𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, fred weasley

˗ˋ 88

CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
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-: seventh year :-

── IN WHICH HER HOUSE
IS REVEALED

. . .

McGonagall led Elodie back through the familar corridors, telling her to wait at the end of a more open space as she greeted the new first years, who were fresh off of the boats that propelled them across the Black Lake. 

And just the mention of it caused the Beaumont girl to shiver in rememberance of the second task, but she actually figured that the symbolism of the whole thing was kind of sweet. She didn't know she she would appreciate being dragged into the murky depths by the Giant Squid - which, from the look of it seemed to be what some of them had experienced.

But it was no matter, McGonagall waving her wand at them as she introduced herself and welcomed them to the school, explaining that they would be Sorted in just minutes. By the end of it, those who seemed to have been pulled into the water were all dry and organised themselves into pairs as the head of Gryffindor house led them across the flagstones caring the stool and hat Elodie had been using a few minutes earlier. 

The doors to the Great Hall opened and McGonagall led the group in, Elodie following through the back. She stood on her tiptoes, scanning the tables until she found two heads of red hair. 

A smile split across her cheeks as she split from the long row of first years, sliding into the seat beside a rather shocked looking set of twins. "Are you being serious?" Fred asked, a little louder than he should and getting shushed by several people nearby.

"As a heart attack." The common muggle phrase was met with a couple of strange glances, but seeing as the twins were rather used to hearing Elodie's picked up sentences, the twins just grinned, taking turns to hug her. 

"We knew you would." George began.

"Like I said, nothing screams Gryffindor more than competing in the Triwizard Tournament." Fred shrugged. "I wasn't worried at all." He grinned down at the girl, a hand slung around her shoulders and pulling her closer.

"He's lying." Across the table, Angelina spoke up, nudging Alicia who had been trying to reapply lip gloss in the reflection of one of the empty golden goblets in front of her. "Right?"

"Oh yeah." Alicia sat up, tucking the pink tube of sparkly liquid into the pocket of her robes. "He was worrying like nobody's business. Anyone would think it determined whether you cold actually stay at Hogwarts, rather than which dorm you would assigned to."

"I was not worrying." The oldest Weasley twin pouted. "I was more concered about who the pink toad is up there." He nodded towards one of the women sat up at the professor's table, who was watching McGonagall as she organised the first years.

"That? She's Dolores Umbridge." Elodie blinked. "Undersecretary to the Minister. I met her at the beginning of the summer when she joined Fudge in coming to see the French Minister of Magic. Following what happened at the Tournment he wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings."

"So, what's she like?" George didn't seem too shocked by the news that Elodie knew her somehow. Not only was she a Triwizard Champion, but her father was rather high up in the French Ministry anyway - they supposed he was a nicer version of Lucius Malfoy over their.

But there was no time for her to reply as a hush fell over the hall - the Sorting was about to begin. But unlike Elodie's the beginning of this one was marked with a song.

The first years had gathered in a crowd in front of the raised platform, watching with wide, scared eyes as McGonagall placed the stool down, the famous Sorting Hat sitting on top of it. The woman stepped back, and the Hat began to sing it's usual welcome song - Fred and George had told her about it. But considering the looks on people's faces, there was a different tune to it this time.

It was much longer than the usual song, which she was told usually just went over house qualities. But this year, it talked of the founders of the school, and how they had united under once common goal that had ultimately faded when Salazar Slytherin left after battles and fighting.

But as it came to an end, focus was drawn to two particular parts, which seemed to stand out for the hinted doom linked in the lyrics.

"Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear."

"Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you,
I have warned you
...Let the Sorting now begin."

And with that, the hat fell silent and still once more. The students and faculty listening broke into applause, but for the first time, it was punctured by muttering and whispering about what the song meant.

Fred let out a sigh, eyes wide as he turned to his girlfriend. "As glad as I am that you're here, you might have joined in what sounds like the worst year yet."

They had no idea what was coming.

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