Just for you, J.B. ;-)
HG-
While the new school year had been gradually growing larger on the horizon, Harry had dreaded its arrival. But, now that it was finally here, he felt very glad to be going back to Hogwarts.
The morning of their departure, the Weasley family and Harry ate a hurried breakfast of toast and eggs (rather light when compared to the breakfasts they'd normally had). Harry and Ron continued to sit at the breakfast table while the others went to double-check their luggage, but Mrs. Weasley ordered them to do the same. Grumbling, Ron led the way.
It took another hour or so for everyone to get ready and be sure they had everything (it wasn't too hard for Harry, seeing as how he'd brought everything he needed already packed when he first arrived at the Burrow). Once Mrs. Weasley had checked their bags to her satisfaction, the entire clan, plus Harry, piled into the Ministry car that Mr. Weasley had reserved for the occasion. Magically expanded, they all fit comfortably inside, making the ride to King's Cross all the more pleasant.
The Weasley children and Harry had already been through this drill numerous times, so Mr. and Mrs. Weasley said their goodbyes without crossing through the barrier. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a tearful hug, kissing him on the cheek. "Be safe, be careful," she whispered to him, and Harry's heart wrenched painfully. The concern in her voice was enough to make tears prickle hotly at the back of his eyes, and it was a lucky thing that she released him before the extra moisture could make itself visible.
Mr. Weasley clasped Harry's hand in a firm handshake. So firm, in fact, that he swore he could hear his bones crackling. "Have a good year, Harry. Wonderful to have you stay with us," Mr. Weasley said enthusiastically, beaming.
Mrs. Weasley fussed over her children for a few moments more, and as soon as she was done with Ron, Harry felt a hand close about his elbow. "Let's go," Ron muttered, rubbing at the lipstick mark on his cheek.
They ran through the barrier, entering immediately into the Wizarding world. The air was infused with smoke from the gleaming crimson Hogwarts Express stationed just ahead. Harry and Ron just hardly managed to hoist their luggage up into the train after them; somehow their trunks felt heavier than ever.
They settled into the first empty compartment they came across, and were soon joined by Fred, George, and Ginny. Fred and George sat down and had just begun to loudly play Exploding Snap, when a knock sounded at the compartment door.
Harry, nearest to the door, slid it open to allow Hermione to step inside. "Hello, everyone," she greeted with a sort of forced brightness. Harry noted that there was a rather prominent pink tint to her cheeks. He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but she caught his eyes and shook her head, just barely.
They'd been having a pleasant hour playing card games when the plump little witch drew up outside their door, pushing a cart brimming with sweets. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked kindly, her demeanor much like that of a doting grandmother.
Harry grinned, dropping a fistful of Sickles into her hand. "A few of each, please." By this time, the witch was used to Harry's large purchases, so she simply smiled and began to hand him individually wrapped candies and pastries.
"Dig in," Harry invited the others, as the witch finished and bustled away from the compartment. All greedily dug into the large collection of sweets left on the seat next to Harry, except for Hermione, who sat across the way, looking as though she'd just swallowed something bitingly sour.
Just as Harry was working out what to say to her that would cheer her up, the compartment door slammed open, a loud bang sounding as it hit the opposite wall.
"Hello there. How are we all today?" A drawling Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway, his large henchmen Crabbe and Goyle at his sides, as always. He wore an unpleasant smirk, and there was something in the way he carried himself that suggested he knew something they all did not.
"Great, and we'd like to stay that way, so if you don't mind, I'll be closing this," Harry said dismissively, moving to shut the door. Draco's hand shot out, grabbing him round the wrist.
"Tut, tut, Potter. That's not very hospitable." He released Harry, but remained in the threshold, examining him carefully with glinting blue eyes, like chips of ice in his pale face. It again hit home to Harry how different his eyes were from Kelsey's, though the color was remarkably similar.
"Remind me why we'd want to be hospitable to the likes of you," Ginny growled, standing and striding purposefully over to where Draco stood. The blonde's smirk grew even more pronounced, and he reached out to tug a lock of Ginny's crimson hair, which was curling free of its usual twin braids.
"Because," he said softly, malice woven skillfully through his voice like a silver thread in a tapestry. "I'm privy to things I'm sure you'd very much like to know."
"Keep your hands off me, you filthy snake," Ginny snapped, smacking
his hand away and scowling. Harry was struck by how much she'd grown since he'd first met her; this was no longer the meek shrinking violet he'd come to know.
Draco let out a chuckle that gave Harry the uncomfortable impression that he was actually highly amused.
"Better keep this one under your thumb, Weasley. She's getting too feisty for her own good," he said with a cold laugh.
Ginny's eyes flew wide and she launched herself at Malfoy.
"You flaming ARSE!" she shrieked in fury, even as Fred grabbed her and gently pulled her back, placing himself between her and the smug Slytherin.
"Get bent, Malfoy. We don't want you here, so if you don't fancy a good thrashing, I'd suggest leaving." His tone was calm, authoritative, and much more serious than Harry was accustomed to hearing it.
Crabbe and Goyle moved to strike at Fred, but Draco held up a hand to halt them.
"It's all right. They want us to leave. We'll oblige them…for now." He cast a chilly glance around at the others in the compartment, leered unpleasantly at Ginny, and turned on his heel.
Fred shut the compartment door forcefully behind Draco, but it luckily didn't shatter. One could see his anger in every plane of his body, and he kept looking over at Ginny, as though worried she'd suddenly start crying.
"I'm fine," Ginny said shortly, glaring at the empty glass pane of the door.
Silence fell, heavy as choking fog. Harry grabbed a carton of Bertie Bott's from the much-diminished pile next to him, and chewed thoughtfully on a peppermint-flavored bean.
"I'd like to get him good this year," he mused aloud, breaking the utter quiet. Murmurs of assent chorused from the others, and Harry grinned to himself.
We'll just see about this, won't we?
Harry found his way to the Gryffindor table, noticing that there was a quite different atmosphere in the Great Hall than there usually was for the first night of school. There was an unsurpassed amount of whispers, and the very air was charged with a kind of expectancy.
I guess word has gotten out about Kelsey, Harry thought, amused. He sat down across from Hermione, next to Ron, and waited for the ceremony to begin.
A few moments later, the Great Hall fell quiet, as Hagrid ushered in the First-Years, a nervous mass of frightened eleven-year-olds. Fortunately, nobody appeared to have fallen into the lake while traversing it to get to the castle, as Dennis Creevey had done the year before. Hagrid, beaming through his scraggly beard, took his seat at the staff table.
Following and somehow very obviously separate from the throng of preteens was a dark-haired girl, clad in the Hogwarts uniform, paired with the rather unusual accessory of fishnet leggings. Several students, not much bothered with being subtle, pointed at her, murmured to their companions, or simply gaped, but the girl answered the varying reactions with a single enthusiastic wave. If a nerve-riddled kind of excitement hadn't been fairly emanating from the girl, her lippy smile might have looked halfway nonchalant.
McGonagall led her to the staff table, at the end of which a rather rickety chair was placed. Kelsey took a seat and turned to watch the proceedings. She clapped delightedly as the Sorting Hat began to sing.
When Hogwarts School was founded
The four greatest wizards of the age
Decided that I was to place
Each young and hopeful mage
I can tell you exactly where to go
To find those who'll be your truest friends
The house in which you'll feel at home
And remain until your schooling ends
I may put you in Gryffindor
The bravest of hearts here lie
And those with greatest courage
Are heralded the most high
Or suppose you're placed in Hufflepuff
If your loyalties run deep
You can find the hardest workers here
Who all more than earn their keep
Or you may be named a Ravenclaw
Where the cleverest do dwell
If you treasure wit and knowledge
Here's where you'll do well
Or you may belong in Slytherin
Where there's ambition to spare
These cunning folk do sometimes
Disregard the just and fair
So do not be afraid
I know in what house you belong
And never do you fear
I have yet to be wrong
So jam me tightly on your head
Have not a shred of reservation
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I know your perfect destination.
The end of the song met with loud applause. McGonagall crossed to the Sorting Hat, and raised a hand. The clapping died out, and the Great Hall was once again hushed in anticipation.
Lifting up the Sorting Hat with one hand, McGonagall used the other to unroll a large parchment scroll dotted with writing. Looking over at the crowd of First Years, she read the first name.
"Ablowell, Marcus." McGonagall's voice seemed strangely magnified by the general absence of whispers and background noise.
A plump blonde boy trundled up to the front of the Hall, tension apparent in the way he moved, as well as in the way his eyes roved, skittish, around the room. His size and features reminded Harry strongly of a young Dudley; this thought caused Harry to bite down on his lip to keep from laughing.
He perched his rather large backside on the stool, with some difficulty, and McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head. The hat did not sink down over the boy's round, pink face, so that, as the hat muttered to itself, the first-year could be seen looking around frantically.
"Better be HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat bellowed. Applause thundered through the Hall, each table but Slytherin clapping supportively.
The boy, exhausted with relief, stood rather shakily, ripped the hat off, and waddled across the room to join the Hufflepuffs at their table.
This process went on for a long while, not really catching much of Harry's interest. After all, not knowing any of the children being Sorted, it was all rather dull and repetitive. Harry stifled a yawn behind his hand, glancing up at the front of the Hall.
Thankfully, they'd soon reached the middle of the alphabet. Curiously enough, Harry noticed, next in line to be Sorted, a pale, blond little fellow, his mouth twisted into a smirk that made him appear older than his years. Harry nudged Ron.
"Check out Malfoy Jr., next in line," he murmured, watching the First Year carefully. There was something about him that Harry didn't like, aside from the fact that he was the spitting image of a younger Draco Malfoy.
After "Maffey, Jordana", a newly inducted Ravenclaw, McGonagall called the name "Malfoy, Rofon".
"I knew it, I knew he had to be a Malfoy," Harry muttered grimly to Ron. "Just perfect."
Harry felt a strong sense of déjà vu sweep over him, as he watched Rofon take a seat on the stool. The kid was still smirking in a most unpleasant way, as McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
Well, she really didn't seem to have actually placed the hat at all. More like, it had called out "SLYTHERIN!" as quick as it could, not even touching Rofon's head. Harry frowned. Just like when dear old Draco was Sorted, he thought with distaste.
The boredom became almost paralyzing as the ceremony dragged through the R's…Roberts, Ronson, Rhys, and the especially unfortunate surname of Rzyack. It was all so very slow.
Years later, it seemed, Francine Zephyr was Sorted into Gryffindor. Rowdy cheers welcomed her, for not only was she an addition to the grand House of Gryffindor, but her Sorting marked the end of the ceremony. Thank God, Harry thought gratefully.
Seconds later, a tinkling sound cut with surprising ease through the din. The Hall quieted down quickly, not sure where the glassy, musical noise was coming from.
Up at the staff table, Dumbledore rose to his feet, still tapping his goblet with his fork. His smile, though it creased his skin even further than age yet had, brought his face a young energy. Harry noted that the headmaster's piercing, sky-colored eyes were visible even from halfway down the Gryffindor table, crinkled at the edges with suppressed laughter.
"As you all may or may not know," he began, his powerful voice booming soundly throughout the large Hall and startling the last few whisperers into silence. "This year brings new opportunities to us all, here at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore motioned for Kelsey to stand. This she did in hardly the blink of an eye, jumping up out of her seat and grinning energetically down at the students she would soon be joining.
"We are bringing into our ranks a new classmate. She comes from Willowfletcher's Institute of Higher Magical Learning, a very fine academy in America." Dumbledore smiled broadly, again gesturing towards Kelsey. "This young lady will be joining our Fifth Years in all their classes. Now, before we allow Miss Modello to be Sorted, I must ask a request of all of you."
His expression became stern, and he tilted his head forward in such a way as to look over his half-moon spectacles as he scanned the room. Harry shivered slightly when Dumbledore's gaze passed over him; that look always felt like it cut you to the core, like there was nothing you could hide from those eyes.
"No matter which House she is Sorted into, you are expected to treat Miss Modello with the warmth, welcoming attitude, and kindness you were shown when you were first put in your House." With that somber instruction, Dumbledore turned and smiled encouragingly at Kelsey. "Kelsey? It's time." He made a sweeping motion with his blue-clad arm towards the stool on which the Sorting Hat was once again perched.
Kelsey approached it with a quivery smile. She took a seat on the stool, tugging nervously at the hem of her gray uniform skirt.
"Ron, you okay?" Harry asked. He'd turned to speak with his best friend, only to find him looking a bit green about the gills.
"Yeah," Ron replied shortly, his eyes fixed on Kelsey.
Harry fought back a laugh. "Ron, there's no way she'll be in Slytherin. Don't worry about it."
Ron waved his hand impatiently. "Shut up, Harry! I'm trying to hear!"
Harry rolled his eyes and fell silent, watching the front of the Hall as well.
Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Kelsey's head. For several minutes, the hat simply sat atop her brown locks, making thinking noises such as "Hmmm" and "Ahhhh". Kelsey looked as though she were feeling faint, because every so often she would put a hand to her temple and squeeze her eyes shut.
After a few more suspenseful seconds, with mounting tension written in Kelsey's posture, expression, and tightly closed eyes, the hat gleefully roared "GRYFFINDOR!"
Kelsey's face relaxed and her easy grin returned, as the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers, whistles, and applause. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined in, a little less enthusiastically, but politely showing their support all the same.
The Slytherin table, however, was a rumble of boos and hisses. Harry was slightly startled to see, in a quick glance over to the other side of the Hall, that Draco Malfoy was looking distinctly annoyed; about what, Harry couldn't even begin to wager a guess. Crabbe bent over to say something to Draco (rather slowly, of course), but all he got for his efforts was a swift smack to the back of the head.
Kelsey unsteadily walked down to the Gryffindor table; she appeared to have been put under the Jelly-Legs Curse, but Harry figured it was more likely to be a slight weakness of the knees, brought on by an intense onslaught of relief.
Kelsey searched for a place to sit, while being clapped on the back and welcomed by random Gryffindors as she passed them. She noticed the empty spot next to Ron, and collapsed onto the seat. She brushed her slightly messy hair away from her face, ran a shaky hand across her brow, and let out a loud breath.
"Wow." She laughed as she reached for an empty goblet. "How on earth could you go through that when you were just eleven?"
Kelsey obviously did not expect an answer to this inquiry, and turned to face the trio.
"So how are you guys?" she asked genially, grinning at both Harry and Ron. Harry noticed that she did not move to hug them, as before, but thought that it would be decidedly more difficult to attempt such a greeting with a rather large wooden table in the way.
Kelsey's eyes widened as she noticed Hermione.
"I don't believe we've met!" she exclaimed with a bubbly smile. "I'm Kelsey, although I'd wager you picked up on that, what with Dumbledore's speech and all."
"Hermione Granger," the other girl stated flatly. Kelsey smiled warmly at her, seeming to be impervious to Hermione's lack of enthusiasm.
She has about enough enthusiasm for the both of them, Harry thought, a smile playing at his lips.
"Soooo…are you in fifth year, too?"
Hermione nodded, an almost imperceptible movement of her head.
Harry felt a strange ire bubble in his blood. Hermione really was acting like a child. And to think she considered herself the most mature of the trio…normally, rightly so, Harry admitted.
So, would she absolutely turn to stone if Ron ever did more than goggle at a girl? Thinking of Ron, Harry glanced over to find his best friend, predictably, staring at Kelsey with a rapt expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Kelsey was nothing but cheerful and engaging as she tried to stir up a conversation with a generally unresponsive Hermione.
"I can't believe my dad never really told me about this place! It's gorgeous!"
Ron purpled slightly at Kelsey's admiring exclamation, but luckily for him and Kelsey both, Hermione took no notice.
"Are there any special enchantments or anything, so Muggles don't just wander in or something?"
Hermione's entire demeanor brightened.
"Well. They bewitched the castle to look like it's a hazard; they put all these signs up everywhere saying DANGER and DO NOT ENTER and all manner of things like that. It's a pretty simple bit of magic, but it's worked for a thousand years." To Harry's relief, it seemed as though Kelsey had finally found a topic with which to tempt Hermione into a conversation.
Harry raised his goblet to his lips and enjoyed a deep draught of pumpkin juice. So far, it seemed that Kelsey was doing fine. He couldn't really figure out why it mattered to him, but the fact that she'd started a conversation within her first few minutes of meeting everyone was reassuring.
Footsteps drew up behind him, and Harry instinctively turned. It was Malfoy's pale, sneering face that greeted him.
"Hello, Potter." The greeting was as chilly as ever. "And who is this?" His voice seemed to attain warmth very quickly, as though soaking up sunlight.
Harry rolled his eyes. Even Malfoy wasn't thick enough to miss the name Dumbledore had repeated numerous times in his opening speech.
Kelsey turned, and upon seeing the Slytherin standing a few feet away, grinned flirtatiously.
"Depends on who's asking," she said coyly, looking up at Draco through her black eyelashes.
Draco grinned in return, and Harry noted in surprise that his entire face was lacking its signature smugness. Draco closed the distance between himself and Kelsey, and knelt on one knee before her.
"Draco Malfoy," he answered smoothly, lifting her hand to his lips. Harry fought not to feel nauseated. And he definitely did not want to look at Ron right now, because the redhead was likely to be twitching violently. Or preparing a nice little hex for Draco.
Kelsey giggled at what she seemed to see as chivalry. "So was that your brother Sorted earlier?"
"No, Rofon is my cousin. And I must say I was quite disappointed that you were not Sorted into my House as well." So that's why he looked so annoyed, Harry thought, suddenly wanting to laugh.
A blank look stole onto Kelsey's face, but was quickly replaced with a coquettish pout. "Well, what House is that? Maybe I should be disappointed, too."
Draco responded immediately. "Slytherin." His voice took on a tone of superiority. "It's the most sophisticated house, of course. You would have done beautifully there."
Kelsey gave him an arch look, lips once again curving into a smile. "Surely." Suddenly, she frowned, narrowing her eyes in concentration. "I swear someone told me something about Slytherin once…" She shrugged.
"Can't remember. Can't've been that important, would you say?" Her playful grin was back.
Harry stole a look at Ron and felt a pang of sympathy. He not only looked as though he'd like to rip Malfoy's spine out through his ear, but there was a touch of hurt in his eyes. Kelsey had completely forgotten what he'd told her a week ago.
Hermione, seeming to be bored with watching Malfoy flirt shamelessly with Kelsey, looked over at Harry. Her eyes spoke volumes. Great choice of acquaintances, Harry, really.
As Dumbledore clapped his hands, Malfoy bowed deeply to Kelsey. "The feast is going to start, so I'll get out of your way." His grin became mischievous. "We'll finish this later, you and I."
The silliest of grins spread over Kelsey's face, and she fluttered her fingers at Draco in farewell.
Harry could tell this entire discussion had made Ron fairly ill, for he was glaring at the golden plate in front of him with something like disgust. Harry couldn't really help but share the sentiment.
"Wow, you guys. That was amazing. I've been here, what, two hours?" Kelsey whispered excitedly. She turned to Harry. "Do you know Draco, Harry? I noticed that he said hello to you."
Harry didn't know her well enough to make a judgment as to whether Kelsey was as naïve as she seemed, but he feared it was anything but an act.
"I, er, know him…" Suddenly, food materialized on the platters, saving Harry from having to finish his sentence.
Kelsey gaped at the table, which was now laden with roast beef, mashed potatoes, enormous boats of gravy, piles of bread rolls, and tureens of what appeared to be vegetable soup.
"What…what just happened?" she stammered. She bent down to look under the table, then sat back upright, looking amazed. "I must look like an absolute Muggle. But…wow." She laughed as she picked up a roll and tore it open, releasing steam from its insides. "They certainly didn't feed us like this at Willowfletcher's!"
Once she'd gotten over the method with which food was dispatched to the four House tables, Kelsey loaded up her plate, from edge to edge, with mashed potatoes, smothered in fragrant brown gravy. Harry couldn't help but stare for a moment, just at the sheer quantity of food Kelsey had served herself.
Raising a forkful of potatoes to her mouth, Kelsey seemed to feel his eyes on her. Harry realized too late that she noticed him looking at her plate, and Kelsey blushed rather becomingly.
"S-sorry about that. I'm starved."
Harry laughed. "There's plenty, don't worry about it." With that, he went back to devouring his own food, not having realized until he began to eat exactly how ravenous he was.
Once the need to shove his food rapidly into his mouth had abated, Harry sat back and looked up at the staff table, searching for an unfamiliar face.
He stopped scanning when he saw the slim, dark-haired woman laughing as she chatted with Hagrid.
"Ron, Hermione!" The two stopped eating and looked up. "That brunette lady next to Hagrid…I bet she's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"All right. Another year, another teacher. S'getting old, really," Ron commented, before taking a large swig of pumpkin juice.
Kelsey leaned over to listen, eyes bright.
"What do you mean? Are your Defense teachers replaced often?"
Ron snorted. "Well, we haven't had a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that's lasted more than a year, at least since I've been here."
Harry spoke up, "They say there's a curse on the job."
"Wow," Kelsey said softly. "I wonder why that is?"
Harry shrugged and bit into a second roll. "Everyone does."
After the feast was over, and dessert had been eaten as well (Kelsey had nearly hyperventilated when mounds of chocolate cake and crocks of peppermint ice cream had appeared in front of her), the students all began to drift slowly back to their dorms.
Ron, Harry, Hermione and Kelsey were just rounding a bend in the hallway, when Ron groaned loudly.
"Fancy seeing you here," Draco said conversationally, addressing Kelsey.
"Hey, Draco. Did you enjoy the feast?" she asked, looking to be biting back a grin, while nonchalantly looping her arm through his.
Draco nodded, and continued to speak to Kelsey as he swept her ahead, away from the other Gryffindors.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ron fingering his wand longingly.
"Mate…he's not worth it," he said by way of condolence, clapping Ron on the shoulder.
Ron sighed resignedly, and satisfied himself with glaring venomously at the blonde several paces ahead.
