There were so many. So many faces she hadn't prepared to see, alive and well. They were so young, so excited, so carefree.
Eva had spent the entire boat ride, squeezed in with Blaise, Neville and Hermione, desperately trying to prepare herself for her first glimpse of the castle. Images of smoking ruins and spellfire constantly flashed through her mind. Screams of her friends echoing. So much death and destruction had occured inside those stone walls.
But she had to go back. She had to.
As the little fleet of boats glided across the lake, moonlight bouncing from the clear water, Eva used every ounce of occlumency possible to steady her mind. I am as calm as the water beneath me. Slowly but surely, as the short boat ride progressed, Eva began to feel calm and determined once more. Her worries securely shut away in separate compartments in her mind, she allowed herself to smile as they turned a smooth corner of the lake, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came into view.
Perched atop a high mountain, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Home, thought Eva. I'm home.
Before she knew it, or was even really ready for it, the boats had docked at the castle edge, and it was time to continue with her plan. Stepping out of the unsteady boat, she accepted the outstretched arm of Blaise to steady herself when hitting land. Meeting up with the rest of the boat, with Susan looking notably greener, they walked together up a flight of stone steps, coming to a stop in front of the castle entrance.
"Everyone here? Yeh' all ready?" questioned Hagrid, grinning down at the first years.
Receiving a chorus of nods in return, Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the large oak door. The door swung open at once, revealing a much loved figure.
A tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood to greet the new students. Her expression was stern but warm, immediately curbing any desires for rebellion from any of the young students. Gods, I've missed McGonagall.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." greeted Hagrid, gesturing with a large hand towards the children behind him.
"Yes, thank you, Hagrid. I will take it from here." she replied, her voice firm and clear, her strong Scottish accent bleeding through the words.
She pulled the oak doors open wider, gesturing for the students to enter the large hall behind them. The walls were adorned with flaming torches, not unlike those at Gringotts, with the Entrance Hall filled with marble staircases and high ceilings. It made Eva's little room at the Leaky Cauldron seem miniscule.
The small group followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor, eagerly listening to the loud hum of chatter through the stone walls. Eva knew that the other six year groups of the school sat on the other side, impatiently waiting for both the new students to be sorted, and the magnificent feast after it.
Professor McGonagall led them through to an empty chamber, just off to the side from the entrance hall, and looked down at them, immediately ceasing any chatter that had begun.
"'Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room."
"Fingers crossed for Slytherin" whispered Blaise beside her, smirking at her.
"You're a total Hufflepuff." retorted Eva, grinning at her new friend. "Don't deny it."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup. I hope each of you will be a credit to your house. The sorting ceremony will take place in a few moments. Do try and smarten yourselves up."
With a small sigh, McGonagall left the chamber, closing the door swiftly behind her. At once, an excited chatter broke out around the room. Neville hastily attempted to fix his cloak, which had been fastened around his right ear. Ron was trying to wipe a smudge of dirt from his nose. Eva quickly checked that her hair was smooth (as Potter hair could get, anyway) and straightened her tie.
She couldn't help but wonder what colour it would be tomorrow morning. Would it be the bold scarlet of Gryffindor, as it had always been? Or would it be Ravenclaw? She certainly had much to learn, if she were going to execute her plan perfectly. Eva thought it was unlikely to be Hufflepuff - she was far too bold and frankly, she knew that she could be unkind. As a teenager, she had frequently, as the muggles said, put her foot in her mouth.
And what of Slytherin? She wasn't a Pureblood, sure, but she was Head of a Most Ancient and Noble house. She followed wizarding traditions and festivals. She was ambitious. But no, Slytherin was very much out of her comfort zone. Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, she decided. Either would do.
Feeling just as nervous, if not even more, than her first sorting ceremony, the first years followed Professor McGonagall through the Great Hall. One immediate difference that Eva had noticed was one Hermione Granger. During her original timeline, Hermione had been storming through the castle, eagerly telling anyone every scrap of knowledge she had accumulated, desperately trying to fit in. Now, however, she was sandwiched between Susan Bones and Padma Patil, eagerly discussing the bewitched ceiling with each other. There was no teasing, no awkward laughter. Just three excited eleven year olds.
Eva was lost in her thoughts, already comparing the changes she had made, when she was momentarily distracted by the sorting hat. McGonagall had placed the patched, frayed hat on a small stool in front of the teacher's table, and seemed to be waiting patiently. Sure enough, a large rip above the brim of the hat opened wide, and it began it's song.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.
You may belong in each of four, a relic of the past,
But put me on, you'll sure to find, you'll always have a blast!
Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Eva felt her blood run cold as she watched the hat finish it's song. She had remembered, of course, bits of her original sorting song. Whilst it wasn't a word-for-word memory, the bit about 'a relic of the past' was definitely not in her original song. Eva could only assume that she was the 'relic of the past'. Did that mean she belonged in any of the four houses?
Professor McGonagall's call of "Abbott, Hannah" started the sorting ceremony. Eva was struck by how small her year was - she had remembered watching the year groups grow bigger and bigger as she had progressed through the school.
Shaking away the thought - there was no point spending energy wondering what could have been - Eva turned her attention back to the sorting.
"Bones, Susan" was called.
Eva watched with interest as the first of her friends was sorted. The young redhead had placed the sorting hat on her head, and after what appeared to be a small argument, was declared a "Hufflepuff!".
Eva clapped for her friend, and watched the sorting with mild interest - she knew where most were going, after all - until the next of her friends were sorted.
When "Granger, Hermione" was called up, Eva once more set her concentration fully on the sorting. She remembered a conversation, back when they were on the run, when Hermione had discussed her sorting with him. She'd admitted that she was almost a hat stall, between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Would Hermione still be a Gryffindor?
The sorting hat puffed up almost comically on top of Hermione's curled hair, and she sat eagerly with the hat speaking to her. Hermione seemed to be having a rather fierce argument with the hat, but eventually, she sighed and nodded.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced.
Eva felt her jaw drop in shock. Hermione, a muggleborn, in Slytherin? Her lovely, sweet best friend, kind to all living beings? However, when Eva began to think back over their adventures, she realised that many of Hermione's actions were very Slytherin indeed.
Blackmailing Rita Skeeter, and keeping her trapped in a jar, for one.
So why had Hermione not been a Slytherin originally? Eva wondered if it was down to Ron's first influence, or maybe even Malfoy's prattish first impression.
The applause from Slytherin house was muted, but still somewhat present. Hermione had taken a seat at the edge of the table, biting her lip as she looked around the Great Hall.
"Longbottom, Neville."
Her shy, pudgy friend was sorted rather quickly, his cheeks reddening as he was loudly declared a Gryffindor and wandered over to the table to thunderous applause.
Eva watched the Patil sisters become upset as Pavarti went to Gryffindor, whilst Padma went to Ravenclaw. Eva was determined to not allow the same divide this time.
It didn't take long before "Potter, Evangelina" was called. She could feel the eyes of every person in the room settle on her, a twinkling blue set in particular. In fact, Dumbledore had watched her all night, not yet able to approach but obviously planning and scheming.
Eva walked resolutely towards the stool, taking a seat and placing the sorting hat on top of her head. There was a moment of pause.
"Ah, my relic of the past before me," said the hat. "It has been some time since I have sorted one touched by Death."
'You can see my past?' asked Eva.
"Past, present, future - however you choose to define it. I can see your previous Gryffindor nature, though I feel the brave may not hold what you desire now."
'Then where? Ravenclaw?' questioned Eva.
"Alas, Ravenclaw would be a poor fit. You have a goal, and knowledge is not what you need. No, I believe you are in need of real friends."
'You're not wrong there.' muttered Eva, thinking of Ron's betrayal.
"Better be… Slytherin!" announced the hat loudly.
The entire hall immediately burst into chatter, before the Slytherin table began to cheer and clap loudly, whilst the response from the other houses was somewhat more… muted.
Nodding, Eva stood and walked over to the Slytherin table, sliding into her seat next to Hermione, who looked thoroughly relieved to have Eva by her side.
There was little surprise when "Zabini, Blaise" was immediately declared a Slytherin, and joined the girls by their seats. Eva could feel multiple pairs of eyes baring into her soul, one a twinkly blue, the other a steel grey. She turned her head to a few seats down, where the young Malfoy heir was watching her intently.
She could imagine his mixed reactions. He'd been impressed with her first meeting, back in Diagon Alley. He'd immediately seen her status, her money. Then he'd been conflicted, watching her consort with mudbloods and blood traitors. But then she'd been sorted into Slytherin - something nobody had predicted - and now was sitting just a few seats down from him.
Dumbledore's thoughts surrounding the girl were far more sinister. This was not what he had been expecting, what he had planned for. He'd planned for years, since the Potter girl was sent to Privet Drive on his orders. She was supposed to come to Hogwarts in awe of everything, having been kept away from magic. He hadn't known the Dursleys would be abusive, not until several reports came through from Arabella Figg, but by then it was too late. All that mattered was the blood wards staying active, keeping the girl-who-lived safe.
And she'd ruined it all. The child had no idea of what he was protecting her from, what he had planned for her. She'd been exposed to magic, and the blood wards had dropped, surely. And the Goblins! If he didn't need their banking services, he would have stormed down to Gringotts himself. How dare they allow the will to be unsealed! Did they not know how vital the Dursleys were to his plan?
And now she was free of him, a legal adult in their world. Titles and money to spare. Well, everyone would see how long she was free of him. He was the most famous wizard of his generation, and he had a plan. It was for the greater good, after all.
As the feast began, Dumbledore forced his attention away from the young Slytherin - he didn't want to draw attention to his interest - and sat down to a heaped golden plate.
"So, Eva... what subjects do you think you'll enjoy?" asked Hermione, spooning mashed potatoes onto her plate.
"I like Potions," shrugged Eva, smiling. "It's a bit like muggle Chemistry."
"Ooh! I like the idea of Transfiguration, personally. Changing one thing into another - it sounds fascinating!" gushed Hermione.
"Nobody cares, mudblood!" hissed a dark-haired figure, just down the table from the small group.
The table fell silent, and all eyes turned towards the speaker. Pansy Parkinson had been a difficult figure for Eva in her original life. The small, pug-nosed girl was vicious, but often childish, and wildly prejudiced. Could Eva change anything? Either way, she wasn't going to stand for it.
"How very clever of you, Parkinson," drawled Eva. "So original and thoughtful. Honestly, you'd think times would have moved on by now. The sorting hat is filled with magic from the founders. If Salazar Slytherin, one of the greatest minds, allowed a muggleborn to be sorted into his house, he clearly didn't support the 'blood purity' nonsense."
"It must have been a mistake!" spluttered Parkinson, cheeks turning pink. "He would never allow a mud-"
"Don't. Say. It. Again." interrupted Eva. Should I? It could backfire. Making her decision, Eva allowed a small burst of angry magic to escape her core, and those in her immediate vicinity shuddered slightly. "My mother was a muggleborn, you know, the one who gave me enough protection to defeat Lord Voldemort?"
Ignoring the gasps that went around the table, Eva continued. "If Slytherin house is where I'll find 'true friends', I hope they're not as prejudiced as you. Your arguments for superior blood are ridiculous. I am a half-blood. I follow the traditions. I will be celebrating Samhain, and you can bet I'll be teaching Hermione about it. We need to welcome muggleborns into our world, and teach them our customs - not ostracise them and isolate them."
The table was silent following her small rant, and for a second, Eva worried that she had gone too far. However, many of the faces at the table, young and old, were not angry, merely thoughtful - they had clearly been presented with information that had never been considered.
Satisfied, Eva helped herself to a small bowl of strawberry ice cream as the desserts were served. She nodded wordlessly to Hermione's thanks, and she knew that if she were to search for Hermione tomorrow, the muggleborn girl would be hidden in the library, researching any information she could find on Samhain.
When the telltale prickling in her scar came, Eva didn't even so much as look in Quirell's direction - she may not have made a plan for him yet, but this time, she had the knowledge. She certainly wouldn't be pinning his crimes on Severus Snape, this time around.
At last, the puddings too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The Hall fell silent. "Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Eva couldn't help but roll her eyes. Tell a young group of eager Gryffindors that something was banned, and expect them not to go there. Of course, that was probably the plan - he would be hoping that she, as she had originally, would be eager to discover the secret third corridor.
Dumbledore bid the four tables goodnight, and the prefects stood up to begin escorting the younger students towards the dungeons. Eva had only been in the dungeons once, during the disastrous polyjuice incident in her second year, so was keen to properly look around.
"Salazar's greatest" announced their leader, who was currently Head Girl.
The stone passageway moved, revealing a set of marbled stairs. The eager first years obediently followed the Head Girl down the stairs. Eva immediately grinned at the sight. The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs.
"Congratulations, and welcome to Slytherin house. My name is Gemma Farley, and I am Head Girl this year. There's a few things you should know about Slytherins. We may have produced our fair share of dark wizards and witches, but so has every other house. Slytherins are not evil. We are cunning, we are ambitious, and we are proud of it."
Eva saw several other older students nodding along.
"Secondly, we look after our own. Personally, I care little for blood status. Some of you will care. What matters is that to the others, we are united. Whatever squabbles you have between you, save it for the common room. Thirdly, the Bloody Baron - don't ask him how he got bloodstained, it's not worth the hassle. Finally, our Head of House is Professor Snape. He's not the most friendly, but he looks out for us. As long as you're not an idiot and you don't blow up cauldrons on a regular basis, you'll be fine."
Several fifth year students laughed knowingly at Gemma's statement. Finally, the Head Girl smiled slightly at them. "Your dormitories are down the stairs, girls on the left, boys on the right. Boys, don't even think about trying to get into the girls dorms - you'll receive a nice surprise if you do. Now, off to bed! You'll get your timetables in the morning."
The new Slytherins all nodded, and began to head towards the dormitory. Eva barely had time to process what was happening - it had been a long day, and she was full of heavy food and very tired. She entered the dormitory, selecting a bed under a large window, and Hermione quickly selected the bed closest to hers. Daphne Greengrass elected to choose the bed on the other side, with Parkinson and Bulstrode choosing two beds on the other side.
It didn't take long for Eva to fall asleep, the sounds of waves lapping against the window soothing her tired mind. She would deal with tomorrow's problems later, for now, it was time to rest.