Hearing her name Marie looked up towards the end of the room where the hat and stool awaited her. Moving between students, being particularly careful not to touch anyone, Marie finally stood before the stool where her fate at Hogwarts would be decided. Sitting on the stool she was offered the hat by a stern looking woman who held it out for Marie's gloved hands. The hat would never be placed on her head; even the teachers feared her and she didn't blame them- she was scared too.
She hung her head low as she looked through thick veils of hair for her friend in Gryffindor; Colin. Finding the small boy she smiled lightly at him. He was sitting with fingers crossed and was mouthing "Gryffindor" over and over again. Placing the hat on her head she thought she wouldn't mind being in Colin's house.
"Gryffindor?" A voice asked her and she swallowed the shriek of alarm that nearly erupted from her mouth. "No, Gryffindor's not right for you at all. If it weren't for your…blood then I'd put you in Slytherin. Let me think about this," the hat said, as it examined her every fault and failings, every single thing she had achieved and all of the things she wanted to achieve. The hat's next suggestion of House, however, had her clenching her hands unconsciously. "Not Hufflepuff, only one place left then. Better be- RAVENCLAW!"
Reaching up to remove the hat, she handed it to the stern Head of Gryffindor who was looking at her quite intently. She looked like a woman you wouldn't want to cross or meet in a dark alley. Marie looked at each of the houses, slightly unsure to which she was supposed to go when a firm hand turned and guided her towards a table of bronze and blue. Ravenclaw; where they cheered for their new student proudly.
Sitting at the table with her new Housemates, she tried not to wince when she was slapped on the back in congratulations. Ignoring the smiles of those around her Marie glanced across the hall to Colin's table. He looked slightly downcast but picked up when she waved at him. Two redhead boys pounced on Colin and began to rib him about something, although she didn't know what. A polite tap from the boy beside her told her that the Sorting was continuing.
She wasn't the only new student to join Ravenclaw that night; eight more students followed her and joined the ranks at the table. Altogether there were five new female students, including herself, and four new male students. Marie sat between the polite boy with the P badge pinned to his robes and a blonde girl who had a certain vagueness about her and had just followed after Marie's own sorting.
The man, whom she recognised from the hospital, stood up and made a short speech about the school and a few of its rules. With a wave of his arms, the plates filled with food, and even from her seat on another table, Marie could still hear Colin's loud exclamation of "Wicked" and the sound of the camera taking each shot. Glancing around at the other students tucking in, Marie felt overwhelmed. Glancing up to the Head table she sought his gaze as she tried to gain silent approval. His slight nod confirmed her thoughts and as he turned to continue his conversation with a dour looking man Marie had begun to peel the long heavy gloves from her hands.
Placing the gloves carefully in her lap, Marie wiggled her fingers a little trying to will some circulation into them. The girl next to her giggled slightly and took some mashed potato from the middle of the table. Smiling lightly and helping herself to some chicken and potatoes, Marie turned to listen to the conversations surrounding her from both older and younger students.
"-flew in a car or that's what Jordan told me."
"I reckon they'll be expelled surely that's a breach of the Misuse of Magic rule."
"No under paragraph thirteen dash nine-"
"Marie?" Elizabeth, who had been sorted into Ravenclaw immediately after Marie, smiled and asked her question again. "What was your first sign of Magic, Marie?"
"Pardon?" Marie asked, her skin flushing with heat and embarrassment. "First sign of Magic?"
"Yeah like I first showed signs two Christmas's ago. My cousin Marcus and his brother Vincent were picking on me and pushing me around. On Christmas Day Vincent spiked my drink with Pepper-Up and Marcus would not stop laughing at me. I got so mad at him and I remember just thinking he is such an ass." Elizabeth said, pausing for dramatic effect. Marie and her fellow students waited patiently for Elizabeth to continue. "Mother said I'm going to be brilliant at Transfiguration- it took the Healers four hours to transfigure Marcus back from a donkey!" The first years and a few of the older students laughed as they knew the Slytherin boy Elizabeth was talking about. Marie smiled and realized that now that Elizabeth's story had ended they were all waiting for her answer.
Her first sign of Magic. She remembered the boy smiling at her, his gentle touch and the pain that had ripped through her. She remembered the constant rhythmic sounds of the machines keeping her alive. She remembered the metallic feel of the wires running in and out of her body. She remembered her new Headmaster, who smelt like lemons, slumping down in his seat when he asked her to take his hand. She remembered life.
"It wasn't that bad was it?" Elizabeth asked worriedly at the frowning girl.
"No! No." Marie said quickly, forcing a strained smile on her face. "Pretty much the same, really."
"Hmmm," Elizabeth said, turning her attention to a Halfblood boy down the table.
"Mine wasn't happy either," a small almost dreary voice said from her right hand side. The vague dreamy girl sat up and brushed the long blonde hair from out of her face. "I'm Luna Lovegood," Luna said, extending her hand to Marie. Marie moved her hands from the table and put them on her lap, she nervously pulled her gloves back on underneath the table.
"Marie-"
"Holmes, I heard. Don't worry, you're not alone," Luna said in her strange voice, her hand moving away from its extended state to pick up a spoon. Marie doubted Luna that she wasn't alone, she had never felt more so- away from her family and friends and school. Though she didn't talk for the remainder of the feast she often felt Luna's gaze on her on more than one occasion.
The feast had ended and the Prefect next to her led them all out of the Great Hall. Marie walked past a group of older students whispering about two second years causing trouble on their first day back but Marie couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as she had to run to keep up with the quick moving Prefect.
The Prefect explained as they went about secret passageways in the school, moving portraits and staircases as well as a variety of trick staircases that they had to be wary of. Marie's first experience with the staircases was when one suddenly lurched violently to one side and began to move away leaving a group of older students behind. Luna had grabbed her hand unexpectedly at that moment almost causing Marie to scream, but Luna's comforting squeeze helped her nerves somewhat.
The Prefect led them over to the west side of the Castle, to outside a statue of a woman holding a book with one hand and a wand in the other.
"This wonderful lady is the Founder of Ravenclaw House, her name is Rowena and we treat her with the utmost respect. This week's password is 'There is no knowledge to be found in Shouting.' " As the Prefect said this the wand tip of the witch glowed softly and extended across to the opposing wall where a door quickly appeared. Opening the door up into an octagonal room, the Prefect ushered the new students into their new home.
"Curfew is at nine pm, so make sure you're back here by then. Girls' dormitories to your left and boys' to your right. Breakfast starts at seven and class starts at nine. House points are awarded for good behaviour or excelling in classes and lost for bad behaviour. Timetables will be given out in the morning. Any questions?" The Prefect asked as the students tried to take in the atmosphere as well as the Prefect's quick speech. "Good. I'll see you all tomorrow breakfast, then."
Marie followed the girls' path towards the dormitories and was at the foot of the steps when a voice called out.
"Marie Holmes? Professor Flitwick wants to see you."