The first years walked in a straight line, all 'ooh-ing' and 'aah-ing' as they got their first views of the Great Hall. Branwen couldn't blame them for the reactions; it was breath taking and if you had never seen it before, it always drew your attention.
She, however, was trying to stay focused on what was happening. So far everything was so strange. To start with, Alice and Ginny had entered with Frank and Joseph and the two boys were sitting next to Alice.
Branwen watched as Joseph flirted happily with Ginny; he kept her laughing and she would shoot comments that made him fall silent for a moment before starting up again. Her confidence was blossoming and she was smiling happily as she flicked her hair over her shoulder. Branwen wondered if maybe she was falling for Joseph's charms.
While they were doing this Frank kept glancing out of the side of his eyes at Alice who was sat next to him. Alice too was taking sneaky glances and Branwen began to wonder what was happening behind the glances.
On the other side of the table Sirius was sitting tapping his left hand on the table. His right hand though was tucked into Amanda's left resting softly on the table. He was sat very close to the other girl and there were only inches between them.
Amanda herself had changed somewhat, she didn't seem her normal self. She was deathly pale as if she hadn't seen the warm summer days that had attacked the country during the summer. She looked more like Snape than her ever before, and her hair didn't look much better than the boys. It was messy like she hadn't brushed it in days, it wasn't greasy but the darkness gave her a creepy look.
Then there was her uniform, it was back to being loose. In fact, Lily was wearing hers tighter than Amanda and Branwen had thought that would be impossible. There was also the way she had carried herself into the room; she had lost her confidence.
Branwen knew she wasn't the only one to notice this; Sirius was keeping a close eye on the girl and seemed reluctant to let go of her hand for anything. James was obviously trying to engage him in conversation but he was being ignored.
Peter, whom had taken Amanda's other side with Remus, just kept glancing at her as if she would become her old self if he only willed it so.
Branwen wondered if she was thinking too much into things but everything had drastically changed over night last year why couldn't the summer do the same to somebody. It wasn't as if Amanda was having it easy with her family before hand.
She felt Lily tap her shoulder and indicate with her head at the sorting hat; it had opened its mouth and looked ready to start its riddle for the year.
"The sorting hat is what I'm called
And the name tells you what I'm for
I'll show you little ones where you will belong.
There are four houses for you all
Each with its own history and traditions
One is best for you and that is where you'll go.
Gryffindor is first to stand
Its students always brave of heart
If you are brave this is for you.
Loyalty is also looked upon
It's a good characteristic to have in you
If you do then its Hufflepuff
Being smart will help you all
If you love books and learning
Then Ravenclaw is your calling.
The last to be called is Slytherin
Looking for people of cunning
You'll need ambition to fit in here
You've heard what is desired
Now there's one thing left
Put me on to find your place."
The hat fell silent and Branwen clapped with everyone else. It was funny listening to the sorting hat like this; she was expecting a warning since the threat of the wizarding world. She smiled as a first year boy in the front began to yell.
"That's it all we have to do is put that stupid hat on. The boys on the train said there'd be a duel!"
Across from Branwen James and Peter began to snicker and she shook her head as Lily rolled her eyes. The boy became quiet with a look from McGonagall and the sorting began with a girl named Emily Ahearne.
Branwen watched Ravenclaw clap happily as she moved over there and they started with the calling.
"Black, Regulus"
Branwen focused her eyes as a young boy walked up to the hat; he gazed over at their table and then back at the hat. His eyes then moved to the Slytherin table as he picked it up. It fell over his eyes and he sat there silent.
Branwen saw his feet swinging back and forth and then they suddenly stopped. The boy was shaking his head and she wondered if he were mad; but then again, he was a Black, and Sirius' brother at that.
A sole voice sounded and the word 'Slytherin' was received by all. The boy paled in the face as he moved towards the cheering table. His eyes kept wondering back to theirs looking at his brother.
The next name to be called was Adrian Dixon and Branwen smiled as he made his way to the hat. Unlike his friend, he didn't look at anybody as he lowered the hat onto his head. He sat there for only seconds before Slytherin was called.
He smiled in a way that sent shivers down Branwen's spin as he moved over to the table-clapping table and sat with his friend. Not once did he even glance towards his sister but spoke to his cousin instead.
Branwen couldn't stay focused on the whole thing for long and she found herself zoning out and only clapping when she saw Remus did so.
She however was in time to see the boy who had made the fuss step forward. He had very dark skin and walked with a bit of a stagger as if he were very sure of himself. The hat covered his eyes and then Gryffindor was yelled.
Joseph clapped and smiled at Frank.
"You know who that was right!"
"Yeah Simon Thomas, McGonagall just said."
"Yeah, but he's that sixth year Robert Thomas' younger brother."
"That explains the walk!"
The two boys laughed and Branwen just shrugged as the last girl joined the Hufflepuff table. Dumbledore climbed to his feet and smiled happily at them all.
"Welcome back everybody, it's so good to see so many of you all well."
Branwen wondered if he had seen Amanda's face because she did not look well at all.
"Now a few little rules before we start. The Forbidden Forest is forbidden and that means that nobody, and I mean nobody is allowed to step foot into it."
Branwen saw his eyes move to the Slytherin table and she began to wonder what evil things they'd been up to in the forest.
"Next, the Whomping Willow is a very dangerous tree, it will attack if you get close enough to it, and if you don't believe me you can ask Debra Wallace I'm sure she'd be happy to tell you how she almost lost her eye to that tree."
Branwen watched as the older students moved their heads to look at a girl with long black wavy hair at the Hufflepuff table. She turned bright red and looked at the floor.
"Lastly enjoy your meal everybody and let's tuck in!"
Branwen looked down in time to see the food appear. Around them, the first years 'ooh-ed' some more at seeing this before they started to tuck in.
Branwen pulled some Shepard's Pie onto her plate and looked up in time to see Peter take the spoon from her and ladle himself some and then he added mash potatoes, peas, carrots and sausages onto the plate.
"Peter you can't possibly eat all that!"
Lily had her nose wrinkled at him.
"Well I'm hungry and it tastes good."
Branwen looked at Lily's own plate, it had potatoes, lamb chop and lots of veg.
"Hey that's my chicken leg!"
They all turned to see Frank and Joseph fighting over the chicken leg with Alice and Ginny in silent laughter as they put gammon and chips on their own plate along with tomatoes.
James and Remus were eating happily but Branwen noticed as she turned back to her own meal that Amanda hadn't moved and her plate was still empty. Sirius had put some sausages and chips onto his own plate and was now looking at the food surrounding him.
Branwen just looked at Amanda she was looking at her plate and had both hands in her lap and she couldn't resist.
"Mand, aren't you hungry?"
Branwen was surprised by her reaction, her hand shot out and grabbed Sirius' upper arm she didn't say anything and she kept her eyes facing down.
Sirius just leaned over and pulled some chips onto her plate and muttered something in her ear.
Everybody ate quietly until the meal finished and they all headed up to the common room to bed ready for the new school year.