Chapter 8
I do not own Harry Potter in any way.
A/N - I've been neglecting this fic.
Anya took a seat next to Fred and George.
Ron was the next one to be sorted.
The three of them smirked, knowing exactly where the sorting hat would put him.
"Another Weasley! I know just what to do with you. Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.
Percy, Fred, George, and Anya stood up and cheered for Ron as he ran towards them.
He took a seat across from Anya.
"Harry Potter", McGonagall said and the hall went silent.
Anya reached over and grabbed Fred's hand.
Harry warily took a seat on the stool. His eyes locked with Anya's and she smiled at him.
"Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?" the hat asked, "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that. No? Well, if you're sure. Better be…Gryffindor!"
The whole table cheered.
"Merlin Anya, you nearly broke my hand", Fred said flexing his sore hand.
"Sorry", she said softly.
Everyone enthusiastically shook Harry's hand.
Harry took a seat between Hermione and Percy.
The sorting ended a few minutes later, Gryffindor earning students like Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas.
McGonagall said, "Your attention, please".
Dumbledore stood up and said, "Let the feast begin".
Food appeared on the empty platters on the tables and everyone dug in.
Harry and Ron started eating like they were starving.
Anya, growing up with the Weasley boys, was used to it, while Hermione looked on in disgust. Anya quietly ate.
The cooking was good, but nowhere as good as Remus' cooking.
Just thinking about him made Anya feel sad.
"Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrel?" Harry asked.
"That's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house", Percy told him.
"What's he teach?" Harry asked.
"Potions. But everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years", Percy explained.
Anya knew who Severus Snape was.
He was often the bud of Remus and her father's jokes.
Ron was reaching for a chicken leg when a head popped out of them.
Anya giggled as Ron yelped in shock.
"Hello? How are you?" the head asked, "Welcome to Gryffindor".
The first years watched in amazement as the ghosts of Hogwarts appeared.
"Hello Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy asked.
"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied", he said starting to float away.
"I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick", Ron said.
The ghost turned and said, "I prefer Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind".
"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked.
"Like this", Sir Nicholas said pulling his head off.
Ron yelped in shock again.
Anya burst into laughter.
"Oh shut-up Anya", Ron grumbled.
"Yeah, not everyone derives pleasure from another's pain", Percy said.
Anya stuck her tongue out at him.
After dinner, the Gryffindors followed Percy to the Gryffindor dormitories.
"Gryffindors, follow me, please. Keep up. Thank you", Percy said.
"Bossy little twit", Anya snapped, making Ron and Harry smile.
"This is the most direct path to the dormitories. Keep an eye on the staircases. They like to change. Keep up, please, and follow me. Quickly now, come on. Come on", Percy ordered.
"Welcome to Hogwarts", one of the paintings said as they passed it.
A lot of the paintings stared at Anya, no doubt recognizing her as Sirius Black's daughter, considering she looked exactly like her father.
They arrived at a painting of a lady in a pink dress.
"Password?" she asked.
"Caput Draconis", Percy said and the painting swung open.
"Follow me, everyone. Keep up. Quickly, come on", Percy ordered.
They walked into a common room covered in red and gold.
It was the most beautiful thing Harry and Anya had ever seen.
"Gather around here", Percy said, "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boys' dormitory is upstairs to the left. Girls, the same on your right. You'll find all your belongings have already been brought up".
Percy left them to find their rooms.
"Night Anya", Harry said.
Anya blushed and said, "Night Harry". Anya was roomed with Hermione, Lavender Brown, Pavarti Patil, and a few other girls that Anya didn't get their names. Anya got changed for bed and unpacked her trunk. She took out a letter sent to her by her father.
My dearest lamb,
I deeply regret that I wasn't able to see you off to Hogwarts your first year. I am so proud of you love. Keep an eye on your god-brother for me.
Snuffles
Tears filled her eyes.
She took out the stuffed wolf Remus had given her. She clutched it and the letter to her chest and tried to sleep. She wasn't the one having trouble sleeping.
Harry sat in the window of his dormitory, stroking Hedwig's feathers.