I woke up to knocking on the door.
"Come in!" I called sleepily, Tom came in looking very hungover.
"This is your wake up call you can thank Minerva for it." He said then walked out without another word. I silently told myself to kill Professor McGonagall next time I saw here but I got up all the same. I looked in my dresser and got out a pair of light coloured jean short shorts, a pale pinkish orangish tshirt which I tied in the front and a wool grey cardigan. I grabbed my white converse and gave myself lighter makeup then I usually do with my neutral coloured lipstick and a lighter grey eyeshadow.
I looked at my hair and ran a brush through it quickly putting it in a long side braid. I grabbed my trunk Erwin and my train ticket and headed out into muggle london. I looked pretty muggle even with my owl and trunk. There were some really strange people in London. I walked through the crowds, getting the occasional wolf whistle, to the station. I looked at my ticket. It read Station 9 and 3 Quarters. I looked around Stations 9 and 10 but saw nothing. I felt incredibly tense and it was only when I saw a small army of familiar redheads did I calm down a bit.
Fred and George made their way towards me and the family followed.
"Are you alone dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking around.
"Yeah Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore left last night I think." I answered and she looked cross for a second then it faded.
"Alright then we better get to the Platform before the train leaves without you lot." She said and we all got into a line.
"What are we doing?" I asked Charlie as I was lined up behind him much to Fred and Georges disappointment.
"Oh yeah I forgot you've never done this before. What your gonna do is just walk through that wall over there. If you're scared your gonna hit it then you will. I find it easier to just run." He told me and started running at the wall. Just when I was sure he would crash he went through the wall and disappeared.
"Alright Casper you're up." Mrs. Weasley said and I started running at the wall. I kept telling myself that I wouldn't hit it. That I'd go right through it. Then I did. I found myself at Platform 9 and 3 Quarters.
The Platform was identical to that of 9 and 10 except crawling with wizards. There were a lot of owls and cats I noticed as I looked around. Then I felt someone grab my arm and yank me to the other side of the wall. My first thought was Ben, and then it was Devin. I looked at the person who grabbed my arm and found one of the twins, the other was at his back.
"Don't do that you scared the hell out of me." I whispered furiously, hanking my arm out of his grip.
"Have you thought about it?" One of them asked, George I think. To tell the truth I had thought about it. I'd thought about it a lot. It's not like they were asking me to be best friends or something.
"Yeah I have." I answered evasively. Fred grinned, clapping his brother on the back.
"Brilliant, well we'd better get on the train or mums gonna flip." He said and we all boarded the train. We walked towards the back until we found an empty compartment. We sat on opposite sides of the little compartment and I looked out the window. Mrs. Weasley was yelling her goodbyes and Ron and Ginny were both whining about how they couldn't go too.
"So what were you guys thinking?" I asked at last and they both grinned.
"That depends are you with us?" George asked.
"Yeah I suppose so." I answered with a grin.
"Brilliant."
"So what's the plan."
"Well," The brothers looked at each other. "We've got a few ideas but because it's our first year we'll start small and work our way up."
We talked about possible pranks for a while until the door opened and I jumped. Charlie peaked his head in making us all freeze.
"Hey guys we should be coming to the school soon so you better change into your robes." He said with his crazy grin, "And I'm not getting in to whatever scheme you lot are planning." He closed the door and we all reached into our trunks to get our robes and such. We got dressed then stared out the window at the castle that was coming into view.
"Wow." I muttered and looked over at the twins who had their faces pressed up against the glass.
"I wonder what house we'll get it I'm going for Gryffindor." George wondered aloud.
"What are houses?" I asked sitting back down.
"Their like your family while you're here you get points with them, you go to the common room in between classes with them, you have classes with them, they even have their own quidditch team but, you wouldn't know what that is yet. Theres Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." After he said each name he gave a little face and I quickly categorized the houses.
Gryffindor was good.
Hufflepuff was embarrassing
Ravenclaw was fine
Slytherin was horrible.
"How do you get sorted?" I asked and now Fred joined the conversation.
"Charlie said it was a hat but he coulda been messing with us." He answered as the train slowed to a halt. We all left the train and looked around.
"Firs years!" We heard and turned to see a huge man. He had a brown beard and was waiting by a huge lake. We walked over to him uncertainly.
"Right four people a boat." He said and ushered us into boats. I got into a boat with Fred and George and a girl came to join us.
"Hi I'm Angelina Johnson." She said as the boats started moving all by themselves.
"Casper." I answered giving her a little nod. The twins told her their names and then started rocking the boat.
"Quit it you lot yer don't want the squid ter get you!" The large man yelled and we all laughed. We reached the end of the lake and the large man went around helping people out of their boats he came to us last but I got out myself. He looked at me for a second.
"McGonagall warned me you had an attitude." He grinned and led the group up to the castle. I walked next to him on the way confused.
"Whats your name?" I asked.
"Hagrid I'm the gameskeeper here."
"Well should I assume that you know my name?"
"Yeah." He said then added, "You look a lot like Lily."
"You knew my parents?" I asked sharply and he smiled widely.
"Best pair of wizards I ever knew, great people Lily and James." He answered and I couldn't help but go back to the night they died. I could hear her beg all of again.
"Please have mercy. Not Harry take me not Harry please."
I shook my head to try to rid myself of these thoughts and looked back up at Hagrid.
"How much did McGonagall tell you?"
"Enough."
He looked mad now as we trudged up to the castle. Stopping at the large doors and he gave it a knock. Professor McGonagall opened the door and looked out at us.
"Thank you Hagrid you can go to the feast now." She said and he walked off into the castle. "You're with me now first years."
We all followed her and I rejoined Fred and George who were taking in the scene. McGonagall took us to a small room where we all filed in. She told everyone about the houses which I already knew about from Fred and George. She then left to see if the people at the feast were ready for us and talking immediately commenced.
"So I hear the Potter girl's supposed to be in our year I wonder where she is" A short girl said, whispering eagerly to the girl next to her. My face grew red and I looked at Fred and George helplessly. They were about to say something when two people started walking through the wall. WALKING THROUGH THE WALL.
Thats it. I thought. I'm going crazy.
"Oh dear first years we seem to do this every year." One of them said. She was a rather round, portly woman who reminded me of Mrs. Weasley with her kind smile.
"Yes my dear Friar I'm afraid we do." Another one said. This person type creature was a man, with rather old fashioned clothes and a mustache as well.
"Excuse me but what are you?" I heard and spun around to see and tall, skinny girl with her hands on her hips.
"We, my dear, are the ghosts of Hogwarts of course." The man said looking rather offended.
"Oh hey you're Nearly Headless Nick the Gryffindor ghost!" George exclaimed looking quite excited.
"Yes but most people just call me Nick." Nick replied stiffly and the Friar laughed. The door opened just at that moment and McGonagall walked in.
"Alright if you would just follow me, we're on a tight schedule." She said and we got into a line, following her out into a much larger room. I looked around. There were four large tables in which the students sat and then there was a staff table. I looked down the staff table and caught eyes with Hagrid. Giving him a little smile I looked up at the ceiling. It was coated with stars and floating candles.
McGonagall got out a stool and set and old, worn, hat on it. Fred nudged me and I laughed quietly gaining some stares. She got out a piece of parchment and started reading names.
"Caroline Arrol."
Caroline walked up to the stool nervously and put the hat on her head. Almost as soon as she did a crease in the hat turned into a mouth.
"Ravenclaw!"
"Serena Ballen
"Slytherin!"
McGonagall finished the I's and went on to the J's
"Angelina Johnson!"
"Gryffindor!"
I stopped paying attention until she got to the W's.
"Fred Weasley!"
"Gryffindor!"
"George Weasley."
"Gryffindor!"
I saw Charlie and Percy stand up as Fred and George ran over to join them. I listened distantly as McGonagall called out names and people were sorted. I looked at Fred and George who were making faces after people were sorted and I stifled a laugh.
"Casper Potter."
Everyone became quiet as I stepped forward nervously. I walked over to the stool. I tucked in a piece of hair as I hopped on the stool and slipped on the hat.
"Potter oh yes you've gone through much. You have power. I could put you in Slytherin but you're brave. Yes very brave. I suppose it'll be GRYFFINDOR!"
I took off the hat and put it back on the stool giving Hagrid a smile and walking over to my new house. People were standing me back, clapping me on the back and I suddenly realized how crowded this room was. Feeling as if I had a huge weight trying to crush me I sat at the seat Fred and George had saved for me between them. I looked back up at the staff table to get a better look at my new teachers.
There was a pale teacher with black greasy hair and a long, hooked nose staring at me with bewilderment. I stared back confused. Why was he so familiar? I pushed the same piece of hair back behind my ear as I had before and he had a strange look on his face. He looked away after a while and I realized that Dumbledore had been staring at us. I tore my gaze away and looked at Charlie.
"Who's that teacher with the greasy hair?" I asked and he snorted making Percy throw us a glare.
"That's Snape he's a git if I've ever met one." He answered just as the last person was sorted.
"Well then before we eat I have a few announcements." Dumbledore said standing up. "But before I saw those let me first welcome all of you back to Hogwarts and first years, welcome! There are some rules. Older students should know them but for the younger students you are not allowed to go into the Forbidden Forest and I would not advise trying." He looked at Fred George and I as he said this and we laughed.
"There is a list of banned items posted on the door of Filch's office it's rather long so I won't read it but I believe thats it. That said, lets eat!" He waved his wand and food appeared on the tables. It looked amazing and there was everything you could ever want. I looked at the food but didn't eat, just watched the people around me shovel stuff on their plate.
"C'mon Casfer is great!" Fred exclaimed food in his mouth and I laughed.
"I'm not hungry." I said and he bumped me with his shoulder as he dove into his food again.
"A word Miss. Potter?" I heard and turned around to see Professor Snape.
"Oh I suppose so." I answered following him out of the Great Hall. I felt peoples eyes follow us and I looked at Fred and Georges stunned looks helplessly. I saw Dumbledore talking politely to another teacher, his eyes darting towards Snape and I as we left.
We walked into an office and I stood by the door as Snape sat behind his desk.
"Professor Dumbledore has informed me that you are highly skilled at Occlumency." He said and I tried desperately to look at anything except him. I felt trapped, why had I said yes?
"What's Occlumency?" I asked and took in my surroundings better. Snape's office reminded me of a dungeon. Cold, dark, and filled with odd things.
"Its the art of protecting your mind against Legilimency, the art of of intruding upon anothers mind." He answered, "What Professor Dumbledore and I would both like to know is how you're so accomplished at it." He stared at me and I looked up at the ceiling.
"I don't know but the last thing I want is people in my head so I told him to shove off I guess." I said, then, looking down at my shoes, "What I want to know is why you're so familiar." I risked a glance at his face, he looked astounded and cold.
"You don't." He answered coldly and I flinched against the door, resting my hand on the door.
"Fine then can I please go?"
"No."
"Then what?!"
He stared me down and I looked back challenging him to make a move.
"You will not speak to me like that Miss. Potter." He said standing up.
"Then I'll just leave." I shot back, matching his coldness and swung the door open, running out into the corridor and back to the entrance of the Great Hall. I stopped before walking in and tried to collect myself. I didn't want the twins to worry. I took a deep breath and walked in. Everything stopped as I opened the large doors and I looked up at the staff table. Dumbledore looked confused and McGonagall stern. Hagrid just seemed his regular self though and he gave me a little wave. I smiled with a small nod and walked back to my seat between Fred and George. They immediately pressed me for details and I told them everything.
"Snapes gonna be horrible when you have potions." Charlie said with a grin, and I looked up. I hadn't realized he was listening.
"Great." I groaned and pushed away my empty plate, feeling sick.
"So Charlie what's in the Forbidden Forest thats so bad?" Fred asked him casually.
"I dunno only Hagrid goes in there but its rumored to have werewolves and such. I don't believe it though." He answered then looking at our faces, "But I still wouldn't recommend going in there." George laughed clapping me on the back and I jumped.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
The prefects took us to our common room, past moving staircases and to a portrait called the Fat Lady. The perfects told her the password (Gillyweed) and she swung open revealing the Gryffindor Common Room. It was amazing, there was a fireplace, couches, and everything was laid out in Gryffindor colours of red and gold.
The girls and the guys split up and went in their dormitories and I felt alone yet again. I guess I liked being around people. It was a weird feeling. I looked around and realized that all the other girls were whispering in the corner and I was here by myself.
Great. I thought as they looked over at me. I turned around and sleep took me almost immediately.
Authors Note- HOGWARTS! Guys we're finally here its taken a couple chapters but hey, it was all worth it. I've been super busy lately with soccer and my birthday is coming up (August 10th!) and I have a tourny on the same day and then I'm trying out for this other big team and yeah... Till next time!