Mismatched Magic

Chapter 1

"I still don't see the point of me having to go to school. I already know way more than these kids do." Maira grumbled as Her adoptive parents drove her to her new school, Starlyn Institute of Magic. Reyan glanced back at her and sighed.

"Maira you have to go. It's not my orders, its Gramos who's behind all this. You're lucky he's the headmaster and he's letting you attend school here. You may have started a year ahead of your peers but that doesn't mean you know everything Maira." Maira rolled her eyes but Reyan continued, "Amara and I have raised you as our adopted daughter for 12 years without you meeting anyone else, except Gramos. You would think that now that you're 17, you'd enjoy being able to go out and meet people your own age."

"I do enjoy being out of that house. Doesn't mean I enjoy school." Maira muttered.

Before Reyan could respond, they reached the front gates of the school. He pulled his wand out his pocket and with a wave, opened the gates. Maira looked out the window and gasped in awe. The castle was huge! Pointing up from the castle stood several towers of multiple sizes. The red bricks covered the roof, providing color to the aged castle. The brick walls were worn down from many years of weathering and magic residue. The front doors of the castle stood at the end of a glass walkway and in front of the door stood a familiar tall figure dressed in dark red robes. Maira flung open the car door and ran up to the figure, circling her arms around him. "Gramos! I've missed you." She stepped back and smiled her bright smile. Her black hair framed her face and completed the look of beautiful innocence.

Gramos laughed, "I'm sure you have. Reyan has been telling me about how you've been grumbling about coming to my 'stupid nerd school' for ages." He smiled down at her as she pushed her hair over her shoulder and fake pouted. "Your charms won't work on me or the teachers here. They've been informed of who you are and you won't be singled out."

Maira started to object but Reyan shouted from the car, "Hey! Your trunk isn't going to carry itself!"

Maira smiled and took out her beautiful dark ebony wand. "Oh yes, it will! Mobiliarbus!" The huge trunk lifted off the ground and floated towards Maira and Gramos. Maira lowered her wand and the trunk landed on the ground next to her with a soft thump.

"Just because you're finally allowed to use magic now doesn't mean you can go and flaunt it around, Chimaira." Gramos scolded her.

"I was just warming up so I'll do good in school, Gramos. I haven't practiced since you came for Christmas and that was two whole months ago," she said innocently, smiling.

"That's headmaster or Professor to you from now on. Sorry to run Gramos but we've got to errands to run." called Reyan as he turned the car around and drove off. Maira waved goodbye and looked at Gramos.

"Professor?! Why Professor? Why not Mr. or Ms.?" she asked. Gramos laughed and turned to walk into the Academy without answering.

***

"As you already know Maira, most wizards and witches start school at the age of eleven. It's rare for a witch or wizard to join us this late in the school year or this late in age. Luckily, you aren't behind due to the fact that Reyan and Amara homeschooled you for the past 7 years." Gramos walked in front of Maira as he showed her around the dim corridors of the castle. "However, don't consider yourself higher than them because there is a lot that they have done that you haven't had the resources to do. I presume they told you about the different houses we have here? Hollick, Roskam, Westbay, and Gatley? Our school's founders?"

"Yeah they told me all about it," she said as she walked beside him.

"Good, it's important to know the history of places like this." He stopped in front of 4 huge glass pillars. Each pillar was engraved with the name of each house and were filled with gems that matched each house's colors. Orange carnelian for Gatley, green emeralds for Westbay, purple amethysts for Hollick, and Blue sapphires for Roskam.
"Each gem represents one student of each house. When the Sorting Hat gives you your house, there will be one more gem in one of these pillars. Remember where these are, that's how you'll know you've reached the Dining Hall." He pointed across the hall to a set of double doors. 
"Now, let's go up and see the Sorting Hat. I hope it'll be willing to put you in a house this late." He led her down another long hallway that ended at a golden statue of a crescent moon. As they approached, Gramos flicked his hand and the moon disappeared. In its place was a red door. Gramos carried on smoothly as if the door had always been there and Maira tried to not look astonished. She's known magic all her life but she'd never seen the kind of magic that they had here at Starlyn. Behind the door was a large circular room. Its walls were covered by hundreds of books and magical instruments were fit into gaps between the books. To the side, a magnificent falcon sat on top of a perch. Next to it was a beautifully carved marblewood desk. Gramos crossed the room to an old hat sitting on a stool. He lifted the hat off the stool.
"Come and sit," he said, gesturing to the stool. Maira felt her stomach drop. She walked over to the stool and sat down. Maira waited for the hat to touch her head and when it didn't she looked up at Gramos. He smiled patiently but said nothing, his gaze focused on the door. Maira turned as a disgruntled looking wizard burst through the doors.

"I'm here! I'm sorry I'm late, Headmaster." He gasped.

"Welcome, Professor Kross. This is Chimaira Wynonna. Maira, this is Professor Hasan Kross, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher and our Deputy Headmaster." He looked at Maira, "he's here to witness your Sorting."

"You need a witness for this?" she asked

"Well, usually the Sorting is done in front of the entire school at the start of the year. Seeing as your situation is different we don't want to start any arguments in case the teachers or students think I favor you. Professor Kross won't be judging you so don't worry. Now then, are we ready?" Gramos raised the Hat and set it on Maira's head without waiting for an answer. The room was dead silent for over a minute. Then finally, "STARLYN!"

Maira's stomach dropped. Starlyn wasn't a house. Maira looked up at Gramos as he lifted the hat off. "This is a mistake isn't it? The Hat's broken. Maybe it's too old. There're only four houses." She looked from Gramos' calm face to Professor Kross' shocked expression.

Finally, Gramos spoke. "Hasan, take Chimaira down to the Dining Hall then return here. Also, look at the counters for the houses." His voice was dead calm and he stood completely still. Then he went to sit at his desk, his head bent as he scribbled a note.

"Yes, Headmaster. Come, Maira. It'll be okay." Professor Kross took her arm and began leading her out the room. Maira sent a pleading look to Gramos but he had turned and was handing a piece of paper to his falcon who then flew out into the darkening sky.

Professor Kross and Maira slipped into the crowd of students that all seemed to be heading in one direction. The mass of students thickened as they drew nearer to the Dining Hall. Then Maira saw why. They were focused on the 4 glass pillars. Each still sat there, labeled with their house name and filled wigh their gems. Now, there was an extra pillar. There was an intricate pattern of golden swirls covering the pillar.  Across the middle of the pillar it read 'STARLYN.' Inside the pillar was a single golden star. Maira broke away from Professor Kross and pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Suddenly the voices died down. Maira felt every eye on her, the new girl, and turned around, her hand reaching for the pocket that held her wand.

"Maira you know better than that." Reyan's voice sounded from the left. Maira watched as he and Amara appeared from another room. At the sight of the woman who was like a mother to her, Maira's churning stomach eased some. Then they turned and looked at the pillars. Reyan went pale as a sheet and Amara dropped the jacket she carried. She hastily picked it up and elbowed Reyan, who quickly composed himself as well.

Professor Kross pushed his way through the crowd. "Amara, Reyan, Gramos wants us." His voice wavered but he kept his expression neutral. "Professor Alistair!" he called. A short witch made her way through the crowd and glanced nervously at Maira. "Take care of her while we're gone." He lowered his voice so Maira had to lean in to hear, "and make sure no one gets near her for now."

Maira stared at Professor Kross. Now she did it. She probably broke some type of rule and they were going to send her home. Maria's brain spun, making her even more nauseous.

Professor Alistair smiled at Maira. "I'm the Transfiguration teacher here. We'll get you some food and school robes to change into. Come along." Professor Alistair nudged her away from the pillars. Just before they turned the corner, Maira turned and watched the receding backs of Kross, Amara and Reyan as they faded into the crowd. For the first time, Maira noticed the hushed whispers from students around her. As she walked away she caught a bit of a conversation.

"I heard that the founder's named the school after a hybrid named Starlyn. Makes you wonder who she is..."

Hybrid. The word stayed in Maira's mind all through the night