CHAPTER 2: Welcome to Hogwarts
Evangeline stood on the platform together with her brother, gazing at the beautiful red train in front of them. The platform was filled with people, Evangeline found it all to be a bit too much if she was to be honest. Jay's arm rested around her shoulders, trying to make her more comfortable.
"Eva!" Evangeline spun around and saw James Potter, the boy she had met at Diagon Alley, making his way towards her with his parents following closely behind. A bright smile lit up Evangeline's face as she realized she was not all alone. She took a step forward and greeted James with a hug. James grinned widely back at her and slung an arm around her shoulders, before shaking Jay's hand with the other one. Harold and Olivia Potter reached the three of them.
Harold and Olivia shook hands with Jay and said hello to Evangeline before glancing at the clock.
"You children better go on the train soon, it is almost eleven" Olivia said before drawing James into a bear hug. James tried to squirm his way out of her grip as she placed kisses all over his face but he did not succeed very well. Evangeline turned to her brother, with tears burning in her eyes. Jay looked down at her with a small smile, he grabbed her arm and drew her close to him.
"You listen to me now Evie, you do your best in all of your classes, you behave well and don't forget to have fun" he told her and managed a grin. Evangeline grinned back as she wiped the tears away that fallen down her cheeks.
"I will do that, I'll write you every week. You'll answer, won't you?" she asked nervously.
"Of course I will answer your letters, you are my baby sis and it is my duty to answer every one of your letters" he said as he pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, she didn't want to say goodbye to him.
"Go Evie, have fun. We'll see each other at Christmas, it is not that long" he told her, she nodded before slowly letting go of him. James who had now said goodbye to his parents came over to the two, looking at Evangeline.
"Ready to go?" he asked her, she nodded. He slung an arm around her shoulders and the two of them headed for the train. Evangeline looked back before climbing up the stairs of the train, Jay waved at her and she waved back. Just a minute after James and Evangeline entered the train started moving. Most of the compartments were already filled with students, but they eventually found one with only a young boy in it. He was around their age, probably a 1st year too.
"Hey mate, can my friend and I sit here?" James asked, the boy looked up, his pale blue eyes kind but insecure.
"Of course" he answered quietly, James grinned and sat down opposite to the young boy, Evangeline taking a place next to James, his arm still around her shoulders. Since the boy didn't seem like a person that talked a lot, James took it upon himself to introduce everybody to each other.
"I'm James Potter and this here is my friend Evangeline Moore." He said and pointed at Evangeline when he said her name. The boy looked up from the floor with a small smile.
"I'm Remus Lupin" he said and extended his hand, both James and Evangeline shook it. They chatted about which house they might be sorted into when arriving at Hogwarts, both James and Remus came from wizard families and could tell Evangeline all about it. She was amazed by all of this. This couldn't be real, could it? How had she gotten so lucky she asked herself.
When they reached Hogwarts they were told they would travel to last way to the castle with boats. Evangeline was scared, she had never been on a boat before. When they turned out to be quite small, it freaked her out even more. James sensed that something was wrong with his newly found friend, took her hand in his and smiled down at her. He climbed into the boat at first, helping both Remus and Evangeline into it. A small boy named Peter Pettigrew went in their boat as well. He seemed nice enough but really insecure about himself, Evangeline concluded. The four of them chatted away until they reached what James told her was called the Great Hall. All of the first years stood outside of it as a stern looking woman stood in front of them, on the top of the stairs.
"You will follow me, when they are ready for us inside. For those of you that don't know I am Professor McGongagall. You will be sorted into one of the four houses by the Sorting Hat and after wards you will join your house mates by the house table. Any questions?" she asked, a serious tone in her voice. Evangeline stood together with James, Remus and Peter. Apparently James's family were traditionally sorted into Gryffindor, Evangeline desperately wished to be sorted there as well, she didn't want to loose her friend. Soon enough they were let into the Great Hall. Evangeline could feel all of the older student's eyes on them as they walked through the whole hall. The sorting quickly started and McGonagall called out name after name.
"Black, Sirius" she called out, Evangeline heard James grunt beside her and looked questioningly at him.
"The Black family believes in really dumb stuff and I do not like them a little bit" James said loudly, the boy named Sirius must have heard because he looked angrily at James. Evangeline looked at Sirius, he had dark brown hair and grey eyes. James leaned in closer towards her.
"Most definitely a Slytherin" he told her, certainty in his voice. Evangeline's eyes turned to the boy being sorted. It took a couple of minutes, the boy started to look nervous and James had a frown upon his face.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat finally yelled, everyone in the Great Hall were wide eyed, mouths hanging open.
"No bloody way" James muttered under his breath. The boy on stool seemed just as shocked as everyone else. After a couple of seconds, he slowly rose from his seat and walked towards the Gryffindor table. Evangeline felt bad for him, everyone else that had been sorted into a house had gotten applauds, but he got nothing except people staring at him like was some kind of exotic animal. Professor McGonagall was among the first to gather herself, she continued with the list.
"Black, Narcissa" She called out, a petite girl with long silver blonde hair and grey eyes stepped forward. Evangeline looked at her, she was a pretty girl but she felt fake, like something was lurking under the surface.
"SLYTHERIN!" The Hat called out quickly, the Slytherin's cheered for their new housemate, but only half heartily as they were still in shock that Sirius Black wasn't sorted into their house. The list continued on, they were soon down to the E's.
"Evans, Lily" McGonagall said, a very pretty girl with fierce red hair, emerald green eyes that sparkled with joy, a couple of freckles spread out on her cheeks and an amazing smile. Evangeline could not help to stare at her, she had such a different look about her. Evangeline got the feeling that she was a nice person just by looking at her.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat called out, Evangeline turned to hear James's opinion about the girl but found him staring at her like an idiot. She elbowed him in the side which snapped him out of his trance. James looked from Evangeline to Lily and then back to Evangeline.
"That must have been the most beautiful person I have ever seen" he said mesmerized, Evangeline couldn't help the laughter that escaped her throat. James didn't seem to be offended though, he just stared at the girl now sitting by the Gryffindor table. The sorting continued.
"Lupin, Remus" Remus sent his new friends a nervous look before walking towards the Hat. It quickly shouted out Gryffindor and Evangeline gave him a bright smile when he walked towards the tables.
"Malfoy, Lucius" Professor McGonagall called out after a little while, Evangeline swallowed as she realized it might be her turn after this one. A boy with silver blonde hair licked back and a mean looking face came up. The Hat barely touched his head before it shouted out which house he belonged too, he proudly walked towards the Slytherin table.
"Moore, Evangeline" The Professor said, James gave her a thumbs up and Remus sent her a friendly smile as she walked up towards the Hat. She sat down on the stool and took a deep breath as the Hat was placed upon her head.
"Ah Miss Moore, how I have awaited your arrival" the Hat spoke, Evangeline realized that it was only her that could hear it speak. That was kind of freaky.
"You have nothing to fear, every Hogwarts student has gone through this sorting" The Hat said, dear God it could hear her thoughts as well.
"You Miss Moore is quite a riddle, you do not belong to any of the houses a hundred percent because you possess qualities of all of the houses" The Hat told her, Evangeline became confused. What did she mean that she possessed qualities of all of the houses?
"You are ambitious, witty and intelligent enough to be in Ravenclaw. You are friendly, loyal and hard working, which would make you a fine Huffelpuff. You are brave, daring and will do almost everything to protect your loved ones, with those qualities you would certainly fit in the Gryffindor house. You are powerful and a bit cunning, the house of Slytherin could fit you as well" The Hat explained to her.
"I do not know which house to put you in as you belong to neither at the same time as you belong to all" The Hat said, it even sounded a little bit confused.
"Which house would you rather belong to Miss Moore?" The Hat asked, Evangeline didn't hesitate. Gryffindor please, she thought to herself as well as the Hat.
"Gryffindor it will be then, remember Miss Moore that you are very powerful and many will want you to abuse the powers you have been given. Stay true to yourself and you will succeed with your task, trust your friends and be aware of your enemies. You will be the most powerful witch through all of time and with that comes great responsibility. Farewell for now" The Hat spoke to her before shouting out which house she belonged to. The Gryffindor house exploded with cheers and whistles as Evangeline rose from her seat and walked down to the Gryffindor table. She took a place next to Remus which made her sit opposite to the red haired girl named Lily. She quickly stuck out her hand.
"Hi there, you're Lily right?" she asked, the girl nodded and smiled at her.
"Yes and you must be Evangeline" she answered, Evangeline nodded.
"Yeah that's me but I prefer to be called something else, you know like a nickname. My brother calls me Evie, others call me Eve or Eva or even Lina. Whatever you like" Evangeline told her with a smile. Lily nodded and then both girls turned back to the sorting. Peter was sorted into Gryffindor, and came and sat with the rest of them. The only ones of the first years that didn't sit with them was Sirius Black who was sitting on his own, sulking.
"Potter, James" Evangeline shifted her gaze from the lonely boy to James who was now sitting on the stool. The Hat barely touched his messy hair before it shouted out that he belonged to Gryffindor. James walked with a bit of cockiness over to the Gryffindor table and sat down besides Evangeline, putting his arms around her shoulders.
"It's cool that we got sorted into the same house Angel" he said with a joyful voice, Evangeline raised her eyebrows at the nickname. James grinned at her.
"Well there's an angel in your name so I thought it would suite you well" he explained, Evangeline just rolled her eyes at him. Soon the food appeared on the table and Dumbledore held his speech. Together with the others first years in Gryffindor Evangeline walked up to their common room and dorms. She found out that she would share with Lily, and two other girls, Alice Taylor and Cassandra Finnegan. She didn't mind as they all seemed really nice. She fell asleep instantly.