A/N: According to Pottermore, I'm a Slytherin, what about you?
Normal Speech - regular text
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Non-English/Non-Human Language - bold italicized text
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Chapter 5
Arelia's POV
It was finally the day I was going to embark on my new adventure! Magic school!
I asked Tom to help me with using the floo to Platform 9 and 3/4 and as I got out of the floo I couldn't help but stare in awe at the bright red train. It gleamed brightly in the sun. I head up to an empty compartment and shove my luggage atop the rafters above the seats and shut the door. I stash my wand behind my ear and pull out a book to read. A pair of red headed twins opens the door and peek their heads inside and nod to themselves.
"D'you mind if we leave our stuff here? We gotta settle our ickle Ronnie somewhere…" I nod absentmindedly.
Thirty minutes later, the pair come back with a third in tow.
They walk in fully and I can feel twin 1 start to scrutinize me carefully.
"What's that?" said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at my scar.
"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you — ?" "She is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he directed towards me.
"What?" I ask confused.
"Arelia Potter!" they chorused together.
"Oh, yes that's me."
The three boys gawked a bit at me before reining themselves in.
"Right well, me and this good-looking fellow are Fred and George Weasley, and this is our friend Lee Jordan," and then continues on in a stage whisper, "He's brought a giant tarantula with him, cool huh?"
Lee rolls his eyes at the twins.
"Ignore those two idiots, the biggest troublemakers of the lot." At which point I let out a loud guffaw, and comment, "They might have competition for that title this year. I get in all sorts of trouble without trying."
The twins eyes lit up,
"Well, well," one twin starts.
"an ickle firstie, challenging us?" the other twin continues.
"The biggest pranksters Hogwarts has ever known?"
"We'll see about that!"
I shoot them a competitive look, "we'll just have to see then, won't we? And call me Lia, I can tell we're going to be the best of friends!"
Lee groans hearing our banter and simply mutters, "Oh merlin, not another one!"
I laugh and then pick up my book, mind racing.
I remember that I've been able to level up and received perk points that I haven't used yet. I guess now was as good a time as any to choose some. Blocking out the chatter from the twins and Lee, I open up the Perk Shop.
I had about 11 points to spend but here were the offerings:
Shapeshifting - 7 Points
Extremely rare! The ability to shift into any animal with any mass just have to concentrate and poof!
Metamorph - 7 Points
Be a Metamorph just like Tonks was!
Friends All Around - 2 Points
Your ability to make friends is unparalleled, turn enemies into allies with this perk! Permanent +30 to CHARISMA
Wandless Magic - 5 Points
A skill that would take a million years to learn on your own, but here's a cheat! You can now do the basics, gotta practice for the bigger stuff!
Merlin's Eyes - 4 Points
The ability to see magic, wouldn't that be so cool?
Animagus Unlocked - 5 Points
You'll finally find out what your inner animal is!
Sorcery - 10 Points
There's different kind of magic here, didn'tcha know?
Speed Demon - 3 Points
You can run, and fast. It's almost supernatural.
Technomancy - 7 Points
The ability to manipulate technology with magic! Code spells, create unique and powerful artifacts, and search the mundane web!
I was thinking about getting: 'Friends All Around' and 'Metamorph.'
Since I had time to level up and gain more perk points later, I chose ones that would be best to pretend were innate parts of me. Especially since no one really knew me or what to expect.
I confirmed the purchase leaving me with 2 points left.
I felt a ripple wave over me. I immediately gained intimate knowledge on how to morph as well as how to wield my newly gotten charisma.
I got to test it when someone knocked on the compartment door.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?" It was a brunette boy with a round face, he looked tearful.
Sensing a pivotal moment, "What's your toad's name?"
"Trevor, Trevor the Toad." he responded hesitantly.
"Accio Trevor the Toad!" Nothing comes at first until a moment later when a toad comes flying through the air coming a slow stop in front of me. I pluck him from the air and hand him to the boy.
"I'm Arelia Potter, by the way, what's your name?
"Neville, Neville Longbottom," he replies shyly.
"Thanks for helping me find my toad!"
"No problem!" I shoot him a warm smile.
His face reddens as he blushes and stammers a quick goodbye. The door shuts and the twins and Lee turn as one to look at me in shock or is it awe?
One twin looks at me speculatively, "Hey Forge, I think we should be recruiting the lovely Ms. Potter instead of having her as a rival!"
"Gred, I couldn't agree more!"
"Well, what do you say?" as they both held out hands for me to shake.
I look at their hands and give them a firm shake, "Deal!"
Then the compartment door slid open once more. A girl with bushy hair was the door.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she had a bossy strident sort of voice.
"You've just missed him, Arelia was able to summon it for him," Lee explained.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it then." She sat down.
The four of us exchanging glances slightly taken aback. The twins start to grin with mischief, but I interrupt what I'm sure was to be a painful prank by saying, "Um... sure. Let me think…" Tapping a finger against my chin.
I decide to do a simple trick I learned with my demigod powers.
I light a small flame in my palm (cue gasps from the others) and have it dance between my fingers as I rotate my fingers and wrist around.
"Wandless magic! But, but, how?" She stutters out.
I simply shrug and say, "I'm not sure, I've always been able to do this-"
"Oh I hope I'm not too behind. I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard — I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough — I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
It was clear she dismissed the boys in the compartment and was directing all her focus on me.
"Arelia Potter," I say with a slightly strained smile.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course — I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Huh, cool- must have missed those when I was in the book store."
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. . . . Anyway, I'd better go and ask the train conductor how much longer we have. You four had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon." Completely ignoring the fact that I was already wearing the uniform.
I step out of the compartment to let the boys change and come back in a couple minutes later.
Just as I get settled in my seat, the compartment door slides open- again! This time it was pale boy with slicked back blonde hair and two other boys.
"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Arelia Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
"Yes," I said.
I was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.
"Oh, this is Crabbe, and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my names Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
The twins start snickering and whispering among themselves and Lee.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
He turned back to me. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
He held out his hand to shake, but I stood and replied with a lot of extra cheer and perkiness,
"Hi Draco, I'd love to be friends with you! But I also want to be friends with these lovable fun bags (cue sputtered coughing) as well! Would we be able to come to some sort of compromise?"
He looked unsure and looked towards his body guards and back at me and replies with some false bravado,
"Hmph... it seems you might have some potential, Potter. We'll be keeping an eye on you."
They make a dramatic exit with the door slamming behind them.
The twins look at me with a raised eyebrow and I simply reply with a mischievous grin. The twins laugh and Lee sighs.
Then, we hear the train horn blowing. A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in one minute. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
A moment later and we arrived at Hogsmeade station!
People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. A lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and I heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Arelia?"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" The twins and Lee had already separated from her onto the carriages, and I started to follow Hagrid.
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path.
Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. I sat in a boat with the twins' brother Ron, Neville, and Hermione.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then — FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads, and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
Quest Alert! Get sorted into one of the famous Hogwarts Houses!
Success:
?
?
?
Failure:
You get kicked out. lol
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble stair- case facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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 Hog- warts, 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. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
I stood silently, my eyes lazily watching the other kids. This was my moment. A life defining moment to be sure, but I knew I was going to be great.
Then something happened that made me jump about a foot in the air — several people behind me screamed.
"What the — ?"
I gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old House, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
I got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, and a girl I didn't recognize slid in behind me.
The dining hall was grand. It was lit up by thousands of floating candles and a wonderous ceiling that seemed to reach out to the heavens. There were four long tables for each of the houses, and a long table along a raised dais that sat the staff. I caught the eyes of one of the twins whereby he winked at me.
Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The hall burst into applause, it bowed and then the room was silent.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
I tuned out the rest of the names and came to attention when.
"Potter, Arelia!" was called out.
As I stepped forward confidently, whispers suddenly broke out.
"Potter, did she say?" "The Arelia Potter?"
"Hmm… difficult. Very difficult. It has been many an age since I've seen one of your kind." (to which I internally panic-what does he mean? can he hear me panicking?)
"Yes, I can hear your panicking and I meant your godly blood child—oh." Cue relief.
"Though the gamer abilities, now that is something I've never come across before." Pure panic.
"Don't worry, I will protect your secrets as I have protected the secrets of all students that walk these halls."
"Now, where to put you?"
"You have the courage to be a force for good, yes that is true. But you also have the ambition that Slytherin prides itself on. Perhaps you might not fit in well with the eagles of Ravenclaw, but you could also make do. Hufflepuff is as close to being near the hearth as one can be. But I will let you make the decision."
"Where would you like to be sorted?"
I mentally stew it over and confirm which house I'd want to be put in.
"So be it, better be HUFFLEPUFF!"
I heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall, took off the hat and shot a bright smile to whoever was watching and skip over to my new house table. There was confused applause from the other three tables and extremely excited cheering from my fellow puffs. I watched the remainder of the sorting and politely clapped for them while fielding questions from my new housemates.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. The dishes in front of me were now piled with food. I had never seen so many things I liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs. Even Tom never offered such a spread!
"Welcome to Hufflepuff, Ms. Potter! I'm Gabriel Truman, 5th year prefect for Hufflepuff house! We're happy to have you!"
"Thanks! Call me Lia, that's what my friends call me!" I shoot a bright smile at him.
I'm also introduced to the other students in my cohort. I quickly finagle a promise to study together when classes start.
At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbid- den to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
"He's not serious?" I muttered to Susan on my left. She shrugs looking slightly worried.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. I noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"
And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,Whether we be old and baldOr young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. To which I couldn't help myself and laughed aloud. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Gabriel led us out the great hall and through a couple hallways until we stopped in a corridor with a bunch of paintings and some large barrels.
"Okay you lot, the common room is just behind these barrels-let me show you!" He points to the barrel second from the bottom, middle of the second row, and tapped in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff.' He warned, "If you tap the wrong barrel, you will get drenched in vinegar!"
We walk into the common room.
A sloping, earthy passage inside the barrel travels upwards a little way until a cozy, round, low-ceilinged room is revealed, reminiscent of a badger's sett. The room is decorated in the cheerful, bee-like colours of yellow and black, emphasized by the use of highly polished, honey-coloured wood for the tables and the round doors which lead to the boys' and girls' dormitories (furnished with comfortable wooden bedsteads, all covered in patchwork quilts).
A colorful profusion of plants and flowers seem to relish the atmosphere of the Hufflepuff common room: various cacti stand on wooden circular shelves (curved to fit the walls), many of them waving and dancing at passers-by, while copper-bottomed plant holders dangling amid the ceiling cause tendrils of ferns and ivies to brush your hair as you pass under them.
A portrait over the wooden mantelpiece (carved all over with decorative dancing badgers) shows Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School, toasting her students with a tiny, two-handled golden cup. Small, round windows just level with the ground at the foot of the castle show a pleasant view of rippling grass and dandelions, and, occasionally, passing feet. These low windows notwithstanding, the room feels perennially sunny.
I loved it.
Quest Completed!
Get Sorted into one of Hogwarts Famous Houses!
Success:
-Access to Hufflepuff Common Room
-Map of Hogwarts
-Hufflepuff Merch!
Current Stats
Name: Arelia Lily Potter
Level: 21 (850/2100)
Species: Demigod
HP: 3100
MP: 3100
(As your mana grows, so too does your HP, currently +100 for every level)
Active Buffs:
Clearsighted (+5 to INT, +5 to WIS)
Holly & Phoenix Feather Wand (+2 to all STATS}
Active Debuffs:
NONE
Titles:
Girl-Who-Lived (equipped)
[+10 to LUK, +5 to CHA)
Stats:
STR - 22 (+12)
AGI - 21 (+2)
DEX - 23 (+2)
INT - 25 (+7)
WIS - 21 (+17)
LUK - 4 (+22)
CHA - 41 (+7)
Remaining stat points (currently three for every level increase): 63
Skills (Abilities That Otherwise Normal People Do NOT Have):
Observe (LVL 8)
[Can only be used on objects only- currently only gives brief description and effects]
Basic Charms (LVL 15)
[Currently 15% Chance of Success, 50 MP Per Spell]
Basic Transfiguration (LVL 13)
[Currently 13% Chance of Success, 75 MP Per Spell]
Basic Potions (LVL 35)
[Currently 35% Chance of Success, 5 MP Per Potion]
Basic Defense Against the Dark Arts (LVL 20)
[Currently 20% Chance of Success 50 MP Per Spell]
Basic Astronomy (Level 50)
[Currently 50% Chance of Success)
Basic History of Magic (LVL 40)
Fire Manipulation (LVL 20)
[Currently 20% Chance of Success]
Food Generation (LVL 1)
[Currently only 10% Chance of Success]
Fighting (LVL 25)
[Currently 250 HP damage for every hit]
Perks (Available Points: 2):
Metamorph
Be a Metamorph just like Tonks was!
Friends All Around
Your ability to make friends is unparalleled, turn enemies into allies with this perk! Permanent +30 to CHARISMA
Inventory:
72G 67S 33K
Lasso of Truth
Hestia's Scroll
Hestia's Brazier
Hestia's Grimoire
Map of Diagon Alley
Map to Camp Half-blood
Map of Hogwarts
3x Work Robes -Now Hufflepuff Themed!
1x Pointed Hat
1x Winter Cloak
1x Dragon-hide gloves
1x Brass Scale
1x Crystal Phials
1x Pewter Cauldron
1x Telescope
1x The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1
1x A History of Magic
1x Magical Theory
1x A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
1x One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
1x Magical Drafts and Potions
1x Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
1x The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection