They wait a little while before exiting the carriage, leaving their trunks behind, and for some of them, their pets as well. After the little stunt Ana pulled earlier Hecate wouldn't leave her side, and she was honestly kind of glad about it. She felt a little guilty about forgetting her familiar, but it wasn't just that. She was relieved and comforted by her presence in this strange territory.
Just as we file out of the train, a booming voice echoes across the platform, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on edge. "Firs' years, firs' years! This way!" Ana heard an accented voice yell out. She jumped a little, her heart racing a little at the flurry of movements going on around her. She tries to calm her nerves, hoping that no one else would notice.
The trio of best friends walk up to a giant, bear-like man, stumbling a little as he takes notice and gives them vigorous back pats. They speak amicably, Harry with enthusiasm and a sparkle in his eyes, a smiling curling on her own lips as Ana watches from afar. Her eyes grow distant as she thinks back to the people she had left behind, her mood drooping a little. Ana sighs, thinking of sword fights and festivities, the happy times between cabins as we fought over capture the flag, the food fights that Connor and Travis would throw, the books that she read rigorously with Annabeth, debating the contents and the reliability of the author. Helping Percy realize his feelings for Anna, and her him. Ana growing up with Luke, sneaking off through the strawberry fields in order to pranking his siblings in the dead of night, the daughter of Athena and son of Hermes, wreaking havoc. Comforting each other at the loss of our families – Ana having never met mine, and him losing a mother's mind and Thalia in one go. A cold dread settles in the pit of her stomach at how Ana lost her childhood love, angry that the gods manipulated him, and that he would never get to live to see how much his father loved him…
Ana's train of thought snaps back to the present as Harry calls her name, "L-luisa…?" He hesitates a little, making her smile softly at him as she walks up to the trio, her back stiff as she approach the giant man. "What's up, folks?"
Harry smiles at her timidly, motioning to the man, "This is Hagrid, he's the groundskeeper of Hogwarts…" he trails off, motioning towards Hagrid himself.
Ana holds out her hand for a handshake, "Hello Hagrid! Nice to meet you, the name is Analuisa."
He smiles at her hesitantly, seemingly unaccustomed to such interactions, or maybe it's just the fact she's a complete stranger. " 'Ullo, nice to meet ya, name's Hagrid, lemme know if ya need anything… a friend o' 'Arry's is a friend o' mine!" He smiles at Ana, his cheeks stained pink behind that beard of his. Ana grins, feeling back at home, her spine relaxing as she realize that he's no threat, which is just what she needed.
"So, 'Arry was just telling me you transferred, tha' right?" He looks at her curiously.
"Yes, sir! Does that mean as my first year here, I should head out with you or travel via carriage with the other students?" Motioning towards the loading station to head to the castle.
He scratches his head a little, as if trying to remember something, "I believe that tha' Professor McGonagall said somethin' about a student comin' with me to the boats. I suppose tha'll be you!"
Ana nods at him before looking at the others - Ginny, Luna, and Neville having left us long ago to join a carriage with their other friends. Ron's looking down at his shoes, frowning a little at the scuffed and worn shoes. Hermione has a thinking look on her face as she listens to the conversation, most likely curious about the decision made by the Deputy Headmistress. Harry looks at Ana with a look of what appears to be concern, for what, Ana is not sure.
Smiling at the three of them, she gives a short wave, "Well then, lady and gentlemen, looks like I'll be seeing you all on the other side." Winking at them, "I've got my own adventure to go on it appears. Hop into the carriage, kiddos, and I'll meet you for dinner."
Hagrid nods along, listening to the conversation as he continues to corral the first years towards him, counting them almost like a mother duck would check on her chicks. It was quite adorable.
Hermione smiles at her, "Well then, we'll see you in the Great Hall. I do so hope you'll be joining us in Gryffindor."
Ron snorts, "Blimey, 'Mione. I doubt she'll go anywhere, well, maybe Ravenclaw." He wrinkles his nose at Ana playfully, "Sure seems like a bookworm, considering how well both of you get along." He follows up with a shrug, "As long as you're not a snake, I think we'll be alright. Or a 'Puff."
Harry looks at Ana, his head tilted just the slightest bit, "We'll meet you there, save you a spot." At that, they begin to walk away, Harry lingering behind, clearing his throat, a blush creeping up his neck, "Er, um, it'll be okay, ya know? You may have to do the beginning of your 'adventure' alone, but we'll be there for the rest of it, yeah?" He runs a hand through his hair, a nervous habit.
In the span of a couple hours, and one awful interaction with Dementors later, Harry feels like family to Ana. More so than the others. It's interesting. It's… nice. Sooner than she expected.
Patting his shoulder, Ana leans over and kiss him on the cheek, "Thanks Har-Bear." She winks at him, teasing him the slightest bit, like Ana would do – did - with Percy.
His blush deepens, making him nod in a jerking manner, "And, uh, it doesn't matter what house you end up in. Ron's a bit of a prat sometimes. I'll still talk to you."
Chuckling, Ana pushes him slightly towards the other two, "Shoo, before you miss your carriage. I'll see you there."
Nodding he leaves, walking fast to catch up to Hermione and Ron who immediately lean over and ask him what that was about, hearing their voices in the wind. Ana watches them climb into a carriage, the skeleton-like creatures pulling them off into the distance. Sighing, she turns back towards Hagrid just to see his eyes on her, making Ana startle just the tinniest bit. She looks back into his eyes, feeling as if he's searching for her soul, her very being. Whatever he finds leaves his eyes sad, an almost sense of understanding within them. He opens his mouth to say something, but instead he stops and clears his throat, nodding, "Well! Looks like you're all here, so let's get going! Ta the docks!"
From there he leads the children to the docks, and she take the tail, making sure no one stays behind, a hand on her dagger and the other gripping her wand as Ana feels a cold creep over her. By the time it settles in her stomach Hagrid is directing the children on loading up the boats, 4 to each, and as we both help them time moves quickly. Besides herself, there's an even number of students, loading perfectly into the boats, leaving two behind for myself and Hagrid.
"Go on, hop in. I need one all ta maself," he chuckles slightly. "I'll be with you all shortly, I'm gonna pick up the tail and make sure none of ya fall over."
Nodding, Ana climbs into the boat, feeling the magic embedded within it as we all begin to float across the lake. Slowly but surely, the castle appears in the distance, making her look in awe at the architecture, the aura, that radiates from within the walls. The golden hue gives an appearance of warmth and comfort, a place one could call home.
We reach the castle in no time, thankfully, no children fell into the lake.
On the steps ahead of us is an older woman, her hair gray streaked hair in a tight bun as she stands before us in her teaching robes.
"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.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. 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, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
At that she leaves and enters the Great Hall, a hush falling over the first years. The silence is deafening, if only for a little before their little whispers begin to fall around her. Ana takes in the stone arches around her, the shining knights standing tall in the hallway, the beautiful tapestries hanging from high on the wall. Annabeth would love this place… And Luke. Ana could already see the little nooks and crannies he could've hidden himself within.
Ana sighs and tries to push the memories from her mind, and just in time, as the doors to the Great Hall open up, and the professor beckons us inside, leading us down the middle and in front of a stool with a wrinkled leather hat on top of said stool.
Whispers break out across the hall, and while some sound like those of the first years, full of curiosity about the incoming students. She could tell that a larger portion of them was curious about the 15-year-old standing behind them, guarding their backs.
Professor McGonagall steps forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she says. At that, Ana zones out, merely keeping an ear out for when her name was called.
The Great Hall was magnificent, the magic was just pouring from all around Ana, she could feel it on her skin and deep within herself. Her core was happy, almost purring like a cat. Ana feels Hecate wake from the nap she was taking around her neck, but rather than appearing, she too rests and soaks in the magical surroundings. Ana looks at the five tables in the hall, four being the houses, each with distinguishing groups of people. The fifth appears to be the head table, and right smack in the middle is Gandalf the Great in bright purple robes.
Ana chuckle to herself, her internal monologue cracking her up, per usual. When she comes to again, she realizes that the last student is on the stool and she's standing by herself. Shrugging, Ana smile and clap as the Hat announces the final student to be placed in Hufflepuff. Whispers break out again as everyone realizes the new girl is the last one left.
Gandalf stands up from his throne and clears his throat, somehow making everyone shush at the mere action. "Good evening, everyone. Before we proceed with tonight's feast, there is one new student that I would like to introduce. She comes to us from America and will be joining us as a fifth year. Please give her a warm welcome!"
Slowly a confused applause arrives from within the crowd, only a few pairs of hands sounding confident in their clapping.
Ana looks into Professor McGonagall eyes as she announces her name, the Hall now extremely quiet, enough so that you could hear a pin drop. And almost like a flip of the switch, she seems to make the connection to her name.
"Analuisa… Black."
And somehow, the room got even quieter than before.
ayo
there's one section in italics, and whenever i do that, that means it's taken from the original work.
cool, thanks
oterol
