Choices
Aphmau stayed close to her new companions as they all exited off of the boats and followed Althea down the path, the school looming tall above, lights shining from windows as they walked up. The girl looked around, trying desperately to see her brother, biting the inside of her cheek.
“Are you okay?” Zoey whispered, her blue eyes glittering with concern.
“Y-Yeah, just- trying to find my brother…”
“If he’s in Second Year he might already be here. They always come in carriages, but he might have been on the train, but came in with another group.” Travis explained, nudging her in an attempt to calm the girl down.
Althea looked up, smiling. “This is where our journey finishes for now, my dears.” Her ears rose, smiling as a tall werewolf woman with scars down her face, dark cyan hair and werewolf features with piercing yellow eyes and pale skin. On her finger was a glistening golden ring with a wolf claw in front of a moon. Aphmau recognised the ring; her brother had one of the same kind in his room from time to time, albeit this woman’s was far more worn and had since lost a bit of lustre (Aphmau remembered Ein had gotten mad when he caught her trying his on before).
“My name is Professor Ambarella.” Her voice was sharp and succinct. “Follow me to the Great Hall, where you will all be sorted into your houses and meet the headmaster.” Aphmau shared a nervous look with her two new companions, as they walked with the group into the castle, through its winding halls and into a large area, with long tables set up.
Students were standing nearby, all already sporting ties as they sorted into either groups of friends or wearing the same coloured ties. Aphmau looked about, eyes brightening as she caught sight of Ein, standing beside Garroth and two others; a black-haired werewolf and a brunette boy, sporting a red and gold tie similar to Garroth’s, and a black and yellow one respectively. Ein grinned as he waved a hand slightly, flashing a thumbs up over to her.
She stood beside the other two, alongside a group of other first-years like herself. Looking up, her eyes sparkled at a woman wearing a hood, brown eyes shining slightly. She smiled, moving her hood back, revealing silverish-black hair.
“Welcome students of Hogwarts! For those in their second year and up, welcome back. And for our first years, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am the headmaster, Lady Ira.’
‘For those beginning their journey, before the feast can begin, you must be sorted into your houses. From there, you can earn and lose points for your house, to be awarded the House Cup at the end of the year. You will also have heads of the house, who you can go to.” She cleared her throat, and four people walked up.
The first one was the same werewolf that led them in, her arms folded. Ira gestured to her. “This is Professor Ambarella, the head of the Gryffindor House, and the teacher of Werewolf Studies.” Aphmau jumped as a lot of the werewolves started cheering, giggling as she saw her brother doing the same, before they were silenced by the professor lifting up her hand.
The next was a tall human male with short black hair and beard. He had what looked like a burn scar on the left side of his face with bright orange eyes, and a scar down his other eye.
“This is Professor Fauns, the head of the Slytherin House, and teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts.”
“He looks scary…” Zoey whispered, Aphmau giggled, before both of them were ‘shushed’ by Travis, eyes shining playfully.
The third was a more elder elven woman with greying dark brown hair, an almost honey-skinned complexion with green eyes. She looked wise.
“Professor Selpie, the head of the Ravenclaw House, and teacher for the History of Magic.”
Ira then gestured to a pale and freckled daemos woman with very soft pink, almost white horns and light brown hair. She smiled brightly, waving at everyone.
“And lastly, Professor Loriss, the head of the Hufflepuff House, and teacher of Herbology.” Aphmau tilted her head as the woman waved excitedly out at the students. She smiled. She seemed lovely. Ira lifted up her hand to silence the students, as two professors brought over a hat, the Professor Selpie holding it carefully. The headmaster smiled down at the first-years, her eyes shining.
“Now, you all shall be called up one by one to the Sorting Hat. You shall sit in the chair, and be sorted into one of those four houses.” Aphmau pushed close to her friends as the hat seemed to clear its throat, and spoke the first name.
“Zoey Taltatheil!” The elf looked back to her friends nervously as she walked forward, sitting down. The professor carefully placed the hat on her head, as its ‘eyes’ narrowed in consideration. “Hm...I see...you have so much potential, you simply need the courage to unlock it. Take control aside from your family’s legacy. I see.” The hat cleared its throat again, a yell ringing out about the hall.
“RAVENCLAW!” Zoey’s blue eyes seemed to shine strangely in alarm as she was handed a blue and silver tie, walking back to the first years, fiddling with it. Travis tilted his head.
“Are you ok?”
“I just...d-didn’t expect it…” The elf smiled weakly, though Aphmau shared a look with their other friend, not quite believing her. After calling a few other students, it spoke again.
“Travis Valkrum!” As Travis walked up, the hat ‘hm’ed. “I see...you have your skills, but you will not let it define you. You are pure, and I see where you belong. HUFFLEPUFF!” Travis smiled brightly, running back down as he was handed a yellow and black tie, nudging Aphmau.
She remembered that house. It was what her brother said she was most likely to go to. And now she hoped she was.
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Garroth stood beside his brunette friend Laurance as the first-years names were called out. He fiddled with his red and gold tie, tugging at it absentmindedly. He was anxious for his brother. Their family were pure-bloods, and very known here in Hogsmeade and the wizarding world as a whole.
He had no doubt once he was known as a Ro’Meave, people would expect things. His only fear was how people would treat him.
The brunette beside him nudged him carefully, scoffing slightly. “Calm down would ya?”
“I can’t...my brother-” He was silenced by the Sorting Hat clearing its throat again.
“Zane Ro’Meave!”
Garroth watched as his brother skulked forward, the hood on his outfit up and covering him. Garroth looked up as he heard people whisper, clenching his fists.
“Ro’Meave? Isn’t that the Gryffindor boy’s last name?”
“He doesn’t look like his brother!”
“He looks mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s put into Slytherin.”
“I wonder if his family’s disappointed in him.”
Garroth snarled quietly. Laurance put a hand on his shoulder, smiling sadly. “He has a chance to prove them all wrong.” Garroth sighed, nodding in response as the boy walked up and sat down, the hat being placed on his head.
“Hm...ah, you are a whirlwind. You have your goals, and ambitions...but you can always change your path. SLYTHERIN!” Garroth paled a little, but smiled proudly at his brother, eyes shining as he caught his eye.
Zane seemed to scowl, clutching his silver and green tie, walking off. The gryffindor looked over, his eyes catching the silverish-grey of a familiar werewolf. Ein smiled softly, a gentle look of ‘I’ll protect him’. Garroth smiled gratefully, letting himself relax as other first-years were called.
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Ein sighed, looking at Zane as he settled closer to the Slytherin first-years. Aaron was standing beside him, arms folded. Despite the werewolf being a Gryffindor, he always stood closer to his friend. It was similar to how Garroth stood by a familiar brown-haired Hufflepuff.
Ein couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory of people thinking he was insane for trying to befriend the angry werewolf who’d been at Hogwarts even before his first year for a year, who hated everyone. People had thought he would have been thrown through a window or a wall, but instead, Aaron had welcomed his company. Even if it had taken quite some time before the werewolf was truly allowed to be that close.
The hat cleared its throat. “Aphmau Shalashaska!”
Aaron snorted. “Dear Irene, that's a hard last name.” Ein scowled at him playfully, punching his arm. As Aphmau walked forward, she caught her brother’s eye, smiling brightly. Ein flashed her a grin and a thumbs up, tail curling between his legs anxiously as his sister sat down on the chair, the hat being placed on her head.
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Aphmau swallowed down her nervousness as the elder elven professor smiled gently, placing the hat on her head. The hat grumbled slightly.
“I see. You are young and full of hope and light. You are bright, and destined for great things.” The hat cleared his throat, shouting loudly.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
Aphmau’s eyes shone as she caught Zoey’s eyes, the elf smiling as Travis bounced excitedly. Aphmau beamed as she was handed a yellow and black tie, running back down to her friends. Travis laughed.
“We’re in the same house…!”
“Yeah…!” Aphmau looked at Zoey, who smiled softly.
“It’s alright. We can still sit together…! And we’ll have classes together.”
Aphmau smiled brightly, nodding excitedly. It didn’t take long for the other first-years to be called, before Ira lifted her hand up.
“Now, with all of you sorted, you may take your seats, and the feast may begin! Get yourselves acquainted with your fellow house members, and afterwards the Head Boy and Head Girl of your houses will take you all to your house common rooms and have you settled in boy and girl dorms.”
Aphmau beamed as she stood with her friends for a couple moments before they sat down, the hall soon erupting into conversations; laughter and meager introductions echoed around the hall.
She looked about, doing her best to try and find her brother again, or even Garroth. But with all the chaos, she couldn’t see them.
It didn’t take long for her to relax with her friends, jumping as a brunette boy slid down onto the chairs near them, flashing a smile.
“So, you’re the new recruits huh? Pleasure to meet you two…I’m Laurance.” Aphmau smiled, but before she could respond, her eyes shone at a familiar shadow behind him.
“Get away from my sister Casanova.” Ein huffed, rolling his eyes as he slid against the brunette, sitting down. Aphmau beamed, before shrinking back slightly at the taller black-haired werewolf standing behind Ein, who waved slightly with a clawed hand, but remained mostly silent.
Laurence squawked, pushing him aside. “I was saying hi! Jeez you’re protective aren’t you?” He snorted. Ein rolled his eyes, ignoring the brunette as he started to chat with Garroth, looking at his sister.
“How are you feeling? Happy with your house?”
“Mhm! I-I’m ready!” Aphmau huffed, eyes shining with a quiet determination. The older smiled, a look of pride evident on his face.
“Told you you were soft. And would be in Hufflepuff.”
“You did not!”
“I did too, don’t lie.”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
“Oh Irene there’s two of them.” The black-haired werewolf sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ein gawked at the boy, almost shoving him off the seat. Aphmau blinked a little, before coal-black eyes moved to hers.
“I’m Aaron, by the way. This shithead talks a lot about you.” The girl’s eyes widened in recognition. Ein had spent a lot of time during breaks asking Zianna and Garte for help sending letters to a friend of his.
“Oh!” She nodded, eyes shining. “Uh huh! Ein’s talked about you before! Mom likes to tease him.” She giggled, poking her tongue out as Ein glared at her, waving a claw threateningly.
“Aw, I’m flattered.” Aaron winked, laughing with the other older boys. Even though they were a couple years older than her, Aph felt herself relax. After all, they were all in Second Year, meaning that, like her brother, they were 1 to 2 years older than her.
“Just make sure to be on your best behaviour in your house and classes. There’s a point system.” Laurance smiled. When Aphmau, Travis and Zoey tilted their heads in confusion, the boy chuckled. “If you do well in class and such, the professors can award your house points. Prefects and Head Boys and Girls can do that too. At the same time, they can take them away, if you’re disruptive, cause a fight, etc. That’s what the Headmaster mentioned with the House Cup. At the end of the school year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup.”
“Oooh…cool!” Aphmau beamed. The group continued to talk, before everyone started to stand and head off to their own house groups. Zoey smiled, nudging both Travis and Aphmau before standing.
“I-I’ll see you both again soon!”
“Bye Zoey!” Aphmau waved, watching her head over to the groups of Ravenclaws. Ein smiled, ruffling his sister’s hair, earning an annoyed squeak from the younger.
“Be careful, okay? If you have any problems, just don’t go to Laurence. Nothing up there.”
“Wha- and whose the one who beat your ass in the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam last year!?” Ein snorted, waving a hand nonchalantly while poking his tongue out at the brunette.
“But seriously Aph, be careful.”
Aphmau sighed, rolling her eyes. “I know!” The werewolf sighed, punching Aaron briefly in the arm as he walked off to the other Slytherins. Garroth and Aaron gave their goodbyes before walking off to their group.
“Should we get going?” Travis smiled.
“Mhm! Let’s go!” Aphmau smiled, following her friend to the group of Hufflepuff’s gathering around a taller boy with black hair, and a girl with long light brown hair. She smiled brightly, having a special pin on her robe.
“Nice to meet you all! My name’s Donna, and I’m the Head Girl for Hufflepuff! This guy here is Brendan, who’s the Head Boy. If ya’ll have any questions, you can come to us.” Donna smiled, and Brendan soon spoke up.
“Just follow us to the Hufflepuff dorm rooms. There you can all rest for tonight, and you’ll have your schedules in your rooms in the morning! You’ll be sharing a dorm with 4 students alongside yourselves. Girls and boys have their own dorms. And don’t worry, they’ll all be in the same year.”
Donna nodded in agreement.
“Exactly! And get comfy, because there’s a high chance they could be your permanent roommates through your whole time at Hogwarts. Now, follow us!” Aphmau beamed, walking beside Travis as they followed the head students through the halls to her new dorm.
And despite the nerves and anxiety, Aphmau couldn’t help the excitement that shook through her.
A new school life was finally beginning.