Darkfell | a tale in ilvermorny

//two//

     It was tradition at Ilvermorny that every year, the second year students and up would all arrive earlier than the incoming first years. We would shuffle up a great deal of stairs and crowd onto a massive balcony which completely encircled a great glass dome over the entrance to the school. The first year students would then be lead in, and we'd watch them as they went into the Grand Hall to be sorted and then dine.

     Sloane got out of the carriage first and dragged out her bags with her, and I followed closely with my own things in tow.

     "Wingardium leviosa." Sloane murmured, drawing her wand and giving it a light swish and flick. Her bags rose, and as she directed them with her wand, she dropped them off with ease where they'd later be taken to the common rooms. Sloane was always good with charms, while I struggled more.

     I had found my niche in the humid greenhouses and the musty stables. I was better a healer, familiar with herbal fixes and all things plants and animal. I guess it made sense that I was a Pukwudgie. None of the other houses even tried to claim me. Some might take such a thing as insult, but I had been wanting to be a Pukwudgie for long before even attending. Lead by the heart, healers and not fighters... Admittedly, sometimes I would wish for the same affinity towards incantations and spells, mostly when it came to dragging my things away from the carriage without the helping hand of magic.

     Well, maybe. I thought hopefully. I took my wand from the pocket of my robe and mimicked Sloane's movement, the firm command. My bags stirred and lifted before falling uselessly to the ground. I could only levitate lighter objects. "See me, Sloane? This is why I could never do what you want to do." I called to my friend. "I can't even perform a basic spell." 

     Sloane turned around and effortlessly repeated it, adding my bags to the pile with nothing but the wave of her wand. "Easy peasy." She said, blowing on the tip.

     "Oh please." I sighed, rolling my eyes. "At least I can mix a poultice, or make the right measurements for potions-"

     "- and tell the difference between a gryphon and a hippogriff, yes I know." Sloane finished for me. "You're so much more skilled with all the nature things." She started off toward the gate in her usual brisk fashion and I practically jogged to keep up.

     Already, students were filing up the stairs. "I told Maura and Levi to save us a space to see." I said, standing on my tiptoes to look over the bustle of students. Being hardly 5'2 had its major disadvantages. "Do you see them?" I asked, suddenly turning to Sloane.

"No. I'm just as small as you!" She snapped. "I wish I could just wingardium leviosa you over all these people."

"Wouldn't be your worst idea to date." I retorted under my breath.

"Thea, Sloane!" A hand waved over the mass of students and I recognized the voice of our other friend, Levi. I grabbed Sloane's wrist and dragged her through the crowd.

When we were up the stairs and had reunited with our friends, it was nearly time for the first years to be lead in. I elbowed my way to the front of the group on the great balcony. "Little ones in front." I reasoned, using my small stature to an advantage so that I could see.

The massive doors of Ilvermorny swung open, and in processed a tall, lithe woman dressed in a heavy cloak. Midnight blue on the outside, the inside a burst of cranberry. I figured her to be Imogen Abernathy, the new Headmistress. Following her were three long lines of students, shuffling and taking on expressions of awe as they looked up at the glass dome ceiling above.