Sorting day has arrived again, and just like the previous year, Eva Fallon comes to the platform with some of her children. This time, her brother’s oldest son, Parker is starting as well as one of her own, Charlotte. Josie and Essie are the first through the barrier, in that order, followed by Parker – who just couldn’t wait. Charlotte came next, then Freddie Wexler, then his wife. Tom, Eva‘s husband was next, followed finally by Eva. “Please stay close, kids! Let’s make sure everything’s here…” Eva trails off as the four kids flock next to the train, talking excitedly among themselves. She sighs and shakes her head.
“Isn’t the train amazing?” Josie exclaims as she takes Charlotte by the hand, running close to it. “We’ll get on the train and then it will take us to Hogwarts. I think you’ll be in Ravenclaw with me, just like mummy was.” The girl nods enthusiastically to her sister, looking to Essie for affirmation. “Mummy, mummy, Charlotte is going to be in Ravenclaw, right? Right?” the girl shouts to her mother, bouncing slightly in anticipation.
Clinging to her mother closely, Danielle is a picture of mixed emotions. There’s tears in the corners of her eyes and she sniffles from time to time, her arms wrapped tightly around her mother’s waist. Despite this, though, her eyes are widen and focused on the crowd in front of her, drifting from group to group, and her mouth falls open as she notices owls, cats, large trunks and laughing students in varying kinds of flashy garb. Her mother is fussing over her hair and smoothing it into place and looks incredibly anxious; her father stands by, looking stern and wooden.
“Josephine Elizabeth Wexler, come back here now,” Eva calls to the girl. “Estelle Bidelia Wexler, you, too. What did I tell you about running off?” The woman taps her foot for a moment before murmuring something to her husband and shaking her head. The two oldest girls walk dutifully back toward their mother, their cheeks slightly red at being chastised. Parker and Charlotte come slowly back toward their family members, looking around with interest at everything happening on the platform. It is then that Eva notices the family just nearby to them, with the little girl who looks slightly overwhelmed. Grinning sympathetically, Eva leans over to the mother. “First year?” she asks quietly. “My Charlotte here is a first year, too,” she tells the other woman, gesturing vaguely to the girl in question.
“Does the hat really chew on your head if you’re not easy enough to sort?” Parker asks loudly as he returns to his family slowly. “One of the boys at Madame Malkin’s told me that it chews on you. Can I ask it to stop if I don’t like it?” He looks up at his mother, who smooths his unruly hair down. “Can I, mum?” She merely chuckles and smiles to Freddie without answering the boy’s question. Freddie’s eyes twinkle with mischeif as he tousles the boy’s hair, which prompts his mother to smooth it down once more. “What? Can’t I?”
Although the mother seems a little suspicious of Eva and her children, Danielle takes the opportunity to study Charlotte and Parker intently with wide eyes, though she doesn’t move away or even loosen her grip on her mother. Eventually, Juliette reaches out delicately with one hand, the other one still on her child’s head, although now she pulls her protectively closer, and remarks in a low voice, with just a slight French accent, “I don’t know how any of… you people handle it.”
Seraphina Pryor is a sixth year – almost at the top of the hill! She feels fairly proud as she emerges from the barrier, intent on getting onto the train as quickly as possible. Her sister and father follow her through so quickly that Alastriona runs smack into her. “Watch where you’re going,” she mutters at her sister, who then attaches herself to her sister’s arm. “Let’s sit together!” the girl squeals to her older sister. “‘Ona, don’t you have friends you’d rather sit with?” she asks in an exasperated tone. “I’m going to sit with Otto. Look, there’s Flossie – go talk to her.” With that, Alastriona takes off running and laughing as she spots one of her friends and Seraphina breathes a sigh of relief. “I’m going to go get onto the train,” she tells her father. “I’ll owl you once I’m settled into my NEWT classes.” With that, she makes her way toward the train, not in any particular hurry.
Eva Fallon quirks her head in slight confusion. “Handle what? Our children going off to school? It’s difficult to let go at first, but it’s so good for them. Josie and Essie,” she gestures to the two girls who are talking quietly to one another and giggling, “started last year and they’ve become incredibly self-assured and self-reliant in that time. I think it has been very good for them.” Eva smiles, though not quite as genuinely as the first time. “What’s your name?” she asks, directing the question to the girl.
Finally realizing that he will get no answer to his question from his parents, Parker directs his attention to those nearby. He studies Danielle quickly as she seems to be studying him, and interrupting his aunt (without really realizing it), he puts his hand out. “I’m Parker,” he tells her with absolutely no volume control.
“Danielle,” the small girl volunteers, though she still doesn’t pull away from her mother; a moment later, the older woman prompts her, and she lets go with one arm, holding out her hand in a neat, polite greeting to Eva. Her mother studies Eva for a moment uncertainly, though, before shaking her head and clarifying, “Goodness no, Alexis, Cyril and Dominic are already off at their schools… but this is all new, this experience.” She eyes Eva for a moment longer before adding, “But I can see you’re used to that.” Danielle, on the other hand, pokes her tongue out at Parker’s loudness.
Not quite sure what the woman is getting at, Eva just smiles and merely nods. “Well, I’m sure she’ll love it at Hogwarts. I certainly did,” Eva sighs a bit and looks at Tommy, then to the children. “Alright, alright, you all may go to the train now. Find your compartments,” she tells the children, particularly her twins, who take that moment to squeal and skip toward the train. “Parker, you stay with Charlotte. You two need to stick together!” his father directs him.
“What compartment should we sit in?” Josie asks her sister, turning and skipping backwards for a moment as she looks back toward her younger sister and cousin and the stranger girl with whom her family is interacting. “Come on, you lot!” she calls to them, turning around again and stopping near the entrance to the train. “The third compartment!” Essie declares. “Three is a very good number.” The girls giggle as if laughing at an inside joke while they wait for the other children to join them.
Parker Wexler gasps loudly. “Dad, she stuck her tongue out at me!” the boy tattles, frowning at her and crossing his arms. “That’s not very nice, Danielle,” he tells her with a failed attempt at disdain. “I’m going to be a Gryffindor like my dad, so you better not be one, too, if you’re going to be like that. “Parker!” three adults call all at once and the boy flushes deep red, still frowning at Danielle. “You’re not very nice,” he says more quietly, in hopes that the grownups won’t hear him.
As Eva instructs her children to go to the train, Danielle pulls her hand back and wraps her arms all the more tightly around her mother. “Is it time?” She asks softly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes as she grabs at her mother. The only instruction given to her in return is, “You don’t want to be late…” before she’s pulled aside from the group and what seems to be a lecture starts – quiet, so as not to unduly embarass her, but loud enough that someone nearby could certinly catch snippets – ‘no lying’, ‘best behaviour’, ‘pull you out by your braids if necessary’, punctuated by first tears, then sobs, then a messy hug between all three family members before the eleven year old pulls herself together, wipes her nose and eyes on the sleeve of her dress, then stumbles towards the train, sniffing and trying to stop her emotions showing TOO much.
“Oh my goodness gracious me!” Alastriona Pryor bounces away from her sister, and spins in wide circle towards her friend Flossie. “Can you believe it’s another year! Another summer come and gone and sooooo much news!” She presses her lips together and smoothes her static-y red hair. “Come dear Flossie! I will tell you all about it!! It’s extraordinary, really! I’m certain–” she glances around and then stops talking. “I’ll tell you on the train, these things need to remain secrets from wandering ears. . .” Mischieviously she smirks at her friend, and locks arms together.
“Okay, girls, come say goodbye!” the woman calls to her daughters, making her way toward her daughters who are just about to board the train. “I’ll see you at Christmas holiday,” she tells her daughters. “Come on, Charlotte, join your sisters!” Charlotte glances at Danielle with a shy smile before she joins her mother near the door to the train. Parker follows, also glancing at Danielle, but with far more suspicion in his face as he keeps up with his cousins. “Bye Mum! Bye Dad!” he calls to his parents, and in an energetic bound, he’s the first of his cousins to board the train. “Be good, study hard and write often. Send an owl tonight – I want to know what house Charlotte is sorted into.” Eva smiles somewhat wistfully as she steps back to where her husband, brother and sister-in-law are standing. She waves to the small Wexlers as they bound onto the train after Parker.
Parker was the first onto the train, and he’s the first into a compartment. He dashes first into compartment one, but finds a much older student already sitting inside, so he quickly exits it without a word, then dashes into the next compartment down the way – the one marked with a “3″. Finding it empty, the boy quickly plops into the seat nearest to the door, hanging his head out of the compartment as he watches for his cousins. When he spots them, he shouts. “Hey, down here!” he yells to them, waving enthusiastically and nearly hitting a few older students in the process.
A few moments afterwards, Danielle flounces into the carriage and scowls at Parker. Her eyes are red from crying, but she seems to have pushed back all her tears for now, and is more focused on the other people in the room. “You can’t just tell on me for sticking my tongue out, that’s not against the rules.” A pause and then, “I bet it doesn’t say it anywhere in the school rulebook. Be pretty funny if it did.” And then, a moment later, a small curtsey. “I’m Danielle.” She’s very careful to only pronounce it with two syllables.
Pulling Flossie to the third compartment, Alastriona giggles along with her friend at the latest bit of news she’s relayed. “I mean really who would believe that?! Just silly people, that’s who. Or those in institutions. . . or St. Mungos–” she glances around and lowers her voice (but probably not low enough that others in the compartment can’t hear, “–I once overheard some people Daddy was talking to say that some terrible things were done to those that find themselves there. . . at least most of the time. . . they probably still deal with the occasional small issue. . . like . . .” thinking of no other ailments, Alastriona finally scrunches her nose and thinks of the only ailment she can think of off the top of her head, “. . .lice.” Flossie shakes her head in disagreement. Deciding that this would be a wonderful debate for the train ride, Alastriona and her friend finally sit down, and she asks to no one in particular, “Do you think St. Mungo’s Healers could cure lice?”
Josie, Essie and Charlotte follow down the corridor and join Parker in the third compartment. “See, I told you the train was great!” Josie tells her cousins proudly as she sits down by the window. The four Wexlers take up one side of the compartment, and Josie smiles to Danielle. “Isn’t this great?” she asks the girl, not taking notice of the tears. Charlotte, however, is slightly more perceptive than her older sister and furrows her eyebrows. “Are you okay?” the Wexler girl asks before Parker interrupts her. “I told my parents, and you can’t even imagine what they would have done. It’s just that your mum was there and they didn’t want to hurt her feelings,” the boy argues.
“Who has lice?” Parker asks loudly, his eyes growing wide at the older girl opposite. “Who are you? My name’s Parker Wexler. My dad writes for the Daily Prophet!” he boasts proudly. “And my auntie Eva owns a candy shop? Isn’t that so great? Josie and Essie and Charlotte get to go there all the time because my auntie Eva is their mum. Great, right?” Parker beams at the older girls, paying no mind to the fact that he has actually interrupted their conversation.
“Oh no, no one has lice, just hypothetically if someone did, do you think St. Mungo’s healers could fix them up?” Alastriona corrects and then asks. She smoothes her hair again and then frowns a bit at the introduction, “I don’t believe in calling people with first names by names that sound like lastnames. So. . . this presents us with a problem.” She frowns slightly. “What’s your middle name? I can maybe call you that!” She offers a hopeful smile. “Oh! How rude of me! I’m Alastriona Pryor! And this is my friend Flossie. Her real name is Locke. True story.” Flossie nods a bit fleetingly, but before she can say anything, Alastriona continues to talk for both of them, “That must be amazing to have all of that access to the candy! Everyone likes candy . . . I don’t think I’ve met anyone who says ‘I don’t like candy.’ Those are the kinds of people I was talking about earlier, Flossie! The candy haters who go to Azkaban . . .” She nods decidedly, certain that Dark Wizards dislike candy.
Scowling all the more at Parker, Danielle seems not to notice Charlotte’s question for a moment. When she does acknowledge the other girl, it’s with a whiny, sullen, “I’ll be okay.” There’s a moment of silence from her before she sits down and adds, “It’s – all very new for me,” she tells Charlotte, her voice raised slightly so as to speak over Parker, shooting him another nasty look. “I mean…” she stumbles over her words for a moment, before she continues, “because I’m new… in England. Great Britain, actually. I haven’t been here very long.”
“I’ve seen you before,” Josie tells the older girl with a beaming smile. “I’m Josie Wexler. Parker’s my cousin. Don’t mind him, he doesn’t think before he talks.” She giggles a bit. “This is my sister Essie, and that’s Charlotte. She’s my sister, too.” Josie nods and giggles at Ona’s comments regarding candy. “That’s very true. Anyone who doesn’t like candy is not my friend,” The girl states emphatically and smiles broadly. “I’m a Ravenclaw. You must not be a Ravenclaw or I would have seen you in the commonroom.”
Climbing over his cousins to get to the window seat, Parker steps on toes and kicks people accidentally as he tries to get into the miniscule space left by the window. “Move over,” he whines at his cousins who comply without much complaint past the kicks and smashed toes. “Look at how fast we’re going…” the boy starts staring out the window, only looking back when something in the conversation going on around him catches his attention.
Charlotte nods and yelping only briefly as Parker steps full on her foot, she smiles to Danielle. “I’ve never been to Hogwarts yet, either. My sisters say it’s really fun but kind of hard work. I guess magic is harder than it looks. Mum makes it look so simple.” She pauses. “I have some sweets that mum gave me. Do you want to share?” She asks, pulling a purple and blue striped bag out of a deep pocket at her side. Glancing around the compartment, she breathes in quickly, then gets up and moves across the compartment to sit next to Danielle rather than next to Parker.
“Well, Flossie and I are Gryffindors,” Alastriona says with a twinkle in her eye. “We have lots of friends from other houses.” She offers a bright smile. “It’s great to meet you! What year are you in? Flossie and I are in our third year!” Flossie opens her mouth to introduce herself, but Alastriona once again spouts some random information, “Well anyone who doesn’t like candy probably has no friends. I was talking to Flossie about people in Azkaban. I’m convinced that lack of sugar put them there in the first place, so all people must have sugar and those that don’t are to be considered . . . ” she lowers her voice again. “. . . suspicious. . .” she glances left and then right. And then Parker kicks her accidently, and while it doesn’t hurt, being somewhat of a drama queen she says, with much emphasis, “OW.”
Although she seems unimpressed that Parker is still getting more overall attention than she is, Danielle does seem to latch onto Charlotte as she addresses her, though she wrinkles her nose and shakes her head slightly at the offer. “No, I was saying I’m only new to Great Britain… oh, I don’t suppose it matters.” There’s a hesitant pause and then, “I’m sure magic is quite easy really… but, uh, no magic candy for me, thank you.” She laughs, lightly, but it’s a little forced.
“I’m a second year now! Essie’s a Hufflepuff, though, not a Ravenclaw. The hat didn’t sort us together.” Sadness briefly crosses Josie‘s face as she remembers the fact, but she quickly rebounds. “They are kind of susp— OW, Parker, watch it!” the girl exclaims and shakes her head. “What classes are you taking this year? You get to pick new ones, right? I can’t wait to pick out new classes. I want to take music, but I don’t know what else I should take.” She pauses. “Oh, sweets! Mum gave us some for the trip. Do you want some? They’re from mummy’s shop in Diagon Alley.” Josie reaches into her own pocket to draw out the large bag of sweets, offering some of hers to the older girls across from her.
“Oh, where did you live before you came to Great Britain?” Charlotte asks Danielle cheerfully. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I was born in Hogsmeade when mum co-owned Honeydukes – that’s another candy shop, you know. We moved to London when I was very small, though. I like it there. There’s so much going on. Are you sure you won’t have any?” she asks politely, drawing out a peppermint toad and nibbling it slowly. Parker pays attention again as Josie exclaims in pain. “What?” he asks, cluelessly. “What’d I do? Oh, sweets!” he remembers, pulling his own bag of sweets out of his pocket and pops a fizzing whizzbee into his mouth, giggling loudly as the fireworks begin in his mouth, a few escaping into the air in front of him as he laughs, coming out in shining sparks.
Alastriona Pryor arches an eyebrow at Danielle’s refusal of candy, and of course, having little restraint, she narrows her eyes and questions, “Don’t you like candy? Or are you a candy hater? Do you never eat sugar? Or only when on a train with strangers, Dan-ee-elle?” Flossie finally manages to get a word in edgewise, “Ona, be nice. She’s just kid.” Flossie offers Danielle a weak smile. And then Alastriona continues her questioning, “I need to interrogate when necessary. And it seems necessary. Just you wait, watch for people who don’t eat sugar and you’ll see. . .” Her attention is diverted back to Josie, “Yeah, we get to choose. I’m taking Muggle Studies, Wizo-Music, Magical Art, and Divination. I wish I could take more, but honestly, courses like Arithmancy seem. . . icky. I want to take I would love some sweets! Thanks Josie! I seriously love sugar. Daddy doesn’t let me eat it often though.” She tilts her head, “What do you think you’ll take when you’re in third year?”
Danielle Baker flinches back from Parker in shock as he laughs and fireworks exit his mouth, almost automatically, though she tries to right herself quickly enough. She tugs down on her plaits, trying to arrange them a bit more neatly, and addressing Charlotte directly rather than looking again at Parker. “Oh… France, actually. We moved here maybe – perhaps,” she corrects herself, drawing herself up in a somewhat pompous way and affecting a slightly stronger French accent, reminiscent of her mother, “six months ago. That was before we got the letter,” she adds hurriedly. Her eyes turn to Alastriona, and she corrects quietly, “Dan-yell.” There’s a moment of silence, and she bites her lip before adding, “I’m… allergic to her mother’s candy. From the candy store.”
“Allergic?” Parker asks in horror. “How can you be allergic to sweets? Is it just her sweets? Have you even had them before? My cousin Maura makes them and she does very well!” His eyes grow wide as he considers this, but he pops another fizzing whizbee (his favorite – not that that’s any shock) into his mouth and is instantly distracted from the unpleasant girl in front of him. “Oh, alright,” Charlotte replies pleasantly to Danielle, clearly not phased by much that’s going on around her. She continues to nibble her toad. “So, what house do you think you’ll be in?” she asks the girl cordially.
“Muggle studies sounds really interesting, too. I’m not sure about Divination. It seems like it might just be a bunch of fluff and make-believe. I mean, Professor Kensington seems like she’s alright, but I don’t think she’s being totally honest with us that Divination is so hard.” Josie looks pensive as she considers the subject. “I want to take Ancient Runes,” Essie admits. “It looks like it would be really interesting, and I think it would be more challenging than some of the other subjects.” She pauses briefly. “I also want to take that animals class. It looks so interesting. What’s it called again?” She considers thoughtfully. “Care of Magical Creatures!” Josie breaks in again. “How do you think you’ll manage all of those classes? I’m sure that’s more than what I could handle!”
“Okay, if you’re allergic, I’ll let it slide,” Alastriona responds with a suspicious twinkle in her eye. “I suppose that’s possible . . but know that I’m watching you. . .” She redirects her attention to Josie and shuffles in her seat a bit. “Yeah, I think Divination will be an easy course. Well relatively, even if she says its hard. I mean it’s just looking at tea and stuff, right?” She nods at Essie. “Yeah, they all sound good–it’s hard to choose.”
“May – perhaps,” Danielle tells Parker a little defensively, folding her arms across her chest and scowling at him, before affecting a smile again as she turns back to Charlotte. “I… haven’t given it much thought,” she bites at her lip again. “I – you were saying you’d be in… that house, I remember.” She tugs at one of her plaits again, considering Charlotte. “I imagine I’ll be in… well, I suppose I’m particularly hard to place.” She clears her throat, though, and fumbles for her pockets, eventually pulling out what is plainly a small packet of entirely muggle sweets, one of which she pushes into her mouth rapidly, before slipping the package back into her pocket and chewing away at the one in her mouth. Her eyes fall on Alastriona as she chews, and she starts to scowl a little sullenly at the older girl
“Mum says all of the houses are good and that it won’t matter which house I’m in,” Charlotte says placidly. “Mum was a Ravneclaw and Dad was a Gryffindor. I don’t really know where I should go.” The girl looks down into her bag of sweets then shrugs vaguely. She finishes her peppermint toad and then tucks the bag into her deep pocket again and glances to Danielle, not commenting as she spots the bag of sweets. “So is it nice in France? I’d love to go visit there,” she asks, trying to diffuse Danielle’s hostility toward the older girl. Charlotte only glances briefly at the older girl as her attention is drawn to Parker, who has frozen with a bit of candy in his mouth. Apparently Parker has forgotten what ice mice do, and for the time being, the compartment is slightly more still as the effects of the candy keep hold on him.
“Professor Kensington keeps very close tabs on us Ravenclaws,” Josie comments. “She makes sure that our marks are at a certain level, and if they’re not, we have manditory homework time! On weekends too. Have you ever heard of such a thing?” The girl shakes her head in a semblance of shock. “Thankfully, I haven’t had to stay in for it yet, but I can’t believe that she would do that! I bet she can’t be that way with her class, though. Like you said, it’s just looking at tea and crystal balls and all of that.” Essie nods quickly, but says nothing to add to the comments. Josie pulls out a sugar quill and begins to suck on it slowly. “Anyway, I think I’ll take Care of Magical Creatures with Essie instead.”
Alastriona Pryor gives an approving nod to Danielle as she pops the Muggle candy in her mouth. At least it’s sugar! Alastriona either doesn’t notice or ignores the scowl she’s given because she merely smiles at Danielle. “Mandatory homework time?! You better work hard! Professor Fallon isn’t like that. She’s more. . . the mothering type. Honestly, if I didn’t know better I’d think that she had children at the school.” She contemplates a second and then adds, “Discipline isn’t unheard of with her, but it’s not scary punishment at all.” She shrugs.
Danielle Baker looks up at Josie and wrinkles her nose again, shaking her head. “No, I don’t think I want to be in Ravenclaw.” She falls quiet for a moment, before looking up at Charlotte again. “Oh, it’s wonderful in France. There’s all different kinds of people there, and the very tallest building is the tour eiffel, and you can see it from everywhere in France, it’s so big. I lived just near it and would go there all the time.” She smiles faintly at the other first year, and swallows her sweet, casting another significant look towards Alastriona.
“Well, you know she used to!” Josie exclaims, proud that she can provide information that the older girl didn’t appear to know. “My cousin Briony married her oldest kid. His name’s Gabe. He and Briony were Gryffindors. Gabe has two sisters, too, but I don’t know them very well.” Josie beams and glances out the window. “Wow, look how dark it is! We must be nearly there!” The girl hops up and smooths her robes out, rubbing her fingers over her Ravenclaw crest lovingly and grinning at the others. I’m going to go up toward the entrance! Come on, Essie! Let’s get a carriage together!”
“Well that’s interesting! You certainly have a lot of family!” Alastriona exlaims. She quickly stands to her feet, smoothes her robes, and then for good measure, smoothes her hair once more. “Come along, Flossie! We have things to do–carriages to catch, and things to discuss.” That said, the pair begin shuffling to the front of the train.
Parker Wexler unfreezes just in time to hear Josie exclaim about nearly reaching Hogwarts. “Hogwarts! Hogwarts! Hogwarts! We’re almost there, Lottie!” he calls to her and bounces a bit on the seat, shoving his own bag of sweets haphazardly into his pocket and jumping up. This time, he manages not to trip over anyone or kick anyone, but he’s not exactly moving slowly, and he nearly falls over as he runs out of the compartment. “Wait for me!” he calls to his cousins. “No?” Charlotte replies to Danielle, giving only a brief glance out the window and frowning slightly as she sees that the trip is nearly over. “Want to go to the front?” Charlotte asks the other girls left in the compartment as she stands up and smooths her robes, folding up the top of her bag and tucking it into her pocket.
As the view outside the window starts getting less and less clear due to the cover of darkness – or, at least, as she realises that this is rapidly happening – Danielle becomes quieter and even starts biting on her nails. Eventually, she leans in a little closer to Charlotte, and whispers, “I don’t want to be given weekend homework, I got plenty of that from my last teacher. In France!” She adds, almost as an afterthought. “But… don’t you ever worry that you might pop on the hat and it’ll tell you to go away?” A pause. “Not that I ever do!” She adds, almost hurriedly. “I was just… wondering if other people did. It seems scary. Like other people would find it scary.”
Standing alone at the end of the train platform, Avery Fallon has one arm lifted above her head, waving to capture students’ attention. “First years! First years gather here! Sorted students should take the carriages, but first years please gather here!” The astronomy professor appears to be in fairly good spirits and is smiling welcomingly, vaguely scanning the faces for Charlotte and Parker Wexler.
Bounding off of the train and dodging some of the bigger students, Parker makes his way to the platform, his too-long robes streaming behind him. “Come on,” he calls to Charlotte and Danielle, pausing briefly as he hears a voice calling for first years. “This way!” he shouts and runs down the platform, not even giving the girls a chance to figure out where he’s headed. “Hi, Aunt Avery!” he greets the teacher and bounds into her with an exuberant hug.
Danielle Baker falls silent as she steps off the train and really seems to take in the sheer size of the crowds. She bites at her lower lip, glancing back and forth and reaching out to grab at Charlotte’s arm as she moves over towards the Professor calling out for them. “Is this where we get Sorted?” She hisses at Charlotte. “I don’t think anyone said!”
“Parker!” Avery exclaims, leaning down to hug the boy back and stepping back to ruffle his hair and smile to Charlotte, giving her a little wave. Once a sizeable group of first years has congregated around her, and it appears that all others are on their way towards carriages, Avery looks to her mass of eleven-year-olds and smiles. “Welcome to the Hogwarts grounds! I’m Professor Fallon, and you’ll be seeing me some evenings for Astronomy. No doubt you’re all excited to get to the castle for the sorting, so let us depart. Follow me, please,” she says, turning around and heading for the shore path.
Josie and Essie make their way off of the train, pausing and waving to Avery in hopes that she’ll see them before the two girls bounce into a carriage, greeting some other second years as they do so. In a moment, the carriage has disembarked toward the castle. Charlotte remains with Danielle as the crowd slowly thins and the girls are left with the other first years on the platform. “Oh, no. We have to go to the castle where the rest of the students are going. I think we take boats instead of carriages,” she tells Danielle quietly, glancing at Parker quickly before she waves shyly to Avery, coming to stop in front of her aunt.
With the first years in tow, Avery stops at the edge of the shore and indicates the boats with her hand. “Four to a boat, and there’s no need to steer. They’ll take you right where you should be. And don’t lean over the edge, please! And mind your cloaks are done up! It can be cool over the water and your mothers would be quite distraught if you had to start your days at Hogwarts with a cold. Alright, off you go!” she requests, she herself striding to a boat as well. She steps into it with a practiced ease and turns around, motioning for Parker, Charlotte and Danielle to join her in this vessel.
The fleet pushes off from shore in near unison. As the boats progress silently through the water, they leave no wake behind. Drifting along, the boats travel in an unhurried fashion, moving over the darkened waters in a loose group, but always remaining together. The chilly night’s breeze is more apparent here upon the lake.
As the fleet continues forward, the southern shore recedes into the distance, and is lost in loose tendrils of smoky fog. The northern shore is not yet in view, concealed as it is by a thicker blanket of pale haze. The air is cooler over the lake, and as the boats drift further onto the water, there a more pronounced breeze that nips through robe and sweater alike.
The fleet has begun to move through the steadily increasing fog now, reducing visibility to a scant metre or two. Dim lights from the lanterns on the other boats of the fleet can be seen, flickering softly in the wind. The breeze is gentle, but consistent and quite cold out here upon the nearly still nighttime waters, where is there is no shelter and no warming fire. The only company is the steady rocking of the boats and the dim lights of boat lanterns.
The fleet has finally begun to leave the haze behind, although the mist tries vainly to cling to the boats and it still laps at those lingering in the rear. The Forbidden Forest encroaches upon the eastern shoreline, bordered by grey mist and shadow. The northern shore has come into view with the castle of Hogwarts silhouetted against the hills beyond; the immense towers rise up in stern defiance to the centuries they have weathered. Few windows break the even stone facade of the castle walls, preserving the mysteries within from prying eyes. However, those few windows are merrily lit from within those hallowed halls, revealing the welcoming warmth that can be found within, a homecoming to those who have made a long journey. Ivy and similar plants sprawl across the walls of the castle, their unruly density hinting at the senescence of the walls themselves. The breeze is still cold, nipping at the boats and rustling over the water.
The fleet has begun to pick up speed, accelerating rapidly towards the northern shore. Clear of fog, all that remains of the distant haze is what marks the barriers to the southern and eastern shores, the mist lapping on top of the water but the fleet has now broken free of its grasp. Remarkably, the boats still leave no wake to mark their passage across the water. The speed causes the brisk air to hurtle past, reducing the apparent temperature further and setting the lantern lights to flickering even more, though none of them have gone out.
Rising suddenly as through from beneath the water, the looming bulk of Hogwarts Castle blots out the evening sky and casts a dense shadow over the shoreline, broken only by the steady glow of the lights from within a large section of the building. The boats have begun to decelerate now, but are still moving rapidly as they skim towards the darkness ahead. As it grows steadily darker, the night air takes on a crisper and ever more frigid bite.
The fleet has now passed into the shadow cast by the Castle and descended into absolute darkness, evading the dancing lights that reflected from the windows above. The lantern lights, which have remained so faithful during the journey, have abruptly faded away. Only the steady flow of cold night air moving past indicates that the boats are still moving; there is no other sensation of motion.
The fleet has halted at the lakeshore just below the castle, the transition from movement to rest having occurred smoothly, but without warning. Dim reflected light illuminates a stone stairway, worn smooth with age and use, with steps rising for two metres before disappearing over the cliff top. You can now DISEMBARK.
Having made their way to the castle, Avery Fallon and the group of first years wait in the Great Hall’s antechamber.
Bonnie Kensington stands in the Waiting Room as she waits for the first years to finish their trip across the lake. Everyone in the Great Hall is well settled as the group walks in. She nods to Avery as they make their way into the room. “Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts!” She greets jovially, but without any unnatural smile. “You’re going to be sorted when we walk through that door. You’ll stand at the front of the room as the hat sings its song, then you will come up, one at a time as your name is called to be sorted. Do not fidget, make noise or otherwise be disturbing while the hat sorts the other students.” She pauses and looks over the group. “Once you are sorted, you will proceed to your house table and sit down quietly to wait for the end of the ceremony. Any questions?” She waits only a moment before smiling briefly. “Alright, follow me,” she states and turns to enter the great hall.
Gawking as he enters the Great Hall for the first time, Parker, who has been at the head of the group nearly the whole way, is falling behind and a few of the first years run into him, though he takes no notice of this. “Wow…” he whispers as the first years make their way to the front of the hall. Charlotte, too, is impressed with the grandeur of the hall, and then somewhat intimidated as she spots all of the people sitting at the tables. She sees both of her sisters sitting at different tables, but her demeanor does not seem to change as she continues on to the front of the hall.
Still so shocked and amazed at the sight of Hogwarts that she can’t even bring herself to fake propriety and her worldly manner, Danielle‘s mouth hangs open slightly and her eyes consider the ceiling, then the crowds of people at the tables, and so on. Eventually, she manages a soft, “Ohhh, it’s even better than I could have imagined.
“Let’s begin,” Bonnie states loudly, her voice sounding through the Great Hall as she pulls open a scroll which holds a list of names. “Abbott, Ida” goes first, sorted to Hufflepuff, then “Atwell, Mabel” is sorted to Gryffindor. This takes only a few minutes, then the woman calls out “Baker, Danielle.”
Shocked that she’s so close to the front of the queue, Danielle‘s mouth drops open again and she seems barely able to put one foot in front of the other. Eventually, the person behind her has to prompt her to step forward and she stumbles a few steps, before affecting a rather more dainty and careful step to the stool, placing the Sorting Hat upon her head as primly as she can manage.
Glancing to Danielle, Charlotte squeezes the girl’s hand and watches with a somewhat stressed look on her face. She glances to the tables and sees her own sisters watching with interest as the sorting gets into full swing.
Although now her shock and confusion mingles with irritation, it’s clear that of all things, Danielle wasn’t expecting that. As it shouts out her house, she removes the hat suddenly and stumbles to the Hufflepuff table as carefully as she can manage, though she’s still having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.
Two more B-names are sorted, one to Slytherin and one to Ravenclaw, then it’s “Chaffee, Viviane,” who goes to Ravenclaw. Three girls are next, two of whom are sorted to Ravenclaw and one to Hufflepuff. Then a boy is sorted to Slytherin, another boy to Gryffindor, and a girl to Gryffindor. Next up is “Mycroft, Alistair”, who is sorted to Slytherin. Five or six more students are sorted, and then “Wexler, Charlotte” is called. After a brief moment, she is sorted to Slytherin, and then “Wexler, Parker” is called forward.
Parker Wexler gasps as Charlotte gets sorted to Slytherin, gawking a bit, but before he has much time to react, it’s his own turn. The boy bounds up to the hat and pulls it down hard over his head. His ears bow out and the hat comes down to his ears as he crosses his fingers, waiting to see what the hat would do and thinking very hard that he hoped the hat wouldn’t chew on his head.
To the hat, the boy thinks: Why wouldn’t Slytherin be kind? I mean, Dad was a Gryffindor and so was Uncle Tom and Aunt Avery so that would be okay, but I mean, Slytherin would, too!
Parker Wexler gasps gleefully and runs down to the Gryffindor table, finding an open spot and bouncing into it. He beams at his housemates as he settles in at the table, pleased to know that the hat did not, in fact, chew on him, even though his parents would not tell him one way or the other.
One final student is sorted, headed Hufflepuff way, and then Bonnie nods again. “The sorting is completed,” she tells the room, rolls up the scroll deliberately, then sits down at the faculty table, breathing deeply as if in relief.
As the Sorting itself concludes, Astra rises from her seat at the faculty table and stands to face the vast hall and its many occupants. There’s a beat between her standing up and her actual address of the students, but when she does speak it is clear and calm, using the natural acoustics of the room to make herself heard rather than magical spells. Turning to nod at Avery, she smiles tightly to the woman before shooting a small smile to Bonnie. “Thank you Professor Kensington for your help with the Sorting and my gratitude to Professor Fallon for your assistance with bringing the first years safely to the school, it’s always an exciting task.” Addressing the school again, the headmistress draws herself up and continues. “I’m very glad to see you all back and hope that you’ve had a wonderful summer. For our new students, welcome to your new home. I’m sure that your fellow Housemates will help you get settled in quickly and comfortably.” Pausing to look at the many faces, some new and many familiar, she grins sharply and gives a moment before she launches on.
The mood of her tone sobers but she continues the speech with the same efficient crisp pace. After a short span, she retrieves a piece of paper. Reading off the paper, she then continues. “Prefect picks for the fifth year students are as follows.” “Congratulations to Gryffindor: Arthur Towner and Rachel Stewart. Congratulations to Ravenclaw: Tobias Garner and Geraldine Parr. Congratulations to Slytherin: Francine Rees and George Whittle.” “And congratulations to Hufflepuff: William Sanderson and Bridget Madigan.” Coughing a little, she sets down the paper and takes another drink from her goblet. “I’m sure the seventh years are excited to know who will become the Head Boy and Head Girl for this year.” Taking delight in this news, Astra purposely pauses to retrieve and sip from the goblet in her hand. Glancing over the various tables, she finishes this part of the speech with, “Congratulations are especially in order to Slytherin Prefect, Luther Anderson who is Head Boy this year and no less congratulations are in order to Gryffindor Prefect Vesta Newton who will be serving as Head Girl.” Only now does the woman allow herself a brief respite to grin widely and watch any reactions that might take place.
Once things have settled back down, Astra clears her throat. “Of course, school wouldn’t be school without a list of rules and regulations now would it? Your parents have charged us with the task of taking care of you and so we do our best to imitate them most times.” “I know you’re all thrilled over that!” The dry humor comes slowly to her, but she finally seems to be getting into the good spirits of the Sorting feast. “With that said I’m charged with telling you all that a list of banned items is posted on the Caretaker’s office door and you’d do well to familiarize yourself with it. In addition, there is to be no running in the hallways.” “Use of magic in the hallways or on the outside grounds without supervision or explicit permission by a teacher is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly.” “As usual, the Forbidden Forest is exactly that – Forbidden and trespassers will be dealt with harshly.” “Third year students and above are reminded to have their permission slips to Hogsmeade signed and ready for the first weekend. Anyone who doesn’t have this will not be allowed off school grounds.” Clearing her throat, she looks around the hall. “Returning students know how I deal with rule breakers, I trust none of you will want to come to my office?” “Don’t worry, you’ll get to eat soon, but I have a few more announcements to make.”
Waiting for about a minute to let students discuss among themselves, Astra finally holds up her hand for attention. “I have just a few more notices and reminders before we get to the pleasant task of eating.” “I am also to inform you that all greenhouses are off limits to students unless you have express permission to be there outside of class.” “Finally, there is to be absolutely no magical toys, candy, trinkets, or anything else of magical nature brought into Muggle Studies. If any of these items are found upon your person, Professor Helit will confiscate and dispose of them.” Then taking one more very brief pause she then ends, “It looks to be an exciting and vibrant new term. I sincerely hope each of you finds as much fun as you do challenges.” “Now let’s eat.”
The sorting extends for quite a while, and Parker interacts enthusiastically with his new housemates while he stuffs himself as full as possible. Eventually, the chatter dies down and the food slowly vanishes. When the prefects get up and direct the first years to follow them, Parker does so dutifully. Sleepiness begins to overpower the boy who has had what could only be called an exciting day. He follows the Gryffindor prefects out of the Great Hall and disappears on his way to his new home for seven years.
