"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!"
The hat shouted out and the table on the far left cheered loudly. Annie felt relief wash through her and smiled broadly as she handed the hat to Professor Rochelle. As she turned towards the table she saw Niamh waving frantically, bouncing up and down, and all the others cheering along with the rest of the Gryffindor's. She searched the table for Fred, curious about his reaction, and spotted him on the edge of the group. She watched him for a moment and with a sinking feeling realised that he was the only Gryffindor not cheering.
She hastily made her way over to the Gryffindor table and slipped into the seat beside Niamh, ignoring the sullen presence at the edge of the group. Everyone congratulated her before turning to watch the rest of the sorting.
As she watched the first years being sorted into their houses and cheering along with the rest of the Gryffindor's each time one of them was sorted into their house, she mulled over the advice the sorting hat had given her.
"No matter what is in your past, the ones you love are always worth fighting for."
Why did it say it to her? I mean surely that's quite an obvious bit of advice? Was it a warning? But if it was, why would she need to hear that?
She nudged Niamh to get her attention away from little Maisy Evans, who was currently being sorted.
"What?" Niamh whispered whilst still half looking at the sorting.
"Is it normal for the sorting hat to give you advice while you're being sorted?" Annie whispered.
"Uh, I don't know, I mean it's different for everybody. But when I was sorted I didn't get advice…"
"Oh ok… no worries then…" Annie trailed off.
"Why, what did it say to you?"
"I'll tell you later" Annie answered before cheering with the other Gryffindor's as little Maisy Evans skipped over to the Gryffindor bench, effectively ending their conversation.
Once all the first years had been sorted a light hum of chatter had filled the hall as they became acquainted with their houses.
The sound of a chair being pushed back, followed by a cough quickly silenced the great hall.
Annie turned with the rest of the student body towards the front of the hall, where an elderly lean woman, with sleek grey hair neatly pulled back in a tight bun; piercing green eyes, and a stern expression, addressed the Great Hall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am your Headmistress; Professor McGonagall and before we begin this year's start of term feast, there are a few announcements which I need to make. Firstly that the forbidden forest is out of bounds to all students and should not be used as a means of a practical joke." She said, looking knowingly at the Gryffindor table as James, Fred and Fin all looked innocently at each other whilst Charlie sniggered.
"Secondly Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that if anyone were interested, a list of all the banned items can be found in his office. However, as Mr Filch is a little hard of hearing at the moment he will have an assistant: Mr Bertswump, who is acting caretaker and should be treated as a member of staff by the student body.
"And finally, I sincerely hope that all of you try your utmost this year in your studies and your day to day lives' at Hogwarts, for this school is not all about study and exam results, but bringing you into wizarding society as a talented and qualified individual who has mastered the full extent of their magical ability and for enjoying life as it is." She said, giving a small smile to the students, which softened her stern features a fraction.
Professor McGonagall clapped her hands together once, and suddenly mountains of all types of food appeared on all of the tables, covering every inch with delicious looking dishes accompanied by mouth-watering smells.
Students and teachers alike started tucking into the food and piling it onto their plates as Professor McGonagall took her seat. Annie gaped at the food around her, completely overwhelmed with the variety and confused as what to pick first.
"You look like one of the first years" Fin chuckled, loading crunchy roast potatoes onto his plate.
"Well she pretty much is a first year… apart from the fact she's old." James teased, grinning at Annie and causing Charlie to snort into his food.
"Eww gross Charlie, did you just get snot in your food?!" asked Dom, putting down her own fork and looking at Charlie with disgust.
"No…" said Charlie staring at his plate, "Oh, wait… yes, yes I did" he said, staring intently at his food.
"Charlie!"
"What?"
"You do realise that is absolutely revolting?" said Alice, looking at Charlie in concern.
"Oh come on it's not that bad… look" he said, and picking up his fork continued eating his food.
"Charlie!" Alice gasped.
"Awh no man that's gross!" Fin complained.
"And you wonder why you haven't had a decent girlfriend…" Dom sighed.
"Look guys it's not bad, it came from my body… so what's so gross about it going back in?" reasoned Charlie before picking up his fork and continuing to eat his food.
Fred chuckled and Annie looked up from demolishing some roast chicken. "Only you would think like that Charlie, maybe the large afro is a disguise for your small brain." Fred joked, shaking his head at his friend. "…Alas I do see your point, although I personally would never eat that" he said, nodding at the plate in front of Charlie.
"Hey! Afro brother's never insult another brother's Afro! Didn't you read the guide book?" Charlie mock lectured Fred, punching him lightly on the arm.
"Charlie you know my hair isn't an afro, it's just curly…" Fred said patiently.
"I understand you as well Charles, and if I had the most delicious food in the world on a plate in front of me I'd probably do the same" Niamh proclaimed whilst tucking into her plate of spaghetti.
"You know I hate being called Charles" Charlie mumbled, whilst Niamh gave him a wicked grin causing the whole group to laugh.
"So Annie what subjects are you taking this year?" Alice asked across the table.
Annie hastily swallowed her food to answer, but ended up nearly choking on her food and proceeded to have a coughing fit, much to the amusement of the boys and Niamh, whilst Alice looked on in worry as Dom patted her on the back. "Thanks for the support guys" Annie wheezed out after having a sip of water, whilst the others continued to chuckle and eat their food; waiting for Annie to respond to the original question.
"Well I'm taking Arithmancy, History of Magic, Potions, Defence, Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology." Annie rattled off, counting them all of her fingers.
"Wow, you've taken a lot of NEWTs!" Charlie said, with a forkful of broccoli half-way to his mouth.
"Really? … well that's the normal amount for Beauxbatons"
"Well for here, it's five" Niamh chimed in, still intent on her food.
"Oh, well` I'm still going to take them all, they're my favourite subjects." Annie grinned.
"Maybe you should have been in Ravenclaw if you like work that much" Alice mused.
"Ha, that's the only house the sorting hat was definite that I wouldn't be in, I don't think I'm logical enough, usually my emotions get the better of me and then I end up in sticky situations" Annie chuckled.
"Hey Annie, you'll be in all of mine, Fred, and Niamh's lessons, yeah Defence, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology" James said, grinning at her from across the table, Fred's expression turned sour.
Niamh smiled smugly and gave Annie a small nudge, "we're going to have so much fun this year!"
"Oh Goody…" Fred mumbled into his food. Annie tried to ignore him but her smile faltered, as she tried to change the subject by asking Alice if she had any classes with her.
"Look what is going on between you two? Ever since you guys met on the train, the day has been full of awkward silences, Fred being moody and grouchy like he's perpetually on his Meriod, which is definitely not like him, and Annie wincing every time he says something. Now I know both of you well, and although I haven't seen you Annie for a long time, I'm convinced this isn't your usual behaviour." Dom ranted, looking at both Annie and Fred irately.
The whole group fell silent, and although shocked at Dom's outburst, none seemed to disagree and looked at Annie and Fred expectantly.
Annie looked at her plate, not sure of what to say next. Fred shifted in his seat awkwardly. The silence stretched on and on, and although everyone around them was warmly chatting away, the temperature of the group seem to have dropped about 10°C.
"Well?" Dom demanded.
"It's nothing you guys, it's just Fred and I haven't seen each other for a long time and we're just getting used to each other again." Annie said meekly, not making eye contact with anyone.
"Well that's a load of troll bogey's, you guys used to get along like broom twigs on fire!" Niamh said, staring intently at the two, trying to figure them out.
"Look just leave it ok, we're fine aren't we Annie" said Fred, his voice slightly grating over her name.
Annie looked up to see him looking at her, and she looked at him properly for the first time. Fred Weasley had grown up. He was no longer the little boy that she would chase round the orchard after he nicked her miniature broomstick, or the boy whose nose would crinkle every time he drunk something fizzy, no longer the boy who had been her best friend. Fred Weasley was tall and muscled from all those years of Quidditch, and his hair was a mess of untameable black curls, with wicked glinting chocolate eyes, that were now filled with intensity and anger. He was no longer a friend let alone her best friend, and he couldn't even say her name without resentment lacing it, but most importantly, he had never forgiven her.
Annie swallowed the ache in her throat and nodded at him, sadness and regret showing openly in her eyes. "Yes we're fine." Annie said quietly, looking away.
Dom was about to start interrogating them again before James interrupted, "Look leave it alone everyone, they've said they're fine so let's just move on" he said looking calmly around at the others, and Annie mentally sighed in relief.
She let everyone go back to their food before asking what other subjects everyone else took. She found out that Fin would be in Defence and History of Magic with her which was a relief as it was meant to be extremely boring. Dom would be in her Arithmancy, Charms and Transfiguration lessons, Whilst Alice and Charlie would join her in Defence, Charms and Herbology.
Annie sat contentedly eating her food, reassured that she wouldn't be alone in any of her lessons and just as she was finishing the last bites of food on her plate, it vanished.
"Hey! Where's my plate gone?" she asked impatiently as she realised that everyone's plates had gone and so had all the food.
"Oh I hate it when they do that!" cried Niamh, who had just been about to eat a large mouthful of chicken, as Charlie looked sadly down at where his plate had been, whilst the others laughed at their expense having already finished their food.
Seconds later another clean, empty plates and cutlery appeared to Annie's confusion, and at another clap of Professor McGonagall's hands, the tables were laden with all the types of puddings that you could imagine.
Annie's eyes scanned the table in wonder, before hastily digging into a chocolate gateau that was sat in front of her, before loading many other types of pudding onto her plate savouring the sticky sweetness with every mouthful.
After finishing her pudding, she sat back slightly and realised how tight the waistband of her skirt was, "hmm this might be an issue" she said tugging at her waistband, trying to stretch it slightly.
Niamh laughed, noticing her friends discomfort and pulled her own waistband for Annie to see, it was elasticated. Annie grinned in response.
"Dom did it for me, she's very good with clothes, I suppose that comes from working with them and modelling them, but you could ask her to put one in for you." as she finally lay down her fork.
Annie turned to Dom, who had fortunately heard the conversation. "Yeah sure, I can do it this evening, it will only take me two seconds" she smiled at Annie.
"Oh good, well that's one less thing I have to worry about." Annie joked.
Annie grew gradually sleepier as everyone finished their puddings, and a dozy hum of chatter filled the hall. After everyone had finished Professor McGonagall rose from her chair for the final time, silencing the hall.
"Now everyone, I expect for you to all be on time tomorrow morning for your first lessons of the year, So could everyone please head to their respective Houses for an early night, goodnight everyone" she said, dismissing the students to bed. Annie rose sleepily with the rest of the students, before filing out of the hall, following Niamh, Dom and Alice. As she neared the doorway to the entrance hall someone flew into her and hugged her tightly. She turned to see a wild mass of auburn curls and bright blue eyes, the exact same shape as Fred's.
"Hello Roxy" Annie smiled, hugging the smaller girl back.
"Annie I'm so glad you're here! I've missed you so much" Roxanne smiled, reluctant to let go of Annie.
Annie laughed and looked at the younger girl her noting how similar she was to Fred, yet how different at the same time. "It's so good to see you Roxy, I've missed you too" she said still hugging the other girl back.
"So are you here for your last year then? I bumped into Rose on the train and she told me you were here but I didn't get the chance to see you." Roxy pouted.
"Yes I'm here for my last year, I'm glad I got to see you before school started. Maybe we could catch up sometime, you know, when we're not surrounded by all the other students." Annie teased, whilst noting that Fred was watching them with a curious expression on his face.
"Yes definitely! How about Wednesday evening in the library? We're supposed to be quiet and everything, but it's a great place to meet if you know the Muffliato charm" she winked at Annie, before giving her another quick hug and walking off in the direction of Ravenclaw tower, with her cousin Lucy and her other friends.
Annie smiled after her, before Niamh tugged her sleeve and pulled her after the rest of the group, heading to what she assumed to be Gryffindor tower.