The change was subtle but noticeable. The way the atmosphere seemed to grow thick as the train pulled into the station. The older students were all restrained excitement and eager chatter, but the younger ones seemed to hold back. The excitement still there, but coming alongside anxious fidgeting. Nervous glances to parents were met with smiles and nods. One last bit of reassurance for the road. Azalea however did none of that. A Head of House did not fidget. Instead she stood, eyes on the horizon, with her back ramrod straight, trying to appear above it all.
She wished her aunty were here. She could almost see the expression she would be wearing, unimpressed, and slightly disappointed with the whole affair. Azalea tried to adopt the expression herself but didn't feel she quite managed it. Aunty Lestrange was in a class of her own, and it didn't help that Azalea was actually quite impressed. The train was a beautiful thing. Even after such a long trip it still glowed, not a speck of dirt to be found.
When it finally came to a stop Azalea didn't hesitate. Walking confidently up to the ticket master, she handed him her ticket, and made her way to the last car on the train. Only once she was alone in the booth, bags neatly stowed away, did she allow herself to relax. The oppressive happiness had been getting to her more than she would show. The smiles and open laughter had crawled like ants across her skin. The only thing that had kept her grounded was the knowledge she repeated over and over, they are not here. Still, if she listened close she could almost hear the rustle of cloth, the rasping breath of her jailors coming for a feast. Locking the door and removing her grimoire Azalea settled in for a long ride. She told herself she would spend that time studying the intricate rune work of each spell. Memorizing the layout of the book so she could quickly access anything she needed in the future. What she actually ended up doing was simply staring out the window and basking in the vastness of it all. For the first time in her life, she was truly free. She had known that when she left the hellish tower. Had known for days that this was the beginning of everything, but only in that moment, staring out over the rolling hills did it truly sink in. This was a moment she didn't want to escape from. Didn't want to get lost in the many possibilities of her future, all of which were better than her now. This was the place she wanted to be. And it was the place she was supposed to be. She could see it clear as day in the falling of the leaves or the flight of the birds. Every sign she could see told her only good things would come today. So when she heard a polite tapping on her car door she opened it without a thought.
Standing on the other side was a small first year with bushy brown hair. Hermione Granger her mind provided. She had seen her many times. The girl was a close friend of her brothers, or at least she would be. "Have you seen a toad around here anywhere? Nevil lost him somewhere on the train."
Azalea simply stared for a moment, too caught up in how odd it was to actually be a part of something she had seen so many times before. Almost in a daze, she pointed back down the way she had come. "Six cars down, third door on your right." Thanking her, the small girl turned on her heel and headed off to collect a toad and in the process stumble across a pair of boys playing a game of wizard chess. A passing comment, an angry challenge, and an hour later two friends would become three. She knew that if she walked down there right now it would be playing out exactly as she had always seen it. But she wouldn't. She hadn't then, and she wouldn't now because these things could be fragile. Everything could change with the slightest nudge. So instead she sat back in her seat and watched as the world passed by in waves of color. Soon things would be crowded and loud. Best to enjoy the time she had to herself.
Arriving at the castle proper Azalea ignored the calls for the first years to get on the boats, instead choosing the much quieter, much less wet, carriages that the older students were placed on. Stepping into the first one she saw, she waited for her three companions to join her.
Three girls filed in, laughing and talking. Two wore bright red and gold ties, while the third had a yellow and black one. They were so caught up in their own conversation it took almost half the ride for one of them to notice that the fourth person in the carriage with them was not someone they recognized. "Excuse me," one girl said, in a much more polite tone than the one she had used with her friends. "I'm sorry I don't believe we've met. My name is Gabriella, but you can just call me Gabby. And those two," she said motioning to the two across from her, "are Piper and Brooke."
Closing her book so as not to appear rude Azalea offered a hand to the not quite stranger. "Azalea," she said, by way of introduction.
"That's a pretty name. Does it mean anything"
"It's just a flower. My mother's family names all their girls after them." She tried not to make a face at the statement but clearly, she was unsuccessful.
"Well, at least you got a cool one. It could have been a lot worse," Piper said. "So are you new here or what? I know I would have remembered a girl with hair that long." The comment was made with an appreciative glance at the waterfall of red curls that spilled out around her
"I am. This will actually be my first time attending any sort of magical institution." Glancing between the three she asked in a soft tone, "Do you have any pointers?" That was all it took to send the three of them off on one story after another about what to do, and where to go, and who to avoid along the way. Azalea, not being the greatest at conversations was content to simply sit back and listen to the ramblings of the people she would one day call her best friends.
Arriving at the castle gates the three girls began filing out of the carriage to join their house in the great hall but stopped as the small redhead had simply opened her book once again to continue reading just as they had found her.
"Are you coming inside?" Gabby asked, frowning in worry at the smaller girl. "You can sit with us until you're sorted."
"Forget that," Piper said pushing past her friend. "You don't want to hang out with a bunch of obnoxious lions. You can sit with me."
Azalea's eyes softened at the familiar banter, but she waved a hand in dismissal. "They'll be sending someone out to fetch me in a bit here. I'm sure I'll see you all soon." The three exchanged glances, and a bit more token resistance but eventually they left.
Nearly twenty minutes later Azalea looked up as someone moved in front of the carriage lantern, throwing a shadow over her book. In front of her stood an old, stern-looking woman in dark green robes.
"Ms. Potter I presume."
"Lady Potter," Azalea corrected, flashing her house ring. "Now if you would be so kind professor McGonagall, I do believe they are waiting for us."
She could see the woman was taken aback for a moment before a scowl replaced the confusion and she set off at a brisk pace towards the enormous doors. By the time they made it to the great hall, she could hear the headmaster through the thick wooden doors just finishing up his speech.
"-have one more student to sort before the feast can begin. She will be joining the fourth-year class. Treat her kindly as she learns the ropes. Azalea Potter!"
Azalea's heart was in her throat. She never thought this moment would be so terrifying but standing there she wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Instead, she did what Aunty Lestrange taught her to do when it all got too much. She let that cold emptiness of Azkaban seep slowly into her until it was all that remained. She had been worried that this far away from the constant drain of the dementors there would be so much inside her that it would be impossible to drown it all, but she had been wrong. It seemed some things once taken never quite grew back. So by the time the door opened, hundreds of curious gazes all straining to get a glimpse of the convict, all they found were pale green eyes, as cold and unfeeling as the sea.
The hall was quiet as she walked down the long rows of tables, steps echoing through the room, to the sorting hat. Sitting primly as she had been taught, she gazed out over students not allowing her eyes to rest on anyone for too long. Their faces ranged from fascination to horror to disgust. And sprinkled throughout were little dots of confusion about who this person was. She knew those would all be mud-bloods, too new to the wizarding world to have learned about the seven-year-old that burned her family alive and was locked away for it. It was a mercy when the hat was finally placed on her head, its brim falling to cover her eyes.
"Interesting," it said, the voice echoing through her head. "It has been a long time since I have met a seer so talented at such a young age. But of course you knew that."
"Let's get this over with, hat. We both know where I'm going."
The chuckle of genuine amusement set her teeth on edge. "But you don't know why little seer. And isn't that the most important part?"
"I'm sure you have a point somewhere."
"You can hide behind that bravado all you like with others, but it's worth less than nothing with me."
"Enough! Every second you sit here silently paints me worse in their eyes." Azalea had noticed the black mold in the cracks of the old carriage floor. Their judgment and fear would only fester if left unchecked. Even now she could feel the weights of the judging gazes even if she could not see them. And still the hat remained silent. It knew where she would go as well as she did. It should also know whatever twisted attempt at punishment this was would not work. She had stared into the soulless maw that devoured the very joy of one's heart. She would not flinch under the hateful stares of children.
"This is not a punishment." The amusement in his voice was gone, replaced by a weary sadness. "I just… well I think this place will be good for you. I hope you will let them help you and let yourself help them. I know you will do great things in 'Hufflepuff!'"
There's a stillness in the hall as it seemed no one had quite expected that outcome. It was broken by a shriek of victory by a certain black-haired girl, which seemed to shake the house out of its stupor. Slowly at first, then growing in volume the house of yellow and black cheered for their newest arrival.
Standing from the stool that was really far too tall for first years, or fourth years with somewhat stunted growth as the case may be, Azalea made her way down towards the table with her head held high, eyes on the horizon. Sitting next to Piper she was not expecting the enthusiastic hug or the excited exclamations of how she knew Azalea would never end up with the lions and their clashing colors. It made something warm start to rise in her chest, and for the first time in a long time, she didn't want to shove it back down.