Chapter 1
Blaire McKilley stared out the window of the Hogwarts Express as it pulled out of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She was happy to be getting away from her the orphanage, but her facial expressions didn’t show it. For Blaire, however, that was normal. Not so much as a grin ever filled her pale face. No tear ever met her green eyes. Never since her parents died had Blaire showed any glimpse of emotion. Blaire sighed. Perhaps there was some sort of spell or potion that could null the sadness in her heart. Break the shadow she seemed to be enclosed in. She made a mental note to check the school’s library once she had a chance.
"Anything off the trolley, dear?"
Blaire looked up and gazed at the trolley full of chocolates, candies, and other types of sweets. She dug her hands into the pockets of her ragged jeans, but pulled out nothing but a few balls of lint. She shook her head and returned her gaze out the window, watching the English country side speed by. Her stomach growled and she wondered how much longer it would be until the train came to a stop. She hadn't eaten any breakfast and of course the orphanage hadn't packed her a lunch. In fact, now that she thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last proper meal she'd even eaten. Blaire tried her hardest to think of something other than food, but her attempts where in vain and her head spun with lack of nourishment, so she did the only thing she could do to keep her mind off her aching head and angry stomach. She fell asleep.
It was dark out when Blaire finally opened her eyes again. The Hogwarts Express was quickly coming to a halt. Blaire changed into her school robes as fast as she could and followed the other students as they filed out of the train. She was still in a bit of a daze.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Hey, watch it there!"
Blaire bumped into something. Slowly she raised her head and her jaw dropped. For standing in front of her was the largest man, she'd ever seen. His head and face was completely covered in long brown bushy hair and beard. All that could really been seen were his beady black eyes and stubby nose. Blaire's first thought was to scream and run as far away from this place as she could, but running meant going back to the horrors of the orphanage, so she didn't budge.
"Come on firs' years, this way!"
Blaire followed the crowd of other first years as they made their way down to the lake and boarded lantern lit boats. On top of the hill ahead, along the other shore lay a vast castle. It's turrets seeming miles high. Everything seemed like such a dream. Blaire pinched her arm just to make sure she was really awake.
The journey over the black waters was short and soon Blaire and the other first years were lead through the castle, into the Great Hall, and up to the front where a stool and old tattered hat stood.
"When I call out your name, please come up to the front and you will be sorted into your houses."
One by one Blaire watched the others try on the sorting hat.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
She watched as the crowd around her begin to dwindle.
"GRIFFINDOR!"
She stared almost transfixed at the ceiling, which resembled the night sky. Watched the stars twinkling above her.
"RAVENCLAW!"
She began to wonder what she’d gotten into. What was expected of her? It was, after all, only a few months ago that she became aware of the wizarding world.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"McKilley, Blaire."
Worry and fear invaded her mind, but her face as usual remained blank. Shakily she stepped forward. Her head was spinning again and she desperately fought away the blackness that was beginning to close in on her. With great effort she pulled herself up onto the stool and the sorting hat was placed upon her head.
"GRIFFINDOR!"
With a sigh she slid off the stool, but she couldn’t fight the dizziness any longer. She took two unsteady steps then everything turned black.
To be continued...
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