bittersweet history

Chapter Three - Jamie

So far, the most surprising thing about being fifty years in the past is how different Hogwarts was. They did not get far in it, as Jamie and Al were ushered with the first year to the Great Hall, but even that was drastically different from their dining hall. The ceiling wasn't as tall and even the construction was different. The architecture was older with less windows.

Perhaps it should have been obvious since the castle had gone through a war, but the air was knocked from Jamie's lungs as he glanced around. Not everything could change at Hogwarts, right? There are some things that he knew from stories, like the Room of Requirement, but he didn't know if he could bear the Gryffindor common room being different. The one comfort he could have being in the past, and it could potentially be different. Jamie didn't know if he could keep from crying if he goes up there and it has changed.

All the houses sat at separate tables, which was how they did the first dinner back at Hogwarts. It was to help the first years know where to sit and get a bit comfortable with their house. After the first day, they would all mingle together. Jamie liked sitting at the "Ravenclaw" table because of how close it is to the doors.

McGonagall was so much younger. Another obvious fact, but still shocking to see. Her hair wasn't gray yet and her wrinkles were minimal. She still held herself sternly but there was a youth to her face Jamie was not used to seeing. It made him wonder what professors would be at Hogwarts now. He knew Slughorn would be here (not that he ever had him as a professor) and Flitwick would be as well. Binns was always here. Professor Sprout would be the herbology teacher instead of Professor Longbottom. It would be nice to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that wasn't his father.

All of the teachers sat at a long table in the front, which was also weird, but again, it could be because it's the first night.

Jamie and Al walked ahead of everyone; the silence in the Great Hall was stifling. Al looked tenser by the second and he shoved his shaking hands in his pockets. Jamie's own hands were beginning to clam up and he wiped them on his pants with a grimace.

Jamie leaned over to him, a smile tugging at his lips. "You blend in with the first years with how short you are."

"Shut up," Al hissed at him. "I'm almost as tall as you."

"Debatable." Al was probably only an inch shorter than him, but his shoulders were no longer at his ears.

A loud, clear voice interrupted before Al could resort. McGonagall stood by the stool with the old, ratty magic hat. Jamie believed it was time to at least wash the old thing, if not replace it. It didn't make much sense that an old hat could sort them into a house. What could a hat know?

"We have two transfer students," McGonagall said loudly for everyone in the hall to hear. "They will be sorted into their houses first before beginning as normal with the first years. First, Jamie Delacour, sixth year."

There was a spread of whispers as Jamie stepped up the stairs. A weird uneasy feeling spread down his neck when he considered not being sorted into Gryffindor. He has changed a lot since he was eleven, what if the house no longer thought he fit with them? What if he was put somewhere like Ravenclaw? No, he wasn't smart enough for Ravenclaw (Al would be the first one to point that out). Still, what if he wasn't a Gryffindor? It would ruin everything before they even started!

The old hat was placed on his head as Jamie surveyed the hall. Everyone was staring at him. What was the reason this time? At least he didn't have the name Potter attached to him (not that it would have the same effect it has in fifty years).

"Oh, full of secrets you are." The hat spoke in his mind. Its magic twisted similar to a snake in a maze of vines. No spot in his brain was left untouched and bumps rose on the surface of his skin.