Chapter 3: Hogwarts Express and the Beginning of it All
September 1, 1987
On first of September, Novi woke up to the sound of Remus bustling around the kitchen early in the morning. She peaked at the bedside table to where her alarm clock was to see that it was only seven in the morning and grumbled, rolling off the bed.
Ever since Novi got all her books and prepared for Hogwarts, reading every single book she had bought in a breeze and even giving potions a go, Remus had been acting like an anxious puppy needing the potty. A realization soon dawned on Novi that Remus was acting like a nervous parent, not knowing how to deal with a child separating away from them. It was rather sweet really, but his anxiousness leading up to this day didn't help her nerves any!
"Rem, what the bloody hell are you doing so early? You're barking mad, you know?" Novi grumbled as she showed up, wrapped up in her fluffy white bathrobe.
"I can't help but be nervous, you're going away, to Hogwarts!" Remus said loudly, which was unlike himself, as he put down a plate huge food in front of her, spinach and feta cheese omelette, taters, fresh fluffy bread with a side of olive oil for it, as well as a separate fruit bowl, he had really outdone himself.
"Calm yourself Moony, I'll be okay," Novi answered, tasting the food and groaning in happiness.
"I know you will be okay, Novi. I'm just nervous as to how long it will take for your head of house to write me a letter about Novela Mary Black getting expelled!" he panicked, he was now pacing back and forth in the kitchen, actually wearing the pink frilly apron Novi had gotten as a joke. He must have really been going mad with all the concerns. "If you're anything like or, God forbid, worse than James and Sirius –."
"I really think if they can handle James and da together, they can handle one of me," Novi said quickly, trying to calm his nerves. "And don't worry, the most I'll do this year is blow up a couple toilets, plant dungbombs into Slytherin kids' cauldrons, or terrorizing the nasty teachers," Novi added wickedly.
"No, no, no, no. No terrorizing, dungbombs or toilets, Novela Mary Black, I mean it!" Remus threw his hands up exasperatedly, making Novi raise her eyebrow up to her hairline.
"Just, relax your bloody nerves Moony! Sit down and help me finish the food. And take that ridiculous apron off, it's ghastly," Novi snapped.
Sighing, Remus took off the apron and sat himself across the familiar round kitchen table and helped her finish the massive plate of food. If he was still nervous and jittery, he didn't show it since he wasn't twitching off the walls anymore.
Few hours later, dressed clad in her favorite rose red casual dress with yellow buttons down the front and her mousy brown hair falling freely down on her shoulders, she wheeled her trunk to the living room, and sat studying her wand when Remus walked in.
"Right then, ready to go?" he said as he studied his watch, it read half to eleven. Then without awaiting her answer, he took her in his arms and apparated near the borders of King's Cross apparition range. They walked quickly, dodging the Muggles and passing through the barriers of Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
The scarlet steam engine was waiting eagerly for people to get on the train as busy goodbyes were made between parents and children. Remus manoeuvered his ways around people with ease with his height and got onto the train with Novi, finding an empty compartment and easily tucking away her trunk in the corner before getting off, Novi hot on his tail.
"Now, you be good," Remus said. "I mean it Novi, no funny business."
"Now I wouldn't be Novela Black if I wasn't up to no good, Rem. But I'll think about it," Novi smiled.
Remus had to give a smile at that too. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her on top of her head. "I'm proud of you Novi. Now go do what you do best and chat up some people, or wreak some havoc to the Slytherins."
"Bye Remus, I'll see you during the winter holidays!" Novi called as she jumped onto the train on the last possible second and went to her compartment.
Much to Novi's surprise, someone was seated opposite of where Novi's trunk lay. It was a boy, perhaps her age, looking down with a magazine open on his lap. "Hello," Novi called as she sat across from him. He looked up, surprised, then grinned as he put the magazine down and extended his hand out to her which she took and gave a firm shake.
"Oliver Wood. Hope you don't mind that I helped myself to the compartment, I saw that there was only one trunk," he said. "Mighty glad that trunk belongs to a first year like yourself and not some nasty Slytherin senior." She gave a small smile at this, she liked him instantly. Just then, the compartment door slid open to reveal a lanky boy with a brilliant red hair poked his head in.
"Hi, mind if I join you two?" he asked.
"Please, help yourself," Novi said kindly. The boy walked in, clearly looking prepared as he was already dressed in his robe. "I'm Novi," she introduced herself.
"Percy Weasley."
"Oliver Wood."
The next couple of hours, the three of them talked about nothing that was of importance. They ate themselves full with chocolate that Novi bought for the three of them and bonded instantly over opening of the chocolate frogs. It was when the topic of their House came up and they all became serious.
"So, do you guys know what House you want to be in?" Percy asked. "I know I want to be in Gryffindor, my two older brothers, my parents and uncles were all in Gryffindor. Although, I do not think Ravenclaw would be half bad."
"Both my parents were in Gryffindor as well, and that's definitely where I want to go," Oliver said proudly. "I also hear that they have the best Quidditch team in the school."
Novi opened her mouth to answer the question, when the compartment door slid open with a violent bang, making them all jump a little and look towards the door. There stood couple of nasty looking first years, just sneering.
"Can we help you?" Oliver asked politely.
"Well we're just looking around and getting to know our fellow first years," he said. "Name is Marcus, Marcus Flint. This is Terrence Higgs, Petunia Parkinson, Kevin Bletchley, Helia Crabbe, and Cygnus Goyle."
"Now, name and blood-status. Cough them up pretties," Petunia said, her voice sickeningly sweet. Then she gave a cold glance at Percy then rolled her eyes. "Except you, ginger, we know a filthy blood-traitor Weasley when we see one. Now you two, name and blood-status."
Oliver looked as if he was going to throw a punch any second as his fist tightened dangerously. But Novi nudged Oliver and just tilted her head and rolled her eyes as if to just forget about it and tell them. Oliver sighed before he looked back at them, "Oliver Wood, pureblood."
"Good, good. We know the Woods, not exactly up to our standards as pureblood goes, though. But nonetheless, I'm glad to see at least you aren't associating yourselves with dirty mudbloods at least," Flint said. "Now what about you, sweetheart? Name and blood-status."
Novi sighed, not wanting to say it. She bit her lips a little but when she opened her mouth her voice was icy and cold as theirs. "Novela Black, pureblood, obviously," she drawled, her eyes hard as she studied each of them.
"Black? I didn't know uncle Regulus had a daughter," Crabbe said.
"That's because he didn't. My mother is Mary Pettigrew, and my father, Sirius Black the Third. Now, please, leave," Novi said, her voice now almost threatening. However, the group only smiled brighter as if they had won a draw.
"Sweetheart, you don't have to do any charity by sitting with these filthy blood-traitors. Why don't you come join us in our compartment?" Bletchley said as he tried to grab her hand only to fly back crashing towards the hoard that stood at the door. Novi had her wands drawn high as she icily stared down at the group that was scurrying to get up.
"You hag! You will pay for that!" Flint said as he tried to lunge at her. But Novi was smaller and more nimble than he was. She dodged him with ease before sending a Knee-Reversal hex on him and he came crashing down, hitting his teeth onto the floor.
"Really? Because I'm not the one with my patella flipped around," Novi said. "Now, leave me and my friends alone."
They didn't need to be told twice as Higgs, the only one that seemed decent in the group suggested they leave. Novi sent a powerful cracker jinx that lit up the whole corridor as the nasty group of kids fled, Flint hilariously attempting to catch up with his knees reversed.
Novi turned around and sat herself from across where the boys sat now. They were both staring with eyes wide and jaws slack as if they had been confounded. "What?" Novi snapped, thinking that she had lost her friends by telling them her last name. She was pleasantly surprised when they burst out laughing, making Novi crack a smile. Soon, they were all holding their stomachs, laughing as tears rolled down their faces.
Soon, their laughter died down as they all slumped with goofy smiles on their faces. Novi looked at the two of them, grinning at her like idiots themselves. "So, you're not going to run away from me? Even if I am a Black?"
Oliver shrugged. "It's not like you grew up with Sirius Black, learning dark magic. Were you?"
"Nah, I was adopted by my guardian Remus when I was five." Novi replied truthfully. "Anyways, speaking of Rem, the sun has set. Remus said to change into robes when the sun is set and when the sky starts to turn purple. So you boys get out for a minute while I change."
After Novi had changed into her uniform and the plain black robe, she waited outside with Percy for Oliver to change, chatting up some other first years. Most people had either heard or witnessed the bright cracker jinx that Novi had set off towards the fleeing group of bullies. Novi particularly hit it off with Mona, who accidentally dropped some dungbombs near Percy, setting them off violently on the floor to cover now annoyed Percy.
When the train came to a smooth stop, people started to flood out to finally plant their feet onto the ground. Many stretched their body yawning as if they just woke as young witches and wizards all around bustled around, shivering slightly in the cold night air.
"Firs' years! Firs' years! Follow me!" the Hogwarts grounds keeper bellowed as he motioned for the newcomers to Hogwarts. They could be spotted easily really, the very short ones with nervous facial expressions, waddling around like a flock of lost penguins were the first years.
They were soon led towards the castle on a boat, crossing the Black Lake. Novi, Mona, Oliver gave a gasp as they saw the castle while Percy tried to hold back his excitement with a fake sense of calm. They entered the castle still gawking at the grandness of it all. However, when the pointed looking witch started to talk about the Houses and the sorting, Mona, Oliver and Novi quickly lost focus, and Mona tried to teach them how to play chopsticks, some sort of simple math game involving the two hands.
Soon, they were brought back to reality, however, when Percy tugged on Novi's robe and the group of first years headed towards the grand double door. With the pointed witch (who, Percy was kind enough to fill in the name for as McGonagall) leading the way, the group of first years were welcomed to the sight of the Great Hall. The ceiling shone with bright starlight to match the perfect weather of outside, as if there was no roof to begin with. To make everything more amazing to the first years, the dark starry sky was filled with thousands of candles floating midair along with the translucent ghosts who glided along happily, looking at the new students with curiosity. The long four tables of each house were adorned with golden plates and goblets, with the intent looks of the older students.
Soon, with the clearing of her throat, and the placing of the four legged stool in front of the staff table, Professor McGonagall demanded the attention of the first years. She placed a very dirty looking, overly large wizard's hat on top of it. The Hall was now staring at the dirty, patched hat, and the four friends stared too, unable to think of what would happen. Then the hat opened its mouth near the brim and began to sing.
A long time ago when time was an idea,
there were four brilliant sorcerers sharing one dream
To teach young witches and wizards their knowledge,
so they left their essence in my seam
And though I may not be so new and pretty now,
don't let my ragged appearance tell you a lie
Because I can bet you anything in the world,
there's no other hat smarter than I
So put me on your curious heads,
let me tell you where you belong
Because I assure you in my years
I have never been proven wrong
You may belong in Gryffindor
where the bravest souls will unite
In this house you will be with those
who tickles your chivalry alight
Or perhaps you belong in Hufflepuff
where justice and loyalty is valued by all
In this house you will be amongst
those whose bearings are definite and tall
Maybe you belong in Ravenclaw
where those quick witted and intelligent gather
In this house you will dwell with those
whose mind are equally as sharp as dagger
Or yet you'll belong in Slytherin
where their ambitious and cunning nature are known
In this house you'll be in midst of those
who are your true friends, those who protect their own
So go ahead!
Don't be stroking your chin
Let me tell you where you belong
And let the Sorting now begin
With that, the Great Hall erupted in an applause and the Sorting Hat bowed to the four tables before it went completely still on the stool again. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall stated as she glanced quickly at the list. "Adams, Jennifer!"- a small girl with cropped black hair ran up and put on the hat eagerly before the hat screamed "Ravenclaw"
"Well if this is going to be alphabetical, looks like you're up first amongst us Novi," Oliver whispered. "It's going to be a while before they call Percy and I."
"Well I'll be very disappointed if I don't meet you in Gryffindor together, but no pressure," Mona joked.
"Gee thanks," Novi replied dryly. Not that Novi was really worried about which House she would be sorted to, but she worried about Remus, and her family. Would they be disappointed if she didn't get into a certain house?
"Black, Novela!" the Professor finally called out. Novi swallowed, feeling her throat dry instantly. She saw the Headmaster Dumbledore look at her with a soft smile and gave a weak one back before sitting down with the hat placed past her ears.
"A Black eh? I remember your father, as I also remember your mother. Very brilliant students, both of them, but where to put you?" the Sorting Hat wondered. "You do have many qualities of Slytherin also, however, just like your uncle. I knew I shouldn't have put him in Gryffindor, but what about you? Would I regret it if I put you anywhere but Slytherin?" Please, anywhere but Slytherin. Novi thought in her head. "Anywhere but Slytherin, you say? Alright, but do not make me regret my decision… GRYFFINDOR!"
Cheer erupted at the Gryffindor table as they welcomed their first Gryffindor sorted into their house. She gave a brilliant smile as she bounced off of the stool and ran towards the table, waiting for her friends to be Sorted.
Mona soon joined her, her last name being Farley. She was bouncing with joy that she had been sorted into Gryffindor. And as if fate smiled upon them, both Percy and Oliver joined them at the Gryffindor house.
And they knew, at this point, that this would be beginning of it all.