Chapter 2: The Sorting
September 1st had finally arrived with the recent Death Eater attacks Cassandra was very nervous about sending her children to Hogwarts. Periwinkle stood with her family on the platform looking at Hogwarts Express in a bit of a deep thought about how her father could be a possible Death Eater. She was pulled out of this thought when her mom looked at her children then her husband and asked him, "Are you sure we should send them?"
He took her hand and looked into her eyes, "they will be perfectly fine at Hogwarts."
Periwinkle looked towards her mother and still trying to act brave, even though she was terrified by the fact that her birth father could be one of those people who performed those attacks at the World Cup, "yeah mom we will be fine."
Cassandra looked sighed looking towards her eldest, "please behave this year. I do not need to be getting letters from Dumbledore saying how you have not been acting correctly. He is doing us a great favor and accepting you, Hallie and Holly into the school even though you are not first years."
Periwinkle rolled her eyes at this comment, "I am perfectly capable of learning magic on my own. I do not need a school to teach me."
Her mother eyed her, "watch your tongue, young lady. You are a great witch…much better at making potions that performing spells correctly though," she sighed then hugged her, "I am going to miss you my darling. My first baby, I love you so much."
Periwinkle hugged her back and rested her head on her shoulder, "I love you too."
They all said their final goodbyes then Hallie, Holly, Mallory, and Periwinkle all boarded the train with the golden trio. Once on board, the four of them found their own compartment while the golden trio was in one next door to them. Hallie and Holly did not stay in the compartment long before deciding to go 'explore' which was really just an excuse for them to go find Draco and Fred. Periwinkle was looking out the window returning to her reoccurring thought of how she was possibly the daughter of a death eater, 'why would mom ever associate herself with someone that evil…I know she was a Slytherin but she was not friends with anyone in her house. Her own sister did not even like her.
"Hallie and Holly have been gone a while," Mallory commented bringing her sister out of her thought.
She looked at her small wristwatch, "I will go find them. Stay here but they probably ran into their love interest." Mallory nodded and remained seated as Periwinkle left to go find Holly first, figuring Hallie was fine but this Draco boy she did not trust at all especially from how everyone else talked about him.
She found Holly in the Slytherin area of the train talking with the Draco boy and some other Slytherin students who were clearly friends with him. One female student, in particular, was being very rude towards Holly and their family, "Such a disgrace to bring that kind into this world. Mudbloods disgusting," she snickered, "Oh that is right she adopted twin halfblooded babies."
This infuriated her making her step forward angrily, "What did you just call her?"
"Peri, it's…"
"She called you a mudblood."
"It is not the worst thing I have been called. Let's just leave it," she tried to pull her away.
She nodded and started to follow then turned and punched Pansy in the face, "Do not mess with me or my family, bitch!"
"Peri!" Holly said looking at Pansy screaming on the floor holding her nose this got the attention of the other Slytherins nearby
Periwinkle dragged Holly away from the forming crowd as they could hear Pansy saying through her cries, "That new girl with the black hair did it! She just hit me for no reason. She is crazy!"
"I cannot believe you just did that! Peri…Cassie told you to behave. We are going to be expelled now," she was in complete shock still, although this was not the first time Periwinkle had physically hurt someone. When they were at Ilvermorny Periwinkle was constantly in the headmaster's office having talks about her behavior, everyone is almost positive they kept her in the school due to her parents' position with the ministry.
"She deserved it, Holly. No one gets to call anyone in our family names like that and get away with it."
"Then tell a professor or someone that is an adult not take actions into your own hands."
"Sometimes you have to do things yourself if you want them done correctly," she told her as they reached their compartment again.
"Oh, good you found Holly!" Mallory said with a smile as Holly sat down next to her, "did you find Hallie?"
"No," Periwinkle said sitting down and looking out the window as Hallie's cat Diamond climbed into her lap. Mallory looked at her sister then Holly who shook her head telling Mallory to drop the discussion.
The rest of the train ride was very quiet between the three of them and Hallie never returned to them until they arrived at Hogwarts, "Ah, Hallie there you are," Mallory smiled as they climbed off the train. Hallie nodded with a soft smile to her younger sister then said goodbye to Fred, who she had been with this entire time.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" Hagrid called to everyone.
"Mallory, you go that way we will meet you in the great hall," Holly told her, and she went with the other first years.
They got into the carriages, but when they arrived Hallie, Holly, and Periwinkle were approached by Professor McGonagall, "Periwinkle King, Hallie Porter, and Holly Porter?" she asked looking up from the piece of parchment she had in her hand.
"Yes," Holly answered for the trio.
"Come with me. You will join the first-year students for their sorting ceremony."
"The first years but we are fourth- and fifth-year students," Hallie groaned, "this is not good for my image."
Holly and Periwinkle rolled their eyes as they followed McGonagall through the school and to the group of first-years waiting outside the great hall. McGonagall cleared her throat and spoke with the trio and the first-years. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your house. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." This got everyone excited especially the first-years, "We have two fourth-year transfer students and one fifth-year transfer student who will be sorted first then we will continue with the first-year students," with that the doors opened and they proceed into the hall. Once they reached the front of the hall, they all gathered around as close as they could with Hallie, Holly, and Periwinkle at the front.
Periwinkle was looking at the stormy ceiling when Holly gave a small tug on her arm, "Peri...that professor is staring at us," Holly whispered glancing at her then back at Snape.
She looked towards the professor who Holly was talking about. He immediately looked away from them which made her more curious about him. "Before we begin the sorting ceremony for our first-year students we are welcoming three new students from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We will begin with their sorting then will move onto the first-year students," she looked at the girls and first-years, "when I call your name you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat upon your head and you will be seated into your houses." She looked at her list, "Periwinkle King."
Periwinkle stepped forward with everyone watching her, the other professors had a look of confusion due to her strong resemblance towards Snape but they tried to hide it until she turned and the students at their tables began to whisper to one another. She knew something was going on otherwise their reactions would not be occurring. She took a seat on the stool and let out a deep breath as the hat was placed on her head, the sorting hat then called out, "Ah! Periwinkle King…this will certainly be a difficult placement. You share your mother's kindness for taking care of your family and those close to you. You are a very intelligent witch, perhaps Ravenclaw. You are also incredibly brave and stick up for those around you. You are ambitious, resourceful, and your family is extremely important to you. You are very much your mother's daughter. I also see similar traits to your father…"
"My father…you know who my father is."
"You share similar minds with both and for this, I think you do best in…" the sorting hat started, "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table cheered as she got off the stool and walked over to the table thinking about the sorting hat mentioning how she shared traits with her father and hinted at him being a Slytherin. She took a seat at the table, kind of close to Draco since there were not many available seats. She sort of paid attention to her sisters getting sorted into their houses. Hallie got Ravenclaw which was a complete shock since she really was not that bright of a witch while Holly and Mallory got Gryffindor. Periwinkle glanced at Draco as Holly was sorted into Gryffindor and the saddened expression on his face showed to her that he did truly actually like Holly. "You should not let your house determine your friendships," she told Draco while the others were distracted talking amongst themselves.
"You do not understand. It does not work that way."
"It could though. If you like someone your house and family should not control your decisions. You have your own voice, voice your opinions. Decide your fate do not let someone control you," she sighed, "my mother had a family like that. According to her, they hated that she associated with anyone outside of Slytherin but that never stopped her. She chose her own life."
"Periwinkle…"
"Peri please. Periwinkle is so formal."
He gave a small chuckle, "Peri, my family is different than yours."
"Your family does not determine who you are. You decide your own fate."
"You make it sound easy," he said as the feast began.
Periwinkle looked at all the amazing food in front of them, "Wow! So many options!"
"Did they not feed you in America?" Blaise asked seeing her amazement.
She looked at him, "they did, but not as many options as there is here."
"Eat up before Crabbe and Goyle here eat everything," the small group around them all laughed as they all dug in.
Once everyone was fed Dumbledore stepped forward again and smiled towards all the sudden before him, "Now that we are all fed and watered. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices," he then went over Mr. Filch's list of forbidden objects and places that were forbidden to all students. He also made the reminder that all third years and above were the ones who were allowed to go to Hogsmeade as long as they had permission from a guardian, "It also pains me to say that the Inner-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?! Draco and a majority of the other Slytherin boys said.
"This is due to an event that will be occurring in October and will be requiring much of the teachers' time and energy. I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year—"
At this exact moment the hall filled with a great rumble of thunder and the doors of the hall blew open. A man stood in the doorway and every head in the hall turning towards him. The figure was suddenly illuminated by a flash of lighting. The man began to walk to the front. Once at the front he approached Dumbledore. He shook hands with Dumbledore then took a seat. "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Moody." No one clapped at this except Dumbledore and Hagrid, Holly started to but stopped when she noticed no one else at the tables were.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore started again smiling at the students, "we have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months. To explain this with more detail we have Mrs. Cassandra Banks, who works with International Affairs at the Ministry of Magic."
"Mom," Periwinkle said surprised, "she never said anything about accepting a job here. Just this morning she was debating not even sending us here due to the attacks at the World Cup." She was very shocked and confused as her mom entered from the door behind the professors' table. Periwinkle paid close attention to the professors and her mom, she noticed that one professor who had greasy black hair seemed to be focusing on her mom very closely. "Draco, who is that," she asked looking at the professor focusing on Cassandra.
He looked at who she was talking about, "that is Professor Snape. He is head of Slytherin house. Why?"
"He seems very interested in my mom."
"Well she is very…" a random Slytherin started to say.
She eyed him, "I swear you better stop talking right now."
Cassandra approached the podium, as she approached, she glanced at Professor Snape then continued towards Dumbledore and greeted him with a shake of the hand. Dumbledore took his seat and she turned towards the students, "Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone has enjoyed the feast that was served tonight. Now like Professor Dumbledore mentioned my name is Cassandra Banks and I am here to discuss this exciting event that will be occurring here. The event that will be happening is called the Triwizard Tournament.
"You are joking!" Fred said loudly.
"Thank you for that, Mr. Weasley," she and the other students laughed as she looked at him then back at the other student, "I am not joking though. Let us discuss the Triwizard Tournament more. Some of you may not know what the tournament actually is. I will give a small explanation for those who do not know what it is. The Triwizard Tournament was first established hundreds of years ago as a friendly competition between three of the largest European schools of wizardry. These schools include Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school and the three champions selected go on to compete in three different tasks. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their contenders in October and the selection of students will take place on Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory for their school, and a thousand galleons in prize money."
"I am going to enter!" Periwinkle said to her fellow housemates
"The Ministry of Magic though has imposed an age limit for those who wish to enter. Students who wish to enter must be seventeen years or older if they wish to be considered. This is due to how dangerous and difficult these tasks will be. Dumbledore will be making sure that no one hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion," she looked towards Fred, George, and Periwinkle. "If anyone has any further questions about the tournament, I will be glad to answer them I will be here most of the term. With that I wish everyone goodnight," she turned and walked to sit at one of the seats.
Dumbledore stood, "Thank you, Mrs. Banks. And with that everyone it is now bedtime."
Everyone stood and left the hall, "show me the way?" Periwinkle asked Draco
"Sure," they started walking then he stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot something in The Great Hall. Blaise can show you the rest of the way."
She looked at Blaise then back at Draco, "alright…well goodnight."
"Goodnight," he said as she walked towards their common room with Blaise. She glanced back and noticed him grab Holly as she rounded a corner with Blaise.