After the train pulled away from the station, Annie and the others all spent five minutes chatting and briefly catching up, before Rose and Albus had to head off to the prefect compartment for their respective houses, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Rose practically had to drag an unwilling Albus out of the compartment, who was grumbling about being a prefect, whilst Rose was lecturing him about responsibility.
Annie giggled along with the others as James guffawed at his brother's misfortunes, and as the door closed she settled back into her seat.
Niamh dug around in her Bag before pulling out a sandwich that she proceeded to eat hungrily.
"Niamh… haven't you just eaten?" Dom questioned, staring at the way Niamh seemed to be almost inhaling her sandwich.
Niamh swallowed before saying "Well yeah… but that was 2 hours ago now… so it's time for second breakfast" before she continued devouring her sandwich.
James gawped at Niamh in appreciation, enjoying the spectacle she was creating, whilst Dom on the other hand turned away; slightly disgusted but obviously used to Niamh's antics.
"James, where are the others? Shouldn't they be here by now?" Dom asked, whilst glancing at the compartment door.
"Oh the guys are probably on their way now, as for Alice, I don't know where she is"
"She should be on her way too" said Niamh still muffled by her sandwich.
Dom caught Annie's look of confusion, before hurriedly explaining who the "others" were.
"Oh they're most of the 7th year Gryffindor's, well, all the ones that are our friends anyway, let's see there's Alice Longbottom, Neville's daughter, but of course you'll already know her…"
Annie had played together with Alice when they were younger; Dean and Neville were close friends so the girls entertained themselves while their father's chatted. From what Annie remembered, Alice was a quiet girl, calm and gentle, with mousy brown hair and grey eyes.
"And then for the guys…" James interrupted her thoughts, "there's Fin Wood, Charlie Jordan, and obviously Fred Wea…"
"Am I the topic of conversation already? Well I believe that's a new record. I know you guys miss me and all, but honestly I shouldn't take up all of your thoughts… all though I am pretty wonderful" Fred joked as he slid the door of the compartment open and strolled in.
"Fred, do us all a favour: stop talking and prevent air pollution." Dom said lazily before picking up her copy of Witch weekly that lay beside her, deliberately ignoring Fred.
"Ouch Dom, that hurt, you cut me deep there… really… I'm emotionally scarred" Fred wailed, whilst James sniggered.
Dom huffed before burying herself in her magazine.
Fred chortled as he chucked his case onto the now crowded luggage rack, and as he turned around, he froze. His eyes had settled on Annie who was sitting next to Dom, staring at the floor, almost hidden behind her long dark blonde hair.
'Why Annie? Why? Why were you such a moose when you were younger?' Annie thought desperately, all the while sinking further in her seat, hoping that if she was lucky she could mysteriously melt into the compartment bench and never be seen again. 'Pfft because that's going happen', she thought, noting the stupidity of the escape plan.
"Annie…?" Fred gasped, looking at her in shock.
Annie raised her eyes to look at Fred for the first time in six years, she was surprised to see a glimmer of happiness in his features, but almost as soon as she saw it, it vanished, and he was now looking at her coldly.
She winced, "Hey Fred, long time no see…" her sentence trailed off as he continued to glare at her.
The tension in the car was unbearable. James and Niamh were looking at them both quizzically, mouths slightly agape with a bit of lettuce hanging out of Niamh's; even Dom had torn herself away from the article and was observing their strange reunion.
"I… I didn't know you be attending Hogwarts; I thought you'd stay at Beauxbatons for your final year…?"
"Yeah well I was as shocked as you are, but I'm here…" Annie trailed off, avoiding his eye contact.
"Well great… that's just… great." Fred scowled, before heading over to the window, staring at James pointedly, who shuffled over in confusion, and Fred sat down and stared sullenly out of the window.
Annie fixed her eyes on the floor, hiding behind her hair, deliberately avoiding the questioning glances that she was receiving from James, Dom and even Niamh, who had finally finished her sandwich.
"Hey dudes! How was your summer yo?" said a guy bouncing into the compartment, shocking the others out of their stare fest, with a flat peak cap placed precariously on top of an impressive Afro. "Woah… who died in here?" he joked, noticing the tension around him, as another guy who was tall with sandy blonde hair came into the compartment, looking around at everyone.
"Hey guys, how was your summer?" Sandy hair asked, ignoring his friend.
"Great thanks Fin, I had to spend most of it with Mum and Victoire critiquing my EVERY move, dad was working so I didn't see him much." Dom smiled at Fin, before picking up her magazine,
"Oh and Fin, please tell your incredibly stupid friend that if he doesn't remove his incredibly stupid hat, he will be sitting outside the compartment, with his hat in shreds, but you have to say it slowly to him, so he can understand." Dom drawled, with a saccharine smile and a pointed look at Afro guy, before returning to her magazine.
"She has a point Charlie that hat does look stupid, so stop trying to be a gangster because you're crap at it." Lectured Fin, laughing at his friend who was now stuttering with indignation, before plonking himself down next to Annie, Charlie took the seat opposite him, occasionally throwing evil looks at the oblivious Dom.
"Hey who's this..?" Fin said, turning to look at Annie for the first time.
"Oh that's Annie, she's a transfer student from Beauxbatons and an old friend of ours" Niamh smiled at Annie, whilst digging in her other pockets for more food. "Oh for the love of Bald Trolls! I'm out of food… I'll have to wait till the trolley comes along." She sighed, slumping back in her seat.
Fred snorted, before turning back to stare out the window.
"Hi Annie, I'm Fin Wood, and that twit over there is Charlie Jordan." Fin said, smiling and holding out his hand.
Annie tore her gaze away from the floor and shook Fin's outstretched hand, smiling.
"Hi, I'm Annie"
Charlie was looking at her curiously, "Do… Do I know you from somewhere? I'm sure I recognise you…"
Annie blushed, and looked at her hands, "Um, no I don't think so."
General chit chat resumed amongst the group with everyone catching up on news about their summers, and Annie receiving the occasional strange look from Charlie and foul ones from Fred.
After a while Alice slipped into the apartment, gave Annie a hug and joined in with the conversation.
Once the food trolley had been and gone and Niamh had stopped whining after being excessively topped up with treats. She stuffed a liquorice wand in her mouth before calling across the compartment, "Hey Fred are you still Quidditch Captain this year? ", effectively ending any other conversation.
Fred turned from the window, still glowering but a smug look was beginning to spread across his face.
"Of course I'm still captain! We won last year didn't we?"
"Yeah we did!" James said high-fiving Fred.
"Umm yeah but only because Ravenclaw's Seeker got knocked out early, if he hadn't you guys would've lost, your dynamic was completely off last year, which may I point out Fred was your first year of captaincy, so Niamh had good reason to wonder." Dom said smugly from behind her magazine.
"Hey no fair! We still won." Fred mock pouted, causing a few chuckles and Dom to roll her eyes. "Anyway, good that we're holding tryouts for new team members then isn't it? We're going to kick-arse this year!" Fred said motivationally, some of the sparkle returning to his eyes.
"YES! Annie that means you can try out! Oh this year is going to be soooo good!" Niamh babbled excitedly bouncing on her seat. Annie could see Niamh getting more and more excited and combined with the memory of last time and the amount of sugar in Niamh's system, quickly intervened.
"Chill Niamh, I may not get in…" Annie said lightly, blushing.
"Of course you will, you're amazing, and you represented Franc…"
Annie threw a murderous look at her best friend, who quickly fell silent.
"That's where I recognise you from!" shouted Charlie eagerly, "You represented France last year for the junior Quidditch cup didn't you? I knew I've seen you before… " said a surprised Charlie as he attempted to run a hand through his Afro, which promptly got stuck, removing his hat in the process.
"Thanks Niamh" Annie said dangerously, who was now resembling a beetroot.
"No it's cool, we won't say will we guys?" Niamh pleaded, throwing beseeching looks at the others. They all nodded before adding their agreements, still shocked.
"Well… I won't say… If I can have your autograph?" Charlie said cheekily, before being elbowed in the ribs by Niamh.
"Seriously Charlie, not cool." Fin said, shaking his head in disapproval.
"What? I thought it was reasonable" Charlie joked.
"Do you mind if I don't? I feel kind of stupid" Annie said hastily. "I don't want to make this into a big deal; I may not even try out…"
"WHAT?!" Several people yelled.
"But you have to!"
"We could win!"
"You have to try out! Please?"
"Ok ok… I might" Annie said laughing at the loud response she was receiving.
"You're actually good? That's believable coming from the girl that lies." Fred said bitingly from the corner. Everyone fell silent again, staring at the two.
"I'm not bad"
"Pfft she's amaz-"
"Shut up Charlie!" several people chorused angrily.
"No it's ok guys, if I don't get picked then I don't get picked, I'm not that good" Annie said quietly.
Fred's expression softened slightly, before turning back round to the window.
"Well it's quite clear that my humour is not appreciated amongst you boring people" Charlie grumbled, breaking the ice again, before taking his hat of his head and slumping in his seat.
Conversation continued throughout the rest of the journey, Annie kept quiet, seemingly too interested in her hands and Fred stared out of the window, only contributing to the general flow of conversation occasionally.
As the landscape outside got rougher and wilder, Alice prompted them all that they should probably change into their robes and after much grumbling the boys stood outside as the girls changed.
Once they had swapped and they had finished changing, everyone congregated in the compartment.
"Guys, would someone mind explaining the housing system? I mean I know about Gryffindor, but I don't know about much else" Annie mumbled.
"Well what did they do for houses at Beauxbatons?" James asked.
"Oh I know this, they don't have houses, pupils are separated by years, HA take that mum, I do listen!"
"Dom you know she can't hear you…" Fin chuckled.
"That sucks! If I went to Beauxbatons how would I protect Lilly from all those boys?" James said in exasperation.
"On second thought maybe you should go to Beauxbatons, then Lilly might actually have a chance at a social life." scoffed Dom.
"She has a social life!" said James indignantly.
"We're getting off topic" Fin intervened before the argument escalated.
"Ok so you have four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. You are sorted into a house depended on your individual qualities, so Gryffindor's are known for their bravery and chivalry and Hufflepuff's are known for their kindness and hard-working nature. Ravenclaw's are known for their wit and intelligence and Slytherin's are known for their ambition and cunning." Alice rattled off, counting the qualities on her fingers and smiling at Annie.
"Ok… and last question, how do you get put into a house?" asked Annie, worry clearly showing in her face.
"You have to do some really serious magic and the they put you in the lake to wrestle with old squiddipus and then…." said James with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Shut up james" Dom intervened, as she saw Annie's face getting paler by the second.
"You get sorted by the sorting hat, don't worry they only put a mangy old hat on your head" Fin said placatingly, trying to ease Annie's nerves.
"I wonder if you'll have to go in the boat with the first years if you're getting sorted…" Charlie mused, stroking an imaginary beard for comedic effect.
"I would've of thought so" Alice chuckled. "Don't worry Annie; we'll save a seat for you at the table".
As the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, the whole group filed off the train. Dom, Niamh and Alice gave Annie a big hug and James gave her a reassuring pat whilst Fin and Charlie shouted their good lucks over the noisy crowd, before they all headed off to catch up with Fred who had strode ahead to the carriages, completely ignoring Annie.
Annie searched the crowded platform for Professor Hagrid, who she had met when she was younger; she knew that he was in charge of taking the first years up to the school. She saw him at the other end of the platform, ushering a group of first years to the side, whilst calling out to the others. She waved at him frantically, but he didn't see her; which was no surprise as he wasn't expecting a seventh year that needed sorting along with the FIRST years. Annie squeezed through the throng of students and made her way over, dragging her trunk as she went.
"Hey Hagrid" She called pushing through the first years.
"Well bless my 'eart, is that you Annie? Professor McGonagall told me to expect yeh" said Hagrid grinning, his black beetle eyes twinkling in the half light.
"So I have to go with the first years across the lake then?" Annie sighed.
"I'm afraid so, although yeh can come in the boat with me if yeh wan'"
"Thanks Hagrid"
"Now, if yeh jus' put your trunk by the edge of the platform and wait with the firs' years" Hagrid said cheerily as he headed off down the platform to round up any stray first years.
Annie dragged her trunk to the side of the platform and placed it with the other luggage, and unsure where she should go, now that Hagrid wasn't around, she wandered slowly over to the first years.
"So hi guys" Annie said to a group of extremely small first years, 'was she that short at their age?' "You excited about starting Hogwarts then?"
They all looked at her warily, before shuffling away from her, and whispering to each other.
"What! Never seen a seventh year being sorted with a bunch of first years before?" Annie said indignantly. "Stupid first years" she muttered, as she went to sit on a bench to wait for Hagrid.
After five minutes, the platform seemed a lot more spacious as the majority of the students had made their way over to the carriages, and she saw Hagrid herding a cluster of three scared looking first years over to the rest of the group.
"Righ' now everyone, if you'll all follow me" Hagrid called to the group before turning round and heading to the end of the platform. He led them down a small track through a field and down the hill towards the black glistening lake, the light of the lanterns casting shimmering patterns on the glinting water.
"Now everyone, only four to a boat" Hagrid directed the first years towards to their boats and five minutes later they were all safely in, after a few near accidents.
"Well come on Annie, yeh gonna get in aren' yeh?"
"But there's no boat left"
"Oh I forgot, hang on" He said as he went round the corner and came back pulling a large boat, which was double the size of the others.
He slid it gently into the water and Annie clambered in, followed by Hagrid, who rocked the boat so violently that Annie had to cling on to avoid falling into the lake.
Once Hagrid was secure, the boats started to glide across the lake by magic, the black waves lapping at the sides. As they came round a bend, Hogwarts came into view and Annie gasped.
It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. Perched atop a high cliff, towering over the lake was a huge castle with many turrets and towers, the windows were glittering like stars in the inky black night, it almost seemed to exude magic. Gasps and cries of "oohs" and "aahs" echoed around her.
Once they got to the shore of the lake, the headed up the lawns to the entrance hall of the castle where they were met by Professor Rochelle, Head of Ravenclaw house and Deputy Head of Hogwarts. She had soft warm eyes and exuded a calm demeanour, which seemed to be working it's magic on the first years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, will begin momentarily so I want you all to line up in alphabetical order. However, as we have a transfer student among us this year, due to the age gap Miss Thomas shall be sorted first" Announced Professor Rochelle looking at Annie and giving her a comforting smile, as Annie grimaced at the news.
As Annie took her place at the front of the line she started to fidget uncomfortably; her stomach tying itself up in knots, whilst Professor Rochelle aided the first years who were trying to get into Alphabetical order behind her.
"Right everyone ready? Good, this way please" said Professor Rochelle, as she turned on the spot and walked towards the entrance of what Annie assumed to be the great hall.
Annie walked after her, her palms sweating. She hadn't even felt this nervous about her dance competitions, but maybe this meant more to her, she pondered that thought as she walked through the large doors of the Great Hall.
As she followed Professor Rochelle into the great hall, she heard gasps from behind her from the titches, she turned slightly to look at them from out of the corner of her eye to see what all the fuss was about. Many of them were pointing at the ceiling and whispering, much to the amusement of the older students. She followed their gaze and looked up and was surprised to see the night sky above her head.
Although it was stunning, with the twinkling stars above her head, she had now focussed her gaze at the end of the aisle, below the staff table, where a stool was placed with a battered hat atop of it.
She saw Niamh and the others waving frantically at her from the far right of the room which she presumed to be the Gryffindor table. She smiled at them briefly before returning her focus to the stool ahead.
Niamh watched Annie heading up the centre aisle from the Gryffindor table, Annie was a white as a sheet, completely fading out her perpetual tan, and focusing so hard on the stool ahead of her, Niamh was suprised it didn't burst into flames.
"She's looks ill." Fin observed.
"That's because she's nervous you dolt!"
"Why is she nervous? She'll obviously be in Gryffindor" Charlie scoffed.
"Annie doesn't like being the centre of attention, hasn't done for a while" Niamh replied, her eyes still fixed on Annie.
"She never used to be like that" Fred mused, watching her walk.
"Well the move to France changed her a lot"
Fred's expression closed off again and he started to look around the hall rather than at the sorting.
"Everyone, quiet! They're about to start." Alice shushed the others, and they all turned towards the front of the hall.
Annie stopped behind Professor Rochelle in front of the stool, and waited anxiously while the deputy head addressed the rest of the school.
"We have an unusual sorting this year as we have a transfer student from Beauxbatons, so I want you all to make her feel very welcome; we'll begin with Annie Clara Thomas." She announced.
Conscious of all the eyes on her she stumbled towards the stool. No, you're being silly now, get a grip, head up, eyes forward she lectured herself, and taking a deep breath, turned round to face to face the school and sat down gently.
Professor Rochelle placed the sorting hat on her head, and she looked at the brim of the hat in trepidation, not sure of what was about to happen.
A voice appeared, as if whispering into her ear and she looked around until she realised that the source of the whispering was coming from the hat on top of her head. "Ahh it seems only yesterday that I was sorting your parents, what true Gryffindor's they were."
"Now, where to put you…" the voice mused. "Hmm you have a hard working nature, and very determined I see… but your loyalty to others is very strong and your bravery is admirable, however your ambition and drive will ensure your success… you have a very bright future Miss Thomas" the hat said warmly. "You could easily fit into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Slytherin… nevertheless" it continued decisively, "because you wear your heart on your sleeve, I know just where to put you… but before I sort you Miss Thomas there is one piece of advice I want to give: No matter what is in your past, the ones you love are always worth fighting for.
"So … better be… GRYFFINDOR!"