Thick Smoke

Sorting Ceremony

"What happened? Was it my imagination, or did she just collapse?"

Eliza groaned softly and shifted, her body heavy as if she had been pulled from somewhere far away. Voices reached her, hushed and uncertain, but they blended together, making it impossible to distinguish who was speaking.

"What happened?" she asked at last, her voice low and strained, as though her head had been split in two.

"You just dropped out of nowhere," one of the boys said, still shaken. "Merlin's beard, you nearly gave us a heart attack."

She gave a small nod, pressing her fingers against her temple, embarrassed that she had drawn so much attention to herself.

"The Dementors were searching for Sirius Black," Dean Thomas added as he helped her to her feet. "They've gone now. We'll be at Hogwarts soon."

Eliza nodded again, her gaze drifting across the compartment. Seamus stood across from her, his eyes still wide, while Dean remained close by her side, unsure whether to step away or stay.

"So... where are you from?" he asked, attempting to ease the tension that still lingered between them.

*****

The rest of the journey passed quietly. The boys spoke occasionally, their conversation shifting between questions about what had just happened and their usual talk about Hogwarts and Quidditch.

By the time the train arrived, Eliza felt as though her feet refused to move. She changed quickly into her robes in the bathroom and returned to the compartment with far more haste than she had intended.

"Are you nervous?" Dean asked as they stepped off the train.

"Not exactly nervous," she admitted, glancing around at the crowd pressing in from all sides. "I've just never been around so many people before. It's... overwhelming."

Dean gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "If you need anything, just find me, Seamus, or Neville. It doesn't matter what house you end up in."

He offered her a warm smile before hurrying off toward a group of friends.

"Right," she murmured, left standing on her own without much direction.

"Hey! Are ya lost?"

Eliza turned and found herself looking up at a very large man whose concerned expression shifted into a bright smile the moment he saw her eyes.

"Ya're Eliza, aren't ya? Nice ter meet ya. Been waitin' ter see ya ever since Dumbledore told us ya were comin'."

"Is that a good thing?" she asked, uncertain, which only made him laugh.

"Of course it is. I'm Rubeus Hagrid," he said, leaning slightly closer. "How's Willy been doin'? Still a bit cranky?"

Her eyes widened in recognition. "You took care of him!"

"Did me best," Hagrid replied with a grin.

He straightened soon after and raised his voice, calling for all first years to follow him and stay close. The transfer students were instructed to join them as well, as they too would need to be sorted.

"So, did he scratch ya yet?" Hagrid asked as they began moving.

"Not yet," Eliza replied, a faint smile appearing. "Though he certainly tried. Has he always been like that?"

"Not always," Hagrid said thoughtfully. "There was one person he liked... besides yer mother."

That was enough to catch her attention, though the conversation ended as they approached the castle.