The House of Vitale
"It's here!" Athena's mother ran into her room, waving the letter in her hand like a flag. "It's here!"
Helena Vitale was seen as a cold and ruthless Death Eater by everyone but her daughter. They shared the same honey-colored hair and eyes and there was no one that Helena loved more.
"It's here?" Athena darted out of bed, her eyes wide with excitement.
"It's here!"
"It's here!" The duo grabbed each other's arms and began dancing. "I'm going to Hogwarts!"
"You're going to Hogwarts!"
Helena waved her wand and a tray with heaps of pancakes, ice cream, and popcorn appeared on Athena's bed. Her birthday was the one day a year when her mother did whatever she wanted. Even giving her a mix of foods that should never be mixed together.
"I can't believe you're eleven years old already. It seems like just yesterday you were a tiny baby in my arms and your father-" Helena trailed off, the same way she always did when Finn was mentioned. "Well, anyways, you're so big now. Soon you'll be graduating, working with me, meeting someone, having heaps of kids..."
"Mum," Athena warned, "You just skipped like a billion years into the future. The only thing I care about now is getting into Slytherin."
"Oh, pish-posh. There's no way you won't get into Slytherin. It's in your blood. We better go to Diagon Alley to get your books soon." Helena paused. "I should probably write to Walburga. You and Sirius can go shopping together."
Sirius Black was the son of Helena's closest friend. A true shame because he was the worst human to ever exist. He set fire to Athena's things and she's hated him ever since, even though their mothers seem to think that they're soulmates.
"I would rather get eaten alive by ants," Athena stated fiercely.
"You say that now, Athena. Wait until you fall in love with him when you spend practically every waking moment together at Hogwarts."
"Ugh. Is it too late to reject Hogwarts' offer?"
>>>
Athena snuck her owl a piece of bacon and Snowy snacked on it the entire way to the train station. Which would have been a lot shorter if Helena hadn't insisted on them riding their brooms for one last time.
When they got to King's Cross, Helena immediately summoned a trolley for Athena's luggage.
"Now, darling, remember, I'll write to you every day. And the other Slytherins may be absolute arses but they are extremely loyal so once you make your friends, they will stick with you for the rest of your life."
"Yes, mom."
"And remember, I love you. No matter what."
"Even if I get into Gryffindor?" Athena joked.
Helena laughed, "Except if you get into Gryffindor."
The station was pretty quiet, so it was easy to walk into the wall at Platform 9¾ without being spotted. The platform was a lot busier compared to the rest of the station and Athena could barely hear her mom listing out reminders.
Helena nodded at her daughter. She hated showing any kind of affection in public and Athena was used to it.
"Helena!" Walburga Black walked towards them with her son trailing after, a scowl on his face. The mothers immediately began chatting leaving their kids to stand awkwardly.
"Sirius." She inclined her head in greeting and he did the same.
"Athena."
She began picturing Hogwarts and how nice it would be to talk to people her own age that weren't Sirius or Regulus Black.
"Well, look at the time. The two of you better get on that train now if you don't want to be late."
"Yes, mother." Athena turned away from Sirius and boarded the Hogwarts Express for the very first time.
Being on the train was frightening. There were so many people much bigger than her bustling about and Athena stuck herself to wall to avoid being trampled over. She wandered slowly, peering into each compartment to see if she could spot any other first years.
The first one she saw was already full and the next one had a crying boy in it.
The last compartment had a small girl with bright red hair in it. She was sitting next to a boy with dark skin and glasses. Athena opened the door.
"Hello. Can I sit here?" The red-head nodded.
"I'm James, by the way. James Potter. This is Lily Evans." James pointed at himself and then Lily.
Athena couldn't remember any wizarding family with the name Evans but she vaguely recalled the Potters. "I'm Athena Vitale."
"Are you Greek by any chance?" Lily asked.
"What?"
"It's just that- Athena is a Greek name. After the Goddess of wisdom and warcraft."
"Oh. No, I'm not. I suppose my dad might have liked Greek mythology. I'm not really sure though."
"Why wouldn't you be? What happened to your dad?" Athena shifted uncomfortably but was saved from answering when the compartment door was flung open.
"Is there a seat free?" Sirius Black asked. He grinned at Athena when she glared at him and sat right next to her. Athena moved as far away from him as possible.
"Yeah," Lily stated, forgetting about her questions.
"I'm Sirius."
"About what?" James asked.
"No- I'm not serious. Sirius is my name. Sirius Black."
"Oh," James nodded. "I'm James. That's Lily and that's Athena."
"I know Athena," Sirius drapped an arm around her. "She's been in love with me for her entire life."
Lily raised her eyebrows and Athena's face flushed as she shrugged out from under his arm. "No! That's not true. He's an arrogant, pompous arse."
James nodded and reached into his bag, pulling out a packet of licorice wands. "Want one?"
Sirius and Athena took one each but Lily refused.
"Do y'a guys like Quidditch?" James asked, biting into the top of a wand.
"Of course. I rode a broom to the station."
She began talking sports with James while Lily looked out the window and Sirius tried to annoy her by poking her in the sides.
"Hey, is she okay?" Athena jerked her head towards Lily. The redhead's cheeks were streaked with tears and she was sobbing silently.
Lily looked up at them and opened her mouth to say something when the cabin door opened again. "Severus!"
"There you are!" Severus Snape stepped into the cabin. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Athena made a face and James made a gagging sound as Snape stepped over their bags to sit next to Lily, forcing James away from her.
"Are you alright?" He wiped a tear from Lily's cheeks.
James made a kissy face at them and Athena snickered.
"I just miss everyone. And Tuney hates me! She called me a freak and a whole other bunch of lewd names. She tried throwing my letter in the fireplace but Mum caught her and she got grounded which made her so much worse."
"She's just jealous." Snape encouraged. "Well, at least if you're in Slytherin, you'll still have me!"
"Ew- who wants to be in Slytherin?" James joked. He looked at Athena and Sirius. "I think if I got into Slytherin, I'd just about off myself. Wouldn't you?"
Neither of them smiled back. "Just about everyone in our families have been Slytherins." Athena stated and James' smile fell.
"Jeez, just when I thought you might be alright."
"Well, what house would you rather be in?" Sirius asked.
"Gryffindor." James said that like it was obvious. "It's the best house."
"If you'd rather choose brawns over brains-" Snape began when Sirius interrupted him.
"I wonder where'd you go considering you've got neither."
James laughed and Athena snorted despite herself. Sirius looked incredibly proud of himself for coming up with that.
"Probably be stuck with Hufflepuff." James responded.
"He'd probably be sent on the train back!" Athena laughted, "He'd reach there and then Dumbledore will say that they've made a mistake and the letter was supposed to go to literally anyone else."
Sirius roared with laughter and tears began leaking out of his eyes. Lily jumped to her feet and glared at all of them simultaneously which probably was hard considering they were all in different corners of the cabin.
"Come on, Severus. Let's find another compartment. Perhaps one with people who have manners."
"Oooo-oooh," Sirius grinned mockingly at Severus as Lily grabbed his hand and dragged him to the door. "See ya, Snivellus!"
Athena burst into laughter as Snape flushed. "Come on, Lily. I think I saw my cousin, Lucius Malfoy, a few compartments ahead. He's a prefect. I tell him what's going on and he'll come punish them like they deserve."
>>>
"Got room for two?"
Athena opened her eyes to see two boys standing at the opening to the compartment. The one who spoke was tall and had brown hair a few shades darker than her own. The other one was significantly shorter with blonde hair. She realised that she had been sleeping on Sirius and immediately straightened, wiping the drool that had just started to form.
"Yeah, sure."
"I'm Remus Lupin and that's Peter Pettigrew."
"I'm Sirius Black, he's James Potter, and that's my better half, Athena Vitale soon-to-be Black." Athena scowled and shoved Sirius who laughed.
"Wait, Remus Lupin? Lyall Lupin's son? The one who wrote the Werewolf Restriction Act?" Athena asked.
Remus nodded slowly.
The compartment door opened again and a girl walked in. She smiled at them. "Been told to tell everyone to put on their robes. We're almost at Hogwarts."
"Hullo, Andy." Sirius called to Andromeda. "You got Prefect?"
"Yeah! I bet I'll get Head Girl next year too. I gotta go tell the other compartments about the robes. See you at school!"
They all turned around to face different areas of the cabin to put on their robes. They had just settled back into their seats when the train shuddered, coming to a halt.
Athena smiled, her heart beating wildly in excitement. She was going to Hogwarts.
"Where are we supposed to go?" Peter asked. They had just got off the train and there were students running in all directions.
"Not sure."
"Firs years!" A voice bellowed. "Firs' years over here!"
"There!" Remus pointed towards a giant-like man who toward over the group of first years around him. He led the way, pushing through the crowd of students and they all followed him.
"Me name's Hagrid. I'm the groundskeeper at Hogwarts." He said more stuff that Athena didn't hear because Sirius decided that that was the best time to talk to her.
"Mum said he's gone a bit wonkers. Tried to shoot a boy with an umbrella."
They were at Hogwarts before they knew it, though the boat ride seemed to go on forever. Especially in the choppy waters.
"I'm so bloody nervous." Peter whispered staring at the huge castle.
"Me two." Athena whispered, putting an arm over his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, though. Snape's the only one who'll be sent back."
She turned around at a loud huff to see Lily glaring daggers at her. "Just ignore them, Sev. That entire group is full of prats."
"I didn't even say anything this time!" James protested.
"You didn't have to!"
"Whatever house I get, I hope it's not hers." Athena groaned. "Imagine rooming with her set of crazy."
They followed Hagrid into the castle, through a narrow hallway, past a set of knight mannequins, up a long staircase until they reached a waiting room.
The door opened to a witch with brown hair that tied off in a braid. "My name is Minerva McGonagall. I'm here to bring you all to the Sorting Ceremony. Your name will be called in a randomised order and you will come up onto the podium. You'll wear the Sorting Hat and go into whatever House it tells you to go to." She turned around and walked through the doors. The first years looked at each other nervously before following her in a straight line.
"I heard it can read your mind," James whispered.
"My brother said it tells everyone your worst fears before sorting you," another student responded.
McGonagall led them to the centre of the Hall and placed a hat onto a three-legged stool. It looked like just an ordinary hat until a line split it horizontally and it began singing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your black,
Your sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in ,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in ,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old ,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
McGonagall read names off a scroll and one-by-one, the first years walked onto the stage. Athena was the first one to be called from the people she had talked to on the train.
"Vitale, Athena!"
There was a small cheer from the Slytherin table as she sat on the chair. Everything seemed rather scary. Hundreds of students turned to look at her. Waiting.
Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
She heard a voice whispering.
Athena Vitale. Now, where, oh, where, should you go? Are you brave or sly? Are you smart or kind? What to decide, what to decide?
Athena wasn't sure if she should actually reply or not so she kept quiet.
Definitely not nice enough for Hufflepuff. Smart but not the kind needed for the Ravenclaws. That just leaves Gryffindor and Slytherin. Which one, which one?
The Hat took a deep breathe, before bellowing an answer out to the entire hall.
"GRYFFINDOR!"