Ebb and Flow

September 1, 1971

***

The car ride to King's Cross Station was a quiet ride. Althea's stomach churned with nervousness and her body felt cold and clammy. She did not dare look out the window as her father drove her to King's Cross Station. Instead, she stared intently at her brand new pink and white checked skirt. While staring, she noticed one of her white knee socks had slipped and quickly pulled it to the proper height. As she straightened herself out again, she noticed a small piece of string on her soft pink turtleneck sweater.

"You look beautiful, Sweetheart," her father said as he drove.

Althea pulled down the sun visor and examined her hair in the mirror. She adjusted the white patent leather Alice band perched in her black hair. Her father glanced at her and laughed quietly.

"Althea, you're going to school," he remarked, smiling. "You're not going on a date...not yet, at least."

"Daddy," Althea huffed, and sank back into her seat and folded her arms.

I just want to make a good impression, she thought, looking at her new shoes. I don't know what other wizards and witches are like. This would be the first time Althea would spend the majority of her time with people her own age; for her first eleven years, she spent them traveling around the world with her mother and father. Of course, she had friends; however, in the end, she always had to leave her friends. Yes, there were promises of letters and future visits, but the letters became infrequent and the visits never materialized. Now, she would spend the next seven years with the same people--the same friends--an idea quite foreign to her.

"We're here, Sweetheart," her father said, pulling into a parking spot. "You wait here while I find a trolley."

Althea waited in the car and looked around. She noticed three cars to her right a girl looking happily around--a large trunk next to her. Maybe she is going to Hogwarts, too, she thought as the girl and her family walked by. Panic filled Althea's head as she timidly sat in the car. Did that girl already know some magic? Would Althea be the stupidest first-year student at Hogwarts? She cringed at the thought of being teased and laughed at. She heard the boot of the car open and her father lifted her trunk onto the trolley. Althea opened her car door and walked to the back of the car. Her father had finished putting her things on the trolley and smiled down at her.

"Right, now we just have to find platform nine and three quarters," he said, resting his hands on her shoulders.

Althea attempted to muster a weak smile.

The two walked toward platform nine and Althea looked around for platform nine and three quarters, but she could not find platform nine and three quarters. She quizzically looked at the paper describing where she should catch the train to Hogwarts. It was obviously a misprint, she thought as she glanced at the paper again. Althea noticed that the girl that had passed the car was looking just as puzzled. Her parents and she were looking in all directions for the platform. Althea felt relieved--it was obviously a misprint.

"Daddy, I think they're lost, too," Althea said, tugging at her father's sleeve.

Her father looked over in the direction of the girl and her parents.

"Althea, we're not lost. We are right where we need to be. Platform nine and three quarters is right through there," he said, pointing to the brick wall.

Althea's eyes widened. How was platform nine and three quarters through a wall? Her father had walked over to the young girl and her family and offered them help. Althea thought the girl must have thought her father was crazy, and tried not to make eye contact with her. She had wanted to make a good impression on the other students, but her father was not helping her situation. She thought about how this would spread around the school and no one would want to be friends with the girl who had a crazy father.

"Right, Althea, I want you to run at the wall and don't stop," her father explained, resting a hand on her shoulder. Althea looked at her father and stifled a laugh. "Just watch what I do," he said.

Althea watched as her father quickly walked toward the wall. Instead of hitting against the hard brick wall, as she had expected, her father disappeared through it.

Althea's mouth opened in surprise. "I don't believe it," she breathed, as she stared at what she thought was a solid brick wall.

She closed her eyes and followed her father by running head first into the brick wall. When she opened her eyes, she let out a small laugh of amazement. Before her were her father unscathed and the Hogwarts Express with steam billowing from its smokestack. Her father held out his hand and helped her push her trolley toward the train. She looked toward her right and saw the young girl hug her mother--Althea started to feel that sadness again. She wished her mother stood on the platform, too. Suddenly, there was an explosion and Althea quickly turned her head toward the train. She gasped as purple smoke wafted out a carriage window.

"We'll find a quieter place, then?" her father said and smiled reassuringly.

She frowned at her father's nonchalant attitude toward the explosion. "Daddy, couldn't I attend that other school?"

"Hogwarts is a fine place," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You wouldn't learn witchcraft at that other school...and I doubt you'd have as much fun."

Althea kicked at the ground with the toe of her shoe. "I'd be with Sophie. I like her," she said and wondered if Sophie was as nervous as she was at this moment.

Sophie was a Muggle girl and granddaughter to Gran's good friend. Althea was apprehensive meeting the girl at first, but in the waning weeks of summer, the girls quickly became close friends. She shared Althea's penchant for a good laugh. No, she thought as she watched a girl about the age of Althea with blonde hair board the train. Sophie will have loads of friends. She's lived in abroad her entire life, too, and everyone will enjoy her stories. I did.

She looked once again at her father's smiling face. "I don't know if I'll like anyone there."

"You will, I promise," he replied and gently urged her toward the train.

Althea closely followed her father along the train corridor. Ever so often, she would quickly glance inside a carriage to observe her fellow students. She bit her lip as she passed the crowded carriages and prayed her father would not stop at any of them. They're so much older than me, she thought as a brown-haired girl kissed a purple-faced boy on the cheek. Good Lord, purple faces! I doubt that soot will wash off their faces...and they don't seem to care. Witchcraft is frightfully bizarre.

"Ah, perfect," he said and opened the door.

Althea peered into the empty carriage. To her surprise, her surroundings looked very ordinary. It will do, she thought, stepping inside. She would be alone for the journey--something she did not really mind. It would be the first time she was separated from her father for such an extended period and the thought of other children laughing at her tears caused her stomach to somersault. Her father looked around the carriage and sighed happily.

"Now, mind yourself," he said as he hugged her. "I'll see you at Christmas. I promise."

"Okay, Daddy," she said, hugging her father back. "Please, write to me soon."

"I will," he said, pulling away from her. "I'll write to you as soon as I am in Egypt--maybe even before that." He bent down and kissed the top of her forehead. "I love you, Sweetheart," he said softly, and gave her another hug.

"Love you, too, Daddy," Althea said, not wanting to let go.

Her father said his goodbyes and she sat down beside the window. This is rather comfortable, she thought, patting the seat next to her. She wondered if her father would come back into her carriage for a third time. Looking out the window, she frowned--he was outside on the platform. He waved and smiled at her, and she struggled to look happy and waved back. Althea's father waved happily and mouthed that he loved her. Althea mouthed that she loved him as well, all the while combating a horrible sick feeling in her stomach. Suddenly, there was a jolt and the train began moving. Althea waved her last goodbyes and watched as her father turned into a tiny dot in the distance. She never felt so alone. Althea returned her gaze to the carriage and blinked rapidly to avoid tearing.

I know if I start to cry, someone would walk in, she thought and gently rubbed her right eye. I should distract myself. Althea reached into her bag and took out the brightly colored magazine Sophie gave her. She said that all the girls will know about them and that I should know about them. She seemed surprised that I didn't know any of the boys in this magazine. Althea turned the page to see another handsome teenage boy with smooth skin, shiny hair, and a vacant smile staring back at her. He looks daft, she thought, frowning slightly. Did witches enjoy reading such magazines? What did witches read? She secretly cursed her father for keeping her from the Wizarding world and, to an extent, the Muggle world. Muggle...that is an absolutely ridiculous word, she thought and looked out the window. Mesmerized by the passing countryside, Althea quickly lost interest in her magazine--allowing it to slip from her hands and into her lap--and imagined herself outside and not in the stuffy carriage.

Lost in her daydreams, around the middle of the afternoon, she heard the carriage door open. Jolted from her stupor, she looked in the direction of the carriage door and noticed the girl her father helped earlier enter. She was a petite girl, with long, thick, dark red hair and large emerald colored eyes. Althea wished her eyes were green; her mother's eyes were green--a beautiful olive green.

"Do you mind if I come in?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Althea nodded and the girl smiled. She sat across from Althea.

"I'm Lily, by the way," the girl said, holding out her hand.

Althea held out her hand. "Althea," she said, mustering a small smile. "How do you do?"

Lily smiled back. "I've already read that one," she said, pointing to the magazine on Althea's lap. "My sister fancies him," she added and pointed to the boy with the blond hair. She seemed to delight in telling Althea this fact.

Althea looked down to the magazine on her lap--she felt her cheeks warm. "Oh, right," Althea replied and stowed magazine in her bag.

"So your father is a wizard? I've never met one before," she said, wide-eyed. "Well, a grown-up one."

"Your parents aren't wizards?"

There is someone like me, she thought, hope rising in her chest.

"No," she replied with some pride. "I'm the first of the family."

Althea felt a jolt of happiness. "My daddy too," she said, relaxing in her seat, "but my mummy came from a family of witches and wizards."

Lily looked down at her brown shoes. "So you must know a lot of magic already," she said, "like my friend, Severus. He knows loads already."

Althea's happiness faltered. "Oh, I don't know any," she said anxiously.

"Don't worry, I reckon there are more of us on here," she said and her eyes wandered around the carriage. "I just haven't met any."

"Oh," Althea murmured and looked to her skirt. "Your friend, has he been to Hogwarts?"

Lily shook her head. "No, no, he's in our year. He's with the Slytherins," she said and looked somewhat uneasy. "I don't like them very much."

"Is it a family?" she asked, leaning forward. "I've never heard of them."

Lily shook her head. "It's a House at Hogwarts," she explained, frowning. "They don't like Muggle-borns."

Althea gasped and fell back into her seat. How could people not like Muggle-borns? This perplexed her greatly when her father told her of the prejudice in the Wizarding world. How anyone could not like my father...I don't understand it, she thought, clenching her fists. He is well respected in the Muggle world...and well liked. Would that mean, they don't like me? Althea's father did not tell her if the dislike extended to those born of Muggle-borns, but she assumed it was so.

"Your friend wants to join this House?"

Lily nodded. "It's the best House...according to him," she said.

"But they don't like my father," Althea said and shifted in her seat, "or you."

"Severus said they would make an exception."

"Oh."

Althea believed Lily's friend to be lying. He wants to join and wants her to join...a House that hates her? That's not very fair, she thought as Lily looked out the window. I would never want my friend to join a House that hated her. Right, I'd never want to join in the first place! Althea made up her mind not to like him. That's not friendship.

***

All of Althea's fears subsided during her ride to Hogwarts. The two girls talked about their apprehensions for this first year--the classes, the professors, the strange things they read in their textbooks, how surprised they were to find out magic exists, and even more surprised they were witches. Althea explained that her father had kept magic hidden from her--his reason for she still did not know why. She was envious that Lily was somewhat prepared through her friendship with that boy. At one point, Lily left to find him and to introduce him to Althea, but he was enjoying himself with the Slytherins. Strangely, Althea felt relieved.

All of a sudden, the carriage door opened and two boys stood in the doorway. Lily looked displeased.

"Well, this is the only one left, and I'm not sitting with Narcissa," the one boy said. He was tall with black hair that fell lazily into his grey eyes.

"Anything's better than the last one," the other boy said, wrinkling his nose. He wore glasses, was shorter than the other boy was, and had black hair that stuck up in the back--Althea wanted to give him her comb.

"Well, you were thick enough to set off the Dungbomb," the taller boy said. "I was saving it for tonight."

The boy with glasses looked at the two girls and frowned. "Mate, girls," he whispered.

The taller boy eyed the two girls with an air of boredom. Althea raised and eyebrow at him. He did the same as he looked upon Althea. Who does he think he is, she wondered and glanced to Lily. Lily's cheeks were pink. So impolite!

"I don't want to sit with my cousin. She won't let us have any fun," he said, eyeing the carriage. "It'll do."

Lily moved next to Althea and the other boys slumped down across from them. Feeling slightly awkward, Althea sat up a little straighter and fixed her skirt. The carriage was silent as they tried to find ways to occupy themselves. Lily fiddled with her necklace and Althea looked out the window at the passing English countryside.

"Do you have anything? I'm hungry--when is the trolley coming round," the taller boy complained.

"No, we finished the lot ages ago," the boy with the glasses said.

Althea cleared her throat. "I have some sweets. My daddy gave me so much--you could have some if you like," she said, taking out the paper bag filled with treats.

The taller boy looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What do you have?"

Althea looked in the bag. "There are toffees, licorice, and some chocolate bars," she said, looking up.

Althea held out the bag for the boy to see. The taller boy had wrinkled his nose at the sweets.

"I've never heard of those," he said, looking in her bag. "Where are the Chocolate Frogs?"

"The Chocolate what?" Althea asked and peered into the bag as well. She wrinkled her nose as the boy smelled a strange combination of peppermint, a chimney, and--she thought--whatever a Dungbomb smelled like.

"Where did you get those?"

"At the shop near the station," she said, puzzled. She thought everyone knew of those brands of sweets. What strange people are wizards!

The taller boy's mouth opened. "Those are Muggle sweets," he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Could I?"

Althea nodded and handed him a chocolate bar. "You've never had them?" she asked, taking a bite of licorice.

The boy stuffed his mouth full of chocolate and shook his head. "Not Muggle sweets."

Althea's eyes widened. "There are Wizarding sweets?" she asked, sitting forward.

The taller boy nodded. Althea sat back and wondered how Wizarding sweets differed from Muggle sweets. What sort of magic could a chocolate bar have?

He shoved the bag into the chest of the boy next to him. "Try some," he managed to say.

The other boy took a few pieces and shoved them into his mouth. "Do you have more?" he asked, his hazel eyes sparkling. Althea looked in the bag again and handed him a chocolate bar. "Thanks," he said, smiling. "I'm James Potter, by the way."

He nudged the taller boy next to him. "Sirius Black," he muttered and took another mouthful chocolate.

"Althea Morrigan," she said, handing some licorice to Lily. "How do you do?"

Lily did not introduce herself. Instead, she shoved licorice into her mouth.

The two boys laughed. "Formal, isn't she?" James remarked and took another bite of chocolate.

Althea frowned. How did wizards and witches introduce themselves?

"Your parents are Muggles, then?" Sirius asked, finishing the last of his chocolate bar. He crumpled the wrapper in his hand and threw it across the carriage.

"No, my daddy's a wizard," Althea said, shifting in her seat. "I was just raised with Muggle things."

Sirius eyed her warily before he took a piece of James' chocolate bar.

"Aren't a lot of people raised like that?" Althea asked, taking another bite of licorice.

The two boys shook their heads.

Unexpectedly, the carriage door opened again. This time an older girl with long, blonde hair stood in the doorway--her arms crossed and with an arrogant expression on her face. Althea painfully gulped as she swallowed a bite of licorice.

"You're the ones that set off the Dungbomb, aren't you?" the girl asked. "Such the thing my baby cousin would do."

Sirius muttered something and James laughed.

The girl sighed with impatience. "Sirius, you know you are supposed to sit with us. Your mother would not like it--these could be Mudbloods for all you know," she said, looking to Lily.

Althea quickly rose to her feet. "How dare you say that!" She pointed her finger at the older girl. "Apologize."

The girl looked shocked that someone would object to such name-calling. "No," she calmly said, and turned on her heel. "I will be owling Auntie, Sirius."

She walked out of the carriage and slammed the door behind her. Althea stared at the closed carriage door. She was so casual, so flippant about that word: Mudblood. How could she be? Is it not one of the most awful insults one could say in the Wizarding world?

Althea sat down as the others stared at her. "Do you know that girl?"

Sirius looked a little nervous and embarrassed. "Unfortunately," he said, slouching into the seat. "My cousin--she's hoping I'm in Slytherin tonight."

Althea made a face. "Is it the only House at Hogwarts?" she asked--her stomach growing queasy once more.

"No," Sirius snorted, grabbing the bag of sweets. He reached in the bag, took out a piece of licorice and a candy bar, and tossed the bag back at Althea.

Althea frowned as she caught the bag.

"You don't know about the different Houses?" James asked, astonished.

Althea shook her head.

"Well, there's four--Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff--"

Althea giggled.

James raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Hufflepuff," she said through her giggling. "What a ridiculous name!"

"Better than Slytherin," Sirius remarked, breaking up a chocolate bar. He lifted a piece of chocolate to his mouth, frowned, and placed it in the wrapper.

"Tonight we find out what House we belong to at the Sorting Ceremony," James said eagerly.

"Oh," Althea whispered. "What is the best House?"

"Gryffindor," James answered. "The rest are all right--"

"Except for Slytherin," Sirius quickly interjected.

"And what is wrong with Slytherin?" Lily asked, her hands on her hips.

Althea was mildly confused. Why defend a House that did not want her because her parents were Muggles? Her friend wants to be sorted into that House, she thought, as the boys looked annoyed. She admired Lily's loyalty, but a new feeling of jealousy licked at her insides. To Althea, the loyalty was misplaced.

"They're a bunch of ugly, greasy gits," Sirius explained and smiled smugly.

Althea looked at Lily, who had narrowed her eyes at the two boys. Althea did not know if she should laugh along with James and Sirius, or ignore them. Instead, she shot a weak smile at the two boys.

The four resumed an easy quiet, but Althea's mind did not quiet. How were houses determined? Was it an exam first-year students had to take? Althea sank down into her seat--nervousness intensifying in her stomach--she never sat for an exam before. What would happen if she performed poorly? Would she have to stay in that House of the next seven years? What kind of test would it be? Would she have to demonstrate her magical abilities? Althea closed her eyes to try to calm her stomach. Why had her father not told her of these things? She decided to berate her father for not telling her about House placement in her first letter to him.

***

It was late when the train arrived at the station. The two boys had left the carriage shortly after the incident with Sirius' cousin (they found the presence of the two girls frightfully boring), and Althea was grateful--she had more time to spend with Lily. The two girls chatted eagerly and nervously about what to expect at Hogwarts, and Althea divulged she had never attended a school before. Lily was very keen to soothe Althea's fears about school by revealing stories of her experiences in Muggle school. Althea hoped that Hogwarts was just as exciting as Lily's former school--she decided that she would immediately audition for the school play.

The crescent moon hung high in the sky as Althea entered Hogwarts. Althea shivered underneath her robe and uniform; it was a lot colder there than in Bermuda. Briefly, she closed her eyes and thought about what she would be doing on a Bermuda night. She would be sitting on her porch listening to the waves as they ebbed and flowed over the pink sand. The whistling of the tree frogs would have become deafening at this time of night, and the moths would be encircling the porch light casting shadows on Althea's homework. I probably would not be wearing this wool monstrosity, she thought to herself as she entered the Great Hall. Lily nudging her arm into Althea's side jolted her out of her homesickness.

"What?" Althea whispered.

Lily pointed to the ceiling of the Great Hall. It was nothing Althea had ever seen before. She opened her mouth and giggled with delight as the bewitched Great Hall ceiling mesmerized her. At least something reminds me of home, Althea thought, looking at the twinkling stars. She removed her gaze from the stars and observed the surroundings of the Great Hall. Hundreds of students' faces stared at the first-years--some with eager anticipation and others with indifference. At the sight of the mass of students, Althea's face turned pale and her stomach churned with nervousness. Would they test her in front of all these students? Her knees weakened as the gathering of first-years stopped in front of a small stool with a disheveled pointed hat sitting atop it. Unexpectedly, the hat began to talk. Althea and Lily turned toward one another--mouths open.

"I didn't know hats could talk," Lily whispered in Althea's ear.

"I didn't know either," responded Althea, who was transfixed by the talking hat.

The boy behind her sighed with annoyance. Althea turned and glared at Lily's friend. He sneered at her. He thinks I'm stupid. I know your secret...your father's a Muggle, phony, she thought, her eyes flickering over his shoulder. Sirius made a rude face directed toward Lily's friend. Althea giggled. He quickly turned to see Sirius eye him with a look of boredom.

"What?" Sirius asked to the boy and continued his conversation with James.

After the hat finished its song, Professor McGonagall unrolled a parchment. The muscles in Althea's arm tensed and her blood vessels constricted. She looked around at the other first-years and noticed they were just as pale-faced and nervous.

"When I call your name please step forward," McGonagall said. "Aaron, Lesley."

Lesley effortlessly walked to the stool and sat down. McGonagall placed the pointed hat atop her head, and instantly the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

Lesley walked toward the Slytherin tables to shouts and cheers. A wave of calmness enveloped Althea--all she had to do was wear a hat. This was easy--no exam! However, what happened if the hat was wrong? She quietly, but fervently prayed the hat would not place her in Slytherin.

"Black, Sirius," she read.

Sirius begrudgingly sat on the stool and waited for McGonagall to place the hat on his head. After a few moments, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius relieved, proudly walked over to the Gryffindor table, and was greeted happily by the students.

A rotund man with a large silver mustache sputtered and coughed at the Head Table.

"Evans, Lily," she continued, reading aloud the scroll.

Lily turned toward Althea looking for reassurance. Althea nodded and Lily sat on the stool. Within seconds the hat announced, "GRYFFINDOR!" Cheers erupted at the Gryffindor table and Lily eagerly looked at Althea.

Althea listened intently as the other students were sorted into their Houses. It would be her time soon. I hope this bloody hat knows what it's doing, she thought, her breath shallow as another brown-haired girl was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Morrigan, Althea Rosemary," McGonagall read.

Althea became rigid at the sound of her name. It was her time now. She carefully sat on the stool and waited for the hat to be placed on her head. What is taking so long? Get on with it, she thought, screwing her eyes up at the disheveled hat. Please, do not put me in Slytherin. I don't want to be with that awful girl.

"Aren't you the impatient one," the hat responded, "but I'd never think of placing you there."

Good, she thought, anxiously twisting her hands together. Lily was so easy to place, and I reckon my father was as well.

"Very loyal," the hat murmured.

Panicked, Althea looked in the direction of Lily, who was urging her on--as if she could change the outcome of the sorting. She looked in the direction of the other Gryffindors--some were busy chatting and laughing, and others, like Lily, watched the sorting. She looked to the other first-years at the table--the very pale, brown-haired boy fought a smile as the blonde-haired girl that sat next to Lily giggled as Sirius had charmed one of her plaits to levitate. Althea giggled as well and directed her gaze to Lily. I'd like to be with her...with Lily. Place me with her, please.

"GRYFFINDOR!" that hat shouted.

Relief overcame Althea as she hopped off the stool and joined the Gryffindor table.

"Welcome to Gryffindor," an older girl with wheat-colored hair said.

"Thanks," Althea replied and sat next to Lily.

"I'm so happy you're in Gryffindor, too," Lily said, patting Althea on the back.

"Me too," Althea said, relieved. "I thought the hat was never going to place me."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Really?" she breathed, leaning closer. "As soon as she placed it on your head it shouted your House."

Althea frowned thoughtfully as she scanned the rest of the table. "Strange," she murmured as she watched Sirius congratulate James.