Bitter our hatred is, old and strong and unchanging
Twined with the fibres of life, blent with body and soul
But as its bitterness, so might have been our love's sweetness
Had it not missed the way-strange missing and sad!-to its goal.
Lucy Maud Montgomery,
"To One Hated"

"Firs' years, this way!" the booming, familiar voice greeted them as the five girls stepped off the train. Jacqueline had latched onto Ellen and had her hand firmly grasped. At El's grimace, Carla could only assume that sound of Hagrid's voice addressing the new students had startled Jacqueline into tightening her hold—if that was possible. Carla couldn't repress a smile.

"It's going to be okay, Jacqueline," Ellen said to her in a calming voice once they had moved out of the way of the other students. She turned and knelt next to her, her hands grabbing the young girl's. "It's tradition! Even we had to do it."

Jacqueline glanced back towards the tall man nervously. She began to gnaw in her bottom lip, her eyes growing wide as she watched him saunter in their direction. She turned quickly back to Ellen, her forehead making contact with the older girl's.

"Couldn't I just stay with you?" she said sotto voce. If Carla hadn't been paying attention, she would have missed the girl's words completely. Ellen sighed, a hint of impatience creeping into her face.

"I'm sorry, Jackie, but you need to go with Hagrid." Ellen straightened and managed to unlock herself from Jacqueline's hold. "Everything will be fine. It's just a small boat ride across the lake, and then a short hike up a seemingly endless amount of stairs. That's it."

"But—" Jacqueline tried to say, but her words were cut off when she was jostled backwards. All four older girls' attention shifted instantly from Jacqueline to the source of the interruption.

A boy, undoubtedly a first year, had slammed his shoulder into Jacqueline's, causing her to stumble backwards. He was a short boy with dark, straight hair. It was fashionably short

He turned his head to glare at Jacqueline over his shoulder, his eyes a dark cobalt. The expression on his face was enough to freeze every candle that lit the Great Hall. It was enough to make Carla shiver; Jacqueline, who was on the receiving end of such a look, recoiled as if she had been stung.

"Future Slytherin," Brit murmured from behind Carla. Carla silently agreed, her eyes following the boy as he walked towards Hagrid.

"Don't mind him," Ellen said, grabbing Jacqueline by the shoulders. "Now, go on and meet the other first years. It'll be fun. Promise." She grinned, but Jacqueline wasn't reassured. Ellen sighed. "When have I ever steered you wrong?"

"Well…" Jacqueline paused, her head tilted upwards in an exaggerated pose. She stared at the sky, a finger coming to rest on her chin. After a few seconds, she turned her gaze back to Ellen, a shy smile on her face.

"That's right, never," Ellen returned, amusement in her voice. She stood and released the young girl. "Off you go, then." Jacqueline's smile faltered, but she dutifully did as she was told. Slowly, one step at a time, she made her way across the train landing, closer and closer to Hagrid.

"Watch out for the giant squid!" Ry called out just before the girl made it to the group surrounding the half-giant. "Three kids didn't make it across the lake my first year!"

"Ry!" the other three girls admonished in unison.

"What?" she said with a shrug, a sly grin on her face.

"Be nice, she's scared," Ellen replied as the group turned around and walked toward the carriages the other students were required to take.

"And that's supposed to make her less of a target?" She let out a loud bark of laughter. "If anything, I'd say that makes her more vulnerable."

"Just leave her be. Have you fun with any other first year."

"Okay. Okay," Ry replied resignly. "If I absolutely have to, I'll leave her be."

"Thank you," Ellen replied as she climbed into a carriage. Carla was behind her, and quickly ascended.

"For now," Ry whispered so that only Carla had heard her. She stifled a giggle; Carla knew that poor Jacqueline was going to regret ever meeting Ry over the next year. Ry took a seat across from Ellen; Brit sat next to her. "All I'm trying to do is help her grow a thick skin as her's seems kind of soft," Ry said in normal tones as the carriage started to move. "If anything, you should be thanking me."

"She can grow thicker skin tomorrow; let her survive her first day with her innocence in place, at least."

The rest of the short carriage ride was made in silence, each girl examining their own thoughts. Carla watched the passing scenery, anticipation growing in her stomach. She was excited for the upcoming year, yet an underlying sadness invaded her joy. She'd only make this trip one more time, experience these sights, these emotions, just a single time more. It was heart-wrenching, almost. Hogwarts was home.

The castle gates came into view, the castle itself an object of the background. Still, its point on the horizon did nothing to detract from its majesty. As she descended from the carriage, Carla was unable to ignore the sense of awe that washed over her. The atmosphere was charged with levity; the hum of student voices as they made their way up the path floated back to her.

Carla could hear the discussion of classes, of house drama, of friends reunited, summer tales of adventures—it was like a symphony of voices. Some were exuberant and full of laughter while others were sullen and dull, but each had their own part in this scene. Each added a spark of something that complimented the other. Hogwarts was coming back to life; Carla grinned.

They'd reached the main entrance, a grand doorway atop a flight of stone stairs. The castle glittered in the darkness, its glorious entrance glowing like a beacon in the middle of a stormy sea. It was magnificent, mesmerizing; it was also the last place someone wanted to humiliate themselves at.

Carla had made it up three steps before her clumsiness came to light—not that it had been a secret. Before she could shout in fright, her hands came out to protect her chest and caught herself four steps above the one she'd tripped on. Dust floated into her nostrils as she let out a huff.

Awesome, she thought as she started to push herself up. Her friends had heard her startled yelp and had stopped midway up the stairs. All three had concerned looks on their faces, although, Carla would swear Ry's lips were twitching just a bit.

"Are you okay, Carls?" Brit asked, backtracking to offer a hand to Carla.

"Fine," Carla mumbled as she accepted the proffered hand.

"Aren't you supposed to fall down the stairs, not up?" a familiar voice drawled from behind her. Carla froze, her right arm keeping her balanced on the step below. She closed her eyes and suppressed a groan. Of all the people who had to be a witness to her humiliation, he would be one of them! It was moments like these when sinkholes were most appreciated.

Carla glared over her shoulder at the speaker and gave a sneer. "I'm no physicist, but I'm pretty sure the forces of gravity keep pulling me towards the ground, and they don't discriminate against which direction I'm going."

Sirius Black—tall, dark, and annoying, she thought as she turned to face him. He had eyes made of sin; even with just a look he had the female population swooning. He had the grin of a thief, and the tongue of a serpent. He could talk himself out of any situation he happened to put himself in, and he was often proving how easily he could do so. More importantly, though, Carla thought as she continued glaring at him through narrowed eyes, he was the bane of her existence.

"Was that sarcasm, Finney?" he said with false astonishment. "An attempt at a joke? Are you finally trying to break out of your shell? Last I 'member, you still had a heart of ice wrapped up in that chest of yours. Always so serious; no time for play!"

"Is there something I can help you with, Black?" Carla said with a sigh, her hands coming to rest on her hips.

"No cronies today?" Brit called out from behind Carla. By now, a small group of students had formed behind Sirius, watching the exchange avidly. Carla realized her small mishap had turned into a major traffic block, preventing others from entering the castle. And those who dared press on had to shove by her, some knocking into her shoulders and causing her to stumble slightly where she stood. Sure enough, though, not one of them appeared to be one of his fellow mischief makers.

He gave a small shrug of his shoulders—if the uncaring, very slight lifting of his shoulders could be considered a shrug, Carla amended. "Forgot something in our compartment, and I had to go back for it. Lost 'em in the crowd; you know how it can get—especially when something as exciting as Finney, here, tripping up the stairs." The last word was somewhat distorted by the chuckles that Sirius, seemingly, could no longer contain.

"And so it starts," Carla sighed to herself as she swung around, ignoring Sirius's mirth behind her. A few other students had joined him in his merriment, but Carla decided they weren't worth another second of her time. The feast awaited, and her stomach was already balking at the prospect of sitting idly—foodless—during the sorting ceremony. If you've seen one, you've seen them all—and it was probable that the Sorting Hat would have to shout louder than usual to make it over the rumbling of her stomach. Carla groaned quietly.

"C'mon, Carls," Ellen said as Carla made it to the top step—without tripping—and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her into the castle; "ignore him. You know how ornery he can be. He'll never change."

"Unfortunately," Carla told her quietly. Despite her embarrassment, she had to admit that the site of her falling up the stairs probably had been the highlight of an otherwise dull night. Yes, she was capable of laughing at herself—just not in front of him.