Chapter 11
'No more th'n four to a boat!' the huge man hollered.
Evangeline smiled and decided to share a boat with a pair of twins and a blonde haired girl. That allowed Ebony, Neville, Ron and Hermione to share a boat. They waved to Evangeline as they floated across the lake.
'I'm so nervous. I hope I fit in' Hermione mumbled.
'You'll be fine. It was supposed to stay a secret, but Sirius told me all you have to do is wear a hat and it will check what qualities you have and then sort you based on them. But if you think you really won't be happy with the house it prefers, you can say so and the hat will take that into account. That's what Sirius did, all his family has gone into Slytherin and he didn't want that, so he asked to go with his friends in Gryffindor' Ebony explained.
That made her settle with relief and they enjoyed the boat ride.
'Wow! Ron gasped when they spotted the castle. It really was impressive, almost glowing in the darkness.
'You can say that again!' Neville said in awe.
The boats went under an archway into a small bay. The students clambered out and Hagrid led them up the stairs and into the entrance hall. They were met there by the woman Ebony saw in the book shop.
'Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is professor McGonagall. Now in a few moments you will pass through these doors and be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule breaking and you will loose points. Please wait here until we prepare for your arrival' she said and slipped through the doors to the great hall.
'Enjoy the boat ride? I thought the castle view was amazing' Evangeline asked.
The others nodded in agreement. They glanced over as Draco started talking.
'So much for the great Harry Potter being here this year. Looks like all the rumours were wrong about him surviving. My father says that great oaf Hagrid must have been drunk that night'.
Ebony rolled his eyes and the group grinned.
'I can't wait to see his face!' Ron whispered.
'You're wrong Malfoy! Everyone knows he survived' someone called.
Draco scoffed.
'Then why isn't he here? If he is still alive then he's a coward for not showing up'.
He smirked when some of them screamed, then realised they were looking behind them and jumped back in fright when the ghosts of Hogwarts made an appearance. They spoke briefly to the new students until professor McGonagall came back.
'We're ready for you now, follow me please'.
She led the group through the doors and down to the front of the hall. Around them other students chatted to friends or watched the newcomers. Above hung what must have been hundreds of candles, and above that it almost looked like there was no ceiling, as they could see the dark clouds of the night sky.
'The ceiling is enchanted to look like that you know. Rowena Ravenclaw herself created the spell' Hermione pointed out when she noticed Ron staring at it.
'Really?! Where'd you hear that?' he replied in wonder.
'It's in Hogwarts: A History' Hermione and Evangeline answered together, then looked at each other and giggled.
'Gather here please' professor McGonagall called, bringing their attention back to her.
'When I call your name you will come up here, I'll place the sorting hat on your head, and you'll be sorted into your house. Hannah Abbott!'
A shy looking girl crept forward and sat nervously on the stool. The hat was placed on her head, and a few moments later it called out 'HUFFLEPUFF!' to her relief. Her robes changed to show the badger symbol and she was waved to the Hufflepuff table as Professor McGonagall called the next name.
The group politely clapped when each person was sorted. When Hermione's name was called she took a deep breath and stepped up to the stool. A few moments later the hat called out.
'RAVENCLAW!'
Ebony and the other cheered as she sighed and jumped off the stool, heading for her house. Neville had to be given a gentle push when his name came up. He stumbled over and nervously sat down. The hat took some time with him, but eventually called out.
'GRYFFINDOR!'
He stood up, handed the hat over and practically ran to the bench. He managed a small smile when his friends cheered for him.
'Evangeline Meadow!' professor McGonagall called.
'I guess that means your old name's on the list' Ron whispered as she went over.
Ebony nodded with a sigh and watched his sister's sorting.
'RAVENCLAW!' the hat called after a minute or so.
Evangeline gave her brother a cheeky smile and headed over to join Hermione. He stuck his tongue out at her with a grin.
'Are you going to go up if she calls you?' Ron asked.
'Not if she calls me Harry' Ebony replied.
Sure enough a while later, professor McGonagall called out.
'Harry Potter!'
The hall went silent, some craning their heads to catch a glimpse of the boy who lived. Ebony didn't move though, and the silence stretched out.
'Harry Potter!' professor McGonagall called again.
Albus frowned. When the name Meadow was called he instantly perked up, but the child turned out to be female so he went back to his brooding. Where was Harry?
Professor McGonagall turned to him for a moment, then looked back to the group and called out the next name on the list.
'Good luck' Ebony whispered when Ron's name was called.
The red head gave him a nervous smile and went up. The hat was hardly on his head for a few seconds before calling out.
'Ah ha! Another Weasley, I know just what to do with you. GRYFFINDOR!'
Ebony cheered as Ron handed the hat and bolted for his table, getting pulled into congratulatory pats on the back by his brothers.
Another boy was then sorted before professor McGonagall turned to the lone student left. She recognised him as the boy Miss Granger had met in Diagon Alley. The shoulder length slightly wavy hair was tied back neatly with a ribbon and his bright green eyes shone out. She had little doubt as to who he was, even if he didn't have his scar, so why didn't he answer when his name was called?
'Perhaps you'd care to explain why you didn't come up when your name was called?' she asked.
Albus perked up at that and finally noticed the black haired green eyed child. At last!
'I'm sorry professor, but my name wasn't called' Ebony replied politely.
She frowned. Albus took this moment to stand and address the child.
'If I'm not mistaken, Harry Potter was called' he said with a serene smile.
The hall burst into whispers.
'That's Harry Potter?!'
'Why didn't he go up when he was called?'
'He doesn't look much like Harry Potter'.
Draco looked like he'd choked on a lemon drop.
'That's true sir, but I'm not Harry Potter, so why would I respond when that name was called?' Ebony replied.
'And what might your name be?' professor McGonagall asked.
'Ebony Meadow ma'am. I should have gone before my sister' he replied, nodding his head to Evangeline.
'Ebony…Meadow…?' she said softly, then shook herself out of it.
'Very well them, if you wouldn't mind coming up here'.
He nodded and stepped up, sitting on the stool and waiting for the hat to be placed on his head.
'So we meet at last, Mr Meadow. You've caused the headmaster quite some grief over the years'.
'Well maybe if he hadn't placed me with people who hated me I wouldn't have caused him problems' Ebony replied.
The hat chuckled.
'You hold close to that family of yours child. They'll keep you safe. Well now, I've had a look through that bright mind of yours, and I have no doubt as to where I should put you. RAVENCLAW!'
Ebony waited for the hat to be removed before heading over to sit with Hermione and his sister. The hall was stunned into silence for a moment, before Ravenclaw house seemed to unanimously realise they got Harry Potter and started cheering.
'Yay! You think uncle Sirius and Remus will be surprised?' Evangeline cheered.
Ebony grinned at her and nodded.
Albus gave his speech and sat as the food appeared. This was going to be a problem. Being in Ravenclaw was surprising, but nothing was mentioned about a sister. He had to speak with Harry as soon as he could to sort this out.
'Care to explain why Harry Potter now calls himself Ebony Meadow? I was assured he was safe with the Dursleys?' Minerva asked, a hint of steel in her voice.
The other professors leaned in to hear his answer, well all but Severus, who simply sneered. Albus groaned inwardly. Great, now he had an angry lioness on his hands.