Chapter 3 – Sorted
As Amelia followed the rest of the staff up to Dumbledore's office (the password, she discovered, was 'peanut brittle') she found herself walking beside a sour-faced wizard with long, black hair. His robes were smart and he gave the impression of dour authority. He was staring with unmasked contempt at Remus, who was talking animatedly with the tiny wizard just ahead of them. He must have felt the fiery gaze upon him, for he glanced back at the next corner and raised an eyebrow at Amelia and her silent companion. The other man glowered at him and dropped back a few paces.
"He's friendly," Amelia remarked to Pomona, who had appeared beside her.
"Oh, don't mind Severus," she said. "He's just a bit of an old sour-pus. He can be quite the gentleman at times," she added, waggling her eyebrows in a disturbing manner.
Amelia gave her a wry grin. "Oh I'm sure he's a regular Mr Darcy."
Pomona and the smaller, white haired witch beside her giggled far too girlishly for two grown women. Remus and the tiny wizard looked back in puzzlement and Amelia felt herself blush, wondering quietly just how much wine her two companions had had to drink.
0o0o0o0
As the others milled around the Headmaster's office Amelia attempted to hang back, but Pomona seemed intent upon introducing her to them all. The tiny, white haired gentleman was introduced as Filius Flitwick, Charms Master ("Charmed, I'm sure," hiccupped Pomona), and leader of the school choir. Amelia had truly enjoyed their performance at the feast and made sure to tell him so, making the little man swell with pride.
Next was the giggling, curly-haired matron who presided over the Hospital Wing, Poppy Pomfrey. Beside her was the wispiest woman Amelia had seen outside of a folk festival, draped head to toe in chintzy fabrics and glittering amulets. The woman's glasses must have been half an inch thick, and Amelia wondered vaguely whether the woman could actually see, as she introduced herself as "Professor Trelawney, Divinashion," slurring a little and breathing cooking sherry all over her new colleague.
The greasy man from the platform was next, "Argus Filch, Caretaker." The man attempted what he clearly thought was a winning smile; the equally greasy cat in his arms hissed at her. Next was the half-giant of whom Hermione had spoken so highly; "Rubeus Hagrid, Groundskeeper," he said pleasantly.
"And Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid, don't forget that," squeaked Filius – he seemed quite proud of his friend.
"Oh, yes!" said Hagrid, beaming.
"I've heard a lot about you – good things – from my cousin, Hermione," she said, and Hagrid grinned.
"You're related to Granger?" distaste dripped from every syllable.
Amelia turned to face the sallow-faced man in the shadows.
"Yes, I am," she said, calmly. "I'm very proud of her."
He raised an eyebrow. "I can't think why."
"Now, now, Severus, there's no call to be rude," said Remus, stepping forward and raising his own eyebrow. Despite her anger at Snape's spite, she had a hard time keeping a straight face as the war of eyebrows played out in front of her. The tension could have been sliced up and sold off.
"Remus is quite right," said Minerva, sharply. Deftly, she took over the introductions from Pomona, who had wandered off to refill her goblet. "Severus here teaches Potions and I believe you've already met Remus?" On her nod, Minerva continued.
"I take Transfiguration, Professor Vector here is our resident Arithmancy expert," she indicated a man whose every attitude appeared sharp. Aptly named, thought Amelia.
"Professor Martin Dockrill, Ancient Runes," this was a larger man whose bearded face was oddly familiar.
"Any relation to Steve Dockrill?" she enquired, shaking his hand.
"Why yes, my younger brother is named Steve," he answered, puzzled.
"I did my undergraduate qualification at Bradford with his team."
"A fellow archaeologist! I can see we'll have much to discuss!" he cried, giving her a warm smile and immediately reminding her of hazy evenings in a selection Shetland's finest watering holes.
"Letitia Pince, the Librarian," a pinched woman nodded kindly at her, "and this is Professor Binns," said Minerva indicating a somewhat transparent gentleman hovering a few inches above his stool. Having been warned to expect ghosts, Amelia simply smiled at him before he returned to his conversation with Professor Sprout.
"You'll fit in nicely," smiled Minerva, encouragingly.
"Thank you," Amelia replied, earnestly.
Professor Dumbledore chose that moment to return from his duties.
"Well now everyone," he began, assuming that easy respect that came naturally to him. "The students are a-bed – or at least pretending to be," he twinkled, "and we are about to embark upon a new year of learning and excitement. I would once more like to welcome Rubeus, Remus and Amelia to the team." This was accompanied by warm smiles from almost everyone (Severus was still openly glaring at Remus, but Argus was at least trying).
"Which leads me to the first order of business – Filius?"
Professor Flitwick briefly disappeared from view and returned with the Sorting Hat. Amelia's insides moved uneasily; she had a feeling that she knew where this was headed.
"Now, you're all aware of Amelia's situation," here we go, she thought, "and I thought it best that you be sorted, my dear," he said turning to his young colleague. "It might help you feel more at home here."
Amelia nodded, desperately trying not to let the blush she could feel beginning reach her cheeks, suddenly feeling like a naughty thirteen-year-old in the staff room.
Deftly, Dumbledore picked up the battered hat and dropped it onto Amelia's head; it was, strangely enough, a perfect fit. In an effort not to meet anyone's gaze she shut her eyes.
"Hmm…" said a small voice in her ear. "You're an interesting one: late entrant, intelligent, creative, brave – stubborn too." Amelia had to concede that point, it was one of her favourite traits. "You would do well in Hufflepuff, you're certainly loyal, and excellently in Slytherin – you've no lack of cunning, my dear." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Not one for the green then? Ravenclaw would suit your intellect…" the voice in her head was silent for a moment, and Amelia could hear her own heartbeat drumming in her ears; "but perhaps your other talents would serve another house better. I think red and gold would do, has to be GRYFFINDOR!"
There were a few nods of approval – and more than a few of disappointment – as the hat was put away. Amelia smiled at Minerva, who was telling her that she had just joined her house. She mused quietly that she wouldn't have minded any of them… with the possible exception of Slytherin.
"Next, I should like to remind you all of the security measures put in place this year…"
The meeting continued in a similar vein for a few minutes, before Dumbledore broke off to speak to individual staff members, and Amelia was recaptured by Professor Dockrill.
"Have you heard from Steve recently? Call me Martin, by the way. How is that lovely Julie of his?"
After an enjoyable but exhausting few minutes Minerva intervened and escorted her to her office and her private rooms. Amelia was very pleased to discover that she had a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and – best of all – balcony to roam around, along with quite a spacious office. The offices were, Minerva told her, always kept separate, largely to allow the staff to have some time off when students couldn't find them; hers was three floors below, accessible by climbing behind a bookcase in her sitting room and full of empty bookcases. This was something that Amelia planned to remedy.
Minerva stood back and enjoyed the younger witch's excitement before handing her two rolls of parchment.
"This is your timetable, and this," she indicated the second roll, "is a list of spells that Albus and I thought might be useful. These first two ought to help you settle in and get organised; many of the rest are general cleaning spells. Give the top one a try," her voice had assumed the tone of 'teacher' and Amelia did as she was told. "Try to visualise the rooms as you'd want them to be, they should reorganise themselves accordingly once the spell is complete…"
Amelia shut her eyes and thought hard; she was delighted, upon opening them to discover an airier and somehow cosier room. Her last few possessions were whizzing into their places and large cushions had accumulated in the corners.
She realised that Minerva was giving her a rather penetrating look and she smiled, a little uncertainly. The older witch appeared to shake herself.
"Excellent… I can see that you'll be… just fine. Try out some of the other spells when you get a chance, and if you get stuck any of the staff will be happy to lend a hand," her gaze lingered on Amelia for a moment before she continued. "I'll bid you a good night…"
Amelia smiled back at the other witch, saying: "I'll see you at breakfast!"
It was a while later, when she had located her pyjamas and settled down to her first night's sleep at Hogwarts that she realised she hadn't actually said the incantation.
0o0o0o0
Several floors below, Remus rolled over in his bed, trying vainly to tell himself that the young woman he'd just met wasn't nearly as fascinating as he'd found her to be. His treacherous mind however, wasn't having any of it. After a few minutes he rubbed his face in defeat.
Well so what if she was fascinating? He thought, Or quite pretty? People like you don't get fascinating or pretty. His inner critic paused, before continuing… Or plain, or boring either, come to think of it.
He turned over again in an effort to get away from himself and stared at the ceiling; there was a spider on it, staring back.
His life was no place for companionship, time had proved that, and he could never inflict his burdens onto another's shoulders, but…
But perhaps, he thought, in defiance. Perhaps it would be OK to dream…
0o0o0o0
*Note: Steve Dockrill and Julie Bond are two awesome Norse specialists at the university which I trained, no disrespect intended