In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*Sorted

"Lupin, Briar!"

Briar felt like her legs had turned to jelly once McGonagall called her name. Her heart raced in her chest, so loud she could have sworn everyone else could her it. But she nervously began to walk up the steps towards the stool, keeping her eyes firmly on the stone ground in case she stumbled, which was the last thing she wanted to do in front of a hall of strangers.

Minerva McGonagall immediately saw the resemblance between this child and her father. This girl may have had silver hair, but she had the same nervous posture her father had had when he walked up these stairs. When Briar reached the stool she finally looked up and flashed McGonagall a polite smile and Minerva swore it was like looking at Remus, making her heart squeeze. They both had the same crooked grin, and hazel eyes, and it sent a tug to her heart.

Briar sat down on the stool, facing the hall of unfamiliar faces, and as the sorting hat touched her hand, she gasped nervously when it began to speak.

From the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy glanced up at her. It was the girl from Flourish and Blotts. Usually, he didn't care about these new students being sorted but for some reason, part of him wanted her to end up in his house.

She was a half-breed, but a pretty one.

Briar's nervous eyes stayed fixed on the floor as she realised everyone was staring at her, waiting anxiously until the hat finally spoke

"Better be...GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted

Minerva glanced behind her at Dumbledore, who wore the same proud expression she did. Remus Lupin and the Marauders had of course been some of the most troublesome students their school ever had, but Remus had also been one of the brightest. They had both heard of the tragedy of his girlfriend passing away, and then him having to give up their child. So to see her smiling and following in her father's footsteps, sent a smile to both of their faces

The table under the red banners broke into cheers and Briar smiled triumphantly. She hopped off the stool and rushed towards her new house, and she realised Hermione was there too so the two girls shared a quick hug

"Congratulations!" Hermione smiled and they sat down as the cheers died down too "Have you seen Harry or Ron?"

"No, I thought they were with you on the train" Briar said

"No they weren't" Hermione said and Briar frowned. Where were the boys? Briar looked further down the Gryffindor table to see if they had just snuck in late, but didn't see them. Instead she realised all the other Weasleys were also in Gryffindor, which made her smile

Then she turned back to the sorting ceremony and waited anxiously, until finally Professor McGonagall shouted "Micheals, Henry!"

Briar saw her best friend take a deep breath and begin to walk towards the stool too. He sat down and seconds after the hat was placed on his head, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" 

Briar and the rest of her new house jumped to their feet in celebration and he sprinted towards her to take the seat next to her. Briar laughed as he threw his arms around her, but returned the hug nonetheless

He settled next to her and they all watched the sorting ceremony continue on, greeting the new people in Gryfffindor as they arrived, until they reached towards the end of the alphabet and Professor McGonagall called "Weasley, Ginny!"

For such a small girl, she was alarmingly brave and walked up with her chin in the air, sitting on the stool with a smile, like a true Weasley.

The hat barely touched her head before it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and she hopped off the stool too, joining her friends and family at the table. And after a few more names were called, the sorting ceremony ended so Briar scanned the rest of the new Gryffindor first years