Hello! I'm back. It's been a while since I updated and when I wrote this down, it seemed longer. But guess it's not. Anyways, enjoy...if you can.
By the time the Hogwarts Express reached its destination, night had shrouded the sky and the stars were beginning to emerge. Albus and Vlad were busy rounding up the candy wrappers that they'd wolfed down in a sudden burst of intense hunger, and Rose was watching them disapprovingly.
They stepped of the train and onto the bustling platform. The smoke made them cough and they headed away from the train. Vlad looked around, an awed look on his face.
"Well," he said. "We're finally here." Albus nodded solemnly, while inside him, his heart was beating ecstatically. Rose had finally put her book away into her knapsack and was deep in thought.
"What is it?" Albus asked her. She looked up, a decisive look on her face.
"That thing on the train? I don't-" she started, but Vlad interrupted.
"Look, it was nothing, ok? I say, forget it. Now, try to enjoy yourself. We're at Hogwarts, now. The place where the Great War took place. "Vlad ended his sentence with a wondrous look on his face. Rose glared at him, but didn't say anything.
A few moments later, a tall and thin man appeared through the fog. His face was devoid of expression and his face seemed like it had been carved; a nose that ended in a point as firm as an arrow, incisive cheekbones, and dark eyes that were piercing. Albus heard Vlad swallow next to him and the conversation among the first-years noticeably diminished.
In a quiet, yet apprehensible voice, the man began to talk.
"I take it all of you are first-years?" he asked. There was a murmur of yeses and the man continued.
"I am Professor Lagroff. We have yet to find a new gamekeeper, so I will be escorting you to the castle. For many of you, I will also be your Defense against the Dark Arts professor." This time, there was a louder murmur, but of apprehension and excitement.
"Form three, neat lines, then follow me," Professor Lagroff said, and then he turned and set off at a brisk pace.
There was bustling and pushing and eventually, three, rather orderly, lines were formed and following the professor. After some walking, the crowd reached the water. The Black Lake was shimmering dangerously, the pale, milky moon a watery circle on its surface. It seemed to be never ending, both in length and depth, and some of the students backed away from its mysterious waters.
The professor withdrew his wand and lightly waved it. Eight dry, wooden boats emerged form the lake and settled themselves on the shore. There were two kerosene lamps seated in the center of each boat.
Professor Lagroff turned and gazed around at all of the students. Then he said, "You five, " pointing to a group a few feet away from Albus. "You can get into the first boat."
The five hurried into the first boat. A tall boy and a girl grabbed the lamps and as soon as the group was settled into the boat, the boat began inching itself into the water. The students in the boat all looked thoroughly spooked, except for one girl, holding the lamp; she seemed simply delighted.
Soon, the entire throng of first-years was settled into the boats and moving steadily across the daunting Black Lake. Vlad was running his hand through the water when he suddenly yelled and jerked away from the edge of the boat.
"Something touched me!" Vlad exclaimed, rapidly wiping his hand on his robes. Rose snickered and muttered, "Idiot." Albus moved over to the end of the boat and slowly leaned over. The black surface revealed nothing about what lay below it, what mysteries grew in its depth.
"Look!" someone shouted. Albus glanced up and saw a grandiose castle, with tall zeniths, bright lights, and comforting vegetation. A thrill ran through Albus' body and looking round at his fellow students, he could tell they felt the same.
The large, golden doors of the Great Hall creaked open, and a wave of conversation and the decadent smell of warm food pushed itself against the first years. Everyone around Albus began talking excitedly, pointing and shouting.
"Blimey, look at the food! You reckon there's pudding? I've heard they have pretty good pudding here. Did you know that the first..." Vlad went on. Next to Albus, Rose was providing the historical facts behind every statue and painting. "That statue, the one of the goblin, was made in honor of King Ripwalk," she said to no one in particular. "He was, according to Goblins of the Old Age, a very meritorious goblin and..."
Albus strained his neck and saw the professors seated at the front of the Great Hall. At the center of the table, although Albus wasn't sure from where he was, was a woman, with shockingly luminescent black hair.
Elbowing Vlad, Albus said, "Do you think that's the headmistress?" He gestured toward her with a nod.
"Oh yeah," Rose was the one to answer. "That's Headmistress Forrest. She's the youngest headmistress in the history of Hogwarts. I've heard that when she was a student at Beauxbatons, she was always the top student. She's a really brilliant witch, from what I've read."
"Where does she get all this?" Vlad muttered to Albus.
"Wait. If she was a student at Beauxbatons, then why is she teaching here?" Albus asked Rose.
She shrugged, her large and curly mahogany hair bouncing with the motion. "Believe it or not, there was a big controversy over this. Some of the more absurd critics thought that she was a spy or something, here to reap all of Hogwarts' secrets. But no one really knows."
Just then, a short, stout woman appeared at the podium.
"Let the Sorting begin!" she announced in a high voice. The entire Hall hushed in a second and the stout witch approached a small chair, and placed a dusty black hat on it. Albus felt his stomach twist into knots as he saw the crumpled hat slowly straighten. The hat opened its lined mouth and, in a clear voice, began to sing.
After a few lyrics, Vlad leaned over to Albus. "Don't think the hat should quit its day job." Albus snickered and Rose elbowed him.
"That's rude, Al," Rose admonished, looking strangely like his Aunt Hermione.
"Well, he said it!" Al said. Rose ignored him. Vlad shook his head and muttered, "Women."
The song ended and there was an explosion of applause. Headmistress Forrest held up a hand and the clapping ended abruptly. The stout witch unrolled a list and read out the first name. "Alma, Avery?" the witch asked.
A small, wispy girl reluctantly walked over to the stage and took her seat. The hat was placed on her head and there was silence. The hat started muttering and twitching, and finally, it declared, "Hufflepuff!" There was some applause and then, again, "Arsov, Vladimir?"
Vlad swallowed and went up to the stage. Hesitantly, he took a seat. The hat had barely been placed on his head when it roared, "Gryffindor!" Albus clapped excitedly and returned the thumbs-up that Vlad gave him. One by one, the first-years were "housed" and Albus' heart jumped when he was finally called.
Slowly, the weight of the hat fell on Al's head. Al stopped breathing as the hat started murmuring in his ear. "I remember your father. Lots of courage, yes that one," the hat hissed, "no brains, though, Very rash. But what about you?"
Albus' father's words rang in his ears. The hat takes your choice into consideration. Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Albus thought frantically.
The hat chuckled and paused. Then it shouted, "Gryffindor!" Albus relaxed visibly and hurried over to the Gryffindor table before the hat could change its mind. "It seemed like you were having a conversation with the hat, mate. What was all that about?" Vlad asked.
Albus shook his head and turned to watch Rose step onto the stage, confidently, and sit. After a while, the hat yelled, "Ravenclaw!" Albus was taken aback. So was Rose. Slowly, she made her way to the Ravenclaw house table, longingly looking back at the Gryffindor table.
Soon the Sorting was over and the devouring began. Vlad attacked the chicken and the pudding, while Albus went after the desserts. As he was reaching for a scone, a hand bumped against his. "Oh, sorry," he said looking up.
To his immense surprise, Albus recognized the girl looking back at him apologetically. She was the same one from the boat. Her hair was tied into two braids falling down over her shoulder and her bright brown eyes were twinkling.
"It was my fault, actually. Sorry." Albus was shocked to hear that the girl had an American accent. Vlad had stopped eating next to him.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Vlad asked. Al elbowed him; he looked back at Al with a what-did-I-say? look.
"It's okay," the girl said, smiling. "You're right. I just moved here from California a year ago. "
"Calfornia? What's that?" Vlad asked, confused.
"It's a state in the United States. Just like Texas," Albus told him. Then he lowered his voice and whispered, "That's where the Book of Life is hidden." Vlad, thoroughly confused now, turned back to the girl.
"What's your name?" Vlad asked. His blue eyes were sparkling with curiosity. Al was sure that his own green eyes had the same inquisitive look.
"My name's Stephanie Carson. What about y'all?" she replied.
"I'm Albus Potter and this is my friend, Vlad Arsov. It's nice to meet you," Vlad answered.
"Same," Stephanie said. They would have continued talking, but Vlad's stomach growled viciously, reminding them of food.
As everyone was released from the Great Hall, Rose caught up with the three.
"Can you believe it?" Rose exclaimed. "I got into Ravenclaw! That's amazing! I always wondered why my mother didn't get into Ravenclaw, seeing how she had such a plethora of knowledge, but-can you believe it?" Al was surprised. He'd thought that she was devastated.
"Yes, yes," Vlad said, impatiently. "We get it. You're smart. Stop boasting."
"Oooh, boasting. Where did you learn that big word? I'm surprised you got into Gryffindor. I thought you needed courage for that, " Rose retorted hotly.
"At least I have character. All you have is-." Albus interrupted their argument.
"Guys! We should be cheering right now. We just went through the Sorting and we're where belong. This is the time to look to our future and think about how we're going to do our best in the best Wizard school around, " Albus admonished.
There was silence. Albus looked around at the faces of his friends. Stephanie and Rose seemed oddly awed and tearful. Vlad had his mouth open and he was the one who finally spoke.
"Blimey, mate. That was really deep..."
I suppose most of you thought that Rose would get into Gryffindor, too, right! Got ya! (Hee, hee) Comment, review, watev. Next chapter, coming soon. Oh, and no copy. MY IDEA! :)