Chapter Two: First Impressions
A very wet set of first years stood in a cold room waiting for Professor McGonagall to come and direct them to the Great Hall. Shaddi spotted some of the people she had already met. Lucius Malfoy leaning against a wall laughing with others. James and Sirius with two other boys talking about something with devilish grins on their faces. The pretty red-headed girl Shaddi had spotted coming out of Olivander's, talking with her blonde friend. There too were other faces Shaddi knew from the many parties she had attended with her family. Yet none she had ever really called friends, mostly preferring to be on her own with a book.
Professor McGonagall came back at last and they were taken into the Great Hall. The hall was a whirlwind of sound, every person in the hall was clapping. Shaddi spotted her brother sitting with the Gryffindors he smiled and waved to her she smiled back. They stood in a line, and watched as an old battered looking hat sang a very odd song about the four school houses and their particular traits. Shaddi couldn't think which one she would end up in.
So the students waited patiently as they were called up one right after another. Shaddi watched as Sirius Black was called up and after a moment under the hat the called out "Gryffindor!" The table where Kai sat yelled and cheered loudly. The blonde girl Shaddi had seen earlier was made into a Ravenclaw. And "Evans, Lillian" The pretty girl with dark red hair was made into a Gryffindor.
Still more students were called "Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin Gryffindor." Remus Lupin, one of the boys how had been talking with Sirius and James, was also put into Gryffindor, and went off to sit with Sirius. Frank Longbottom was also placed into Gryffindor. "Hufflepuff! Hufflepuff Ravenclaw! Gryffindor." Lucius Malfoy was put into Slytherin along with his other friends. Then another right behind him. "Gryffindor! Ravenclaw! Gryffindor!"
"Pettigrew, Peter." An awkward boy tripped on his way up to the stool was also put into Gryffindor. "Potter, James." He sat beneath the hat until it too called out "Gryffindor!" Still more time passed and as Professor McGonagall went down the list, Shaddi became more and more anxious until finally.
"Ravencroft, Shaddi" She stepped toward the stool. It seemed to take forever to get there, then she sat down and the hat slid over her eyes.
"Hmm... Yes another Ravencroft, well what to do with this one?" The hat's tiny little voice whispered in her ear. "Yes I see you're very strong, and quite intelligent, wise beyond your years, yet so caring, driven and firm. All very good qualities. But I am not quite sure where to put you. Hmm... I do say what a challenge. Yes, why don't we see about..."
"Slytherin!" The table to her left burst with cheering and rejoicing. Shaddi went to the table looking over at her brother who smiled at her. When she found an empty seat she took it. Looking at the line of students which were left Shaddi spotted the pail boy from Diagon Alley. When "Snape, Severus." was sorted into Slytherin he took the empty seat next to Shaddi without a word.
Once the last of the first years were sorted Shaddi was amazed as the food popped up. It all looked so warm and good as everyone dug in and passed dishes to one another. Shaddi filled her plate and got started on her food.
The hall buzzed steadily with chatter as the students dinned. Shaddi kept to herself mostly answering questions only when they were directed at her. Finally the deserts came and Shaddi took just her share of ice cream and called it a night. She took notice that Severus ate very little and didn't look overly enthused by desert. She watched him for a moment but he never looked at her. She returned to her ice crème until desert ended. When it had cleared itself of the tables the Headmaster stood up. An elderly looking man with a white beard and mane of hair, the candle light danced off of it as Shaddi looked at him. She already knew who this was. Albus Dumbledore, possibly the greatest wizard ever to live.
"Welcome back everyone and a special welcome to all the first years. Just a few school rules; I will try to keep them short as we are all quite full from the feast. The forbidden forest is off limits to all students, there is to be no magic in the corridors, and no diving in the black lake, as someone chose to do last year." He smiled as he paused. "The Quidditch season starts in October, so anyone second year and over do try- out for your house team. And with that you may head off to bed. Prefects please lead your respective first years to your house."
Older students stood and began calling the younger students of their respective houses. "Slytherin over here. With me please." The boys who called to them was tall and thin, his black hair in a perfectly straight ponytail down to the middle of his back. The first years gathered behind him as the older students headed off toward their houses. Kai ran over and hugged Shaddi on his way out the door.
"Good job Shaddi." He said before darting off.
"Ok first years, first years please your attention. Thank you. Now my name is Alred Dregman, and I am your house prefect, if you'll follow me I'll direct you to our house common room." And so they were off Alred telling things about the castle that would be helpful as they passed through the Entrance Hall. Some of these things Shaddi already knew because of Kai but others she didn't.
It didn't take long to journey down into the dungeon and find the bare space of wall where Alred spoke the password. "Nightshade." The wall slid back; as they stepped in they could see a long underground room with green tinged lamps hanging from the ceilings by sliver chains. There was a fire crackling in the fireplace, the flames were framed by a very elaborately carved stone mantel piece. A few older students were sitting in the chairs, their shadows thrown onto the walls in the shape of long thin silhouettes.
"This is our house common room, it's a perfect place to sit, relax, do homework, or do nothing at all." He smiled at them. "Your dorms are right down those passages," He turned to pointe to them. "girls to your left boys to your right, you'll find your things are already there. Students are not allowed out of the common room after ten in the evenings. If you need anything, please feel free to ask me, your other house perfect, my sister Amelia." He gestured to the back of the group, they turned and saw girl who looked to be his twin; she smiled at them looking exactly like her brother. "And of course your head of house, Professor Slughorn. We will all help you in the best way we can. Welcome to Hogwarts, good night." The Dregmans left the first years and headed out of the common room. Many of the first years began chatting amongst themselves, establishing friends and ties with the others or greeting older siblings who were sitting in the high-backed chairs. Shaddi headed off toward the left hand passage and the dorm she would call home. She heard someone walking behind her, a quick told her it was Severus, who seemed to also be heading to his own dormitory.
As she entered the passage she found a very steep curving descending stair case. 'I would hate to fall down this.' She told herself as she went down. The dormitory was long, thin, and with a low ceiling. The walls were lined with green glass lamps. Three, four poster beds lined the two longest walls. Shaddi saw each girl's trunk standing to the right of the owner's bed. Shaddi found hers right at the end of the room where she had hoped it would be. Each bed was hung with emerald silk; a black satin comforter was lying over the sliver silk sheets.
Shaddi got her pajamas and pulled the curtains of her bed to change. As she sat of the comforter she could tell it was filling with soft down feathers, making it very soft and warm. The room had a heater on the back wall about ten feet from her bed which was probably all that kept the room from dropping below freezing. After pulling back the comforter and slivery sheet Shaddi sunk into the bed and found it warmer than she had thought. Being so very full of good food, comfortable and warm, she fell right to sleep very glad that she was here.