- Gifted -

3. Sorted ?

Time flied. What seemed like seconds were actually minutes. They had reached their destination.

Seeing Hogwarts now upclose gave her a rush of excitement. She could barely believe it. Caroline was smiling like a fool.

They were gathering up according to their houses. The first years were in separate group since they would be later that evening sorted.

Entering the building, Lee and the twins said their goodbyes to her and joined their friends.

"Hoping to see you at the gryfindor table later" "Goodbye George" she said with a smile ear to ear.

Now alone and still stunned, Caroline realized she had no idea of where to go since she didn't belong to any group. Frick.

While looking around for an answer she spotted her dad and sighed relivied. He was watching her from the distance with a smirk on his face and she walked to him.

"I noticed you made some friends. The weasley one seemed really interested in you..." "Wait what? No"

She narrowed her eyes "Which one?" Lupin lowered himself to her level and talked almost whispering. Caroline listened attentively "The red haired one"

Remus laughed loudly and his daughter nudged him and bit her lip to not laugh aswell.

"Anyways where are we supposed to go?" she asked "We need to meet Dumbledore at his office. You being an exception, he will tell you what to do"

Both walked past the corridors iluminated by the flames of candles.
Caroline observing and admiring while following her father who remembered fondly the time when he ran through those hallways.

"Did you manage to find out why the dementors were out of Azkaban?" "Well sort of. Don't worry about it you'll find out later when Dumbledore gives his speech"

Deparing with a gargoyle "Sherbet Lemon" were the two words coming from Remus Lupin's mouth.

The statue revealed some stairs which led to Dumbledore's office and they walked them up.

And there he was, standing tall with a welcoming and kind smile "Remus! Caroline! So happy to see you both!"

He held her hands and spoke to her "I'm beyond happy to have you here. I'm glad that your dad accepted my offer. Such bright talent and power couldn't possibly be put to waste. As headmaster I'll make sure that you get everything you need to become a greater witch than you already are and hope that you'll find in Hogwarts a home"

"I'm the one happy to be here. I'm more grateful then you could ever imagine"

Now walking towards his writing desk, Dumbledore continued "About your house you will be sorted after the first years. While you wait you may sit in the teachers table next to your father. I think we should get going. Can't miss the sorting ceremony!"

-----------------------

Sitting in the teacher's table allowed her to see the whole great hall. Even the architecture was enough to leave her astonished.

Caroline was sitting next to her dad and another professor which name was unknown to her. He had greasy black hair, same color as all of his pieces of clothing and was extremely pale. By his expression she assumed he didn't smile really often.

Once in a while she could hear a "GRYFINDOR" or "HUFLEPUFF" and she was waiting nervously for her turn.

She spotted her friends at the gryfindor table and smiled. Watching them from affar she realized she wouldn't mind being in their house.

Lost in her thoughts, she quickly awakened when the headmaster started talking.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R. J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck professor"

Lupin stood up and everyone clapped but Caroline was definitely the one clapping harder. Looking at the man besides her she noticed him staring having neither a welcoming face nor moving. Her face dropped and she slowy stopped.

Seeing this, he applauded in a way that someone would miss if they blinked. Even it being such small gesture it was enough to bring her smile back.

"I'm delighted to announce that along with him we will be taking on his daughter Caroline Lupin as a student in third year"

Not just Dumbledore but everyone was talking, mostly whispering, about her now. She didn't like being the center of attention but considering how odd and rare her situation was she already knew this would happen.

"Enough!" Silence.

"Carrying on, she will be sorted after I finish my speech and I hope you will all welcome her. It's an honor to have you at Hogwarts"

The last phrase he said while looking at her and started clapping. She got on her feet, encouraged by her dad and everyone copied the headmaster still murmuring a bit to each other.

Dumbledore kept talking but she was way to focused in her own ruminations to pay any attention to it.
Next thing a giant man stood up dragging the table along with him. She applauded not knowing exactly why since she only did what everybody was doing it.

"Finnaly, on a more disquieting note at the request of the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black  is captured. The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day to day activities a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets on their way. Therefore. I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light"

The dementors Caroline saw on the train were there for protection. It made sense now. But she had no idea Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban. Probably another attempt from her father to protect her.

He was Remus friend in the past. Caroline had heard of him. Even if he didn't tell her, she knew he was definitely shaken by that fact.

"Now may Caroline's sorting begin!"

The silence was was killing her more than the whispers but she would not let anyone notice that. Dumbledore motioned with a hand for her to step foward to a seat right where all eyes would be able to see her.

Next to it there was a teacher who she assumed was McGonagall from what she knew about her dad's Hogwarts days. She seemed really nice and caring as she held the sorting hat.

She had made her research. She knew exactly what it would succeed.

Sitting on the chair, the hat was placed on her head and the next few minutes the unexpected came out of it's mouth.

Thank you for reading this chapter!
Sorry for the cliffhanger but i promise to make the waiting worth it.
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