Meddling With Magic

5~ A Hat Talks and I Check Off Something on My Bucket List

Here's the update! :) 

~Calypso~ (Ha. I bet you weren't expecting THAT.)

After our twenty minute "Hog War" as Leo has dubbed it, Percy dried the floor, and we walked back into our compartment. A few seconds later a nice looking older lady with a cart full of sugary treats rolled up. "Anything from the trolley Dearies?" 

Before Leo could even stand up, I put a hand in front of him. "Two words Repair Boy: NO CANDY." 

He groaned, slumping in his seat a little. I could tell that he wasn't too upset though, because his eyes were still shining happily. I smiled at him, then walked up to the lady with the food. After Percy and I ordered for everyone else, we set to tasting the different wizarding delicacies. Once the lady was a ways down the hall, I let Leo take his share. We didn't want random people being injured. 

The boys had a great time seeing who could shove the most Chocolate Frogs in their mouths, and Clarisse had an even better time beating all of them. We also popped open a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and had a great time passing them around. (Eww, Throwup)

A few hours later the girl named Hermione popped into our room. Leo and Percy were having a competition to see who could hold a hand-stand for longer, and her confused look was hilarious. She sighed. "I'm not even going to ask. Anyways, we'll be arriving at Hogwarts in about thirty minutes, its best if you change into your robes soon." 

I gave her a small smile, grateful  for the advice. She smiled back, then returned to her own compartment. 

The girls all went to the bathrooms to change, leaving the boys in the compartment. Hopefully they wouldn't destroy it... 

A while later we walked back complaining profusely. "You can't move in these at all!" Piper whined, fidgeting with her sleeve. 

"How are we gonna fight?!" Clarisse protested. 

Even Hazel voiced her complaints. "These abominations are swallowing me! There's no way I'm going to wear these!"  

I stayed silent, scowling at my flowing black robes. They swamped me, making it impossible to defend myself. Honestly, what were the wizards thinking? 

When Hogwarts finally came into sight, we all crowded by the window to get a better view of the ancient castle. It had graceful stone turrets, elegant windows, and warm lights spilled out at us from deep inside. The architecture was gorgeous, whoever had created this place clearly put a lot of love and time into it. 

I looked over at Leo, who was talking quietly to Percy. Now that I thought about it, Percy didn't look so good. He was pale, and a mournful expression had overtaken his face. Oh... Annabeth. She loved architecture, and Hogwarts probably reminded him of her. I winced in sympathy as a voice floated down the hall.

"We are about to arrive! Prepare to stop!" 

~Percy~ 

When we finally got off the train, our small group was thrown into a writhing sea of students. It took a while to find an empty carriage, but we were soon situated in one's warm interior. The cabs were pulled by horses that were the equine version of Nico. But, they greeted me with 'my lords' and 'wonderful to meet you's, so they were obviously more polite than him. 

A deep hollow feeling was settled in the pit of my stomach, making me long for Annabeth and home. She would have loved this place, with its well thought-out architecture. 

The carriage rattled across cobblestones, and I returned to my friend's conversation. Piper and Leo were arguing about something again, and everyone else was taking sides. Clarisse, Frank, and Calypso all agreed with Leo, while Hazel, and (surprisingly) the Stolls agreed with Piper. It was something about the diffierences between slime bubbles and soap bubbles. 

"Well! Who do you agree with?!" Piper and Leo shouted at the same time. 

I put my hands up. "Leave me out of this!" 

I was saved from their piercing gazes by the halting of our carriage. We piled out, following the stream of wizards and witches to a huge entrance. They all poured into a large dining hall, and we tried to follow. 

Before we could get halfway through the door, a lady with a strict face and a hair pulled into a tight silver bun halted us and pulled our small group into a side room. 

"Hello, I am Headmistress McGonagall. Because you are new to the school, it is required that you get sorted. This must happen in front of the rest of the school, so you'll be going in momentarily. You will be sorted into houses based on your personalities, and they will be your family and home within Hogwarts. You will all be with the 8th years, despite your age differences." She informed us before leading us into the Great Hall.

Some smaller students waiting outside the Hall looked at us strangely as we passed by. Then she pushed open the doors, beckoning us through. McGonagall lead us to the front of the room and I kept my head up defiantly, despite the stares. Us demigods didn't mind little things like this much anymore, but I saw Hazel scoot a little closer to Frank.  

Four long tables decorated with different colors dominated the space. Candles floated enchantingly near the ceiling that looked exactly like the sky. 

When we finally reached the front of the space, McGonagall pulled out a ratted hat, setting it on an old crooked stool. 

"This year, we will be welcoming nine foreign exchange students from America. They must be sorted, and will all be placed with the 8th years. There is an age difference, but from what their headmaster told me, they are all strong enough to be put in this level. All further announcements will take place after the Sortings." 

She nodded to me, and I headed towards the hat on a hunch. A huge rip opened up. "Well, well, well... I haven't sorted one of your kind for ages!" The hat exclaimed. 

Wow. I just encountered something totally unexpected. That's a check mark on my post-war bucket list. 

"So, are you gonna put me on?" The hat asked. A few of the students snickered, and I smirked into the crowd. I stood next to the stool, afraid the spindly thing would break under my weight, and slipped the hat on. It fell over my eyes, leaving me in darkness. 

Plenty of loyalty, I see, and extreme bravery. You have ambition, but not enough to be just Slytherin. Lots of street-smarts, and Annabeth put some book-learning into you too. Well, I know exactly what you should be. You're divided, and  division can create balance. Yes, I know exactly where to put you. Better be... 

"IMPERICANCE!"

Oh my gosh I feel so evil! I BET YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT! I'm pretty sure that I just beat the clichés people! I mean, I haven't seen this before, soooooo... TAKE THAT ANNOYING CLICHES!