Chapter 2 – Impossibilities
Out of the blue and into the black. - Neil Young
September 1, 2009
She was home.
Nora knew as soon as her feet hit the hardwood floor that Hogwarts would forevermore remain home to her. The great castle seemed to become more magnificent every time another year came. But this year was different; it would be the last.
The students crowded into the Great Hall to await the sorting ceremony. Nora could remember her own, every detail, even now.
She hadn't been scared or scatter-brained, like some of the rest; she had remained confident and in control.
When her name was called she willed herself not to run out of the room, screaming. It wasn't everyday a talking hat was placed on your head to choose how your future would begin.
Nora easily glided onto the stool as Professor Snape somewhat forced the hat onto her head. When the hat spoke, she didn't move, hardly dared to breathe.
"Boldness is your best quality. Faith, yes, you have plenty of faith. Brains, ah, yes, you will go far in life. But which house to put you in? Better be RAVE…no!" Nora was worried. It seemed the hat would place her in Ravenclaw and then just as suddenly had changed its mind. "Tricky, very tricky. You will do great things, but I don't believe Ravenclaw would be the right choice in helping. Hufflepuff? No help there. Maybe Slytherin, but no. You couldn't. Better be GRYF! Yes! GRYFFINDOR!"
It seemed like a heavy burdened had been lifted from her shoulders.
When Nora took her seat along with the others, she looked up at the long table in the front where all the teachers sat. There was one more than should have been. An old man with a long beard and half moon spectacles. A twinkle showed in his bright blue eyes.
Minister of Magic Dumbledore, Nora supposed. She had overheard some of the older kids talking about how they had to be on their best behavior because Dumbledore was coming to watch the sorting ceremony of the new first years at Hogwarts.
Everyone knew he was just there to see whether Harry Potter's son would follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and make it into Gryffindor.
And of course, he had. The hat had barely been placed on James's head when it yelled the words everyone knew would come.
While they were waiting for the new first years to be brought in, Nora spoke with her friend, Henri Grayson, about James Potter being the Head boy.
Henri smiled to show pearly whites, where just three months ago braces had resided. She did have a nice smile with a dimple showing on her left cheek. Her hair was pulled back from her olive complexion face in a long, dark braid.
"James made Head Boy?" Henri laughed at the thought of Nora and James together. She wondered how long it would take the two of them to kill each other.
"You know you have to share a room with him?" Nora's head popped up at the comment. She'd forgotten about that little detail.
As Nora's thoughts spun from the idea of living with James, Snape led a large group of first years into the room. Nora took a deep breath and tried to focus on what was happening.
The first years stopped right before reaching the stool with the hat atop it. For a few seconds there was complete silence, then the hat opened a wide brim at the bottom and began to sing:
"How to go about the Sorting
I do know and we will see
For I can tell you think
I'm not very pretty.
But judge me if you will
Frankly, I don't care.
For my one and only aim
Is to tell where you ought to remain.
Some years ago
There were that which exist
Four wizards of prominence
Godric Gryffindor, boldest
Yes, that was his trait
A brave lad at heart
One to never turn down a dare.
The loyalty of Hufflepuff
Is that of the truest stuff.
Do not feel betrayed
For this house it a safe stay.
Ravenclaw with the minds
The answers they always find.
The wit and the wise
Success when they rise.
Salzar Slytherin was shrewd
A very interesting dude
He knew what he wanted
And achieved it in the end.
Now put me atop your head
So we may find
Where you will be led!"
Now was the time when Nora zoned out as Snape took his stand at the front of the room with the long list of the new Hogwarts students. It wasn't until Henri nudged her in the side, much more roughly that she would have liked, that Nora came to life.
"What?" Nora whispered angrily. She rubbed her side. Most likely, she would have a bruise in the morning. When Nora looked into Henri's face, she found her friend's dark eyes huge with astonishment.
"Look." Nora directed her gaze to the front of the room. On the stool sat a petite girl with flowing, blonde hair. Her skin was pale and her eyes were bright with the excitement of events taking place. But there was something impossible about her. She looked exactly like a smaller version of Nora. A confused expression took upon Nora's face. She looked at Henri, as if to give an answer to this impracticality.
The hat spoke. "Mmm…this is very different. Very different, indeed. But it can not be. Certainly not in reality. It must be mistaken, although I do find two parts of a whole. Well, there is no doubt. GRYFFINDOR!"
The girl gracefully lowered herself from the stool. She then made her way over to the Gryffindor table. Just before she took her seat, she looked directly at Nora and…smiled?
"Nora?" Nora turned her attention to Henri. "What's going on? Do you have a little sister you never mentioned?"
Nora was speechless. What could she say? She really didn't know what to say. People were starting to look back and forth between Nora and the girl. They noticed the resemblance.
"No," Nora hesitated, "at least I don't think so." She put her head in her hands. How could this girl look so much like she did; it was genetically impossible. Wasn't it? And what was the deal with the smile? She wanted some answers.
After the first years were put into their rightful houses, Headmistress McGonagall had risen to her feet and all became silent. "Welcome!" She started. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin the banquet, I would like to say a few words. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that."
McGonagall started directly at James and his group of friends who consisted of Adam Weasley and Hawkin Malfoy: the Maverick Marauders. Nora had never been a fan of the Maverick Marauders, or Rickders, as they sometimes liked to call themselves.
It was pathetic the way some of these girls acted when they were around. Sure, Nora would agree they were nice looking guys; hell, she would downright admit it. Of course, doing that had gotten her into more trouble than she cared to talk about.
After everyone had gone up to his or her dorm room, only Nora and James were left in the Great Hall. They were waiting for Professor Snape so he could lead them to the Head Dorm.
Nora was quite surprised when Professor Potter walked in, instead of Snape.
"Hello, James. Nice to see you again, Miss Kendrick" Harry stuck out his hand to shake Nora's.
"Likewise, sir," she gave him a true smile. Professor Potter had always been her favorite teacher. He understood what he taught and enjoyed his work. Harry then turned to James.
"What have you done?" He asked James. James stood there, smirking at his father.
"What makes you think I've done something?"
"What makes me think you haven't?" Harry replied. James spread out his hands, trying to look innocent.
"I swear I haven't done anything…yet."
"That makes me feel a whole lot better." As the conversation between father and son took place, Nora noticed a great similarity in the two men.
While James's hair was lighter and he wore no spectacles, they seemed to have the same aura. James sat down on the Gryffindor banquet table.
"So what's up, Dad?" He asked.
"Well, your Aunt Hermione wrote to tell me she's thinking about taking Professor Filtwick's job when he retires next year." James nodded his head at the thought of his aunt teaching. She'd be great at it because Hermione Granger Weasley was a great witch.
Apparently, she was one of the few students in the history of Hogwarts to receive a perfect score on every N.E.W.T. she'd taken. James was taken out of his thoughts by the sound of Nora yawning.
"Tired?" Harry asked.
"Somewhat," Nora said, shrugging.
"All right, then. Follow me; I'll show you to your room."
The Head Dorm was located behind a grand picture of a mermaid.
"Password, please." The mermaid asked pleasantly. Her hair was a flowing mane of red and her skin was a creamy pale.
"Sabertail Ketchum Catril." Harry spoke.
"Welcome!" The mermaid said as she threw open painting. Nora and James were led into a beautiful common room decorated in the same colors as the Head Compartment. The moonlight shinning through the window brought out the glistering silver of the curtains.
Toward the right was a sitting area including a large couch and two resting chairs adorned in dark blue with a rare, oak coffee table. Across the room, on the left, a sizable desk sat in a sectional area. Definitely meant for work, Nora thought. Down the middle, Harry led them on a Gryffindor embroidered rug.
"McGonagall decided since this is the first time in…years that two students from the same house have been chosen as Head Girl and Boy, that we should honor you by presenting this rug." Harry explained.
"It's magnificent." Nora whispered. While she had been admiring the gorgeous carpet, she didn't notice the men had stopped. She ran into James and fell flat on her…
"All right there, Kendrick?" James asked, offering his hand. She politely refused. A wise man once said that pride was a foolish man's weakness or a woman's, in this case.
"Fine." She replied frankly as she lifted herself off the ground. Harry stopped and turned to his students.
"James, your room is up the stairs, to the left. Nora, the same and to the right."
"Yes, sir." Nora said as she hurriedly made her way there.
Father and son watched as the girl cautiously entered the room.
"Goodnight," she said as she shut the door. James and Harry turned to each other.
"See you tomorrow, Dad." James told Harry as he gave his old man a pat on the back. He then jogged up the steps two at a time toward his own room.
When Harry had returned to his office, he quickly scribbled a letter to his wife of twenty years. As he wrote, he looked at the picture he kept on his desk of Ginny.
Even at the age of forty-five, she was still a beautiful woman. Her hair was a soft red, with small strands of gray residing. She had mesmerizing eyes; little crows-feet were starting to form at the edge of her blue eyes. Her skin was like a creamy silk. Even now when they were a thousand miles apart, Harry could feel that skin burning under the touch of his hand. Merlin, how he missed her!
Luckily, it wouldn't be long until they saw each other again. His thoughts drifted back to his letter. The last line he wrote was: I believe our son has met his match.
All my love,
Harry
(Well, hope you enjoyed the second installment. I don't care if Dumbledore did die. It's a fanfic and I'll make him live as long as possible. Please don't forget to review!)