2
Anna was ushered away from her brother and his girlfriend; they waved to her and joined the older students. Anna boarded the boats with the other first-year students. She stayed quiet, peering into the inky depths of the lake. Annie was accompanied by three boys and another girl, none of whom the young witch recognised.
“Careful, there’s mermaids in here,” The other girl warned.
Anna turned around quickly, causing her wavy, brunette hair to whip her in the face. The other girl had long, wavy platinum blonde hair and silver eyes. The two girls stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.
“What?” Anna’s voice came out as a whisper.
“Pandora means there’s mermaids in the lake,” One of the boys repeated.
So the blonde girl was named Pandora. Anna nodded slowly and looked over the edge of the boat. Sure enough, Longbottom swore she saw long shadows below the inky surface.
“Huh,” Anna murmured.
She could see the reflection of the cosmic heavens above. Frankie had told stories of Hogwarts and the stars. He told of the Great Hall ceiling being a mirror of the sky, to make it seem like no ceiling even existed for the hall. Frank had told of the Astronomy Tower and how it felt like you could reach out and grab any star you wanted when you were there. Anna took a deep breath; Frank and Alice could help guide her, just as the older students of her house could.
The group of five first years were quiet, letting the realisation kick in for each other. They’re at Hogwarts now. Anna gazed at the towers and spires as they reached for the starry sky like fingers longing to hold the sky.
“What's your name?” The sand blond-haired boy asked, breaking the silence.
“Me?” Anna questioned, getting three nods back.
“Oh. I'm Anna… Longbottom,” Anna introduced, panicked thoughts plaguing her head.
Thoughts of the group using her blood status as a way to hate her. Frank, Mum, and Dad had been talking about rising tensions late one night just weeks ago when they thought Anna was fast asleep in her bed.
“Longbottom? That's cool, we're all from the Sacred Twenty-eight!” The boy from earlier exclaimed. He had brown hair and hazel-green eyes.
Anna gave a small smile, she had never met other children her age from the twenty-eight families. She knew there were some but Augusta had fought tooth and nail with her father over keeping Anna away from the parties until she was a little older. And now, the other children she barely knew, were about to become her classmates and hopefully long-term friends.
The boats glided smoothly against the shoreline, and as they docked, the first-year students disembarked one by one. A lone, tall woman stood waiting for them, her hands clasped behind her back, her demeanour poised and commanding.
"Hello, everyone. I am Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, but you will address me as Professor McGonagall," she announced, her voice carrying authority and warmth. "I will be teaching Transfiguration. Now, follow me. We can't keep the Headmaster and everyone else waiting."
With that, Professor McGonagall led the group of first-year students with elegant strides, guiding them towards the courtyard and the imposing front doors of Hogwarts Castle. As they followed her, a sense of anticipation and excitement filled the air, mingled with a touch of nervousness at the prospect of meeting the Headmaster and beginning their magical education at Hogwarts. Anna looked around, hazel eyes flitting between the other 11-year-old wixen. These were her classmates now. She would have classmates she would learn with. Anna wouldn't have just her brother and his girlfriend trying to teach her what they remembered.
The group of eleven-year-olds followed through the corridor, Anna hearing McGonagall saying something about the large doors they passed being the ones to the Great Hall. The children and professor stood in a small room.
"I will be back for you all briefly," With that, McGonagall left the starstruck and confused group of eleven-year-olds alone in the room.
Eventually, McGonagall led the children to the Great Hall. Anna looked around at the tables of older kids, hoping to see Frank and Alice. Before the group of children, sat at the professors' table with Dumbledore and McGonagall in front of it.
"When I call your name, I want you to come and sit on the stool to be sorted into your future house. There are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin," McGonagall announced.
The group of first-years nodded and the sorting began. Anna felt her nerves tingle with excitement like they had when she and her father went through the wall at King's Crossing.
"Next, Black, Regulus," The hall went quiet, whispers spreading like wildfire.
Anna watched as one of the boys from the boat with her, walked up. He had inky black hair and milky skin. When he turned around, she noticed his grey eyes, staring right at her and the others from the boat.
"Slytherin!" The hat called, causing the boy to give a relieved smile before joining the cheering table.
On the other end of the hall were frustrated whispers. Near where Alice and Frank sat, a boy, that looked like a slightly older version of Regulus, was muttering to his friends. Either they were brothers or closely related in some way. Anna looked back up as McGonagall continued calling the students' names.
With a while to go from ‘B’ to ‘L,’ Anna let her mind wander about her placement. She wondered if her family would feel hurt by her joining a house that wasn't Gryffindor. Frank had said it wouldn't matter but she had seen the way Regulus got treated by his relative for joining Slytherin.
"Longbottom, Anna!"
Anna shuffled up to the stool mindlessly. She felt a surge of nervous excitement course through her veins. All around her, her fellow first-years watched with bated breath as she approached the stool, her mind racing with anticipation.
She glanced up at the four house tables, each representing a different set of values and qualities. Slytherin was known for its cunning and ambitious nature. Gryffindor, the house her family had been in, was celebrated for their courage and bravery. Hufflepuff, where students were valued for their loyalty and dedication. And Ravenclaw, renowned for their studiousness and intellectual nature.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Anna sat on the stool, her heart pounding in her chest. As Anna approached the stool, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The Sorting Hat awaited her, its weathered brim twitching slightly as if eager to begin its task.
"Ah, another Longbottom," the Sorting Hat mused as it settled onto Anna's head. "A family with quite a legacy, I must say. I've been waiting to sort you."
Anna swallowed nervously, her heart pounding in her chest. Of course! Her brother was on his way to becoming an Auror after he graduated from Hogwarts. Mr and Mrs Longbottom were highly active in the Pureblood society, even though they never enforced pureblood supremacy in either child.
"Yes, sir," she replied tentatively, unsure of what to expect. The Sorting Hat chuckled softly.
"No need to be so formal, my dear. Now, let's see... Longbottom, Longbottom... ah, yes, I see the potential for greatness in you, Anna Longbottom."
"Thank you," Anna murmured, feeling a surge of pride at the Sorting Hat's words.
"But where to place you?" the Sorting Hat continued, its voice growing thoughtful. "Slytherin, perhaps? Ambitious and cunning, with a thirst for greatness. Or maybe Ravenclaw, where your sharp mind and thirst for knowledge would be celebrated."
Anna bit her lip, feeling torn. "But what about Gryffindor?" she interjected, "My family has always been in Gryffindor. They value bravery and courage above all else."
The Sorting Hat hummed thoughtfully, seeming to consider her words. "Yes, Gryffindor is certainly a possibility. But there's also Hufflepuff to consider. Loyalty and dedication are admirable traits, after all."
Anna sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the Hat's deliberations.
"I just don't know where I belong," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
The Sorting Hat fell silent for a moment as if lost in deep contemplation.
Whispers began to circulate among the students as Alice and Frank exchanged concerned glances. Anna had been under the Sorting Hat for nearly five minutes now, and she still hadn't been sorted. The anticipation in the Great Hall was palpable as everyone waited to see where Anna would be placed.
"Frank, that's your little sister, correct?" James Potter, a second-year student, inquired, noting the family resemblance between Frank and Anna.
Frank nodded in confirmation, his brow furrowing with worry as he watched his sister anxiously.
"Is Annie going to be what I think she'll be, Frankie?" Alice whispered, implying what Frank was already thinking. Frank sighed heavily, his gaze never leaving Anna's figure on the stool.
"She's got another minute or so until she becomes a Hatstall," he murmured, his words heavy with serendipity.
As the seconds ticked by, the tension in the Great Hall reached a fever pitch. All eyes were fixed on Anna, waiting with bated breath to see where the Sorting Hat would ultimately place her.
"You possess qualities from each house, Anna Longbottom," the Sorting Hat finally said. "But the one trait that stands out above all others, is bravery. Yes, I believe Gryffindor is the house for you."
The Sorting Hat's decision caused the young witch's heart to flutter.
"Gryffindor?" she repeated, feeling a rush of emotions flood.
"Yes, Gryffindor," the Sorting Hat confirmed. "Bravery comes in many forms, little witch. And I believe you have what it takes to be a true... Gryffindor!"
With a sense of relief and excitement, Anna rose from the stool, her own relieved smile spreading across her face as she joined her new housemates at the Gryffindor table. Frank and Alice separated, allowing the first year between them.
Frank and Alice praised her for being a near Hatstall before becoming a Gryffindor just like them. She smiled, comfortable in her house already, with her big brother and his girlfriend beside her every step of the way. Anna watched as Pandora got placed in Ravenclaw after her lengthy moment under the hat. The other two boys, Evan and Barty Jr. as she learned, were placed in Slytherin. With them, a beautiful dark-skinned girl with multiple little braids named Dorcas Meadowes was sorted into Slytherin.
Shortly after the last student was sorted, Dumbledore flicked his wand and floating candles flickered to life.
"Did you see the roof, it's just like I described to you, isn't it?" Frank whispered before shoving his fork of food in his mouth.
Anna looked up. Sure enough, the roof looked just like the sky. Anna's eyes glimmered as she observed the starry ceiling. Alice giggled softly at the first-year's starstruck excitement.
"It is just like you said, Frankie!" Anna whispered in hushed excitement, causing Frank and Alice to giggle.
As the floating candles cast a warm glow over the room and the celestial ceiling above, Anna felt a sense of wonder and excitement wash over her. She knew that Hogwarts was full of magical wonders, but experiencing them firsthand was something else entirely. And as she savoured the moment with her brother and new friends, Anna couldn't help but feel grateful for the adventure ahead.
Anna caught sight of a shooting star flying from one end of the ceiling to the other. A sign of new hope and major changes.
Regulus's expression soured as he glanced across the Great Hall, spotting his brother Sirius engaged in laughter with two purebloods and a half-blood. The term 'blood traitors' flashed through his mind, a bitter reminder of the family's staunch beliefs.
Throughout the summer, Sirius had shielded him from their mother's tirades, providing a sense of protection and support that Regulus had desperately needed. Yet now, as they found themselves within the safety of Hogwarts once more, Sirius seemed to have forgotten their bond entirely, immersing himself in the company of others without a second thought for his younger brother.
A sense of betrayal gnawed at Regulus's heart as he watched from afar, feeling the weight of his brother's abandonment keenly. Despite Sirius's previous acts of protection, it seemed that familial loyalty held little sway in the face of social acceptance and peer approval. As Regulus grappled with this newfound realisation, a sense of loneliness settled over him, leaving him to confront the harsh truth of his brother's priorities.
Barty and Evan sat around him chatting with a second year with a hooked nose, Severus Snape, as the Black family spare had later learned. Meanwhile, Dorcas was animatedly discussing her hopes for the upcoming classes, her enthusiasm evident in her gestures and expressions. On the other hand, Pandora remained quiet, her attention focused solely on her dinner. She seemed content to observe the interactions around her, only speaking when directly addressed by one of the surrounding students.