Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, as you by now should know belong to J.K Rowling…
'Achy Breaky Heart' is a song by a guy called by Billy Ray Cirus (apologies if incorrect – I don't completely know how to spell his name).
Though, I do however, own the names, Kye, Nindi, Kat, Nome and Robbo. Well, they own the names, of course, because they (including me) are the people who are called by them – but officially, I own them.
A/N: Thankyou to all who reviewed! You make me soo happy! The little perks in life are just so filling. However, in saying this, I must tell you guys, that I might only have little time writing this story now.
I have gotten into University (Wohoot!), doing electronic Arts, and I want to transfer to Bachelor of Arts next year, so I have to concentrate and work hard. I hope you all understand.
But I WILL be continuing to update this, as this helps with Creative Strategies, a subject I am doing, and the Lecture who interviewed me for the course, told me when I showed him some of my writings ('Dreaming', and a non-fanfic short story I have written), to continue writing – whatever I do! So I plan to do just that!
Read and enjoy! Then review.
CHAPTER FOUR: Which House?
NOME'S POV:
The five girls crowded around Professor McGonagall at the top of the stairs outside the Great Hall.
"Now, I want you young ladies to wait here, while I let Professor Dumbledore know you've arrived." She told them, before abruptly turning and disappearing through the large oak doors.
The girls looked at one another.
"So where supposed to wait here and die from rioting nerves?" Robbo muttered to the silent hall.
Nerves? Of course, Nome knew what it was like to be nervous. She was known for suffering from anxiety, either when she was extremely excited, or very nervous. And right now, she was bouncing up and down on the spot with anxiety.
Nome clenched her fists, as the same question continued to roll over in her mind, Gryffindor or Slytherin?
She was obsession with Slytherin; she loved it. Except this was no longer fantasy - this choice was for real, and though she thought Slytherin to be pretty cool, she didn't want to end up in a house full of jerks. But, she reassured herself; she didn't have to make that choice. After all, that's what the Sorting Hat was for, right? So why was she this nervous - and frightened?
She looked over at her friends. Kye was muttering to herself, over and over again, "Oh god… Oh God! Gryffindor - must be Gryffindor!"
Robbo was twisting her nose ring furiously, and Kat was repeatedly saying, "It's going to be okay, everything will be fine."
Nindi, on the other hand, seemed quite normal. She was always babbling away excitedly, prancing around in small steps. Since Nindi always happened to be quite strange, and completely insane at predictable, or most likely, unexpected moments, anyone who didn't know her well would just assume she was ready to face whatever was ahead; far from the truth though.
The sudden creak of the large doors opening startled the girls. Professor McGonagall smiled briskly at them.
"It is time."
Nome followed the tall lady through the doors and into the brightly lit Great Hall.
"Wow…" Nome cried softly with awe.
"It's even more beautiful at night!" Kye said looking at the stars reflected in the ceiling. The girls finally stopped staring at the ceiling, and ran their eyes their audience, who were seated at all four House tables.
Kye moved closer to Nome and muttered in her ear, "For some strange reason I feel as though I'll be expected to sing when I get up there."
Nome looked confused at Kye.
"But you sang at our year 10 Graduation!"
"Yeah, but I was still nervous - and that was only in front of half the school! And there is way more people here." Kye told her and Nome nodded in agreement.
They came to a stop at a dais that was at the end of the hall. Here there were teachers seated at a long row of tables, where some were murmuring together quietly, or simply staring silently at the girls.
In front of the tables, with the even more unsettling audience than the eerily quiet hall of students behind them, was a small four-legged stool with a large old fraying wizard's hat seated upon it.
Nome gulped; it looked much more mysterious than in the movie.
"Cool," She heard Kye breath.
Professor McGonagall walked over to the hat and stood next to it. She had a small roll of parchment in her hand, and faced the students seated at the tables.
"Here in front of me," She began loudly. "Are transfer students from Oscean, the Australian School for Witches and Wizards."
She cleared her throat and continued, turning to each of the tables as she spoke.
"They have the privilege to continue their senior years, learning magic at our school, and it is a great honour to have them here with us. She said, pausing to smile briefly at the girls.
"I would now like to welcome to our school with the traditional sorting, and I hope that whichever house they are sorted into, you will all get along well.
So now, without further ado, I give you the Sorting!" The hall immediately filled with applause.
Professor McGonagall then opened the scroll in her hand, and called out the first name on the list.
Nome by now had completely forgotten that the roll would of course be in alphabetical order, so she was taken by surprise when her name was called out.
Nome looked at Kye briefly before she reluctantly walked up onto the platform. With a heavy sigh she put the hat on head, and sat down on the stool.
"My, my, we are a strange girl, aren't we?" The hat whispered into her ear.
Nome's nerves were already on edge and when the hat mentioned this she became angry. "I am not!"
The hat chuckled. "It was a compliment." Then it said. "Dear me, we're rather jumpy today."
Nome sighed annoyed, and said irritably. "Oh stop tormenting me. I am nervous enough as it is. Just put me in a house already!"
"Okay then, where to place you?" The hat said thinking, and then it became business like. "Not too afraid for a challenge… but you seem to want to prove yourself, too. Hmmm…" The hat said thoughtfully.
"As long as it is Gryffindor – or Slytherin," Nome muttered.
"But of course! That is what I am having trouble to decide. You seem likely to be good in both places…"
Nome shifted uneasily on the stool. It was like the hat was trying to figure out which best tactic to persuade her, as though he was suspiciously trying to point her in a direction without her knowing.
"What are you getting at?" Nome asked.
"Nothing…"
"You would prefer me to go into a specific house, am I right?"
"Well, now that you mention it – yes."
"Why don't you just choose for me then?" Nome asked the hat angrily.
"I would, but I know you would rather choose yourself. And the fact is," It said, finally coming to the point. "I would like all of you five girls to choose for yourselves."
"Oh… Great."
"However, I have a proposal for you. If you go into Slytherin, you will be able to help unite the school, but in the process any information you come across–"
"In other words dig up," Nome said.
"You come across would be secretly passed over to the headmaster, as it is indeed dark times we are entering and we need all the help we can find."
"And if I choose Gryffindor?" Nome asked.
"You will end up with friends and in a house not full with jerks." The hat sighed. "Yet this school needs union and that is what is very remarkable about you girls; the prejudiced thinking between houses would not affect you. This is what is wrong with this school, and not just the school - the whole wizarding world."
"But – if I choose Slytherin – they won't like me!" Nome protested. "I mean, I'm not a… not a pureblood – or anything like them.
"They won't know that if you don't tell them."
"Great, so I lie."
"And if you go into Slytherin and act your part-"
"My part?" Nome asked becoming more and more worried.
The hat sighed impatiently, "That you are pure witch and have been living in the magical world your entire life."
"But if I go into Slytherin," Nome reasoned somewhat sadly. "I won't be with my friends." She looked at them, who were watching her and waiting.
"Are you sure?" The hat asked.
"Well, I don't know!" Nome replied nervously, as she looked from one friend to another.
Her eyes stopped on Kye and hesitated before continuing. "Alright, I've decided." And her voice quavering, she told the hat her decision.
"Alright then," The hat said. Then brim of the hat opened wide and it cried out to the hall.
"The house is…"
KYE'S POV:
The stars twinkled in the clear dark sky reflected in the ceiling, illuminated by the flickering candles hovering below. The Great Hall looked spectacular; the tables were laid out with sparkling clean plates and cutlery, and the seats were full of excited chatter, which soon died down as the girls entered the hall.
Kye looked up at the ceiling in amazement. "It's even more beautiful at night!"
Delighted, she looked around at the tables packed with students.
She gulped. "For some strange reason I feel as though I'll be expected to sing when I get up there." It did look like a strange movie.
Nome looked at Kye confused and said. "But you sang with Nindi at our Year 10 graduation ceremony."
"That was different. It was only in front of half the school and there is way more people here."
Kye stopped talking when they came to a stop at the podium where the teachers were seated at a long row of tables.
Up stepped Professor McGonagall, pulling out a small roll of parchment as the noise in the hall slowly died down. Before she came to the roll calling though, Professor McGonagall introduced Kye and her friends to the Hogwarts students as 'transfer' students from the Australian school of magic. She continued with her speech, welcoming the girls to the school until she finally looked down at the roll.
"Naomi!" Professor McGonagall called out.
A great swell of anticipation overcame Kye while she watched her friend sitting on the stool. This was short lived however, as Kye soon found herself impatiently humming to the tune of Shannon Noll's "What About Me" and was eventually joined by Nindi.
"What's taking so long?" Kye suddenly hissed with frustration.
"I dunno," Robbo muttered. "But, if she doesn't hurry up soon, I'm goin' to go up there and yank the stupid thing of her head." She said angrily.
Kye sighed. She didn't know what it was, but she was starting to feel nervous.
"What's up now?" Nindi finally asked her, noticing her rock from foot to foot.
"I don't know, but I am beginning to feel really nervous."
Nindi snorted. "Well you're up next; of course you're nervous!"
"Yeah, but I feel like something bad is going to happen." Kye said uneasily and Nindi rolled her eyes.
"Good lord. Stand still, will ya? You're starting to make me dizzy." Kye continued swaying, and Nindi told her firmly, "Look, nothing will happen. Trust me."
Kye calmed down a little, though her heart was still thudding rapidly.
What on earth could go wrong? Kye reassured herself. Nothing is going to –
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted suddenly and Kye jerked in the air.
"What!" Kye shouted to Nindi through the clapping. "Slytherin… She can't be in Slytherin!" Kye cried flinging her arms wildly. Nindi just looked at her shrugging – too shocked to speak.
"Kylie." Professor McGonagall called out.
Kye turned wildly to the stool, which was now empty. She stood staring at it, too afraid to move – she just knew something would go wrong.
"Kylie!" Professor McGonagall called again, looking at her sharply.
"Uh – uh…" Kye said feebly, while Nindi gave her a shove to get moving. Slowly she trod up the stairs and up onto the platform, dreading what was going to happen as she sat on the stool.
She placed the hat onto her head with somewhat difficulty, suddenly finding the hat heavier than she expected – or perhaps it was because she was weak with dread.
Nothing happened.
Kye coughed, and then squirmed nervously on the stool.
"Hello?" She asked, completely confused; the silence starting to fall heavily around her.
"Slytherin…" The hat whispered softly to itself.
"Huh?" Kye started, jerked out of her reverie. Did he just say Slytherin? She thought, bewildered.
"I think it wise for you to go into Slytherin." The hat said into her ear.
"What?" Kye yelped. Looking around nervously, she hissed. "What? Slytherin? No way –"
"I see you have quite a talent which will need to be smoothened out with proper focus and learning at school."
Kye couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.
"And you think I can shine through Slytherin?" Kye replied edgily.
"Of course," It replied.
"I do NOT want to go there!" Kye started, suddenly furious. Here was the ultimate chance to learn magic, at Hogwarts – The Hogwarts – and here she was being forced into the house which she hated.
Well, I don't actually hate it. It's just, if I can't be in Gryffindor, what point is there in going to Hogwarts? Her inner voice reasoned.
"And why not?" The hat said simply.
"Because…" Kye's voice failed.
Why didn't she want to be in Slytherin? Wasn't she just complaining to Nindi, less than a week ago, that the Hogwarts Students were completely daft? How foolish it was of the rivalry between the houses. After all, they were just school houses; life outside of school certainly didn't evolve around social groups that exist in school.
"You know as well as I do the school needs to unite. It is starting to become dangerous and this school needs to be able to co-operate for the hard times that will come." It told her.
"So? If I am in Gryffindor, I will have enough support, and I will be able to convince them to make a truce to everyone in the school. Start with the small and work your way to the top, as they say."
"You are needed in Slytherin!" The hat cried, "You know how the world works. You see through the prejudice of the Pure Bloods, and yet you are able to see both sides' point of view."
"Why would I want to be in a house where everyone would hate me?" Kye said angrily.
"How do you know they will hate you?"
"Because I'm a muggle born!" Kye cried, wondering if the hat was taunting her. "You know that!"
Here, the hat chuckled. "But they don't know that, do they?"
Kye stopped fuming; she was beginning to see his mind.
"What they don't know can't hurt them – at least for the time being. And even if they do find out, you would have gained valuable information, and would have had enough time to show them a different perspective on things."
"Okay, okay! I see your point. But what if I can't act like a pure-blood? What if they don't end up liking me? What if –"
"You will do fine. And you will have Naomi to help your cover, and for companionship. And don't forget you will always have the others to rely on." The hat re-assured her.
"Yes, but if they are in Slytherin too, the rest of the school will see us as bad guys too – even if we aren't pretending."
"The other three, I shall place accordingly – in Gryffindor." The hat informed her.
"Gryffindor? But why can't one of them be in Slytherin, with Nome?" Kye cried, clearly outraged.
"I have chosen you for the task. You are close with not only Nome, but all the girls. I believe they will stand by you, making it easier for you to help this school."
Kye sighed; now she knew what it felt like to have a heavy weight on one's shoulders.
"And your decision?" It asked, though Kye suspected he already knew.
"Okay…"
"You have chosen wisely, good luck." The hat whispered encouragingly.
"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat shouted at the top of its lungs. (A/N: Wait, does it have lungs?)
Before removing her hat, however, Kye whispered, "Always thought you were cool."
NINDI'S POV:
"HO!" Nindi cried in shock. Glad nobody heard her over the applause, Nindi stared in horror at her friend walking over to the Slytherin table.
KYE'S IN SLYTHERIN? She thought. Obviously there was some mistake; the hat would call her back. Perhaps it was joking? Nindi looked hard at the hat. I wonder if it even has a sense of humour. She pondered on this.
"Nerida!" Professor McGonagall called.
Nindi awoke from her thoughts, and moved towards the seat. She could see why first years were scared of coming up here, it looked rather foreboding.
The last thing Nindi thought, before putting the hat on, was, I wonder if this means I'm going to be in Slytherin too, now that Nome and Kye are in there.
"No, you're not." A voice answered.
Nindi almost jumped; she hadn't even realised she had put it on.
"Uh... why?" Nindi asked, being too shocked for words.
"You and your friends are to be sorted into Gryffindor, while your two friends, Naomi and Kylie, are in Slytherin."
"Why?"
"You three that are to be in Gryffindor will help Kye and Nome, secretly deceive the Pure Bloods in Slytherin, so that Kye and Nome can befriend them to help gain information, as well as helping to slowly bring the students together."
Nindi blinked. "Uh, okay. So you want Kye and Nome to pretend to be Pure Bloods? And our friendship will help start to link Slytherin and Gryffindor together, which will also bring Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw closer."
The hat chuckled, highly amused. "Your mind works reasonably fast." It was a statement, not a compliment, nevertheless Nindi beamed.
"So, are you quite alright with what I have proposed?" The hat asked her.
"Not really, but I guess there isn't any choice, is there?" Nindi replied glumly.
"There is always a choice. But I see you have already made up your mind."
"Yes, yes. Get it over with, before I change my mind from guilt!" Nindi snapped, looking over at Kye and Nome, who were sitting next to one another.
"Very well then… GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the last part out to the hall, and Nindi hurried over to her table, all shaken and jumpy.
KYE'S POV:
Kye sat down slowly at the table. Nervously she looked up at Nindi who was taking her place on the stool. Kye noticed she looked shocked, and Kye fidgeted even more. She was not a bully, and changing her personality to suit the like of Malfoy, wouldn't be easy, and it definitely couldn't happen overnight. She had to change slowly.
"Kye," Nome said softly.
"Huh? Oh, sorry."
"I was saying, I didn't think you would come here."
Kye looked up at Nome half heartedly, too shocked to think properly. "Where'd you think I would end up?"
"I dunno…" Nome said, then her brain already moving into gear, continued. "But apparently this is the best house – or so I've heard."
Kye frowned, and completely forgetting where she was, replied, "I thought Slytherin was supposed to be full of bad people?"
Nome looked at her. "Nooo! That's just what those three said. You know – the Gryffindors."
Kye noticed something out of the corner of her eye. It was Malfoy; he was listening to their conversation, hanging on every word. Kye stared at Nome, trying to signal her that she was going too far.
But then Kye realised what Nome was doing. So, Kye decided to play along; a rather large leap for a small person, but at least she will find out how Malfoy will react.
"Ron… Hermione… and that other one," Nome continued.
"I can't remember either," Kye admitted.
"Harry was his name… Oh! I always forget his last name!" Nome said a bit frustrated.
Kye couldn't take it anymore; here they were trying to pretend they couldn't remember Harry – of all people!
"You are talking about Potter. Harry Potter." Malfoy finally interrupted, obviously astounded that they could not remember his name.
This was all it took.
Kye gave a loud snort and burst into hysterical laughter, which sounded similar to a Kookaburra. So much for pretending! Kye thought.
Malfoy stared.
"I kept thinking his name was Phillips, or something." Kye said, thinking quickly, her face becoming flustered.
Malfoy was incredulous. "Don't you know who Potter is?"
"Kye looked over at him. "Huh? Oh, yeah!" She said dismissively.
Nome decided to put her two cents worth in. "Only one to survive whatsie."
Nome said this with such sincerity – she was known for being lazy with names – that Kye automatically corrected her.
"Voldemort."
Malfoy choked on his food. Crabbe and Goyle - who until now Kye and Nome had ignored – gaped at Kye with their mouths open, revealing half-chewed food inside.
A cry came from nearby, and, like a row of dominoes, each student at the Slytherin table made a startling sound, and the table suddenly halted to a still silence.
All eyes were in Kye's direction. Kye suddenly felt smaller than she was, and from the overwhelming pressure, Kye did the only thing she did during mortifying moments: she laughed hysterically.
Students from nearby tables looked over at the Slytherin table, which was so unusually quiet. There was something funny going on.
Nome by now had collapsed into a fit of giggles, which only made Kye laugh harder. Nothing was worse than laughing at something and trying to calm down, than having someone next to you to remind you what was funny.
Malfoy finally spoke, his voice rather strangled and hushed. "You – You – You said His name!"
Kye is extremely simple-minded at times, and to further demonstrate this, she replied, "So?"
Draco coughed, being so taken by Kye's remark.
"I've always said it." Kye told him with the utmost earnestness in her voice.
Kye looked at them, putting a puzzled look on. "You mean to tell me, you… don't?"
All Malfoy could do was shake his head.
"Well, you guys are WEIRD!" Nome said, matter-of-factly. "To think you can be scared of a name!" Nome said, laughing.
"Yeah, a name!" Kye agreed. "What's it gonna do – bite you in the arse?"
"Ha ha!" Nome cried, getting into the spirit of things. "Maybe if I kick my heels three times, while saying his name, he'll pop out of no-where… and soon he'll be singing The Wizard of Oz…"
"Well, I've had enough, how about you?" Kye said to Nome.
"Yeah. Let's go check out our rooms!"
"Hey! I know… we should start a song!" Kye said, getting out of her chair.
Suddenly she started singing to the tune of 'Achy Breaky Heart', by Billy Ray Cirus. "Ohhh… Don't say his name! His evil-wevil name. Oh, I just don't think you understand! And if you say his name, his evil-wevil name… Oh we might blow up and kill everyone…"
And it was on this note, that Draco Malfoy, his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, watched the two girls leaving The Great Hall; Kye humming and jigging to the rhythm of the song.