Smile Like You Mean It

Chapter 6 - Sorted and Sleepless


The train arrived after dark, with lights lining the station in an eery yellow glow. Aera followed Ron and Hermione off the train with Harry and Ginny behind her. The other two had disappeared during the rush to disembark. There was a line of carriages waiting to carry them, but to Aera's interest, there didn't seem to be any visible support between the wood. Harry came up beside her, studying her face.

"Can you see them?"

Aera frowned. "See what?"

"There, drawing the carriages. Thestrals, they're the white things with bat-like wings."

Aera shook her head, squinting her eyes as if perhaps the sight of them was only temporarily eluding her.

"It's not that surprising. You can only see them if you've seen someone die." Aera turned her head to watch his face and felt a sudden rush of compassion. It was clear that these 'thestrals' were there for him, and that the sight of them didn't provide any comfort. She could imagine how it was, every time he saw one it would remind him of the death he had unwittingly been witness to.

"Hagrid!" Aera looked up to find Hermione rushing to give the giant of a man an affectionate embrace. The beaded face beamed at all of them, wrapping a log-like arm around the dwarfed girl.

"Ah, Aera! Knew ye'd be 'ere! Welcome to Hogwarts."

Aera nodded, recognising the man from Diagon Alley. He'd been talked about animatedly on the train, with an affectionate but indulgent humour. She followed Ron onto one of the carriages, seating herself across from him beside Ginny. Soon the carriage was full and the short journey to the castle over. The door was flung open and Aera gasped at the sight.

Before and above her was Hogwarts, lit up with candles shining through hundreds of arrow-slit windows. Great spires lurched up in silhouettes towards the night sky, walls of stone created barriers against the night. It was magnificent and beautiful, a master-piece, carved it seemed from a single huge stone. She shivered at the size of it, at once feeling small and insignificant in its presence.

Hermione tugged at her arm and led the way between two massive oak doors into a room she named the Entrance Hall. From there they veered off to one side and entered into the Great Hall. Four long tables stretched out to the other end, with another table across the top. This was full of older wizards and witches with solemn but delighted faces as they watched the seats being filled with students. It was clear that the love the pupils held for this place was equally shared by the teaching staff. As Hermione moved towards one of the tables decorated in red and gold, Aera paused.

"I haven't been sorted yet, I don't know where I'm supposed to sit."

"Oh, of course!" Hermione said with a wince of apology. "I'd say they'll do you first though, so you won't have to wait around with the first years. Professor McGonagal is over there, go ask her."

Aera followed Hermione's pointed finger to a tall woman wearing spectacles and a very severe expression as she led a crowd of young students into the hall. Aera approached her, feeling a twinge of apprehension.

"Excuse me, Professor? My name is Aera Vale."

The woman turned and peered at Aera over the top of her glasses, then a faint smile sneaked into the corner of her lips.

"Ah yes, our transfer. If you'll follow me dear, we'll get you seated as soon as possible."

Aera walked beside the professor towards the top table, where a stool and an aged wizard hat had been placed in a clearing. The woman halted a few feet away, obviously waiting for something. Aera looked up to see Dumbledore ahead of her, smiling omnisciently at her with twinkling eyes. She fought down the urge to return it with a sarcastic grin.

Suddenly silence fell across the students and teacher as the rim of the old peaked hat ripped open in a semblance of a mouth.

For years and years
I've sat around
Sorting all those youths
Who have been found
Who are magic in spirit
And magic in birth
Whether pure-blood or muggle-born
All have their worth
I sort them one, I sort them all
Into each house in this Great Hall
There's Ravenclaw for those who burn
With the desire for knowledge and to learn
Hufflepuff, forever loyal and true
We know such in the world are much too few
There's Slytherin with their cunning ways
Clever and crafty they will always stay
And Gryffindor! Full top to toe
With bravery facing formidable foe!
You're not so different as you all believe
You're more alike than you could conceive
By working together old bonds can be broken
By ignoring the past new vows will be spoken...

There was a pause as the rip in the brim disappeared, then the hall erupted in applause, though chatter began quickly too. Aera glanced up at the teachers in front of her and noted the looks they passed amongst each other. It seemed that the hat's song had caused quite a stir amongst the students and their mentors. But before she was given longer to ponder the issue, McGonagal had called her name out loudly across the hall. Silence fell at once and the woman motioned for Aera to put the hat on.

She seated herself on the rickety stool, placing the wizard hat on her head. It was a perfect fit, but she pulled the brim down a little further to block out the sight of hundreds of curious faces watching her.

"Well, my dear. You're not what you seem are you? Not Aera Vale, at least, but Aera Potter. Quite a secret you're keeping. I think Slytherin is the place for you, with all your mystery and lies. It would be perfect, teach you how to hone your skills..."

"No!" thought Aera quite firmly, sure that the hat was capable of reading her mind. "I need to be close to my brother, I have no wish to continue this facade, nor 'hone' my skills in lying and deceiving. Given half a chance I wouldn't lie at all. Put me in Gryffindor."

"Ah, but child, you could become so much with the right encouragement. What has bravery got to teach you? I see you would run away from this if you had a chance, not much courage in that, is there?"

"Gryffindor." Aera snarled inwardly. She couldn't begin to imagine how much more difficult her task would be in a separate house to her brother. "I will not be swayed on this, I need to be in the lion's house!"

Oh very well, but imagine what you could miss... Well I suppose it had better be - GRYFFINDOR!"

This last, announced aloud to the hall, caused a wave of clapping hands as Aera forcibly ripped the irritating hat off her head and calmed her features into one of pleased happiness. She waked calmly down to where her brother and his friends were seated as a first year by the name of 'Algerly, Dani' was called up behind her. She noticed that two boys seated across from Ron and Ginny were eyeing her appreciatively as she sat down. One of them immediately shoved his hand at her.

"Seamus Finnegan. Pleased to meet you, Aera."

His accent was harshly Irish, and his cheeks were flooded with red as she shook the outstretched hand. She smiled and nodded as she took a glass of pumpkin juice. The other boy reached across the table and took Ginny's hand, who smiled warmly at him.

"Aera this is Dean Thomas, my boyfriend." Aera nodded politely, noticing that Harry's jaw tightened at the red-haired girl's words. There was nothing mysterious there, then, though no one else appeared to have noticed.

Food was conjured up out of nowhere onto the large platters before them and they tucked in heartily. Aera's mouth savoured the taste of them all. She was surprised to find that the quality here at Hogwarts was no less than at Beauxbatons, as she had presumed. Once finished with dessert, the food miraculously disappeared again and Aera's attention was brought to the head table where Dumbledore was standing up.

"Students, new and old, fellow teachers, a new year is beginning at Hogwarts and I feel the need to reassure those of you who are a little concerned. Yes, Voldemort has returned as I announced before the summer," a collective shudder rolled through his audience at Voldemort's name which he ignored, "But while we stand together in the face of the coming months, there is need be no fear among us. United we stand, with the strength of our schooling behind us. Any concerns, worries or suspicions can be brought to the Heads of Houses any time of day or night. Now, I want to thank you all for your attention and wish a you a goodnight."

Conversation resumed as the headmaster made his way out of the hall, with students and teachers following suit. Many people seemed unsettled by Dumbledore's blunt relation of reality, but no one tried to disagree with his words. No one that is, except Draco Malfoy. Aera was following Harry towards a giant staircase when she heard the boy's voice carry across the lobby.

"If the old goat thinks his school can unite about anything, he's more delusional then I thought. But then, he's always held himself in great esteem as to his influence, hasn't he?"

The voice paused as Harry turned, along with Hermione and Ron. Aera looked around too to follow their gaze and her eyes fell on the platinum boy, flanked by two hulking figures.

"Ah yes," he continued softly, "Of course some people always follow the great Dumbledore blindly. What's the matter, Pot-Head, surely you aren't thinking of going against his efforts and creating unrest between us fellow students?"

Harry's hand twitched towards his wand, but Aera felt a deep sense of misgiving about the exchange. She stepped forward, laying a restraining hand on her twin's arm and facing Malfoy.

"Violence solves nothing, nor does it lessen aggravation. This is over now." she put force into her last words and was pleased to feel Harry's muscles, which had been tense under her hand, relax slightly. Malfoy on the other hand sneered at her.

"Quite a peacemaker, Vale. Dumbledore will be proud to have you amongst his ranks." Without another word he turned and started up the stairway. Aera let out an inaudible sigh of relief.

"Should have let me hex him, slimy asshole." Harry muttered, moving forward again. Ron nodded vehemently.

"There's at least three teachers in this crowd and one of them was watching. I don't think even you want to court punishment this early on in term."

Harry gave her a weak grin, but thankfully no more was said on the issue. However, Aera had a feeling that sooner or later things would come to an ugly head between Slytherins and Gryffindors.


Aera was roomed with Hermione and the rest of the girls from their year. It was a tight fit with an extra bed in the room, but nobody appeared too put out. Her first night revealed to her just how unsure she was of herself here. She lay in bed for long hours into the night with the sounds of the other girls breathing heavily in the relaxed pattern of sleep. Sleep evaded her, though. No matter how she tossed and turned her eyes remained wide open, staring into darkness. It was a mixture of anxiety and confusion.

She was here to help Harry, Merlin knew how. Yet, though her brother obviously disliked this Malfoy in the extreme, she felt no similar antipathy. She had the feeling that there was a lot to the boy that was unseen by the people at this school. For one thing, she had a suspicion that he was not as evil as had been explained to her.

Rolling over once more, Aera glared at the shadows around her.

Dumbledore had set her an impossible task. He hadn't even bothered to talk to her since she'd arrived. She wondered just how long she would be able to keep this pretence up before frustration over-ruled and she revealed everything.

As she lay there she found her mind inexorably turning to Draco Malfoy. The young man's face drifted in and out of her thoughts, sometimes sneering, sometimes silently thoughtful. It frustrated her. Just because he was attractive and her mind had thrown up his appearance for her daydream didn't mean his real self was anything like her brain had conjured.

"He's a Death Eater's son, and it's clear he and Harry have no love for each other." she whispered into the darkness. But still the visions haunted her, showing his pale face watching her from shadows.


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Hello people!
Ok, so I hope you like the story so far and please don't forget to review! I can't improve my writings if I don't get feedback!
I'm also looking for someone to proof-read the story before it goes up on the site, so if there's anyone out there with a bit of free time and an interest in my story, please contact me through a review and I'll get in touch with you via email!

Cheers m'dears!

Aera