------------------------

For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter 1

------------------------

4 - The Hogwarts Express

------------------------

------------------------

Tuesday, September 1, 1998:
London's Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 3/4

------------------------

Mom sniffed back a tear, while Dad ruffled my hair. "Write often, pumpkin," he said, as I hugged them both.

"I'll keep an eye out for her, Mr. Wayne," Ginny promised. "I'd like you to meet my parents, Arthur and Molly Weasley."

"Don't worry about her," Mrs. Weasley said to my folks. "She's in good hands with our Ginny." She gave Ginny a last hug, then said, "Well? Off with you, then."

"All right, then, Mattie. All you need to do is to run full speed at the wall. Just watch me." She turned, then ran with her cart right at the brick wall, and vanished into it. I blinked, then looked at the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley made a shooing motion, and I shrugged, then ran at the wall.

"That … was weird," I said.

"No, that's magic. Come on, move out of the way," Ginny said. "This is my brother Bill, and Shadow." She motioned toward an approaching man with a large black panther on a leash. She ruffled Shadow's fur after giving Bill a hug. I moved over, crouched, and regarded Shadow. He regarded me with green eyes, then padded over to me. I held out my hand, and he sniffed it, then purred and licked my face.

"See why I don't wear makeup?" Ginny giggled. "He likes you. Here, let me shrink your luggage. Did you bring a familiar?"

"Yes, but she's nothing like Shadow." I moved over to my cart, and undid the front of the wicker carrier. "She's a miniature lynx, and her name is Dynamo." I added, "Dynamo, meet Shadow." Shadow stuck his nose in her carrier, and I could hear grunting going on. A whistle sounded, and Bill said, "That's the ten minute warning. Come on, Shadow. We need to get a compartment." I buckled Dynamo back in her carrier, and followed them.

------------------------

"Is this compartment taken?"

I waved at the two dark-skinned girls, and said, "Come in. Sorry for the mess, and I can't really get up now." The other girl with black hair and purple eyes looked up from her book and smiled.

They dumped their stuff in the middle of the compartment. I said, "I'm Mattie Wayne, that's Sprink, and this great lump on my lap is Shadow." I prodded him and said, "Come on now, get up. You can nap later." He raised his head, blinked, and then gave an impressive yawn.

"Oh my god, that's a panther," one of the girls said in a strangled whisper.

"Yeah. He's not mine, though. I've got a lynx over there. This lazy bum is Ginny Weasley's. She's in a meeting right now." I prodded him again, and said, "Where are your manners?" He turned to regard me, stuck his tongue out, and then jumped down. I stood up, staggered a bit and shook my legs to restore circulation, then held out my hand. "As I was saying, Mattie Wayne from Gotham. I guess you're firsties like me?"

They nodded. "Roshawn … "

"… and Shaundra Cortez"

"… from New York," they chorused.

"Twins?" someone asked from the doorway.

They nodded, and I waved, "Fellow Yanks, too. Come on in. Charlie Adams, right?"

"That's right." He came in, then froze at the sight of Shadow, who was getting his fur stroked by both twins. A deep rumbling purr escaped him, and everyone froze.

I snorted, "Silly. That was a purr. Haven't any of you had cats before?"

"Not one that weighed a hundred and fifty kilos," Charlie said. I sighed, and grabbed his hand, "Come on. Shadow, this is Charlie." He opened one eye, then leaned forward to sniff Charlie.

"More mudbloods, I see. On my train." Charlie moved to the side, and I saw Graham Pritchard standing in the open doorway. Shadow's transformation was instantaneous. His ears laid back, eyes slit, and he showed his fangs with a snarl as he readied himself to spring. Dynamo leaped out of his carrier onto my shoulder, and hissed at Pritchard, fangs bared. He froze, and a small dark line went down his slacks, puddling on the floor.

"Evansco," Ginny said from behind him, making the small puddle vanish. "Your train, Mr. Pritchard? I suggest you go change into your uniform, before Slytherin starts the year in the negative. Off with you now." Pritchard ran off, and Ginny tapped Shadow's nose with her finger, saying, "Shadow! He's only a fourth year. I want you to play nice from now on." He miaowed and rolled over, and she giggled, asking him, "Who do you think you are, Snuffles?" He miaowed again, and she leaned down to scratch his chest, saying, "Why don't you and … "

"Charlie. Charlie Adams, ma'am."

"I'm not a ma'am, I'm a Ginny. Ginny Weasley, Head Girl. We all need to change into our uniforms, so if you and Shadow will wait in the corridor, then we'll trade off."

"Why does Shadow need to leave?" one of the twins asked.

"He'll lie about, taking up space. Five girls changing in one tiny compartment? He'll take up every spare inch." She gave Shadow a nudge, then said, "Off with you, you great lump." She eyed Charlie, and said, "Don't worry, he won't hurt you."

------------------------

As I waited for the rest to finish changing, I asked, "Where did you get Shadow?"

"He's from Harry. Since I'll be patrolling the halls at night, he wanted me to have a little extra protection. That's why you innocent firsties will be snug in your dorms at night. No sneaking out, now." Ginny said it with a straight face, but there was an amused twinkle in her eyes.

One of the twins asked, "Why do you have a different tie than we do?"

"I've been Sorted. Yours will change into your house colors. Mine are Gryffindor."

"What's this Sorting like? Do we have to sing or anything?" the other twin asked.

"No, nothing like that. You'll find out, though." There was a knock on the glass, and a voice asked, "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

Ginny asked quietly, "Anything to eat or drink?" I shook my head, and Ginny called, "We're good. Thanks, luv." She asked, "Everyone ready?" I nodded with the others, and she called, "Charlie? Ready?"

------------------------

As we waited for Charlie to finish, Sprink asked, "Who's Snuffles"?

"Snuffles was my boyfriend Harry's, a big black dog, looked like a Grim. Very playful, didn't have a serious bone in his body. He was killed just over two years ago. Harry is still mourning him, in a way." Ginny sniffed, then said, "What about you? I've met Mattie's familiar. Who did you bring?"

------------------------

"Firs' years over here! All firs' years, over here!" I heard Hagrid, and made my way over to him. He waved his lantern, and called again, then spotted us, and an enormous smile appeared in his beard. "Miss Wayne! G'd tah see yah ag'in!"

"Mr. Hagrid, I'd …" I started, and the waved his finger.

"Jus' Hagrid, 'tis. Friends 'o yours?"

I nodded, "This is Roshawn and Shaundra Cortez, my fellow Yanks, my friend Sprink Tonks, and Charlie Adams."

"Pleased." He genuinely seemed to be, and added, "We'll be leavin' in a bit, so don't wander off, now." Hagrid raised his lantern, and called again, "Firs' years, over here!"

"Oh, wow!" Charlie said. Lit up against the night sky was an enormous castle, lights and torches reflecting on the surface of the lake. I pulled out my camera, and took a picture.

"Right, now," Hagrid said. "We're going tae cross to the castle now, so follow me. If ye' fall in, dan' worry, the squid in tha' lake will fish ya out, na trouble. E'ryone ready?" He walked down to a wooden dock, and called "Four to a boat, ye' don't need ta row. Forty two a' ye, so two wi' me, now!"

As the boats moved slowly across the lake, the castle loomed even more. We drifted into a cavern under the lake, and a cloud of bats took off, to the shrieks of students. Sprink looked at me, and asked, "Doesn't that bother you?"

I smiled, and said, "No." We bumped up against the dock, and clambered out. The boat moved off by itself, and other people joined us.

"Righ'." Hagrid did a quick head count, then said, "We'll be goin' up to the Great Hall now. 'Tis where you're sorted into y' houses. F'llo me, now." We followed him, until he stopped. "Righ'. One more flight, an' ye'll be met. I'll see ye'll later now. G'luck tae all o' ye at Hogwarts." He vanished, moving surprisingly quietly for such a large man.

One floor up, Professor McGonagall waited for us. She looked us over sternly, then said, "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. In a few minutes, you will proceed into the Great Hall, where you will be Sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your house is your family while you are here at Hogwarts. Good grades and behavior will gain your house points, while misbehavior and rule-breaking will cost your house points." She gazed at us, then added, "At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup." She looked us over then said, "Follow me," turned, and opened the doors.

------------------------

I followed along as people entered, murmuring about the hundreds of floating candles. We stopped in the middle of the hall, facing the high table. Professor McGonagall motioned us to wait, then advanced to stand next to a stool, where an ancient, patched and filthy hat sat. I blinked, a rip along the brim opened, and it started to sing. I took a picture, and Sprink whispered, "Didn't you know muggle cameras won't work?"

Someone else shh'd her, and I caught a bit of the song.

"…You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and stout,
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a sharp mind,
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
Those cunning folks,

Do achieve their ends.

So how to know?
'Twas Gryffindor what found the way,

He pulled me off his head,
The four put brains in me,

So I could choose instead!
So slip me 'bout your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind,
And find where you belong!"

There was applause, and Professor McGonagall called, "When I call your name, come have a seat, and the Hat will sort you into your house." There was an excited murmur, and one of the boys started to hyperventilate. She called, "Adams, Charles." He gulped, slicked his hair with his hands (which got a laugh), and climbed onto the stool. The Hat was placed on his head, and it twisted as it seemed to carry on a conversation with him. After a minute or so, the rip opened up with a call, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Cortez twins were sorted into Ravenclaw, and soon Sprink and I were the only ones left.

Professor McGonagall called, "Tonks, Susquehanna."

Before she sat down, she said, "Sprink, please. I hate my name."

There was a chuckle, and Professor McGonagall said with a small smile, "Forgive me, Miss Tonks. Ready?" She nodded, and the Hat went on her head. It seemed to argue with her. It finally called, "SLYTHERIN!" She hopped off the stool, and headed for the cheering table to the left.

"Wayne, Helena."

I took a deep breath, and marched up the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. I climbed onto the stool, and said, "Mattie, please." Professor McGonagall gave me a small smile, and lowered the Hat onto my head.

"Well, well, very interesting. Hello, Miss Wayne. You're very like your parents, you know."

"Hello, Mr. Hat. What do you mean, I'm like my parents?"

"Both of them had a great deal of mental discipline. You don't have as much, but you're still young. In time, you will prove to be either a great hero or a terrible danger. It's all here, you see."

"What do you mean … YOU'RE READING MY MIND!" I slammed my mental shields closed.

"Now, now …" I could feel the Hat prodding at my shields, and then I heard it say, "Minerva, give this tetchy girl a poke. She's a natural Occlumens, like her parents." I felt someone shake me gently, and say, "Mattie? Let the Hat do its job."

"Miss Wayne?"

"Sorry, Mr. Hat. People's lives depend on the secrets I have. I can't let you see them."

"Humph. I've been looking in people's minds for over a thousand years, you know. You can trust me to guard your secrets."

"No offense, Mr. Hat, but how do I know that? How can I trust you? We've just met."

The Hat sighed. "I don't believe I'm doing this." He spoke aloud, "Albus, please schedule this stubborn girl with Occlumency and Legilimency lessons as soon as possible." He returned to our private conversation, "Now then. I've done as much as I can. Will you let me do my job now?"

I replied, "Maybe. What are these things you've asked about?"

The Hat sighed. "Occlumency is the art of magically defending the mind against external penetration, sealing it against intrusion and influence. Legilimency is the opposite, the ability to extract emotions and memories from another's mind."

"Hmm. This could prove useful," I thought.

"Who's this 'Two-Face' person?" the Hat asked.

"A criminal. He's mentally ill. Maybe this would help him." An image of Harvey Dent flashed on my mind.

"How noble, how Gryffindor. We're getting someplace now." The Hat snorted. "Did you know that we've passed the record for Sorting an individual? Harry Potter was the previous record holder with five minutes, we're now approaching fifteen with you."

"Mah-velous, dahling," I thought.

"Snarky, sarcastic, and extremely intelligent. Slytherin traits. Cunning as well. More Slytherin."

"I could be with Tonks? That would be cool."

"We want the best fit for you, not where your relatives or friends are," The Hat chided. "Hmm. You're intelligent, but not a bookworm. You're not afraid of homework, but being the top of your class isn't a high priority for you. That eliminates Ravenclaw, although you could do well there." The Hat spoke aloud, "Not Ravenclaw." I heard people groan, and the Hat continued, "You and your parents have an affinity for the common man, which is characteristic of Hufflepuff. A good and noble trait, but not a dominant one." The Hat spoke aloud again, "Not Hufflepuff." There was another collective groan.

The Hat continued, "You're not afraid to help out someone in distress. A Gryffindor trait, like your father would have been. However, your mother would have made a wonderful Slytherin. There are some odd echoes between their minds, however, that's not relevant at the moment. It's a tossup right now between Gryffindor and Slytherin. You could do very well in either one." The Hat mused, "You seem to have more affinity for SLYTHERIN!"

The Hat came off my head, and I blinked, then made my way over to the madly cheering, stomping table. People were slapping me on the back, and I said, "Wow."

Sprink told me, "That was the longest Sorting I've ever heard of! It must have been a good twenty minutes. What were you talking to the Hat about?" I simply smiled, and looked up as the Headmaster tapped his goblet.

"Now that we all know where we are, it's time for a few announcements. Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mr. Remus Lupin, has resigned to pursue other interests." People started to murmur, and look at the Head Table, where there was an empty seat. The Headmaster raised his hands. "Fortunately, we have acquired a most competent successor, one who most of you know well." The Headmaster paused, and then simply said, "Mr. Harry Potter." With a swirling effect, he appeared at the vacant place, and stood to acknowledge the standing ovation.

Once the noise had died down a bit, the Headmaster raised his hands again. "As you may be aware of, a few weeks ago, the forces of the Dark Lord attacked us here. Due to great good fortune, there were only four fatalities, two of which were from the village of Hogsmeade, and two from our Hogwarts family." He clapped his hands, and black banners with pictures appeared behind the High Table. He motioned to the first, and said, "Mr. Draco Malfoy was a seventh-year Slytherin that most of you knew. What you did not know was Mr. Malfoy was passing us intelligence on the Dark Lord's activities. When the attack began, he saved the life of our Mr. Hagrid, before being tortured and slain by his own father. I ask you to stand and offer a moment's silence for Mr. Malfoy."

I stood with the rest, and toasted the fellow I hadn't known. Some of the girls at the table were crying. I sat with the rest, and the Headmaster continued, motioning to the next banner. "Madame Gillian Rosemerta owned the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade. I am afraid that little is known of her life after her graduation in 1979. She was a member of Ravenclaw house, as is her daughter Alyssia. She will be taking over the pub, so the supply of butterbeer is assured. I ask you to stand for Madame Rosemerta." I stood and toasted her as well.

Motioning to the third banner, the picture of a short-haired witch with odd yellow eyes, the Headmaster said, "Madame Rolanda Hooch was our flying instructor and Quidditch referee. Those duties will be assumed by Mr. Potter, so you need not fear a lack of Quidditch." People chuckled, and he continued, "Madame Hooch was a former Beater for the Holyhead Harpies, and a member of Hufflepuff house. I understand the Harpies have donated a set of new Nimbus brooms to Hufflepuff house in her memory. I give you Madame Rolanda Hooch." I stood again, and toasted her.

The Headmaster motioned to the last banner, which bore the face of a nondescript young man. "Very little is known of Albert Samuals after his graduation from Hogwarts in 1983. He worked for the Ministry, and was a member of Gryffindor house while he attended school here. I ask you to stand in his memory." For the last time, I stood and toasted.

"I can hear stomachs growling from here, so I have one more thing to say." He clapped his hands twice, and said, "Dig in." Food appeared on the table in front of me, and someone muttered "Finally!" I reached for the mashed potatoes.

------------------------

After we had stuffed ourselves, the Headmaster stood again, and tapped his goblet. The noise died down, and he said, "I have only a few announcements. For various reasons, we are moving to a modified schedule, in which there is only one double class per each morning and afternoon session. All four houses will be in each class. Also, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, asked me to remind you that magic is not allowed in the corridors. He also informs me that the entire catalog from Weasley Wizard Wheezes have been added to the forbidden items list. That list now compromises thirty two feet, and is available for your perusal at Mr. Filch's office." People chuckled, and he added, "I must remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden if you do not wish to die a most horrible death." He waited for the murmurs to die away, then said, "Tomorrow is the first day of classes, so off to bed with you."

------------------------

I waited with the others in a dungeon corridor. One of the prefects said, "This is the statue of Salazar Slytherin, the founder of our house. Professor Snape or one of the prefects will give you the new password every month. September's is armadillo bile." The statue rotated away, and I entered. The other prefect told us, "This is the common room. The door opposite the fireplace will lead to the Slytherin private library and to our potions laboratory." She pointed, then added, "The left hand stairway leads down to the girl's dorms, the right to the boy's. Before you can sleep, Professor Snape has a few words."

"Thank you, Miss Bundy." He leveled a gaze at us, then said, "I want the first years in front." I moved forward, standing next to Sprink. He gazed at each of us, and I met his gaze. He nodded, and said, "See me before classes tomorrow, Miss Wayne." I nodded, and he raised his voice. "To enroll you as members of the Serpent's Den, there are things I must emphasize. Firstly, we present a united front to the other houses. Even if you disagree with another Slytherin, you will always support them in public. Everything that occurs in this house STAYS in this house." I nodded, and he continued, "The library and potions laboratory is here for your use. Books are charmed to become illegible if taken outside the House. If a member of another house touches one, it will incinerate. These represent a private storehouse of knowledge unavailable to the other houses. If you are having difficulties in your studies, ask another member of the house for tutoring. Are there any questions?" He smiled, and said, "Good."

Professor Snape turned, and muttered an incantation. A section of wall moved out, and a listing of names appeared. He said, "This is a listing of members of Slytherin House since our founding. If you become trapped in the castle, touch your wand to the castle's stone, and use the incantation succubi serpentis and your name if female, intestis serpentis and name if male. You will be delivered to the common room. This is, naturally, only to be used in mortal danger." He looked at us, then said, "Miss Wayne, you're first." He tapped his wand on the listing of names, and asked, "Are there any objections?"

Graham Pritchard said with a sneer, "Why is that mudblood even here?"

Professor Snape replied with a voice of liquid helium, "Miss Wayne is of purer wizarding blood than you are, Mr. Pritchard. Due to unfortunate history, she and her parents were unaware of this until recently. I believe you heard the Hat's comments regarding her Occlumency?" He mumbled something, and Professor Snape said, "Now that objections have been offered, are there any other?" No one else said anything, and Professor Snape told me, "Tap the list with your wand, and state your full name. Then cut your finger with this knife, and smear some of your blood across your name."

I stepped forward, and tapped the list. It stopped, and I said, "Helena Martha Wayne." I holstered my wand, then accepted the blade, slitting my left index finger. I massaged it to get a good flow, then touched it to all three words, passing the knife back to Professor Snape. My name blurred, then started to rotate with the others. The blonde prefect motioned me over to her, and muttered a charm over my finger. I turned to watch Sprink's initiation.

------------------------