Chapter 3
Isabelle was kind of ticked off that her brother had forced her to go off on her own. She grumpily went and sat herself down in an empty carriage at the very front of the cabin, and sulked. She didn’t understand why Caleb couldn’t have just brought her along with him for a few hours, until they got to Hogwarts at least. She sighed and pulled out the bag of letters from her bag, Isabella started to take them out. One by one, she opened them and read the contents inside.
Isabella,
when you get to Hogwarts you must promise to write to me, Sirius said he would, but knowing mother she’ll never allow him to since he'd “influence” me with any talk of Hogwarts.
Kind Regards,
R.A.B
Bella frowned slightly at the mention of Sirius. She had always looked up to her cousin, even if they were the same age. Sirius had a spark in him that Isabella could never match. She knew that her Aunt Walburga was way worse than her mother would ever be, but for some reason she had always felt as if the Black family had some sorts of bond with how they were raised. They all felt the same way in the end, fearful of upsetting their long line of pretentious relatives and ruining whatever it was that they worked so hard to achieve in the Wizarding community.
However, she was quickly pulled out of her thoughts when a young blonde girl pulled open the compartment door, two other students behind her and asked shyly if they could join her.
Isabella gave them each all a quick up-down before allowing them into the compartment with a stiff nod. The girl, behind the blonde has the brightest red hair Bella had ever seen. “Hello, my name is Lily. Lily Evans” she introduced herself, sitting down and smiling politely. She looked as if she had been crying, but Bella assumed that it was probably normal if she was a fellow first year saying goodbye to her parents.
“Isabella MacMillan” she offered out, before turning to look at the boy that had been with them. He had long black hair that looked like it hadn’t been washed in a few days, with beady brown eyes and a long slightly crooked nose. He looked like he was a right tosser.
“Snape. Severus.” He slurred at once, even the way he spoke was annoying Bella thought. “MacMillan? Sacred Twenty-Eight” he spoke matter-of-factly as if he had just finished studying the subject yesterday.
“Yeah, that’s right. Wizarding World's top toff at your service.” She said sarcastically before rolling her eyes. She didn’t like this guy, already talking about blood purity.
“Snape. Haven’t heard of it. Must be a Half-Blood.” She said, before turning back to the blonde who opened the door. “Your name is? I never quite caught it before.”She said, trying to ignore Severus’ annoying grunts of disapproval in the background. Whatever he was on about the weirdo.
“Marlene McKinnon.” The girl said sweetly, trying to find a good place to sit down, that wasn’t next to the slimy git in the corner. “My brother plays for the Cannons. You have heard of them i’m sure.” She offered up again, when Isabella wracked her brain on if she recognized the name or not.
“He’s not that good.” Snape throughout dryly. She really didn’t understand the boy's problem, “First I rescue Lily from talking to some filthy muggle born, and then we end up here, with you lot. I mean MacMillan I’m sure you’re alright. I’m sure we will be in Slytherin together, But McKinnon?” he ranted on, sighing heavily before the door slid back once more, another couple of people standing there.
The first boy was tall, taller than Snape was for sure. She didn’t recognize him at first, but after a few moments of studying his face, she came to realize she’d met him before. “Calix Mulciber?” she offered out, tilting her head slightly, looking confused, before realizing she knew the lot of them. Her cousin was among the newcomers, Corvus Black, as-well as the Avery boy Charles.
“Hello MacMillan!” Calix said cheerfully before sitting down next to Snape, not even bothering to ask if they could join them. “Everywhere else is full so you lot will have to just deal with it.” He said shrugging his shoulder before gesturing the other boys into the compartments.
“Hey little one.” Corvus said, before reaching over and pulling her into a hug. He was a year older than them, and she hadn’t seen him for over a year now.
“Family Dinners still exist you know, be nice if you actually showed up one of these days. Cj is boring.” He laughed, before letting her up for air. Corvus had already been dressed in his robes, green and silver decorating the sides and a big green snake on the front. Slytherin robes.
“I won’t be in Slytherin you know Cor” she said suddenly, wanting to make sure her cousin understood that and didn’t want to make things harder when she doesn’t get sorted into Slytherin although the idea of Corvus hating her made her feel very sad, He had always been her favorite though she’d never admit that. “Mum suspects Hufflepuff because I’m useless.” She laughed out, slightly more bitter than she intended.
Corvus frowned, thin lines appearing on his forehead as his brain began to register what she had just told him. “I know.” Was all he said before clearing his throat and turning his head towards the other people in the room, she had clearly forgotten about. “Who wants to play a game of Exploding Snap then?” and with this she saw the red head, Lily perks up, looking slightly frightened.
After a few hours, she decided to finally go and change into her robes, she was fairly sure she was dreaming still. The view from the train was absolutely magnificent. There was a massive lake, besides a gigantic stone castle. She could hear students around them all yelling and pointing at the castle before she heard a loud voice yell, “Alright then, of yer lot get. First ‘ears follow me!”
After a very long, and exhausting boat ride, she was standing in an enormous stone hall, the size of a football field. It was full of students, all dressed in identical black robes – the only difference was the colours of the ties, and the badges on the front. The hall was lit by candles. Not just any candles though – these candles were actually floating above them. A cool enchantment spell causing the ceiling of the hall to be reflecting the night sky and all of the other students sat on long banquet tables, under their house banners.
When she finally came back to the moment, she noticed that no one else seemed interested, besides for Lily bit she just seemed like a curious girl —being muggle born and all.
Professor McGonagall, the thin, stern-faced witch who had led all of the first years into the hall was now standing beside a stool, holding a musty old brown hat.
The first boy called was Charles Avery, the boy from the train compartment earlier. The hat was placed on his head, covering the top half of his face. Isabella couldn’t help but wonder what her parents would think if she actually did get sorted into Hufflepuff. Her mother always sneered at the idea of her being anywhere BUT Slytherin, but she said she would have even taken Ravenclaw if she wasn’t so dim-witted.
Charles was promptly sorted into Slytherin, to tumultuous applause. He grinned before hopping off the stool and going to sit with the rowdy table.
Sirius was the first of their family to end up having to go, because he was a Black and it was in alphabetical order. She bit her lip slightly as she watched her cousin walk up to the stool, his hands shaking ever so slightly. She could hear her cousins from the Slytherin table – as well as some of the older students calling out to him. The hall became extremely quiet for a few moments as the hat came to rest on Sirius’ head.
After what seemed like an eternity, the hat finally screeched out,
“Gryffindor!”
There were a few moments of stunned silence before the clapping came this time. McGonagall gently lifted the hat from Sirius’ head and gave him a small, rare smile. He looked completely horrified, casting a desperate look at the Slytherin table, where their cousins, including Corvus were now not so quietly cussing him out, and glaring in his direction. Bloody Hell she thought, giving her own glare back at them, making eye contact with Corvus for a moment before he looked away.
Lily was next, who was also sorted into Gryffindor, alongside Marlene McKinnon. Snape had been sorted into Slytherin, which got less of an applause than she had expected. Half-Bloods we’re just as well not liked as Muggle Borns, and she thought that ought you show him for his judgmental behaviour earlier on the train.
As the list got shorter and shorter, she was beginning to become more anxious. She watched McGonagall closely as she began to read off the next name, “Caleb MacMillan” she watched her brother closely as he made his way to the stool, his head held high. He couldn’t get sorted into anywhere other than Slytherin, not with the heat on Sirius right now. They couldn’t get thrown into that mess, not right now. Their mother would hunt them both down and kill them if they messed things up right now. She made that clear.
“Gryffindor!” The hat yelled out once again, causing a very uneasy sound of silence in the hall before the clapping started again. It all happened so quick she barely had time to process her brother’s sorting. Caleb walked past her quickly and sat down next to Sirius at the Gryffindor table. This is not good Isabella thought bitterly before being snapped out of her thoughts with her own name, “Isabella MacMillan!”
Bella managed to control herself as she walked up to the stool and sat down on it, very nervously. Not Gryffindor. She thought to herself. Please don’t let it be Gryffindor. Mother can’t handle us both. The hat suddenly was speaking in her mind, “Lots of courage, I can see that. However, you’re Loyal and kind. Your wisdom is far beyond your years, yet you are also cunning... where to put you when you fit all four houses so equally.” Not Gryffindor. She thought again. I’ll go anywhere but there.
“Ravenclaw!” the hat yelled out, and Isabella barely managed to pull the hat off her head before she was being pushed in the direction of the roaring table of blue and silver. She glanced over at her brother, who was clapping along with everyone else. He didn’t seem upset, but after glancing at the Slytherin table, she saw the look in Corvus’ eyes. He was.