MARA WILLIAMS

"Are these seats taken?"

I tore my eyes away from the window to see a raven haired girl stood in the doorway, the train had already began to move so she clung onto the doorframe, a second identical girl behind her holding onto a stationary trolly for support.
A small part of me wanted to be alone for the journey, it would give me time to think, to prepare for the change to come. But I couldn't exactly tell these girls that no, she couldn't sit here because I was saving this entire pod all to myself.

Shaking my head I moved my stuff over slightly to allow them space as the two girls zealously launched their suitcases into the overheads. One sat besides me whilst the other chose the space opposite me.
Now I was well and truly boxed in, I thought, no escape.

"You're new?" The taller of the two girls asked, tucking a strand of thick black hair behind her ear. "Hope you don't mind me saying but you look a bit old to be a first year..."

"Yeah..." I gave a small smile. "Just transferred this year from Durmstrang."

  They exchanged confused glances with one another, "Wait," The other blurted out. "I thought that was a boys only school?"

"It is... It was." I shrugged, avoiding their gaze by instead toying with the hem of my robe, "At least, it was until I joined."

The girl beside me let out a sound of grief, "My god, that must've been horrific! Being the only girl in an all boys school..."

"—Heaven more like." Her sister winked, which made me laugh. She rested her hands under her chin, pretending to gaze off dreamily into the distance. "Can you even begin to imagine!"

"You're disgusting." The first girl grunted, shaking her head before turning back to me. "I'm Padma by the way, and that's my little sister Parvati."

This seemed to stir up something in the opposing sibling because she sat up straight, her big brown eyes ablaze.
"Three minutes!" Parvati cried. "It doesn't make you superior because you fell out of mum three measly minutes before me!"

They argued for a while about the significance of their own birth.

"Being older isn't a personality trait Padma."

"—At least I have a personality."

Eventually I'd had enough of the bickering and I interrupted both of them, "So are you both in the same house?"

"God no." Parvati drawled, "I'd rather fist fight the Whomping Willow than stay in a dorm with her."

"Feeling mutual." Her sister snapped, crossing her arms over her chest with a huff. "Parvati's a Gryffindor, I'm in Ravenclaw."

I frowned, "Do you get to choose?"
We never had anything like the sorting ceremony at Durmstrang, but then again they didn't exactly care much to cater for individuals. They only cared about the strong, the intellectual were viewed as weak and swept under the rug entirely.

Both girls burst out laughing at my question, and I felt a familiar heat rise up in my cheeks. "Of course not, well sort of, but not really..." Padma grinned, as if my suggestion was entirely ridiculous. "Look don't worry about it, McGonagall will explain it all when we get to Hogwarts."

  Don't worry. Easier said than done, I thought, the pit in my stomach hollowing, filling with a horrid twisting feeling. Don't worry.

• • •

It felt like years before the train finally ground to a halt. When an elderly lady with a sweet voice had came through with a trolly loaded with food both the twins had filled with pockets with Cauldron Cakes and Liquorice Wands.
I hadn't got anything, I didn't feel like eating. I didn't feel like doing anything particularly in that moment. But I was regretting it now, as a well of hunger gnawed at the base of my stomach.

Padma quickly disappeared, saying something about meeting up with friends, whilst Parvati stayed behind to help me with my bags. "Thank you."

"Don't worry about it," She grinned, "You kind of look like you need all the help you can get right now."

I sighed, hauling Percy's cage onto the trolly, "Is it that obvious?"

A great booming voice that seemed to shake the very earth we stood upon called out over the raucous of the students as our feet hit the platform, "First years! First years this way! Hurry up, come with me!"

I looked over to see an absolute mountain of a man, at least twice as tall as the average male and three times as wide looming like a dark cloud over the measly first years as he beckoned them forth.

"I can't believe I forgot to ask your name on the train," Parvati said, leading me over towards a thick mesh of black robes and eager hands.

"Mara." I bit my lip nervously at the massacre of people before us, "—Mara Williams."

"Well, for what it's worth it's nice to meet you Mara." Her dark eyes lit up with a hearty smile, she was a genuine soul, that much I could tell. "We leave our bags over here, and they'll bring them up to the castle later."

"What about Percy?" I asked, worried about leaving the disobedience little stoat unattended.

Parvati didn't look particularly enamoured by the rodent-like creature, eyeing him cautiously. "He'll be fine, Hagrid's taking the first years to the castle, then he'll come straight back with the boats to get the luggage."

Percy wasn't luggage.

Begrudgingly I agreed, saying a final goodbye to the sleeping ball of brown fur before following Parvati to the string of small wooden boats.

• • •

I couldn't help but marvel at the castle, every turn of every hall was lit with a thousand incandescent candles, twinkling like tiny stars in the dimming light. The sun had set hours ago, taking with it the last remainders of the day, the last shreds of home.
—But this was home now, and I was happy for it, anything was better than that hell hole Durmstrang.

Parvati waved me goodbye as she along with the rest of the students filed into the Great Hall.
"You must be Mara Williams." An elder lady with greying hair and an emerald feather in her pointed hat approached, introducing herself as professor McGonagall and instructing me to wait with the rest of the first year students by the doors.

I was grateful beyond words that I wasn't the only transfer this year, two other girls stood at the front of the line.

A hand on my lower back made me jump, "Go now, to the front of the line with the others. You're second to be sorted." Professor McGonagall urged, giving me a little push.

Awkward smiles were exchanged between myself and the others transfers who were so clearly from Beauxbâtons, with their long blonde hair, neatly curled and prepped for the day and perfectly manicured nails.

"Come." McGonagall urged impatiently as the doors swung open to reveal the Great Hall. My stomach rived like a snake, coiling around my heart so tightly I feared I may pass out at any given moment.

We filed in, and I felt thousands of eyes trained upon me. They burned my skin with their sinful glares.
—But when I scanned my surroundings expecting to see hateful stares I was surprised to see joyous expressions. Maybe this place wasn't like Dermstrang after all... Maybe.

One pair of eyes captured mine, and just like that I was ensnared in his piercing gaze. A flash of white blonde hair, a glimpse of a brilliant smile before he was blocked from my view. Focus.

—But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't unsee his haunting grey eyes.

We reached the apex of the hall when a familiar face appeared to stand at a carved wood podium before the students. Dumbledore.

"Welcome!" He called, throwing his arms into the air, "Old and new! Now let the sorting begin..."

McGonagall stepped forwards once more, pursing her lips into a thin line as she peering down at a scroll of parchment.
"Now when I call your name you will come forth, I will place the hat upon your head and you will be placed into your houses... Once sorted make sure to sit at the appropriate table, and there is to be no funny business." She said sharply, glaring at one of the tables in particular which made two red headed boys chuckle loudly.

"I mean it Fred and George." She hissed before shaking her head, "Now, first up, Cameia Bortsworth."

The Beauxbâton's girl in front of me stepped forward and McGonagall placed the hat on her head, a horrid face appearing from it as it barked out, "Ravenclaw!"

Cameia sprang forwards to join the table full of cheering students, they patted her on the back and shook her hand as chose a seat amongst them on the bench.

I was rudely torn back to reality by the old woman's piercing voice. "Mara Williams."
I hesitated for a second, unsure wether my legs would be strong enough to support me as I stepped forwards.
—And then there they were again, those eyes. A creeping cold shiver crawled down my spine.
A suffocating silence fell over the Great Hall, but they could've been screaming and I wouldn't have been able to hear them over the thundering of my own heart as I seated myself on the stool and McGonagall placed the old leather hat on my head.

Hmm.. Interesting. The rough drawl of the hat whispered and I had to fight the urge to tear the horrid thing from my head then and there.

You could be Slytherin.. But then again you're a fit for gryffindor... Or even ravenclaw. Most peculiar.

I prayed for all but one, I didn't know much about the houses... But I knew enough. So I shut my eyes and wished for any other house.

Fine. Have it your way. The wretched hat growled, —But you'll regret it.

No, I don't think I will, was my only thought as it roared, "Gryffindor!"

***
🌶Please don't be put off by Mara being in Gryffindor (lots of people have complained) it's for a reason I promise, and if you just give the story a chance I pinky promise you'll love it!)🌶
QOTD- What do you think so far? Things were a little slow this chapter but it was necessary to get the ball rolling ;)
Don't forget to vote and comment!
-TFOA