Destiny

The Sorting Hat and New Friendships

Chapter 3

"You've got to be kidding me!" Destiny said with wide eyes, as she stared at the barrier between platforms nine and ten.

"Look," James said reasonably, "All you have to do is walk through the barrier and you'll be on the platform."

"It's a wall," Destiny stated.

"Yes, Hunny, we can see that," Lily said smiling.

"No, I don't think you understand! It's a freaking brick wall!" Seeing the looks she was getting, Destiny exclaimed in exasperation, "You can't just walk through walls!... Well, you two can, but that's not the point! I'm still alive! Therefore, I can NOT walk through walls!"

"Look, just wait for another family to come and you'll see that we're not just trying to make you look like an idiot. Though that could be fun..." James said slyly.

SMACK!

Destiny quickly looked over at the Potters to see what had happened. There stood James, clutching his cheek and glaring at Lily. Lily just stood there with a smug little 'serves you right' look.

"I can't believe you just hit me!" James exclaimed.

"She's nervous enough without your help. Leave her alone," Lily said calmly.

"Yea, well, you didn't have to hit me!"

"It didn't even hurt you! You're dead! You can't feel pain!"

Shaking her head in exasperation, Destiny looked around for somebody she could ask for help.

Seeing nobody, she turned to glare at the Potters.

"You better not be playing another trick on me."

Taking a deep breath, Destiny grabbed her trunk, closed her eyes and ran at the barrier. When she didn't hit it, she opened her eyes and looked around. "Well, I'll be... They were telling the truth," she whispered.

After dragging her trunk onto the train, she started looking for a compartment.

Most of the compartments were filled but it didn't matter. She was looking for a specific person...

After being through all but the last compartment, she sighed. 'Looks like I'll be sitting here,' she thought.

Opening the compartment, she looked in to see a girl with wavy brown hair. She was reading a book for Charms class and actually looked interested in it!

'Man! And I thought I was a nerd!' Destiny thought. "Um... Hi! Can I sit here? Everywhere else has tons of people." The brown haired girl looked up and smiled. 'Well, at least she's friendly! That's something at least.'

"Of course you can sit here! My names Hermione Granger and I'm a 7^th year. Who are you? What year are you in?"

Destiny just blinked in shock. It took her a moment to absorb what the girl had said. 'Wow. She said that so fast, she didn't even have to take a breath!'

After being nudged by Lily, she started talking.

"I'm Destiny and I'm going to be in 7^th year also."

"But how can that be? You aren't seventeen yet, are you?"

Before Destiny could answer, the door slid open and two people entered. She recognized them right away, both from having met one of them and having heard stories from the Potters about the other one.

Apparently, Hermione recognized them too because she immediately called them over to meet her "new friend".

"Guys, this is Destiny. She's going to be in her seventh year too," Hermione stated.

"Hey! I know you!" Harry exclaimed. "We ran into each other at Flourish and Blotts!"

"Yea, You're Harry Potter. You took my book!" Destiny replied.

"What?"

"My Divination book. We ran into each other and dropped our books. I grabbed one of yours and you grabbed one of mine."

Turning around to dig in her trunk for the book, she said, "I accidentally bought it. I hope you bought mine 'cause otherwise I haven't got a book for that class!"

It turned out that Harry had indeed bought Destiny's book.

"So, back to my question from before. How old are you?" Hermione asked.

"I'm fifteen. I'll be sixteen on March 30^th," Destiny replied.

"If you're fifteen, how are you going to be in seventh year?" Ron asked confused.

Sighing, Destiny explained how she had completed four years of work in two.

"Wow. Hermione tried to take more than the required classes back in third year. It almost drove her insane," Harry said with an amused smile.

"It was the time turner! I was exhausted!" Hermione said defensively.

"I didn't use a time turner," Destiny said. "I just spent all my time working... It's not like anyone actually wanted me around," she mumbled.

"What?" asked Ron.

"Nothing. So, what house do you think I'll be in?"

"Well, there are four houses," Hermione explained. "There's Ravenclaw for the clever, Hufflepuff for the loyal, Slytherin for the cunning-"

"And evil," Harry added, interrupting Hermione.

Giving him an agreeing look, she continued. "And then there's Gryffindor for the brave. Us three are all in Gryffindor."

"I think I'd like to be in Gryffindor. Ravenclaw doesn't seem too bad though. But I don't want to be in Slytherin. I wouldn't want to be thought of as evil before people even tried to get to know me," Destiny replied in a light tone, all the while thinking, 'If they knew, they'd think I belonged in Slytherin... No! I won't be bitter. I'm a good person, so I won't end up there.'

They continued talking and before they knew it, they had reached Hogwarts.

Climbing into the waiting carriages, Destiny glanced over her shoulder and smiled. James immediately gave her a thumbs up and a smile. Signaling that she'd meet him at the castle, she climbed into the carriage and sat next to Ron and across from Harry.

"Nervous?" Harry asked with a smile.

'Dang! He looks like James! He even smile like him!' Destiny thought with astonishment. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you look like you're going to be sick."

Giving a weak smile, she shrugged. "I'm fine." Seeing that he knew she was lying, she tried again. "Really, I'll be okay. Besides, putting a hat on in front of the entire school can't be worse than having to spend time with my mother."

'Or worse than being expelled from a school just because people don't like differences,' Destiny thought regretfully.

"Well, at least you don't have to worry about a mistake having been made about having powers or not," Harry said teasingly. "That's good at least."

"Come on guys. We're here!" Ron said, jumping up and quickly climbing from the carriage.

After entering the huge castle, Destiny asked, "Do you know where I can find Professor McGonagall? I got a letter saying to meet with her and she'd take me to where I'll be sorted at."

"If you just stay here, McGonagall will come here to collect the first years," Hermione said. Giving Destiny a smile, she added, "Good luck!"

"Thanks. For talking to me and being nice and all," Destiny said absentmindedly, while thinking about how important the next few minutes were going to be to the world. If she didn't make it into Gryffindor, it was going to make it nearly impossible to become good enough friends, that she would be able to gain enough trust, to tell him about being a Necromancer.

Giving her a strange look, Harry replied, "No problem," Then with a smile, he said, "Hope to see you at the Gryffindor table. I'll save you a seat."

Destiny was left standing alone as they walked into the Great Hall. Taking the chance to look around, she was a little impressed. There were staircases everywhere and every once in a while, one would move to another spot. There were many hallways, though none seemed to be leading in the direction it should be. With a happy smile, she thought of the fun she would have trying to find every secret passage and forbidden room in the castle.

Sensing a presence behind her, she calmly turned to see who was approaching her. The woman headed towards her had gray-black hair in a tight bun, glasses, and a stern expression. Destiny knew immediately that this lady was Professor Minerva McGonagall.

"Destiny Black?" the Professor asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Professor McGonagall?" Destiny asked mockingly.

Giving Destiny a stern look, but choosing to allow her comment to pass, she started to tell her exactly how her sorting was going to take place.

"You will be taken into the Great Hall along with the new first years. The first years will be sorted and then you will be introduced as a transfer student from...?"

"I went to Salem Academy of Magic last year," Destiny provided.

"Very well. You will be introduced and sorted. That is all you'll have to do," Professor McGonagall said shortly.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

As McGonagall went to open the door for the first years, Destiny hurriedly looked around for the Potters. Seeing them standing behind her, she gave them a weak smile.

Seeing how nervous she was, Lily went over to her.

"Turn and watch what McGonagall's doing. You don't want her to be suspicious of you before you're even sorted." Turning to watch McGonagall open the doors, she listened to Lily's advice. "The hat will immediately see your mission. Tell it how important it is for you to be in Gryffindor," Lily said calmly.

"Just remember- All will be well and there is nothing in this world to fear if you just face it," James said soothingly.

Taking a deep breath, Destiny focused her attention on what McGonagall was saying to the first years that were waiting to be taken in and sorted.

"...I will return in a few minutes. In the meantime, try to make yourselves more presentable."

Reaching up to smooth her hair, she thought, 'Here we go. Okay, Des, you have to make an impression to last. Now, what impression do I want to give...'

Thinking hard, she decided that being cool and confident would be the best impression. Putting on a face that said, "I can't believe they think this is important" she turned to face the first years.

"What are you looking at?" she asked a group of little kids that were looking at her.

"Aren't you a little old to be a first year?" a blonde boy asked curiously.

"I'm a seventh year. I'm transferring from America," she said.

"Oh, we don't really have to ride a dragon do we?" the boy asked nervously. "My Dad said we did..."

"No. You have to... fight a Boggart. And occasionally, the Boggart turns into something really bad and kills all the first years. But don't worry. I'm sure you all know how to stop one." With that she walked to the other side of the room to wait.

By the time Professor McGonagall returned, all the first years had heard about the Boggart and were hysterical.

"What in the world is going on!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

Snickering into her hand, she walked up to McGonagall and said, in her newly acquired confidence, "They're fine. They're just nervous. Time to go, right?

By the look she was receiving. She knew that the Professor knew she was the cause of the panic.

Apparently deciding that she had had enough, McGonagall yelled for everyone to calm down and make a single file line.

Before they entered the Great Hall, the Professor asked her to remain outside until they had finished sorting the first years.

As Destiny waited for her name to be called, she took the chance to glance into the room from the doorway where she stood. She saw four long tables and many people watching the sorting. She finally distinguished Harry out of the crowd.

'So that's Gryffindor...'

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the sorting of the first years ended.

"We also have a transfer student from America here to spend her seventh year. Black, Destiny!" McGonagall called.

Not hearing so much as a whisper, Destiny cringed. 'Well what did you expect? You know people hate your father. You'll just have to work a bit harder to fit in,' she thought to herself.

Pasting on her confident face, she walked out calmly and sat on the stool. Just before she dropped the hat onto her head, she heard people start to whisper.

"Black!"

"As in a relative of Sirius Black?"

"Do you think she's ever met the murderer?"

Hearing the last comment, she ground her teeth together to calm her anger. It would do no good to reveal her powers by forcing the ghosts to attack the kid.

As soon as the hat settled, she heard a voice talking in her head.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Sirius Blacks' daughter?"

'Yes, Sir,' she thought.

"Yes, yes. I remember your father. Very talented. Very loyal. Would have made a good Hufflepuff if not for the fact that he was guaranteed to be a troublemaker. Now let's see... Plenty of brains... Oh yes and there is talent. One of the most talented I've had to sort in years. Also loyalty and bravery. Your bravery comes from your loyalty, but I don't think Hufflepuff is for you. Maybe Ravenclaw... No, no... not Ravenclaw. You're naturally talented but not eager to have to study... Oh, my! The ability to speak to the dead! I have not seen one of your kind here in over three hundred years! Slytherin would accept you without any hesi-"

"No!" she accidentally yelled out loud. Hearing the laughter of the school, she thought to the hat, 'No. Please. The prophesy!'

"No, I don't suppose Slytherin would accept someone whose goal is to save the world. Then it best be GRYFFINDOR!"

Hearing the last word yelled out loud, she felt a wave of relief. Pulling the hat off, she stood up and walked to the seat Harry had saved for her, among unenthusiastic applause.

Dumbledore stood up with a smile after Destiny sat down.

"Welcome to a new year! I hope you've forgotten everything and are ready to refill those empty heads. Now, for anyone who wants to check, a complete list of forbidden objects has been posted in Mr. Filch's office. The Forbidden Forest is still forbidden- hence its name. It would do well for some of our more... adventurous students to remember that. In light of Voldemort's ever-increasing terror, Hogsmeade trips maybe canceled at a moment's notice. Do not leave the grounds without permission. If you are caught off grounds, you will be expelled... Now! On a lighter note, let's eat!"

With that Dumbledore sat down and began to eat the food that had just appeared.

*****

After Harry, Ron and Hermione left Destiny in the Entrance Hall; they had proceeded into the Great Hall. After sitting down, Ron turned to his friends.

"So, what house do you think she'll be in?" he asked.

"If she is really as smart and studious as she says, then she'll be in Ravenclaw," Hermione said in a know-it-all voice. Seeing the amused looks she was getting from everyone around her, she asked defensively, "What!"

Shaking his head in disbelief, Ron said, "I'm not really sure. She's too nice to be in Slytherin and doesn't act like she likes to study. She's really friendly though. I think she'd make a good Hufflepuff."

"I hope she gets into Gryffindor. I like her, she's sweet," Harry said absentmindedly. Seeing the looks he was getting, he groaned. "I didn't mean I liked her like that! She just reminds me of someone..."

"Yeah, I've noticed that," Hermione agreed, nodding her head. "But who?"

"Oh! I know!" Harry exclaimed. He quickly lowered his voice and said, "Snuffles! She reminds me of him!"

At that moment, McGonagall led the first years out and the sorting began.

"Where is she?" Harry asked as the Transfiguration teacher called the names of the new students.

"Well, they probably have her waiting somewhere. They wouldn't want a bunch of noise while they were sorting. I mean, if she was out there, people would be trying to figure out who she was," Hermione said reasonably.

After all the first years had been sorted, Harry leaned forward eagerly.

He hadn't wanted to admit he liked Destiny as more than a friend, especially after the comment about Sirius. But for some reason, every since she had ran into him, he had felt drawn to her. It was strange how, when he was with her, he felt the loneliness of missing his parents lessen. He also felt like his best friend had come home.

McGonagall quickly made her speech, "We also have a transfer student from America here to spend her seventh year. Black, Destiny!"

Harry's eyes widened in shock. 'Black? Did she just say Black? No wonder she reminded me of Sirius! I bet she's related to him!'

Harry could hear people all over the Great Hall whispering, and it wasn't nice things either.

"I bet she helped him escape."

"If she's related to Black then she's probably a Death Eater too!"

"What is Dumbledore thinking, knowingly letting Death Eaters in!"

Ignoring the whispers, Harry turned back to where Destiny was being sorted.

After having seen how happy and friendly she was on the train, he was a little surprised to see the look of utter sadness and loneliness in her eyes. He knew that nobody else would see the look through the mask of cool confidence she wore.

His mind immediately drifted back to what she had said earlier: 'Thanks for talking to me and being nice.'

'She honestly didn't expect us to be nice to her. From the look she had in her eyes, I think she's used to rejection. I'll just have to make sure to be extra nice to her... And find a way to ask if she's related to Sirius.'

He started become a little worried when the hat didn't say anything for a while. He- and most of the school- was startled, when Destiny suddenly shouted, "No!"

After another minute, the sorting hat proclaimed Destiny a Gryffindor, much to her relief- though many at the table looked disgusted at the thought of having a Black in their house.

*****

After Dumbledore had made his speech, Harry turned to Destiny and while smiling, asked, "What took so long? You were up there for ten minutes!"

Giving a little laugh, Destiny replied, "The hat was reminiscing about sorting my Dad and then we got into a bit of a fight."

"Is that why you yelled out 'No' all of the sudden?" Ron asked with a smile.

Smiling sheepishly, she replied, "It was going through its spiel of why I should be in one house or another. You know, it said loyal enough for Hufflepuff, clever enough for Ravenclaw, and then it was saying that I was ambitious enough for Slytherin. Needless to say, you can figure out what happened next."

"It wanted to put you in Slytherin?" Hermione asked with surprise. "You're too nice to be a Slytherin!"

"It wanted to put me in Slytherin," Harry said trying to make Destiny feel better. "Slytherins are just supposed to be ambitious but unfortunately, their ambitions make them do anything to get what they want."

"Never knew you were so insightful in the ways of Slytherins," Ron said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Turning to Destiny, Ron asked out of the blue, "So do you like Quidditch?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't? Are there going to be any positions open this year? Who's on the team?"

"Whoa! Slow down!" Harry exclaimed with a laugh. "There's going to be a chaser position and a beater position open. What position do you usually play?"

"I usually play seeker 'cause it's the funnest position," Destiny said happily.

"Funnest?" Hermione asked cringing. "It's 'most fun'."

"Whatever," Destiny responded, giving an absentminded wave of her hand. "I'm not horrible at chaser but I've never tried playing beater. Who's on the team?"

Before Harry could answer, Ron started talking. "Well, I play keeper and then the two chasers we have left are my little sister Ginny and her friend Ashley Berry. Our beater is Sam Janson and our seeker is Harry. Harry's also the captain, so if you suck up to him, you may get a position."

Laughing, Destiny turned back to her food.

The conversations continued in the same happy manner until dinner was over.

As Destiny walked with her new friends, she realized that she was happy. For the first time in her life, she had friends that everyone could see. For the first time, she felt she belonged...