"Can we sit here?"
Anna looked up from 'A History of Magic' and turned to the door of her compartment. A boy stood there, of her same age, with platinum blonde hair and wizarding robes made of what seemed to be silk. Two boys were behind him, big and hulking, with looks of utter confusion on their faces. She looked back at the boy and as soon as she met his eyes, her own widened. His eyes were grey, silvery grey like hers. They had the same shape as the ones she always saw, the ones that calmed her, the ones that looked like hers.
She nodded and he sat down next to her, smiling softly. The other two lumbered in and shoved the three trunks under the seats, gently placing three owl cages on the seats.
"I'm Draco," The first boy said. "Draco Malfoy, and these are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle." He pointed at each of the other boys in turn. Anna glanced at them and nodded. They didn't look very smart, but they were magic so she didn't mind too much. Now it just mattered what kind of magic they were.
"I'm Anna Connors." She said, smiling at Draco. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Draco leaned back on the seats. "You're not a mudblood, are you?"
Mudblood. Agatha told her that that was the word purebloods, wizards with only wizards in their family line, used for muggle-borns. This kid dared call her a mudblood? She frowned. Alright, it was an ugly and pretty disrespectful word, but she couldn't help but recoil at being assumed to be related to muggles.
"No." She snapped at him. "And don't ever even think of calling me that again, Draco."
Draco raised an eyebrow but grinned. "Good." He held out a hand. "I've never heard of your family name, but I think my name is good enough for the both of us. Lets be friends."
Anna stared at Draco in surprise. She had never had a friend before, and here this boy came offering friendship without reason? He seemed to care about bloodlines and positions, if his phrases and appearance were anything to go by, so why did he want to be her friend? With narrowed eyes she accepted the hand and shook it.
"Sure." She said.
Draco laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not planning anything bad." Then he sobered up and continued. "Though that's a very Slytherin mentality you have."
Anna scoffed. "Slytherin is the only house worth my time." She hesitated. "Except perhaps Ravenclaw."
Draco nodded and clapped her shoulder. "Welcome to the club. We're all going to be Slytherins, even Crabbe and Goyle."
Anna looked at the other two, who were looking out the window blankly. Then she shrugged. Draco was obviously a pureblood, she supposed he would know more about the chemistry between people. In fact, he should tell her.
"Tell me about the wizarding world." She said, suddenly.
"Weren't you not a mudblood?"
"I'm not. I just didn't grow up amongst wizards. My parents are wizards, I was told as much, but I never met them." She told Draco.
Anna couldn't stop herself from being so honest. Draco had her eyes. Against all instinct, against all better judgement, she already trusted him. But she didn't trust the other two. Her eyes flitted towards them but Draco shook his head.
"They're fine. They won't say a word."
Anna nodded. "Then start talking, Draco."
Draco laughed. "Then I'll tell you the most basic thing for all wizards with any amount of self respect. Don't get involved with the Weasleys." His nose scrunched up as if in disgust. "They're purebloods but they always have more children than they can support so they are poor. Their father is obsessed with muggles. Blood traitor that he is."
Anna looked at Draco and smiled. "I'll be sure not to get along with Weasleys then."
Draco laughed.
Draco couldn't believe it. As he absentmindedly munched on a chocolate frog, he kept his eyes on Annabelle. Though he had to remember to call her just Anna, he knew she was his cousin. How else could he be so comfortable and familiar with her right away? She had the right beliefs, the right way of thinking, she fit right in with the rest of the family.
A small smile crept onto his face as he watched his long-lost cousin roll her eyes at something she read. He had told her everything he knew about all families, including many recent events, like the fall of the Dark Lord. She had been very interested in that, she had said that a teacher of Hogwarts had told her her parents had placed her in that filthy muggle orphanage -willingly- to protect her. Willingly! It enraged him to just think about that. His cousin had been forced to live amongst filth and rubble for such a long time! As soon as he got to the common room he would write to Father and Mother about this. Poor Mother would be devastated.
Draco traced a finger over the new robes he was wearing. They were a soft blue, made of fine silk and light and costly. Then he looked at Anna's clothing. He frowned at the thought of Annabelle Lestrange being dressed in muggle hand me downs. It was outrageous, but they would make it all alright again. Draco would be best of friends with her, he knew that already, and he would help her adapt to living in the magical world. He would teach her everything she needed to know to be a proper pureblood lady, deserving of the fortune aunt Bellatrix and uncle Rodolphus had left behind.
Suddenly the compartment door burst open and Theodore Nott poked his head in. Theo had chocolate brown hair that hung past his chin, in stark contrast to Draco's combed back platinum locks, and his warm brown eyes usually made people less weary of him. Big mistake, Draco thought grimly, as Theo was as venemous a snake as they come. But Theo was more... how could he put it... solitary. He liked his alone time. Draco remembered a time when Theo claimed they would always be together, would always be best friends, but that faded when Lady Nott died. He had never really enjoyed other people's prolonged company since then.
"Draco, here you are." He said, but as his eyes dismissed Crabbe and Goyle they fixated on Anna.
Draco suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness. "She's not a mudblood, if that's what you're thinking." He blurted hurriedly, which made Anna lift her head.
She looked at Theo for a second, studying him closely before nodding at him in silence.
"Her name is Anna." Draco provided.
Theo's eyes immediately shot to his own. Lord Nott had obviously told him about Annabelle, and Theo's eyes were questioning as he stared at Draco. Draco's lips curved slightly, almost unnoticeably, but Theo saw it and Anna, who had already lowered her eyes back to her book, didn't. Theo nodded quickly. He understood.
"Just thought you'd want to know, Potter's on the train." Theo continued as if nothing had happened. "Our compartment's at the back of the train, and his is right between this one and ours. You coming? You can see Potter on our way there."
Draco turned to Anna. "Want to come? We'll go sit with more pureblood future Slytherins."
Anna looked up. She looked around the compartment, eyes landing on each of the inhabitants for a second before nodding. "Sounds fun." Though she sounded more resigned than anything else.
Draco saw Theo grimace and rolled his eyes. Of course Theo would be bothered by 'too many people', but he hadn't expected Anna to be. But since Anna had agreed to go, he stood and smiled at her as she tucked her book under her arm and grabbed what seemed to be a briefcase, the only luggage she had brought.
"How dare he? How very dare he?!" Draco seethed as he let himself fall in his seat. Around him, Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Vince, Greg and Anna just stared at him. Anna sat down beside him as the others busied themselves putting all the luggage in order. "How dare that stupid half-blood choose a Weasley over me?! Me! I'm Draco Malfoy, you don't just reject a Malfoy's friendship! That's-"
"Oh, give it a rest, Draco." Anna cut him off as she crossed her legs. "Why should you care? The kid's an idiot."
Draco glared at Anna for a second before grumbling and crossing his arms. "Whatever." He scoffed.
Then Pansy cleared her throat. "Draco, who is this?" She asked as she looked down her nose at Anna.
Anna just looked at her blankly, though Draco could see a slight tenseness in her shoulders. Vincent and Gregory, who had not been paying attention, looked up, and Draco figured they must have been paying attention in the other compartment. Theo just stared at Anna, something which he had been doing for a short while now, as if she were just a very complicated puzzle which confused him beyond measure. Draco looked at Pansy.
He had never actually been too fond of Pansy. It wasn't her looks, which he had to admit weren't to his tastes, it was her closed mindedness. Not being a blood purist, no, it was that she was very... rash and demanded immediate action. She was too... Gryffindor-ish for him to actually like her.
"This is Anna Connors." Draco said. "She's no mudblood and she's my new friend. Be nice, Pansy."
Pansy scowled at him for a while before turning to Anna. "Welcome to Slytherin." She grumbled.
Anna gave her a blinding smile, which was obviously fake to all of them. "Thank you, Pansy. I'm sure we'll be friends." She wasn't even trying to mask her distaste.
Draco shook his head.
"How do you get sorted?" Anna asked, turning back to Draco and looking at him with the pure curiosity she had looked at him with since the beginning.
"Father said a hat does it." He answered.
"A hat?" She repeated, incredulously.
"A magical sorting hat." Blaise drawled. "Supposedly the founders charmed it to talk and look into your thoughts when you wear it. Depending on what he sees, he sorts you into a house. It's not difficult... Anna."
Anna looked out the window, scowling. "I don't want it looking through my thoughts, those are private."
"The hat is sworn to secrecy." Theo said, stunning everyone at him actually bothering to talk. But he wasn't looking at any of them, he had picked up a book of his own and started reading. He talked without looking up. "My father said the sorting hat cannot divulge anything it sees in your head, to anyone."
Anna looked at him and nodded.
"We should get changed." Pansy said as she stood up. She held out a hand at Anna. "Lets go."
Anna looked at Pansy's pale hand for a second before grabbing it and getting up. "We'll be right back, then." She said, and the black curls and black bob-cut disappeared through the compartment door.
Anna closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, trying to work away a beginning migraine. She was also nauseous and she didn't know if it was the rocking of the boat, or the amount of magic in the air. Bile rose up her throat but she swallowed it down hastily. She wouldn't disgrace herself like this, not in front of Draco. She sat huddled in a corner of the little boat -which she shared with Draco, Vince and Greg- and tried to take deep breaths.
"Anna, look!" Draco called.
Anna opened her eyes and turned to where Draco was pointing. On the top of a hill stood a huge castle, the mot gigantic building Anna had ever seen, and it seemed to shine golden in the moonlight. Thousands of candles seemed to shine through every window and they lit up the grounds around the building, revealing the huge trees of the forest nearby. Anna couldn't help but smile. Despite the nausea and headache, she smiled at this truly magical place where she now belonged.
"Mind yer 'eads!" The huge gate-keeper, Hagrid yelled back at them from where he passed under a ledge of the rocks that stuck out over the lake. But none of the children had to duck as none of them were as large as him and so none cold even touch it with their fingertips, let alone bump their heads on it.
Soon enough they arrived, and Anna had to admit that it hadn't been the boats that made her nauseous, it had been the magic. She felt light headed and as they walked up the stairs she felt herself reaching out to Draco for support. As soon as her fingers touched his arms, he turned, frowning in confusion.
"Are you alright?" He whispered.
She shook her head slightly. "I feel a bit dizzy." She mumbled lowly enough so that only Draco's friends, who stood all around them, could hear. A few of them glanced at her worriedly, but Draco just hung back and let her lean on him properly.
"Just relax. The sorting's not that bad."
"It's not the sorting." She growled. "I don't know what it is."
Draco was silent as they stopped in front of an old woman. He felt Anna tense next to him.
"McGonagall." She whispered. "She's strict."
"Welcome to Hogwarts." Minerva's voice echoed as she looked around, eyes landing on Anna for a fraction of a second. "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 honour. 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 smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
With a last look at them all she turned around and walked through the huge doors behind her, though which they heard loud voices chattering excitedly.
Draco turned to Anna and straightened her up. "Come on Anna, you're alright."
He studied her face, which had become paler than usual and her eyes which had almost closed. She nodded numbly and placed her hands on her shoulders, using him to find her balance. Her head hung low for a second as they heard her take deep breaths. They heard her mumble a few words and then she stood again. Her body shook slightly before she stood perfectly still. Anna's grey eyes were blank until she blinked a few times and focussed on him again.
"I'm alright. I'm alright now." She muttered, right as McGonagall re-entered and beckoned them to follow her.
Draco smiled, though he was still worried. "Good. Let's go then."
They walked side by side through the Great Hall, keeping their chins up and backs straight like the rest of the purebloods around them. She could easily have passed for one, Draco mused, even without the training. It seemed she had always been very prideful, even if she didn't know of what. A soft snigger almost escaped him but her kept his face blank and looked up at the teachers' table, where his godfather Severus sat.
"That's Severus Snape." He whispered to Anna. "He teaches potions and is friends with my father. He's head of Slytherin House and very... partial to them."
Anna followed his gaze and looked at the man sitting there, watching them. His black hair had a greasy sheen and his nose was slightly too large for his face, though it seemed to be even larger because of the scowl that seemed to be a permanent part of his face. Anna hummed and looked at the ceiling. She had read in Hogwarts; A History that it had been charmed to look like the sky, but the descriptions hadn't even begun to cut it. She resisted the urge to gape and looked back down at where the rest of the first years were settling at the foot of some steps. Up those steps, before the whole Great Hall, stood a small stool with a battered brown hat on top of it.
Anna raised her eyebrows right as it began to sing and, while she had been expecting it, she couldn't help but stare at it in bafflement.
"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 folks 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 hat finished reciting in its hoarse voice and soon the whole school was clapping, some houses louder than others (Gryffindor), but even so, the hat seemed to appreciate the gesture. The unsorted first years clapped along, though Anna turned to Draco.
"He didn't have much praise for Slytherin."
Draco scowled. "Of course he didn't. All Slytherins are ambitious and you can't turn 'evil'-" He quoted with his fingers. "-without being ambitious. People then tend to think that all of us will be like that."
Anna sighed but nodded. That didn't mean she didn't want to be in Slytherin though, it was the only house in which the people seem to have real ideas and aspirations. It was one of their main descriptions!
She took a deep breath, still keeping her dizziness and nausea firmly bottled down, but then she noticed something. A slight nagging in her chest, as if... there were something... familiar? She closed her eyes slightly. A memory swallowed her and she saw the same Great hall, but the teachers were different. Some were younger, some weren't there, some were other people. She heard a name be called. Tom Riddle. Anna frowned. Who was-
"Connors, Anna!"
Anna was snapped out of the memory as McGonagall called her name. Without having time to hesitate she walked forwards and climbed the steps. A frown pulled at her lips. The more she went upwards, the stronger the nagging feeling felt. Her eyes snapped among the teachers until they fixed on a young man wearing a turban. He was staring at her and as she met his eyes the nagging turned to a full out pain. A small whimper passed her lips but nobody heard it. He seemed to notice though.
Then she sat and for a fraction of a second she met Draco's eyes before hers were covered by the Sorting Hat.
"What do we have here? Anna?" She heard a voice whisper in her ear, the same raspy, throaty voice the hat had. "Such an interesting head. So many memories that don't belong to you."
Anna frowned but said nothing.
"Don't feel like talking? Then I'll just take a look around." For a few seconds she was silent. "Yes, yes, it's quite clear...
Slytherin!" He yelled aloud and Anna just smirked at Draco as she stepped to her house mates.