'You are curiously wise and comfortable in you mind and skin which is so unlike many others whose minds I have seen' She was neither shocked nor prepared for the voice in her mind but her body gave nothing away.
'Your ties to the Gryffindor community are stronger than those to Slytherin, you will be more in tune there.'
And so, in unison the sorting hat and the girl announced to the mesmerised hall,
"Gryffindor!" Without prompting she placed the hat on the stool. She vacated the seat and headed towards the table where the table where the Weasleys, Lee Jordan and a few more open-minded Gryffindors were deafening the hall with their celebratory cheers.
The rest of the hall politely clapped and began to mumble, blatantly scowled and they clenched their fists in anger and hatred. Draco, much to the astonishment of his housemates allowed rare genuine smile to cross his face as his eyes locked with As' and while she watched he raised his goblet and drank to her happiness. In response she grinned goofily and nicked Lee's hat and tipped it to him. Then they both turned away and acted as though the exchange had never happened.
As turned to her fellow Gryffindors who looked at her questioningly. She narrowed her eyes dangerously and their curiously for the most part abated- they had no wish to question or bother her. Lee and the Weasley twins resolved to talk or more correctly confront her later. As clapped and hugged Ron after he joined the Gryffindor Weasley clan and ignored Hermione Granger besides a small patronising clap (she had decided Hermione was bossy and was a shove-my-superior-intelligence-in-your-face kind of person and did not like her). Turning to the stage for what felt like the billionth time, her eyes lit up as she recognised Harry. Her excitement faded to shock as McGonagall spoke.
"Harry Potter." After a long deliberation a pale-faced Harry became relieved. The sorting hat directed him toward the Gryffindor table.
Dumbledore spoke and the start of term commenced.
As, not bothered by the time and not tired used to staying up late and reading with Remmy walked up to Percy Weasley without hesitation or embarrassment when he called for the first years. He smiled and pulled her in for a brief hug momentarily allowing his prefect-responsible-adult-façade to fade. When the moment passed he became once more responsible-perfect-prefect-Percy.
As fell leisurely behind as she pretty much knew the way from the Weasleys Hogwarts tales.
Soon enough they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady who introduced herself and welcomed the new students to Gryffindor. As, carefully slipped through the group to rejoin Perce at the front. Upon entering the common room there were many gasps of awe and admiration. While the other first years quietly (or not so quietly) and submissively went to bed as told by the prefects, As looked around her shared room appreciatively before heading back down to join the older years.
The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan cheered and held a moment of respect for the first first year to break the rules.
Plopping herself down into Percy's lap she pulled the puppy dog eyes (which had been perfected over the years and helped her manipulate many people) as he looked reprovingly at her.
"Don't be mad Perce." She asked of her almost older brother.
"Fine but you go up to bed in and hour." His protectiveness and wish for her well being kicking in hard. He wrapped his arm round her and she snuggled into him.
The others in the common room had never seen Percy reduced to this before and they faced the reality that she wasn't anything like her father or the Slytherin side of her family; from what they had seen of her she was quirky, funny, clever and kind. Unconsciously they made a split decision to protect her and defend her from the more prejudiced and closed-minded of people. Unknowingly she had gained respect from her fellow Gryffindors that night.
After conversing quietly with the Weasleys and Lee until her time limit was up, Perce finally ushered her towards the stairs and she said goodnight. The occupants of the common room all wished her a good nights sleep and promised she would have many wonderful memories at Hogwarts in the years to come.
"Go and read for a bit, and we will see you in the morning. Goodnight." Perce said as they exchanged hugs once more and As tiptoed up the stairs.
