Ebony ~ D.M.

I

^^(James looks like that in familiar form except a boy, and he has long curly hair like the previous picture)

Merlin, was James nervous. His hands were shaky, palms were sweaty, and his knees weak. They felt like gelatin. 

He was currently on the boat to Hogwarts with Hagrid. The large man rowed along silently for a good while, but decided to speak up.

"Yer Jameson Black, correct?" James nodded, although he cringed at the use of his full name. Only his mother used his full name.

"Just James, if that's alright with you." James' voice dripped sweet honeysuckle nectar with smooth undertones. Hagrid nodded, eyebrows raised.

"I've come ta understand ya know nothing about anythin', correct?" The half-giant asked the curly-haired boy, whomst was currently twiddling his fingers. The boy nodded, still staring at his fingers as if they were the most intricately divine phalanges in the entire universe. He looked up for a moment to see Hagrid staring at him.

"I'm so nervous. I'm scared. What if the other w-wizards..?" James trailed off questioningly, looking at Hagrid to see if he'd gotten the term right. When Hagrid nodded, James began to speak again. "What if the other wizards don't like me? I know nothing about magic yet, I'm coming here in the middle of the semester and disrupting everything. What if I don't make friends? What if I fail? What if-" The boy was cut off by Hagrid's reassuring tone.

"Listen here, boy. I've got yer back. Anything ya need, anything, ye come ta ol' Hagrid. I'll fix ye up with whatever ya need. I know some kids that would love to meetcha, if ya'd like that." Hagrid offered. James nodded with a small but appreciative smile set upon his features as Hagrid slowed the boat to a stop. 

James hadn't even noticed the castle while he and his new friend conversed, but when he took it in, his tiny heart nearly stopped. The entire school was made from grey stone, moss covering bits here and there. The lights of the school were mesmerizing. It looked like a lantern festival. The moon shined down on the lake as it created waves with great viscosity. He stepped off of the boat and he and Hagrid began their journey to the great hall.

***

As Hagrid opened the door, all conversations ceased and every single pair of curious eyes burned into his back as Hagrid walked him up the steps to Dumbledore. Whispers and mumbles spread throughout the dining hall like wildfire, causing a deep blush to etch itself onto James' dusky cheeks. 

Hagrid had whispered into the Headmaster's ear for nearly a minute before he put a hand up, nodded, and looked to an older looking lady before nodding at her as well. The lady got up from her seat and gracefully brought a stool down while a man with black hair held a tarnished obscurity of a hat. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and held it to his neck. James' eyes widened, thinking the old man was about to off himself. But no. He simply muttered a few words.

"If I could have everyone's attention." His voice echoed around the room, stopping all talk, other than a small group at a greenish table. Dumbledore didn't take kindly to this. "Including you, Malfoy." He uttered at the talkative boy. A deep crimson blush took its place on the boy's cheeks, and it only got worse when he made eye contact with none other than his personal worst enemy: Jameson Black.

"Now then. I'd like to welcome a new student to Hogwarts, no matter the lateness of the school year. This is Jameson Harold Black. Minerva?" Dumbledore nodded to the lady with the stool. She tapped on the seat and James sat. "After sorting him, head boy of his house will need to give him a tour." Dumbledore sat down after that. Minerva held the hat above James' head before ever-so-gracefully plopping it's dingy brown colours onto his fluffy sable hair. The hat felt odd, James had decided.