Author's Note: Thank you all for your comments! It really makes me want to keep writing when I see all you're responses. Thank you!
Chapter 4
When the plane landed, Lorelie felt quite relieved. She exited with Professor Hatfield and the two made their way to the baggage claim.
"Any particular reason why you are transferring?" Professor Hatfield asked.
Lorelie shrugged.
"My mom wants me to see the world, I guess." Lorelie hoped that the professor would accept that answer. He smiled.
"Ah, there's my suitcase." He reached out and grabbed a dented and scuffed blue suitcase off the conveyer belt. Lorelie saw her suitcases and pulled them off, too. She stacked them on top of one another and began tugging them behind her. Professor Hatfield also retrieved a small carrying case from one of the attendants. Something inside fluttered, making noise with it's wings.
"Okay…now what?" Lorelie laughed as the little bird looked at her through the holes in the case. It hooted and clicked it's beak as if to say to Lorelie: "Why did you get to ride in the airplane, too? I got stuck with all the dogs and cats and they wanted to quarantine me!"
"Well, we'll go to Kings Cross where we take the train to Hogsmede. I'll be staying there until the second semester officially begins. We'll send that owl now, and arrange for Headmaster Dumbledore to have transportation ready for you. How does that sound?"
"It sounds a lot better than I could have hoped!" Lorelie shouted as they made their way through the crowds of people toward the signs pointing out taxis. Outside it was snowing. Big, heavy white flakes that rained down on the Londoners.
Professor Hatfield stopped when they reached the curb and precariously opened the carrying case. The little owl hooted again and hopped onto his sleeve. Professor Hatfield took a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket and scribbled down a quick note.
"This is Artemis," He said, "she's the fastest little barn owl I've ever met."
Artemis hooted, approving the compliment. Professor Hatfield muttered a spell and then tied the paper around Artemis's leg. She took flight and disappeared into the sky.
"What was that?"
"A spell so to the muggles it looks like I fed her and put her back in the cage."
"Cool."
"Ah, a taxi! This'll get us to where we need to be!" Professor Hatfield said as a taxi pulled up to the curb. He opened the door for Lorelie and she climbed in while he and the taxi driver loaded the suitcases into the trunk.
"Kings Cross." He said to the driver. The driver grunted and slipped back into the car. Professor Hatfield sat next to Lorelie. "It shouldn't be too long of a ride."
"I don't mind it. London is so pretty---it's snowing!"
A little while later, Lorelie and Professor Hatfield arrived at Kings cross station and took the train out to Hogsmede. As promised, a horseless carriage waited for Lorelie, and she and the professor said their goodbyes.
"I'll see you in a little while, Lorelie!" he said. She waved goodbye out the window of the carriage before turning around.
Hogwarts was amazing. Lorelie had never seen a castle before (besides the one at Disney Land) and she was astonished. The carriage left her at the front of the school and she climbed out to be greeted by a wizened old man with a long, white beard.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Lorelie asked.
He nodded, a twinkle in his eye.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Lorelie. Your mother has told me quite a bit about you."
"She has?" Lorelie blushed.
"Indeed. Come in, come in."
"Thank you."
Lorelie stepped inside Hogwarts and immediately felt the warmth from the school.
"You will need to be sorted before you are placed into a house. Did your school have houses?"
"No," Lorelie said. She followed professor Dumbledore down the stone corridors until they reached a majestic gargoyle.
"Licorice Shoelaces!" Professor Dumbledore said and the gargoyle lept aside, allowing them to pass. "There are four houses. Your mother was a Ravenclaw, I believe. She was with us for her sixth and seventh years."
"I didn't know she was here for two years."
"Oh, yes. She quite enjoyed her stay."
"How will I be sorted?"
"Ah, a very good question, Lorelie."
They had entered Dumbledore's office and he led her to a stool in the middle of the room. Lorelie sat down and before she could look around she felt a heavy weight placed on her head.
"You're from the States, are you? Interesting…Interesting….."
"Who are you?"
"I am the Sorting Hat." The hat said proudly. It had a creaky, moldy voice.
"Oh!"
"Let's see, let's see….You're smart like your mother. Perhaps Ravenclaw…But you're adventurous, bold, and brave…the makings of a Gryffindor…And, Ah, You have a secret, too."
"You won't tell anyone—"
"No, no, no. Hmmm…Let's see…You're a bit sly, but a loyal friend—trustworthy. But I do think that you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat shouted the last word and professor Dumbledore removed the hat from Lorelie's head.
"Is that good?" She asked.
"I was in Gryffindor myself when I was a student, but now is not a time for reminisquing. You have housemates to meet.
Dumbledore led Lorelie back down the stairs to the corridore where she had left her things. A girl with brown hair waited there, a smile on her face.
"This is Hermione Granger. She's a prefect, and she will take you to your room."
"Hello, Lorelie," she said, holding out her hand
"Um, hello," Lorelie responded. She shook Hermione's hand and the two began walking. Dumbledore disappeared into his office.
"You're from the United States?"
"Yes, California."
"Do you have family here?"
"Only my great-grandmother, but I've never met her." Lorelie answered. It was true, her great grandmother lived somewhere outside of England.
"Do you think you'll meet her while you're here—Oh, let me help you with that suitcase." Hermione took one of Lorelie's bags, lightening her load.
"Thank you. So when do classes start?"
"Well, the winter holiday doesn't end for another week. Professor McGonagal will have your schedule ready for you sometime before then. Meanwhile, I can show you around, if you'd like."
"I'd like that a lot, Hermione. Thank you." Lorelie smiled, and Hermione did too. She seemed like a really nice girl, and Lorelie hoped they could be friends. She was so nervous to be in a new school, especially one almost halfway around the world
They arrived in front of a statue of a large woman who asked for the password.
"Shakespeare." Hermione said, and the frame opened to reveal a large common room where three or four students were lounging or playing chess. The two boys playing chess looked up when they heard the door open and grinned.
"'Mione, where have you been?" The red-haired boy asked.
"Ron, Harry, this is Lorelie. She'll be staying at Hogwarts for the rest of the semester."
"Hello!" Said the dark haired boy. Lorelie thought she recognized him, but…
"Where are you from?" The red-haired boy asked.
"California," Lorelie answered.
"You're from the States?"
"No, Ron, she's from the other California." Hermione chided.
"You'll like it here," the dark-haired boy said. He must be Harry, Lorelie decided, and then it struck her—she had seen him in the papers. Harry Potter! She felt herself blush to be talking so casually with the boy who lived.
"Thank you, I think I will, too." Lorelie said, smiling.