Splinters

Chapter 5

"Ollivander, Penelope!" Professor McGonagall called out. Remus and Sirius had already been sorted into Gryffindor. A large uproar from students at the Slytherin table gave Sirius the confidence to smirk at family. 

     Penelope's legs shook as she walked up to the three legged stool. As soon as she sat down, Professor McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on Penelope's head. 

     Young Penny, I have waited for the time when you would come to Hogwarts. Your family, a family that I have sorted for generations, has many secrets. Some even you do not know but will find out. Penelope, you have that wit of a Ravenclaw, the compassion of a Hufflepuff, the bravery of a Gryffindor, and the ambition of a Slytherin. I know you could make friends in any of the four houses but I see Slytherin is out. Your traits for Slytherin are strong but not strong enough.

     I see you doing well in Hufflepuff as you are accepting of all. But you know when to speak your mind and you do not allow people to use you. You are honorable but are driven with the need to help people. Penelope, you are strong, truly, which is something your friends value. Which is why you'll do well in- 

     "GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat yelled. Penelope grinned so widely until her cheeks hurt. 

     "Woo hoo!" Sirius was up from his seat at the Gryffindor table. "Come on, Penny!"

     Penelope rushed from the stool and sat across from Sirius. The redhead girl from the train, Lily Evans, sat next to Sirius but tried to stay as far away as she could. "We're Gryffindors, Sirius!" Penelope practically vibrated with excitement as she waited to see what house James would be put in along with Peter. 

     "Congratulations, Penelope." Remus smiled down at the short girl.

     "Thanks! You too, Remus," she spoke. 

     "Breathe," Sirius chuckled. 

     The Great Hall went silent as Peter was called. A minute or two after the Sorting Hat rested on his head, the Sorting Hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" 

     Peter quickly joined Sirius, Remus, and Penelope at the Gryffindor table. He found a seat next to Remus on his other side. "Now, just to wait for James," Remus looked to where Professor McGonagall was calling James's name. 

     For a few milliseconds, the hat and James conversed in James's mind. But it finally came to a decision. "GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat roared. 

     James sat next to Penelope. "Where's the food?" Peter asked. 

     "There's still people to be sorted, Peter," Penelope reminded him. But Peter soon got his wish as the last student was finally sorted. Food was abundant as it appeared on every available inch of the Gryffindor table. 

     Penelope immediately dove for the yorkshire pudding. Yet hands snatched it from her before she could even dish it onto her plate. "Too slow, Ollivander," Sirius mocked her. 

     "Penny," James caught Penelope's attention, "take this." He handed her a new bowl of yorkshire pudding. 

     "Thanks, James!" Sirius grumbled to himself as his joke failed. 

     "I was going to give you some . . ." Penelope laughed as Sirius pretended to sulk. 

     "You poor puppy," cooed Penelope, "James is just smarter and has already learned not to anger me."

     Remus snorted as he took as drink of his pumpkin juice. "She's got some teeth, I see." 

     "Woof, woof," Sirius humored Penelope. She spit out her pumpkin juice as she burst into laughter. Luckily, it fell onto her plate. Unfortunately, it also hit Sirius in the face. "Grrrr . . ."

     "I'm so sorry, Sirius!" Penelope exclaimed. 

     He waved her off and used a napkin to clean off his robes. "The house elves will clean it," Penelope grew uncomfortable as he spoke of house elves. She knew what they were, of course, but she had never actually seen one in person. 

     "House elves?" Penelope asked. 

     "They work here!" Peter managed to speak through all the food stuffed into his mouth. 

     The young Ollivander gasped. "Of their own free will?" Penelope asked. 

     "Don't worry," Remus rested a hand on Penelope's shoulder, "Professor Dumbledore makes sure they're happy. They have an allowance and from what my dad told me, they enjoy working here. It gives them a sense of purpose."

     Penelope breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I can't stand seeing innocent creatures being hurt or held against their will. When I was five, my grandfather said that I cried when a bird ate a butterfly."

     The four first year boys broke into laughter. "I was five." Penelope tried to defend herself but she fell into the trap and burst. Her laughter was higher than the guys yet they were louder. 

     After the main course of dinner, came dessert. Penelope ate a treacle tart while James turned his nose up at it. "Never will I eat that. Almost choked on it when I was a kid. It had turned hard after it was left out for a few days. Broke a front tooth because it was so hard. The piece I did bite off was too large and I almost choked on it," James said. But he grabbed a scoop of chocolate gateau. 

     "My favorite dessert is a well made trifle. I prefer chocolate but I'll take anything I can get," Sirius grinned. 

     Remus pulled something out of his pocket and showed it to his new found friends. "Chocolate. Dark, preferably milk, chocolate but never white chocolate." He held a milk chocolate bar. 

     "What about you, Peter?" James asked through his mouthful of gateau. 

     "Anything," Peter stopped stuffing his mouth to speak. But he resumed his inhaling of many desserts seconds later. 

     "Off to bed!" Professor Dumbledore announced to all students in the Great Hall. 

     Penelope went over what to say to Professor Dumbledore as she approached him. "Penny!" Sirius called out to the young girl. 

     "I'll be there in a minute," Penelope promised. "Professor Dumbledore?"

     The headmaster of Hogwarts turned around as he heard his name. "Penelope Ollivander," he smiled. A twinkle shone in his eyes that reminded Penelope of her grandfather. "It is an honor to meet you."

     "No, sir, it's an honor to meet you. I was wondering if I could ask you a question," she inquired. "Would it be possible for me to run around the grounds in the early mornings? I really enjoy the activity and thought it wouldn't hurt for me to ask."

     Professor Dumbledore chuckled at her question. "Of course you may run. I will inform the teachers about your activity, as you put it, so that you may run in peace."

     "Thank you so much, Professor. I get up very early because I don't have time in the evenings. I hope to see you later," Penelope spoke, a smile as bright as the sun resting on her face.

     "Until then, Miss Ollivander," he nodded his head towards her.

     Penelope scampered back to where Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter stood. "What did you ask?" Sirius questioned.

     "If I could go running every morning. It is something that relaxes me before the start of a day. I'll still be on time for everything, though," James's eyes bulged out of his head.

     "You go running? For fun?" Peter exclaimed. "Are you insane or something?"

     Penelope laughed. "That's what my grandfather says."