Yes! I know what you're all thinking: FINALLY! Heh. I'm sooooooo sorry about that absolutely HUGE gap between chapter 5 and 6, but I just got back to school then, and, let me tell you one thing: it has been seriously hectic. Seriously. And now, without further ado… The long awaited chapter 6. Loooooooong awaited.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything except my characters and this particular story I made up!
"I think we should put our robes on. Truby said as she pulled out her trunk. We all proceded to yank out our own, and get changed.
"Hey, Dantes, is that new?" Gabrielle asked as she pointed to the robe I had just put on.
"Yes." I said as I closed my trunk and set it up above again. The train suddenly stopped.
"Oh no! We're here! Oh dear oh dear oh dear! What if I'm sorted into Hufflepuff! Oh god..." A first year could be heard as she opened the door, shaking with nerves. I laughed. Hufflepuff isn't THAT bad. Although... It would be rather devastating if I was in it...
Ah well. I'm not, so...
"Dantes? Are you going to move?" I jerked back to reality, and noticed Truby poking my back repeatedly, urging me to go forwards.
"Er... Yeah..." I said, and started walking down the crowded hallway. I saw the familiar sight of the huge man called Hagrid calling out "Firs' years over here..." I sighed and continued wallking over to the carriages being drawn by the thestrals. I shuddered as I looked at them. We got into a carriage, and were joined by Parvati and Padma Patil. It was a very tight squeeze, but we managed it.
"Did you hear?" Padma asked excitedly.
"Hear what?"
"There's a rumour that Harry Potter isn't coming to school this year!" Parvati squealed. "Can you believe it!"
"Really?" Truby asked, interestedly. "Is there any proof?" Parvati looked a bit put out.
"Well... No... I mean, he could have just not have been noticed or something... But I bet he isn't coming!"
"Oh my gosh!" Gabrielle spoke for the first time since we got in. "Really! I bet this is going to make all the magazines and newspapers! Cool! Maybe they'll have a picture of Hogwarts and all the students in front of it, or something! Maybe..." Gabrielle gasped. "Maybe I'll be in it!"
"What do you think he's going to do if he doesn't come to school?" Parvati asked, ignoring Gabrielle completely.
"Probably go save the world." I said sarcastically.
"That's probably it!" Padma gasped. I rolled my eyes.
"Who cares, anyway? It's not like it's any of our problem." I said, knowing it was very much my problem. I mean, I'm a death eater now! That means I'll probably have to help the dark lord... KILL him or something... Truby gave me a pointed look.
"Well, I mean, with Dumbledore dead and everything..." Parvati started.
"I said, it's none of our problems." I said in a low, dangerous voice. I was quite like my father when I got angry. I would speak very, very queitly, and people who knew me always backed off then, knowing that if they didn't... well, let's not go there. The rest of the trip passed in silence, until we arrived at the front gates.
"Ooh! We're here!" Gabrielle squealed. We all squeezed out, and started walking up the steps to the castle. As I looked around, I noticed there weren't as many students as there used to be. Sitting down at my table, I observed them all. The most students at one table was about 25. Usually there was about 100 or so. Gryffindor had about 25, ravenclaw 20, Hufflepuff 20, and slytherin 15.
-----------------------------
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Came Professor McGonagoll's voice, echoing oddly from the substantial lack of students.
"Gosh, I'm starving!" Gabrielle groaned, clutching her stomach. "They really should give us more on the train..."
"Yeah..."
"Hmph. When are they going to start the sorting? I'm famished here!" I remember my sorting. Standing in the line nervously... Awaiting the moment when the decision would be made...
"And without further ado, let the sorting begin!" The doors to the Great Hall burst open, and following Professor Flitwick, came the young, scared looking first years. Professor Flitwick led the way farther into the Hall, and then placed the stool down, with the old, patched, wizarding's hat on top of it. The first years stared at it in awe. There was a pause, where everyone waited with baited breath, before the tear near the brim opened up, and then started singing:
"Long ago, before I was black, when I was new,
When I was clean, when I was blue,
Four friends named Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff
Decided one day, to do something helpful, something that was tough.
So they decided to make a school,
To help out the new witches and wizards in a way that was 'cool',
To teach the young all they knew,
To make them knowing, to make them true,
But arguments started, between Slytherin and Gryfindor,
And got so bad, that they would lock them out the door,
They ranted and raved, but try as they might,
They could not work together, they had to fight.
So, they decided, "We cannot carry on this way!"
And Slytherin left, and went away.
But they could not work with only three,
They had to be even, and decided to use me,
To find a place where they could study in peace,
To find a place where arguments would cease.
So the students were sorted, into four houses,
To tell each other apart, they wore different blouses,
And Ravenclaw said: for those who are smart,
I will allow, in my house, a part
And Gryfindor said,
To all who are courageous, will get a bed
And Slytherin wanted those with great ambition,
Who would take in life, an important position.
And Hufflepuff took all the rest,
Not caring if they were not the best.
And so the four lived in happiness and harmony,
Doing it out of kindness, not for anyone, not even Carmony,
They lived for a long time, and when they died,
They were filled with a great, amazing pride,
For they had started a famous school for the next generations,
Sure, they may have had a few complications,
But it was all worth it for their students to learned magic
Which saved them from many things which were tragic,
Be strong and try to befriend,
Gryffindor, Slytherin,
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff,
Let this prejudice end."
There was a slightly shocked silence. The first person to get out of his stupor was Fliwick, who stood there for atleast a minute before beginning to clap. This was followed by the rest of the Great Hall, but it lacked the usual sound of the 1000 students, and seemed like there were only about 100. Once it faded away, Flitwick started talking in an uncertain voice:
"Right... Well... Ah yes... When I call your name, I would like you to sit down on the stool and put on the hat. When it announces your house, please go and sit at the correct table."
"Carrie Ash." The girl who had been complaining about her dress robes to her mother at the train station earlier that day walked up to the stool, looking so nervous that I was afraid she might pass out. The girl placed the hat on her head.
"Ravenclaw!" There came a small cheer as everyone at the Ravenclaw table welcomed the relieved looking Carrie.
"Mary Bloomwood!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Mark Brandon!"
"Slytherin!"
"Tatiana Dendon!"
"Ravenclaw!" The sorting went on for what seemed like forever until "Michael Wesper" was sorted into Gryffindor. Happily we dug into our food, making small conversations in between bites.
"Heh... Looks like potter's not here."
"Idiot. I knew he would drop out one day. Too stupid to even catch the train, isn't he?"
"You can say that again. And to think, he's going out with that filthy blood-traitor Weasley! I was disgusted when he became friends with those... things... But how low can you get to actually go out with one of them!"
This conversation faded to a dull buzz as I took a bite of chicken. Gabrielle was softly talking to Parkinson about how cute Blaise was, that too joined the buzz that was the other conversation. I noticed Draco talking to Blaise in a rather hushed voice.
"Hello, Draco." I said as I saw him. He looked up.
"Oh, hello Dantes. How are you?" He said as he leaned over to talk to me. He wasn't asking me how I was health-wise, but emotionally, mentally, and dark mark-wise.
"I... geuss I'm fine." I said after a brief hesitation. He gazed at me intently. Oh god, I don't want to talk about it! Can't you see? I thought.
"So... How was the rest of your summer? How's 'the vine'?" I asked, remembering Lucius's drunk moment. We burst out laughing.
"The rest was... alright, I guess." He said after he had calmed down a bit. I gave him a weak smile. We continued talking a bit, but our conversation drifted off after Questi started speaking in an abnormally loud voice.
"Oh yes, father bought it for me during the summer. Isn't it just gorgeous?" I looked over to see Questi Aitez talking to her group of Slytherin friends. They all gazed at her earnestly, for she was their 'leader'. Questi's wavy, black raven hair with copper highlights was down, and minty green eyes were shining. She was showing her index finger off to everyone.
"Wow, where on earth did he get it? That must of cost a fortune!" One girl said as she gazed at her finger intently. Questi's eyes glinted for a moment, but they returned to normal as she said in her sweet voice,
"Oh, well, you know. He wouldn't tell me because he knew I would return it when I found out how extravagent the price was!" She said as she stroked the sparkly ring on her finger. It was a silver band with a black stone in the middle of it. It glinted in the candlelight. "It's the only one like it, father told me, filled with magic. He wouldn't tell me anymore, though..."
"Nice ring, Questi." She looked up at me.
"Dantes! Hello! Don't you just adore it? Doesn't it just-"
"Mmm hmm. So, how was your summer?"
"Oh, it was... Alright. Father bought me another new wardrobe. But, he got the wrong shade of purple for one of my robes! I specifically asked for puce, but he got violet! Oh it was so awful..."
"Oh yes, it sounds just... Devastating..."
"Oh yes, it- oh look! There's Blaise!" Her attention went straight to Blaise as she started flirting with him. "Hi Blaise! How are you? Oh, you've got a thing-" She reached over and pushed a non-existant bit of fluff of of his shoulder, meanwhile leaning forwards and exposing a bit TOO much cleavage. "There! So, how was your summer? I heard you-" She was interrupted as Pansy clearing her throat loudly. Questi looked over at her. "Oh, hello Pansy."
"Hello Questi." Pansy said frostily as she wrapped an arm around Blaise protectively. There was an uncomfortable silence.
"So... who wants some treacle pie?" I asked as I jabbed a piece on my plate.
----------
After everyone had eaten their fill, Professor Mcgonagoll cleared her throat, and everyone turned around to look at her. She started the usual beginning of term speech: Don't go to the forbidden forest... Anything from Weasleys' Wizard Weazes is not aloud... Please look at the list of Filch's door... bla... bla... blabla... bla...
"... And welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor... Professor Alexander Duminsy!" An unfamiliar man stood up. He was wearing a black robe, and he had a handsome face. He had light brown hair, and bright blue eyes. His skin was slightly tanned, but was still a light color. He grinned, and waved his hand. There was a cheery appluase. The new head-mistress continued.
"As there is a shortage of people who can take jobs as teaching at the moment... I will continue to be your Transfiguration teacher. And, your new deputy headmaster is Professor Flitwick!" He stood up on his chair (barely as tall as most people would normally be while sitting down) and smiled happily. There came another appluase, but this time it was much more enthusiastic than the new Profesor Duminsy's one.
"And... As you all know... This is a very... Dangerous time." She stressed the word 'dangerous' delicately. "So, we have decided that no students are allowed out of the castle, not even out to the grounds, and trips to hogsmeade have been canceled. Your defense against the dark arts classes have been increased to 10 hours a week." There came an incredolous gasp that seemed to echo the whole entire mass of students opinion."Now, I know this is a lot, and Professor Duminsy's work is certainly cut out for him, but in this time... It will be very useful if... well, if circumstanses may provide a need for them. Now, you may go to your rooms, and sleep."
Yup, crummy ending but I have the next bit, which I will update soon. (hopefully!)
TrubySCS3: I can't believe that person! (The one who left you a bad review) Too mean. I'm loving your story, and (gasp!) I FINALLY updated mine!
Crouchingbunny: Not only friends, but SISTERS. Which is awesome because I'm an only child.
slytherin.viet666: I've stuck you in here, and thank you! You're going to be a major part of the plot I think… I've got you as bella's daughter, because draco's sister just didn't really go too well. I love your story, keep up the good work!