"Come along dears," Mrs. Weasley said. "We don't want you to be late, no do we?"
Amanda followed her sisters—excluding Haley; she didn't want to be there, and the Weasley's were already in a hurry—and the six Weasley's as they made their way toward King Cross Station. Aunt Cynthia couldn't come because of something in the Ministry, so the Weasley's were taking them instead. They were late, as Ron said they always were, so they were in a hurry.
All of the Weasley's were in front of her, and she didn't like it. Well, Mrs. Weasley and Percy could be excused but she wanted to be ahead of the twins, Ron, and Ginny as well as her own siblings. It was her instinct to lead, almost, so she felt tied down as she strode behind Ron. Kalayla was behind Amanda, and Courtney was behind that. Amanda rolled her eyes as she noticed this. Courtney was always in the back, she noticed, and it was probably because of her protective instincts as well as her lack of ambition.
When they got to platform nine Amanda found herself a bit confused. There was no nine and three quarters, as her ticket had said, but then, wizards and witches always did weird things like this.
"Every year, packed with muggles, of course," Mrs. Weasley said as they assembled into what looked like a line, though it was sloppy.
Amanda's eyes turned as a black-haired boy walked up, his green eyes showing confusion. His black hair was untidy, which irritated Amanda a bit, and his glasses were round and also a little dusty looking. He was short, and he looked as if he were a muggle. The only interesting thing about him was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt, which was on his forehead.
Amanda hadn't noticed that Percy had left, not until Mrs. Weasley said, "Fred, you next,"
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," Fred, Amanda knew, said.
"Sorry, George, dear," Mrs. Weasly said as she shook her head. Amanda knew how Mrs. Weasley felt, a bit. When the only thing she saw was the back one of her sisters heads, they looked nearly the same. When Amanda noticed the shorter or longer hair, though, she knew.
"I'm only joking," Fred said as he got ready to go. "I am Fred." Then Fred was off, and Amanda watched as he ran right through the brick wall and disappeared. George followed soon after, and then Amanda switch her attention back over to the black-haired boy.
"Excuse me," the boy asked after a few moments of watching the Weasley's. Mrs. Weasley turned to see the boy and them smiled calmly.
"Hello, dear," She said kindly, "First time at Hogwarts? They are too," She gestured to Courtney, Amanda, Kalayla and Ron. Ron waved a little, and Kalayla smiled kindly. Courtney smiled, but then dropped it as her eyes rolled over the scar. Courtney stayed quiet, however, and then she just stared at the boy. Amanda rolled her eyes impatiently at her sister, and then waited for the boy to respond.
"Yes," said the boy, answering Mrs. Weasley question. "The thing is—the thing is, I don't know how to—"
"Get onto the platform?" Mrs. Weasley asked. The boy nodded slowly, nervousness in his eyes. "Not to worry," She said, "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared that you'll crash into it, that's very important," She added with a small grim smile, before she picked up her kind smile again. "Best to do it at a run if you're nervous. Go on, now, before Ron."
"Er—okay," said the boy, still looking a bit nervous. Amanda watched as he pushed his trolly around and the stared at the barrier. She felt a bit annoyed that he hesitated, which she would not have done. She just wanted to get onto the train and get to Hogwarts.
Then he ran straight through the barrier, and that left the others. Ron went afterwords, followed by Kalayla. Amanda knew Courtney wasn't going to volunteer, so she turned and faced the barrier. She jogged up to it and ran straight through to another platform.
Amanda quickly caught up with the Weasleys and the black-haired boy, Courtney close behind her. The new platform was packed with wizards and witches, young and old, adults and children. They were everywhere; saying good-bye, telling them a few last words, and waving as their children got onto the train. Amanda looked up to see a large sign that said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock.
Amanda waited as Fred and George loaded up the black-haired boy's trunk, and then again as Kalayla and her own trunk was loaded. She took the lead once in the train, looking for either an empty compartment, or one with a red-head Weasley in it.
It took a while, but Amanda quickly found an empty compartment. Courtney, Kalayla, and Amanda got in and sat down in complete silence. Soon, however, the black-haired opened the compartment door nervously.
"Can I sit here? Or are you expecting more?" the boy asked. Courtney, who had already gotten a book, shrugged.
"Only us, so far, but you can come if you want." Courtney lowered the book so that her hazel green eyes showed. "Just to warn you, though, we might start yelling at each other, in a minute or two." The boy ignored what she said and then sat down on the seat opposite from the three of them. They automaticly sat on the same side, which was odd, but they wouldn't want to move now.
Courtney then began to read her book again, and Kalayla looked at the boy with interest. Amanda chose to look out the window until the compartment door opened again, and then she turned her attention back there again.
Ron stood in the door way, looking at the black-haired boy after glaring at the three of them. "Is this compartment full?"
"No, it's not," Kalayla said kindly, gesturing for Ron to sit on the side that the black-haired boy was on. Ron nodded in reply and sat down, looking at the boy in awe. He stared for a while, making Amanda roll her eyes again.
"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron finally asked.
"I—"
"Of course he is," Courtney murmured, not taking her eyes off of the book. "He's got the scar, and he's eleven years old. How much evidence do you need?" Harry—well, that's who Amanda supposed he was—stared at Courtney as Ron glared at her again.
"Don't mind Courtney," Ron said, getting over the interruption. "She is always reading, and she probably knows all about you and You-Know-Who."
"I don't know much," Courtney said, lowering the book again. "Those books are so boring, so I don't really read through them thoroughly. I do know how you got the scar, and I do know who You-know-who is, and even a bit about what he did in his prime." Harry still stared, but Ron interrupted it again.
"So, do you remember anything about that night?" He asked. Courtney rolled her eyes.
"Why would he?" Courtney asked, irritation flaring in her voice. "He was a year old, Ron. Do you remember anything from when you a year old?" Ron folded his arms, but didn't say anything. Courtney then returned to her book, leaving Ron to pout.
"Well, anyway," Amanda said, breaking the silence. "I'm Amanda, and beside me is Kalayla. Courtney's over there reading the book, as you know, and Ron is our friend." She looked at Ron and then shrugged again. "You could say that, at least, anyway. Our Aunt and Uncle our friends with his family so we're forced to be with them." Harry, for some reason, lit about a bit about this.
"You live with your aunt and uncle?" Harry asked. As Amanda nodded, he lit up a bit more. "I do too, though I would think that your aunt and uncle are nicer than mine."
"They are very nice!" Kalayla said at once. "Our mother was lucky to have her as a sister, I think. I remember our father thanking her, once, though that was a while ago. I think we were five. It was right before—"
Amanda hissed, nearly snake like, and narrowed her eyes at Kalayla. Courtney winced a bit as Amanda hissed, but then she noticed her hazel eyes were dark as they looked at Kalayla, her lips forming a frown. Courtney was angry, but also sad; Amanda knew the expression on her sister's face when she had those two emotions wandering in her mind. Amanda understood why Courtney felt those emotions, though. If Kalayla said anymore, their secret would be no longer. Kalayla's head lowered like a scolded puppy, and Amanda turned away slowly. Courtney still stared, but her eyes were cloudy, as if she were lost in thought. Amanda hissed again, this time meaning to sound a little like a snake, and then Courtney blinked and looked away.
Amanda was glad that a small squeak from Ron's pocket distracted Harry, even if it was what she thought it was.
"Oh, that would be Scabbers," Ron explained, bringing out a small rat from his pockets. "My rat."
Amanda only had a few moments notice before Rio woke up from his nap and locked his eyes on the rat. Harry jumped in surprise, and Ron held Scabbers up. Amanda soothed the cat by stroking his sleek fur and gave a small hissing sound as a warning. Rio growled lowly, but then lied back down, his eyes not leaving the rat.
Harry and Ron talked together, mostly ignoring the three of them. Courtney had continued reading, Kalayla had started playing a bit with Rio, and Amanda just listened to Harry. Apparently his aunt and uncle were horrible, from the looks of it, but they at least took care of him.
The trolley came, and Kalayla shyly got up and payed for a few treats with her money from their parents. Amanda pushed the thought away as soon as it came, refusing to think of that conversation. Amanda shared a few treats with Courtney, who didn't seem very fond of eating, and Harry got some things to share with Ron.
Harry then picked up a Chocolate Frog and studied it for a bit before looking at Ron. "What are these?" He asked. After looking at them for a few moments more he shook his head. "They're not really frogs, are they?"
"No, but check the card," Ron said. "I'm missing Agrippa."
As Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the card, Amanda saw his face light up again. "So this is Dumbledore!" Harry said, looking at the card in awe.
After a few more Chocolate frogs, Harry picked up a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and Amanda shuddered to think of what would happen.
"You might want to be careful with those," Ron warned. "When they say every flavor, they mean it."
"Yeah," Kalayla said, finally speaking up. "I think I got a dog food one once, but I couldn't tell." She blushed and then said, "I'd already eaten it." Ron laughed at this, and Harry chuckled a bit.
A few hours later the compartment door opened again, and a round faced boy stood in the door way.
"Sorry," said the boy. "but have any of you seen a toad anywhere?" Amanda sniffed as quietly as she could to see if she could smell the toad from within the compartment, but it was nearly impossible. Courtney and Kalayla did as well, Amanda noticed as she nodded.
"Well, if you see him. . ." Then the boy left, shutting to door behind him.
"I hope his toad turns up," Kalayla said absently. "It would be a shame to hear something like that happening on the first day of school." Amanda scoffed.
"Better find that toad quick," she muttered as Harry and Ron's attention was drawn away by talking about Scabbers. "I might just slip back into a snake and eat it."
"You wouldn't," Courtney growled under her breath. "Because if you do, you might as well stay on the train." Amanda rolled her eyes again, realizing her sister was still thinking about that night. Amanda shuddered and dismissed the thought away again.
"Do you want to see a spell I learned from Fred and George?" Ron asked Harry, catching Amanda's attention. Harry nodded with fascination, probably please to see one of the first few spells he ever has in his life.
Ron then looked for his new wand, happy to have something to do. When he found it, he began explaining to Harry what his wand was. "I would have had to get a hand-me-down from Charlie if it wasn't for their Aunt Cynthia," Ron was saying.
He had just risen his wand when the compartment door opened, leaving everyone in it looking at the bushy haired girl who stood before them.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." The girl said, her eyes showing intellect. She was already in her Hogwarts robes, Amanda noticed, and she looked ready to get Sorted. They all shook their heads again, and then watched the bushy haired girl. She then realized that Ron was holding a wand, and then lit up.
"Oh, are you doing magic?" She asked. "Let's see it, then." Ron hesitated, but then cleared his throat.
"Sunshine, daisies,butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." He recited, leaving Amanda to nearly choke as she heard it. That was no spell and she knew it, even as Scabbers continued to sleep.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" The bushy haired girl asked. "Well, it's not very good, is it?" She smiled in a bragging way, and then held her head high with pride. "I've tried a few simple ones myself—just for practice, of course—and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, so it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft and wizardry there is, I've heard—I've learned all of our course books by heart, of course, but I just hope it will be enough—I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. Who are you?"
"Wow," Amanda said, half sarcasticly, half in awe. "You're on the road to thinking like Tiffany. You seem to have read more books than Courtney."
"Shut it," Courtney said, a little louder than normal. "She asked us to introduce ourselves."
"Fine, fine." Amanda hissed back, ignoring Courtney's flinch. She turned and gestured to her sisters. "The one with the book is Courtney, and beside me is Kalayla. I'm Amanda, and we're triplets. We've all been accepted to Hogwarts, and we live with our aunt and uncle. Our last name is Coppin, if you were wondering, and we have a older sister—who's also in Hogwarts. She is a sixth year, Head girl, Ravenclaw, and has read every book in the Hogwarts Library." Amanda smirked as she saw awe in Hermione's face. "We have a younger sister who will be joining next year, and is friends with Fred and George Weasley. Don't get her mad," She warned. "Or you'll want to run." She then looked to Harry and Ron. "The red-head is Ronald Weasley, our Aunt's family friend, and at his side is Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived and—"
"Holy Cricket!" Hermione said. "You are Harry Potter! I was wondering when I saw you, and now that I've seen the scar—I've read so much about you, in so many books. Wonderful thing you did, by the way." Amanda, a little hurt about getting interrupted, was hissing in the snake-language that she could speak, trying hard not to transform and bite Hermione.
Courtney noticed this at last, but did not ignore it like Amanda had hoped. She slapped the book down on her lap, making a noise that interrupted even Hermione's talking, and glared at Amanda.
"Will you stop that?" Courtney demanded, her eyes showing anger, her voice showing irritation, and her eyes showing dominance. It was a mistake, Amanda noticed, because now everyone in the compartment was looking at them.
"Stop what?" Amanda asked, probably irritating Courtney further. Courtney sneered, but then returned to her book, muttering something that no one could here. Amanda was quite happy that Courtney did that, now, because it had upset Hermione to the point that she stood up and then sighed.
"Well, I better continue looking for Neville's toad." After that, she left, leaving Amanda in peace. Harry and Ron began talking to each other again, leaving Amanda and Courtney to have a glaring contest.
"What?" Amanda said, figuring she better break the contest before they get to Hogwarts. Courtney scoffed.
"You know very well what." Courtney muttered lowly. "That hissing of yours not only could have cost us the secret, but could have cost me my sanity as well," Courtney was over exaggerating, Amanda knew, so that part didn't bother her. "Quit it until I'm out of the room, alright? If you blow our secret, at least it won't be my fault."
"Okay." Amanda said cheerfully, as if every insult just given was a compliment. Amanda knew this irritated Courtney a lot, and so she decided to use it. Courtney just sneered again, to Amanda's disappointment, and then continued reading the book.
After about a half and hour of silence—aside from Harry and Ron's chatting about Quittitch—the compartment door opened again for three boys to watch Harry stare. The boy in front was a pale boy with white-blonde hair. Harry seemed to recognize him a little, at least, but not the very large boys behind him.
"So is it true then?" the pale boy asked. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment." He then looked to Harry. "And you would be him, would you not."
"Why would you ask such a stupid question?" Courtney asked, irritated in a playful kind of way. "He's got the scar, and I know you can see it, and it's been ten years since You-know-who's been defeated, has it not? Or are you three too stupid to notice these things?" Amanda smirked as the pale boy narrowed his eyes. This was about to get fun.
The pale boy turned to face Courtney. "And who might you three be? Friends of the Weasel?" Amanda knew that meant Ron, and then caught on to the insult. She frowned.
"We are, in fact, but that's none of your business." Courtney said. "You're a Malfoy from the looks of it. That Draco boy, then?" Ron sniggered, making the Malfoy boy look at him.
"Think my names funny, do you?" the Malfoy boy asked. He examined Ron a bit and smirked. "No need to ask who you are, Weasel. Red hair, freckles, and hand-me-down robes. They're all the same." the pale boy then turned to Courtney and her sisters. "Hmm, my father never talked of many wizarding families, but you three seem familiar. . ." After a few moments his eyes lit up and he put another smirk on his face. "Ah," he said. "You're all Coppins. Parent's met the same fate that Potter's did, didn't they?"
Amanda hissed, and this time Courtney did not glare or scold her. Courtney was glaring at Malfoy as well, but Kalayla seemed to be shying away a bit.
"When was it. . .five years ago? Greyback and Aunt Bella came—"
"Aunt?" Courtney, Amanda, and Kalayla asked at the same time. Amanda narrowed her eyes as Malfoy smirked. They'd given him exactly what he wanted.
"Yes," the Malfoy boy said. "My aunt."
Amanda hissed a word in her snake-language loud enough for only Malfoy to hear, leaving the pale boy with a shocked expression. Courtney and Kalayla heard, of course, making Amanda shift uncomfortably, but it gave her the advantage she needed. The Malfoy boy didn't speak.
"What's the matter?" Amanda asked. "Cat got your tongue?" She paused and then whispered, "or a snake, perhaps?"
Malfoy's eyes widened in disbelief. Amanda smirked at this, and soon the three boys were gone. Amanda sat back down with pride showing in her eyes. Courtney returned to her book as the others sat down, and Kalayla was shaking a bit with nervousness.
"How did you do that?" Ron asked immediately. Amanda shrugged.
"Just a few scary threats send them all running in the end," Amanda explained. Her face darkened a bit as she thought of it, though. "I probably should have kept what I said unspoken, but he said things he shouldn't have."
Harry's eyes were on Amanda, asking a question through his expression that she knew would be hard to answer. Courtney saved her moments later.
"Yes," Her sister said. "Everything Malfoy said was true. I would advise you to forget about it, though, because we are not going to talk about it." Harry nodded in understanding and then listening to Ron and what he had to say about the Malfoy family.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"
Amanda watched as the large man waved the small first years toward him. Harry nodded to the man, and then explained to Ron and the three of them that the large man's name was Rubius Hagrid. The five walked over to the large man, and waited for the other first years.
It had been a silent trip the rest of the way, and now that they were off of the train Amanda felt a little better. Courtney still wore a dark expression, but Kalayla seemed to forget all about it. She looked around curiously, like a puppy, and seemed to bark a bit as she saw Hagrid.
Amanda watched as Hagrid led them down a dark path. Just by sniffing she could tell that everyone around her was nervous and even a little scared. She smirked at this. She had been in a darker place than this every full moon, so it wasn't a surprise that she wasn't nervous or scared. Amanda knew that Courtney and Kalayla felt the same.
"Almos' to Hogwarts," Hagrid said loudly over his shoulder. Soon, the narrow path opened so that everyone could see the edge of a deep, black lake. Across from it, on top of a large mountain, was a castle with many towers and that alone had caught everyone's attention.
Hagrid led them to a fleet of boats, yelling something about only four in a boat. Courtney, Kalayla, and Amanda got in one, but no one stepped in with them. Amanda figured it was because the three of them seemed to know each other, but she couldn't tell for sure.
They moved forward through the lake, then, and Amanda made her head stay high so that she didn't catch a sight in the lake. Her snake eyes could see many things that normal humans could not, and she would rather just stay normal at the moment.
Soon they reached the shore and climbed out of their boats, following Hagrid again. The more closer she to the castle, the more excited Amanda got. The castle grew so large that Amanda was wondering if she would be able to memorize it.
Some for my snake eyes to see, I'm thinking.
Hagrid then pounded on what looked like the castle door. A few seconds later, a tall black-haired witch in green robes opened the doors.
"Firs' years," Hagrid introduced. "This is Professor McGonagall." The tall witch then looked at Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid." said Professor McGonagall . "I will take them from here." As Hagrid left, the Professor led the first years through the Entrance Hall. It was very large, Amanda noticed, but it was neat and pretty. There were stone walls lit with flaming torches that flickered at Amanda as she went by. They settled in a small room off to the left, though Amanda knew that to the right of them was the Great Hall, as Tiffany called it.
As Professor McGonagall turned to face the first years again, everyone went quiet. The stern look on the Professor's face must have made them quiet, Amanda figured, so it was only right of she was silent as well.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall said. "The Welcoming Feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will need to be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting ceremony is very important because, while your here, your house will be like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding wizards and witches. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking with loose you points." Her eyes settled on Amanda and her sisters for a moment, but then took them off. "At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House cup, a great honor. I hope each of you becomes credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting ceremony will take place in a few moments in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Professor McGonagall looked around one more time before saying, "I shall return for you when the Headmaster is ready." Then she left the room. Amanda waited, knowing that most people here were nervous, and knew full well she was not. The muggleborns—maybe even Harry as well—wouldn't know what the Sorting ceremony actually was, and they would have a right to be nervous. Amanda knew about the ceremony, though, so she kept quiet and waited patiently.
McGonagall returned shortly after, standing in the door way of the small room. "Move along now," the Professor said. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
The first years were slowly making their way to the door, but none of them would be able to fit unless they formed a line, Amanda realized. Then, McGonagall said, "Form a line and follow me."
The professor took the lead, and then a line of students followed. Amanda refrained from pushing in front and stayed with her sisters. Then, they entered the Great Hall.
Four tables were pointing vertically toward the staff table, which was pointed horizontally. Loads of students sat on each table, and on the staff table the Headmaster smiled at his students. The ceiling was black and dotted with stars. Though Amanda knew this wasn't real, she still found in mesmerizing.
Beside an empty seat—obviously Professor McGonagall's—a greasy haired man stared. Amanda didn't like him at the moment, but he looked like a Slytherin so she couldn't judge yet.
When they stopped near the staff table, Amanda felt her heart beating. She knew she was going to either Gryffindor or Slytherin, but if she got into Hufflepuff she was doomed. What would they do, if they accidently found out she was a snake as well? At least Slytherin would worship her, because she was a snake and that was the snake house.
Then Professor McGonagall brought out a stool and the Sorting at. As she set it carefully on the stool, Amanda listened as it sang:
"Oh you think I'm not pretty,
But down judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your tops hats sleek and tall,
For I am the Hogwarts Sorting hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you need to be
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands(though I have none)
For I am a Thinking Cap!"
The whole Hall behind Amanda burst into applause as the hat finished his song. Amanda felt bright again, and then watched as McGonagall started calling some first years over to get sorted.
Hannah Abbot was called up first, and then she was put in Hufflepuff. Susan Bones followed her. Millicent Bulstrode was a Slytherin, according to the hat, and Amanda watched as she went, hoping that she would do the same in only a matter of time. It wasn't long before her name was called.
"Coppin, Amanda!" Professor McGonagall called. Amanda made her way through the crowd of first years with a proud expression on her face. She was almost certain that she would be put in Slytherin now, so there was no need to worry.
Amanda sat down on the stool and shivered a bit as the hat was placed on her head. It was heavy, but it was her only way to Slytherin so she waited.
It whispered inside her head, or so that's what it felt like. The hat was eagerly trying to decide which house she'd be in.
"Ambition, yes," it said as it searched. "but you are brave, and you are daring. Gryffindor is suitable, but your cunning mind and sneaky self would be a waste in such a place. Besides, Slytherin is where you've wanted to go, so. . ." It paused for a second, but then sighed a bit.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Amanda took the hat off happily and strode down to the Slytherin table where there was several people cheering. She sat down by that girl Millicent and watched McGonagall. Her sisters would be up next.
"Welcome, Amanda," One of the older years whispered as she watched. "Now lets just hope the others are the same."
Courtney watched as Amanda went to Slytherin, finding it a bit funny, in fact. Malfoy watched in shock as Amanda got sorted, though he had not been sorted yet. The boy would probably go to Slytherin as well, and would have to live with a Parseltongue that was in his own house, though he must have known a Parseltongue would go in Slytherin, or he actually was and idiot.
"Coppin, Courtney!" Professor McGonagall called, making Courtney jump. She'd forgotten that she was also getting sorted, and that her name was next.
Courtney walked up to the stool, sat down, and let the hat be set on her head. Courtney disliked it from the moment she saw it, but right now it was even worse. She felt confined and unable to be free, which always irritated her. The hat kept shifting, and Courtney didn't know how long it was before the hat stopped.
"Interesting," it said. "Very interesting. Though cunning you may be, you lack the ambition. You are daring, yes, but bravery is not much. Loyal and protective, yet not at all open to many. You are mysterious, yes, and you have your wits." Courtney tensed a bit as she realized everyone in the Great Hall was listening to this, making her put on an emotionless expression and look out toward the four house tables.
"Very tough for a sorting hat like me to sort you, very tough indeed. No matter how I look at it, you're always the same. A little here, a little there. You could be in all four houses." He paused and then shifted again, but only for a moment this time.
"RAVENCLAW!" it finally called, making Courtney jump again. Courtney set the hat down and then walked over to the Ravenclaw table, where she sat near her sister.
"Never seen the Sorting Hat do that before," Courtney heard someone further down the table whisper. "But I guess it all depends on the person."
"Good job," Tiffany said before Courtney could think about that. "The Ravenclaws are going to love you."
Courtney ignored this and wondered absently about how they were going to meet after the Welcoming Feast if they were all in different houses. Courtney shook the thought out of her head and then looked up at Kalayla. It would be a shame to miss where her own sister was sorted.
Kalayla was nervous now. She had thought all of her sisters would go in the same house, like the Weasley's, but apparently not. Amanda had proudly gone to Slytherin, and Courtney had finally gone to Ravenclaw after the hat decided. Now that she thought about it, Hufflepuff would probably be the house she would be sorted into, but it was a bit scary to think of being alone after eleven years of being together.
The hat recovered from being so stumped, then and McGonagall called out, "Coppin, Kalayla!"
Kalayla jumped and nearly barked in surprise as her name was called. She recovered quickly, though, and walked over to the stool and sat. The large hat was then placed on her head—no, wait, it wasn't even placed. It touched her head only so slightly, and then it yelled out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Kalayla jumped at that, too, but then took the hat off and walked quickly over to the Hufflepuff table where she sat down quietly and waited. This was going to be odd, to be alone, and if Haley was going to be sorted into Gryffindor, which she most likely was going to be, than they had to be the strangest wizarding family in Britain.
Amanda clapped as Kalayla was sorted into Hufflepuff, still chuckling a bit as she replayed Courtney's sorting in her head again. In Courtney's point of view, it probably wasn't that funny. However, in Amanda's, it was. Courtney loved being mysterious and for people to know almost nothing about her. Now, however, everyone in the Great Hall had learned who she was, and Amanda couldn't help thinking that the Sorting hat did this on purpose.
Amanda watched as a few more got sorted. Hermione got sorted to Gryffindor, Amanda noticed, and she felt relieved after that. When Draco Malfoy was called up, the hat barely toughed a hair on his head before it called out Slytherin. Amanda waved and hissed a bit as Malfoy went by, making him nearly trip and sit as far away from her as possible. Amanda smirked; she loved playing with her prey.
A girl called Pansy Parkinson joined her and sat with her a few moments later, her eyes looking relieved. Amanda smiled at her, but then continued watching. Harry would be next soon.
"Potter, Harry!"
Then the whispers began. Amanda hoped that one of them included her; she was in the same compartment with him throughout the whole train right, wasn't she?
Finally, Millicent nudged her and said, "There was a rumor that you were in the same compartment as Potter. Is that true?" Amanda nodded.
"I was," Amanda replied. "Though he wasn't as interesting as everyone makes him out to be."
Harry took forever to get sorted. Not as long as Courtney, perhaps, but it was long. Amanda found it a little insulting that he didn't want to go to Slytherin, but she pushed the emotion away. When he went to Gryffindor, Hermione and the Weasley's welcomed him, nearly all of them sneering at the Slytherin table.
A few more Slytherins were added, and then came the food. Amanda ate all she wanted, but then she started thinking about the meeting afterwords with the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall. Both of them would be the first to know about their secret—well, first to know that weren't related to them, anyway—and they would probably ask what each of them turn into, since Aunt Cynthia hadn't told them that many details in case they didn't get accepted.
"I assume your pureblood as well?"
Amanda blinked back to reality and then nodded. "My Uncle and Aunt are too, though they came from France. Never knew a thing about Hogwarts until my older sister Tiffany entered." Millicent ignored her after that, which Amanda was partly grateful for.
Amanda turned her attention to Malfoy, who was bragging. "Mother said that I used my magic for the first time when I was three," he was saying. "I made a vase disappear, and then later that day I levitated my fathers wand."
"Wow," A boy called Blaise Zabini said. "I used magic for the first time when I was seven, but I just to make my finger nail blue."
"Courtney, Kalayla and I used our magic for the first time at the same time." Amanda interrupted, though she knew she wasn't welcome in this conversation. "We each called a cookie over to our plates because we all wanted one. Our aunt said that, because we used the same sort of magic at the same exact time, it was stronger. We did a lot of things like that when we were little, though we can't do it again now that we were sorted into different houses."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes and glared at her as she finished, and the others just stared. After a few moments, however, they went on talking. Amanda found herself proud, though not as much as she had hoped.
Dumbledore stood up soon, getting everyone's attention. "Ahem—there is a few start-of-term notices I would like to give you all," the Headmaster said. "First years should know that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. Even some of our older students would do well to remember that too." Dumbledore's eyes looked from Amanda, to Courtney, to Kalayla, and then to the Weasley twins. Amanda knew his message. The forest wasn't forbidden to them, because they needed to transform every month or so, but it wasn't open to the Weasley twins. Amanda could understand this.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, our caretaker, that no magic shall be used between classes or in the corridors." Dumbledore's eyes settled on the Weasley twins this time, but then he continued. "Quidditch trials will be held on the second week of term. Anyone wishing to play for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch." He paused again, as if he were thinking of something, but then continued. "And lastly, I must tell you that the third floor one the right had side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
After that, it was silent, but only for a few seconds. Dumbledore made them sing a song that Amanda only tried to sing a few times, because she didn't know the song, and then they were off to bed—or at least everyone else was.
Amanda walked quickly and caught up to the Slytherin boy prefect before they left the Great Hall.
"Excuse me," said Amanda softly, so that no one behind her could hear her. "The Headmaster wanted to talk to me before I went off to bed. Can I leave?" Probably not the best choice of words, Amanda thought, but it was the best she could come up with.
The prefect sighed, and then said, "Yes, I got a notice of that before the Welcoming feast," he explained. He then reached the other prefect and explained briefly that he had to take Amanda to the Headmasters office, and that she had to do whatever it was they did with the first years alone. The girl prefect nodded in understanding, and then continued to lead the first years out of the Great Hall.
The boy prefect led Amanda out of the Great Hall and down a large hall. After several minutes, two more prefects and Amanda's sisters showed up. Courtney put on her normal emotionless expression, while Kalayla looked as if she were going to transform and run all the way to the Headmaster's office.
The Ravenclaw prefect seemed annoyed, though he didn't show it, really. The Hufflepuff prefect seemed a little proud of herself, though that was just to hide her nervousness. Amanda found it fitting that the Slytherin prefect looked as if he'd rather be elsewhere, since this had nothing to do with him.
When they got to the end of the hall, a gargoyle statue was in the way, though it looked like there was a stair case behind it. The Ravenclaw prefect was the one who murmured out a word that was obviously the password, and then the gargoyle moved.
"We'll wait down here for you," said the Ravenclaw prefect. "Just don't take too long."
Amanda, Courtney, and Kalayla all climbed up the stairs silently, probably wondering the same thing. The stair case wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. Didn't matter, though, because Amanda was too busy trying to recognize the two other people in the room. Courtney and Kalayla seemed to notice as well, because they both paused and looked at each other. Courtney now had a scowl on her face, and Kalayla seemed even more nervous.
Then they opened the door to the office, and Amanda saw Severus Snape, the potions Professor that Haley received the Wolfsbane potion from, a plump lady that looked as if she'd rolled in dirt, and a small man who must have been the Charms professor, since Tiffany's description fit the man perfectly. Which also meant, to Amanda's surprise, that the small man was the Head of Ravenclaw.
Then she knew exactly why the three professors were there. Professor Snape was the Head of Slytherin—Amanda's house—the small man, called Professor Flitwick, was the Head of Ravenclaw—Courtney's house—and the plump lady must have been the Head of Hufflepuff, Kalayla's house.
Courtney caught on, Amanda knew, but for some reason she still said, "I thought this meeting was private, Headmaster." Her voice was darker than usual, and Snape and McGonagall seemed to notice. Snape glared a bit, and McGonagall tensed.
Dumbledore took no notice. "Ah, yes, but that was before you were all sorted into different houses." said the Headmaster smoothly. "Quite remarkable, I must say. I had assumed that the Ravenclaw house would have at least two of you joining them, but it seems I was wrong." Courtney narrowed her eyes tighter at this.
"You must have known, if you gave a notice to the three prefects who brought us here." Courtney argued, her voice still a little dark. Kalayla was showing more nervousness now, and Amanda found herself amused. Courtney was smarter than to get herself in trouble, but yet here she was, arguing with the Headmaster.
"I took all of the possibilities into account, Miss Coppin, and alerted all of the prefects." Dumbledore countered, leaving Courtney to stay silent. He smiled gently and then gestured toward the three professors that Amanda hadn't planned on seeing. "They are here because they are your Head of House, and must know about what you are. After all, next year you will disappear every full moon with your sister, will you not?"
"You mean you're actually letting it into the school next year?" Professor Snape asked, a little bit of shock in his eyes. Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, Severus, I will. The Wolfsbane potion keeps her in her right mind, and her sisters are there if anything goes wrong." Dumbledore explained, a smile still on his face.
Snape scoffed and then said, "They are only just first years today, Headmaster, how on earth can they restrain something like that?"
"That is what they are here to explain to us, Severus." Dumbledore said lightly, before looking back to them. "And I would like for them to start, now." The five adults in the room then turned there attention to Amanda and her sisters. It was silent for only a few moments before Courtney decided to explain.
"Most of you know what happened to our parents five years ago, but if you don't you can talk to the Headmaster." She closed her eyes for only a moment before opening them and continuing. "Greyback and Bellatrix, still both angry at their lords fall, came looking for revenge. I don't know what our parents did to make them a target, but they did.
"We had already shown signs of having magic, but nothing abnormal. We were normal, then, but once Greyback and Bellatrix attacked we were far from that. Greyback went for our parents first, and then after they were finished turned to us. None of us knew any magic to defend ourselves, so we ran. Haley, our younger sister, took Greyback's bite. A little reminder to you all, that this attack was purposely on the night of the full moon." Amanda watched as the plump lady and Professor Flitwick's eyes grew wide, and the others did there best to act like this wasn't a big shock. Snape was at least telling the truth. He knew of Haley, just not of the other three.
"The wildness in the air that night froze the three of us after that, and we had no idea what was happening," Courtney continued. "And no more than a few moments did the three of us transform into animals. We fought off Greyback the best we could, using every weapon we had in these new bodies. Haley was still in pain, and when our sisters are threatened or already in pain, we try our hardest to stop it.
"I only remember glimpses of what happened afterword. Aunt Cynthia came, and then a bunch of other unfamiliar wizards and witches. Haley was still wounded, and so were we, a little. We'd—"
"If you were bitten," interrupted Snape. "Than how come you aren't werewolves as well?"
Courtney glared at him and then shook her head. "We are immune." She put simply, leaving Snape to stare a bit, and then continued.
"We'd transformed before anyone noticed, so it was a shock that we survived. However, Aunt Cynthia had gotten there before we turned back, and knew right away that Haley was a werewolf. She somehow managed to make the other wizards believe that Greyback had not been there, and that Haley had suffered from a spell, not a bite. She took us in after that, and every full moon since that we have been helping her by going to a near by forest, transforming, and keeping her from running off. It helps all of us, really," she added. "Every few months we have to transform, or it will be disastrous."
There was silence for a long time, and Amanda had fun watching the professors expression change. Dumbledore's expression wasn't very thorough, so Amanda couldn't exactly tell what he was thinking or feeling. McGonagall's expression was that of sympathy and fear, which Amanda could understand. The same expression was on Professor Flitwick, and the plump lady, but Snape showed nothing of it. He was halfway between disgust and shock. Probably displeased that Haley was actually coming to Hogwarts, and yet shocked that he hadn't realized what they were.
"Thank you for explain this, Miss Coppin." Dumbledore said, also getting bored of the silence. "However, before I can set up any rules on this, I think it would appropriate to see what you are, though a description wouldn't be enough."
Amanda hissed a bit at this. She didn't want to show others of their secret, though she could tell them of it. Courtney looked at her, though, and gave her a warning look. Amanda glared back, Courtney nodded, and then her sister turned to Dumbledore.
"I'm afraid we would rather wait for that, Headmaster," Courtney said. "After all, you and the other Professors are the first—aside from our family, of course—who has been told this, and all our instincts are telling us to hide."
"But we won't know how to stop the transformation if we don't see it, am I correct?" Dumbledore asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"Well of course not," Amanda said this, being bored of just sitting there. "You won't get any warning of we transform accidentally, unless you know which emotion we're feeling and how strong that emotion is."
Snape narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" Amanda turned to him and shrugged.
"Hard to say, really. I'm only going on what I know." Amanda explained. "The only time we've accidentally transformed is when we were feeling one emotion a bit too much. Anger is the main emotion, but there are others. Kalayla turned into her dog form when she was sad one time. Forgot why, but she just howled all night. Irritation usually strikes at Courtney, but I don't know about mine." She paused and then said, "Sometimes minor things happen for warning. Kalayla growls or whines, Courtney growls, too, and I hiss. Though—"
"What exactly are you?" Snape asked. "In your transformed body, of course." Amanda grinned at this.
"A snake, of course." said Amanda cheerfully. "That's why I was so proud to get Sorted into Slytherin." Snape seemed surprised for only a few seconds, but then he put on a proud expression that told Amanda he was happy to actually have a snake in his House.
"A snake that chooses her venom, Professor Snape," Courtney warned lightly. "Very useful, when it comes to restraining and protecting Haley."
"Yes, indeed, Miss Coppin," said Snape, looking at Courtney. "Your transformation helps too, I assume?"
"Well enough, Professor Snape. A snow leopard is very helpful." Courtney said, smiling. Amanda again grew amused at her sister's playful conversational game. "Though I have to say, a dog is helpful, also. Don't you agree?" Courtney said, gesturing toward Kalayla who squeaked, but then held her head high.
"Miss Coppin," That was Professor McGonagall, and she obviously wanted to join in on the coversation. "If you are telling us this, then why can't you show us?"
"Like I said," explained Courtney as she turned toward McGonagall. "Our instincts our telling us to hide. We can tell you, smoothly, because we are not telling the whole truth. If we were to show you, you would know everything secret about us, and nothing irritates me more than being known."
"And what do you mean by not showing us the whole truth?" The plump lady asked, her voice wavering a bit. Kalayla answered this, probably feeling it was best since the lady was her Head of House.
"Professor Sprout," Kalayla began. "We have not yet told you what color my coat is when I am in my canine body. We have not yet told you about what color or detail the scales of Amanda's transformation give. We have not yet told you the color of Courtney's spots when she is a snow leopard. We have not told you the whole truth, but we have told you enough."
"Perhaps in time," Courtney said, continuing on with a speech probably in mind. "we will be able to show you, or you will know accidentally. However, at the moment, I think being in the shadows is the best for me."
"I couldn't help but notice, Miss Coppin," said Flitwick, catching Courtney's attention. "that you were talking as if the three of you were one, and then you switched to taking separately just now."
"We do that often," Courtney said at once. "We are triplets."
"And what is that about the shadows?" Flitwick asked.
Courtney smiled, and then said, "It is merely stating that I want to remain unknown and nearly forgotten, as it is what I like best. I do not want everyone to know everything about me. That would end badly, if I were in battle."
Silence is what followed. Amanda found it funny, as she watched them, that they had made such an impression. Courtney had clearly shown her Head of House that she was smart enough for Ravenclaw, and Kalayla had shown that she was patient and loyal to those she had set her loyalty on. Amanda, of course, had shown her personality as much as Courtney, and had shown her cunning mind. She had also made Snape proud, which was probably harder than most things, and now he could gloat about having a real snake in his House.
"Very well," Dumbledore said finally, "That is all we need to know. Please meet your house prefects down stairs and leave for your dormitories." He looked at all three of them for a moment. "Expect a letter from me on the first of term." With that, the three of them left.
Amanda noticed, as they left the office, that Courtney was smiling in triumph. Amanda had no idea why, though she had a hint. Kalayla seemed happy, too, and a lot less nervous. Amanda, herself, was happy and proud that she had made an impression on at least half of her professors.