet know. "Hello, we haven't met yet, I'm Corvus, and you are?"
"Michelle, pleasure", Michelle said shortly. Nora and Michelle took a look at Astoria, who hadn't yet introduced herself.
"Oh, I'm Astoria Greengrass, but please call me Tori. Are you also going in for the first year? Do you have any siblings in here now?"
"No, my twin frères will be joining me in two years", Michelle said proudly. She wasn't certain yet how to approach the newcomers.
"Um… no, how about you th… three?" Nora piped out.
"My cousin is in year above me", Corvus said with a sigh. "He is a prick, but relative is a relative."
"I just have little sister", Olivia said shortly, clearly avoiding the subject.
"I have big sister. She is same year as Corvus' cousin", Astoria said with a proud smile. It was obvious that she was close with her sister. "She wanted to travel with her friends and told me to get to know new people, so here I am. DAMN! I feel like a wreck!"
She had managed to say the things that Nora had thought. She also was feeling nervous. "Here, here" Olivia said laughing. Nora nodded. Michelle smiled at Astoria.
"Do you know how we are being sorted?" Michelle asked.
"My sister told me that we would have a duel against three headed dog", Astoria said, and Corvus snorted.
"Really Tori? Haven't you read Hogwarts: A History yet?"
"Not everyone is as nerdy as you!"
Nora unconsciously was starting to stop the twos argument, but Olivia stopped her before she could start: "Don't even bother, they are always like this. At each other's throats."
"Ahem", Michelle took the attention back to herself. "So, how are we being sorted then?"
"By a hat", Corvus said matter-of-factly.
"A hat?"
"Yes, by a sorting hat. It sees your mind, and tells you by your trades, where to sort you."
"Wow, that sounds interesting. Do you have any preferences on your house?"
"Slytherin", Astoria and Corvus said in unison.
"Come on you two," Olivia grinned: "Aren't you feeling even teeny, tiny bit rebellious?"
"Well, knowing my parents, they would literally kill me", Corvus said. Next to him Olivia and Astoria went pale.
"Yeah… my family would also be furious", Astoria added.
"Um… wh… why so?" Nora felt puzzled. She wondered if it was common for whole family being sorted in the same house.
"Are you a mud—"
"Yes, Nora is a muggle-born!" Olivia corrected Astoria before she was able to finish the question.
Astoria's face turned cold. Michelle looked at Astoria furiously. Nora felt uncomfortable. She didn't know that being a muggle-born was a bad thing. 'Maybe they'll see me as a freak in here as well.' Nora stuttered: "I… is i… it ba… bad if I a… am?"
"No", to everyone's surprise Corvus answered. "It's not bad thing if you are."
"Oui, he is right!" Michelle hurried. "Some families are stupid and superstitious. They believe that being from family with full of witches and wizards makes them "better". People with only witches and wizards in their family are called purebloods. People with both magical and muggle relatives are called half-bloods, and you know the rest." Michelle smiled at Nora shyly and reassuringly.
Astoria realized that she was alone against the rest of carriage and sulked. "Well, anyway, my family is pure. My whole family has been sorted in Slytherin, so it would be disgraceful if I wasn't."
"Oh… I see," Nora felt shy and embarrassed. She wondered if there was going to be anyone else like her.
"Come on Tori! You ruined the mood!" Olivia cried out. "Just through your prejudices away for a day, so you can see that it is all a lie. Nora is amazing person, and you'll regret if you don't get to know her."
"Sorry", Astoria muttered. A blush came on her face.
"I… it's o… okay."
"Non, it's not", Michelle said. "You almost called her with that disgusting word. You know that it shouldn't be used. It's bad manners!"
"Give her a break Mich", Olivia defended Astoria.
Astoria smiled smally to Olivia with gratitude. "But did you have any preferences about the house?"
"I'm think it would be nice to be Ravenclaw or Gryffindor", Michelle said, still shooting daggers at Astoria.
"They sound most fascinant. Plus, blue and red are both my colours."
"I'd love to see, what my parents would do if I was Gryffindor! Forti Animo Estote" Olivia laughed. The mischievous look had come back on her face.
"I th… think yo… you'd su… suit th… there."
"Thanks Nora! But now you're the only one, who hasn't said where you want to get sorted."
"Ma… maybe Hu… Hufflepuff…"
"Hufflepuff! Why?" Astoria piped out. She had never before heard anyone wanting to be a Hufflepuff. Next to her, Corvus also had puzzled look on his face.
Nora blushed. "We… well… um… the… they so… sound ni… nice… I a… also be… belief i… in working h.. hard… I li… like th… the idea, that ev… everyone is we… welcome, si… since I ha… haven't al… always fe… felt like th… that. In my mu… muggle sc… school I wa… was seen as a f… freak, si… since I ac… accidently did ma… magic, a… and got bu… bullied a l… lot."
"Well, they have been fools", Corvus said. "You're not scary at all." Nora saw for the first time Corvus to smile. He looked handsome, as small dimples came on his cheeks.
"He's right. They were fools." To everyone's surprise the talker was Astoria. She looked at Nora with a new light. She couldn't even imagine living in non-magical world and being the only one doing magic, without knowing it. "It must have been scary for you."
"I… I guess."
Michelle's fury towards Astoria melted away. Olivia was beaming.
Rest of the train ride went with comfortable chatter. They exchanged stories about their first magical encounters. They shared their expectations about the school. They talked about which subjects they were looking most forward to. But most of all, they all felt free. They laughed about silly jokes and stories, and before they even noticed, they had arrived at Hogwarts.
As Nora stepped out of the train, she heard a loud voice: "Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!" The owner of the voice was the largest man, Nora had ever seen. He had long dark hair, huge beard covering his face and dark sparkling eyes.
"Hey Hagrid, how was your summer?" Nora heard someone greeting the giant. He was happily talking to some older students. As he smiled and laughed, he seemed far less scary in Nora's eyes. First-year students gathered in line behind Hagrid. After being certain that everyone was with them, they started to walk towards lake. Nora stared around herself with awe in her eyes. Everything looked so new and magical.
Every new student slowly stepped on the boats. Nora sat down on the same boat with Astoria, Olivia and Michelle. Nora saw Corvus sitting down with some boys. He seemed to know them before-hand and the atmosphere was tense. Nora soon forgot the boy, since the castle became visible. Everyone's eyes became wide with wonder. The castle was so much bigger, more magical and every single way just more than anyone of them had dreamed.
Nora felt that the trip was over with a blink of eye. Too soon they were walking towards the castle. Nora had to concentrate on her feet, so she didn't stumble down. Her nerves had come back and tried to get better of her. She wondered if the sorting hat would be able to sort her anywhere. Would they send her back home, to her aunt, who was afraid of her. Or what if she didn't fit in? What if she became unable to do magic?
Nora woke up from her panic-kind trance when Olivia nudged her on a shoulder: "This is so exciting! It's finally happening! I've been waiting for this moment for all my life!" Nora tried to smile at her, but with her nerves on surface, it looked more like grimace. Fortunately for Nora, she was saved from answering, as strict looking lady came forward with parcel in her hands.
"Welcome to Hogwarts", the lady said. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Hagrid nodded and thanked the lady.
"I am Professor McGonagall. I am head of the Gryffindor house. Soon all of you will be sorted in the ceremony one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. The ceremony is very important, because while you are here, your house will be your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will make you lose the points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded with the House Cup." Professor McGonagall gave a stern look at the students. "Now sort your heads. The Sorting will start soon front of the whole school. Wait here quietly 'till we are ready."
Nora went pale. She felt scared. She was certain she would embarrass herself in front of the whole school.
Nora started to concentrate on her breathing, so she wouldn't have a panic attack.
After a time that felt like forever, the doors opened, and they were welcomed in the great hall. Because of her nerves, Nora couldn't concentrate on what was in front of her. She didn't have enough energy to see the flying candles, admire the night sky, nor hear the song that the Sorting hat was singing.
This time Professor McGonagall's stern voice woke Nora up. "Now, I will call each one's names alphabetically, and the Sorting hat shall sort you into your own House."
"Abreo Michelle!"
Michelle walked forward, and nervously sat down on the bench in front. The hat was placed on top of her head, and Nora noticed Michelle to flinch. After five minutes the hat finally cried out:
"RAVENCLAW!"
People applauded; the people dressed on blue the loudest. Michelle walked gracefully to the table and sat down between older students.
The sorting continued. Soon Astoria was sorted to Slytherin, as she had hoped. People kept cheering and chatting, but the cold silence feel over the Great Hall when Professor McGonagall called: "Lestrange Corvus!"
As Corvus walked in front, Nora wondered why people went quiet. Why his name made people fall in silence with fear. The Sorting took longer than with previous people. After twenty-five long minutes the hat announced:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Only the teachers, Slytherins and couple of students from other tables applauded, but they were by far the quiets ones during the evening.
Professor McGonagall didn't seem to care and continued the sorting like nothing had happened. After Corvus, Luna Lovegood and Lisa Martley were sorted in Ravenclaw, Leslie Norton became Slytherin, Heidi Macavoy, Daisy Owens and Matthew Prewett became Hufflepuffs, and Melissa Quinton Gryffindor. More names were called and before noticing Professor called: "Underwood Olivia!"
People became once again quiet, and Nora wondered why. Soon after the hat was put on her top of her head it yelled:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The applauses were few and puzzled. People seemed to be expecting different outcome, but the Gryffindors welcomed Olivia to their table with open arms.
After few more names Professor McGonagall finally called: "Wilkins Nora!"
Nora walked with slow steps in front. She could feel eyes on her and hear some people quietly murmuring to one another. Nora sat down and felt the hat being placed on top of her head. Nora startled and almost jumped off the chair when she heard a voice inside of her head:
"Hmmm… interesting", the hat said. "Hard-working, brave and smart."
"Um… Th… thank you Mr. Hat."
"Ah, kind soul indeed. I know exactly where to put you… HUFFLEPUFF!"
Nora stumbled up and almost crashed on the chair. She noticed from the corner of her eyes, that Olivia was covering a sly smile. Nora almost flew to the Hufflepuff table and sat down to the opposite of two other first years. The last person sorted was Benjamin You, who sat next to Michelle in Ravenclaw table.
For the first time the school's headmaster rose. "Welcome first-years and all the older students. You all must be hungry from your long journey, so without any further a due, enjoy the feast."
With a blink of eyes delicious food appeared on top of the tables. Nora realized how hungry she was and joined others and started to eat.
"Hey, your name is Norra, innit?" A girl with a strong Welsh accent asked. Her hair was long, wavy and the colour reminded Nora of Wales barley fields. Her eyes were deep chocolaty brown, that were full of life. "I'm Daisy, Daisy Owens, and this is like my butty Matty."
Daisy was pointing at the boy next to her. He had reddish hair and grey eyes. "Hey, tell me if you cannot understand her. Her accent is… well something, and I'm Matthew Prewett, but please just call me Matt." Matthew spoke politely with proper English accent.
"Umm… Hi… yes… umm… ni... nice to me… meet you bo…both."
"'Ey, stop thaat Matty!" Daisy's speech sounded like a beautiful song in Nora's ears. "It's tidy here, isn't? Until I met Matty, I never 'eard ow magic before me life."
"She moved to my neighborhood when we were seven. My father was a squid, and my mother is a muggle."
Nora felt a relief wash over her body. She knew that she wasn't going to be the only muggle-born in her year or in her house. Nora gave her two house-mates genuine smile: "Ye… yeah, I'm al… also a mu… muggle-born."
"Tidy, I bet we're gonna be like great buttys!"
The conversation continued 'till end of the dinner. Or actually, Daisy did most of the talking with her bubbly personality, and Matthew translated and added things of his own to her speeches. Still Nora liked both of them. They felt warm and safe, and they could share things differently, since they all had muggle parents.
Nora could honestly say that the evening was by then, the most magical one of her young life.
TN/ I know, Astoria isn't supposed to start at Hogwarts until a year later, but I wanted to change the storyline little bit. I'm not native English, Welsh English, Celtic, French nor Tai language speaker, so if I made any mistakes, then please, let me know. P.S. I don't own
Harry Potter world or its characters.