Welcome to Hogwarts
Wanda wrung her hands so tightly that her fingers were starting to turn red, not just from the hot pulses of her power, but from rubbing themselves raw. She was so overwhelmed with fear and excitement that it was all she could do to keep her energies at a faint glow, though they were demanding to be let loose in glorious scarlet blazes. The only thing really keeping her from exploding was the comforting arm her brother had wrapped around her waist and wave of soothing blue feelings he kept sending her way.
“Pietro Maximoff!” The old woman in the green velvet robe called loudly. Wanda was so nervous she had already forgotten the lady’s name.
Good luck, she thought to her twin as he left her side to quickly dash up the dais. The tattered brown hat barely touched the crown of his head before declaring, “Gryffindor!” Wanda clapped furiously even though she had no idea if that was something worth clapping for. Her brother was grinning ear-to-ear and that’s all that mattered. However, her sympathetic joy was short lived when the woman called her name next. Hundreds of eyes looked to her as she hesitantly made her way to the stool, keeping her eyes down and her hands clenched tight, praying to God no one could see the manifestations of her powers. She could feel the magic oozing out of the hat, reaching for her mind before she even took a seat, and she wished more than anything that she could hold Pietro’s hand. There was no hiding anything from that dusty old thing; she could hear it musing about her from three steps away.
You are very special, aren’t you, Wanda? it nearly hummed when she finally sat down.
Please, she begged and closed her eyes. Just put me with my brother, I don’t care about anything else.
The hat seethed with disagreement.
My dear, Gryffindor is the last house I would choose for you. Ravenclaw or Slytherin would open great doors for-
I don’t care! she nearly screamed in her head, feeling the crimson energy writhe up and down her arms. A couple kids in the front row gasped loudly and started whispering amongst each other. Put me with my brother!
The hat paused and stayed silent for several moments. For a second, Wanda was terrified that she had somehow damaged it.
You have known great pain and great fear in your life, Wanda Maximoff, and it has shaped you. You have the self-preservation and the fraternity of a Slytherin, the wisdom and individuality of a Ravenclaw, and the dedication and loyalty of a Hufflepuff. But your heart is also tied to his, and if that is what you truly want-
“Gryffindor!”
Thank you.
She let out one of the deepest sighs of relief in her life and immediately sprinted down the stairs to Pietro, who caught her in a tight embrace. She gave all of her attention to his ecstatic smile, and did her best to block out the horrified and curious stares of those who has witnessed her accidental display.
“Look at this food! I want to eat it all and get big as a house,” Pietro said enthusiastically in his broken English.
Wanda only nodded and smiled. She knew her English was better than his, but was still too terrified to say any more than she had to. The other kids were already either laughing at her or scared of her; the last thing she needed was to give them something else to jeer about. She and Pietro were just about to settle down in their seats at the Gryffindor table when two older boys blocked their way, one with dark hair wearing a blue tie, the other blond wearing a red tie.
“That was quite the show up there, Scarlet,” the slim brunette commented nonchalantly. “Potter didn’t even show that kind of power his first year. Impressive stuff you got going on, kid.”
“Don’t be rudely blunt, Tony,” the other young man scolded and extended a hand to the twins. “Wanda and Pietro, right? I’m Steve Rogers, head boy of Gryffindor, and this clown is Tony Stark. We’re both 5th years. Would you like to come sit with us?”
The twins exchanged glances.
We should keep to ourselves, Pietro. We don’t know what it’s like here.
Relax, Wanda. We have nothing to hide in this place. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could finally have friends?
“Absolutely!” he said enthusiastically before his sister had time to respond.
“I like your spunk, kiddo,” Tony smirked, and Wanda could not tell if he was being sincere or sardonic. She could easily probe his mind to find out, but the last thing she wanted was to ruin something for Pietro.
The two boys led them to the back of a table over on the Hufflepuff side where five other kids were sitting, all wearing different colored ties and robes. One of them waved at Steve and the others quickly turned their attention to follow suit. Wanda felt uncomfortable to once more be under the weight of judging eyes, but not of them seemed afraid of her, simply… intrigued or… indifferent.
“Guys, this is Wanda and Pietro, some new Gryffindors,” Steve announced, then pointed to each of the other kids in turn. “Over on the edge is Bruce Banner, he’s top of his class in Ravenclaw. Clint Barton is a keeper for the Hufflepuff quidditch team, and Thor Odinson is a beater for Gryffindor. Loki is president of the astronomy club, and Natasha… do you actually do anything Nat?”
The redheaded girl sitting next to the Hufflepuff stuffing his face flashed a coy buy sinister grin.
“Nothing you need to know about, Rogers,” she said playfully before turning her attention to Wanda and Pietro. “Have a seat, kids, we don’t bite. Take a plate if Hawkeye hasn’t eaten everything by then.”
“Get off my case, Tasha, I’m starving! By the way, nice light show, Wanda. I’ve never heard of having someone so young having that much magical ability. You’ve got a lot of potential; make sure it doesn’t go to waste.”
“He’s right,” Banner chimed in. “You have an incredible gift.”
Pietro was already digging in, but Wanda could only gape. These people, these children, were not afraid of her power. They welcomed it. They embraced it in a way only her brother ever had. All their lives, she and her brother had been ostracized or hunted for their abilities, but Pietro was right. They had nothing to hide in this place.
“Ugh, Dumbledore still hasn’t installed wifi in the great hall,” Tony groaned, fiddling with a cellphone. “I can’t wait to get out of this ancient black hole and back to civilized technology.”
“Give it a break, Tony,” Steve laughed. “Actually talk and have fun and enjoy a meal like a regular human being.”
Tony responded with a long, frustrated growl and the group laughed. Pietro laughed. Wanda laughed. While the rest of the students around her chatted and ate, she simply leaned back, closed her eyes, and opened her mind to the flow of emotions around her. The honest warmth and soft absence of animosity wrapped around her like a well-loved quilt and for the first time in a long time, she felt safe and she felt home. They were finally in a place where she and her brother could finally, for the first time, feel wanted. As if Steve could sense everything she was feeling, he clasped a steady hand on her shoulder.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Wanda."