Houses
The Great Hall was lovelier in person than described by her parents. Wren was taken in by the gold lighting as Merula dragged her along by a sleeve until they were stopped before a stool. On top of the stool was a funny-looking hat which if you squinted hard enough, there was a face.
"Rula...?" Wren whispered. "We're friends forever, no matter which house we get into, right?"
"Always," Merula confirmed, taking Wren's hand and squeezing it. "Friends forever."
Rowan, who heard, was a bit jealous but from what she saw on the train, the two knew each other from childhood. She wished she had a friend like that. She was surprised when she felt someone take her hand and looked for the owner. It was Wren.
"Friends forever, Rowan," Wren beamed as the hat stopped singing for Professor McGonagall to start calling names.
Rowan smiled back and gave a subtle nod. A warm feeling grew inside of her from the small gesture and she liked it. She had not one but two friends now.
"Rowan Khanna," Professor McGonagall called and Rowan froze up.
With a nudge from Merula and a smile from Wren, Rowan walked up to the stool and magical hat. 'Please let me be in the house as Wren.' The hat laughed and whispered something for her ears only before declaring her a Hufflepuff.
More names were called before it was Merula's turn. Like they had expected, she was Slytherin. The group of first-years without a house dwindle until it finally came to the last, Wren O'Rourke. Almost immediately, the whispering began and Wren took a step back. She looked around and met Rowan's eyes but her mind had nothing useful. It was Merula's mind that was encouraging but only because Merula knew Wren was a Legilimens.
'You are not your brother. You can never be him. Now walk up there and get your house. I will always be by your side, no matter what.' Wren nodded subtly in Merula's direction before walking towards Professor McGonagall and the Sorting Hat.
Jacob was sorted into Gryffindor and Wren knew that she didn't belong to that house. The hat seemed to understand as it looked through her mind. She tried to block it with what little skills she had in Occlumency. The Sorting Hat took that into account, realizing the young girl would become a great witch.
However, Wren loved knowledge but feared it's power. The main ambition she had was to erase Jacob's presence from Hogwarts for herself and for Avery. Underneath all of that, the Sorting Hat found the lovable joyous girl that was born to Cormac and Persephone O'Rourke.
It knew which house Wren belonged to and proudly announced it to everyone in the Great Hall, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Once the hat was off her head, Wren joined Rowan at Hufflepuff's table. She glanced over at the Slytherin's table for Merula. 'That took forever, birdbrain.' Wren smiled at Merula's teasing. It was comforting and from that, she knew she didn't have to feel guilty about not being in Slytherin.
/ - / - /
"I am Jane Court," informed the Hufflepuff prefect as she led the girls to their House. "Please be on your best behavior and try to earn as many points as you can. Your rooms have been assigned so find your name listed on the board in the common room before heading to your dorm room."
Wren noticed how the Prefect kept glancing at her. Hell, she felt a lot of people's eyes on her since her name was called. When the group came to a stop in front of a stack of barrels. The Prefect had them gathered around to see the secret password. She was about to show them when a group of Slytherin came down the stairs to the dungeon area.
"Good night, Rula," Wren beamed when she saw Merula pass.
Merula just huffed and waved Wren off as she trailed after her House members. But if one was watching closely, they would have seen Merula look back at Wren and gesture 'good night' in their secret code.
Wren watched Jane reveal the password to them and followed her House members into the common room. Being short, she knew it was useless to try to find her name on the list and waited for her Housemates to slowly disperse.
"So glad we aren't roomed up with O'Rourke," someone whispered as they walked away to find their room.
Wren gripped her hands, stopping herself from lashing out. Her parents shielded her from a lot of it and she was grateful for that. However, the dirty looks and hushed whispers hurt.
"Hey, we're together with Nymphadora Tonks, Penny Haywood, and Chiara Lobosca," Rowan informed, touching Wren's shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yea," Wren lied. "Just nervous about sleeping in a new place. Let get to our room and get ready for bed."
/ - / - /
Wren rubbed Witcher's head as she waited for the other girls to finish up in the bathroom. She had everything ready for a quick shower but wasn't ready for anyone to find out about her back. Witcher and Roux could sense Wren's apprehension.
"Wren, it's your turn," Rowan announced as she came out last.
Wren smiled nervously, "Thanks. Don't wait up."
Wren grabbed her things and walked to the bathroom. Witcher took his place in front of the closed-door while Roux had followed Wren inside. Wren sighed in relief as she started the shower. She discarded her clothes and Roux picked up after her mistress.
Wren made her hair shorter so it was easier to wash and dry. She loved her metamorphmagus abilities at times like this. She scrubbed herself clean but had Roux clean her upper back. The words etched on her skin were a constant reminder of Jacob's madness.
"Miss Wren, you should finish your shower soon," Roux advised. "You've classes in the morning."
"Thank you, Roux," Wren acknowledged. "Once I am in bed, you should go to sleep in the elves' quarters."
"As you wish, Miss Wren," Roux replied, always ready to fulfill her duties.
Wren rinsed and dried herself off. After checking the wound in the mirror, she had Roux apply the healing salve and bandage. She hissed since it stung which meant the wound had opened up but thankfully wasn't bleeding. She ignored the pain as she brushed her teeth.
All the candles except one were blown out. Wren noted it would still be difficult to navigate back to her bed due to the candle being in the drawer between her bed and Rowan's. She flinched slightly when Witcher's tail wrapped around her wrist.
"Thanks, Witcher," Wren whispered as the kneazle guided Wren to her bed.
Once settled, Wren blew the candle out. Although Roux had sleeping arrangements in the elves' quarters, she stayed beside Wren, singing her master to sleep. Witcher took post at the end of the bed by Wren's covered feet, keeping guard at all times.