AN: Thanks to my many reviewers! Wow, I didn't expect so many people would like my little story. You guys are awesome, you really are! A warning, though: I ramble. Like, a lot. shrugs I do try to hold back, though. You'll all receive personal replies any time now, so just sit tight. grins
Also: from now on, I'm probably going to put up a song at the beginning of every chapter. It will be all in italics, so shrugs you can just skip over it if you want, because it will have absolutely nothing to do with the chapter. Well, it won't if I don't say it does. I have what I call 'The Song of the Day' (I sing a different song everyday, and there is no apparent order nor reason.) so I'm probably just going to put that up. The title and artist are in parenthesis at the end of it. But I'm rambling again, so on with the story!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own it, so don't sue me. Wouldn't get anything anyway, cuz all I got is a new Toby Keith CD. I'm watching a cool tape though. My mom recorded it in the nineties, so it's pretty old. It's a Garth Brooks concert entitled "This is Garth Brooks". That's the only place I've been able to find the fourth verse to "The Thunder Rolls" (the music video makes much more sense now, cuz we now know what happened. To those of you who aren't loser-enough to know, I posted the whole song below. sigh I digress. To the story (again).
Chapter Three
Three-thirty in the mornin'
And not a soul in sight.
The city's looking like a ghost town
On a moon-less summer night.
Raindrops on the windshield—
There's a storm movin' in.
He's heading back from somewhere
That he never should have been.
And the thunder rolls,
And the thunder rolls.
Every light is burnin'
In a house across town.
She's pacing by the telephone
In her faded flannel gown.
Askin' for a miracle
Hopin' she's not right.
Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night.
And the thunder rolls,
And the thunder rolls.
Chorus:
The thunder rolls
And the lightning strikes.
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night.
And as the storm blows all
out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls.
She's waiting by window
When he pulls into the drive.
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he's alive.
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightning flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows.
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls.
Chorus
She rushes down the hallway
And through the bedroom door.
She reaches for the pistol
Kept in the dresser drawer.
Tells the lady in the mirror
"He won't do this again"
Cause tonight will be the last time
She'll wonder where he's been.
And the thunder rolls,
And the thunder rolls.
Repeat Chorus
(The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks)
The train pulled to a stop and Toboe and Severus stood and stretched. They stepped out of their compartment and joined the other students who were making their way off of the train. As they stepped onto the platform, they heard a booming voice yell over the throng, "Firs' years! Firs' years, this way."
The youngest students started toward the giant man at the dock while the older students entered the carriages. They made it across the lake without an incident (well, except when Severus accidentally knocked a boy with mousy-hair into the water) and they exited the small boats, grateful to be back on dry land. After all, they had been warned by the older students about the blood-thirsty giant sea monster that lived in the lake. It, however, hadn't made an appearance, for which they were all grateful.
They were met at the door by a stern-looking witch in emerald green robes with her hair fixed in a neat bun and a no-nonsense look upon her face.
"Firs' years, Professor," the giant announced.
"Yes, thank you, Hagrid," she nodded and led the children inside. Once everyone was inside she addressed the group. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House. Here at Hogwarts, you will be assigned a House. Once assigned a House, it will become your home until you finish your schooling. Good deeds will be rewarded by points being given to your respective Houses. Likewise, bad deeds will cause points to be deducted. Your House will be your family. If a member of…."
"Psst! Sev! Check out the blond dude over there," Toboe whispered.
"Where?"
"There."
"You mean the one by the—"
"Shhh!" urged a red-headed girl behind him.
"….Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Try to make yourselves presentable, and I shall return momentarily when it is time to begin the Sorting Ceremony." She headed through the large doors behind her.
The boy Severus had accidentally knocked into the lake appeared beside him, accompanied by James and Sirius. "Peter here says you threw him into the lake," James glared.
"What? No, no, it was an accident," Severus replied quickly.
"Apologize."
"I already have, so I don't have to do it again just because the little prat wants to cry about it."
"You heard James," Sirius growled. "Apologize, now!"
"Get lost," Severus didn't want to cause a scene, but he wasn't going to keep apologizing if the boy was going to keep complaining.
James and Sirius traded looks before turning back to Severus. They were about to do something, but were interrupted by McGonagall's return.
"Now, come along. Follow me." She led them into the Great Hall, which was filled with students, and instructed them to stand in front of an old hat perched on a wooden stool.
The students all stared at the old hat for a moment before it twitched. A large rip opened up and formed a mouth as the hat began to sing:
"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.
So put me on! 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!"
The hat grew silent and tilted its top to each of the four clapping tables before sitting still once again. McGonagall then stepped forward and held up a scroll.
"When I call your name, sit on the stool and place the hat on your head. Addams, Thomas." The boy stumbled up to the stool and disappeared under the hat for a moment before the hat yelled out "Hufflepuff".
It seemed to take forever, but eventually "Black, Sirius", "Potter, James", "Pettigrew, Peter", and "Lupin, Remus" were sent to Gryffindor while "Snape, Severus" and "Snape, Toboe" were sent to Slytherin. After everyone had been sorted, the feast began and Toboe turned to his friend.
"So, what do you think so far?" he asked.
"Me? Well, it's okay, I guess," Severus shrugged. "Better than scrounging for food, too." This earned several disgusted glances, but the boys ignored them.
"I'm worried about the guys, though. What do you think they're doing right now?"
"Right now? Tsumai and Kiba are probably yelling at Hige, and Hige is either sleeping or eating." Toboe laughed at the remark, imagining the two oldest yelling at a sleeping Hige. "I'm worried about them too, though. Maybe we'll write to them later."
"Excuse me," a cool voice to Severus right called. They turned to the speaker and found themselves face to face with the blonde from earlier. "I don't believe we've met. Lucius Malfoy," he nodded regally.
"Severus. This is my brother Toboe."
"Brothers. Interesting. Who's the eldest?"
"He is," Toboe piped up. "But only by a little."
The blonde looked as if he were about to say more, but Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Well, now that we've all been well-fed, I have a few announcements to make. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is to be remained forbidden, hence the name. Secondly, I'm certain you have noticed the empty chairs behind me?" True enough, four chairs were indeed empty. "We shall have a few new professors starting here this year. Professor Smithson shall be taking over Muggle Studies, and was unable to be here due to a blizzard freezing the tracks and stalling his train. Don't fret, though, your dear professor shall be here over the weekend. Also, we shall have three counselors here this year to assist students in their academic and personal pursuits. They have not arrived yet, but are due any mo—"
He was interrupted by the large oak doors swinging open. The Hall was filled with whispers as three figures stood silhouetted in the doorway, the light from the foyer casting an eerie glow about them. Severus' eyes widened and Toboe gasped. The one in the middle stepped forward and bowed his head slightly. "Albus."
TBC….
hehehe sorry it took so long to get this typed up and posted. we started school Wednesday, and I've been busting my butt in Geometry shudders I'm beginning to hate that class.
Soooo….who's the figures in the doorway? winks review and I just might tell you. also, brownies for all reviewers! Yay!
Also, I don't have a beta. Is anyone interested? Let me know if are puppy eyes
Anyone know a good online Hogwarts place? I've been looking for one, but I can't find any.
To quote Erik (the Phantom): "It's over now, the music of the night."
Yes, I know, I was completely random. But does anyone even read these things anyway? le sigh
Next Chapter: We find out who the mysterious figures are (as if we don't already know) and—wait a minute. Why am I telling you? Read it and find out, you cheaters! Lol sorry, I just couldn't resist.
TTU L8R! Growlithe, out.