The Condemned - T. Nott

Chapter 1

The ride up to the castle was quiet. The only others in the carriage with Nemi were two third years who were sitting as far from her as they could. It was ridiculous, what did they expect, that she would suddenly turn and attack them? Unfortunately, they probably did. Most people, in Nemi's experience, viewed werewolves as bloodthirsty beasts even outside of the full moon.

It wasn't true of course, not for most. They were the same people they had always been, but with a terrible disease. But instead of being helped they were mistreated and shunned and this had always angered Nemi. She could remember, after she had been bitten, how her family would act around her. They undeniably still loved her, but treated her as if she were a bomb about to go off. Nemi had tired to tell them she hadn't changed, she was still herself, but to no avail. And later, when they sent her to the werewolf colony here in Scotland, Nemi had been so hurt and betrayed. To her nine year old self being sent away meant they no longer wanted her. Eventually she realised it had only been to protect both her and them, but Nemi still could not help but feel bitter for the way she had been treated since being bitten.

She was jerked out of her thoughts as the carriages all came to a halt. Nemi hopped out first. One of the thestrals looked at her expectantly, and Nemi smiled. "Alright, I'll pet you. But I hope you appreciate the fact that I'm making myself look crazy so you can have your ears scratched." She'd learned that nearly all the thestrals seemed to love being scratched right behind the ears, similar to a dog. And while she no doubt looked crazy to most of the others when she obliged Nemi didn't really care. She loved animals, and the other students and even some of the teachers hated her anyway so she no longer cared what they thought about her.

As soon as she had taken her hand away her thestral friend nudged her insistently. "Sorry, I gotta go." Nemi apologized. "I'll bring you a steak later okay?" She added over her shoulder, already heading towards the Great Hall.

Inside, Nemi took her seat at the end of the Slytherin table. One advantage of having people typically try to avoid you, Nemi thought, was that your personal space was rarely invaded.

Having arrived a bit late due to having stopped to pet the thestrals, the first years were already being brought in. However it was not Hagrid as usual, but Professor Grubbly- Plank. A slight frown crossed Nemi's face. Along with Professor Lupin in third year, Hagrid was her favorite teacher at Hogwarts.

He's probably just not feeling well, she told herself, and dismissed any further thoughts on the matter, instead turning her attention to the Sorting Hat that McGonagall had brought out. The Hat was silent for a moment, which Nemi figured it did for dramatic effect, than it began to sing.

"In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "we'll teach just those whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "we'll teach those whose intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "we'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure- blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Where whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin."