SCREAM | ginny w.

SCREAM | eight

After what could only be described as a thrilling ride to Hogwarts, entirely in part to Arson, who proved to Vera that they could shotgun an entire can of monster energy with one hand in 20 seconds flat (impressive even to Vera, who didn't know what Arson was drinking, doing, or if the time mattered to its impressiveness), Vera and Arson were separated at the platform when Vera was bade to join the first years by a very tall man, whom she suspected was likely part giant- Vera did not know things about shotgunning energy drinks, but she knew a man with giant blood when she saw one.

They were instructed to get on boats, which glided across the black lake with surprising ease, though the first years in the boat with her looked absolutely terrified of Vera. Part of her was sad that the eleven year olds were so afraid, part of her felt proud that they had such good instincts as to be afraid of her, and part of her was glad that they were afraid of her because she was terrified of them. It was a confusing mix of emotions that simmered and festered deep in her stomach, along with the part of her that was beyond angry at him for making it like this in the first place.

The first sight of the castle was magical, to say the least. For a moment, Vera felt as though her whole life had lead up to this sight alone, and for a brief second, she felt as though it was worth it. It was gone as soon as it came.

The boats stopped and one by one, the groups disembarked. Vera stepped onto the shore in front of the castle doors- clearly not the front entrance, though the shoreline was just as magical as the ride itself, with moss and vines and rocks in shapes that Vera had never seen before- she could almost picture gators skipping from mossy rock to vine covered stump.

"Right, you lot, we're jus' waitin on Professor McGonagall to let us in, so sit tight for just a mo'," the giant-man said pleasantly, grinning down on all of them with excitement. Not a moment later, the doors swung open and a woman in magnificent green robes and a pointy hat stood, smiling in a sort of stern way at all of the new Hogwarts students.

"This way, please," Professor McGonagall requested, then turned sharply on her heel and started into the castle, and the group followed her. They followed up a set of stairs and into an antechamber just outside of what Vera assumed was the Great Hall, judging by the chattering coming from inside.

"Now," Professor McGonagall said, looking at all of the new students. "When you enter into the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your new houses. While at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. Good deeds will earn your house points and misbehavior will loose your house points. There are four houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now, wait here. I will return when it is time for you to be sorted."

The first years immediately broke off into whispers with the people who they had already deemed their friends. Professor McGonagall paused in front of Vera. "You're Miss Smirnova, correct?"

"Yes," Vera confirmed.

"Come with me, we're going to sort you separately," Professor McGonagall explained, turning on her heel and leading Vera into what she presumed was a classroom, where a stool and a hat sat. A man, hunchbacked and grumbling slightly to himself, waited in the corner with obvious impatience. "Sit on the stool, Miss Smirnova, and I will place the hat on your head."

Vera hesitated a moment, her eyes flickering back and forth between the two other people in the room. After she gathered what little courage she could manage, she sat on the stool, gripping it's wooden edges until her knuckles turned white. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head, the hat falling over her eyes ever so slightly.

Hmmm, interesting, very interesting.

Vera jumped slightly. She hadn't expected a voice, which she could only presume was the hat, to speak, much less speak in her mind. She quieted her thoughts, not wanting the hat to read her mind.

I haven't seen someone quite like you in a very long time, Vera Smirnova. You wear a mask but beneath the shell, the childhood you never had wants to be heard. You have an interesting kind of courage, but your wit cannot be ignored. Self-survival is clearly most important to you. You know your goals, I will give you that. Be wary of vengeance, for it is all consuming. I know. Better be...

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out loud, startling the man in the corner. McGonagall pursed her lips slightly while Vera sighed, knowing that she would at least have a friend in her house.

"Very well, Miss Smirnova," McGonagall said. Vera looked down and noticed that her tie and robes had been changed to represent her house crest and colors. "Follow me. Mister Filch, if you will."

The man in the corner- Filch- grabbed the stool and hat and exited the room. McGonagall lead Vera down the opposite way, infront of a different door than the first years had waited in front of. It was smaller, less ornate, less distracting. Vera could hear the chatter of her peers through the door, even catching a few phrases.

"The Slytherin table is the first one out of this door. I suggest you take a seat at the end, as to not draw too much attention to yourself," McGonagall said, making clear that it was not a suggestion. She pushed open the door and Vera braced herself.

However, whatever she had braced herself hadn't prepared her for the real thing. Hundreds of students laughing and chatting with their neighbors while they waited for the sorting ceremony to start, though thankfully, none of them paid much attention to Vera. She spotted Arson at the end of the Slytherin table, clearly secluded from the rest of their house, and Vera sighed in relief, hurrying over to sit next to them.

"Vera!" Arson exclaimed as the aforementioned sat down. "Welcome to Slytherin!"

Vera smiled shyly at her new friend, though she couldn't help but think of Ginny. They were supposed to be rivals now, from everything she had heard about Gryffindor and Slytherin. Vera couldn't help but worry that in finding what was supposed to be her new family, she had alienated herself from the first person her age who had trusted her.

"Vera," Arson called, waving their hand in front of Vera's face. Vera blinked, startled away from her thoughts. "I've been calling your name for like, ten years."

"Sorry," Vera apologized. "Just... thinking about something."

Arson brushed it off with nothing more than a concerned glance that faded into a grin and an explanation of the Slytherin common rooms. Vera shook of the uneasy feeling and turned her full attention to Arson. She had no idea how Ginny was feeling, and there was no need to wallow in it. Wallowing was something that Vera did in the past, present Vera was all about live and let die.

Or at the very least, that's what she told herself.

a/n: oops I did the thing again where I thought I updated like a week ago but it was really a month ago. soz guys, but I hope you enjoyed the chapter. we're getting into it, so I hope you guys are enjoying!