Chapter Text
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Sunday, September 1st, 1991
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"Leo Beresford... RAVENCLAW!" The sorting hat announced from the front of the Great Hall.
"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." A curly-haired brunette girl bragged while staring at the starry view above.
"Did they really assign that on an eleven-year-old's summer reading list?" a girl with shoulder-length black hair questioned sarcastically.
A brunette with questioning emerald eyes was eavesdropping on Sitra, the ravenette, rather than the curly-haired girl. Sitra, now standing to the right of a blonde in line, heard the brunette ask, "Are you eleven too?"
The blonde who was between Sitra and the green-eyed brunette interrupted, "All of us are. You have to be eleven to get your acceptance letter, didn't your parents inform you?"
The other two adolescents looked down at their newly polished dress shoes, creating an awkward silence.
"I turned eleven in March, when are your birthdays?" A girl, who looked quite similar to the brunette girl—only with deeper, viridian eyes—chimed in, breaking the awkwardly long pause.
The raven-haired girl turned to the brunette, "Same here! I was born on the thirty-first." Sitra raised an eyebrow in question.
"Get out! Me too!" the two girls that looked similar shouted simultaneously.
"What are the odds we are all born on the same day? We must have similar last names too since we are all next to each other-" the blonde rambled before being interrupted by an older lady with an extremely large witch's hat.
"Charlotte Meadowbrook!"
Professor McGonagall called. The emerald-eyed girl slowly walked up the steps, sitting down on a stool in front of the other professors. She sat there patiently for a moment until the hat was finally placed on her head. She shut her eyes, not being able to bear all of those people staring at her.
"...SLYTHERIN!" The sorting hat's voice boomed as the Slytherin table erupted with cheers. Charlotte proudly walked over to sit with her fellow Slytherins.
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"Evangeline Meadowbrook!"
The blonde quivered as she carefully walked to where the sorting hat resided. She made sure to watch her every move since her legs felt like jelly and she was scared of tripping and making a fool of herself. Professor McGonagall patted the stool lightly with a smile. Evangeline took a deep breath in and sat down.
Anything but Slytherin. Evangeline thought, still holding her breath as the very ancient hat was placed on her head.
"...HUFFLEPUFF!"
Evangeline finally exhaled the breath that felt like it had been held in for an eternity. She hopped off the stool and moved her hair out of her face as she walked towards her house's table. Her prance slowed down pretty quickly as she thought, the green-eyed girl had the same last name as me, didn't she?
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These girls have so much in common with me... I wonder if... Sitra was trying to piece together the similarities when her train of thought was interrupted.
"Sitra Meadowbrook!"
Oh, Merlin, here we go... she thought anxiously. She sat on the stool and crossed her legs as she felt the battered-looking hat get placed on her head. She squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation. Sitra's hand instinctively reached up to the pendant resting under her sweater; an intricate silver ring with a deep blue gem that glittered like the night sky. It was the only thing that gave her some sense of peace in the agonizing moments she spent in suspense. Then, the hat finally revealed her house.
"...RAVENCLAW!"
That can't be too bad. This can't be that bad... right? Sitra tried reassuring herself as she hopped off the stool and carried herself to the Ravenclaw table.
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"Vienna Meadowbrook!"
The last girl of the four—the one with viridian eyes—walked proudly towards the stool and sat down. When the sorting hat was placed on her head, a remarkably long pause followed. The sorting hat was taking its time when deciding where to put Vienna. This left her with a prolonged amount of time with her thoughts.
How could we possibly all have the same last name, on top of that, born on the same date? Could that mean we're-
"...GRYFFINDOR!"
Vienna jumped as the sorting hat snapped her out of her own head. She slid off the chair and made her way to the cheering table of Gryffindors, hoping no one saw her jump from the sorting hat's booming voice.
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Charlotte sat next to a black-haired girl who had been eyeing her since her house was announced. She looked about one or two years older than her, but she didn't look like she had any friends either.
"Hey. My name's Charlotte, what's yours?" the brunette said as the girl she was talking to turned her head the other way.
Charlotte laid her head on the table and sighed. Everyone else has already made friends and I'm stuck here by myself at the end of the table, Charlotte thought as she turned her head to a group of hysterical teen boys.
One of the boys with caramel-colored hair turned her way. Their eyes locked for a moment, letting Charlotte see his vibrant blue eyes. The eye contact broke a minute later when the boy was startled by a table of cheering Ravenclaws.
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Evangeline made her way to an empty section of the Hufflepuff table; she needed to think.
A million thoughts were running through her head at the speed of light. Could we be related? No, we don't look similar. But we do have the same last name and-
Just then, Evangeline's inner monologue was interrupted by a third-year student who tapped her on the shoulder.
"Sorry to cut off your train of thought but those boys over there have been bugging me to get your attention." a girl with wavy strawberry-blonde locks insisted, pointing over her shoulder to a waving Hufflepuff boy who looked about the other girl's age.
"Thanks..." Evangeline replied as she grabbed her things and sat down on the other side of the boy.
"Sorry for bothering you," was the first thing the boy said, "I'm Cedric."
"Evangeline." the blonde smiled.
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Sitra's eyes darted around nervously as she reached the long Ravenclaw table. As she fiddled with her pendant, she tried to look for anyone she knew, but her efforts were useless. She was just surrounded by a bunch of strangers.
How on Earth am I going to survive this... Sitra mentally groaned. Making friends was not her strong suit; this was going to be interesting.
As she walked down, she recognized a dark-haired boy from earlier in the sorting ceremony. He was chatting with some fellow first-year Ravenclaws.
His name was Leo... Beresford, was it not? Sitra recalled. He doesn't look too intimidating. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and sat next to him at the table.
"Hi, guys," Sitra gulped. "Um, sorry if I'm interrupting. I just didn't know where to sit."
"Oh, that's okay." The boy turned to her and smiled. "Hey, you're Sitra, right? It's nice to meet you. I'm Leo." he declared as he stuck out his hand for Sitra to shake.
"Yeah, that's me," Sitra smiled back. "It's nice to meet you too, Leo," she agreed, shaking Leo's hand.
"You actually look a little familiar," he observed while tilting his head to the side. "Have we met?"
Sitra could almost feel his eyes analyzing her, trying to figure out who she reminded him of. Her cheeks flushed under his stare. "No, I don't think so," she responded sheepishly. "Sorry."
As Leo heard her reply, Sitra swore she saw a flash of emotion wash over his amber eyes. Pain, sadness, anguish, even. "Oh, I guess not then," he mumbled. "Sorry."
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"Did anyone happen to see that?" Vienna asked as she sat down towards the end of the Gryffindor table.
"See what?" A red-headed boy with freckles questioned while scarfing down a chicken leg.
"Ron! That's barbaric! Chew with your mouth closed!" barked the curly-haired girl from earlier. She's mental that one, Vienna thought.
Vienna racked her mind for things to talk about instead of Ron's horrendous manners. Then, it hit her.
"Do you guys happen to know of anyone with the last name Meadowbrook?" Vienna inquired.
"Evangeline Meadowbrook? She grew up with us." Ron spoke before scarfing down another piece of chicken.
Which one was she though? The Ravenclaw... or maybe the Hufflepuff? Vienna quizzed herself even though she definitely didn't know the answer. And what did he mean by us?
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As the Great Hall started to clear out, Professor McGonagall caught Headmaster Dumbledore before he could return to his chambers.
"You noticed those Meadowbrook girls, yes?" Professor McGonagall questioned, "Born on the brightest night, the sisters four hold the key to bringing forth the denouement; the final act of the darkest day. They fit the prophecy perfectly!"
"Only time will tell. All we can do now is observe." Dumbledore vowed.
"What if there is no time?" McGonagall insisted. "What if, by the time he returns, it's too late?"
"The poor children must be confused," Dumbledore dismissed her questions. "Go inform them of their relation to one another. Only that, and nothing more."
McGonagall shook her head in defeat. "Have it your way. I shall arrange an appointment with them immediately."