A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry that this chapter was on a delay. I received summer homework. Although it's more extra work so I won't have to spend so much time in school next year. Anyway, this chapter wasn't that long. Just a little bit shorter than the previous chapter. Sorry about that. But, I have tried to make it better quality. Now, please understand that I do too have a life outside of fanfiction. School comes before anything so I can't post an entertaining chapter once a day (Even if only about a thousand words long), but I'm really trying to post once a month. I had to redo this chapter two times. I just wasn't happy with the result. It's hard to balance everything. Especially in college. There's just a lot of work to do. But the point being: If I say that I have to delay the new chapter, it just means that I'm busy doing my summer homework. "School before hobbies." Or I'm just re-writing the chapter because it's terrible.
Now, please enjoy this chapter. It starts rocky but gets better over time. Remember, I'm not a writer. FYI the chapter was supposed to be uploaded on 24.6.2016, but I left a note a bit earlier.
Oh. And another sneak peek. "The forest is a dangerous place, it lurks with creatures that are highly dangerous and hostile."
I do not own Gravity Falls. Gravity Falls is intellectual property of Alex Hirsh. Harry Potter franchise is owned by J.K. Rowling.
I own my OC. The story is told from his perspective.
The last day at home for the Pines twins was very hectic. They bought some clothes and packed their things. They packed their school books, cauldrons, potion ingredients, parchment, ink, quills, robes, sweaters for winter –they agreed with their parents that they'd stay at Hogwarts for winter holidays if possible-, Dipper's "journal", Mabel's grappling hook –just in case-, Mabel's scrap book and their wands. While at home and packed Dipper was really frustrated. He really wanted to try the spells that the books depicted, but Hagrid made them promise that they wouldn't use any spells, since they might hurt themselves by accident.
The day continued on as uneventful as any other, not taking the summer into account of course. The family shared as much time with each other as possible, playing board games. Sharing stories – mostly the twins sharing some smaller stories about their summer-, eating pizza, and just generally having fun – And in Dippers case asking about the wizarding community and asking about all kinds of terms, like "Muggle" for an example or explaining the houses to Mabel, 'cause she keeps asking –. But, alas the day has come to an end and the pines twins nervous as heck, went to sleep.
-Bewitched-
The morning of September first wasn't an easy one. Neither the twins or their parent's really wanted to wake up at 5 a.m. But some sacrifices had to be made. The twins woke at five o'clock and were too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. Dipper and Mabel made their way out of their room and to the bathroom on their floor, they brushed their teeth, put the coffee machine on, and left to wake up their parents. Once they were awake the whole family got dressed. Dipper dressed in the shirt Pacifica gifted him, blue denim shorts and a dark blue vest over his T-shirt. Mabel dressed in a pink sweater with a cat on it, a purple short skirt and the hair clip she got from Pacifica.
The twins grabbed their things and descended to the ground floor. Where to their surprise Hagrid was sitting on their couch, sipping coffee and eating what looked like a blueberry muffin, while reading a paper – With moving pictures! –. As the twins approached he turned around,
"G'mornin'" The man greeted the twins, took a big bite off is muffin and turned back to his newspaper.
"Hope yeh slept well." He continued.
"Nope. Have barely slept seven hours." Answered Mabel cheerily. Hagrid turned around and faced the twins who stood by the stair case.
"An' why's tha'?." Hagrid asked, slight worry present in his voice. Mabel looked sheepish.
"Weeellll…" She drawled. Dipper rolled his eyes.
"I just couldn't sleep. I was just waaay too excited! I mean MAGIC! Imagine what we could DO!" She exclaimed bouncing around. Dipper looked at her and thought that they should change the subject before it gets way out of hand.
"So," Dipper started. "What now?" He asked.
"We wait fer yer parents an' yer two ter eat and leave fer Kings Cross." Hagrid explained.
The twins nodded and went to the kitchen, ate breakfast, talked a bit and cleaned after themselves. Once done the whole family came out into the living room to see Hagrid frowning down at the newspaper and muttering something under his nose.
"We're ready." Announced their father. Hagrid turned to them, folded his newspaper and put it into one of his coats pockets.
"All right then. Let's go!" He told them. Hagrid started his walk towards the backdoor, but halted once he heard a scream.
"Wait!" Exclaimed Mabel. A worried look adoring her features. The people stopped dead in their tracks and turned towards her.
"We can't just leave Waddles here!" She exclaimed.
"Can I take him with me?" Mabel asked with a puppy eyed look. Hagrid sighed. He was expecting this, Dipper had warned him about this. And so, per Dipper's suggestion. He asked the teachers of Hogwarts to make an exception.
"Mabel, th' school o'ly allows pets like owls, mice, toads, or cats. Not pigs." Hagrid explained.
"But he's a house pig!" She exclaimed. Dipper came up to Hagrid.
"I thought that you got permission?" He asked.
"I did." Said Hagrid. He turned back to Mabel.
"Mabel." He started, cutting Mabel off from her rambling.
"The school board has made an exception for Waddles." He said with a smile.
"Now, can we go?" He asked eyeing the room. Everyone nodded and Mabel ran upstairs to get Waddles. They came out to their back yard, put their things into a small compartment on his bike – It's bigger on the inside! – and got onto his motorcycle. And so they were off.
They reached King's Cross at half past ten. Upon arrival Hagrid told the twins that the platform they'd be leaving from was platform 9 and ¾, he gave them their tickets and they continued their way inside. Once inside Dipper and Mabel dumped their trunks onto two carts and wheeled them into the station. (Waddles was sitting happily on top of Mabel's trolley.) They seemed to be walking for an eternity – it actually was a few minutes – with people staring at them, until they reached the right platform. An intersection between platforms nine and ten, to be exact. Dipper and Mabel looked around, but could not see a sign with the numbers of 9 and ¾.
"Hagrid, are you sure that we're at the right place?" Asked the twins mother. A worried look on her face.
"Of cours' I'm sure. Been 'ere tons o' times," He replied. Giving the woman a pointed look.
"you just have to know where to look." He said mischievously. He smiled a little at that.
And so they proceeded their trip toward a wall between platforms nine and ten. Hagrid turned towards the Pines family and smiled.
"So, who's firs'?" Asked Hagrid. The twins looked at him questioningly.
"Who's first, what?" Asked Mabel. Hagrid looked at her and chuckled.
"Who's firs' ta go through." He clarified. The smile never leaving his face. People passing by were giving him curious looks. Probably because of his clothing.
"Through where?" Asked the twins father. Hagrid rolled his eyes and was about to answer, but got interrupted by Dipper.
"Through the wall? There must be a perception filter or a barrier or something there. Correct?" Dipper Asked.
"Yeah, somethin' like tha'" Hagrid agreed in a dismissing manner. He looked at Dipper a little bit surprised.
"C'mon then! All yeh have ta do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared yeh'll crash inta it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if yer nervous." He supplied. The twins rolled their carts in front of the wall positioned themselves.
Dipper went first – He was closer to the wall –, he pushed his trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid. – He knew it probably wasn't even there, but it's expected to be apprehensive when one was about to run into a wall – He started to walk toward it, Mabel right behind him. They started a light jog and accelerated once they got closer. They were going to smash right into that barrier and then they'd be in trouble – Dipper leaned forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy run, Mabel right on his tail mimicking his movements – the barrier was coming nearer and nearer – they wouldn't be able to stop – the cart was out of control – they were a foot away – Dipper closed his eyes ready for the crash – It didn't come. He opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven O'clock. Mabel looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it, they had done it. The twins smiled at each other.
The adults followed behind, but instead of running they walked through. – Rather calmly too. The Pines looked around. The place was packed full of people. Kids from pre-teens to adults and elders. So many people wearing robes too. Some people were dressed like the Pines in "Muggle" clothing. Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks. The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats.
"So 'ere we are." said Hagrid. He smiled at the twins.
"Get on, you'll want to have a compartment ta yer selves. Students tend to get noisy." He admitted.
The twins smiled, looked at their parents and gave them a hug.
"We'll miss you guys." The twins said. They all shared a smile and the twins left towards the train.
"Don't die of boredom while we're not home!" The twins teased their parents. The adults chuckled and nodded. The twins said their farewells and made their way towards the train, students pushing each other. They lifted their trunks on to the train – with minor difficulty– and made their way through the carriage. As they were walking, they saw countless compartments full. They were about to make their way onto the next carriage, but stopped once they heard Pacifica call out to them.
"Hey! Guys here!" She yelled smiling. Pacifica was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue V-neck shirt with her – probably fake – blond hair hanging loose behind her.
"Paz!" Exclaimed Mabel. She looked ecstatic a big smile on her face, waving.
"How have you been?" She asked the blond with a thousand-watt smile.
"Pretty well." Replied Pacifica looking almost as happy as Mabel. Dipper and Mabel moved into the compartment and placed their luggage on top of the designated area – More like struggled to lift their trunks – while Waddles sat on one of the seats. The twins sat down next to each other, while Pacifica went and closed the compartment door. Pacifica eyed Waddles with distaste, but ultimately shrugged and sat down. The group of friends started talking.
"So, anyone else read the books yet?" Asked Pacifica nervously. Mabel rolled her eyes and nudged Dipper as she spoke.
"This nerd here read almost all of them." She answered slyly. Dipper flushed red, embarrassed.
"There's nothing wrong with being curious!" He exclaimed. Mabel and Pacifica smiled a mischievous smile.
"So, if we were to ask you. I don't know… for an example. What does a Bezoar do? You'd be able to answer?" Asked Pacifica slyly.
"A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons." Dipper answered as if reading from a book. Mabel and Pacifica burst out laughing.
"What?" Asked Dipper confused. The girls looked at him, Pacifica and Mabel shared a look.
"You're such a dork." Pacifica teased. Mabel and Pacifica giggled.
"Yeah, pick on the only guy in here!" Dipper quipped sarcastically.
"You are the minority, so yes. We will pick on you, dork. It's not likely that well be able do so while at school. I mean it's possible that we'll be in the same house but it's far more likely that we'll be in different houses." Pacifica stated with a stoic expression. Dipper looked resigned, he and his sister shared everything. The possibility of them not sharing a house was… unsettling.
"What house do you think you will end up in Mabel?" Pacifica asked excited. Mabel looked lost in thought for a second. She looked up and met Pacifica's eyes.
"Hufflepuff? Maybe, I'm not sure. It's not like we'll know before we arrive." Mabel stated uncertainly. While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past. The group resumed their discussion and talked for what seemed like hours. Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and asked,
"Anything off the cart, dears?" Mabel looked at Dipper, smiling.
"Hey, Dipping sauce!" She sang. Smiling slyly.
"Would you get us something?" Mabel asked Dipper. Dipper turned to Mabel and in a completely deadpan voice said.
"Mabel, we're going to a school of WITCHRAFT and WIZARDRY. And knowing your streak of getting on sugar highs, I wouldn't let you get close to one even if my life depended on it." His sister looked at him like he's gone insane, while the lady watched slightly amused.
"Dipper, relax. I'm going to keep an eye on her if it makes you feel better, besides it's magic candy. Don't tell me you don't want to try some." Pacifica questioned. Dipper looked torn, on one hand there was the great risk of Mabel getting high on sugar, and on the other had there was the fact that they have never eaten magic candy… Decisions, decisions.
"Alright. But, if she goes ballistic, she's your responsibility." Dipper reluctantly agreed. The pros of tasting magic candy just barely outweighed the cons. Mabel and Pacifica smiled and cheered. Dipper walked up to the cart and asked the amused – probably witch – candy cart lady.
Dipper – reluctantly – went out into the corridor. The candy the woman had on display were Bettie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Dipper had never seen in his life. Not wanting to anger his sister by missing anything, he got a little bit of everything and paid the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts. As he turned around he was practically tackled to the ground by his sister.
"Thank you! Thank you!" She chanted like a madman – er, woman –. She snatched all of the candy she could carry and threw it on the seat between herself and Pacifica. As she sat down – now next to Paz – Pacifica snickered at Dipper's stunned and somewhat scared expression.
"Mabel…" He started, his hair shadowing his eyes.
"Never do that again. I nearly had a heart attack!" He exclaimed angry. He was shouting so loud that his hair was standing on end. Exposing his birth mark, making Pacifica giggle.
"Calm down. No one got hurt, so it's fine!" She tried to reason, with little success. Dipper looked pissed.
"Mabel, do that again and I promise you, I'll learn how to curse you so you'd never be able to eat candy EVER again!" He threatened. Mabel nodded paling drastically. Too high a gamble to take. "What are these?" Pacifica asked Mabel, -trying to move the conversation to a more pleasant topic - holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs.
"They're not really frogs, are they?" She was starting to feel that nothing would surprise her.
"Doubt it." Dipper piped up from his seat. Looking at the candy in Pacifica's hand.
"Probably just enchanted chocolate or something. I doubt they would be selling real frogs for people to eat." He continued. Pacifica nodded and opened the candy. Inside was -as the label said- a chocolate frog, but as soon as Pacifica opened it. The frog leaped away right onto the floor and into the corridor. Silence followed.
"Well, we can safely assume that nobody's going to eat it anymore" Dipper said, while Mabel was mourning the loss of candy. I'm pretty sure that she whimpered something along the lines of: poor candy. Pacifica looked back at the wrapping / packaging and found a card there. She looked at the card. It showed a man's face. He wore half- moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and moustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore. She looked confused.
"Who's this?" She asked no one in particular. Dipper looked at the card and in a matter of fact tone said.
"That's Albus Dumbledore, like the card states." Pacifica looked at him like he was an idiot.
"I know that, I'm just asking if he's someone important." She clarified. Dipper looked at the card again and told her to flip it over. Pacifica did so and found a bunch of text on the other side. Mabel stopped her candy devouring spree to listen. Pacifica read:
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
DECEASED HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore was particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoyed chamber music and tenpin bowling. He was one of many who fought against the dark wizard Voldemort. And one of very few, who said dark wizard feared.
Dipper looked at the card in surprise. Pacifica was re-reading the text.
"So this old guy was, like amazing?" Mabel asked.
"Apparently so." Dipper agreed. Pacifica looked back at the picture of the guy, only to find it has disappeared.
"Where did he go?" She asked in surprise. Dipper was as surprised as her, the picture was now just a blank black background.
"Apparently they don't stick around." He mumbled to himself and opened his trunk to find his "journal" to write it down in case he wanted to tell uncle Ford about it later.
The train ride continued and the friends chatted about anything they could think of and ate candy – Dipper had an accident with Bettie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, let's just say that he won't touch them with a ten foot, pole –. As the sky grew darker they heard someone knocking on their compartment door. They turned to the door to see a girl opening it.
"We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in half an hour. Please put on your robes." An older student said with a "P" badge on her robes. She had long dark brown hair and was about a two and a half heads taller than Dipper. She had a few freckles on her cheeks and had a kind voice. She seemed somewhat familiar.
"Oh, haven't seen you three before. You don't look like first years…" She admitted thoughtfully.
"We are. It's kind of complicated." Dipper told her. The girl looked at him surprised but smiled.
"Are you American?" She asked. Sounding amused.
"Uh, yeah. It's a long story" Mabel admitted. She smiled a big smile and offered the girl some candy. Which she refused.
"How old are you three, you don't look like eleven year olds." She questioned. Pacifica chuckled.
"We're all thirteen." She answered. The girl looked surprised.
"Then why are you just now entering Hogwarts?" She asked. Dipper and Mabel chuckled.
"It's a long story." They chorused. Dipper suddenly looked like he just figured something out.
"Say, do you know a boy by the name of Jacob, uh Lingard was it?" Dipper asked uncertain. The girl turned to him with a really surprised expression.
"Yeah, he's my little brother. He's five years younger than me." She admitted.
"How do you know him?" She asked. Dipper smiled.
"I met him in Diagon Alley, at Madam Malkin's – he explained the house system to me." Dipper said. The girl smiled.
"Is that so?" She asked, her voice betraying her amusement.
"So what did you think? Was he showing off, like he usually does when he meets new people?" She asked amused. Dipper looked at her surprised.
"Arrogant?" He asked.
"Rather than arrogant - although he did say, that it would be a crime if he's not picket to play for his house – "The girl rolled her eyes "He was rather nice actually." Dipper finished. The girl lifted her left eyebrow.
"Is that so?" She mused.
"Well, anyways. Get ready. We're almost there." She said and turned around to walk out. She bid them goodbye and left. Dipper reached for his trunk to get his robes until he remembered something.
"Um, how are we going to do this?" He asked nervously. The girls turned around and looked at him.
"What?" Asked Mabel confused. Dipper sighed.
"Mabel, there are two girls and a guy here. How do we go about changing? Do I go out and the two of you change or what?" He asked his sister. She suddenly got an Oh! Face and snickered.
"What? Are you embarrassed of me Bro-Bro." Mabel teased, Dipper looked at her like she was the definition of the word idiot.
"Mabel, for one. Pacifica is here with us, two. Last time we changed in the same room we were, like I don't know. Seven or eight?" He deadpanned. Mabel rolled her eyes.
"Suuuure." She teased. Pacifica was standing still, completely mortified by the thought that she forgot that Dipper was there too. And she was about to CHANGE in front of him! She blushed and yelled at Dipper.
"Out Pines, before I make you wish that you were never born!" She took big breaths as Dipper retreated from the compartment while muttering something about idiocy of trains not having changing curtains or something. He stepped out into the corridor and noticed that a few guys his age and older were standing in the corridor like he was, although they were all staring at him while smirking. No doubt having heard Pacifica's scream earlier.
He blushed a little bit. Damn it, Pacifica! He thought angrily. He heard someone giggle next to him. He turned and looked to his left to see a pair of girls standing near a compartment.
"So, kicked out. Were you?" A girl with black hair and a yellow top asked smirking. Dipper did NOT like where this was going.
"More like was thrown out, after my twin sister started talking all kinds of nonsense." He answered reluctantly. The girls lifted their eyebrows and smirked wider.
"Really now? And what did she say?" The second girl asked, she was wearing a dark blue shirt with a crown or a tiara on the left side of her chest. Dipper frowned.
"I don't really see how that's any of your business." He replied. The girls looked at each other and giggled. Rather sinisterly if I may add. As he was about to ask what they were laughing about, the compartment door behind him opened with Pacifica behind it. She looked at him apologetically and told him to come in and change. Dipper walked in side and the girls got out, both wearing their robes. As he made his way inside he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the girls he talked to scowled at Pacifica. Probably jealous because she's prettier than them both combined. He thought with a smirk. Until he stopped dead and registered that he thought that. What. Was the first thought he had. He didn't even register the door closing behind him. He blushed bright red. Well, that wasn't random at all. He chided sarcastically. That is until he heard Pacifica asking whether he was done or not.
"Uh, just a second!" He responded. He quickly grabbed his robes and changed. It only took about a minute. As he opened the door to let the girls in he saw that the girls he talked to earlier were smirking at Mabel. While Mabel herself looked kind of… Uh lost? And smiley, which in and of itself presented two options A. Something embarrassing -concerning him- happened, or B. The girls said something funny. He'd prefer to go with B. As he was about to ask about what happened, he was pushed aside by a blushing Pacifica.
"Ok, call me crazy but that looked like something happened." Dipper said as he closed the compartment door and sat down opposite the girls. Mabel kept grinning like a maniac while Pacifica was averting her eyes. Never making eye contact.
"Never mind then," Dipper started, rolling his eyes. "Obviously nothing happened" He continued sarcastically.
"It's none of your business Pines." Pacifica answered defensively. Dipper rolled his eyes. Mabel's smile dropped and she looked at Pacifica questioningly. Pacifica turned to Mabel.
"Not a word." She told Mabel glaring. Mabel just cocked a brow and smirked slightly.
"Ok. Whatever you say Paz." Mabel agreed. Pacifica's expression softened, but apparently too soon. As Mabel started talking again.
"But, we WILL talk about this later. OK?" Mabel inquired. Pacifica sighed, but agreed nonetheless. Dipper just raised an eyebrow and left it at that. He's not stupid to anger Pacifica. Yeah he's been in dangerous situations, but he's not suicidal. From then on the train ride continued until they hear a shout echoed through the train
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately." The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Dipper shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and the group heard a familiar voice. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Dipper thought there must be a thick forest there. Nobody spoke much.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder and TDipper wondered just where was this school, that they had to hike through a forest to get there.
"jus' round this bend here." There was a loud "Oooooh!" The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"Well, I can honestly say that, THIS is far more grand than anything we ever owned." Pacifica muttered to the twins. Mabel snickered while Dipper rolled his eyes. But he had to agree, this was amazing. The moonlight sparkling on top of the lake was beautiful in and of it's own, but the castle surrounded by forests and hills was, amazing. You had to be there to experience the whole greatness of the place. They continued onward until they were at the shore.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Dipper, Mabel and Pacifica occupied a boat sitting excited and giddy. Dipper saw Jacob sit with the two girls he saw in the corridor and some guy with black hair and glasses and… was that an earring? Great. A hooligan. Dipper rolled his eyes. Once the student's filled the boats they heard a shout.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself.
"Right the' – FORWARD!" He exclaimed, his voice booming. And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. Dipper looked around – Actually everyone did. Children were gaping at the castle a little bit up the road. – the shore was just next to the castle, all they had to do was climb the stairs up and the castle was there.
Then they clambered up a passageway in the rocks after Hagrid's lamp, coming out – at last – onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door.
"Everyone here?" Asked Hagrid as he looked around. Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked on the castle door a few times. The students and Hagrid stood there waiting for a few moments until they heard sharp footsteps behind the door, echoing in a big space. – Probably a hall or something – The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Dipper's first thought was that this was not someone to cross. He glanced at his sister and friend. Both stood straight as a plank. He gulped and stood straighter himself. If this was what the Headmistress was like, then he better not break any rules. But bending them wasn't exactly forbidden. The castle IS filled with magic, imagine all he could find. All the secrets and conspiracies. He'd best start studying the rules ASAP.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid smiling.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole Mystery Shack in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. Huh, wonder how many floors there are? Dipper wondered. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Mabel and Pacifica to Dipper's left. They could clearly hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. Her expression stern, but leaking something akin' to kindness. The same expression a parent would have when scolding a toddler.
"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 the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." She looked around at the children as she continued.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She finished. Her eyes lingered for a moment on some boy's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on another boy's smudged nose. Dipper nervously tried to flatten his hair.
"I shall send a teacher when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall.
"Please wait quietly." She left the chamber. Dipper and Mabel swallowed. The residing silence was deafening, that is until the children came back to their senses and started whispering. Dipper turned to Mabel and Pacifica to his left.
"Ok, Dipper let's make this quick. No rule breaking. Understand?" Pacifica practically growled. Dipper nodded franticly. He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified, too. Whelp, it's official. Pacifica is TERRYFYING when angry. He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his new adventure. Oh, he couldn't wait. Then something surprising happened – somebody called his name, rather loud too. – He turned around and saw Jacob standing there, smiling.
"Dipper! Hey, how ya doing?" He asked enthusiastically. Dipper was lost for a second, but came around fast enough and replied with a simple;
"Fine." Jacob looked confused.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"No, no. Just antsy." Dipper replied with a shake of his head. He looked at Dipper a while longer, but dropped the subject.
"Hey, who are these two?" Jacob asked. Dipper looked at who he was looking and realized that his two companions haven't introduced themselves.
"Oh, um. This is-," He started but go cut off, by Pacifica sharply replying.
"Pacifica Elise Northwest." She answered without a second of hesitation, her head held high as if practiced. – Probably was practiced, I mean she was brain washed and all. – Then Mabel decided to drop her penny into the rhetorical jar and replied an overly cheerful
"Hi! I'm Mabel, this dork's twin sister!" Pointing at Dipper, who looked mildly annoyed to be called a dork by his sister. It's fine as long as it's Pacifica, he's used to it. But Mabel saying it, is weird.
"Who are you?" She asked. Smiling like a thousand suns. Jacob looked stunned for a second.
"I'm uh, Jacob Lingard." He replied uncertain. Mabel - If it's possible – smiled even brighter.
"Hi Jacob! We met your sister on the train!" Mabel exclaimed. At those word Jacobs mood dropped drastically.
"Oh, what did she say this time?" He asked, his mood sour. Mabel looked confused but before she could answer a loud cry was heard. It surprised Mabel enough to make her jump a bit.
They turned around and they gasped. So did the people around them. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying:
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"
"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?" A ghost wearing ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them.
"About to be Sorted, I suppose?" A few people nodded mutely. Dipper wondered why they weren't causing chaos. All other ghosts he met had, why not these ones. Maybe not all ghosts are hostile. He thought. He glanced at Pacifica who was really tense. Not surprising, considering her last ghost encounter had her, make a life and death decision.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar.
"My old house, you know." He continued.1
"Move along now," said a gentle voice.
"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." The woman continued. The woman had short black hair, she wore pink rimmed glasses, and had dark blue robes. The students followed her into the great hall. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," The Professor told the first years,
"and follow me." Feeling giddy Dipper got into line behind Jacob, with Mabel and Pacifica behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. Dipper had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place.
It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. The Professor led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Dipper looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard someone whisper,
"Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." He chuckled. It seems like he's not the only one who read the books. It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens. Dipper quickly looked down again as The Professor silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Basically like any enchanted object a normal person would imagine. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm 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 Hufflepuffis 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 folk 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!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Dipper wondered how old it was. And why it was so terrible at singing. But alas those questions had to wait for later. The Professor who brought them there now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Macmillan, George!"
A pink-faced boy with black hair stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over his eyes, and sat down. A moments pause
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The table on the right cheered and clapped as George went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Dipper saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at the boy.
"Abram, Susan!" The teacher called.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to George.
"Collins, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" Bellowed the hat. Dipper wondered how exactly the hat did the sorting. He knew that it did some sort of mind probing, but maybe the children had a say in where they were going to end up? The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them
"Caulfield, Michael" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Mark" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Dipper could see two twin sisters catcalling.
"Freeman, Alexander" then became a Slytherin. Perhaps it was Dipper's
imagination, after all he'd heard about Slytherin, but he thought they looked like an arrogant lot. He was starting to feel more excited by the second - in just a little bit his new adventure would really start. He remembered being picked for teams during gym at his old school. He had always been last to be chosen, not because he was no good, but because no one wanted the "nerd" on their team.
"Farnsworth, Hubert!" Announced the Professor, snapping Dipper out of his musings. A boy with red hair and glasses at on the stool.
"RAVENCLAW!" Called the hat as soon as it touched the redheads head. Sometimes, Dipper noticed, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took a little while to decide.
Probably shifting through memories. Dipper thought.
"Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
"Gol. D. Susan!" The girl almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. Someone behind Dipper groaned. A thought struck Dipper, as thoughts always do when you're very anxious. Was it possible to not be chosen at all? What if the person just sat there with the hat over their eyes for ages, until Professor took it off their head?
When Jacob, the constantly cheerful boy, was called, he tripped over on his way to the stool – but managed to stay up right. The hat took a long time to decide with Jacob. When it finally shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF," Jacob ran off to the table immediately, momentarily forgetting that the hat was still on him. He sheepishly returned to the stool and gave it to "Franklyn, Hector." The hat barely touched his head, before it erupted in a quick "SLYTHERIN!"
One of the girls Dipper and CO. met on the train here was called. Once she put on the hat, it again erupted with "SLYTHERIN!" along with her friend. The boy they saw also joined them. The boy went to join his friends, looking pleased with himself.
There weren't many people left now. "Brett" "Nott" "Gibson" then a pair of girls, "Nefari" and "Nico" then "Perks, Sally-Anne", "Northwest, Pacifica" – who BTW was sorted into Rawenclaw – and then, at last - "Pines, Dipper!" Called the Professor.
As Dipper stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Is he really a first year?" Someone asked. Dipper glanced the way the voice came from. Everyone was looking at him. He grimaced. Attention, his one enemy of many.
"Hey, wasn't that girl before him also older than a normal first year?" Asked a boy somewhere.
"Is he even eleven?" A girl he passed muttered. He rolled his eyes. Of course I'm not. He thought.
"They now let squibs join?" Someone scoffed. He frowned. What's a squib? Dipper wondered. As he sat on the stool and the hat lowered over his eyes he heard a light grumble.
Kids these days, why do they have weird kinds of mind protection? Dipper gasped.
So that's how it works. He thought. The hat chuckled and Dipper waited. A moment of silence passed before it ended – by the hat –
Hmm said a small voice in his ear.
Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. A well-developed mind. There's talent, and my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you? Dipper gripped the edges of the stool in excitement.
Where would you want to go? The hat asked Dipper. Dipper – surprised the hat even cared for his opinion – completely blanched. He thought it over for a second and answered with a simple:
The place that suits me best. The hat chuckled. He heard people whispering about it taking a while. Honestly, he didn't care.
Really now? Well aren't you an interesting one. The hat asked, clearly amused.
Alright then, better be… "RAVENCLAW!". Bellowed the hat. The Rawenclaws applauded. And the rest of the hall followed soon after. Dipper walked at a pretty fast pace towards the Rawenclaw table. And sat down next to Pacifica who looked at him with questioning eyes.
"What took so long?" She asked. Dipper looked at her.
"Were you arguing with the hat?" She asked jokingly. Dipper turned a bit pink.
"No!" He started. Pacifica cocked an eyebrow.
"Really?" She asked, completely not believing him.
"The hat wanted to know where I wanted to be sorted." Dipper explained. Pacifica suddenly got an "Oh" face.
"So you did argue with the hat!" She exclaimed. Which got a few disapproving looks from the older students. Pacifica blushed slightly and mouthed a sorry.
"No! Y-… You know what. I'm not even going to argue." Dipper conceded. Anyways sorting is still going on, so on with the sorting! Mabel was called next. As soon as Mabel sat down and put the hat on her head the hat bellowed "GRYFFINDOR!". The applause followed. The head mistress came up, and with a clear voice said
"Silence." The whole hall fell silent at the command.
"Now that the sorting is over. We have to discuss the rules. Such as, the forbidden forest is as forbidden as ever. The creatures that live there are dangerous to most wizards. Aurors are an exception of course. Next, as you have obviously witnessed, a few of our first year students are a little bit older," as she spoke people turned to stare at Dipper, Mabel and Pacifica.
"it is not important as to why they are here later than originally planned. It is important however that they feel at home here." McGonagall continued. She looked at their respective houses.
"They are far from home and have lived through something… hard to believe." She concluded, eying the Pines twins and Pacifica.
"Now, on to the introductions. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I'm the headmistress of this school. On the left of the teachers table we have Hagrid, gamekeeper and care for magical creatures Professor. Then next to him we have Professor Filius Flitwick, the charms professor. Next to him sits Professor Severus Snape, the potions master…" And so the introductions continued, McGonagall introduced the muggle studies professor, defence against the dark arts, or DADA for short, Professor. She talked about the fact that the DADA teacher spot is rumoured to be cursed – which she said is ridiculous. And then she introduced the resident mediwitch, Poppy Pomfrey.
As the Headmistress ended the introductions, she declared the welcome feast to begin. And so all kinds of foods appeared on the tables, ranging from fruit to all kinds of fried foods. Dipper and Pacifica surprised and intrigued that food can appear out of thin air, looked at the other residents of the table for answers. Some girl with a silver "P" badge and blond hair and glasses told them that under the school in the kitchens the house-elves prepare the food and then, using their own kind of magic just send it here.
Dipper and Pacifica content with the answers they received, started their meal. Dipper ate some chips (as in French fries) with a grilles sausage and some chicken. While Pacifica ate some salad with a third of a steak. Dipper looked at her quizzically.
"Why aren't you eating properly?" He asked Pacifica. She just looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Most of this food is fried. Think of what would happen if I were to return home even slightly fatter! My parents would take most of my privileges away!" She exclaimed. A fifth year student looked at her like she was mad.
"Uh, the food is enchanted so you can't really become fat." She stated. Looking mildly uncomfortable. Pacifica stopped her rant and looked at the girl with – what could only be described as hope – in her eyes.
"Really?" She asked quietly as she discreetly put a slice of what appeared to be pumpkin pie on her plate.
"Yes. The food is enchanted so you can only get the necessary nutrients that your body requires." She explained to Pacifica. Dipper looked on with a raised eyebrow as Pacifica continued to pile food and deserts on her plate.
"Hungry I take it?" Dipper asked with a smirk. Pacifica turned to him, her eyes wide and a look of pure hunger on her face.
"Dipper, my dear friend. I eat in a week, less than you do in three days. I think I'm allowed to eat properly here." She stated. Dipper looked surprised.
"Why do you eat so little then?" He asked completely oblivious. Pacifica looked at him with a pointed glare.
"My mother believes that a woman's figure is one of her most important features, so I'm only allowed eat properly on my birthday." She said, slowly. As if gauging for his reaction. Dipper looked mildly pissed for a second, before he sighed and apologized for asking a stupid question.
The feast came to an end and all of the students were led to their common rooms and dormitories. Dipper bid goodnight to Mabel on their way back and as the Rawenclaws entered their common room he and Pacifica bid each other goodnight and went to their respective dormitories. Upon arrival Dipper found his trunk on a four poster bed. He opened it, took out a T-shirt and shorts and went to sleep just as other first years poured into the room…
Mabel will also have to ask where Waddles was, 'cause he wasn't in her dorm room...
Ok, this is very quickly becoming a Dipper story. Which I don't like. I wanted this to be about all three of them, but I'll start making subtle changes back on track in chapters to come. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter an I hope you will Follow, Favourite or even just Review.