Chapter Eleven
Danica always had liked to travel, and still often had dreams about flying through the clouds. The train ride was long, but beautiful. She watched the landscape change from green hills to lush fields before growing into huge, rugged mountains, covered in heather and cut with waterfalls.
"You seemed lost in your own little world for most of that journey." Matthew grinned, as he came back from changing into his school uniform.
Danica straightened her tie and smoothed down the heavy wool of her robes, "Do I look all smart and proper?"
Matthew laughed, "Very proper indeed. You look like a proper young lady."
Danica felt her stomach clench and fought the rising blush in her cheeks.
"You alright?" Matthew asked, "You've gone all red."
Danica nodded quickly, "Yeah, just warm in here."
"Don't be nervous, you'll do great." Matthew reassured her, "Looks like we're here."
The train slowed to a stop and one of Matthew's friends opened the door, starting them piling out onto the platform.
"Do we take our bags with us?" Danica asked, stepping down.
"No." Matthew said kindly, "All the bags and pets will be taken up for us. You don't need to worry, just head over to where Hagrid is and he'll lead you down to the boats."
Danica nodded and waved him off as he walked towards the large carriages.
"You alright there Danica?" Hagrid asked, striding over to her as he gathered up the terrified looking first years, "You're starin'"
"I can see them." Danica said, giving a soft smile, "The thestrals I mean."
"I…" Hagrid looked between Danica and the line of carriages picking up the students for a moment, "I didn't know you'd seen someone die…"
Danica wiped the tears from her eyes and tore her eyes away from the creatures, forcing herself to smile slightly at Hagrid, "I've not…"
Hagrid nodded and pulled her into a tight hug, "You'll be alright little one. You came close apparently but you'll be righ' as rain from now on."
Danica nodded, "Come on you, I'm going to make you late at this rate."
Hagrid beamed down at her and started calling for the first years once again, gathering them at the edge of the platform, "Righ' this way all firs' years."
Danica found herself towards the edge of the group as they walked down towards the edge of the lake, were a dozen or so small boats sat.
"Four to a boat." Hagrid told them, "Get yourselves settled."
Danica took a place at the front of a boat with two other girls and a boy, who all smiled shyly at one another.
"My name is Beatrice. Beatrice Hawthorne." the shorter of the two other girls said once the boats started silently drifting across the water, "Pleased to meet you."
"Robin Martins." The boy said, "My dad works at the Ministry, but I'm still as nervous as anything." he laughed slightly awkwardly.
"Anabelle Barr." The last girl said, with a very crisp accent.
Danica smiled at the three others in their little boat, "Danica Snape."
Silence swept across them for a moment.
"But that… that means you are Harry Potter's little sister?" Anabelle said softly.
Danica dug her nails into her palm for a moment, "Yep… that's me."
"Your bother is a hero." Robin said in awe.
Danica laughed, "Yeah… but to me he's just Harry."
"It's lovely to meet you." Beatrice said kindly, "I have to say I never thought I'd pick a boat with someone famous in it!"
"I'm hardly famous." Danica mumbled.
"Your father works at the school as well doesn't he?" Robin asked, "I'm sure my Dad's said so. He works in the education department."
Danica nodded, rather pleased to have gotten off the topic of Harry, "Yeah… he works as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. He was Potions professor for a long time though."
"Wasn't he…"
Anabelle was cut short as they rounded a corner, and the castle came into view.
"Wow." Robin mumbled, his mouth open in awe.
Danica had been to Hogwarts many times before but she'd never seen it from the lake, and it looked magnificent.
The lights reflected and glistened in the smooth water as it towered above them on the rocky cliff. All of the first years had fallen silent at the sight, a silence that continued until their boats bumped gently onto the shore and Hagrid called for them to get out the boats.
"It's a beauty ain't it?" Hagrid grinned, "Now, no need to be worryin' 'bout the sortin'. Nothin' to it. This way."
Danica stayed with the three that had been in her boat with her as they walked up the huge stone steps. She couldn't get much of a read on them, the comments labelling her as nothing but Harry Potter's sister still ringing in her ears a little. However it didn't seem to make much sense to try and meet anyone else while everyone was focused on the upcoming sorting.
Danica stood quietly in the corridor after Hagrid left them. Several ghosts took the chance to have a nose at the new first years. They pretended to be making their way to the Great Hall, or admiring the painting that hadn't changed in over a hundred years, shooting quick looks of the nervous children.
"Welcome…"
The crisp and stern voice rang out over the gathered children. Danica watched the ghosts quickly leave after a look from new arrival set the ghosts floating quickly into the Great Hall.
She was in her mid fifties and dressed in a deep red set of robes that shimmered slightly in the light as she moved. Her grey hair was cut to her shoulders, a quill tucked behind one ear.
"We here at Hogwarts are very pleased to welcome you to Hogwarts. You will spend the majority of the next seven years here, learning how to be sensible and responsible Witches and Wizards. My name is Professor Nancy Stewart-Canmore, and I teach Transfiguration. You may call me Professor Stewart."
Danica made a mental note of the teachers name.
"Now," Professor Stewart continued, "you will be taken into the Great Hall, and sorted into your houses. During your time here at Hogwarts, your Houses will be like your family. Good behaviour will earn you points, any rule breaking, and you will loose points. I must warn you that all the houses here taken the house cup very seriously, and they will not appreciate anyone causing trouble that would jeopardise their chance of winning." she gave them a moment for this information to sink in, "As I'm sure you are aware, there are four Houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. They are each noble and studious in their own ways and have all produced a great number of wondrous Witches and Wizards over the years…"
"And some truly evil ones."
Danica heard someone mutter behind her and turned around to give them a glare.
"Now, I believe that they are ready for you. Please, follow me." Professor Stewart smiled.
Danica fell into line about half way down the crowd of students. She looked out as they walked past the blur of faces, searching for a familiar face.
Thomas spotted her and gave her a quick wave that she returned before focusing on the three legged stool that was being placed at the front of the Hall, right in front of the teachers table.
She spotted her father, who beamed down at her. She wanted nothing more than to run over and give him a hug.
Danica had always known what the sorting entailed but now she was there, standing before the tattered old hat, she was terrified.
"Once I would sing great rhymes,
Ballads that would last a great while,
While everyone stood and listened,
Truly in wonder to my words.
But as I grow older,
More and more I find,
Long rhymes are not needed,
Their warning time has past.
No longer shall blood pour down,
Painting the corridors with their evil red.
No longer shall students live in fear,
Unsure of what the future shall hold,
Both for them, and their school.
And so I say,
In this school we are but friends.
It matters not where I place you,
Where I say you shall lay your head to sleep.
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin,
It matters not.
For we are Hogwarts first.
And always it shall be."
Danica clapped loudly along with the rest of the students as the sorting hat finished it's song and gave a small bow.
Professor Stewart stepped forward again and held up a long scroll, "I shall call your name and you will come forward. Sit on the stool and I shall place the sorting hat on your head. It will then call out in which house you will be placed. It can take a few moments, or a few minutes. But don't worry, no one has failed to be placed."
There was a crushing silence in the Hall until Professor Stewart cleared her throat to call forward the first student.
"Miss Abbot, Jessica."
The young girl pulled slightly at one of her long plaits as she walked up to the sorting hat, the wide and slightly charred brim falling over her eyes.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat called.
There was a loud cheer from one of the tables. Jessica skipped off happily to be greeted by her new house.
Next was Miss Barr, Anabelle. One of the girls that had shared a boat with Danica as they sailed across the lake.
She looked completely composed as she walked over to the hat, and didn't seem at all surprised when it placed her in Ravenclaw after barely a minute. Jessica Davis also became a Ravenclaw.
Danica waited with bated breath as the students ticked down towards her name being called.
Elizabeth MacMillan became a Hufflepuff.
Twins Ash and Robin Martins became Gryffindors.
Harry had told her that silence had fallen when his name had been called, everyone waiting to see which house the great Harry Potter would be in. Danica suspected the same sort of thing would happen for her, her name was just too well known to be ignored.
Daniel Phelps became another Hufflepuff.
"Miss, Snape, Danica."
As Danica had predicted the Hall fell silent. Danica thought that it was the worse possible thing to happen, until the whispers started up.
"Isn't that Harry Potter's sister?" "Wasn't she attacked during the battle here? I'm surprised she came back." "Maybe her father forced her, he is a teacher." "Have you seen his face? It's like something out of a horror movie."
"Quiet!" Professor Stewart called loudly, "The sorting is an important event and demands your respect, not whispered gossiping."
Danica ignored all the looks as she walked confidently forward, holding her head high.
The hat fell over her eyes and Danica was slightly surprised to find out she could hear it think, just as clearly as it could hear her.
"Snape… I've heard that name a lot… and of course… Potter…" the hat mused to itself, "Both Slytherins, both bring much honour to the house… but… your… hmm…"
"What?" Danica asked.
"There's a lot of your mother in you, the fire that burned inside her… to do the right thing or die trying…"
"Yes." Danica said softly, "I suppose there is…"
"And yet… you don't want that… you wish for peace…" the hat said kindly.
Danica could feel tears welling up slightly in her eyes.
"I think you've earned it… HUFFLEPUFF!"
Danica beamed as the hat was taken off her eyes. Her Aunty Tonks and Nikka would be pleased. She risked looking behind her at her father, worried that he would be disappointed but he was standing up clapping so hard his palms were stinging.
Danica went over to the Hufflepuff table, very glad that the sorting was over, for her at least.
There weren't many students left, and Danica missed most of them. Lauren Thompson became a Slytherin as did Joseph White. Another boy joined them at the Hufflepuff table as well but Danica hadn't caught his name.
She went over to the nearest empty seat and went to pull it out when she was waved over by an older boy, who patted the seat next to him.
"Hi…" Danica said giving him a small wave.
"Hi." he grinned, "My name is Christopher Adams, but everyone calls me Chris. I'm a last year prefect, for Hufflepuff. That's Megan down there, Megan Moore. She's the girl version of me." he pointed to an older girl at the other end of the table, her hair in a messy bun on the top of her head, "Anything you need, just ask. We're here to help."
Danica thanked them, unsure of what else to say.
"May I have your attention for a moment." Professor McGonagall asked, standing up from her chair at the centre of the row of teachers, "Thank you. I know that you must all be hungry and excited for the feast so I shall try and keep this short and sweet. I would like to welcome you all to Hogwarts, whether this is your first year or you are returning to us after the summer holidays. I will remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. Study periods are for studying, not playing practical jokes on one another and Professor Binns would like me to inform you all that he will be getting help from a young centaur, named Titania, to go over homework so handing him empty scrolls will no longer work. And with that, enjoy your dinner."
Professor McGonagall clapped her hands together and the plates magically filled with food.
Danica helped herself to a fresh looking pasta salad, chips and fried chicken bits. As well as several corn on the cobs, slathered in butter.
"You should enjoy the feast." Chris said, handing her a glass of pumpkin juice, "They're amazing."
"I know." Danica smiled, "I mean, I've been to Christmas once and a few others."
Chris laughed, "Ah, the perks of having a parent that works here."
Danica nodded and grinned, "Pretty much. Harry didn't have such a great time in school so I was here more than I probably should have been."
Chris looked solemn for a moment, "Sorry, I wasn't meaning to have a dig."
Danica shrugged and shook her head, "Oh, I didn't mean it like that… seems a million years ago to be honest. I'm just looking forward to getting through school without a maniac trying to kill me at least once a year!" she laughed.
Chris looked horrified for a moment before he realised she was joking… sort of.
"Sorry, it's my way of dealing I guess." Danica said, passing him the chips as an apology.
"No worries." Chris said, his face cheerful once again, "Always takes me a moment to get a hand on the first years… I'm here if you ever want to talk."
Danica ate far more than anyone should in one sitting, including three portions of ice cream and as many again of the other puddings. They all just looked far too good.
She walked carefully in the stream of students towards the Hufflepuff common room, she worried that if she was too quick she would throw up and made a mental note not to eat so much next time.
They arrived at a large stack of barrels and Megan pulled out her wand.
"You simply tap out the pattern, and the door opens." she instructed them, tapping out a simple pattern with her wand tip on the barrels.
A section of the wall, the size of a large door opened up, allowing them access to the common room.
Everything was decorated in copper, yellow and black. Plants of all kinds hung from the walls, several of the fragrant flowers even had multi-coloured butterflies fluttering around.
Danica looked around in awe.
"This is amazing!" Beatrice, another first year, said.
"We'll give you a proper tour tomorrow, but for now off to bed." Chris instructed them, "Girls to the right, boys to the left. It's the first floor for you all this year. Have a good nights sleep."
"Where are our trunks?" Daniel asked, looking around.
"They're already with your bed." Megan explained, pulling her hair out of its bun and starting to plait it ready for bed, "You'll get used to a lot of the tasks being done automatically for you here. Sleep tight."
Danica followed the stream of students heading for bed, suddenly aware of just how exhausted she was.
As Megan had told them, her name, along with four others, was engraved in curly script, on bronze name plates screwed firmly to the door.
"This is it…" Beatrice said softly, "Home for the next seven years…"
"Right now I just really hope that the bed is comfy." Jessica laughed.
Jessica reached out a hand and clicked the latch, letting the door swing effortlessly open. Inside was a beautifully decorated room.
Five four poster beds, each with a chest of draws, wardrobe and bedside table with a solid, heavy lamp sitting on them, giving the room a soft light that wasn't at all harsh, but enough to send light into every corner of the room.
Danica moved to the bed in the furthest corner and pulled off her robes and hat, dumping them on her bed.
"How did you know which bed was yours so quickly?" Elizabeth asked, finally finding her own next to Danica's.
Danica smiled, pointing to the bright pink ribbon tide to her trunk's handle, "Harry, my brother, told me that it can be rough finding your bed when you're exhausted after the journey. They don't swap, this is us forever."
Danica changed quickly, nipping to the bathroom on their floor to wash her face and brush her teeth, before flopping into bed and falling asleep before her head had even hit the pillow.