Chapter 23 - Hogwarts Ⅱ

Rowan sniffs as she watches Remus Lupin, a tall thin boy with tired eyes and russet-colored hair be sorted into Gryffindor. She turns to glance down the line at a short boy with mousy brown hair and chocolate-colored eyes, Peter Pettigrew. "The traitor who didn't know it yet," Rowan mused it to herself.

Theoretically, he still could be saved, but that was only in theory. Because frankly speaking, Peter choose to betray his friends rather than being coerced into doing so. And that was a character flaw to begin with rather than say being a lead astray by the wrong crowd. But then again, if said character flaw could be fixed than he wouldn't become a problem. Either way, she'd keep a close eye on him for now.

Interesting enough, Rowan's eyes widened slightly at seeing the flaxen-haired figure of Pandora Ravine being sorted into Ravenclaw. It was a surprise to find out that Luna Lovegood's mother was in the same year as her. A bit more interested, Rowan spots a few more familiar faces seated at the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor tables.

The applauding Ravenclaws settle down as Rowan narrows her eyes to study the faces of the students. A pudgy round-faced girl can be seen, the future Bertha Jorkins at present a 4th year. Rowan grimaces at the unpleasant surprise of spotting the figure of Malfada Hopkirk, a stickler for rules, a 6th year, who would one day be the future Commander-in-Chief of the Improper Use of Magic Office.

"Thankfully at least Dolores Umbridge, already graduated," Rowan drily thought to herself. Probably at present a new intern or low-level member of the office of the Improper Use of Magic.

Interestingly enough, a much younger and but still wide, blue-eyed figure of Xenophilius Lovegood can be seen. "A 3rd year huh? So that explains, how he met Luna's mother," Rowan murmured privately to herself as she continued to scan the line but didn't spot any other familiar faces.

Rowan's eyes drift over to the Hufflepuff table to spot the splendid upright figure of Amelia Bones at present the 7th year that one day would be known as Madame Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement. In addition, there are the added faces of two future members of the Order of the Phoenix, Benjy Fetwick and Dorcas Meadows, both 7th years as well. Although it was a surprise to spot the darting, wide-eyed, nervous figure of Cardaric Dearborn, a 5th year. It was an amazement to Rowan that this poor fearful man ever joined the order. But then again, his bravely led to his untimely death six months later with his body never being found.

Rowan's study is interrupted as the first P lettered surname is called, "Pettigrew, Peter!" Rowan idly stretches her neck as Peter Pettigrew goes to sit down. It was going to be about five minutes before the sorting hat choose Gryffindor, if she so recalled. Using that time wisely, Rowan studies the Gryffindor table for other possible familiar faces.

The handsome face of Kingsley Shacklebolt can easily be spotted among the Gryffindor table. Tall, dark, and quite attractive, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a future Auror, and one day even, the Minister of Magic. Rowan slightly nods her head in that direction in acknowledgment and continues to search. The square-jawed face of Sturgis Podmore is soon spotted, at present a 5th year with only a few seats seated further down, Marlene Stein, who someday will be the future Mrs. McKinnon, a 6th year and future Auror as well.

Although what did surprise Rowan was to see the jolly face of Alice Yates, a 3rd year in Gryffindor and that of Frank Longbottom, a 4th year. Frank Longbottom looked like the rugged handsome boy he was, while slightly round-faced, Alice still retained that fiery spark in her eyes. A far cry from the famous Auror's they would one day become nor the maddened wraiths they would end up as. Either way, only time would tell, what kind of parents they would end up for Neville Longbottom.

Rowan glances away and mused to herself. "It's highly unlikely I will have much of a chance to interact with any of them while they are at still at Hogwarts given that I'm a first year. I suppose I might be lucky with the younger years such as Xenophilius Lovegood or Pandora Ravine or even Alice Yates. With the remote chance of interacting with, Frank Longbottom."

The five minutes are finally up as the sorting hat shouts, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table erupts into roars as the sorting continues. Another two students go up before it is James Potter's turn. And just as predicted, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor side erupts in cheers as James takes a seat next to Sirius Black, who is already seated next Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

"And so, the Marauders naturally form once more," Rowan idly thought to herself, when Professor McGonagall says, "Prince, Rowan!"

Rowan blinks in surprise for a second, before calmly walking over to the shorting hat and taking a seat. Everything goes black as Rowan can hear the sorting hat voice say, "Hmm, quite interesting. Loyal and brave, but quite cunning and ruthless."

After a second, the sorting hat shouts, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table erupts into cheers as Rowan makes her way over and spots the handsome, pale blond Slytherin perfect in his 7th year, Lucius Malfoy. Seated at his side is a slim, cold faced, blonde beauty with icy blue eyes in her 7th year as well, Narcissa Black. Rowan takes a seat at the Slytherin table as the next name is called, "Prince, Severus!"

The Slytherin table expectantly turns to look at Rowan as she replies, "My younger twin brother."

"Then we've got this in the bag," a Slytherin boy cackled with a crooked smile. Rowan doesn't react as she eyes the gaunt face of the Bloody Baron with robes stained with silver blood staring right at her. The two of them gaze into each other's eyes until Rowan is the first to look away from his soul-chilling eyes.

As expected, a minute later, the sorting hat shouts, "SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table erupts into a cheer as Severus steadily walks over and takes a seat next to Rowan. A few boys clap Severus on the back in a welcoming fashion as Severus sagely nods his head at them.

The few names left are called until at last the Sorting is done and the Sorting hat is taken away until next year's use. At the head of the table with gleaming white hair and beard, Albus Dumbledore rises and waves at his students with a happy smile. His long silvery hair and beard are both long enough to be tucked into his belt. His long robe with moon and stars embroidery sweeps to the floor as the tip of buckled high heeled boots peek out.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore warmly said, while childlike blue eyes sparkle with delight behind half-moon spectacles. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! And before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Tick! Sizzle! Twitch! Snap!" Dumbledore takes a seat as everyone applauds his nonsensical statement, while his spectacles lightly slip down his rather long, crooked nose that had been broken at least twice before.

Rowan, on the other hand, narrows her eyes, maybe it was just her, but she never quite liked Dumbledore. It wasn't that that he was a bad man, but rather Dumbledore had proven himself to be a liar or to at least not fully trustworthy as he would omit the past or even the truth if need be.

Besides it was obvious from the get-go that Tom Riddle was the definition of a psychopath and despite not fully trusting Tom Riddle, Dumbledore never apparently or at least visibly ever investigated Tom Riddle until the Chamber of Secrets incident and by then it was much too late. Not to mention that he seemly placed the baby Potter in an abusive home and so happened to have failed to notice it. Excluding the fact that he did very little about the situation upon noticing said abuse. So, pardon her if she didn't trust the old man in the least bit!

Rowan turns her attention to the dinner before her as the empty plates begin to fill up with all sorts of food: pot roast, roasted chicken, sausages, steak, baked tomatoes, boiled tomatoes, French fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, and gravy, etc. A rather classical English dinner so to speak.

Rowan clenches her fork tightly in aggravation. These last few summer months, she had been dying to have some variety to her menu and was even desperate for some salad for heaven's sake! If this was what the next seven years were going to be like, she might as well stab herself in the eye with her fork right now and end her miserable existence.

Nevertheless, hunger beckoned, and Rowan reluctantly answered the call as she served herself a meal that was on the lesser fat side. "Would it kill them to tone down the butter and oil?" Rowan muttered to herself.