Disclaimer: I only own Emilee. Val owns Chris, and, sadly, JK owns everything else...sad isn't it? Oh on a more exciting note, HBP comes out in 23 days!
A/N: SO sorry about not updating. I don't even want to look and see how long it's been. We've just been kind of out of it. But here's this chapter, and we've almost got the next one ready to upload too. School's out now for both of us (Finally) so we'll be able to write more.
Oh, and about the title; there is no cat, it just rhymed with hat.
When we got to the school, the group of us headed inside. Ems had told me all about the sorting hat, but I was still surprised when we walked in the large dinning room only to be greeted by the loud singing of the old wrinkly black hat and it made me wonder what made it do this.
"Hey, where am I supposed to sit?" I asked Ems who was walking rather fast so she was well away from the group and, if I was guessing right, Sirius and hiss little girlfriend; who had yet to be introduced to me.
"Um…with me, I guess. Dumbledore said that you'll be placed in a house later after all the first years. So right now I guess it doesn't really matter." Emilee shrugged, still kind in her pissy mood.
"You know you shouldn't let him get under your skin like that. So what if he wants to be stupid and hang out with some other girl? You're way better then her and you know it," I said hoping I wasn't stepping my bounds in trying to cheer her up.
"Your right. I shouldn't give him the satisfaction of making me jealous, I should make him just as jealous!" Emilee said looking around as I rolled my eyes. Standard Ems always wants to fight right back.
"Well not exactly what I meant, but," I said trailing off. Unlike the last time I was here the large dinning hall was lit with candles that hung from the ceiling by some invisible force and the entire room was aligned with long wooden tables that sat thousands of chatting students. When we reached the Gryffindor table I noticed that Ems tried to sit well away from Sirius, who was now alone on the account that his friend was in a different house, but failed when Remus took the set next to me and Lily and James took the seets across from her along with Peter leaving only one place for Sirius, right next to her.
"Trade me spots please," she whispered in my ear so only I could hear. I looked at her with disgust. Here I was enjoying the niceness of sitting next to Remus and she wanted to switch places. Who did she think she was?
"Live with it I'm not moving," I whispered back. This rightfully earned me a glare.
"Fine if you won't trade then I'll move." With that she stood from the table and headed off toward the other end.
"Come on Ems don't be that way!" I called after her, but apparently it was to late, 'cause she just kept on walking. "Wonderful" I muttered to myself.
"What's wrong with her?" Sirius asked
"You don't want to know mate" James said. Lily, who had just been talking to some body behind her turned only to find Ems missing from her spot.
"Where did Ems go?" she asked looking at me.
"Down there she's mad 'cause…"I rolled my eyes knowing that Ems wouldn't want me to give any clues as to why she stormed off.
"Well if she's not sitting here I have no reason to either." With that Lily stood up and left me alone with the four guys that I had just met.
I don't know what was up with me. I'm usually not so jealous. Maybe it was just Angelina. Oh well. So, after my big exit, I was stuck with trying to find a place to sit. As I was walking towards the back end of the table, I spotted Alex Rodriguez, a cool little 6th year, and started to walk over to him. When I had been a 2nd year, and Alex a 1st, I had rightly dubbed him my
protégé. I used to bother him when he was with all his friends, and all that good stuff. He was sitting with other 6th years, whose names I couldn't remember right now, but there was one empty seat next to him, and one across the table. I sat down in the one next to him.
"Alex! How is my favorite little youngster?" I said, smiling sweetly at him. "Did you have a nice summer?"
"Oh yeah" Alex started "I was even planning to have just a good of school year, but then I saw you." He smirked at me and I punched him in the arm. We continued a light banter until I noticed a familiar red-head sit down across from us.
"Lily?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "What are you doing here?"
Lily just shrugged, "I'm trying to talk some sense into your thick head. Who cares who Sirius' new flavor of the week is, you certainly shouldn't." By now, Alex was smirking at me, with one of those 'so-you-like-Sirius' looks that Lily used to give me. I blushed and pushed his face so he was looking away from me. He swatted my hand away, and then started to talk to some 5th year. I leaned in a little bit, closer to Lily I mean.
"I wouldn't care, but...C'mon Lils, it's Angelina. You know, 'bane of my existence'. Why does it have to be her?"
"Did something happen between you and Sirius over the summer?" Lily asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise. I shook my head, slightly surprised myself, then tried to wave off the conversation, but Lily was determined to get me to go back to the boys. I could tell, because she had on her determined face. It was actually kind of scary. She was all tight lipped, bearing a close resemblance to Professor McGonagall, and her eyes had this little sparkle in them. Oh, and she also kind of flared her nostrils just a bit. That part was more funny then scary. She stood up, walked around the end of the table, we weren't that far away from it, grabbed me by the arm, and dragged me all the way back to were we were originally sitting. I only had time to mutter a quick goodbye to Alex, who was watching us, apparently amused, before she plopped me back down in between Sirius and Chris. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her as she walked all the way back around the table, and sat down in her seat.
"Nice of you ladies to join us," James said, almost as if I hadn't stormed away, and then been dragged back, roughly, by my best friend. I say almost, because the corners of his lips were slightly raised. I was a little embarrassed by having Lily drag me back to the place, and still a little pissy about Sirius and Angelina, so I didn't reply. Chris looked like she was going to say something, but at that moment, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up to make his start of term speech. This was slightly surprising, I, for some reason, thought that maybe he had alreadystarted during my little drama episode.
"I have the perfect tune to sing the school song to this year," Sirius whispered to us. I, of course, wasn't interested, but everyone else in our group was, and all leaned in a little bit to hear better. This was weird for me, since two of our friends had to lean in front of me to hear it, and I'm someone who is not a close people person, especially when mad.
"What is it?" Chris asked. After we had met, I had eagerly sung her a couple rounds of the Hogwarts school song, to a lot of different tunes, most of them from the Beatles. Did I mention I can be quite scary when I'm hyper?
Sirius smiled secretly, waited for a second, then announced "Nights in White Satin..." All the others laughed at him, except for James, who groaned, while I tightened my hands around my arms, and clenched my teeth. That bastard. Nights in White Satin had been MY school tune for this year. I guess that's what you get for telling Sirius your secrets. I glared at him when he looked at me, and he frowned slightly. I then made a sound, I think it was like 'harrumph' and turned my attention back to Dumbledore.
"Finally, I wish to address the growing concern about this Lord Voldemort. I would like to say that behind these walls you are safe, but it is better safe then sorry. You will all be asked to come back inside the castle at an earlier time, before dark, preferably. I would also like to stress that sneaking out of school," His gaze moved towards us, and we all smiled sweetly at him, even though I was still mad. It's like a habit okay? He continued, but kept his gaze at us, "Is not only breaking a lot of this school's rules, it is now potentially dangerous, and I wish to put a word of caution out to those who would think other wise." He kept his gaze on us for a second later, and I let out a breath of relief, which I hadn't realized I'd been holding, when he turned back to the other students. "On that note, Dig in!" He smiled as he sat back down, and we all looked expectedly at our plates, which soon filled up with food. We all started to eat when Peter suddenly said, "I wonder why we didn't sing the song this year..."
We had been eating for a while, laughing, talking, and, in my cause, sulking, when Professor McGonagall walked up to where we were sitting. She looked at me and Chris, "Miss Rice, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you after you are done eating, I bet Miss Morrill would be happy to show you to my office, she would know where it is. I will then take you to up to the Headmaster's office." She looked a little crossly at me, although I could see the corners of her lips curl up. What can I say? I'm impossible to love.I smiled sweetly back at her as Chris said a 'Yes Professor.' She then looked at me, a little worried, "Is she always like that?"
I quickly swallowed the food I had in my mouth, and smiled, "No, that's her happy side." This only made Chris look even more worried.
After we got done eating me and Emilee headed off toward Professor McGonagall's office to get me all sorted out.
"I'm kind of scared is that normal?" I asked almost bouncing with excitement.
"Um...I guess," Emilee shrugged she was obviously else were.
"Are you still letting the Sirius thing eat at you?" I asked.
"No I'm just tired," Ems said rolling her eyes at the thought "he's so stupid you know that?"
"Sure whatever," I said rolling my eyes as she turned down a corridor that I hadn't even seen.
"I'm never going to be able to find my way around this place."I said walking a bit faster to keep up with Emilee's faster stride.
"Don't worry after a week or two you'll get it down." she said turning once again.
"That's what they always say" I muttered under my breath as she led the way through a large wooden door.
"Professor!" Ems called into the large empty class room.
"Right here!" said a soft scottish voice I was beginning to recognize as Professor McGonagall's.
"Hello Professor, you said you wanted to see us," How come she's all calm about everything? I,on the other hand, would have murdered that one phrase.
"Oh yes. We need to find Miss Rice a house, so if you'll follow me I'll take you two to Dumbledore's office." I nodded and we turned once again toward the hall.
After a minute or two I found myself standing in front of a griffin type creature.
We walked into a large office with pictures hanging all around it. In the center of the room was a large desk and sitting behind it was Dumbledore. "Welcome Welcome!" he said in his deep...well welcoming voice.
"Albus, Miss Rice" Professor McGonagall said obviously using Dumbledore's first name.
"Ah yes shall we find you a house?" he asked looking at me. I shrugged not knowing what else to do. "Very well this way please," with that I found myself once again following people around...only this time it wasn't so far.
He led us up about 10 stairs into another room just above his office were a stool with that large black hat once again sat. "Here we are," he said lifting it with ease, "If you'll take this seat well have you sorted and off to bed in no time." Dumbledore nodded.
I sat down shrugging at the thought of everything. Either way at least I'll still be at the same school that Emilee is I thought as the hat was set down upon my head. "Last one for the year are we?" a raspy voice from above asked, "Well let's see." I knew the others around me couldn't hear everything that the hat was saying, but it was so loud to me that I thought they could. It was a little unnerving.
After a minute or two of talking the hat said in an even voice my house. Dumbledore nodded and removed the hat from my head. "Welcome to Hogwarts!" he said happily "I assume, Miss Morrill, that you'll make sure that she gets to her room just fine." Ems nodded and then once again we headed out of the office and into the corridor.
I walked Chris to her common room, assuming that the feast was already over, since Dumbledore and McGonagall had been out of the Great Hall. Since I had only been in enough trouble to go to Professor Dumbledore's office once, I had no real idea to get to any common room from where we were, so we walked back to the Entrance Hall, and followed the throng of students up the staircases.
"So," I said, smiling at Chris now, "You've just made it into the most prestigious house in Hogwarts, what are you going to do next?"
She shrugged, "I don't know, I mean...It's a new school. I'm just a little nervous."
We walked up a few more sets of stairs, until we reached the picture of the fat lady, and realized that neither of us knew the password.
"Oh this is wonderful," I said, as I slid down the wall and sat on the ground.
Chris, who didn't know that we needed a password, was studying the picture, "What's wrong? Why doesn't she just open up or something?" She turned to look at me.
I turned my head to look at Chris, "We need a password."
Chris nodded, and went back to the picture, "Well, doesn't she recognize you or something?" The fat lady seemed to finally have enough of this, and said, roughly I might add, "You don't need to act as if I'm not here. I can hear you just fine."
I looked up at the lady, "Well," I asked, even though I could guess what the answer was going to be, "Don't you recognize me? Won't you let me in?"
The fat lady laughed, "How could I not recognize you? I would be daft not to know who you are, Miss Morrill." At this I couldn't help but beam brightly. Chris saw this and rolled her eyes, while the picture continued, "With you and those four boys coming in late at night after you had been goodness knows were, I remember once you all came back covered in whipped cream," At this Chris raised her eyebrows at me, and I could only shrug, smiling at the memory. The lady looked like she was going to continue, but was interrupted by a big deep laugh, two of them actually, as Sirius and James walked up to us.
"Oh I remember that night," James said, reminiscently, "I think it was in, oh 4th year," Me and Sirius nodded in agreement, I guess forgetting the fact that I was pissed at him. Chris seemed to be really interested in this, her face was lightening up, and she had this look on her face like she was getting ready to laugh, "and I was absolutely infatuated with Lily."
"Was!" Sirius interjected, and James hit him lightly over the head. The two then proceeded to tackle each other to the ground and were rolling around and on top of each other. Did that just sound way too wrong, or is it just me?
"So," I said, turning to Chris, who was egging James on a little, "Since the boys are busy, I'll just continue on with the story." Chris peeled her eyes away from the guys, and turned her attention to me. "It was the night before Lily's birthday, and James had gotten it into this head that if he did something sweet maybe Lily would like him back. So, he came up into the Girls Dormitory at about 2 o'clock in the morning, still haven't figured out how he got there, and woke me up. Then him, Remus, Sirius, and Peter dragged me down to the kitchens, were we made a cake," The boys had stopped wrestling and were sitting, James' hair was messier then normal, if possible, and Sirius, oh God Sirius looked...All messy hair, and his shirt was a little askew...stop brain STOP! I shook my head to clear it and stuttered a bit as I tried to start my story up again. Chris seemed to notice and smirked knowingly. I glared at her. "Well, we um, we...oh yeah. We tried to make a cake. It ended up exploding on us because they," I turned my glare towards the boys, although I was fighting a big smile, and turned back to Chris, "Decided to try a spell they had made up. They promised it'd work, but we ended up cleaning the kitchens until about 6 o'clock that morning. We walked back up to the common room sticky and messy. After taking a shower, I was able to sleep for about 10 minutes before I had to get up for classes. I probably had more detentions assigned in that one day then ever because I kept falling asleep in all my classes. I've learned to learn with very little sleep since then."
"Oh come one," James said, standing up and giving me a big hug, "You know you enjoyed it."
I smirked, "Only a little." I then stepped away from James and nodded towards the painting, "So, oh Master Head Boy, what is the magical password?"
James walked over the portrait, did something funny to his hands, I guess to look like he was doing some spell, or something, then said "Diricawl"
"Diricawl?" I asked, as we headed one by one through the portrait hole. A Diricawl was a flightless bird that, when in danger, could disappear in a puff of feathers and reappear elsewhere, sort of like a phoenix. The muggles called these birds 'Dodo birds', and explained their disappearing act by saying they had hunted them all into extinction.
"Diricawl," was all James said in reply. I raised an eyebrow at him, but he didn't seem like saying anything more on it, so I sat down on the couch by the fire, next to Peter, who I guess had come here right after the dinner. Chris sat next to me, and James and Sirius tried to squeeze in after her. We succeeded in pushing them off though, and it was then that I noticed that we were missing one person.
"Where's Remus?" Chris asked. Apparently she had noticed he was gone too. The boys looked a little shifty, and were silent until Peter finally said, "No idea." I thought it was a little strange, but knew they weren't going to say anything. So I grabbed Chris' wrist, and pulled her off the couch.
"Well, as much fun as this has been, I may be able to function with only 3 hours of sleep, but I'm not sure Chris is,so, tootles!" I waggled my fingers at the guys, then pulled Chris up with me to the girls dormitory.
A/N again: Okay again sorry this took forever, it's actually been ready for a while I just had to edit it, and I got pretty bored after a while so there's probably still a lot of mistakes in there. Umm,I got the exploding cakespell ideafrom a Fic on Marauding Mayhem, and Emilee's "only a little" line comes from POTC, 'cause I love that part. I think that's it. Happy reading, the next chap will be up soon!
-Blackrose