Intertwined

Chapter 3

Making their way towards the Great Hall, none of them seemed to notice their intertwined fingers connected them as they excitedly chattered about the school year they would have.

"Which subject are you most excited for, Albus?" Eleanor asked, slightly flustered as she quickly removed her hand from Albus's. She didn't want to show to much affection, as they had just met a couple hours ago. Albus, on the other hand, was largely disappointed when she had removed her hand. He was quite comfortable holding it.

After an uncomfortable silence from both of them, Albus quickly replied, "Defence Against the Dark Arts,"

"Really?", Eleanor replied, "Mine's Charms. Imagine being able to do all those cool complicated spells!"

The pair soon launched into a vigorous argument of Defence Against the dark Arts vs Charms, which only cooled off when they both realised at the same that they had reached the door.

Together, they were instructed onto the hall, both taken aback by the sheer vastness of it. Four large tables stretched across it, sporting the four houses. At the front lay a bench with an old hat.

"That's the Sorting Hat," Albus whispered behind Eleanor.

They took their seats at the front, apprehension spreading through Eleanor. Her wandering mind didn't make it easy for her to to concentrate on  the Sorting, however she had come round just enough to hear:

"Dumbledore, Albus!"

Albus walked towards the bench, and sat down with an air of confidence. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head, and without a moments delay it shouted.

"GRIFFINDOR!"

The Griffindor table exploded in celebration, warmly welcoming their new arrival. Albus turned around and winked at Eleanor, hoping it conveyed the message that he hoped for her to be in Griffindor.

A couple more students went up, and shouts arose from all houses until:

"Moss, Eleanor!"

Eleanor's heart was racing. Carefully, she walked to the bench with the Sorting hat and placed it on her head.

"Hmm," pondered the hat, "You're one of the difficult ones.

Panic clawed at Eleanor's chest. Were her worst fears confirmed.

"You've got characteristics from all houses, but which of them do you belong," continued the Sorting Hat.

"You're main ones are witt, and anxiousness, but underneath all if that it a lion waiting to roar,"

A lion? Could it be-

"GRIFFINDOR!"

A huge cheer erupted from the table, Eleanor especially noticed Albus, beaming so brightly she was sure he would be stuck like that. When she walked over to the table, a little shaken up with all the new attention she was attracting, Eleanor sat with Albus, who without warning pulled her into a warm hug.

"I'm so glad you're in Griffindor, Eleanor!" exclaimed Albus.

"Me too!" replied Eleanor, who had spotted a bespectacled young girl, who had also been sorted into Griffindor. Maybe she could try and make another friend?

"Hello,", Eleanor started, slightly nervous that she hadn't heard her.

"Hey!", replied the girl, moving over to the other side of the bench, opposite Eleanor. "I'm Alexandra Macintyre," she said, extending a hand towards Eleanor, who took it gratefully.

Albus looked over to see Eleanor in conversation with a rather nice Griffindor girl, so he quickly went to introduce  himself.

"Oh, and this is Albus by the way," Eleanor said, gesturing to Alexandra.

"Hello, I'm that Albus Eleanor was talking about. It's really nice to meet you!"

The trio got on well; Alexandra brought balance to the group the original pair hadn't even noticed. She was less hot head than the other two, which meant in most situations she was tearing the two apart from their heated 'discussions'.

The rest of the week was a lot more peacefully than Eleanor had envisioned. Along with Charms, she had also taken a liking to Transfiguration.

Eleanor's fears seemed useless, as the remainder of the term went without a hitch. She particularly enjoyed the changing of the seasons, and Eleanor took regular walks around the grounds. Occasionally, Albus joined her, strolling leisurely beside her.

Spring turned to summer, brining the sunshine with it.

One particularly sunny weekend, Eleanor and Albus sat outside, basking in all the sun's glory.

Sadness washed over Eleanor as she realised it was soon going to be the summer holidays. She should be excited, after all she had just spent almost a year non dependent on her parents. However, she thought, she would probably feel an even bigger sense of loss from her closest friend, Albus.

"The weather's really nice today," Eleanor said absent mindedly, not noticing the sad expression on Albus's face.

"It is isn't it?", he responded. Albus wasn't sure how to feel. Eleanor was such a good friend to him that leaving for a couple months seemed to feel like years. Truthfully, he had never expected to make any acquaintances this year, no less such an amazing one as Eleanor.

"You will keep in touch, right?", he said, gently holding her hand. He looked over at her, his gaze softening when he saw her smile. It was really beautiful actually, he hadn't noticed.

"Of course," she said simply. "Of course,"