Chapter 3
Bev had talked to Evie and Regulus for most of the train ride to Hogwarts. They bought food off the trolley. Bev found out that Evie was Regulus' cousins' cousin which confused her a little at first.
Once they arrived at the castle they had to sail across the black lake. That was something Bev did not want to do. It was dark out, she didn't know how to control a boat, there was apparently a giant squid in the lake.
The three had gotten into a boat with Bev in between the two. She was very tempted to tilt her head forward and lean it on Evie's shoulder but she knew not to.
Bev wasn't going to admit she was scared of the lake, she had to seem tough and intelligent. But even tough people could be scared. She was ten years old, it was a reasonable fear.
Evie could practically feel Bev shaking against her back when at some point they lurched forward. She carefully reached an arm back to hold Bev's arm. "It's okay, we're safe. If you fall in I'll help you."
Bev calmed down at the touch to her arm. She kept her eyes closed for the rest of the boat ride across the black lake. "Thank you." She mumbled. She stumbled a little once they got into the dock. She had to grab onto Regulus for support.
This action made her feel much younger than Regulus and Evie than just a year. But she was scared and tired and it was getting harder to hide every. She was still a little scared from that morning. She was scared from the boat ride, she was scared of upsetting her friends.
Bev managed to hide how much she wanted to cry after the day she had. She liked meeting Evie and Regulus but everything had finally caught up to her. She was hoping she would be in Slytherin with her new friends, not all too willing to meet even more new people.
Regulus had gotten good at reading emotions after a while. He could tell Bev was scared. He could tell she needed something consistent, some form of comfort. He gently grabbed her hand before they started walking again. "It'll be better if we stay close together." He explained, knowing lying would be easier.
Evie watched Regulus and grabbed Bev's other hand. "We don't want to get lost." She kept walking with the other two. Bev wasn't that much shorter but it still would've been more difficult to find her in the crowd than Regulus.
Bev calmed down when both her hands were being held. She slightly smiled, knowing if she spoke she would start crying. They eventually got inside and listened to McGonagall explain the houses.
Once in the great hall Regulus was one of the first to get his name called. He let go of Bev's hand after gently squeezing it. He walked up with some amount of fake confidence. He sat on the stool and could see his older brother staring at him.
Regulus wasn't surprised when he heard the hat's voice in his head. "Ravenclaw or Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Slytherin." He practically chanted in his mind. He knew his parents would still be disappointed if he got Ravenclaw but less that if he got Gryffindor or Hufflepuff.
It didn't take long for the hat to shout out Slytherin for Regulus. Bev didn't have to wait long until her name was called. She walked up hesitantly. Once on the stool the hat fell over her eyes.
"You're quite the intelligent one, Beverly. Enough to go to school before you're supposed to. Ravenclaw would be good for you. But you do not want that. You're scared of being like you're father if you go into his house. Perhaps Slytherin like your mother. She was certainly a struggle to place. I believe you take after her."
Bev listened to the hat, a little freaked out by what it knew about her. After about five minutes of the hat talking it shouted Slytherin. She ran over to Regulus, almost tucking herself under his arm. She calmed down a little once Regulus hugged her.
They sat and watched people get sorted. A blonde girl into ravenclaw, a curly haired girl and her best friend in ravenclaw as well. Finally it was Evie's turn. They watched, both hoping she would be joining them. After only a minute she walked over and was pulled close by Regulus.