The Loss of Equilibrium

Chapter 9

Hogwarts, Scotland, September 1st, 1943

As the Hogwarts Express began to station itself in Hogsmeade station, students of all ages rose from their seats rushing out of the train. The group of six were no different, them all having changed into their robes earlier. The gathering of five elite Slytherins and a student with no house designation and yet not small enough to be the first year; caught many eyes as they walked towards the carriages.

Victoria while, used to others' eyes lingering on her figure from a past life, felt slightly unnerved and shuffled closer to her cousins. If the two boys noticed, they made no outward recognition towards the subtle action instead, sandwiching Victoria between themselves. After trekking up the path to the carriages, it took less than a mere moment for them to enter a carriage. The reason for that being all of the Thestrals noticing Victoria moving towards her, from her magic which smelled of Death's scent. The Mistress of Death smiled at the sight of the skeletal horses making a note to visit them when she could.

"Do you know how you'll be sorted, Victoria?" asked Estelle from her side.

"Headmaster Dippet in his letter said I would be sorted after the first years. How are you sorted anyways?" The blonde witch questioned. Victoria wondered if Hogwarts sorting traditions had been different before or had the Sorting Hat always been used.

"Everyone knows you have to duel a Kappa to be sorted," commented Orion with a straight face from next Abraxas.

"No need to fear I'll protect you with my life dearest, flow-," Corvus shouted from his seat in the corner as Tom cast a silencing spell on the Corvus shutting, him up.

"A Kappa? Yeah, right," Victoria retorted. They had to be kidding thought, the witch not believing they fought XXXX dangerous beasts to be sorted.

"I know, do be smarter children," teased Estelle as the carriage stopped.

"We're finally here! My legs were starting to fall asleep," explained Abraxas as he exited the carriage along with Victoria. The rest of the group following behind them.

"I think mine were about to start as well. Oh wow..." Victoria uttered looking, up at the Castle.

There was a slight chill in the autumn evening that blew past them, the group's robes billowing behind them. The Mistress of Death though didn't notice her thoughts racing a mile a minute, with memories that were too painful to remember began to resurface. Her eyes fixed on Hogwarts, a place that she had called home, the place she saw decades later torn to pieces, the very place where she had died.

"Things live, die, then live again in a different form," was what both Vivian and Hendrix had told her months ago when she asked about their work as Life and Death. Victoria supposed that was infinitely correct she; had seen Hogwarts die, shattered and torn to shreds. Though now she stood before Hogwarts, where the magic of the castle, was powerful and pulsed against her own. The knowledge that Hogwarts was safe and more glorious than she had ever known it to be brought Victoria back from her moment of dissociation hearing the ends of the groups' conversation.

"The fifth-year prefect will handle the first years as usual," said Tom.

"Who are the fifth-year prefects this year? I seem to have forgotten," pondered Abraxas a, finger on his chin as if solving a dilemma.

"It was on our Hogwarts letters under the announcement section. This year Miss Zabini and Mister Montague, we're chosen for the fifth years," replied Orion.

The group's chatter continued as they entered the castle, Victoria chiming in now and then but mostly attempting to keep soured memories from resurfacing.