Chapter 4: Hogwarts

"Well that was fun," Sortia said dryly as she flopped onto the seat furthest from the door of their newly won compartment.

Guillermo grinned at her as he shoved his trunks under his own seat. "You're definitely creative enough to be a Ravenclaw. I won't mind if you're sorted into my house."

"Glad to know," Sortia said. Her sarcastic tone said instead that she couldn't care less.

"Be nice, Sortia," Loughness suggested and she arched her dark brows at him.

"I was," she said sincerely. Turning back to Guillermo she added, "Both of my parents were in Slytherin, so I hope to be as well, though Ravenclaw wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"Glad to know," Guillermo said, giving her earlier words and tone right back to her like a parrot.

This didn't go amiss and she gave a quick amused grin of appreciation.

Sortia had grown up with the twins because her parents were friends with theirs. Her Mum was a bard, meaning she had magic in her singing voice. The twins Daddy Regulus had discovered when away faking his own death long before they were born that he was a bard as well.

He told of being so miserable that it had to escape somewhere and he'd found that escape in song. There had been loads of drama around the faked death including Daddy Regulus thinking Daddy Kreacher wanted nothing to do with him due to wards placed on #12 Grimmauld place keeping Regulus's letters from reaching Kreacher.

The drama of their parents lives before they were born made both twins plan to live a drama free life no matter what!

"Do you have a lot of friends at school," Loughness asked Guillermo curiously.

The other boy shrugged. "I mean people are alright. I just prefer books. And I do feel personally connected, at least emotionally invested in the chests of several fifth and sixth year girls in Ravenclaw, Slytherin and a few in Hufflepuff if that counts."

"It counts," Loughness assured.

"What," Sortia demanded and Hydra firmly shook her head.

"Don't ask. Please do not ask!"

Loughness grinned. "I thought it would be pretty depressing not being allowed to go to Durmstrang with Wulfric, but I think you'll make Hogwarts a lot of fun," he told Guillermo.

Guillermo grinned back. "Good. It's great to have someone with whom to share personal interests."

Hydra sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Books," Guillermo insisted, pretending to look put upon and she rolled her eyes again.

The train ride passed pleasantly as the three got to know Guillermo. He shared that he had a bit of psychic talent when the conversation turned to particular individual abilities. Sortia's lay in potions and dueling while Loughness and Hydra were able to apparate around wards and do anything elves could though neither cared for cooking and cleaning.

"It's a waste of time and good energy," Hydra declared. "And it's insulting considering elves are stronger than wizards. I don't get how more of them don't see it that way. The idea of being made to clean for anyone makes me feel so demeaned."

Being forced to do so were witches and wizards ever to learn that she was half elf was her secret terror. Unfounded certainly so secret. She knew how silly it sounded, considering Daddy Kreacher was free, after all, but the fact so many elves weren't, made it a pressing concern.

Daddy Regulus had told them what to expect, so Hagrid and the boat ride presented no surprise. When they separated, Guillermo wished all three luck during the sorting and they thanked him.

"I'm a bit nervous," Sortia confided in a whisper as the three boarded the boat together, sticking close. "If I don't get into Slytherin..."

"As long as you get into Ravenclaw your parents won't mind," Hydra assured. "Same goes for ours," she added to Loughness.

Loughness shrugged. "I'm not worried about it. I know none of us shall end up in Gryffindor, after all."

And none of them did. Loughness and Sortia were sorted into Slytherin while Hydra ended up in Ravenclaw. Flitwick grinned proudly from ear to ear and Guillermo waved her over to sit with him.

"I'll look after you as a favor to your bro, my new best friend," he told her playfully.

"Don't you mean your new partner in perversion," she demanded and he chuckled.

"Same difference, isn't it?"

When the sorting ended, Flitwick, who as Deputy Headmaster had been in charge of it, put the stool and hat away before taking his place at the staff table while Headmistress Minerva McGonagall made her welcome speech.

"Boring," Guillermo whispered to Hydra before pulling a book from the sleeve of his house robe and beginning to read.

Hydra frowned in silent annoyance at herself for not having a book to read as well. Leaning closer to Guillermo, she began to read his along with him. It dealt with various methods of scrying and was really quite intriguing!

When the feast appeared on the tables Hydra and Loughness, unlike the other students, could sense the elf magic being used.

"Elves provide that food," Hydra told Guillermo as he tucked his book back up his sleeve.

"You can borrow it later if you like," he said of the book, already with his mouth full, having shoved a fork full of chicken into it with his other hand. "Elves are good cooks then," he added, finally commenting to her comment.

"Yes. We do everything better than wizards."

Guillermo smirked. "If that also counts for shagging, your brother will really be popular with the girls some day."

Hydra clutched at her head, causing Guillermo to laugh with glee that he'd gotten such a rise out of her.

"I don't see why the houses all have to eat together," he said, glancing regretfully over at Loughness and Sortia, who sat side by side at the Slytherin table.

Hydra nodded. "Also why isn't Ravenclaw's house animal a raven, while we're at the important questions of Hogwarts life? Having it be an eagle is rather stupid if you ask me. I think I'll ask Flitwick about it."

"Why," Guillermo smirked. "He didn't make it up."

"No, he didn't," Hydra agreed patiently. "Just I thought he might understand the logic behind it. Ravens would even be more suitable for the house's meaning. They're extremely smart, after all! As a talking bird, the raven represents prophecy and insight for many cultures. Eagles are already, at least in part, in the Gryffindor symbol as the Gryffin's head is an eagle."

"Yes! I am aware...of all that," Guillermo said dryly, causing Hydra to pretend to throw a bread roll at his head.