Chapter Text
“Deep breaths Adrian.”
I looked up from my staring contest with the ground as my family and I walked through Diagon Alley, making a sound of acknowledgment to my mother. We had already picked up Jen's fourth year stuff, as well as all of my stuff. Well, except for my wand. Which was what we were on our way to get. Standing in front of Olivander's was somehow really scary. Just something about getting a wand, which was kinda a part of your personality in a way, and getting that revealed to you... It was weird. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I looked over to find my sister smiling at me. Even if I was only eleven, I knew my sister well enough to know that smile meant that I'd be fine.
A few hours later we were all back home, Jen and I sipping on milkshakes while I stared at my wand, still in its box. Hawthorn wood, twelve and a half inches, dragon heartstring core, surprisingly swishy. I kept running those details through my head. The wandmaker – Olivander – said that Hawthorn wood suited people who are complex, and Hawthorn wands are most comfortable with conflicted natures. He also said my wand – and Hawthorn wands in general – are not easy to master. He said that he believed I had proven talent, whatever that means. The final thing he said about Hawthorn wood is that I should take great care in handling my wand, as the spells can easily backfire when handled poorly. He didn't say too much about dragon heartstring that I didn't already know, so that wasn't much. Yet, I couldn't help but be in awe of the wand that had chosen me. I had only looked at it three times in total after leaving Olivander's, and I swear my heart almost stopped every time. Was that normal?
Well, whatever it was, it would have to wait.
About a week later I woke up early, showering, brushing my teeth, combing and drying my short black hair, and getting dressed in a black skirt and semi-formal short sleeved white blouse. I choose simple black flats and black knee socks, and put on a star hair clip just in case. That hair clip was my lucky charm I tell you.
“Adrian? You ready 'sis?” Jen called from the hallway. I was in the bathroom, probably taking up too much time. We were probably going to be late. Crap...
“Yeah, just gimme a sec!” I said as I nearly fell out of the bathroom. I admit that I have absolutely no balance or grace, it's a quirk, not a flaw!
“Woah there Adri!” Jen came over quickly to steady me, which I thanked her for, and we went downstairs, our mother and father having already shrunk our luggage. Jen had sent both of our owls, Azula and Usagi – Usagi is mine, obviously because she has a much cooler name – to the train station, where we would pick them up. My mother handed me my mini-luggage and Usagi's mini-cage and my father handed Jen her stuff. We all stepped over to the fireplace as my father threw floo powder in, and because it was my first time using the floo, I was really nervous. Jen used to tell me it felt awful the first time, and I truly believed that. I often questioned why I, a pureblood witch would have never used the floo before, but right now that didn't matter. I held onto my mother's hand as we teleported – is that the right term? - and suddenly I saw we were inside a brightly lit room. I hadn't realized I had closed my eyes. I realized that the room had a door, and that the door probably led out to King's Cross Station. Jen was right though. I felt kinda awful. Not completely awful, but pretty awful. Well, 'awful' isn't the right word. 'Weird' is. Anyways, my mother tugged me along, and we left the room. I heard footsteps following us, which I thought must be father and Jen. I turned my head for a quick moment for reassurance, and was glad when I saw two of my family’s' faces. I turned my head back around to catch a glimpse of the brick wall Jen had mentioned to me this summer.
“I'm gonna have to run through that?” I whispered, a tad frightened. A reassuring squeeze to my hand from my mother gave me enough courage to hold me over for now though.
“Let your sister and father go through first, alright dear?” My mother said, and I quickly nodded. I had to admit, I was excited to see my sister run through a wall.
My jaw nearly dropped when they did. When it was my mother and I's turn, I hesitated. I then remembered how excited I was, to finally be going to Hogwarts, and I ran, my mother laughing softly as she quickly followed.
What I saw on the other side was amazing, if you didn't have a fear of large crowds. I didn't, so I looked on at the groups and crowds with awe. There were so many people! I caught sight of a young girl who looked to be about five or six years old running around in circles around her – what I assumed to be – her sister and mother.
“Welcome to Platform Nine and Three Quarters!” Jen whispered excitedly, just close enough to my ear that I could actually hear her over all the talking going on.
A little later I was bidding my mother and father good-bye, Jen giving me more time since this was the first time I would be leaving them, where this was the fourth time Jen had done it.
“Be good, okay Adri?” My father told me, kissing me on the forehead as he and my mother hugged me tight. With that, my sister and I were boarding the train.
“Alright, so you can sit in the compartment with me and Mike and his brother Orion – Orion's a first year too...” Jen babbled on until we reached our destination. Inside I saw a tall boy with spiky reddish-blonde hair, sharp features, and a mini version of him, both sitting next to each other, talking to two other small kids. I guessed that they were first years as well, judging by their size. The third boy had slightly long brown hair, really light blue eyes and was talking to the small spiky haired kid in an offended voice, while the girl had really curly black hair and deep blue eyes and was just giggling at the brown haired boy.
“Well I certainly think introductions are gonna need to happen.” Jen said, smiling as the tall spiky haired boy noticed her. My sister walked the short distance to her friend and gestured for me to follow. I sat across from her, sitting next to the other first year girl. Jen, of course, started to ignore me, so I decided to interact with the girl next to me.
“Hey, my name's Adrian, I'm a first year, what's your name?” I said. The girl looked up in surprise, before quickly recovering and answering my question.
“I'm Makayla, also a first year, it's nice to meet you Adrian!” She smiled. Makayla's eyes widened before she elbowed the brown haired boy.
“This is Emiel, he's been my best friend since forever, but he's incredibly rude for not introducing himself. Emiel this is Adrian.” Makayla said quickly, glaring at the boy. Emiel rolled his eyes before he looked at me.
“You're a first year too I'm guessing?” He asked. I nodded, smiling.
“Cool! What house do you think you'll be in?”
I wasn't shocked by the question, I figured it would come up sooner or later.
"Well, my whole family is made up of Ravenclaws, so it would be cool if I was one too, but I'm not really sure." I answered, looking at Emiel for him to to answer his own question.
"Hm, I think if we're going by family matters, then I'll probably end up as a Slytherin. I don't think I'd mind that. It's not that Slytherins are bad, they just have that air of 'oh I know everything' sometimes." Emiel said, saying the last part with a faraway look on his face, as if it was an afterthought.
"I guess we'll be mortal enemies then Emiel!" the smaller spiky haired kid exclaimed, and Jen just looked at the only other tall person in the train compartment - I guessed that he was Mike - and shook her head. I figured the mini spiky haired kid was Orion. Jen had said the two were brothers after all.
"I believe the term you're looking for is rivals Orion. jeez..." Emiel muttered in annoyance, and Makayla and I just laughed.
The rest of the train ride consisted of friendly conversation, but we finally got to our destination. I'm not sure how long it took, since I was having fun talking to the other three first years, but I'm not sure I really cared. Jen and Mike left us first years to go with the other fourth years and Orion let out a breath no one realized he was holding as his brother went out of earshot.
"Finally. He's so overprotective. Like a hawk mum." He said with fake anger. I laughed, and Makayla's voice soon followed, though Emiel just chuckled quietly.
We, along with all the other first years, were led onto boats in groups. Boats. I hadn't even noticed the lake. Orion had to go onto a separate boat, sadly. But we boarded the boats and soon we were sailing.
"Woah look at that, guys!" I whispered to Emiel and Makayla, who were on either side of me. I was talking about the castle, my jaw dropped partly as I looked on in awe. It was nearing night time, and the scene was so pretty, the shades so perfect I wanted to paint it. I knew I couldn't, but I still wanted to. Emiel shook his head while Makayla stared on with me.
Entering the castle was amazing. When we got to the dining room, my jaw dropped, there were ghosts, and the place was huge! I knew the ceiling was enchanted to reflect the outside sky, but it was so beautiful in person! But soon a woman who looked very young and important in her black robes spoke up, and all the students went silent.
"First years will now be called for sorting, alphabetical order. Please be patient, this wont take very long."
After a really cool song sung by a very gross looking hat, first years were being called up, and the gross looking talking hat was placed on each student's head, shortly calling out one of the four houses. Makayla went first out of the three of us, and she was placed into Ravenclaw. maybe we'd be Ravenclaw buddies?
It was my turn. I walked up to the stage, aware of all of the eyes on me. I took a shaky breath as I sat down on the chair. The gross sorting hat was placed on my head, and I suppressed a shudder. That hat was too gross.
'Hmmmmm... A daredevil, a courageous heart, but whats this? The passion to protect others at all costs... Loyal to her friends and takes the time to break through others walls, not afraid to fight for what she believes in... hmmmm...'
"Hufflepuff!"
What? But... my whole family were Ravenclaws, how could I be... huh. Maybe the sorting hat was right, well it was, technically, but i never thought I'd be a Hufflepuff. As I walked to the Hufflepuff table to sit with the other Hufflepuff first years, I caught my sister's face. She was smiling, she looked happy for me, but like she was sad that I wasn't a Ravenclaw like her. She gave me a thumbs up, raising her eyebrows, our signal for 'are you okay?'. I nodded, and gave her the brightest smile I could muster.
After a bit, Emiel was called up and was placed in Slytherin. At this moment I remembered Orion had been put into Gryffindor. Looks like they would be rivals.
Soon the last of the first years were placed into their houses, and the feast was soon to begin, I could tell. The woman from before took rose from her seat, which I noticed was the highest up, and spoke.
"Welcome dear first years, and welcome back to all the other years! My name is Morgana Harvey, your Headmistress. I, on behalf of the entirety of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry staff, would like to wish you the best of luck in this new school year, and that we are all hoping you are looking forward to it as much as we are! There is only one last announcement, seeing as I can tell you are all particularly famished. That being, to make the most of this year. This goes out to seventh and first years especially. Now, let the feast begin!"
Suddenly all sorts of food began to appear on the table, from appetizers to desserts, as well as all sorts as drinks.
About halfway through the feast, I felt a hot liquid on the side of my arm and almost yelped. I quickly turned my head, glaring at the person who had spilled hot cider on me. the girl was familiar, and I recognized her from Platform Nine and Three Quarters, the girl who had her little sister running around her. I was prepared to chew her out, but she started to apologize really fast and repeatedly.
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh! I'm so so sorry! I'm so clumsy I'm so sorry!" She repeated, her eyebrows drawn upwards. I just glared at her.
"Seriously? Hot cider? You couldn't have spilled water on me or something? I'm gonna have burns or something!" I pouted, not happy with her apology at all. The girl was quiet for a moment before responding.
"Well jeez... Well, there is a strand of your hair that is out of place, you should fix that!" She said it in such a seriously angry voice and the words just didn't match up that I ended up just laughing. The other Hufflepuff looked at me, confusion growing on her face.
"Okay, yeah, I guess I should have accepted your apology, not like you meant it. But hey, you're pretty funny, we should be besties! We'll be the best besties the Wizarding and Muggle world combined has ever seen!" I exclaimed, ideas and scenarios suddenly popping into my head. The girl just stares, then laughs.
"Well, okay. But I'll need a name first. I'm Mulan Delfin, Muggleborn and proud of it." Mulan smiles, and I beam.
"Adrian Hamilton at your service, first in a pureblood Ravenclaw family to be a Hufflepuff, accepting of everyone." I had a feeling this was gonna be a great year, just like Ms. Harvey said.