A/N: Yes, yes, I know I know. I'm such a bad author for waiting so long to update. Well, I've been busy with our school's musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. But that's all over now, and so now I'll have more time to write. Yay!
The kittens stared up at the castle as they made their way across the lake. It loomed over them, menacing and forbidding. Almost as if the building itself was trying to keep the cat-beings outside of its walls. For reasons unknown to them, they were kept separate from the other students; they had their own car on the Hogwarts Express, and now their own boat for the journey across the lake. It was being navigated by a huge bearded human, who watched them in complete fascination.
Their boat did not follow the others onto the shores. Instead, it landed a short distance away, where in the darkness the human students would not be able to see well enough to distinguish the Jellicles as less than human. Trailing behind the massive pack of first years, the Jellicle kittens followed, not a word between them. They were all too excited, and a bit afraid. Who knew what it would be like living among humans? Like the felines they resembled, the kittens had an insatiable sense of curiosity, and even Mistoffelees felt himself anticipating the year ahead.
"I'm not going," Mistoffelees said bluntly to his parents, Cassandra and Alonzo. The two adults looked at each other before sighing.
"Misto," Cassandra began gently, "you must. There is so much for you there. You know that we have been unable to teach you or the other kittens how to control your magic. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or even killed."
"And those humans, those monsters, won't kill us?" the young tuxedo tom retorted. He received a glare from Alonzo for speaking rudely to his mother. "They broke all those peace treaties," he began in a calmer voice, "they forced us into isolation. How can we trust them?"
"We will never trust them if we do not give them a chance to prove they are trust worthy," Alonzo answered, "and they will never understand us if we hide ourselves. Albus Dumbledore— he's the headmaster at Hogwarts— has already taken care of the expenses needed. He's a good man, very wise and understanding. He'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Now that he thought about it, Mistoffelees still didn't quite understand what exactly had made him change his mind. The enormous man shepherded the kittens into a hall, which was entirely empty of anything but a few paintings and statues.
"Oi'll be right back," the tall man said, "You just stay 'ere." They were left alone, most nervously staying with the group and looking around with expressions of fear and awe.
"This is so exciting!" Etcetera squealed, "look at all the... oooh! Shiney!" She looked up at a shining metal suit of armor, and poked it; then she lept nearly ten feet into the air when it poked her back.
"Miss, please stay with the group," an elderly woman with glasses and her black hair pulled back into a tight bun had spoken. "I am Professor McGonagall, and you will address me as such. If you must call me something else, Professor will do. Terribly sorry for the wait, Professor Dumbledore is giving a speech. Come along, we will introduce you to the rest of the school and get you sorted. There are four houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw."
They were led into the largest room they had ever seen. It was packed full of students at four tables, each wearing the same black robes and caps as the Jellicles.
"Blimey! Look at that!" Mungojerrie said in awe, pointing to the ceiling. Was there even a ceiling? The Jellicles could see support beams going up, but only the clear starry sky above. But what was most noticeable was the absolute silence. Thousands of eyes stared at the frightened Jellicle kittens, more than a few mouths hanging open.
"And here are our newest additions to our humble school." A tall man said, gesturing widely to the kittens. He was tall and thin, with flowing silver hair and beard. Small half-moon spectacles perched on his crooked nose. "I expect that you will treat them with kindness and generosity, as you will with our guests from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang later this year. Now, shall we sort them into their respective houses?" Albus Dumbledore pointed to a three-legged stool with an old patched wizard's hat on it. The kittens stared at it, unable to move. "You only need to place the hat on your head."
Mistoffelees looked around him, then sighed. They were far too frightened (like he was, though he would never admit it) to go first, so he would have to. Gulping slightly, he started forward. He found himself glancing up towards Dumbledore, who smiled reassuringly. Somehow, even though he was human, it made the tuxedo tom feel better. He sat on the stool, now even more painfully aware of the students, Jellicles, and professors of this strange school staring at him as he placed the hat on his head.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Mistoffelees jumped, wondering where the owner of the voice was. Looking around frantically, his search was only met with laughter from the human students. At least, all of the students except those who sat at the Ravenclaw table. They stared at the tuxedo tom blank-faced. Professor McGonagall stood and ushered the young tom towards the table.
"Find a place to sit," she told him. Instantly, it seemed, the table was far too crowded to allow for any more occupants.
Mistoffelees' ears flicked back, wondering what to do. It was obvious that he wasn't wanted; he could practically smell the human's hatred, disgust, and fear. And yet he didn't want to simply stand there like an idiot. He took a few steps forward, and the humans thankfully parted and gave him a wide berth. Sitting down, he looked around at the other students, who avoided his eye. And yet, as soon as his head was turned, they stared at him. White cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment, Mistoffelees stared down at the plate set before him.
Etcetera's curiosity got the better of her. She had seen who the owner of the voice belonged to; that odd patched hat. Giggling with nervousness, as was her way, she sat down on the stool and placed the hat carefully on her head. There was a moment of silence, just enough for her to look up at the brim of the hat in worry.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Etcetera replaced the hat on the stool and started heading over to where Mistoffelees sat. Professor McGonagall stopped her. "Miss, you must sit with your assigned table." She pointed in the direction of a table of students who wore canary yellow badges. They waved a little nervously at the queen. Nervously giggling again, Etcetera half bounced, half walked to where her new dorm-mates sat.
"Hi, I'm Etcetera!" she told her fellow Hufflepuffs, trying to be friendly. "What're your names?" She turned this way and that, expecting a reply from someone. The other students merely smiled half-heartedly, then turned back to their friends to whisper. Etcetera sniffed, ears drooping. "How rude."
Next were Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, who were both sorted into Gryffindor, soon followed by Tumblebrutus.. Jemima joined Mistoffelees in Ravenclaw, as well as Plato and Admetus. Both Pouncival and Victoria became Hufflepuffs. All throughout, the human students remained completely silent. The Slytherins, who had no Jellicles in their house, even wore a confident sneer.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The sneers disappeared as Electra joined their table. She didn't need directions; she was the only one to have that name called out, and so logically the only table without Jellicles had to be hers. She could already tell that this was the worst house to have joined.