A Smelly Old Hat
The train was once again rumbling along, the lights were back on. Lupin was right in front of her holding a chocolate bar.
“This will help you feel better,” he said.
Immediately upon biting it she felt a warmth emanate throughout her.
“What happened,” said Harry, “I heard someone screaming,”
“No one was screaming mate,” said Ron
“I heard screaming as well,” said Meissa, “it was so cold, what was that thing,”
“That was a dementor, the guardians of Azkaban, no doubt here to search for Sirius Black,” said Lupin.
All the compartment’s occupants had shock written over their faces.
“Excuse me now for a moment, I need to speak to the driver,” said Lupin.
The final preparations were made for arrival. The compartment was relatively clean other then some chocolate frog wrappers. Soon enough they were pulling into Hogsmeade station. Lupin had reappeared and directed Meissa towards the large shape of Hagrid walking towards them on the platform.
“For now you’re going to stay with the first years,” he said, gesturing at the group of small children gathering around Hagrid. “When you get to the castle you’ll be sorted with them as well, keep close to Hagrid,” he gave her a smile and headed down the platform.
“You mus’ be Meissa,” said Hagrid jovially, “come on now, gotta get there quick, FIRST YEARS FOLLOW ME,”
They found their way down some stone stairs down a hill and to a small set of docks. One by one the students filed into the boats and once aboard the boats magically started moving across, leaving only gentle ripples in the smooth black surface of the lake. Across the lake and up the large cliffs sat the most magnificent building Meissa had ever laid eyes on, turrets reaching to the heavens, great beautiful towers and halls and a thousand glimmering yellow windows. Soon they were climbing up stairs on the opposing shore and entering the entrance to Hogwarts. They were now in a spacious entrance hall and behind a large set of Oak doors they could hear quite a raucous.
They were led then into a chamber to the side, given her considerable height over the other students they gave her strange looks, she didn’t much care though, she was more concerned with being ‘sorted’ whatever that could mean. Her question would be answered soon though as a short man with a walrus moustache walked into the chamber. His name was Professor Flitwick and he was soon leading them out into the great hall. There were hundreds of young faces turned their way, many of them lingering on Meissa. She was positively taken aback by the sheer size and beauty of the hall though, the ceiling looked like an overcast night sky as if it were a magnificent window. Throughout the hall there were thousands of candles floating above the tables.
The students were eventually led to a small stool at the very end of the hall just before the professor’s table. On the stool sat a disheveled patched pointy hat. At once all the students and teachers looked to the hat and somehow it started moving on its own accord. Then it began to sing.
The sorting comes another year
It brings with it woe and cheer
Every thought of every day
I can hear under my frays
In Gryffindor you will be placed
If courage is written on your face
In Slytherin too I could put you
If cunning skill is of your will
Ravenclaw will suit you fine
If your pleasures all are of the mind
And Hufflepuff will pull you near
When your honesty triumphs fear
Now place me close atop your head
And find out where you’ll goto bed
Applause erupted from the hall and the hat performed its best approximation of a bow.
“New students, please step forward when your name is called,” said Flitwick.
The new students formed a messy queue in front of him as he drew a large scroll from the air.
“Meissa Black,” he called. A wave of murmur ran through the hall, many people were now staring at her not just with interest but with fear and anger and confusion. She slowly walked up and took her seat on the stool. Flitwick then lowered the filthy hat onto her head, she wished she didn’t have to wear the rotten thing, she actually liked how her hair was done today and up close she realised that it smelled even worse then it looked.
I don’t smell bad, that’s quite rude you know, she heard a voice say in her head.
“You can hear my thoughts?” she asked the hat.
Were you not listening to the song young lady, I can see everything, he replied.
“Well have you decided what you’re going to do with me,” she asked.
“There’s lots of history here, yes, lots of history, you come from a very old family, an old Slytherin family, and you are certainly cunning yes, you have a drive to do what needs to be done, to understand, and you are smart, maybe Ravenclaw would welcome you as well, hmm.”
“I don’t much care either way, the sooner I’m off of here without everyone staring at me the better,” she said.
“Well then, I guess it’ll be, SLYTHERIN!” Shouted the hat.
Meissa Quickly jumped up and handed the hat to Flitwick. Across the hall applause had erupted, the table furthest to Meissa’s right cheered the hardest though and beckoned her over. Draco Malfoy whom she had met earlier though was scowling at her. Despite the applause however, when she sat down no one started talking to her. Meissa awkwardly watched the rest of the students get sorted ending with Romilda Vane of Gryffindor. For a moment murmur started to break out across the hall.
“My name is Daphne Greengrass,” said a girl to Meissa’s right. She had straight blonde hair and light blue eyes.
“Meissa black,” she replied.
“Welcome to Slytherin,” replied Daphne, “you’re not a first year right, you look far too old.”
“I suppose I’m a third year I just arrived rather late,”
“Oh I see, well I suppose you’ll be staying with us then so I’ll show you around a bit,”
“What do you mean with us?” asked Meissa but before Daphne could answer the headmaster stood up to speak.
“"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . “
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. “
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises -- or even Invisibility Cloaks, it is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors," he said.
Meissa looked around at the shocked faces of the students.
"On a happier note," he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.”
“First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Meissa included. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties. “ Down a few seats from Meissa she saw Draco turned to some of his friends.
“I don’t know how they expect that incompetent oaf to teach anything.”
It was not everyday you meet someone so stuck up and irritating, she thought.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
At once the empty golden platters became laden with bountiful stacks of food. Her first instinct was the tomato soup and the stuffed bread. Macaroni casserole also drew her in. Soon enough roasted potatoes had also ended up on her plate with a generous portion of currant glaze across them.
“So Meissa, you’ll be with us you know, us Slytherin girls, all of the third year’s share a room, well more like two rooms, we have the best dormitory in our year,” Daphne chuckled.
“Well I could definitely use some sleep so the quicker the better,” said Meissa smiling.
For the better part of the last few weeks Meissa had hardly been processing what was going on, but now, when confronted with smiling faces and a filling meal and the dream of a comfortable bed… Meissa could get used to this.