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Celia Croal	By : Haggishunter Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 1101 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. This is a purely not for profit fictional story, I make no money from this tale and any similarities to people are purely coincidental.

Chapter List
- 1-Celia Croal
- 2-Chapter 2
- 3-THREE
- 4-FOUR
- 5-FIVE
- 3
- 4
- 5
Celia stuck her head out the window as the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, eager to catch her first glimpse of Hogsmeade. From what she could see it looked like a quaint old fashioned village. She smiled enthusiastically as the train came to a halt. Pulling her head back in, she turned to look at Rose but she was already being shunted along the corridor by burly seniors.

"Out the way kid!" a tall boy wearing a cloak with a serpent badge on it barked. Celia gulped and hurried along the passageway. Within seconds she had been pushed out onto the cold Hogsmeade platform.

"Firs' years o'er here" she heard someone call above the bustle of the crowd that had formed around her. Making out a few familiar faces she followed them along to stand before a very tall, hairy man.

"Hey Hagrid" Rose greeted him.

"Hello Rose" he beamed down at her through his thick bushy beard.

Turning, Celia saw Rose standing a few feet away and began shimmying along the row when Hagrid said "four to a boat and keep yer hands in at all times, there be critters in thar water." He waved a large thick hand. "We'll be taking the scenic route up tae the castle. Follow me."

Everyone began jostling forward and before she knew it Celia was facing a row of boats. "Celia, over here!" she heard Rose shout. Looking around she saw Albus and Rose sitting in a small row boat to her left. Quickly she made her way across and began to climb in.

"You don't mind if I join you, do you?" Scorpius asked more to Celia than anyone else.

"Sure" Celia said as she took her seat next to Rose who was glaring at her but she but didn't object.

The boats slowly made their way across the water. Sounds of "ooh" and "ahhh" echoed through the night. The castle that homed Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry was simply breathtaking. It seemed that nobody was immune to its beauty as they glimpsed their first sight of their new home.

Hagrid peered around at the students. "Hands in the boat!" he bellowed at a small first year who was inches away from skimming the water. The boy swiftly moved his hands away and sat further in the boat, terrified of the giant.

"That's Hagrid, his bark is worse than his bite" Rose said to an alarmed Celia. "He teaches Care Of Magical Creatures. We don't get that till third year but mum said that it's for the best. Hagrid's idea of cute and cuddly is a blast-ended skrewt."

"A what?"

"Pray you don't find out" was all Rose would say before turning to Albus and talking animatedly about the houses. Celia guessed it was probably pay back for allowing Scorpius to tag along, though she couldn't see what the problem was. He'd been nothing but friendly towards them as far as she could tell.

When the boats hit the dock, Scorpius jumped out and held out his hand. Albus took it graciously fearing that one false move and he'd be food for the giant squid that was rumoured to live in the water. Rose looked at Scorpius and begrudgingly took his hand. Celia however, had no problem accepting his help and was rather grateful he was helping her out considering her ability to fall over the slightest things. Together they made their way up the winding stairs that led to the school. The wind was brisk against the cliff side and they found themselves pulling their cloaks tighter around their shoulders trying to keep warm.

"Okay you lot, line up." Hagrid gazed around, silently counting the children, making sure everyone was accounted for. Happy there were no stragglers he led them in to the school and up the first set of stairs.

"Thank you Hagrid" a small professor squeaked from the top of the steps. "My name is Professor Flitwick. Shortly you will be called to be sorted into your houses. Your house will be your family while you are here. As you can see" he pointed at the four large containers at the bottom of the stairs that lined the wall of the main door, "each house collects points. Application and hard work will earn your house points while any rule breaking will deduct them. You will wait here until I return. There will be no foolishness and no talking. Line up in pairs. I will be back in a jiffy" he said as he turned and departed through a large wooden doorway.

As they waited patiently on his return several ghosts floated past. "Ahhhhhh!" Celia screamed.

"I said no talking" Professor Flitwick said, reappearing at the top of the steps.

"She didn't actually talk, it was more a scream sir" someone from the back said, much to the amusement of the others. Celia blushed. She had been expecting all sorts of weird and wonderful things but ghosts, she shivered.

The professor laughed. "This way please" he said as he led them into the great hall.

The hall looked magnificent. There were floating candles and four long tables with fancy plates and goblets all the way down them that ended at the foot of a small platform where the teachers sat. The ceiling, well if there was a ceiling you couldn't tell, had been bewitched to look like the night sky and draped all around the room were the house flags. They were red and gold with a lion, green and silver with a serpent, blue and bronze with an eagle and yellow and black with a badger. Celia looked at the the one with the serpent while absentmindedly stroking Tiny. "That must be Slytherin" she thought. She had no idea what the others were only what each house looked for in their pupils. She contemplated each one in turn finally settling on Slytherin as her house of choice. She doubted she was clever enough for Ravenclaw and she knew she wasn't brave enough to be a Gryffindor which only left Hufflepuff or Slytherin as viable choices and of those two she concluded that she valued resourcefulness over hard work. As they reached the bottom end of the room Professor Flitwick held up his hand for everyone to be silent, though Celia doubted many could see. He picked up the sorting hat and took it across to the stool that sat in the centre of the stage and placed it upon it. A slit opened at the brim of the hat and it began to sing.

When old and new become what's true,

Be wary of my gaze

For these may not be troubled times,

But merely early days.

But do not fear when you sit here,

Your mind is where it's at

Try me on, one and all

For I'm the sorting hat.

You may belong in Gryffindor,

If your heart is brave

Ravenclaw will suit you more,

If you have a brain

Kind Hufflepuff may be your choice,

If you are loyal

Or perhaps fame hungry Slytherin,

If you crave the spoils.

So settle here and let me see,

What's inside your mind

What treasures to unfold,

And others yet to find.

Everyone gave a hearty clap as Flitwick picked up the hat and called the first student up on stage. "Angela Bennett" he called. Angela ran up on stage a little over eager and grabbed the hat, squishing it down on her head. As the room erupted in to fits of laughter she realized what she had done and turned positively red.

"Sorry" she mouthed.

The hat sat on her head for a little while then declared "Gryffindor."

"Celia Croal" called Professor Flitwick. Celia ambled up as though it meant nothing to her, which in all fairness it did not. She had been blissfully unaware of the wizarding world until only yesterday. She took the seat and smiled at Professor Flitwick as he placed the hat upon her head. Again the hat took several minutes to decide. According to the hat she was equally suited to be a Ravenclaw as she was a Slytherin. It pleased her to know that she had the intellect there but her need to prove herself overshadowed it and she went into Slytherin.

Terence Hughes went to Hufflepuff, Scorpius Malfoy as predicted went straight into Slytherin, Hannah McLeod went to Gryffindor. Another few names were called before Professor Flitwick called for Albus to take the stage. Albus gave Celia a quick glance and headed up. The hat sat on his head for a while talking in his ear. "Plenty courage I see, a kind heart but where to put you?" It twisted his head to each of the tables before finally declaring "Slytherin." Albus looked mortified as he saw James standing up and ogling his little brother. He had often joked he would be a Slytherin but not for one moment did he truly believe it. Getting off the stool slowly, Albus drooped his head and went to sit at the Slytherin table. A tall gangly boy called Stefan Ridley went to Ravenclaw.

"Rose Weasley" Professor Flitwick shouted. Rose took a deep breath and went up on stage, looking a little nervous as she sat on the stool but no sooner had the hat touched her head it declared her Gryffindor. Jumping down, beaming from ear to ear she ran to join the others at the Gryffindor table.

With everyone seated Professor McGonagall stood up and crossed to the podium. "Welcome one and all" she said beaming out at all the upturned faces. "There are a few announcements to be made. Firstly, Quiddich trials will be held on Saturday afternoon. Those wishing to try out ensure you have your name down before you retire. As always the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a horrible death and lastly, I will be retiring at the end of the week." As loud gasps echoed around the room Professor McGonagall smiled. "It has been my great honour and privilege to teach and shape your minds but the time has come for me to step aside and let someone younger fulfill that role. So, please join me in welcoming our newest Head Teacher, Professor Crispen."

Professor Crispen stood up and joined Professor McGonagall at the front. He nodded his acknowledgement. "Thank you Professor McGonagall. May retirement be to your pleasing and may you finally have those long walks that you so desire." He turned to face the front. "This school has seen many changes over these past few years and it is my intention to bring stability back. Together, with hard work and an eager mind we will shape you into the fine witches and wizards you are to become. May the path you choose always shine bright. Now, without further ado, let the feast begin."

Suddenly, the tables brimmed with food of all sorts. There were roasts, soups and puddings of every kind and jugs of pumpkin juice. Celia couldn't believe her eyes. Grabbing a couple pork chops and some mash potato she began tucking in. As she brought the fork up to her mouth the house ghosts appeared. There was Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, whom she soon discovered was also known as Nearly Headless Nick as he tilted his head to the side, The Fat Friar, Helena Ravenclaw and the mean looking Bloody Baron who was the Slytherin house ghost. It still spooked her to see them roam so freely but she wasn't quite as scared as she had been earlier.

As she looked along her table she could see that everyone was either eating, discussing quidditch or talking animately about McGonagall's retirement. Apparently, Professor McGonagall had lived and taught at Hogwarts most of her life and as Celia listened closer she could hear the name "Albus" being mentioned. It seemed she had missed having him around and from what Celia could gather this was the reason why Professor McGonagall was retiring. She twisted in her seat and looked up at the staff table, gazing along it. At one end she could see Hagrid and Professor Flitwick and as her eyes moved along she noticed several other teachers she didn't know the name of. In the centre sat the new Head Teacher, Professor Crispen. She looked him over. He was a tall man, around forty, she thought. His hair was long and black and tied back in a low ponytail giving him an aristocratic look. He wore the same black garb that the others wore but it suited him. "I make this look good" she heard Will Smith say in her head. She chuckled slightly. His face she noticed, was pale but lightly tanned and he had very piercing eyes. His mouth twitched up into a friendly smile as he nodded to her. She hadn't realized that she had been staring and guiltily smiled back, before returning to her meal. When the meal was almost over Professor Crispen stood up. "Prefects, if you would escort the first years to their dormitories please. Goodnight and pleasant dreaming." He said, dismissing the room.

"First years this way" the female Slytherin prefect said, ushering everyone along.

"Not you, Miss Croal" Professor McGonagall chirped. Celia turned to face the Professor who was suddenly standing behind her. "I understand that you wish to become Mr Ollivander's apprentice? It is highly unusual for someone as young as yourself to be given an apprenticeship or to be permitted off of these grounds. However, providing your mother gives her consent you may take leave at the weekends. I expect you to keep up with your studies and if they do not meet high standards you will forfeit the apprenticeship, is that understood?"

"Yes Professor."

"And what is that around your neck?" she asked looking aghast.

"This is Tiny."

"You do realize that only certain animals are permitted as pets?" she asked.

"Yes Professor, but I did ask permission and well isn't it apt that I am Slytherin?" Celia gave her best smile.

"Well, I suppose it is a new era" she said, eyeing it warily.

"Miss Croal I will escort you to your dormitory, if you don't mind. I'm headed that way myself and the dungeons are notoriously difficult to navigate" Professor Crispen drawled.

Celia looked up into his piercing eyes and nodded. "Thank you, sir." Together, they walked out the room and headed down to the dungeon.

OoO

Celia was grateful that Professor Crispen was escorting her to her dormitory. As they had entered the dungeon passages candle lit sconces flickered to life revealing the labyrinthine corridors stretching in every direction. She had no doubt that she would have been lost within five minutes had she ventured down there herself and wondered how she was going to manage finding her way back out. She hoped that Scorpius and Albus would wait for her in the morning. To the left she could see a couple classrooms. She peered in as she ambled along by the professors side. "Potions" he drawled into her ear as he followed her gaze.

"Potions? oh chemistry, right" Celia said trying to make sense of the new subject.

"You are muggle born?" he asked.

"Yes sir, I only just found out about this..." she tried to find the right words.

"World?" he offered.

Celia smiled. "So many things seem the same but aren't."

"Like potions" he said as they moved further down the passageway and took a right turn.

"And money."

After a few more turns they came to a portrait of a troll. "Pipsqueak" Professor Crispen said and stood back to allow the portrait to swing forward"After you" he said and waved his hand for her to climb through. Celia gaped into the hole that had appeared from behind the portrait. Ahead of her she could see Albus waving. She gazed in awe up at the professor then began to crawl through. When they were both on the other side he bowed a little. "Should you require any help adjusting please feel free to come see me." He smiled warmly at Albus, dipped his head once more and wandered across to the prefects.

"Thank you, sir!" she called after him. He turned back slightly and smiled as he watched Albus and Scorpius pull her towards the girls dormitory.

"We thought you got lost" Scorpius piped up beside her. "We're not allowed in there" he said eyeing the door, "but you'll find your trunk there and a timetable."

"Thanks guys."

"We'll let you unpack and meet you in the morning for breakfast." Albus leant in and gave her a hug. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight" Celia replied and gave a big yawn. She hadn't realized just how tired she was until that second. She grabbed the handle and pushed her door open. With a final look back she saw the boys walking off towards the common room.

When Celia turned around she realized that she was in a square room with several four poster beds lined up on either side. Her trunk was next to an empty bed to her left with her timetable resting against her pillow. Crossing over she unwrapped Tiny from her shoulders and lay her on the soft covers. Tiny slithered up to the pillow and wrapping herself in a tight circle fell fast asleep. "Typical" Celia thought fondly as she picked up her timetable and began to read.

First lesson she noticed was potions. She had already guessed that was Chemistry and was thankful that she at least knew where those classrooms were. Then she took in the other subjects. History of Magic, that was easy History and she already found it interesting from the book that she had begun reading; Herbology was Botanics, okay, she wasn't exactly green fingered but at least she knew what it was and then there were a few other classes that made her frown. There was Flying which she hoped meant in a simulator as she had a fear of heights; Defence Against The Dark Arts which she hoped would be PE though she somehow doubted it; Transfiguration which was self explanatory but she was looking forward to that one and Charms which she discovered last night was fun. All in all the timetable was pretty good. It was very different to her muggle one and so with a happy heart she undressed and slipped into bed. She gave Tiny a quick stroke, lay her head down next to her and as exhaustion took hold she fell fast asleep.
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Celia Croal