Artemis (A Remus Lupin love-story).

Chapter 3- Not Gryffindor, not Gryffindor.

The rest of the train journey past uneventfully, with Diana reading her book and paying little attention to the girl next to her, only stopping to change into her robes (see above for what she's wearing underneath). She had just reached a particularly exciting point in the novel when the train stopped with a jolt and an announcement echoed through the compartments. Diana tore her eyes away from her book and slipped it into her purse, gracefully stepping out of the train.

'Firs' years this way. Firs' years this way!' Diana looked up to see a large oaf of a man, with a long tangled black beard that covered so much of his face that all that was visible of him was his glittering black beetle-like eyes. Diana lined up behind him, inwardly debating the possibility of him being a giant, as he shepherded pupils into little boats for their journey across the black lake. Diana was one of the unfortunate few to be squashed alongside him in the final boat as they rowed across, with little space to sat and the boat wobbling precariously under Hagrid's tremendous wait. That didn't stop her from admiring the smooth, unruffled surface of the black lake stretching out evenly in a dark mirror of glistening liquid. She looked up to see Hogwarts, standing tall and regal, against the plateauing green hills in the distance- a traditional part of the Scottish landscape. The school itself was a large castle, grand yet at the same time rustic with a homely feel about it. There was something so different about it too the magnificent yet forbidding manors she was used to and she entered the great hall readily. A stern-looking, middle-aged woman, with an intimidating expression but a tiny glint of kindness in her eye, looked on at them and nodded at Hagrid.

'I'll take the first years from now, Hagrid.' She turned to address them briefly.

'Welcome to Hogwarts,' she said. 'The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, butbefore you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a veryimportant ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family withinHogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend freetime in your house common room.'The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its ownnoble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, yourtriumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of theyear, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will bea credit to whichever house becomes yours.'The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest youall smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.' She glanced pointedly at a particularly scruffy looking boy who looked like he badly needed to blow his nose. Diana cringed slightly, but butterflies were erupting in her stomach. She needed to get into Slytherin. She needed to get into Slytherin. She chanted the words inwardly like an anthem in her head. Presently the lady, introducing herself as Professor McGonagall, came back, carrying a tattered black hat in her hands.

'Right, AVERY, CAIUS.' A rather cruel, haughty looking boy made his way over to the hat. Diana vaguely recognized him from one of the parties her parents had thrown. There was a prompt cry of 'SLYTHERIN!' and the table on the far right of the room, draped in green and silver, cheered. Another name was called and it wasn't long before the words,

'BOLEYN, DIANA!' echoed through the room. Instantly, the room was set aflutter with whispers, particularly from the Slytherins.

'Boleyn? They're practically royalty I've heard.'

'They are royalty- they still rule over part of France and used to have the whole of the magical community in England, France and Ireland in the early 19th century. They gave it up voluntarily, I think.' Diana walked over to the hat in a daze. With shaking hands, she pulled it over her head and took a deep breath.

'Let's see now. Ambitious- there's no doubt about that. Cunning, too. You'd do well in Slytherin.' Diana breathed out slightly, and relaxed- though there was a pang of regret in her that she fitted so well into her parents ideals. She stiffened immediately as the sorting hat continued, with the words, 'But I don't think that's the house for you. Ravenclaw would be better. You'd fit right in there. I haven't seen a cleverer one since, well... Helen Ravenclaw herself! Curious too... you'd do anything to seek the knowledge you desire...' She felt her breathing hitch; if she couldn't be in Slytherin then Ravenclaw would be the next best option. Her parents would be furious if she was in Hufflepuff or- horror of horrors- Gryffindor, but perhaps they would contain their wrath if she was in the house of the wise. She felt a peculiar affinity for the clever ones too, and would be more than pleased to be cast as one.

'You've got Hufflepuff traits in you too. Loyal with a capital L, I see, and rather sweet. But I don't think that would be the right house for you, dearie.' Diana frowned. She was about to ask the hat to put her into Ravenclaw, when she recalled the fate a cousin of hers had met when she was sorted into that house. Disowned as soon as she was seventeen. Diana dreaded to think of the same happening to her. I need to get into Slytherin. I need to get into Slytherin. She resumed her anthem as the hat continued to speak.

'It's funny. At first Gryffindor seemed like the last place to put you in, but know I think about it you're far braver than you'd think. Chivalrous too... and you've got some nerve, even if it is well-hidden. Interesting, interesting. I can't help but think that Gryffindor would bring out some of your more hidden talents.' Diana stood their rigid under her hat, her mind working at twenty times the usual rate. Gryffindor... her parents would not hesitate to put the Cruciatus curse on her and shove her into a muggle orphanage there and then if she landed herself into the house. What was more, these traits seemed completely alien to her. Brave? Ridiculous. Nerve? She hadn't an ounce of the thing. Chivalry? She was no knight! Come to think of it, she wasn't even sure how a girl could be chivalrous. It was utterly ridiculous!

'Oh it's not ridiculous, my dear. Well you're house is decided. It's...'

Diana felt her heart pounding in her chest and her mouth went dry.

'GRYFFINDOR!' It took ever ounce of Diana's self-restraint to stop herself from screaming 'NO!', but what was done was done. She walked shakily over to the Gryffindor table and slumped down next to the scarred boy she had met on the train. He smiled at her, his hazel eyes warm and welcoming and suddenly Diana felt a tiny bit comforted.

'Hello... Remus.'