The Scars to Prove It

Carina sat next to Farren for the rest of the trip rather awkwardly. The exchanged apologies made things bearable, but Carina’s shyness kept her from branching out and starting a conversation. And the other girl didn’t seem like pushing her pride away and speaking to Carina either. So Carina mostly kept to George and Fred, who still seemed a little wary of Farren, and Farren mostly kept to Lee Jordan, whose gaze repeatedly flicked to Carina’s sleeve, as if he were ready to expose her nonexistent Dark Mark at any moment.

But things went on. Little by little, Carina spoke to the others in a tone above a whisper, and Farren would turn to give a half-way smile to her every so often. But still, the tension was so thick that when the train pulled to a stop that every bustled to get all their luggage and break into their two groups once more.

Carina tried to separate from the twins, convinced that they only kept her around in their compartment to be polite. But before she could take five steps away from them, they were each at her side once more, grinning at her in a way that said that she would not be able to get rid of them that easily.

“Come on Rina, you’re gonna be in our boat,” Fred announced as George linked his arm around Carina’s.

“Yeah, Ri maybe some of our Gryffindor-ness will rub off on you and you’ll end up in our House!”

“You can always try,” she giggled softly, and let herself be lead to the boats.

Organizing the first years was a giant of a man, and Carina’s couldn’t help but shy away from him. Had George and Fred not been solidly planted on each of her arms, she surely would have made a mad scarper for the train once more. She could only imagine the consequences of her father finding her home once more, embarrassing him even further by failing to even get a sight of Hogwarts... she shuddered at the thought, and successfully pulled it off as a spasm of excitement when George and Fred peered over at her.

“Come along now, firs’ years! Firs’ years, this way!” the giant bellowed, but instead of a menacing roar, he seemed rather friendly. The closer Carina got to the boats and the man, she could make out red cheeks and a broad smile under his mane of a head. Maybe it was a sign... under all the scary, maybe Hogwarts wasn’t so frightening after all.

Without really realizing, George and Fred were already hopping in the boat that the three had approached. It almost seemed as if they were going to row off without her, until George looked back at her last moment, his mouth slightly ajar and grinning lopsidedly. Jerking his head back as if he were trying to brush something off, he bluntly motioned for Carina to join them on the boat, and promptly sat in the front bench with Fred. Fred on the other hand, rather unceremoniously pulled Carina’s hand until she had successfully stumbled into the tiny space between him and Fred. Even if it was a very ungraceful action, she still felt more comfortable than she had the past few hours.

Slightly in a daze, the girl didn’t truly realize that the boat was rowing itself forward until the school appeared from behind a curtain of treetops – and by then, she wasn’t paying any attention. The magnificent sight of the school, only lit up by the moon and her reflection in the glassy lake, was simply breathtaking. Surviving the horrifying situations involving real people were worth the overwhelming feeling of belonging that washed over Carina – before even stepping foot in the school, she knew that she would find more of a home in the depths of castle than she ever would in her parent’s household.

As Carina had been quite distracted by the sight of her new home, she didn’t pay too much attention as George and Fred inadvertently directed her to the castle entrance, since she was still squished between them. Only when a taller lady with pursed lips announced that they would be “sorted” in front of the entire school did she break out of her trance – in front of the whole school? So they could all see her fumble for a good House?

Almost as if they sensed her sudden bout of nerves, the twins clapped her on the shoulder encouragingly, although this did nothing but send her stumbling a few steps forward, and a few mumbled and embarrassed apologies from the twins.

Sooner than Carina would have liked though, the flock of first years had made it to the very front of the Great Hall, and one by one, were being called forward. The process went rather quickly for Carina, who had been told nothing about Hogwarts from her parents: her mother had gone to Beauxbatons, and she rarely spoke with her father. She had thought that this would take all night, because this was deciding the label that one would be branded with for seven years, if not life! But the Sorting Hat – an ugly, darned thing with lots of character – made these decisions quickly and easily, sometimes seconds after it had been placed on the kid’s head. With each passing name, Carina became more and more shaky and nervous. The only consolation was that when she had stepped forward onto the platform, she could easily find George and Fred right in front of her, since they hadn’t been sorted yet. Their grinning faces were the last thing she saw before the soft and worn leather of the hat fell over her eyes.

Another Rosier, eh? This Sorting should be rather easy. You must be just a cunning and clever as your father, yes?

Carina trembled. There was no use lying if the hat could read her thoughts. Erm... no, not exactly...

Oh, bah! Just let me see, I’m sure you’ll be just fantastic. You’re destined for great things, just like your family...

Oh.

Carina’s breathing increased rapidly at the single word. Oh? The hat had announced it in such a condescending way, so disappointed. It mirrored that of her father, the way he wished she would live on the edge more. The last thing he had wanted was for her to be so timid that she was scared into following every rule in the book.

O-oh? Carina’s lips pursed nervously as she waited for a response.

Hmm... well, certainly not what I had expected... It will be quite easy to sort you now, you see.

W-will it?

Yes, yes. You see, all the dimwitted ones we put in Hufflepuff. Of course, they all want me to make Hufflepuff sound as great as the other Houses in the song, but let’s get real here. Hufflepuff is where all the outcasts go. And you know you’re an outcast, right?

Carina’s face paled in shame. Bu-but...

Those boys only spoke to you because they pitied you.

That’s not-

You’re mother only loves you because you have a pretty face.

Do I really? Wait, you don’t-

You’re father is right, you’re a disgrace. Why don’t you try Beauxbatons instead? Or maybe just accept the Muggle world now... You’re obviously borderline Squib.

I am n-!

You’re nothing. Now, if you don’t mind, Jigglypuff it is...

YES! Yes, I do certainly do mind! And you listen here, mister! I am not nothing, I am not borderline Squib, and George and Fred are my friends! And you will not take that away from me. If you think that is what a Hufflepuff is, then shame on you! However, that is not the House for me! I would ask you to kindly reevaluate, but there is nothing kind about either my request or how I feel about you.

Carina could feel the Hat around her head move, and she got the sense that it was smiling. Her face cooled down, and her eyebrows crinkled together.

Finally.

Before she could demand to know what was going on, the hat called out to the hall around her.

”GRYFFINDOR!”

Instantly, someone lifted the hat off Carina’s head, and light flooded her vision once more. Upon realizing she had to make her way down to the cheering Gryffindors, her face flushed with pride, and she glanced over at George and Fred. They were both grinning lopsidedly and cheering louder than any other first year. She gave a small wave and a huge smile in their direction before heading over to her fellow Gryffindors.