𝕾𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 1𝖘𝖙 1971

The tiny amber flames of lit torches glimmered in the evanescent light of dusk, the skyline of the castle interrupting the violet horizon that slowly darkened with the approach of night. A gentle zephyr threatened to extinguish them, but the small fires held resilient, reflecting in the water of the black lake and illuminating the boats that carried them.

Gentle weather was unusual for the storm-ridden hills of Scotland, especially as it teetered on the precipice of winter, yet today the rain and clouds allowed the procession of boats to navigate the calm waters in peace.

The external tranquillity did little to calm the turmoil that twisted inside Eleni. She gripped the side of the boat, hand clenched so tightly that her nails engraved tiny half-moons into her skin. Excitement tasted sweet, yet all she could make out on her tongue was the metallic taste of fear.

"Are you seasick?" A boy at the front of her boat asked, and she cast her eyes upward to look at him for the first time. He had light brown hair and a gentle expression, a few scars and freckles scattered across his face. His soft gaze was directed to where she clutched the hull, and she released it quickly.

"Seasick?" The boy beside Eleni repeated, looking at her with disdain. He had tan skin and dark hair, with a brooding expression and shapely lips twisted in a sneer. He was holding a book, completely uninterested in admiring the landscape. "We are on a lake. There are not even any waves."

The first boy folded his arms. Eleni caught the name engraved in silver on his small briefcase— R.J. Lupin. "Some people have sensitive stomachs," he said defensively.

"That's true," a third girl interjected in a tentative whisper, eager to be involved yet seemingly cautious. She was strikingly pretty, with waist-length blonde hair that shone with an almost white lustre in the dim radiance.

"I'm not," Eleni told them quickly. There were four of them, the tiny first-years bundled together in the small enchanted rowboat. "Seasick, I mean."

Lupin watched Eleni sympathetically with his chocolate brown eyes. "Nervous, then?" He asked knowingly. Eleni looked away aloofly, focusing on the lapping water.

"Is that it? You're nervous?" The blonde girl asked brightly. "Well, that's nothing, we're all a bit scared. I almost cried at the platform." Eleni managed to offer her a tiny smile, and encouraged, the other girl held out her hand. "I'm Céline, by the way."

"Eleni," she replied, reaching forward to shake the pale, slender hand, noticing the way Céline's azure eyes brightened.

When they let go, Lupin nodded at them. "Remus," he said, keeping his hands firmly tucked under his arms. "Remus Lupin."

They all turned to the dark-haired boy expectantly, and he barely looked up from the book which he was reading to roll his eyes. "Daishin," he muttered, voice laced with forceful venom.

Remus and Céline broke into small, amiable chatter, while Eleni and Daishin remained quiet for what she imagined were vastly different reasons. The girl absorbed the scenery in front of her, staring in wonderment at the magnificent structure which loomed in the distance.

When the boats docked, Céline was the first one out, springing onto the bank with puerile enthusiasm and almost capsizing the ones still in it. The rest of them got out more slowly, as the first years flocked to follow Hagrid's beckoning shouts.

They clambered up a passageway in the rock, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle, then up a flight of stone steps to the large oaken door. Eleni looked around to find Remus and Daishin, but they had been lost to the crowd of first-years.

The entrance hall to the interior of the castle was an elegant display of grandeur, with stone walls lit by flaming torches, the ceiling too high to make out, and a coruscating marble staircase facing them which led to the upper floors.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Céline said, her silken voice awestruck. "Well it's nothing compared to what I've heard the great hall looks like."

About this, Eleni discovered she was right, as a tall and stern woman with grey hair pulled into a severe bun led them into a long hall filled with rows of dark tables, where older students sat amongst the din, clad in their black robes which adorned their house colours; crimson, emerald, navy and canary.

On the ceiling, candles floated in mid-air, reflecting the pitch black, star-laden sky outside. Sparkling gold goblets were situated at the place settings, currently empty of drink. They were accompanied by golden saucers and silverware, plates and ladles; all of which were yet barren.

Eleni had never seen such grandiose wealth. St. Mary's Institution for Troubled Girls placed emphasis on solemn discipline, and she had learned to live on the barebones of necessity. It made her head spin.

The stern professor now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Badler, Ares!"

A boy with dark eyes and messy hair which fell around his face stepped up to the stool. He seemed to despise the notion of all their eyes on him, and he kept his own fixed pointedly at the wall.

Hardly a moment passed before a rip in the brim of the hat opened, and it called out "RAVENCLAW!" The table on the right broke out in a cascade of cheers, and Ares exhaled, before going to claim a seat amongst his new housemates.

A few more names were called out; Gideon Westbrook to Hufflepuff, Marlene McKinnon to Gryffindor, and Lorna Stoker also to Ravenclaw, before Céline's name was called. She gave one last encouraging beam to Eleni, before going up and placing the hat on her head, self-assuredly unbothered by the eyes on her.

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted out, and Céline hopped up with delight, going to take a seat beside the previously sorted Ravenclaw girl.

"Black, Sirius!"

The crowd parted for the pale, aristocratic boy that stepped up to the stool with poise. He had sharp cheekbones and a slender nose, both of which wore a frigid expression, and long black hair that fell neatly to his shoulders. His cold grey eyes briefly met Eleni's, and even from a distance, she was shocked by the intense storm which raged in them.

The hat lingered on Black for longer than it had done for anyone else. Finally, after an eternity of what seemed like negotiation, Sirius acquiesced, lips fixing into a grimace as it called, "GRYFFINDOR!"

There was silence, before the whispers broke out throughout the Great Hall like little hissing fires, though Eleni didn't understand why. Sirius had gone from pale to ghostly, forcing numb legs to carry him to the crimson-clad table.

"My, that is strange," the girl beside Eleni breathed. She stood with grace and such elegant posture that Eleni subconsciously straightened. The name Selwyn was engraved on a silver pendant around her neck.

"Sorry," Eleni whispered, "what is strange?"

Selwyn turned to her with apprehension. "A Black being sorted into Gryffindor, of course," she said, seemingly smug about knowing something the other girl didn't, but not elaborating on it further.

The boy beside Selwyn snorted, turning to both girls. "Sirius has always been like that," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Rebellious. It was just a matter of time before he-"

"Shut up, Nott!" A fiery red-head girl snapped from beside him, elbowing him in the ribs sharply.

A few more names were announced, before Daishin, the intimidating boy from the boat, was also sorted into Ravenclaw. Eleni prayed, to the Catholic God whom she had been forced to worship for so many years, that she too should end up in the blue house.

"Demetriou, Eleni!" Her heart stilled, sharp-edged butterflies fluttering around in her gut, as she went up to the stool, though the most pressing concern was her tendency to trip- she kept her concentration focused on not stumbling as she walked up, feeling the eyes on her like bullet holes.

Eleni lowered the hat onto her head, and Remus met her eyes from the crowd. He gave her an encouraging smile, which she was too nervous to return.

"Hmm," said a small voice in her ear, and she tried not to flinch. "There's a bright mind here, a very bright mind. And there's darkness in your future, oh yes. You'll grow tired of being covered by the shadows eventually, this heart isn't one to be hidden away... I see only one true option.

SLYTHERIN!"