"How'd we end up this way? See me nervously pulling at my clothes and trying to look busy, and you're doing your best to avoid me." - Story of Us, Taylor Swift
Present…
"First years please follow me!" Danny called out. She, along with the other Seventh Year prefects, were leading the incoming first years to the Great Hall. LaFontaine and the other younger prefects were helping them keep order… sort of.
LaF glanced at Will who was mostly scaring the lower years with stories of monsters hidden around Hogwarts including something about some secret chamber with a basilisk or something like that. Lex noticed what he was doing and immediately called his attention, threatening him with suspension from prefect duties. Will sneered at her but his reddening ears revealed how he really felt. Carmilla snickered and said something to Lex who just shook her head.
It always fascinated LaF that William Eisen, one of the people considered the most feared in their batch, seemed terrified of his older cousin. Carmilla, another one of those people, was more at ease with Lex.
If they were completely honest, Lex was pretty intimidating. At five-eight, she stood five inches shorter than Danny yet the way she carried herself made her seem taller. She gave off an aura that commanded respect. She's a pretty charismatic Quidditch captain despite being the least sociable Karnstein.
Will was a little taller than his cousin but didn't have the same air of authority. He did exude arrogance and pretentiousness. He was also a little spoiled, most probably because he was the youngest among the cousins and the only boy. To give him some credit, he was an excellent but violent beater in Quidditch. The other houses were wary of him which was why Gryffindor and Ravenclaw sighed in relief when Lex suspended him from their games. Hufflepuff wasn't so lucky.
Last among the Karnstein cousins was none other than Carmilla. She's the daughter of the current Minister for Magic, Adelaide Karnstein. According to people, Adelaide regarded her as her "glittering girl" and raised her to be charming which she admittedly was if she wanted to be. However, Carmilla obviously didn't like the attention her mother gave her making her the most rebellious among her cousins. It surprised everyone when she was named as a Slytherin prefect back when she was in her fifth year. People thought that her mother was the one who pulled strings so Carmilla would get the position but LaFontaine had their money on Lex. Lex obviously cared a lot for her cousin and wasn't pleased with her rebellious nature so she probably thought that making her prefect would teach her a lesson, somehow.
The Ravenclaws had a small grudge against Carmilla because despite her slacking, she continued to get outstanding marks in her subjects. They accused Lex of cheating for her cousin but LaFontaine could tell that such an act was beneath the girl. Which left only one other explanation: Carmilla was just infuriatingly good. She was one of the best seekers in Quidditch and to this day, hasn't been bested by any of the other seekers.
LaFontaine's attention was diverted away from the Karnstein cousins to Perry when the latter approached a shy looking first year. Perry knelt in front of her, smiled, then asked her a few questions. The girl answered shyly at first then she gradually became more enthusiastic with her answers. LaF couldn't help but smile at the scene. The girl reminded them of a young Perry during her first few years at Hogwarts.
Perry and they were friends since childhood. Perry, being a year older, went to Hogwarts first. The older girl was so terrified before leaving on the Hogwarts Express. The fear was even more amplified because her best friend wouldn't be with her. That was pretty much the reason why LaF was a hat stall during their sorting ceremony.
Once all the first years were safely inside The Great Hall, the prefects and Student Heads sat with their respective houses. LaFontaine and Perry sat next to each other at the Hufflepuff table. Laura ended up right between Danny and Kirsch. The poor girl found herself smack dab in the middle of one of their petty arguments. She glanced at the Hufflepuff table, her eyes screaming for help. LaFontaine laughed and mouthed, "There, there" which earned her a glare and a "not helping." They shook their head and looked at Headmistress Matska Belmonde, a tall dark-skinned woman. She terrified Laura for some reason. She barely spoke and nobody really knew what kind of person she was which was odd considering she was chosen to be Hogwarts' new Headmistress. All everyone knew was that she was a Ravenclaw when she was still a student of Hogwarts and that she knew the Minister for Magic in some way or another. The Hall quieted down when she tapped her fork against her glass.
"Welcome, students, to another year at Hogwarts! First, I would like to acknowledge the winners of last year's House Cup and the Quidditch Cup! Slytherin!" she said, gesturing to the table with green and silver banners above them. The entire Slytherin table clapped and cheered. Will was one of the especially loud ones, banging his fist onto the table while shouting a bunch of inaudible stuff. Carmilla clapped slowly and wore a dry smirk. Lex, however, only smiled a little before her face reverted back to, what they liked to call "the resting bitch face."
When Slytherin quieted down, Belmonde continued. "Wishing you the best of luck in defending your titles. The rest of the announcements will come after the sorting. She gestured for Professor Longbottom, a slightly chubby man with some stubbles on his face, to get on with the sorting.
Everyone's attention was directed to the Sorting Hat, resting on a stool in front of the professors' table. Professor Longbottom stood up and lifted the hat after bringing out a (very long) list of names.
"Abernathy, Paige," he called out. The little girl Perry talked to earlier stepped forward and sat on the stool. The hat was placed on her head and shortly afterwards, it called out "Hufflepuff!"
LaFontaine's entire table clapped and cheered. Some of the second years stood up to welcome Paige to their table. She locked eyes with Perry who smiled at her and gave her a thumbs-up.
"That was a lot shorter than yours, LaF," Perry said. " You know, I really thought you were going to be placed in Gryffindor."
LaF simply smiled and replied with, "I guess I was a Hufflepuff at heart." Perry looked at them and smiled so warmly they felt their heart melt. They would give anything to make sure Perry always smiled like that.
Five Years Ago…
"LaFontaine, Susan!"
LaF scowled at the name. Their parents thought they were a girl until they brought them home and found out they were that kind of Metamorphmagus. It was too late to change their name on their birth certificate to a more gender neutral one which was why they called them by their surname instead.
They sat on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on their head.
Ah, a metamorphmagus, the Hat spoke in their head. Your kind is very rare. Hmmm, let's see. You're fiercely loyal and courageous. I'd say-
"Gr-"
Wait! LaF shouted in their head. If it was possible, the hat scowled. They could feel its irritation.
What's this? You think I'm wrong? I've been used for generations. I'm never wrong.
LaF sighed. Everyone was looking at her curiously. I know, I know. It's just that, my friend, Perry. They felt the Sorting Hat shift to look at the said girl. She'd be alone in Hufflepuff and I don't want her to be alone.
That's not how sorting works.
LaFontaine scowled. Yeah but can't you make an exception just this once?
They felt the hat thinking. Well you can be as loyal and as nice as a Hufflepuff, added to the fact that your mother was one. Very well. I shall sort you in-
"Hufflepuff!" It announced.
LaFontaine breathed a sigh of relief. The Hufflepuff table cheered. They sat down next to Perry who gave them a hug.
"What took you so long?" Perry asked them.
They grinned at her and said, "I guess it fell asleep trying to look for my personality."
Perry laughed. The happiness on their friend's face was definitely worth that nerve-wracking conversation.
Several more people were called after LaFontaine. Laura anxiously waited for her turn. Her father didn't say anything about her mother's house and even though Danny, LaF, Perry, and Kirsch gave her an idea of the traits of each house, she still wasn't sure where she would belong.
Was she kind enough to be a Hufflepuff? Was she cunning enough to be a Slytherin? Was she smart enough to be a Ravenclaw? Or was she brave enough to be Gryffindor?
"Hollis, Laura!" Professor Longbottom called out.
(Oh god oh god oh god. No. Not yet. I'm not ready how does this work? I'm confused. Help. Someone help! Do I just sit? Am I supposed to say something or-)
Please stop, the hat said.
Oh it's on my head. Laura shifted in her seat. So how does this work?
The hat laughed. You really are Emma's daughter.
Laura felt something stir inside her. You knew my mother? Right, of course you do.
If it was possible, the Sorting Hat probably would've laughed. You're curious and intuitive enough to be a Ravenclaw but your bravery, just like your mother's, is definitely...
"Gryffindor!" The hat announced.
The Gryffindor table cheered and welcomed her to the table. She sat down next to Danny who smiled and clapped her back. Kirsch was sitting across her and he gave her two thumbs up. Laura smiled. She's in the same house as her mother. It wasn't much but she already felt closer to her.
Laura was seated facing the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables. She saw LaFontaine next to Perry on the Hufflepuff table and she gave them a wave.
"Karnstein, Carmilla!" The whole hall suddenly went silent. Laura turned to ask Danny why everyone was suddenly so quiet but the taller girl had her eyes trained on Carmilla too. The hat was placed on her head and after a few seconds it announced "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table roared lou der than all the rest before, if possible.
Danny scoffed. "They're cheering that way because they definitely have the Minister vouching for them and giving all the good stuff now."
Laura nodded. Danny had explained Carmilla's relation to the Minister earlier. Though, after, she had to tell her what the Minister for Magic was since, well, Laura was raised in a Muggle environment. She watched as Carmilla sat down right between her cousins. Will said something to Carmilla who rolled her eyes and smacked his shoulder. She glanced at the Headmistress. It seemed as if some kind of understanding passed between them but Carmilla looked away so quickly that Laura thought she imagined it.
Matska Belmonde was a muggleborn abandoned at the steps of an orphanage . At an early age, Matska already exhibited magical abilities which caught the attention of Xanxus Morgan, co-head of Morgan & Duke which is one of the corporations that specializes in providing wood for wand and broomstick manufacturers. Xanxus adopted six-year old Matska and brought her into the Morgan household. Xanxus' twelve -year-old daughter, Adelaide didn't really care much for young Matska.
That didn't really bother Matska. Really, she was content with being left alone. However, after Adelaide married Conrad Karnstein and had Carmilla, Matska was drawn to the little girl which brought her a teensy bit closer to Adelaide.
After Conrad's death, Matska moved in with Adelaide and the children. She left Morgan & Duke to Leila and Lucas Duke and applied for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. She was elected to be the next Headmistress of Hogwarts after Professor Minerva McGonagall resigned.
"Pretty sure, Mattie's going to ask you to her office one of these days," Lex said.
Carmilla noticed that Headmistress Belmonde, or Mattie as she and her cousins called her, had the beginnings of a smile on her face after she got sorted.
"You know what I don't get." Will bit into a chicken before continuing. "Why is she in Ravenclaw and not Slytherin like Mother? "
Lex shrugged but Carmilla answered. "Well, Mattie told me that she asked the Sorting Hat to put her in Ravenclaw instead of Slytherin because she didn't want to be with Mother."
"And Mattie tells you everything?" Will said skeptically.
"Well, Mattie definitely treats me better than you or Mother do."
Will frowned but before he could reply, Lex spoke up. "Guys, if we want to talk about our family issues, we should probably do it where nobody else is around." Her voice was quieter than normal but Will and Carmilla heard her just fine. "We really don't need anyone finding out about our family issues."
Carmilla huffed. "Fine." Will just grumbled his consent.
Lex tilted her head slightly. "Great. The sorting's almost done. Mattie's going to be announcing stuff soon. You two better pay attention."
"When has William ever paid attention to anything?"
Carmilla and Lex laughed at that but Will scowled and threw his raisins at them.
Present…
Dinner was almost over. Laura couldn't wait 'til she could shower to wash the bits of food that got stuck in her hair after Danny and Kirsch started a mini-food fight over whose organization will be the one assigned to do what for the annual Yule Ball which w ill be held during December.
The Yule Ball used to be a once every so-and-so years in the middle of the Triwizard Tournament but it was changed to every year due to popular demand (and because the Tournament was discontinued). It was limited to only fifth years and higher.
The thought of the Yule Ball made Laura feel queasy mostly because of what happened last year…
She glanced at the Slytherin table behind her. Carmilla's eyes briefly met hers before she turned her attention to Will, grabbing a croissant from his plate much to the boy's chagrin. Laura turned her attention back to her empty dinner plate.
Was she happy with Carmilla? No. Was she hurt by what Carmilla did? Yes. But did she hate Carmilla ?
She glanced at the dark-haired girl again. She was talking to Lex with her mouth full of croissant. Normally, Lex would tell Carmilla off but this time she just sighed and answered with one or two words. Carmilla looked down, seeming slightly upset with her cousin's sudden change of demeanor.
No. The answer was no. She couldn't bring herself to hate Carmilla. Something was going on. Laura just couldn't figure out what.
She was so lost in her musings that she didn't notice Belmonde announcing something until everyone started getting up. Laura hastily stood up and followed Danny.
"What did Belmonde say?" She asked Danny.
"Just that Quidditch tryouts start next week and that she'll be giving the schedules to the captains," the taller girl replied. "Did you space out, Hollis? It's not like you to miss an announcement."
Laura looked down sheepishly.
Danny sighed. "If this is about Dead Girl, forget her. She screwed you over last year. She's not worth your time."
Laura simply nodded, not really wanting to argue with her friend. Danny was heavily biased against Carmilla despite her cordial relations with Lex. Then again, Danny used to despise Lex.
"Gryffindor first years, with me!" Danny called out. Laura took that as her cue to start directing the student-flow.
She glanced at Carmilla one last time before directing her attention back to the first years.
Carmilla collapsed onto her bed almost as soon as she entered the dormitory she shared with Lex. It was actually just the Seventh Year prefect's room but Lex managed to pull a few strings and get another bed into the room since it was big enough for two. Lex's things were also so well-organized that she didn't need that much space.
"Carm," her cousin called out. She was standing by one of the windows, looking out at the lake, wearing her silk gray boxers and a dark purple tank top which were pretty much all she wore to sleep (then again, Carmilla only wore her underwear so Lex is decent compared to her.) "Have you thought about Mother's offer?"
Carm rolled over.
(Really, Lex, now?)
"I've been tucking it in the deep dark corners of my brain. Why?"
Lex muttered, "Typical." Before looking at her cousin and answering louder. "I'm just doubting her methods, like always. I mean, I had my suspicions about what she did at the side and now that I found out I was right, well…" She shrugged. "I don't know what to think of it."
"So what are you going to do?" Carmilla asked.
Her cousin crossed her arms and looked back out the window. "Follow my head, like always."
Carmilla pushed herself up to sit on her bed. "And what's your head telling you now?"
Lex pursed her lips. "I don't know yet."
Carmilla rolled her eyes. "Well that's definitely helpful, Ice Queen," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Lex grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at Carmilla who dodged it before picking it up and throwing it back. Lex caught it with ease.
"Go to sleep. We'll be waking up early tomorrow."
A/N:
So stuff to address:
1) LaF's sorting. Okay, so I have a personal headcanon (which is also based one of Kaitlyn's Gin-terviews) where LaF was supposed to be in Gryffindor but she begged to be in Hufflepuff. Personally, I would sort LaF in Gryffindor but she'd definitely want to be put in /
2) Mattie - When I started writing this story, Mattie wasn't announced yet and I had absolutely no idea how she would fit in the story. And then Episode 5 happened and I was like "waaaaat. Okay. I love her. I'll give her a more major role." So here she is. The headmistress, and Carmilla's favorite aunt instead of being her sibling. There'll be Carmilla-Mattie moments to come (yes, I re-wrote a bunch of chapters.)
3) The tables - After doing a lot of digging, it seems to be that the tables switch around. The only constant thing is that Gryffindor and Slytherin are always separated by Ravenclaw and/or Hufflepuff.
4) Lex and Carm's dorm. I have a personal headcanon that since Slytherin Head Students are pretty rare, Slytherin would have a special room reserved for them.
If there are any typos, pronoun errors, grammatical errors, weird sentences, misplaced phrases etc., please please please tell me. My editor *pointed glare* is on hiatus and my eyes are pretty tired of reading the same words over and over again.
