"Ravenclaw, Helena." Rowena announces from the long scroll in her hand. I smile as Helena nervously climbs up the steps. She's grown a good deal, dark hair like her mothers and clear grey eyes. She'll grow up to be a beauty. But Rowena barely pays her any heed, simply nods politely at her daughter and smiles a little, before placing the Sorting Hat on Helena's head. There is a momentary pause, and, as with every sorting, a little indrawn breath as everyone waits for the Hat's verdict.
"Ravenclaw." the Hat cries.
"Well that was to be expected." chuckles Professor Octavius, who is sat next to me. I smile and nod, though as I watch Helena walk slowly to the table and sit down with a frown on her face, I can tell she is not best please with the decision. Halwyn Bexley is sorted into Slytherin next, and even as the Hat declares the name I feel my stomach clench. I know it is foolish of me. At one point I suggested we rid ourselves of all the houses, just have students sorted into their classes in terms of ability and talent. But even Godric said such a feat would prove difficult, especially with the older students. In a way it was useful, I learnt to numb the pain that came with his name. Refusing to let his influence hurt me anymore.
"So from what we know the beginnings of magic first begun in Ancient Egypt and Greece, though some Northern European and Asian historians dispute this. They believe that the initial beginning of magic comes from within the person and not a particular place. We'll continue studying Ancient Egyptian practices of magic, and I want a page on Temple Priests by next week."
I flick my wand at the blackboard and clear away the history of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practices. I've always liked history, though Rowena has certainly urged me to expand my knowledge beyond Britain. Stools are scraped back and satchels are filled with pens, paper and the books. I see Helena talking with some other Ravenclaw girls, who all look bemused, but leave the desk and her behind. She deliberately packs her bag very slowly and waits for the rest of the class to leave. I shuffle some papers around on my desk and neaten the piles of books.
"Mistress Hufflepuff?" Helena now stands at the front of my desk and fiddles with the strap of her bag.
"Yes, Helena?" I ask softly.
"I was wondering…Um…" she bites her lip.
"Helena, I don't mean to rush you, but I have to go to a new classroom soon. Do you want to discuss this later or…?"
"No." she says quickly. "I just…I was wondering…Does the Sorting Hat always make the right decision?"
It stuns me, I had never thought of the Hat making a wrong decision. Why would it? If it knew the pupil's mind and what each house searched for, then why would it…?
"Do you think it made a wrong decision?" I asked. She shrugs her shoulders, but this is not Helena Ravenclaw not knowing. I get up and walk swiftly over to the door, then shut it. Before turning back and bringing up a chair to my desk, encouraging her to sit.
"A few minutes won't hurt." I say and grin at her.
Helena nods. "I don't want to upset, mother."
"You won't ever upset your mother. She'll love you, no matter what." I say, but Helena looks up, her eyes cool.
"I don't mean to offend you, Mistress Hufflepuff. But I think you're confusing your mother, with mine."
"Helena," I say softly, clasping her shoulder, "Rowena does love you. I know her."
Helena lowers her head, but I can still the glimmer of tears in her eyes, "I think that's the trouble, you know her, but I don't. She's always been away too long for me to know her. I don't blame her for wanting to work and be free, I just wish I could know her a little better and I wish she could love me." I open my mouth and then shut it. I don't know what to say to that. I've always tried to subtly suggest such a thing to Rowena, but she's generally shrugged it off or ignored me.
"Anyway, the Sorting Hat?" I ask.
"Is the Sorting Hat always right? I don't know if I belong in Ravenclaw."
"It's your family house as well as your school house." I say.
"Exactly. Did it ignore everything about me, to sort me into my mother's house."
"Which house do you think you belong in?" I ask.
Helena scrunches up her dress in her hands, "I don't know…maybe Hufflepuff…and maybe I do belong in Ravenclaw. But I'm worried I was sorted for the wrong reasons."
"Well, thank you for thinking you would do well in Hufflepuff." I say, "But the Hat isn't influenced by outside forces." Though I don't know if I can say that in all good conscience. I can't see why Godric would allow a spell that did allow the Hat to be influenced by outside forces.
Helena sighs and gets up. "Thank you, Mistress Helga…Sorry, I mean…" I smile and wave it off, "No matter, you have known me for a good length of time to make such a mistake." Helena smiles a little, but her eyes are still distant and sad. I wish I could do something more for her, but I'm not sure what. She's obviously spoken to me in confidence, so I don't feel I can speak to Rowena about this matter. Helena quickly walks down the classroom and bids me goodbye by the door. Once it closes, I sigh, move the chair back and leave the classroom to go to my other class. I practice my apology for being late in my head, as I walk down the corridors, and figure out the only person I can speak to who will not betray my trust.
"She believes she was wrongly sorted."
"Mm." he frowns.
"I don't know why she would believe that, whether she just wants to distance herself from her mother or if she genuinely believes…"
"Perhaps it is a mix of the two. She may truly feel she does not belong in Rowena's house, and that may be because she does not think her personality is suited to Ravenclaw…May I speak honestly?" Isaac asks. I nod. We made this a habit, walking outside the castle grounds, talking frankly and openly with one another. He's never pushed it further, though it must cause him some irritation. In some way I wish he would, I want him to suddenly turn on me and kiss me, as though he can't bear to let me go or let himself go on through life without one touch of my lips against his. But whenever I think I should do something, I get too nervous. I twist my hands tightly behind my back.
"Helena may be clever, but is that all there is to clever people? She obviously cares deeply, not only about herself, but other people too. You'll probably hit me around the head for saying this, but…"
I raise an eyebrow and grin. Isaac smiles sheepishly back. "I think your house is the best house of all."
I laugh, "Now why on earth would I hit you over the head for that?"
"Because, in some ways the other houses are too enclosed. Perhaps Gryffindor less so, but they still have faults of bravado, foolishness or arrogance. Ravenclaw assumes that to be better than everyone is to have everything in life, and then in many ways they lose out because of that. Let's not speak about Slytherin at all."
I sigh and look up at him, "Then you won't mind if I honestly say, I both agree and disagree with you."
"Not a bit, I can see there are many admirable traits in all the houses. But I do think yours is the best."
"You're not just saying that to get into my good books are you?" I smile.
"A little, yes. But it's also because I do genuinely believe that. I mean," he falters and the bright gleam of amusement in his eyes disappear, "There are even good things about Slytherin house. They are ambitious and driven, and that in itself, isn't a bad thing. It just depends on what you do with that."
"True." I murmur, but I pull my cloak tighter around me, as though the wind whistling from off the hills chill me, though there has been no strong gust of wind nor has the sun been covered in cloud. A warm, rough hand folds around my own and I look up where Isaac now stands beside me. He grins and pulls me down the hill, encouraging me to walk further.
I look behind me. "I should be getting back soon." I say.
"Soon, yes, but not right now." He smiles.
"Your house makes no assumptions on what people can do or be, it cares for everyone equally." He continues as we walk down a muddy track. The slippery path reaches a point where it is almost vertical, and as he helps me down, I lose my footing and slip. I desperately scrape my hand past a boulder and then collide with his chest, as he makes an 'Ooft' noise.
"Sorry." I say quickly.
"It's alright," he wheezes slightly and smiles, then takes my hand in his, inspecting the surface.
"I'm fine." I say, trying to pull it back, but he gently strokes down the small grazes on my palm.
"I have some essence of dittany."
I smile, "I don't need essence of dittany for these small cuts, they'll heal up by themselves."
He frowns though and continues to map the scratches, "I don't want you to be scarred."
"I'm hardly going to be scarred for–" I stop as he looks up at me, his eyes warm and intent, then lowers his head and tenderly kisses my palm. "I…" I trail off and his smile appears once more.
"I like I can distract you that way." His smile grows more confident and he steps closer to me. I bite my lip and can feel my cheeks blaze with heat. He raises both hands to his lips and breathes a kiss on them. My mouth is hanging slightly open with surprise, and I immediately shut it, though there's no way I can calm my heart down. The frantic beating hammers against my chest. But when he grins, I cannot help but follow suit.
"I think I've waited long enough, four years is long enough for anyone to wait." He says.
"Sorry."
He laughs delightedly, "There's very little need for you to be sorry, but fate seem to believe it right and proper that you fell into my arms today."
"Well I…" but he gently places his hands either side of my head and presses a warm kiss on my mouth. It's innocent, certainly at first, but I lean closer wanting his warmth and solidness against me. His hands move down my hair and neck, smoothing over the skin, then round my shoulders and down my back, pulling me into him. He presses gentle kisses down my neck, then grazes down it with his teeth. I shiver and feel my hands grip onto the back of his tunic tightly. But his mouth and teeth do no more than slightly nip at my skin. We finally break apart, breathing heavily, his arms still around my waist.
"Do you want to stay a little longer?" his voice is rough. I nod and smile.
"I should get back." I say, but he presses me more firmly against him and kisses my forehead. He had spread his cloak out on the ground, then pulled mine over us for warmth, nuzzling close to me and continuing our kissing.
"You should, but I disagree." He grins and I laugh.
"I can't stay here forever!"
Isaac opens his eyes and plays with my hair, "I wish you could."
"We would probably both get very cold."
"I could keep you warm." I smack at his hand and giggle, before he pulls me in for another kiss.
"Really, I do need to get back." I say after the kiss has ended. He sighs and presses his forehead against mine.
"Fine, I'll let you go, but not before you know this has been the best day of my life."
I bite my lip with happiness, "Mine too."
"Come," he gets up, brushes off his clothes and then offers his hand down to me. He secures my cloak around my shoulders, then firmly takes my hand in his and we set off back down the path. My head is spinning with excitement and my heart still leaps in my chest, but I couldn't even try to express this to Isaac if I tried. Yet, I am beginning to wonder is if this is an entirely different kind of love I now knew, to Slytherin's. But that could all wait for now, I was just content with Isaac's company and affection for me.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, had a very busy time at Uni and a very stressful time at work. But hopefully, now that most of my assignments are out the way and I am reaching the Easter holidays, I'll be able to get a lot more writing done. Thank you x