Their arrival at Hogwarts could only be described as chaotic. Maribella and her friends were hit by an avalanche of students, who all hurried off the train. A very large man, whom Harry was clearly familiar with, guided the younger students down a narrow path which he barely seemed to fit in. Maribella gulped loudly as she trailed behind Ron and Harry. The path was dark and uninviting, dripping with unseen danger. Menacing trees framed every curve and no sound could be heard over the roar of the wind. Except for the occasional sniff coming from one of the faceless children, but Maribella paid no mind to that. She hated the dark, she wasn't particularly fond of forests, and together, the two made an ominous combination. A howl was heard, and Maribella moved to grasp anything that indicated that she was not alone, helpless, or in imminent danger. She ended up gripping Harry's shoulder, who looked startled at her touch, as he had been intently following the group. She tried to play it cool, awkwardly patting his arm, as if brushing some dirt off it. She must have imagined the howl, then, as the children who surrounded her walked in imperturbable tranquility. Still, it was only when the trees parted to make way for a vast lake that Maribella was able to once again breathe properly.
In a chorus of Oooohs and Aaaahs and Woooows, the students made their way towards a fleet of boats that lay waiting on the shore, boarding four at a time. Maribella went with Harry and Ron. The three of them sat comfortably, before being joined by Hermione. Maribella , Ron and Harry shared a look but said nothing.
"Everyone in?" shouted the giant man, who had a boat to himself. "Right then- FORWARD!"
The boats simultaneously started gliding across the lake. A huge castle triumphed over the black water, and the children marvelled at it. Maribella , after feeling so claustrophobic in the forest, warmly welcomed the freeing atmosphere brought by the lake. She too looked upon it and marvelled at its daunting structure.
The boats eventually reached an underground harbour, and everyone eagerly hopped off. They clambered up a rocky passageway following the giant's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the front door as the giant knocked. The thump echoed for a few seconds before the doors screeched open.
Standing in the doorway in front of them was a tall, stern-looking woman in emerald-green robes, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun. She radiated with authority, and when she spoke, her voice seemed to resonate beyond normal.
"Thank you Hagrid," she addressed the giant, as she moved to let the students enter. "I will take them from here."
Maribella walked in with the other students. The inside of the castle looked just as wonderful as the outside. The ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper were torches lit along the stone walls, illuminating an entrance hall so big, Maribella could probably run around it in her werewolf-form for hours before getting caught. The thought made her fidget uncomfortably for a second. But who could stay upset at Hogwarts? Certainly not her.
She walked slowly, trying to touch every surface she could reach, be it wall, floor or tapestry, not really believing she was actually there. The woman, who Maribella learned to be Professor McGonagall, went on to introduce the school and its four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff. Maribella already knew where she'd be sorted. Hufflepuff. Her mother had been a Hufflepuff, and honestly, where else would Maribella go? Slytherins were ambitious, and the only thing Maribella aspired to be was well-fed. Besides, the single goal she had had, had been achieved; she was already at Hogwarts, and for now, that was good enough. Ravenclaws, from what she knew, would much rather stay inside and finish a book than attend a Quidditch final or just play out in the sun. So, definitely not her. Gryffindors were brave and, well, these days she felt anything but. So what was left? Boring Hufflepuff, who accepted everyone and anyone.
She sighed loudly. McGonagall left the room, and she turned to Ron and Harry, just as the latter asked: "How exactly do they sort us into houses?"
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking," Ron answered.
"My Mama said it's just an old hat that sorts us," Maribella chimed, noticing how nervous Harry looked.
"Blimey, I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll," Ron muttered back. Maribella laughed at that, but her dark-haired friend still looked scared.
"What happens if I'm not suited for any?" Harry asked.
"Then you're sent back home on the train." Maribella grinned at him. Of course, her words didn't help appease the boy's fears, and he now looked like he was about to pass out. "Oh Harry, I'm just joking. Don't worry about it, I don't think anyone is unsortable." She was quick to assure him, feeling slightly guilty.
He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by a shriek, coming from one of the nearby students. They turned around, to find twenty ghosts hovering above their heads, talking to one another. Maribella looked around excitedly. She had read about ghosts, categorized as Spirits by the Ministry, but had never seen one in person. From all the creatures her mother had brought home, a ghost had never been one of them. She had spent a short while studying them, but decided to focus on beasts, as they, for the better part, were irrational and wouldn't get offended by labels and all the surveillance.
"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts left, passing through one of the walls. "We're ready for you now," the Professor said to the students. They walked back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Even after all the descriptions her parents had given her, Mari was completely overwhelmed by the sight of the hall. Larger than any of the other chambers she had briefly seen, the Great Hall could only be described as palatial. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables. She took in the enchanted ceiling that mirrored the starry sky outside, and decided she had never seen something so rest of the students were already sitting down, chatting with their peers, and turning around to see the first years come in. At the top of the hall was another long table which was lined with, presumably, the teachers and staff. There was a wooden stool in front of the room, a sagging witch hat perched on top of it, just like Mrs. Piccinni had said.
She turned to Harry to point out that fact, but the boy was entranced by the school, and after her not so well received joke, she wasn't too willing to disturb him. Instead, she directed her attention to the old hat. It twitched, and through a rip near its brim, it began to sing.
Now, Maribella was fascinated by all-things-Hogwarts. But she couldn't help letting her eyes wander as the hat sang. Honestly, song-form or not, the four-houses talk was getting hackneyed. She took the time to examine each table, each ghost, each student (or as many as she could), and soon it was officially time to be sorted.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
And off Hannah Abbott went. She promptly sat on the seat and put the hat on her head. It covered her eyes, nearly swallowing her whole. A moment passed.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. Maribella watched the young girl run towards the yellow-infested table, wondering if she'd soon be joining her. A few more students were called up. Notably, Granger, Hermione went to Gryffindor, and the pale blonde boy she had met on the train, Malfoy, Dragon, or something equally as weird, went to Slytherin. Hufflepuff was looking better and better by the second.
Perks, Sally-Anne was called, and then at last "Piccinni, Maribella ."
The children surrounding her parted ways so she could come through. She felt all eyes on her, some with mild interest, most with boredom. She concentrated hard on not falling on her face. Step, step, step, pause, turn, sit. This is it, she thought, this is finally it. She closed her eyes as the hat slid down her face, coming to rest on the bridge of her nose.
"A werewolf, huh," a voice immediately said in her ear. "I've sorted one of those before. Very, very interesting."
She felt her heartbeat speed up.
"You've been thinking about… Hufflepuff? No, no. Though loyalty is striking in your heart, your values do not align with the house's principles. I see, however, a touch of recklessness in you. Why, of course, given your history. Loyal and daring- better be GRYFFINDOR."
She took off the hat and stood up quickly and instantly felt dizzy. So not Hufflepuff, then, but Gryffindor. Gryffindor, she thought. A smile crept up on her face, and she laughed loudly. Not that anyone could hear over the enthusiastic claps. She felt so happy she didn't even hesitate to sit next to Hermione when the girl offered her the seat.
Potter, Harry, was called and everyone was immediately silenced.
"Potter, did she say?" somebody asked, and the whispers broke out. Maribella squinted her eyes at her friend. She knew him from somewhere, that was for sure. She had known from the second they met. But… from where?
Suddenly she had an epiphany. The werewolf who had bitten her. You-Know-Who. The Boy Who Lived. She had previously blocked anything war-related from her life, as had her parents, because it just brought on too many negative emotions and horrible, horrible memories. She barely remembered hearing about him, which explained why she took her time realizing what he had done for the wizarding world.
Everyone watched the boy expectantly. Finally, a good few minutes later, the hat announced: GRYFFINDOR.
The table erupted in cheers, the loudest ones yet, with Maribella leading them all. A number of people got up to greet Harry as he approached, and he struggled to fight his way to where Maribella was sitting.
"How did your Sorting go?" she asked as he finally sat down next to her. After realizing who he was, she was now inspecting him closer.
"Fine," he said, grinning. For some reason, he looked more relieved than anything.
Out of their trio, Ron was the last to go. He was pale and green when the hat fell over his head. He hadn't needed to worry, though. Mere seconds after it was placed on his head, the hat shouted GRYFFINDOR, and Ron joined them at their table. He too received a few welcomes, all from a handful of redheads. He sat down opposite Maribella and Harry.
"Aye Ron," Maribella high-fived him across the table. "Nearly a hatstall," she joked with the boy, who laughed along with her.
Hermione, who Maribella had forgotten for a few pleasant minutes, shushed them loudly as the Headmaster spoke a few odd words ("Is he mad?" Harry asked) and food magically appeared. Maribella saw several types of meats, different styles of potatoes, steamed vegetables, plenty of sauces and even some sort of peppermint candy. She silently thanked Merlin for the fact that tonight wasn't a full moon; she didn't know what she would've done if she missed this wonderful feast.
"I didn't know you were a Piccinni." Ron struck up a conversation, halfway through the meal. "You're Italian, aren't you?"
"Well, half-Italian. Or maybe a quarter Italian. I don't really know. But, um, yes?" Maribella replied uncertainly.
"That's wicked!" he exclaimed, "I've never met someone from another country!"
"Ron," said Seamus Finnigan a few seats down the table. "I'm literally Irish."
Paying no mind to the interruption, Ron continued, "Your father makes wine, doesn't he? My parents have a bottle stored at home, for special occasions. Your wine is pretty good."
"And you've tried it, have you?" Maribella raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't," Ron replied cheerfully, "but Fred and George, they're my brothers, you see, have, and they've told me it's wicked good."
"Your brothers sound brilliant," Maribella laughed.
"They're a'ight," Ron grumbled. Maribella gave him a strange look and turned to Hermione, who was in deep conversation with Percy Weasley, another one of Ron's brothers. She was sitting close to the Yorkshire pudding that Maribella craved. Before she could ask, though, the plate disappeared, making way for ginormous bowls of jelly, a diverse selection of pastries, and some fruit.
At last, the desserts too disappeared, and the headmaster got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils- no magic should be used between classes in the corridors - 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."
Harry laughed nervously and Maribella elbowed his side.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" the teacher announced, and in a melodic cacophony, everyone started singing the anthem. After that, they were all sent to bed.
Maribella strategically chose her bed in the girl's dorm. She picked one close to the window, but far enough so she wouldn't get cold at night, and close to the restroom, but far enough to not be affected by the lovely smell that would eventually come from the room. Her bed was also the furthest away from Hermione's.
"Here you go," said Parvati Patil, one of her roommates, handing Maribella her trunk. A neatly-folded piece of paper, that both girls had failed to notice until then, floated down to the floor, and Parvati bent down to retrieve it, reading the note in the process.
"Professor McGonagall wants to see you first thing in the morning tomorrow," Parvati told her, finally giving her her belongings. "Why?"
Maribella shrugged, even though she did have an idea of what was going to be discussed the next morning; her werewolf problem, which she wasn't about to share with the other girl. Maribella examined the note, trying to see if there was anything else written on it, but there wasn't and she put it down. She got ready for bed and settled under the covers, tired from the day's events, and wishing morning would come faster so she could finally start her life at Hogwarts.
A/N: So,(surprise, surprise) Maribella went to Gryffindor. Even though it is very cliche, I do think it fit her well. Regarding the story, I'm very excited to see it develop, and in total it will be having around 12 chapters (with at least a few thousand words each. Trust me, it's a lot more than it sounds). I know the first few chapters aren't the best, but I just needed to set the story; introduce my character to the original plot, establish the context, etc etc. I hope you choose to give it a try, and I cannot wait for the next few chapters, which are probably some of my favorite!
Any thoughts?