Author's Note: Oh, the suspense from the last chapter! Which house will she be in? Let's find out, shall we? -opens the large red curtain- (wow, we're on chapter eight already!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Child of the Stars
Chapter Eight: The Lioness Of Gryffindor House
The Sorting Hat made a coughing noise, as if clearing its throat. All of the students were staring at the girl on the stool with anticipation and excitement, wondering where she would be placed. A few, including Sadira's new friends, were holding their breath as the brim of the hat tore open once again, ready to call her house.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table to the far right erupted in applause, Lily and Mandara yelling the loudest. Sadira smiled and practically ran over to her new friends, enveloping them all in a large, and very wet, hug.
"You made it into Gryffindor! Congratulations!" Lily screamed.
"This is awesome! We get to share a dorm!" Mandara said as they sat down.
"Congratulations Sadira, we're happy to have you," Remus offered with a warm smile.
Sadira returned it, but it faded slightly when she looked down the table. The Marauders, with the exception of Remus, were glaring at her.
"Well, I guess not everybody is happy to have me."
"Don't mind them, they'll come around." Lily said. "Do you want me to dry you off?"
"Oh, no, that's okay. I'll do it."
Sadira stood up and ran her hands over her body, drying herself off. She then ran her fingers through her hair until it was only damp. She looked down at Lily's amazed face and had an idea.
She ran her hands over her hair and face, turning her hair the exact shade of Lily's and making her eyes emerald green. She sat down and imitated Lily's expression.
Mandara and Remus cracked up.
"How– How did you do that?" Lily asked apprehensively.
"I've always been able to do it. I'll find out how when I turn sixteen."
"And when's that?"
"About a week from now."
"Really?"
Sadira nodded, changing her eyes and hair back to their normal color as the Headmaster stood up to make his announcements.
"Hello, hello! And welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I would like to extend a special welcome to our new sixth year, Ms. Snape, who has been, shall we say, home-schooled until this point in her education. You may notice that there is something different about her. She can do wand-less magic, as well as... other things." He trailed off as everyone turned to look at Sadira.
She smiled slightly and continued to look at Dumbledore.
"Well, the list of banned objects is in Mr. Filch's office, and the Forbidden Forest is exactly that: forbidden. Now, without further ado, let us begin our feast."
He waved his wand and the tables filled with food. Sadira smiled and relaxed in seat.
"It's nice to not have to serve for once," she mumbled.
"Pardon?"
"Oh, it's nothing Remus. Just saying that it is nice to be served instead of serving." He looked confused. "And you can ignore me now."
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"Oh, let's just say my father doesn't like me much."
He tilted his head and looked into her eyes. His golden eyes seemed to search her own, so she looked away, afraid of what he might find.
She did not eat much, only a few bites of shepherd's pie and some pumpkin juice.
"Sadira, you should eat more, you're so tiny."
"Lily, I'm fine."
"She's right you know. If you want to do well in school, you have to be fit enough to go. Come on, just eat come cheesecake. Please?" Mandara chided.
"Fine, as long as it's chocolate."
"Done," she said with a smile as she handed Sadira a plate with a huge slice of chocolate cheesecake on it.
"You guys are evil. Pure evil."
"Hey, you didn't put any size restrictions on it. Now we want to see that plate completely clean, and none of the swishy hand movement things either," Lily said in a threatening tone. Remus was chuckling next to Sadira.
"I don't know what you find so funny."
"Nothing, absolutely nothing."
"Sure, Remus. You're laughing at absolutely nothing," Sadira said sarcastically as she ate a big spoonful of cheesecake.
He shook his head in an amused fashion and turned back to his food. Lily and Mandara had started a conversation with their old friends, so Sadira was left to her thoughts.
She lifted her left hand up to the table and absent-mindedly started to move her fingers as if it were a piano. This was an old habit of hers, but nobody really seemed to mind, so she never tried to stop doing it.
She slowly chewed her cheesecake as she thought of what had happened, and what would happen. Her birthday was in a week and she would finally know who she was and where she had come from. Nobody had ever told her any details about her mother, only that she was some kind of foreigner.
She looked along the table, her eyes resting on Sirius, who was looking back at her.
She quirked an eyebrow at him and he quickly looked away, going back to a conversation with James.
She jumped when somebody tugged on her sleeve. She turned to see Ewan standing there.
"Ewan! Hi!"
"Hey Sadira, I just wanted to congratulate you on making Gryffindor."
"Oh, thanks! What house are you in?"
"Ravenclaw," he said as he puffed his chest out.
"Oh, that's great! Congratulations!"
"Thanks. Mind if I sit with you for a bit?"
"Sure, go right ahead." She scooted over so he had room and he sat down between her and Lily, who had not even noticed him.
"So, any new friends in Ravenclaw yet?"
"Not yet. That's the reason I'm over here. I know you, so I thought, maybe, we're friends."
"Thought? Of course we are!"
He smiled at her.
"So are you excited about class?" she asked him.
"Definitely! I heard transfiguration is a killer! But I'm really looking forward to seeing a Quidditch match, I hear you're team is the best!"
"Well, I don't know yet. I haven't really played Quidditch."
"Ever?"
"Nope. Never in my life."
"Oh, it's great!" He started to explain the game and its rules to Sadira, who smiled and nodded as she listened, still eating her slice of cheesecake, which was slowly growing smaller.
By the time he had finished explaining Quidditch, she had finished eating her dessert and students were beginning to leave the hall.
Sadira was getting tired as she and her friends stood up with Ewan. She was going to walk him over to the Ravenclaw table, but somebody had come over to get him.
"Ewan! There you are!" a boy said as he approached them.
"Oh, hey Christian. I was sitting with Sadira."
"Hi," she said.
"Hello."
Sadira held out her hand and he shook it. "Sadira."
"Christian. It's nice to meet you."
Ewan smiled at them before coughing. "Well, it's late. Best get to bed. Goodnight Sadira. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Absolutely. Goodnight Ewan, Christian."
"Goodnight," Christian said with one last smile as he turned and walked away with Ewan.
Lily and Mandara walked behind Sadira and linked arms. "Well that was entertaining," Lily said on her left.
"Oh yes, they seemed to get along well, didn't they?" Mandara asked.
"Very well indeed," Lily commented.
"Would you guys please stop that? Ewan was simply introducing us."
"Sure he was Sadira."
"I mean it."
"Uh-huh, sure thing."
Sadira rolled her eyes. "Why do I even bother?"
"Why are you asking us?" Lily said with a hint of amusement.
She growled at them, a deep, resounding growl that sounded like a real animal's.
They both jumped. "What they bloody hell was that?" Mandara asked.
Sadira smiled as she unlinked arms with them and quickened her pace.
"Bloody Hell! Was that you?" Lily asked.
"Sure was."
"How did you do that?"
"Practice."
She tried to imitate Sadira but it sounded nothing like a growl. Mandara also tried, but hers was worse than Lily's.
"Do it again," they demanded.
"Do what again?" Remus asked from behind them.
Sadira growled and he looked at her, startled. "Was that you?"
"Yes."
"I bet that comes in handy," he said with a grin.
"On occasion."
"Oh!" Mandara exclaimed. "We should try it on somebody!"
"What do you mean?" Sadira asked.
"Sneak up on them and have her growl. It would be fun."
"I don't know..."
"Oh, come one," Lily pleaded.
Sadira sighed as she looked at them. Remus seemed impartial to the situation.
"Who though?"
"I dunno... Peter?" Mandara offered.
"Oh, he'd fall for anything," Lily said with a wave of her hand.
"Exactly," commented Mandara.
"It's settled then, Peter shall be our victim." Lily said with a devilish smile.
My Thanks To...
StonySilence: I looked for a name generator thing and found their names by searching for definitions, because I wanted their names to mean something particular. It was fun, but a little hard to chose.
Padfoot's love: First of all, I LOVE your name. It's cute! Thank you so much for the review!
LornaDoone: Thanks! You're right, it was a bit bumpy, but I spent time looking for specific names and meanings, so I wanted to put it in the story.
stasha: Aw, thanks! I feel special.
...For Reviewing