Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters, places, or things. I only own Marie.
A/N: This is a short one, I know. I just wanted to get this out of the way.
.:Chapter fifteen:.
"Do you think you'll be able to fight the troll?" Lee said, elbowing me playfully. I gave him a rather dirty look.
"There is no troll, you bloody prat," I said, taking my seat next to Fred, "An old ratty hat isn't going to attack me." Lee turned a light shade of pink. Instead of coming up with a retort, he turned to George. They talked about the upcoming Quidditch season, and who they thought would be this years captain would be now that Wood was gone.
"Well at least we know McGonagall isn't completely dimwitted," I said, smirking, "She didn't put one of you two in as captain." Lee snickered. They continued their talk of sports, and I day dreamed. I pictured myself standing with the first years. I was towering over them, but shaking just like they were. McGonagall put the hat on my head, and it shouted something that I couldn't understand. George was talking to me. "Huh?"
"We're almost to the castle. We need to change," He said, standing over me. I nodded, moving out of the way so he could reach his trunk. Once he was done, I got changed as well. Before I had time to fix my tie and socks, the train was pulling into the station.
"Did I fall asleep or something?" I asked. It was dark and raining out. I didn't remember seeing the sun go down, or the rain starting.
"Yeah, you missed the trolley as well," Lee said, helping me pull my trunk off the rack. Fred and George were already off the train. Lee ran ahead with them, leaving me alone. It made me a little mad. I had no idea where they went, and if I got stuck in a carriage with someone I didn't know I would be so mad.
I stepped off the train, into the sea of people. I faintly heard Hagrid yelling "Firs' years, this way." I bumped into a lot of people, trying to find the twins and Lee. When I finally found them standing under an awning, they started yelling at me.
"This is your first time at Hogwarts! You go on the boats, with the first years," George said, pushing me out into the rain and towards Hagrid. I went straight to Hagrid. He would know if Dumbledore wanted me to ride in the boats. I was about five feet away when he saw me.
"You must be Marie Klem," he said, smiling, "You'll be riding the boats, then?" I nodded, I was too nervous about the sorting to yell. He motioned to the lake, and I followed. I got into a boat by myself. The rain was coming down harder. I pulled my cloak over my head, trying to keep out of the rain. I could feel the boats push off land, when I heard someone yelling.
"Hold the boat!" Dennis Creevy was yelling. The boat didn't stop, so Dennis ran into the water and hopped into my boat. "Hello, I hope you don't mind," he said sheepishly.
"No at all," I smiled. The rain was coming down so hard that the boat was rocking. Dennis was leaning over the side of the boat, trying to get a look at he castle that no one could see though the volley. That's when he fell in. I tried to reach him, so I didn't get blamed for pushing him in the water, but the squid got him to safety. He was laughing as Hagrid gave him his coat. The waterfall of vines were just ahead. I pointed it out, yelling loudly to the first years who were still crying about the rain. We went underneath it, and into the entrance hall. Each boat reached shore, and we all piled out. Once out of the wet, I wanted to dry myself, I knew the drought spell. But I would have to dry the others as well. I might as well wait until we are seated. Hagrid left us, McGonagall came shortly after.
"Follow me," she said, walking up a set of stairs. I let the first years walk ahead of me. McGonagall told us to wait, she went into the Great Hall, and with in a few moments came back.
"Miss Klem, may I have a word?" She asked, motioning for me to the side.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"The first years will be sorted first. You will be the last, and introduced as being from another school. Is that all right?" I nodded, not really caring either way. We walked back to the rest of the group. "Follow me." We entered the hall. All the faces in the hall were turned to us. The Sorting Hat was sitting on the stool in front of the staff table. McGonagall stood beside it, holding a piece of parchment. She began reading names. I didn't hear a word she or the hat said. I was waiting for the last first year to leave. Once the last student was sorted, Dumbledore stood up.
"This year, we have the pleasure to have a transfer student. Her name is Marie Klem, and she is from the Gwynn School of Witchcraft, she will be sorted next," He said, gesturing to me. Blushing, I approached the stool. McGonagall placed in on my head. I could almost feel the hat searching my brain. He was muttering something when I heard him yell "Gryffindor!" McGonagall grabbed the hat as I moved to take my seat next to Fred and George. The scooted the first years down so I could sit between them.
"That Merlin you're in Gryffindor," Fred said, giving me a pat on the back. I grinned at him. I was glad too. The golden plates filled with food. I put everything I could get my hand on onto my plate. I hadn't eaten anything since dinner the night before. I didn't hear a word anyone had said, the only thing that mattered was the food in front of me. Once the last of the pudding was cleared away, I stared to listen. Dumbledore stood up, smiling. He mentioned the out-of-bounds areas and other small things that no one paid any attention to.
"And finally, there will be no Quidditch this year," He said, his eyes twinkling.
"What?" Fred and George yelled together. A stream of profanities came from their mouth. I joined in, just to make it seem like I didn't know what was coming next. Just then, the doors to the Great Hall opened. Mad-Eye Moody just walked in. Every head snapped to the door, staring at the extremely scarred face. I was in shock. His face really did look like it was carved from wood. Mad-Eye walked to the staff table and took his seat.
"This is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mad-Eye Moody," Dumbledore said. Only he, Hagrid, and some others clapped. Moody didn't seem fazed. He was too engrossed in the plate of sausage in front of him. "As I was saying, there will be no Quidditch this year, because Hogwarts will be the host of the Triwizard Tournament." Instead of yells of anger, they turned to excitement.
Fred and George looked at me and said together, "We're going for it." I smiled, wishing I could try. Dumbledore continued to talk.
"There is an age limit of seventeen. The Ministry believes anyone younger doesn't not have the magical knowledge to compete in these dangerous tasks. The delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive at the end of October. But, enough talk, off to bed. Pip, pip," He dismissed. Fred, George, and others stood up, yelling about unfairness. But, Dumbledore ignored them. I followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the common room, knowing Fred and George would be a while.
A/N: Review, please?