Disclaimer: I don't own HP. Duh.
A/N: Hey all! I know this chapter is shorter, but that's okay, cause I think it's good. It contains the sorting! Yay!
Well, whatcha waiting for? Get reading!
Oh, yeah, and by the way, I am no racist, and have nothing against British people, American people, or anything else that is insulted in my stupid jokes…just thought I'd say that. -
Chapter 8: To Hogwarts We Go!
Of course, not all happy things can last forever, and after only three hours of girl-only time, reality had to come party crashing. The girls were well into their stock of junk food by the time they heard another knock on the door.
"Girls, really, this is ridiculous! Professor McGonagall is downstairs to see Nichole, Meghan and Sarah! Please come down to the kitchen."
"Awww. What d'you think this is all about?" Sarah had been dosing off slightly, but was shaken by the knocking on the door.
"Well, seeing as she is Deputy Headmistress a Hogwarts, I'd assume that it's something about school. Say, did you guys pick your options for fifth year yet?"
"Ooo-oooptions?" yawned Sarah, who was still half asleep.
"You know, you can choose certain subjects starting in third year. I don't know what you guys have been studying with your parents, but you can chose from Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures."
"Oh yeah! I remember you telling me all about those! Arithmancy sounds way too much like math for my liking. No way am I taking that. Do you think I'll be able to take those though? I haven't really studied them over the summer…"
"Nichole, you'll be fine, you picked up everything else quickly, so I assure you, whatever you chose will be fine."
Sarah sighed drowsily, "Well, I'm definitely not taking Muggle Studies. I can't believe Mom made us go through with that for four years! For Christ's sake, we went to Muggle school since the age of five!"
Nichole snorted. "Your mother made you study Muggles, even though you practically were one?"
"Oh, yes she did!" groaned Meghan. Then her face broke into a grin. "In fact, you were often the human guinea pig!"
Nichole gasped. "You freak!"
Meghan pasted a serious look on her face, and said, unblinkingly, "Well, why else do you think you were always over at our house?"
Nichole now started to look genuinely concerned. "Ok, now I'm scared because I don't actually think you're joking anymore."
"Kidding."
"Oh! That's just mean!"
"Girls! Professor McGonagall is waiting! Really, rudeness, will not make a nice first impression!" The girls jumped at the sound of Mrs. Weasley shouting. She generally had quite a calm disposition.
Sarah caught Nichole's eye and spoke, "Oh, don't worry, Auntie Molly just hates people being late. To anything. She's just a little overly excited is all."
Nichole managed a small smile and nervous laugh. She really did like Mrs. Weasley, but was more concerned about meeting one of her professors. And the thought of choosing courses brought back the feeling of apprehension she had managed to keep at bay for the rest of the summer. Nichole hated not being able to do things. You could say that she was a perfectionist type, or maybe just determined, or competitive. The point was that no matter how much she might have studied over the holiday, or how much Hermione had told her she had caught up, she still wasn't overly-secure about attending Hogwarts…tomorrow?
Oh my god, school is starting tomorrow.
Nichole froze on the spot, with her mouth hanging open slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"School's starting tomorrow."
"Yea, it is…"
Meghan rolled her eyes and popped the bubblegum that she was chewing. "Oh, I'm just so. Glad. To get out of this hell. Hole. I mean, honest to god, that Hermione is really starting to get to me." She flipped her hair and continued walking.
Now it was Sarah who was rooted to the spot. "Excuse me? Meghan, honey, get back here, I think we need to have a little chat!"
Nichole, who was standing at a better angle to see Meghan's face, which was slowly contorting into a grin, burst out laughing.
"What is wrong with you guys?"
"Oh, nothing, don't worry about Meghan, Sar, its just the vodka talking. Her and Mione are bosom buddies."
Did she just say bosom buddies? Wow, amazing that after a year and a half of drinking, her tolerance had not increased even a little. Now that she thought about it, she was a little tipsy…
"Well, you guys are gonna have fun getting introduced to a professor in your state. Well, I guess that settles it. I'm the more responsible one so…" She turned to Meghan, "And therefore, I get to be Nichole's Maid of Honour when she marries Eric! Ha!"
"Hey! That is so. Not. Fair."
"Okay guys, when, and more importantly if, I marry Eric, I will chose who gets to be my Maid of Honour. And maybe I won't chose either."
"WHA! Who else would you chose? Wait. IF!"
"Haha! Look who's mature now!"
Sarah was standing, with her mouth open, ready to retort back, when a scream issued from the curtains beside her.
"FILTHY HALF-BREEDS INFESTING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS! SCUM AND BLOOD-TRAITORS-"
Sarah jumped and knocked Meghan back onto Nichole, who hit her head on the stair banister. She was about to shout at Sarah for being such an idiot for waking up Mrs. Black, and tell her that she had reached her decision that she would make Giselle her Maid of Honour over her two blockheaded friends, when another scream echoed through the hallway.
"GIRLS! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU! ARE YOU INCAPABLE OF WALKING EVER SO SLOWLY DOWN TO THE KITCHEN WITHOUT CAUSING CHAOS!"
The girls sheepishly jumped up, and hurried down the hall to the dingy kitchen. They took seats across from an older woman, who was wearing emerald green robes, and had spectacles upon her face.
"Good evening ladies, I'm Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher, Head of Gryffindor House, and Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts. I'm sorry to interrupt your…festivities, if you will, but I was in the process of fine-tuning the intermediate years' timetables when I realized that you had not selected your course options. There are 5 classes to select from for third year and onward at Hogwarts. They are Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination. You have probably studied most or all of these with your parents…or over the summer. Even if you have never studied the subject before, you are welcome to select it, providing you are willing to work hard to catch up with the rest of the class. I would ask that you chose no more than three options, however, as the workload will certainly build up…along with other…repercussions."
Sarah stuck her hand in the air immediately after Professor Dumbledore stopped speaking. "Miss McEwen, though I appreciate the gesture, we are not in a classroom, and it is not necessary for you to raise your hand."
Sarah dropped her hand, but spoke, "Sorry, Proffessor, but I know which courses I wish to take. Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy."
"Very good. Decisiveness is a good quality to have. Miss Caligan, do you have any preferences yet? I remember the Headmaster saying something that you might possibly be interested in Divination especially."
Nichole looked up, "Yes, I would like to take Divination, along with Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures."
"Well, normally I would advise against a new student taking three extra classes, as most only take two, but from what I hear, you are quite the quick learner, so it shouldn't be a problem, no?"
"No Professor."
"And, Miss Williams. Any ideas?"
"Yea…do we have to choose extra classes?"
"I am terribly sorry, but yes, it is a requirement."
"Okay, well, you know if it is a requirement, then I suppose I'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies then."
"Meghan, you don't even like Muggle Studies. And it's a waste of time, we lived in a muggle town! You're not going to learn anything."
"Are you kidding? I'll learn loads!" She yelled, in and over-enthusiastic voice. She then leaned in closer and whispered. "Exactly. I'll be able to sleep through all the classes and still get good grades."
Sarah rolled her eyes while Professor McGonagall plastered a grim look on her face before replying. "I may be old, Miss Williams, but I am certainly not deaf."
"Oh, sorry, professor." said Meghan, without a hint of remorse.
"Shall we find a compartment then?"
"Actually, Harry, Me and Ron kind of…have to go down to the front of the train to get instructions from Head Boy and Girl. I don't expect we'll be long though. You guys go along without us. We'll catch up."
"Yeah. You know…it's really stupid and all. It's not like I want to go down there. I'm not Percy or something."
"I know you're not, Ron. It's all right."
"Come on then."
"Alright, well, see you later."
They had just boarded the Hogwarts Express, after nearly missing the train because of Harry's stupid Guard. To Nichole, Meghan, and Sarah, this was all new experiences, as most of the summer had been. They wound through the crowded corridors, and in the last car, met up with an awkward boy, who seemed without a seat as well.
"Hello Harry, Ginny. I've been trying to find a compartment, but everywhere's full. Who are your friends? Do they go to Hogwarts? I don't think I seen them before." The strange boy's quivering voice trailed off, but Nichole caught one last line that was barely whispered. "I would've remembered that."
Apparently, she was not the only one who heard.
"Alright, Mister, keep it in your pants. Oh, name's Meghan by the way. You are?"
"I…I…um…imumnuvil." Nichole felt a wave of sympathy for this boy. He seemed like a shaken leaf about to fall off it's tree at any minute.
"WHAT?" Meghan was practically shouting, and people were beginning to poke their heads out of compartments.
"Neville, don't mind my friend Meghan, she's actually really nice, just a bit hick-like at times. You know, it probably just means she likes you or something. She's actually single, you should ask her out sometime." She pasted a smile on her face and turned over to Meghan, who was fuming. By now, poor Neville looked absolutely horrified. Of course, Sarah to the rescue.
"Neville, I'm so sorry. My name's Sarah, Sarah McEwen. My friends really are quite nice, they're just a bit…you know…hungover." She whispered the last word. And Meghan burst into a fit of giggles…proving her point, and Nichole shot her a 'you bitch' glare. "Actually, Meghan's always like this, so you should get used to it, alcohol, or no alcohol. Nichole, well, the poor baby can't stand a bit of a headache, so naturally, she's feeling a bit…you know…bitchy. But, hey, we all have our bad days-OW! #$! YOU NICHOLE!" Nichole had taken this opportunity to stomp on Sarah's foot with the heel of her shoe.
"Oh, look who's the bitch now, bitch! And you can go #$! yourself! Baby? I wouldn't have such a headache, if someone hadn't stolen all of my Advil's for their stupid cramps!"
"Well, if you hadn't been drinking in the first place, you wouldn't have a headache!" Neville had ducked inside the nearest compartment, which Nichole could see contained only another girl. People were starting to come out of their compartments to see what all the ruckus was about.
"Come on, fight!"
"Take off your top!"
"Hey, look, the blonde has nice knockers!"
"But look at the ass on the other one!"
"Hey, check out that chick's legs!"
The combined efforts of Harry and Ginny managed to get Sarah and Nichole inside the compartment. Meghan followed in a daze, blowing kisses to the crowd outside the door. Harry settled Nichole beside the other girl in the compartment, and sat beside her. Sarah was sandwiched between Neville and Ginny. Meghan, promptly, shut the door, and settled herself on the floor, after conjuring a beanball chair out of thin air. Sarah and Nichole were still mumbling back and forth, but for the most part, had settled down.
"Hi Luna, how was your summer? Guys, this is Luna. She's in my year, but in Ravenclaw. Luna, this is Neville Longbottom, Sarah McEwen, Meghan Williams, Nichole Caligan, and, I assume, you know, Harry Potter."
"Yes I do know. It's very nice to meet you all." Nichole surveyed the girl which she was sitting beside. She had straggly blonde hair, and big blue eyes, not that different from her own, if they hadn't been shadowed by perturbed eyebrows. She was wearing a necklace of butterbeer corks, and was reading a magazine, The Quibbler, upside down. She immediately realized that this girl was slightly odd, but she did seem nice enough.
"So…so…where do you guys come from anyway, I mean, I guess you're not from around here."
"And why would you say that? Huh pretty boy? Think we talk funny. We not good enough for you? You nasty little twitty witty Brit!" Meghan, who had calmly been sitting on the floor seconds before barked up, and nearly scared the shit out of Ginny, who was sitting beside her, and still not used to her frequent outbursts. "Aww, I just kiddin you, Neville. Yeah, we're from Saskatoon, in Canada. NOT AMERICA." She added. "We're transferring here this year. We were home schooled before. I know, I know, all home school kids are freaks right? Well, it's not our fault that there's no magic schools over there, and besides, we went to Muggle school during the day, so we're socialized," she said, nodding.
"My gran told me about Canada. She said that there's no magical government over there anymore. She said the Parliament…just…disappeared shortly before You-Know-Who was defeated…well, almost anyway." He said, glancing at Harry. "She said they were scared of him taking over the country or something."
Sarah spoke up. Nichole smiled. This was just up her alley. She loved talking about politics, and with Hermione gone, this Neville person produced a decent conversation. "Yeah. My mother told me something to that degree as well. I positive she knows more though. She just won't tell me."
"So…how did you guys live over there? You lived in a muggle city your whole life?"
This time, it was Meghan who spoke up. "Well, I remember living here for a while actually. I think both of our families moved at the same time. Our parents are all friends. Nichole, though, was born there I think, right?"
Nichole looked up from the magazine she had pulled out. She had not told her friends about the memory she had seen in her mother's head. She decided it would be simpler to go along with their suggestion. "Y-yes." No one seemed to notice her slip up, or the dark look that temporarily crossed her face, except for Harry, that is. She caught his eye, and slightly shook her head. He furrowed his brow momentarily, but then looked towards the Luna girl, who spoke.
"I moved from Sweden when I was five. I hardly remember, however."
"Anything off the trolly dears?"
Neville Longbottom was having a very interesting day indeed. He had been looking forward to coming back to school, but dreading it at the same time. He had ended up in a compartment with Harry, Ginny, a girl named Luna, and the three hottest girls he had ever seen.
He reminisced about the past hour as he munched on his pumpkin pasty.
He had been quite afraid of them at first. The seemed to have the confidence of celebrities, but always seemed to be having fun. But once he got to know them a bit, it became easier to talk to them.
Except for Meghan. She still scared him.
But she called him a pretty boy!
And the girl named Sarah was very interesting indeed. She was able to carry intelligent conversation quite well, quite like Hermione Granger, in fact. They had chatted for awhile before she turned to her friend Nichole to take a quiz in a magazine.
Neville could tell who was in love with her. Harry was sitting beside her the whole train ride, and continued to steal glances at her throughout the ride. Neville hoped Harry realized how painfully obvious it was, if not, he would just have to tell him tonight when they got back up to the dorm.
The rest of the journey passed mostly uneventful, and when they reached the station, they split up as to fit into coaches. Eric, who had been visiting with his British pen pal throughout most of the train ride, joined Meghan, Sarah, and Nichole in their carriage.
"Hey babe? How's it going? Sorry to ditch you on the train." He leaned over and planted a big kiss on Nichole's lips. She smiled, and chatted with him all the way up to the castle. She always felt so secure with his arms around her. Her thoughts that she had been having about Harry, seemed years in the past.When Eric had detached himself from his girlfriend, he spoke. "So, are you guys worried about the sorting?"
Sarah was the first to reply. "Not really. I think I know which house I want to be in."
Meghan snorted. "Yeah, you'll definitely be put in Hufflepuff, you're too much of a goody-two-shoes." Everyone laughed at this. Sarah and Hermione had a lot of things in common, but one of the funniest, was that they would both do anything not to make a teacher mad.
"Yeah, well, ten bucks that Meghan gets put in Slytherin."
"Why would I be put in Slytherin. I'm not mean!"
"Honey, you're just way to loose."
"Okay, guys, let's not have a repeat of the train incident. And please, shut up. I still have a headache."
"Maybe you could go see the school nurse after dinner."
"Hey! Yeah, Ron said that there's always a big feast at the beginning of the year."
"Look, we're here." said Nichole, drearily.
The girls, and Eric, leapt down from the horseless carriage, and climbed the steps up to the enormous castle. They were about to follow the rest of the students through the doors to the great hall, when they were stopped by Professor McGonagall.
"Come with me, quickly. You will wait in the back room behind the hall until you are called."
"We-we're going to be sorted in front of the whole school?" Nichole asked uncertainly.
"Unfortunately, yes, Miss Caligan, as that is the custom. However, you are saved the task of waiting in line with the first-years, which will be arriving soon, so I must be going. That room there connects to the Great Hall, someone will come to get you when it is your turn."
So they sat, and they waited. They could hear the sorting of the first years through the thin wooden door. They listened to the sorting hat's song at the beginning, and nervously sat for about twenty minutes.
"How many damn first years is there, anyway?" Meghan whispered.
"Well, I'd rather there be an endless line of first year, as it doesn't sound fun to me to be showcased in front of the whole school." Nichole was seated on a couch near the door, with her knees pulled up to her chest.
Meghan sighed. She knew that Nichole hated doing anything in front of people, except dancing that is. She had been dancing since she was four, and was one of the best ballerinas that Meg had ever saw. "Nichole, all you have to do is walk over to the damn stool and put the damn hat on your damn head."
She gave a nervous laugh. "Potty-mouth much huh?"
"Well-"Meghan was cut off by Proffessor McGonagall opening the door to their little room, and beckoning them forward.
"We're ready for you."
Eric took Nichole's hand, and pulled her up. "It's okay. You'll be fine."
They exited the room through the other door this time, and found themselves at the front of the Great Hall. Nichole looked up at the ceiling, and her mouth dropped open.
It looked like a real sky.
She looked around the massive room, to see many students seated at four long tables facing the Head table, at which teachers and Dumbledore were seated. Dumbledore stood up, and began to speak. "Just before, you begin your feast, we have four new students to our wonderful Hogwarts this year. They come from across the ocean, from Canada. I hope you will welcome our new students into your classes, and make them feel comfortable in their new home."
Immediately, the whispers started. Nichole could hear some people, mostly male voices whispering about 'weren't those the hot chicks fighting on the train?' Well, she thought, Eric would definitely be asking about that later…
"Silence!" shouted Professor McGonagall. "When I call your name, kindly, step forward, and place the hat on your head."
"McEwen, Eric." Nichole turned to him, her eyes pleading. He squeezed her hand, before stepping forward, and taking a seat on the stool. Meghan whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
"Making a big deal out of this much?" Nichole turned to her and shot her a murderous look.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Nichole turned her head back towards Eric, who got up, and placed the hat back on it's stool, and flashed her a smile before taking a seat at the table second from the left.
"McEwen, Sarah."
This time, there was silence between Meghan and Sarah as she stepped forward to take a seat on the stool. She seemed to sit there for half of an eternity, before the hat shouted.
"RAVENCLAW!"
No sooner had she replaced the hat, was the next name called.
"Williams, Meghan."
Meghan's sorting was quite funny indeed. She sat under the hat, and seemed to be mentally arguing with it. Her face was screwed up, and at one point she even shouted aloud.
"Argh! You sound like mother!" After this, she semed satisfied, and the hat shouted.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Nichole knew what was coming, yet her stomach still did a flip-flop when McGonagall called her name.
"Caligan, Nichole"
She walked toward the stool, grateful when she got there, as she felt as though her knees might cave in at any second. She placed the hat on her head, and immediately heard a small voice in her head. What she heard, however, confused her indeed.
Oh my! She is back at last! I heard that you would be coming my dear. I began to wonder if her blood would ever pass through this school again. Now, listen to my babbling. I know, as I know you do, the only place that you could ever belong in this school.
At this, Nichole felt her grandmother's necklace against the skin under her robes. It was a cool, refreshing feeling, similar to that that she had felt when facing the Dementors over the summer, but on a smaller scale.
No arguments either? You are such like her. Yes, I know you will succeed at the task which destiny has dealt you.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Nichole numbly removed the hat, and sank down into a seat beside Sarah at the Ravenclaw table.
A/N: Hey, Guys! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I know this is more than two weeks, but hey, It's Christmas, and this chapter, is actually interesting! I think so, anyway…seeing as this story has been taking up space in my head since mid-July. I wanted to end it here, even though, it will make the chapter shorter, but hey, I have already started working on Chapter 9. So it will maybe be up before the end of Christmas Holidays. It is also shorter because, my little sis told me that I gabble on too much, and that I should just GET ON WITH THE STORY! So I am…I'm sorry if I talk too much. But hey, it's true, you know, its already over 40 000 words, and they JUST got to Hogwarts!
Please tell me what you think!