The remainder of the train ride continued amicably between the five, laughing over stories (that Elizabeth already knew, but these were not normal circumstances in which she could say so) and learning more about Hogwarts in conversation.
Before anyone knew it, they were approaching Hogsmeade, and it was time to leave the train. Elizabeth was informed she just had to leave her things where they were and she would see them in her new dormitory. Saying goodbye to her new owl, she followed everyone else out.
"You should probably head up with the first years," James suggested, indicating to the pool of younger children congregating at the platform. It seemed like the right path to take, and Elizabeth's eyes followed the direction to which James was pointing. Remus and Lily were already by the first years, directing students to wherever it was that they were supposed to be, so she wouldn't be totally alone while she waited. She could still talk to one of them. A short while had passed from the time she learned that the Brits were real and having to bid three of these new friends goodbye, but she remembered that she would get to say hello again soon enough, and was comforted by the thought.
"Hi there," she smiled, sidling up next to her lycanthrope friend. "So how are we gettin' to the castle?"
"You and the first years are taking boats over the Black Lake and—"
"What?!" Elizabeth squeaked, looking as if she might go into a panic. "Remus, ya can't let me go in there!" Leaning forward, she whispered shakily, "There's a giant squid in that thang!"
"Yes, there is," he confirmed, looking particularly amused with her silly reaction. Well, silly to him, who knew just how harmless the squid was in most cases. There was that one time with the jeering Slytherin though...
"So I can't do that! It'll drown me 'cause I'm not a first year! These animals 've got super senses, ya know!" She whisper-shouted. Her heart was beating a mile a minute just thinking about the enormous creature!
"No, it won't. Now go with Hagrid, I'll see you at the sorting," he told her. He was entirely unconcerned, making Elizabeth pout and shout back to him "If I drown, it's all your fault, Lupin!" to which he just laughed and waved.
He soon enough joined Lily in a carriage, along with a couple of other prefects that looked like their year, but Elizabeth tried to avoid looking. She would show him!
Steeling herself, Elizabeth decided she was ready to take on the challenge.
"Or as ready as I'll ever be," she muttered to herself. Stepping forward, she listened to the enormous man who introduced himself as Hagrid.
"Right then! You lot are gonna get int' these boats, and don't put more than three to a boat! Las' time one nearly sunk," he informed the group gruffly, his gaze zooming in on Elizabeth, probably because she was a good foot taller than all the other Hogwarts first-timers.
"Yer gonna come in my boat, 's bigger, built t' hold more," he told her, offering a kind smile beneath his enormous untamed beard, only just visible. All Elizabeth could do was nod, carefully climbing into the boat he led her to, trying not to make a sound. The thought of a humongous squid was more than enough to silence her.
What kind of school kept a huge pet squid? It probably ate kids at the beginning every year, and no one would ever know they were missing! No sorting meant no record and no realization that the student had never even made it to their first lesson! The more Elizabeth thought about the evils such a large, deadly creature posed, the more she wanted to curl up on the train and go back home again, or at least the temporary home she had in London with her mother.
Eventually, all of the first years were situated in their respective boats. Together, they all set off at once into the warm night over the calm lake. It appeared that other new students had heard about the squid, just as Elizabeth had, each nervously peaking over the side of their transport. None looked for long, however, as the slightest movement beneath the water had them sitting up straight again in a heartbeat.
It wasn't long before the castle came into view, entrancing each and every student. Even Hagrid seemed to get misty eyed. He remembered the first time he saw Hogwarts in his own boat. He didn't have to imagine the awe the students felt, it was still locked in the same place in his giant-sized heart that it had always been.
"'Ere it is! Welcome t' Hogwarts!" His voice carried over all the boats, shaking most from their awestruck stupor.
Elizabeth came back into herself, now realizing why Remus had told her to go by boat rather than carriage. Her fear had dissipated, for the most part, at least, in favor of admiring the glowing castle they were moving towards. This was Hogwarts? For such an ugly name, the castle was truly mesmerizing.
Before she knew it, the boats had come to a halt at a dock that looked at least four times Elizabeth's age. Somehow, it managed to hold the weight of 40 first years and the occupants of the larger boat. They had arrived at the castle, and after a short walk, the new students reached the grand stone entrance hall.
In the center stood a stern woman, her bun tight and her posture perfectly straight. Her body, although thin, look strong and capable through her deep purple robes. With an adjustment of her glasses, the woman spoke.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she acknowledged, to which he enormous man nodded and headed off. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. 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 honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school."
Wait, what?
Elizabeth had assumed it would be a private, quick registration in an office of some sort, and they'd head off to dinner. Now, she'd stand out among the short first years amidst a couple hundred students!
Not that she'd never had problems with being the center of attention. For the most part, she loved attention. At least she had, when she was at home and completely sure of herself. This situation, however, felt about as scary as the time she'd accidentally made her nose disappear instead of vanishing the pimple on the end on it. This was completely uncharted territory.
'Could they make this deal any more nerve-wrackin'?' She thought to herself, desperate wishing she'd kept her compact and lip gloss on her instead of leaving all her things on the train. Something to keep her busy would have been a lifesaver.
"Ms. Hartly?" A voice called from ahead of her. Her prayers had been answered! A distraction in the form of the tall professor at the front, beckoning her over; who was Elizabeth to decline such a gift from above?
"Yes, professor?" She responded politely, stopping before her.
"Firstly, I'd like to personally welcome you. I understand transferring may be difficult, whatever the reason may be, and as deputy headmistress, I will be happy to answer your questions, should you have any." Contrary to her words, her face didn't look all that happy. Her words were, however, not as formal as they had been with the first years. She was not a professor to be messed with, that much was clear, but perhaps she was more compassionate than she appeared.
"Thank ya very much, professor. I'll keep that in mind."
"Secondly," the professor continued, as though there had been no break, "because you are an older student, you will be sorted last, once all of the first year students have been appropriately placed." Her tone was matter-of-fact, getting right down to business. "I thought it best to alert you, so as not to leave you in the dark when passing over your name."
Elizabeth's stomach dropped, feeling as thought someone had dumped cold water over her body and left her to air-dry. This was no gift of distraction from above, but rather a curse from the devil below! She had been wrong to wonder if her situation could be more nerve-wracking. Evidently, it could, and it had become so.
"Th-thank ya, professor. I 'ppreciate your... Concern," Elizabeth replied quietly, moving back to her original place in the group.
The professor then proceeded back to the massive double doors that separated the group from the rest of the school, informing the students that the time had come. With a swish of her wand, Professor McGonagall had the doors open, and the march into the Great Hall before them began.
Wow I have a lot to apologize for here!
1: Short chapter with such basic plot. Wow. Just... man, I swear my next apology explains!
2: I have not been here. I have been way too busy with college applications and inductions and clubs and stress and "oh, you have time to write?" asked the Universe. "Here, let me fix that for you." So, to sum it up, I've tried to write and it just hasn't been working out.
3: Yeah, I actually was going to make this chapter longer and go all the way through the sorting. But I didn't. I figured it would take me another three centuries to get through that, so I just sort of split up the chapter, meaning the next chapter, however long it may take to get up, will include the sorting and dinner!
4: You guys are so important to me. Yes, you, the reader, the very reason I write! It is not a chore when I know there is someone who looks forward to my frankly ridiculous ramblings and plots, and I have not fulfilled my part of this unspoken contract! So thank you oh so very much for your reading, and some of you for your reviews especially! Sending you all my love and best wishes to my American viewers for a brilliant Thanksgiving and BLACK FRIDAY YAS holiday.
Yours truly,
DramaMama