A/N: I know it's been a while…. But I've not forgotten!
This chap is replacing a sloppier version up before.
(Dani's thoughts in italics.)
New Friends, New Places
Dani stared out of the window as the London surroundings rushed by. She looked, but she did not see. In truth she had never felt so utterly miserable. Winning was not supposed to feel like this- this crushing sense of loss which weighed on her heart. She had fought so hard to come here, to this strange magic school, given it all the force she had, and the bitter rows, door slamming, fits of sulking (on her part) and tears (on her mother's part) stood testament to that. Winning was supposed to be a great boost to the ego- so why did she feel as if she'd crawled in from the swamp? Climbed up from the pits of hell, so to speak? She was right. She had to find out about this world her mother had denied her access to for so long. She had to find her father. For the first time, tears filed her eyes. She had not cried all summer, not since that first awful night when it had all been too much to bear, too much to even to begin to comprehend. Her mother had lied to her. A fresh surge of anger and resentment coursed through her veins, to be almost immediately replaced with shame. She'd been an unbearable little brat this past summer. Vindictive in her fury she had said- yelled- things to purposely make her mum smart and burn, horrid, hurtful things. Kat had not escaped unscathed either. She buried her head in her arms and attempted to block out the memory
How she wished she was at home now! She'd bury her head in her mother's lap and sob, cry out all her hurt, ask to be forgiven for the awful things that had been said.
Here, on the Express, that was impossible, as mum was at home and she was on a train bound for somewhere in Scotland. The tears that had been threatening finally spilled, and Dani flung herself down on the seat and cried as if her heart would break.
Danielle heard the door of the compartment slide open ten minutes later, and stifled the urge to groan. Why couldn't they all leave her alone! She did not move from her sprawled, face down position on the seat to greet the newcomer.
"Are you all right?" the person asked. A girl. After a lengthy pause it became clear she would need to answer. "No. What do you think?" It came out rougher than intended. The girl made noises to indicate she was sitting down.
"I didn't think so," came back the reply. Dani sat up to face this intruder, and then gasped. Sitting opposite her was an extremely attractive blonde. She had perfect features, blue eyes and hair like braided gold silk. Danielle felt suddenly most ordinary by comparison. The girl suddenly grinned, and the effect was startling. She no longer looked as if she belonged in a church stained glass window- Dani got the feeling this girl was nobody's fool.
"I'm Persia. Macmillan. Would you like some chocolate? It'll help cheer you up- and I've some tissues too if you need them."
Dani felt slightly taken aback. This strange girl had walked in to find a seat, and had been confronted instead by a sobbing girl. Instead of trying to be all understanding and, well, nosey, she had simply taken it in her stride. Dani was not used to this.
"Yes, please," she said shyly.
Persia, it transpired, came from a magical background. Dani was awed at hoe much she knew, and the questions that had been bottled up inside bubbled out. "What House do you think you'll be in? I was reading up on Houses in the info pack-"
"Info pack! That's new! Good idea, though. I reckon I'll be in Hufflepuff, but anywhere would do really. Except Slytherin."
Danielle, eager to show her knowledge in front of the "wise one", said "Is that 'cause they're all mean and evil and stuff!"
Persia looked at her strangely, and burst out laughing. Dani felt uncomfortable. Had she mucked up already? But Persia, when her giggles subsided said "You're a bit behind the times. We are "Enjoying a period of harmonious comradeship between all wizard kinds"" -she did air quotes- "The snakes are all right, really-give or take a few- it's just my ego couldn't take being in the same House as Ciaran O'Reilly, and he will end up Slytherin." Dani quirked one eyebrow in question. "We have A Thing." It was all the explanation needed. Dani could almost feel the capital letters. Curious, she said "Who's he?" Persia lifted her chin "An idiot." And she refused to say anymore, despite Dani's wheedling. "Just leave it, ok, you'll find out soon enough-"
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" A plump smiling woman appeared in the doorway, pushing a food trolley. Persia at once hopped up and offered to buy. She purchased a lot of what Dani thought were called Chocolate Frogs, and when she began dividing the pile it struck her how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.
"Thanks very much." She said, and they both got stuck in. After Danielle had eaten one or two she noticed Persia was scrabbling around in her discarded wrappers. "Um… what are you doing?"
"Looking for famous Wizard cards. They come with the frogs…"
Dan looked at her own wrappers, and located a card. "Harry Potter…" she read. Persia's head snapped up. "What colour is it?" She asked excitedly.
"Silver."
Persia gasped. "Talk about beginners luck! That's only the most collectable card going at the moment! The only person I know who has one is Ciaran sodding O' Reilly…"
Dani felt slightly cheered at this- she was beginning to feel justifiably nervous every time Hogwarts was mentioned. She tucked the card into her pocket for safe keeping. You never know what could turn out to be lucky, she thought.
Danielle was very, very, nervous, and she wasn't the only one. The subdued group of first years around her stood awed in front of the majestic Castle, as they waited with baited breath to see who would answer the bearded giant-Hagrid's-knock.
"I now know what an ant must feel like" murmered Persia. The tension had even gotten to her.
The door swung open. A severe looking witch stood on the step, her black hair threaded slightly with grey. He cast a quick appraising glance at the group, before announcing "Welcome to Hogwarts School, First Years. Please step this way…"
Dani let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.A smile crept to her face. She was in!
"Lovell, Sabrina!" Called Professor Mcgonagall.
"Dumb blonde!"
"Useless prat!"
"GRYFFINDOR!" Announced the Sorting Hat. The students cheered.
"Macintosh, Timothy!"
"Plank!"
Dani was trying to watch the sorting ceremony, trying to being the operative words. She understood that Persia and that brown haired O'Reilly person had issues, but incurring the wrath of a teacher this early on in the year just seemed plain stupid.
"Cow!"
She felt her irritation increase.
"Smarmy Slytherin!" "RAVENCLAW!"
"Cannons Supporter!"
Persia gasped. "Son of a-"
"Macmillan, Persia!"
Divine intervention, thought Dani wryly.
O'Reilly stuck out his foot to trip Persia, who stepped serenely around it, beamed at the Professor, and glided to the Hat. She looks so collected, thought Dani enviously. Not a klutz like me. She gripped her right thumb and crossed her fingers, to bring extra luck to her friend. A pause-
Then the Hat shouted
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuffs exploded with cheers for their new member. Danielle bit her lip. Due to a mix up in the school administration, several students' names were omitted from the official Sorting Scroll. Dani was one of these unfortunate few. Persia is so lucky. She fished out her new Chocolate Frog card to ease the tension.
Professor Mcgonagall finished the first scroll and unrolled the second.
"Allan, Louise!"
Louise squeaked and started forward, jogging Dani's elbow as she went. Dani felt a jolt of horror as the card slipped from her fingers and floated to the ground. She darted a quick look up and down the line before diving "discreetly" after it. A boy gasped as she head butted his knees. "Sorry!" she whispered, cringing. Where was the damn card? She scrabbled around behind the line while the rest of the school cheered, hidden out of sight. A child at the end of the line scuffed his heel, and the card skidded backwards. Relief flooded through Danielle, and she snatched it up just as the Professor called out
"Carmichael, Danielle!"
Dani's clapped her hand to her mouth. She was frozen to the spot.
"Danielle Carmichael?" Professor Mcgonagall asked again. Bloody Hell!
There was nothing for it. Slowly, Dani poked her head out around the end boy's knees, like an animal sticking it's head out of a burrow. She attempted a goofy smile. It didn't work.
The School looked collectively taken aback. Then Dani heard the noise that heralded Doomsday. A giggled pierced the silence, followed by a titter, then a guffaw, until the whole hall had erupted with laughter and was rolling around in it's seat.
Oh damn! Thought Danielle. She tied to drown out the laughter by focusing on not blushing. Slowly she stood up.
"Nice going, Meerkat Girl!" laughed an Irish accent. Heat flooded to her cheeks. Even the professors are laughing!
She slunk to the stool and tried on the Hat, which placed her in Hufflepuff. Great! The only Sorting in history where the Students don't know which house the student is put in, and it's mine!
There was an empty seat by Persia. "You…rabbit….!" was all she managed before she began laughing again. Dani threw her a look of deep disgust at her. "I wish the ground would open and swallow me up." She informed the gravy boat.
Persia composed herself. "Blame O'Reilly." She advised.
"What?" said Dani weakly.
"Blame him. It's what I always do." She pulled a face. "It's shocking, actually. But there's no breaking the habit of a lifetime!"
Dani glared at the boy in question, predictably sorted into Slytherin.
"It could have been worse, I suppose," she sighed.
Persia glanced at her incredulously. "Could it?"
Her friend answered by stabbing her fork viciously into a potato.
It was one in the morning, and Dani couldn't sleep. It wasn't the horrible fiasco at dinner that was troubling her-her roommates had been very considering, really- no, it was the feeling she had that Kat would have really enjoyed the night's -proceedings- hugely. Thinking about Kat led to thoughts about Mum. More than ever she regretted her behaviour. She felt guilty as hell for what she'd done, and without the prospect of her mum next door to apologise to in the morning the guilty feeling intensified.
Decisively she got up. She was going to write a letter.
Dear Mum (And Kat)
I've arrived safely at school. Everyone has been really nice, especially people in my new house, Hufflepuff. I've met a girl called Persia who seems great. She's a Quidditch fan (mad sport involving broomsticks everyone's crazy about) and says we 'Puffs have a great chance at the cup this year.
Anyway, the reason I'm really writing is to- is to apologise. I hurt your feelings purposefully and that was wrong. Please forgive me. That's all I ask.
Your repentant daughter (and niece)
Danielle. Xx
P.S. I have a funny story to tell you will appreciate. Remind me of it sometime?
Conscience at ease, Dani could now look forward to what the new day would bring.
A/N: 1. sorry bout the "administrative error" -blush-
2. To anyone who thinks my description of Persia borders on the Mary-Sue I'm v. v. sorry. It's how I see her in my head!
3. Ciaran Irish variant of Kieran
4. Good? Bad? Review and let me know!