I quickly stumbled ashore, glad I was finally free of the boats but mainly relieved to put a steady ten metres between Siri, whose real name I learnt was Sirius, and myself.
The pest hadn't shut up the entire boat ride. Whereas I would have been content to wallow in a mushy pile of self-pity, he had to tease me. With the full encouragement and support of his stupid friend, of course. They were all quite happy to squeeze under the coat and annoy me while I was soaked even further. If that was even possible.
"Wait, Sunshine!" I was surprised, to say the least, to detect an apologetic note in his voice.
"What?" I bit out tersely. I was surprised but no less pissed.
"'m sorry," he was staring at his shoes, his mates looking at him as if he was some foreign monster. My eyebrows practically disappeared into my hair.
'Was that... well, a pretty pathetic attempt at apologising, but an attempt nonetheless?'
"I shouldn't have flipped the boat. It wasn't funny and I'm sorry I scared you. It was dangerous and I never asked if you were ok."
Quite a crowd had gathered around us, most gaping. But then Sirius lifted his head, and instead of the guilty expression I was expecting, my eyes were met with his infuriating smirk.
"So; are you ok, do you need mouth to mouth resuscitation?"
For a long moment I just stood there, shocked. Then, in a tidal wave of fury, every bit of pent up anger crashed down on me in the space of a second.
I launched myself at Sirius, crossing the distance between us in an instant. Practically howling with rage, I tackled him to the ground and smashed my scrawny fist into his chin. It was very therapeutic.
A huge hand fastened around the back of my robes and heaved me off Sirius. Seeing red and snarling furiously, I lashed out like a wild animal. But Hagrid wisely held me out of striking distance- six feet off the ground.
And He had the guts to laugh. He had a shiny black eye and a bruised jaw, but he was rolling in the dirt cackling like a mad man. It was a strange bark, like a dog. It suited him rather well, the mutt. James eventually helped him to his feet, giggling and slapping high-fives.
I failed to spot what was so utterly amusing. Perhaps it was the sight of me swinging two metres above the ground pouting with my arms tightly crossed.
"Excuse me." A lady's voice spoke sharp and clearly, causing everyone to turn simultaneously. Except for them, as they were physically and mentally impaired by laughter.
A woman was in the doorway, standing tall and proud. She had her hair tied in an immaculate bun and her lips pursed in a firm line. Her stern glare, below thin finely sculptured eyebrows, snapped between the giggling twits, Hagrid and finally me.
With a weary sigh, Hagrid gingerly lowered my feet to solid ground, shaking his shaggy head and muttering something along the lines of "There's one every year."
The strict woman continued to watch us with her tapered eyebrow's lowered, daring us to mess up the proceedings further, "I am Professor McGonagall. It is time for you to be sorted into your houses. There are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. We are behind schedule, the rest of the school is waiting, follow me."
No one really wanted to be the first one through the door. Suddenly even the cocky, confident boys seemed significantly more subdued. Sirius looked downright distraught. I allowed myself a moment to send a fiery glare in his general direction before sinking into my own little pit of concern.
My frantic thoughts were interrupted when I was jostled by the restless crowd. We grudgingly formed a rough line. Some small mousy haired boy was unceremoniously shoved to the front. His friends gave him a comforting pat on the back, but from where I stood it looked as if they were ensuring he didn't escape.
As we filed through the door that would inevitably lead to our doom, I shot a quick glance back outside to freedom. Of course the rain was beginning to let up. Typical.
The muffled whispers of the kids around me didn't do much to calm my nerves. No one seemed to have any idea what we were about to be put up against. The stories got wilder from one kid to the next. I heard tales about having to battle dragons and trolls, and how some kid's twice removed cousin had to kiss a hippogriff.
The huge room we entered took my breath away. It was lit by thousands of candles suspended in mid-air and at first glance the walls seemed to open to the sky. The hundreds of students sitting along four long tables watched us with differing levels of boredom and impatience.
Puzzling over what on earth a hippogriff was kept me occupied until our group stopped and spread out beneath a row of teachers, but under their gaze my anxiousness returned tenfold.
Before us on a small stool was an old black hat that was ripped and worn in several places. Then, after an expectant silence, a large tear opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing.
It sang about its own history, and it seemed quite proud to have once been owned by some Godric Gryffindor bloke. I just couldn't understand why a time before shampoo would evoke pleasant memories for a hat. I wondered if that was all it did all year; just sit around and write poetry about 'daring and chivalrous Gryffindor, loyal and hardworking Hufflepuff, wise and studious Ravenclaw, and cunning and pure Slytherin.'
The hall erupted in cheers and Professor McGonagall stepped forward. She stood above us with a scroll held tightly in her hand.
"When I call out your name I would like you to sit on the stool and I will place the sorting hat on your head. It will put you in the house most suited to you. The decision is final. Akeley Tanya..."
I let out a sigh of relief and heard many people around me do the same. A tall girl boldly strutted up to the stool. The hat was silent for a moment before, "SLYTHERIN!"
The table to the right clapped and cheered as Tanya took off the hat and went to join them. My scrutinising eyes narrowed suspiciously as I took in the Slytherins. One girl stood out amongst the rest. Her demeanour was dark and haughty and although she was beautiful, the only attention she and her house attracted were frosty glares.
"Black Sirius."
The dark Slytherin girl had been showing less than no interest, but when Sirius' name was called her head shot up to fix him with her piecing, slightly wild eyes.
Sirius resembled a man walking towards his execution. He turned to face the hall. When his eyes met the Slytherin girl's they instantly darkened and narrowed before he looked away. He was visibly shaking as McGonagall lower the hat on his head. I almost felt sorry for the guy. Then I remembered my encounter with the Squid and that sympathy mysteriously evaporated.
There was a long silence. The dark Slytherin girl was staring at him intently. He was muttering something repeatedly under his breath but I couldn't hear the words.
When the hat placed him in Gryffindor no one cheered. There was a stunned silence. I glanced around, searching for answers. Everyone looked shocked. The dark Slytherin girl looked as if she'd been punched. Sirius was the only one who moved. He let out a huge relieved sigh that must have been audible even from the back of the hall, and seemed to deflate with all the tension leaving his frame.
As Sirius stood, a girl from the far end of the Slytherin table, looking almost identical to her dark, moody house mate, leapt up and cheered, "Yeah! You go Sirius!"
The far table clad in red and gold enthusiastically joined her applause, some also getting to their feet. A huge smile threatened to split Sirius' face. He gave the girl who'd started the clapping a thumbs up, then turned his back on the Slytherins and nearly tripped in his haste to get to the Gryffindor table.
The dark Slytherin girl seemed to snap out of a trance. She rose slowly, shaking with fury and disbelief. She soon regained her former arrogant composure however. "Sirius Black! You disgrace, get back here and take your rightful place!" She screamed over the ruckus.
Sirius paused just before the Gryffindor table. He turned and gave a sly wink and salute to the dark Slytherin girl, who practically had steam billowing from her ears, before sitting down to a hoard of congratulations.
It took a while to get the crowd to settle down, but once it did the sorting continued as normal. The group of first years had slightly diminished, then it was my turn.
"Night Jenna."
After a few seconds I remembered that I had to actually walk up to the stool. I felt my anxiety returning, so I didn't have to kiss a hippogriff, but what if something went wrong and I dumbly sat there for hours while nothing happened? Or maybe it'd just dump me in Slytherin where I'd most likely be eaten by that scary girl.
I now understood how Sirius had felt walking up there. It really was like someone determining your fate. Maybe I was being a little drastic, but as the dark, musky fabric of the sorting hat fell over my eyes, it felt as if I wasn't being dramatic and pessimistic enough.
A strange voice filled my head, "Yes there is some daring here, you have a bold nerve, that's for sure. But where to put you?"
Did it want me to respond, was I supposed to sit up here under the scrutinising gaze of the entire school while making small talk with a hat? 'Hi Hat, nice weather we're having. Read any good minds lately?'
"Ah, dull wit, perhaps in a few years you will actually develop the ability to utter words of some level of intelligence. You have a bright mind, yes indeed, but I sense Ravenclaw is not the house for you."
'Ouch, insulted by ancient attire, that's damaging for the ego.' The hat ignoring me. Sure, I know when I'm not wanted.
"You have cunning, but not much ambition, you would not fit in with the Slytherins. The Hufflepuffs value patience and hard work- no, just no, that leaves... GRYFFINDOR!"
I'd walked half way to the Gryffindor table before I noticed the stupid grinning smirk and remembered my fate: seven years with Sirius Black. Just great.
...
"Sirius!"
Black turned excitedly, "Andy!" he called back, his face lighting up upon seeing the girl leave the end of the Slytherin table and make her way over. She was drawing many suspicious looks from the Gryffindors, which she calmly ignored. On closer inspection I realised her hair and eyes were brown, her features were soft and kind, and she looked younger than the first Slytherin girl.
Potter -the jerk managed to get sorted into Gryffindor after all- nudged Black in what he probably thought was an inconspicuous way, "Who's she?"
"My cousin Andromeda Black, and one of only a few of my decent relatives," he muttered back, shoving Potter over and making room for her to sit beside him.
"It nice to see you Sirius, been giving your parents trouble I trust," she said winking as she sat. "But I came to talk to you about Bella."
"I'm not afraid of her," Sirius said confidently, sparing a glare over his shoulder towards the dark Slytherin girl who was viciously stabbing her food.
Andy smiled proudly, "I know. But she's in her seventh year and you know how she is. Don't try to pick a fight with her, especial for the next few days. She may be a little cranky for a while."
Black snorted.
"Anyway," Andy said, wrapping an arm around him in a hug, "I'm proud of you Sirius, you're a good bloke. Just be careful in dark shadowy alleys from now on, okay?"
And then she left, throwing Black a reassuring smile over her shoulder as she returned to her place where she was immediately swarmed with questions. She casually waved them off and ate her meal.
I watched Black curiously through my eyelashes. He looked as overexcited as usual, but now it was more withdrawn and guarded. Something was obviously nagging at his mind, and when his friends weren't looking, he let the pretence slip to reveal a sad lonely boy. Maybe we weren't so different after all.
"So, Jenna, right? What did the hat say to you?" Lily asked, glaring at James while eating her meal, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I admired Lily for her ability to multitask and her obvious aversion towards all things James and Sirius, but I was not in the mood to talk. All I wanted to do was get dry, warm and put at least half a castle between Sirius and myself.
"Oh, you know," I shrugged dismissively, "It was very kind. Sweetly stated that I was too thick for Ravenclaw, lazy for Hufflepuff and Slytherin, then he decided Gryffindor would have to put up with me."
Lily giggled -perhaps she thought I was joking- and slung an arm around my shoulders, destroying my sacred personal space bubble and causing me to jump, "You're funny, in a... blunt, cold kinda way."
"Is that so?"
"Yep!" she said cheerfully, "I have the feeling we are going to become good friends."
We trudged up countless flights of stairs and each floor brought new surprises. The people moved and talked in their portraits, ghosts floated through walls, completely indifferent of the world going on around them, and even the stairs moved. Everything was alive with magic. Maybe, even with Black haunting the halls, the place wouldn't be half bad.
I was exhausted by the time we stumbled through the hidden portrait hole behind the painting of the Fat Lady. My eyelids were heavy and I was still damp and shivering. The first thing my eyes settled on was the roaring, warm, homely fire in the grate. It radiated its heat throughout the large circular room which was filled with squashy armchairs and tables.
Sitting on the back of the armchair closest to the fire was Scrap. His golden eyes blinked lazily, his furry back was facing the fire and absorbing the warmth. I told you he was smart.
The prefects pointed out the girl and boy dormitories but I didn't ascend the stairs just yet. Rather, I detached Lily from my arm and plodded over to the fire. I wasn't the only one with that in mind however.
I was halfway to the welcoming armchairs when I was roughly pushed aside by none other than Black and his friends. I had half a mind to abandon the cosy fire and trudge on up to bed when I heard an irritated hiss.
I watched the scene unfold with an amused smirk on my face. Sirius jumped about a foot in the air and spun around to face the armchair he'd been about to sit down on. Scrap puffed out his fur until he was twice his normal size, snarling softly. It was a warning: come within arm's reach at own risk. It's his way of saying hello. At least, that's how I always interpreted it.
"Relax, Sirius, it's just a cat," Remus said closing his eyes and folding his arms behind his head, settling into his own chair.
Black hesitated, unsure, "That's not a cat, that's a bloody mountain lion." Scrap looked distinctively pleased by that term of endearment. Or maybe he just recognised the underlining note of fear in his voice.
"I hate cats," Sirius muttered, making shooing motions with his hands. I nearly laughed as Scrap slowly and deliberately got comfortable and plonked himself back down, fixing Black with his yellow glare, challenging him.
"He likes you!" I cooed mockingly, walking over.
Black glared, "You touch him then, if you're so tough."
Oh that poor idiot. I laid my hand on Scrap's back, rustling the fur behind his ears, just the way I know he loves. He arched his back appreciatively with a loud rumbling purr.
I struggled to keep my face blank, "Yes, he's very scary." To emphasis my point, Scrap rolled over and purred again.
I swear I heard Remus snicker.
I lay back in the chair with a contented sigh, the heat removing the last traces of water. Scrap shifted until he was curled around my head in a protective halo.
"Whatever, there's nothing scary about that cat," Black said cockily, sauntering up to Scrap. His eyes flew open again, purr instantly turned into a growl, only louder this time, but Black ignored the warning signs. I'd hoped he would.
Snarling, Scrap sank his teeth and claws into Black's hand, who cried out in surprise. But Scrap didn't stop there. He leapt to his feet, pursuing a fleeing Black all the way to the foot of the boy's staircase. Then, skidding to a halt, he flicked his tail proudly as the last of Black's robes disappeared from view.
Who needs karma when you have cats?
