Things Never to be Told

Chapter 2

Shade stood next to the train on platform nine and three quarters. She drew the hood on her cloak low over her face, ignoring the worried concern on Xiamara's face. Shade knew that her eyes weren't normal, but she hadn't expected them to draw this much attention. She swallowed hard. Her stomach was tying itself in knots as she thought about having to leave Xiamara and get on the train, leaving her guardian for the first time in years. Xiamara enveloped the girl in a tight hug.

"Remember to have fun while you're there," she said, releasing her and handing the girl her new wand, (Xiamara had kept it for safekeeping). "And try to make lots of friends!"

Shade sat in an empty compartment, her hood still hiding her face. People were walking up and down the narrow corridor, peering in at her before moving on. A black haired boy she judged to be about the same age as her opened the door warily, looking at her.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" He asked. Shade shook her head, turning her gaze to look out of the window again, pulling a pair of sunglasses from her pocket and sliding them over her eyes. No need in scaring the human if she didn't have to. Somewhere out in the city of London, a church bell tolled eleven. The train gave a slight lurch, starting its journey to Hogwarts. Thankfully, the boy didn't speak to her. Shade didn't feel like having to keep up a conversation.

The compartment door slid open again. Shade looked up with a hint of irritation on her features. So much for the quiet trip. She had barely slept the night before and was in need of a nap. With other people in the compartment, she was pretty sure she wasn't going to fall asleep. A gangly, orange-haired boy sat down opposite the other, watched discreetly by Shade. She listened in an offhand manner as they made their introductions, not really paying attention but filing the information away somewhere in her mind. Ron Weasley, the redhead, seemed to be overawed to be in the presence of the other boy, someone called 'Harry Potter'. Shade made a mental note to try and find out who the hell he was.

"What's your name, Darkie?" Ron asked, nudging the girl with his foot. Shade growled low in her throat, glaring at him from behind her dark glasses.

"Shade, Shade Parthenopaeus." She muttered.

"Talkative, aren't you?"

Shade didn't answer.

The rest of the journey passed, thankfully, without incident. Shade even managed to catch up on a couple of hours sleep before they started to draw close to the train station used by the school in Hogsmeade. Shade pulled her sunglasses off. It was dark outside. The shadow cast by her hood would be enough to hide her eyes. She slung her backpack over her shoulder, waiting until the initial rush had died down before stepping off the train. She glanced around warily, standing on the outskirts of a group of nervous first years, looking up at a man who towered over even the tallest of the seventh year students. She quickly dropped her gaze to the ground, slightly unnerved by him, sensing something not quite human about him, but unable to determine what else it was she was sensing.

She followed the group of first years along a well beaten path towards a dock where several small boats waited for them. She ended up sitting next to a pale-faced boy who reminded her strangely of a ferret. She opted to ignore him as he cast strange, condescending looks at her, as if he didn't deem her worthy to be in the same boat.

All thoughts and worries flew from her mind as she first lay eyes on Hogwarts. A castle of such size, lit from within by what she guessed to be thousands of torches. It held more beauty and majesty than the Senate towers back from her home dimension. It was simply breathtaking.

Her thoughts didn't really return to full functioning until she was standing in front of a floppy old hat. The Sorting Hat. She was standing in the Great Hall under a ceiling enchanted to look like the night's sky outside. The population of the school was sitting at four long tables. She was standing in the middle of the group of first years who were waiting to be sorted. And her name had just been called. Her heart in her throat, she stepped forwards to sit on the stool. The teacher in charge of the sorting placed the hat on her head. She tried not to let her expression show her shock as the hat spoke to her.

"I see dark secrets in your mind. Great power you choose to hide. A parentage so well suited to Slytherin, but I think not. I see greater things in your future. Greater things that will only be accomplished if you are placed in... GRYFFINDOR!"