Chapter Two
Elliot finally felt as if she belonged. No more did she only get recognized as Oliver's little sister. Well, at least with three people. Fred, Lee, and George had stayed in her compartment throughout the whole journey. They traded Chocolate Frog cards, played Exploding Snap, and talked about themselves.
" You lot ought to get changed." a girl said as she came into the compartment. " We'll be there in about ten minutes."
She had a dark complexion, with long black hair, and was already changed into her flowing robes of black.
" And just who do you think you are, bossing us around?" Fred countered.
" Angelina Johnson. And you are no doubt a Weasley." she said dryly.
George had the good grace to blush, but Fred stood up to face her.
" And why is that?" he asked boldly.
" You have red hair and freckles. And you look like Charlie."
" How do you know Charlie?" George asked, giving his twin a glare.
" My older sister, Geneva used to date him." Angelina said offhandedly, pushing a lock of hair impatiently behind her left ear.
" Uh-huh." Fred said, not quiet believing her.
" Well, she's right. We do need to change." Elliot said, hoping to divert an argument. " I'm Elliot, by the way."
" Nice to meet you. And the rest of you?" Angelina said, sweeping her gaze around the compartment.
" Lee Jordan."
" George."
" You are not!" George protested. " I'm George! You are Fred."
Angelina raised an eyebrow. " How does your mum tell you apart?"
" She can't, most of the time." Fred replied with a laugh.
Elliot took this time to grab her robes and go out to change. She returned five minutes later, her Muggle clothing draped over her arm. The boys were already changed and engaging in another game of Exploding Snap.
At that moment, the cards exploded, and Lee declared himself victorious.
" Look, Elliot's back." Fred said as he dusted off his robes. " But honestly, we need to give you a nickname. Elliot is just too boyish."
They all stared at Fred.
" What?"
" You actually have an intelligence above a troll's?" George asked as he ducked at the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean that his brother had chucked at him.
" Seriously, she has a boy's name." Fred continued.
" What's your middle name?" Lee asked, as Elliot shut the door behind her and sat down in her original seat.
" Chase."
" What's with the boy names?" Fred asked as he tucked his wand into his robes.
" My mum thought she was going to have a boy. And she didn't exactly want a girl." Elliot explained as she stowed her clothes away into her trunk.
" How about E.C.?" George suggested.
" Bloody brilliant. Short and simple." Fred agreed.
" Alright. You are hereby known as E.C. by the three of us." Lee said in a regal sounding voice.
" Okay. E.C." Elliot said, testing it out. " It's…um…different. Definitely something my mum would've never come up with."
The train came to a stop, and they were told to leave their trunks on the train and exit. Elliot followed the boys out of the train, and looked around her. Hogsmeade was deserted.
" Firs' years over here!" a great big man, with hair all about him called as he held a lantern up. " Firs' years over here!"
After all of the first years had gathered about him, he beckoned them to follow him down a steep, narrow path.
Elliot kept tripping over Lee's feet, and the final time she did it, she nearly fell flat on her face. Lucky for her, George had some pretty quick reflexes and caught her.
" Thanks." she said as she blushed.
She was now grateful for the trees that blocked out the moonlight.
" No problem." George said as they continued walking.
" Ye'll get yer firs' sight of o' Hogwarts in a moment." the man called over his shoulder.
" Wow." Elliot whispered as they stepped into a clearing before a giant black lake.
The castle was just on the other side, perched atop of a great mountain, it's sparkling windows glowing in the night sky.
" No more'n four to a boat!" the man called, pointing to a group of boats on the edge of the lake.
Elliot followed Lee and Fred. George settled down on her right side.
" Everyone in?" shouted the man. He was sitting in a boat to himself. " Alright then- FORWARD!"
The boat began to move beneath her, and soon they were gliding across the lake.
Elliot stared up at the castle. Oliver had never once mentioned how big it was. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she barely heard the giant man as he said, " Heads down!"
Elliot ducked just in time as the little boats went under a curtain of ivy that hid the opening of the cliff the castle was perched on. They were carried along a dark tunnel, and no one spoke at all, even when the reached an underground harbor. It was made up of mostly rocks and pebbles.
They followed the man through a passageway in the rock, assisted by the man's lantern. They came to a stop out on smooth grass, right in the shadow of the castle. The group of first years walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around a huge oak front door.
" Everyone here?"
After they all nodded, he raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door immediately swung open, revealing a tall, black haired witch in green dress robes. She had a very stern face and glanced over the lot of first years.
" The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
" Thank you, Hagrid." she said crisply. " I'll take them from here."
She opened the door wider and beckoned them to follow her. The entrance hall was huge. Flaming torches lit the stone walls like they did at Gringotts. The ceiling was so high up that one couldn't even begin to tell you where it was, and a magnificent marble staircase was directly in front of them.
Elliot could hear the voices of the other students as McGonagall led them to a room just off of the hall. The first years clamored into the room, standing very close to each other. Much too close in Elliot's opinion.
She was practically sandwiched between the twins, and was surrounded on all other sides by students.
" Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin in a moment, but before you can take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is very important because while you are here, your house will be something like your family at Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room.
" As most of you may know, the four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and all of them have produced outstanding witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, and any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup.
" The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest that you smarten yourselves up as much as you can."
Her eyes scoped out most of the students.
" I shall return when we are ready for you." McGonagall said before exiting the chamber.
Elliot closed her eyes tightly. " George, can you please move?"
" Hmm?" he said as he looked over at her.
He had been engaged in a conversation with Lee.
" I'm…claustrophobic." she managed between breathes.
' Nice and slow.' she mentally told herself.
George stepped back, giving her about two inches of space. " Better?"
" Much." she managed.
" Come along. The Sorting Ceremony's about to begin." Professor McGonagall said sharply.
The students immediately stopped talking and looked at the teacher.
" Now, form a line and follow me." she said sternly.
Elliot managed to get squeezed in between Fred and Lee. She walked into the Great Hall and followed the line up to a platform where the staff table was at. They came to a halt in front of all of the students, with the teachers behind them.
Elliot took a deep breath and looked up at the starry ceiling. She knew from her book Hogwarts, A History that it was enchanted to be an exact replica of the sky.
Professor McGonagall sat a four legged stool in front of the first years. She then sat a pointed wizard's hat on top of it. The hat was frayed and extremely dirty in places.
Elliot looked at the hat expectantly, knowing what was about to happen. Oliver had told her repeatedly what was going to happen at the sorting. That, and not to make a fool out of him.
The hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth; the next second, the hat began to sing.
Elliot, didn't much pay attention to the song, but sought out her brother. How couldn't she make a fool of him? If she was placed in any house aside from Gryffindor, she was sure to be disowned.
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables before falling silent again.
Professor McGonagall stepped in front of them again, holding a long roll of parchment. " When I call your name, you are to put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."
Elliot was grateful that her name came towards the end of the alphabet. That would give her plenty of time to clear her mind and try not to worry.
" Stimpson, Patricia."
" Gryffindor!"
Elliot began to get nervous. What if she didn't get put in Gryffindor? Was it going to really be that bad? Her papa wouldn't say much, but her mum would. Carleigh was constantly going on about how everyone in the family who had attended Hogwarts had been in Gryffindor.
" Weasley, Frederick."
Fred pranced over to the stool and sat the hat down on his head.
" Gryffindor!"
" Weasley, George."
" Good luck." he whispered before walking over to the stool.
The hat had only been on his head for a mere minute before screaming, " Gryffindor!"
Elliot took a deep, calming breath.
" Wood, Elliot."
Elliot slowly walked over to the hat. She sat it on her head and closed her eyes.
' Please put me in Gryffindor.' she thought as a small voice in her ear began to speak.
" Hmm…a wonderful mind. Very loyal…A great thirst to prove yourself…Lots of talent…This is difficult…More than enough courage…So, where shall I put you, Miss Wood? Sister of Oliver."
' Gryffindor.' she practically pleaded.
" Gryffindor, you say? You have such a thirst to prove yourself…And you have so much talent…"
' Gryffindor.' she repeated.
" Very well…Perhaps you are right…You will do best in GRYFFINDOR!"
Elliot shakily took the hat of and walked to the cheering Gryffindor table.
" Didn't think you'd make it, there for a second." Fred said as he clapped her on the back.
" Me either." Elliot said with a sigh of relief.
After the sorting was over, Albus Dumbledore got to his feet.
Elliot thought he looked magnificent, what with his long silvery hair and beard, his twinkling eyes, and half-moon spectacles.
" Welcome!" he said as he opened his arms wide. " Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Tuck in!
" Thank you!"
The hall was filled with applause before the sounds of silverware being used encompassed the room.
Elliot immediately began filling her plate full of the delicious food that had appeared in front of her.
" Hungry?" Fred asked as she began shoveling food into her mouth.
Elliot nodded before taking a gulp of pumpkin juice.
A.N.- As always, it must be known that I use some things from the book. Not entirely, but somewhat. However, J.K. Rowling is the owner of the Potter Universe, not me. Please R&R! And thanks to all of you who have!