She was sitting in utter darkness. There were disoriented black figures on either side of her, but she couldn't make out their faces. "Quiet!" a hoarse voice whispered harshly into the darkness. A tall lanky figure shuffled in the corner, and a quivering light erupted from his open palm, filling the entire room with a shimmering glow. It illuminated his tired, grey face, but his eyes looked weary and alert as he glared at something over her shoulder. Natalie turned to gasp at the hooded figure towering in the doorway. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood, but it seemed to be staring at each one of them in turn. It floated into the room and leaned over a young boy crouched frightfully in the opposite seat. Natalie gawked as she realized the entire compartment was filled with young children, each wearing faces of pure horror.
A deep low rattling sound resonated throughout the room, and the young boy began to wriggle in agony under the hooded creatures gaze. The compartment was filled with an intense cold that sunk into Natalie's bones and threatened to dominate her heart. She shuddered as she relived the memories of her past. All the dreams that haunted her came swarming into focus, and she felt as if the terror would finally kill her. "Stop!" she cried. The thing tilted its head and slowly moved towards her, all happiness being sucked from the air ceaselessly…
The man in the corner stood boldly and raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" he croaked. A great light burst into the compartment, blinding everything in its pass. Natalie covered her eyes in shock and woke with a start.
She was sitting in the Hogwarts Express next to a snoozing Dorcas. The lights were on and everything seemed to be normal. Across from her seat, Sirius stared out of the window lazily, while Remus had his face enclosed in a book. Peter was asleep in between them with his head laid back against the wall and his mouth slightly ajar. How long had she been out?
"Excited?" Sirius said from the corner of his mouth as he realized she was awake.
"What?" she asked groggily.
"Are you excited to be going to Hogwarts?" he elaborated with a smile.
"I guess," Natalie muttered timidly.
Sirius raised his brows at her answer, "Are you telling me that you prefer home-schooling over Hogwarts?"
"Definitely," she sighed quietly. Remus, who had obviously heard the entire conversation, nudged Sirius gently in the shoulder to get him to lay off.
"Hogwarts isn't all that bad," Remus said politely. "For one, they have a remarkable library."
"Library?!" Sirius said, taken aback. "Who cares about the library? What about Quidditch? And Defense Against the Dark Arts and Peeves!"
"Peeves?!" Remus rolled his eyes appalled. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Who's Peeves?" Natalie whispered curiously, as Dorcas stirred in her sleep.
"An annoying poltergist at Hogwarts," Sirius chuckled quietly. "He isn't all that bad actually, as long as you stay on his good side," he winked as Remus scoffed.
"Are you going to try out for the Quidditch team this year?" Sirius asked engrossed, as Natalie's eye's bulged.
"Me?!" she gaped. "No way."
"What?" Sirius almost whined. "Why not?"
"I hate Quidditch," she said as if it was the most obvious thing. "I hate brooms. I hate flying. I hate everything about it. That's why."
Sirius frowned, "You know, when Dorcas told me that her best friend was coming to Hogwarts, I was almost worried. I didn't know if Hogwarts was ready for two crazy girls bouncing all over the walls when it can only barely withstand one, but now that I've met you, I cannot believe how un-Dorcas-like you are." He shook his head astounded.
"Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble," Natalie pouted.
"No, it's not a problem," Sirius rubbed the back of his neck. "But you are just so…"
"Unexpected," Remus completed his phrase with that same intriguing stare.
"Oh," she gulped. "Then it's going to be an interesting year, isn't it?" she smiled and looked away.
"Most definitely," Sirius grinned as a blaring voice resonated throughout the train for everyone to convert into their dress robes. Dorcas woke abruptly and looked around the room.
"Time to change," she grinned with a yawn.
--
The Great Hall was lit with hundreds of glistening candles floating gracefully above the tables, while shimmering golden goblets and cutlery littered their wooden surfaces. The ceiling was enchanted to mirror the night sky with flickering bright stars that seemed to go on forever. Students toddled enthusiastically below, excited to finally begin their new year at Hogwarts.
Natalie stood apprehensively at the front of the room with the group of first years followed by an unfamiliar blonde student who looked to be no younger than her.
Remus blinked in surprise. Who could that be? James noticed Remus' apprehension and shook his head disdainfully. "That there is some exchange student from Durmstrang. I ran into him on the train. Terrible bloke. Definite Slytherin through and through."
"Seventh year?" Remus queried.
"Unfortunately," Sirius spat.
Remus glanced back to Natalie who began to shuffle anxiously. She tried to ignore the intense stares she was receiving from the hundreds of students before her, but as the small beads of sweat dripped down her face, Remus could tell she was more than nervous.
But who wouldn't be? What if she wasn't put into Gryffindor?
Dorcas sat at his side, her face full of agony and tension as well.
"It'll be alright," he assured her, hating the strain in their group.
"I hope so," she mumbled taking her eyes off Natalie.
Remus sighed and glanced to the front of the room. It would all be over soon. Natalie gazed towards their table, her glossy brown eyes full of dread. Remus sent her a comforting smile, and she nodded in return.
Slowly, the first years took their place on the stool, and the hat called out their houses, as usual. One by one, they drifted into their seats until the last students standing were Natalie and the strange blonde boy.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat at the head of the room and began to speak, "This year we have been graced with two new seventh year students. They will board and dine with whichever house the hat chooses just as you all do. I expect you fellow seventh year students to treat them with as much respect and assistance as you give to your peers." She looked over the room with that familiar stern glare. "Now, Miss Doge, if you would please take your place on the stool."
Dorcas crossed her fingers fretfully, and Lily gave her a light hug. As professor McGonagall placed the hat on Natalie's head, the entire room fell silent.
--
The moment the scruffy cloth touched her head, a raspy voice entered Natalie's thoughts. "Hello, Dearie," it said. "Aren't you old? Let's see. Your mother was in Ravenclaw. Having families follow footsteps doesn't seem to do any harm."
Natalie gaped in horror at these words, and shut her eyes tightly. 'No!' she pleaded silently. 'Gryffindor. Gryffindor. Gryffindor.' She repeated in her mind.
"Gryffindor?" the hat said almost appalled. "You, dear, are no Gryffindor. That wouldn't be right at all."
'I MUST be in Gryffindor.' She begged. 'Please! I have to be with Dorcas. I must be in Gryffindor.'
"Girl, it is my responsibility to sort everyone into the house that best fits their potential," it scorned. "If you do not wish to be in Ravenclaw, I cannot ignore the fact that you have many characteristics of a true Slytherin."
'No!' Natalie almost cried aloud. 'I would do anything to be in Gryffindor. Please put me in Gryffindor!' she thought franticly.
There was a long moment of silence where Natalie sat petrified awaiting the verdict.
"Anything?" the hat inquired with a hint of curiosity.
'Yes!' Natalie implored. Was it possible? Was this hat actually capable of negotiating?! 'I will do anything.'
"With such sly thinking, I ought to put you in Slytherin," it said derisively, but Natalie heard a hint of uncertainty in its voice. "If I put you in Gryffindor, you must promise me one thing."
'Anything' Natalie replied her anxiety washing away.
"As you know, a Gryffindor stands for bravery and courage. They are strong willed and talented as they endure through to the end when faced with a challenge, but you, dear, are a coward." It said disdainfully.
Natalie peeked open her eyes to see the hundreds of students impatiently waiting in the Great Hall for the hat to announce its decision. The amount of death glares she was receiving made her suddenly queasy, and she couldn't help but gag at her insecurities.
"Exactly my point," the hat said. "I will put you in Gryffindor if you agree to overcome at least two of your fears by the end of this year," it said emphatically.
'Fears? I'm not afraid of anything!' Natalie protested.
"Do not perjure yourself," the hat said pleasantly. "You hold a great fear of flying. You are afraid of meeting new people and going to Hogwarts. You are terrified of yourself," the hat said. "You need to accept the death of your mother and move on with your life."
'My mother?' Natalie gaped. 'What has she got to do with this?'
"Everything," the thing implied. "Because you have been kept safe and cozy in your little house all your life, you were never given the opportunity of correlating with new people. You are narrow-minded and subconsciously biased to new things. You are a coward, and in order to be a Gryffindor this act must be reversed. Will you take up my offer?"
Natalie sat there, aghast. Dorcas had pestered her for years about her spinelessness, and she wasn't ready to be harassed by a hat.
'I accept your offer.' Natalie said diligently. She needed to be in Gryffindor, and she was going to do whatever it took.
"I honestly believe that sorting you into an opposing house would improve your valor more effectively than by just placing you where you desire," the thing said doubtfully.
'I will do it,' she snapped. 'I swear.'
"Very well, by the end of the year, you will have conquered two of your fears. If you abandon your part of the deal, you will fall precariously ill and by then we shall see your true colours."
'Of course,' Natalie muttered without a second thought. 'I'll do it.' There was a sudden tingling sensation that washed over her skin, and she gasped in shock as the hat magically sealed their bargain.
--
The entire Great Hall sat impatiently, their stomachs growling, as they waited for the hat to finally proclaim its decision. Dorcas was in a right state, constantly grumbling and pounding the table in her restlessness. This was probably the longest sorting any of them had ever been through, as the hat couldn't seem to make up its mind.
Suddenly, the familiar outline of lips formed in the centre of the cap, and the loud boisterous words of "Gryffindor" echoed off the walls of the Hall, followed by the sudden and predictable outburst of applause from the left corner of the room.
So she had done it.
A/N: I'm sorry it is so short! I truly am, but I wanted to get you at least something. I am trying to update at least once every week, and seeing how I am hounded at school, I found this at least appropriate…
Anywho, enough with the formals. Did you like the hat? Yes, I'm sure there are many of you who completely oppose the thought that the sorting hat can negotiate. (I mean, it is totally unfair to everyone else, especially since Natalie is already six-teen.) BUT, there is an obvious modification in my story.
*In an interview with J.K. Rowling last year, she mentioned that, quote, "There is more to the sorting hat than what meets the eye," end quote. I decided to work with this information, and consider this an important element in my story~ Other than the whole seeing the future tidbit. (So you'll just have to continue reading to find out.)
Thank you all for reading! Please leave a comment or two in the box below. Once again, honest comments are always welcome. Thank you to previous reviewers for correcting my 'visual' mistakes in the last chapter. It is always wonderful to get feedback. (Especially when you are correcting me.) *Big thanks to Arithmancy Wiz at the forums for looking over this chapter time and time again to make sure I wasn't breaking any copyright laws. –Speaking of that-
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters/settings/ect. found in this story. They ALL belong to the wonderful imagination of J.. *The first scene of this paragraph was visualized from the fifth chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 83. Thank you. ;)