NOTES
As always, there are links to banners on my profile.
I'll be using the movie colors (blue and silver) as Ravenclaw colors, as I like those better than the book colors (blue and bronze).
Thanks again, Bryony!
Life is hectic for Bryony and I, so updates might be a little more spaced. Sorry!
DISCLAIMER
Me: Where were you October 31st, 1981?
Harry Potter: Watching my parents get killed.
Me: Oh…in that case…you can keep yourself for a while.
HP: Gee, thanks.
Holly
Chapter Four – That Hat Doesn't Like Me
I was about four feet away from Harry. I elbowed everyone surrounding me, just trying to get closer to my cousin, but no one would budge. Pansy, Lisa, and Mandy did their fair share of causing pain, but it helped none whatsoever. Although Pansy's crack at some boy's shin was entertaining, it didn't get the job done.
"Hey Lisa," I whispered, "Shout 'fire' right now."
"I don't think so, Holly," Lisa replied.
"Aw, why not?" I pleaded for some sort of help.
"Because it's a stupid idea, and there's no fire," Pansy interjected. "People would see such a thing. Good try, though." She smiled proudly.
I pouted, for I was dry on brilliant ideas. Or so I thought! Suddenly, I dropped to the ground and wriggled past standing bodies.
"What are you doing?" Mandy asked. It was then that I noticed my three friends were right on the ground with me. I shot her a knowing look and continued inching along. I glanced up at every face as I passed them. But, I realized that I didn't know what Harry looked like.
"It's Harry!" Lisa lightly squealed. I followed her gaze to a thin boy with messy black hair. Had he never heard of a comb? Pansy grabbed his pant leg and yanked him down— hard. Sadly, however, Harry didn't fall. His pants, though, did.
And so it ensued in an outburst of laughter. The four of us scrambled up and ran far, far away from Harry, down the halls. Wasn't that such a great start?
The door opened and out came a tall, slender, night-haired woman. Her eyes were small and her lips were pursed. She looked liked she had eaten an extremely sour lemon. She is definitely someone I'd like to cross. I made a mental note to do that.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Professor opened the door wider to let all of us in. The main foyer was large enough to fit a whole stable in. The walls were stone with torches burning brightly to light the hall. There was a beautiful white marble staircase leading up, up, up, as far as the eye could see.
We followed Professor McGonagall through the long hallway. We could hear the hum of hundreds of voices. This was nothing like school at home. There was a small room off the hall, which Professor led us into. I looked around nervously, catching Mandy's eye. She smiled an assuring smile and nodded.
"Isn't this exciting?" she whispered. "My brother, Danny — he's a Ravenclaw — said that after this, they take us into the Great Hall and we're sorted with the sorting hat. It actually talks!"
How lovely must a talking hat be? I felt suddenly ill. My head pounded as hard as my heart.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, head held high. "The start-of-term-banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with rest of yours house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house dormitory.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while anyone caught rule-breaking will loose house points."
"If we get caught," mumbled Pansy. We all sniggered quietly.
"At the end of the year," McGonagall continued, a stern look upon her face, "the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house will become yours.
"The Sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in the front of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves as much as you can while you are waiting."
I noticed Harry trying to flatten his hair. I pulled a comb from my pocket; I always had two, and looked at my friends.
"Should I?" I asked, gesturing to him. Pansy shrugged, while Mandy and Lisa nodded enthusiastically. I walked forward. The crowd was easier to maneuver through here, though I have no idea why. I tapped Harry's shoulder.
"You look like you could use this," I offered Harry the comb. He just stared at me.
"I don't know. It might not work," he mumbled. How shy was this kid?
"Just… try it, okay?" I put the comb in Harry's hand.
"Thanks." He tried running it through his hair. It looked a little more tamed, but not really. I was curious if he knew about me as I did with him.
"I'm Holly," I offered. He glanced up nervously.
"Harry Potter, nice to meet you; I bet you knew that though. Everyone seems to know me."
"Yeah, me too," When Harry looked utterly confused, I brushed my bangs off my face. "I'm like you, Harry. I'm your cousin."
"Really? I didn't know that. But, I'm glad there's someone who… someone who really understands. Your parents - did he kill them, too?"
"Yeah," I nodded. There was a silence, but it wasn't awkward at all. In fact, it was comfortable. I noticed that Harry had my eyes - my dad's eyes - his mom's eyes.
I hadn't noticed Professor McGonagall leave until the door slammed. I stood for a minute, but returned to the girls waiting for me.
"How'd it go?" Pansy asked.
"Well. Just… well, Harry's nice. I like him," I smiled. "I'll keep him around."
"Oh, good!" Lisa clapped.
"It's the ghosts!" Mandy shouted suddenly, pointing at the back wall. Many people screamed. About twenty or so ghosts floated across the room in their pearly essence.
"Forgive and forget, I say. Let's give him a second chance," a priest-like ghost was saying.
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name, and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?" one of them asked, just seeming to notice us. No one answered; we just gaped at the phantoms in front of us.
"New students!" cried the Fat Friar. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people dumbly nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff," he said. "My old house, you know!"
"Move along now," a sharp voice, namely McGonagall, said. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." The ghosts exited, seemingly in fear of the Witch-Professor, no pun intended. "Now, form a line and follow me."
My legs began to tingle insanely. Little pins pricked at my skin. I wanted to check my legs to see if they were bleeding. I got into line behind Pansy and Lisa, with Mandy behind me. Once again, I lost sight of Harry. We went through the big double doors into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall seemed familiar; I'd probably seen it in a dream. Thousands of candles floated above four tables the size of a hockey rink. Other students sat at the tables. I saw one table overflowing with students in gold robes; that was the Hufflepuff table. I scanned for Cedric, who was relatively easy to find, considering he tried to trip me.
"Neat, huh?" he said. I just bobbed my head and smiled. We came to a halt at the front of the hall near a long table where the teachers sat. I looked to the Ravenclaw table, the one covered in blue, to find Mandy's brother. Near the front of the table was a boy who looked exactly like Mandy. He looked about fifteen.
"That boy you're looking at, he's my brother. Danny's a fourth year," Mandy whispered. She waved to Danny, who also waved back.
Professor placed a stool in front of us. On it, she put a dusty old hat. It suddenly twitched, and began to sing.
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't 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 top hats sleek and tall,
for I'm 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 ought 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 folks 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'm a Thinking Cap!
Everyone burst into applause. The hat bowed to each table and became perfectly still.
Professor McGonagall produced a scroll. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!"
A small blonde-pigtailed girl sat on the stool with the hat on her head. After a moment—
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted once more.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" Danny screamed in glee. Mandy gave me a look of embarrassment.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!" Mandy suddenly paled. She walked forward slowly to sit on the stool. After a few moments—
"RAVENCLAW!" And she skipped off to sit with a proud-looking Danny. Lavender Brown was the first Gryffindor, while Millicent Bulstrode became a Slytherin. I let my thoughts drift away for a wile.
"Evans, Holly!"
The hall went to a hush as soon as they heard my name. Everyone stood to look at me before the hat fell over my eyes.
Hello? I thought.
"Hello Miss Evans. You will be a hard one to place, yes. Gryffindor, like your father, Slytherin, like your mother, or somewhere else…Hm. I can't say you're very loyal," said a tiny voice.
I resent that!
"You're much too stubborn to be. You have spunk and plenty of courage. Gryffindor? Ah, but you're intelligent! Knowledge matters to you. Ravenclaw? Very cunning and ambitious, you are. How about Slytherin?"
Don't you dare.
"Oh and why not?"
Because I said so.
"Alright then. Your choice. Would you like to be a Ravenclaw or a Gryffindor?"
Isn't this your job? You're really slacking off on your work here. I didn't think that you be like this. That's why I was excited to come here. All of my teachers in the United States are lazy ass—
"Alright, alright, don't fall of the stool. I really shouldn't have asked. I hope you prosper— and learn to control your language— in RAVENCLAW!"
I set the hat back on the stool for "Finch-Fletchley, Justin" who became a Hufflepuff. I went over to the Ravenclaw table. Mandy gave me a strong hug and pulled me down next to her.
"How'd it go?" Mandy asked with glinting eyes.
"Well, let's just say the Sorting Hat doesn't very much like me," I mumbled.
Mandy laughed, "You're so funny!" Too bad I wasn't joking.
"So, you're Holly?" Danny asked. He was pretty much a copy of Mandy, jut male and very tall.
"Yeah, I'm the Girl-Who-Lived, or the Girl-Wonder, if you like that better," I smiled.
"I think Holly's fine. It's less formal, and a lot friendlier."
"See! I have an awesome brother! I wish first years could play Quidditch. Danny's a chaser and the right hand to Roger Davies—"
"That's me!" shouted a boy across from Danny who was less perfect than Cedric, but still attractive. "Roger Davies, Miss Evans, at your service," he said offering his hand. I took it, smiling.
"Stop flirting, Rog," Danny laughed, flinging a bobby pin from Mandy's hair at him. Roger ducked it.
"How else am I supposed to get a girlfriend?" Roger asked, flinging it back. This time, Mandy caught it.
"Don't touch my stuff, Danny! Use your own bobby pins," Mandy looked at me and pouted. "See how mean he is?"
"Oh yeah, he's the devil's spawn," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Potter, Harry!" The hall silenced again. Honestly, we're just people. Although, I wanted to see where Harry was Sorted.
The hat slipped over his eyes as it had done with mine. I watched intently and held my breath. The hat was probably conversing with Harry. He must have been just as difficult to Sort as I was. Finally, after about two minutes, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Damn, I thought. I really wanted Harry to be in my house.
"Why?" Roger cried, highly exasperated. He banged his head on the table. What a baby!
Lisa was called after some Gryffindor boy. She was shaking violently. She was also noticeably pale. The hat hadn't sat on her head for long before she became a Ravenclaw.
"Oh God, that was frightening!" she said while rushing over to us. She sat down next to me. "Especially being third to last!" After Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin, along with Pansy, Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll. Professor Dumbledore stood. He smiled and his eyes glinted behind his half-moon glasses.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" Everyone cheered as Professor sat back down. I gave Lisa a certain look: the one when a 'popular' girl sees an 'unpopular' girl trip on the stairs.
"Dumbledore's a bit mad," Danny said, "but we love him." He began filling his plate with potatoes. I realized that the platters and dishes in front of us were suddenly heaping with food.
Mandy leaned over and whispered, "They're charmed. The food won't kill you. Just close your mouth and eat."
I immediately noticed the roast beef; it had always been my favorite. I put a little of it onto my plate along with peas, roast potatoes, and carrots. Yay, veggies!
While I was picking at my food— Mom often said I eat like a bird— the conversation turned to academics (Lisa asked Danny and Roger).
"Well, you have your core subjects. Those are transfiguration, charms, Defense against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Astronomy, Potions, and Herbology," Roger said. Herbology means plants. Plants mean dirt. Dirt and I really hate each other.
"And you first years get taught flying," continued Danny, "though you can't play Quidditch. Honestly, Mandy's the best Beater I've ever seen."
"And you're the worst Chaser," Mandy smirked.
"No, he's not. That'd be Carmichael. The only thing Eddie can do right is con unsuspecting people. Watch out for him, you three," Roger warned.
I glanced up at the High Table. One of the professors, a small man in a turban, looked my way. My scar began to burn insanely. I cringed and I noticed a hand on my shoulder.
"You okay, Holly?" Mandy's voice sounded distant. As soon as the pain began, it went away.
"Y-yeah. That was strange." I shook my head. Desserts soon appeared. Most of these things, I never saw before.
"Oh, Holly! Try a treacle tart! They're amazing!" Roger shoved one in my face. I took the Unidentified Food Object. It felt like wet sponge cake. I took a small bite of it. It was very good, but I tasted a bit of something bad.
Taking that bite was a big mistake.
My skin started to prick and crawl, like it always does before I get my allergy rash. I pulled up my sleeve and noticed the pinky-red blotches forming on my forearm.
"Was there cinnamon on that, Roger?" I asked, still looking at my arm.
"Yes, why, Holly?" he asked, confused.
"I just broke out in a severe rash that will spread all over my body. I'm allergic to cinnamon, Roger."
"Oh, Merlin! I'm sorry, Holly!" Roger frantically apologized. I waved it off.
"Stop it, Roger. It wasn't your fault. I'd just like to get some cream for this rash before it swells and gets infected."
"Where might we get allergy rash cream?" Mandy asked.
"I don't know," Danny said, "but Madam Pomfrey might." Danny got up and trotted over to the High Table. I had a feeling this wasn't allowed because one professor started to yell at him. Danny reasoned with them, as Madam Pomfrey followed him over to me.
"Let me see your arm, dear." I showed Madam Pomfrey my arm. She examined the rash thoroughly.
"It's not just my arm. It's probably spread by now," I said. Madam Pomfrey examined me further, checking my neck and legs. She found nothing.
"I'd like you to look down your robes to see if it's spread to your stomach," she instructed. I discreetly peeked down my robes for swelling and redness, only to find none. I shook my head.
"Alright, dear. I think your rash should be fine until after the feast. Mr. Davies will escort you to the Hospital Wing afterwards." Madam Pomfrey went over to the High Table again. I found that quite odd. The nurse at my old school in Fitchburg would slop ointment all over me and send me home from school.
Finally, the desserts of doom disappeared. Professor Dumbledore stood up, and the hall fell silent.
"Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
"Damn it," Mandy muttered. "I wanted to explore."
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
"Like that'll ever be followed; it never is, mind you," Danny rolled his eyes.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you, that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
I heard a few people laugh, but I really doubted he was joking. I'll make sure to keep that in mind if I get bored and want to find some adventure.
"Funny," said a tall girl a few people away from me, "Dumbledore didn't tell the Prefects about that."
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore gleefully said. He gave his wand a flick, and a golden ribbon flew out and twisted itself into words for all to see. "Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"
I decided to sing to the Star Spangled Banner, instead of anything else. No one else did, but long live the US of A, right?
Everyone finished singing at different times, and I was glad I wasn't last. That was a pair of red-headed Gryffindors.
Dumbledore wiped his eyes at the end. "Ah, music," he said. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, it's bedtime. Off you trot!"
Everyone got up from their seats.
"Hello, first years! My name is Penelope Clearwater, and I will be your prefect for the evening. Please follow me to our common room," she smiled. Penelope was very tall with dark hair and looked like she spent her whole summer on the beach.
We followed Penelope up the stone staircase on our right. I noticed the Slytherins went down and the Gryffindors went straight. I had lost complete sight of the Hufflepuffs. People in portraits pointed and whispered as we passed.
"Are they supposed to do that?" asked Lisa. She stared skeptically at the paintings.
"Oh, those? Yeah, they are. Muggle pictures don't do that?" Many replied.
"No," I snorted. Never have I seen a photo, or painting for that matter, move.
At the end of the hall, there was a large mahogany door with a bronze eagle doorknocker. To my surprise the thing spoke, asking Penelope a question.
"Hello, Miss Clearwater. What has a mouth, but cannot chew?"
"A river," Penelope answered. "Although most doorways ask you for a password, ours asks you a riddle, and you must answer correctly to get in. If you can't figure it out, don't worry. Someone else will probably find you after a while and help you get in."
I'd probably be the one who needs the help. A riddle? Seriously?
We filed into the Ravenclaw common room. It was airy, but dark with midnight blue carpet and silk drapery on the large arched windows. The domed ceiling was painted with brilliant silver stars. It was furnished with dark wood tables and chairs by bookcases overflowing with volumes. On the other side of the room, comfortable-looking blue couches sat by a granite fireplace (which was roaring with yellow-orange flames). In between two doors, there was a white stone statue of a tall and beautiful woman.
"That's Rowena Ravenclaw, our founder. Alright, through the door on your left are the girls' dormitories, and on the right is the boys'. Now, off to bed, we've got a big day tomorrow." Penelope shooed us up the stairs.
We had no trouble finding our dorms; etched on each door was 'first years', 'second years' and so on, all the way up to seventh years.
The dorm was a large pentagon shape, with a canopy bed at each side. There was more midnight carpet and drapes. Our trunks were brought up, and placed at the ends of our beds. But…where was Leonardo?
"They probably put your owl in the Owlery," Mandy said, reading my face.
"Okay. I'm just…Let's go to bed." I started to crawl under the covers.
"No!" Lisa cried. "Do we not have a bet with Cedric this evening?"
Mandy and I looked at each other.
"My goodness, I forgot!" Mandy gasped.