Minutes later, the Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop, indicating that they have arrived at the school. Sam made his way down from the overhead shelf and you picked him up, holding him in your arms. Sam's purring indicated his approval. As your group exited the train, you noticed Hagrid who was helping all of the first years.
Lee also saw Hagrid to which made him yell out, "HEY HAGRID OVER HERE!"
Hagrid turned and waved to all of you, beaming. You all responded with waves and smiles as well.
You and the crowd around you entered the castle and made your way to the Gryffindor house table. You and your friends took your seats and now with your house, you quickly found Ron, Harry, and Hermione sitting a few students in between your group and theirs. You caught Harry's eye and threw him a wave. He elbowed Ron and pointed you out to both him and Hermione. The three excitedly waved back. You knew Ron was ready to eat and Hermione to read.
The sorting ceremony was a blur, but you heard the sorting hat announce Gryffindor many times and saw many new little faces at the end of the table by the end of the event.
Before the feast every year, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore would give a little speech to both the students and staff of Hogwarts. This year was no different.
"My friends," Dumbledore spoke, "I will say a few words before the feast begins. First off, to those who were just sorted, I alongside returning students and staff welcome you. The second order of business is the fifth year dance. We hope to make this an annual tradition for the fifth years if this year is a success. Finally, I would like to introduce you all to our transfer student." said Dumbledore.
"Transfer student?" Fred turned around whispered to you, sounding very confused.
You shrugged at him, just as confused. You looked across the table and caught Katie's eyes. You both gave each other a look, questioning what Dumbledore had just said.
"From Llvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dilla Foxworth!"
A girl sitting at the Ravenclaw table stood up and walked over to the stool where the sorting hat still sat.
"Although Ms. Foxworth is a fifth-year, she has never been sorted in a Hogwarts ceremony. So, she will be sorted now."
Dilla Foxworth was now wearing the sorting hat and then the hat spoke, "Ah you were Wampus at Illvermorny! The adventurers! You could be a Gryffindor? Or perhaps a Slytherin? Hmm, I say you will do best in... Gryffindor!"
Dilla took off the hat and walked over to and sat down at the Gryffindor table, her head poking a whole foot above all of the first years
"That is all." said Dumbledore, "Everyone tuck in!
At that, endless food appeared on the table. You helped yourself to shepherd's pie and placed a piece of chicken in your lap for Sam who had been sitting since you sat down at the table. Everyone looked ravenous, practically shoving food down their throats. Soon after, you and all the Gryffindors headed to your common room.
"Fortuna Major," Percy said to the Fat Lady. The picture frame turned into an entrance which you all filed into.
You placed Sam on the ground allowing him to freely run around the common room. You plopped onto a couch soon joined by the twins, Angelina, and Katie. Eventually, Lee did as well after he finished animatedly talking to a group of first years.
"Phew," he sighed, slumping down in an armchair, "I'm exhausted already."
Nobody had enough energy to agree with him verbally, Lee's words were met with nods and a few groans.
"Cmon," Angelina said, grabbing your hand and pulling you off the couch, "let's go set up our dorm."
You got up and then encouraged Katie using the same words Angelina had said to you. The three of you made your way up the stairs to your fifth-year dorm and entered. Instead of a vacant dorm, a girl sat on one of the beds and unpacking a trunk.
"Oh hey," she said, looking up from her trunk and extending her hand towards Katie, "I'm Dilla. You probably saw me earlier when Dumbledore introduced me but I figure that more up-close introductions will help me get to know everyone."
You hadn't realized what Dilla looked like until now, standing three feet away from you. She had long and shiny blonde hair with big blue eyes that complimented her bright skin and long eyelashes. Dilla may be new and American but you had a feeling she would have no trouble finding a date for the dance.
"Nice to meet you," Katie said, lightly shaking Dilla's hand, "I'm Katie."
You and Angelina also introduced yourselves. An awkward silence filled the air as the four of you all unpacked your bags in silence. After a few minutes, Dilla stood up.
"I'm going to check out the library," she said, "it was nice to meet you three. See you later."
You listened as Dilla walked out of the dorm and down the stairs to the common room.
"I don't know," sighed Katie, now that Dilla was well out of earshot, "I just don't know."
"Don't know what?" you asked.
"How I feel about her," Katie responded.
"Me too," said Angelina, "I think it's maybe too early to have an opinion on her."
The conversation soon switched to Angelina's dress for the dance and then a full fashion show. One by one the three of you put on and showed off your dresses.
Angelina went first. She revealed her dress which you and Katie cheered on and applauded in approval. The jet black color of the dress complimented her skin beautifully. Then Katie put on her dress. Angelina jokingly whistled while Katie twirled. Katie's dress was cinched at her waist and down to her ankles, and as she spun the ends of the dress flew out, creating a circle of fabric around her.
"Katie it's beautiful!" you gushed.
"I spent so long in Madam Malkins trying dresses on but once I saw this one I was set on it. I love blue." Katie said, sitting down on her bed, "Now try yours on! I want to see!"
You grabbed your dress and walked into the closet, closed the door behind you, and slipped into your dress. You then opened the closet door and revealed your dress.
"Oh, my MERLIN." Katie screeched, "You look PERFECT."
"It looks fantastic," agreed Angelina, "it fits you like a glove."
You looked down at the dress, now noticing the adjustments that Madam Malkin had made. The satin wrapped around your body more snuggly and the dress flowed out at your feet.
"If Fred wasn't going to ask you to the dance before, he sure is now!" said Angelina.
You blushed but quickly changed the subject, "Yeah yeah Angelina, that would be perfect! If only we liked each other. Shame we are just friends, but speaking of the boys, let's go see them, it's been nearly two hours!"
The three of you changed out of your dresses and into more comfortable clothes.
You made your way to the boy's fifth-year dorm room and loudly rapped on the door. George answered the door.
"Hey ladies!" said George, "We were hoping to see you all soon! Come in come in!"
The three of you entered the dorm to see Fred and Lee having a drinking competition. Fred was wearing his Gryffindor tie around his head and continuously threw his head back as he downed shots.
"I win I win I win!" shouted Fred once he had swallowed his last shot, "I win!"
Fred then noticed that you, Katie, and Angelina were now present.
"Cmon!" said a tipsy Fred, not missing a beat and grabbing your arm, "Come drink with me!"
You held your liquor fairly well so you were not too worried about drinking a little, even if it was the night before the first day of school. A few drinks later resulted in everyone in a circle on the floor.
"Okay," announced George, "The game is spin the bottle. Pretty straightforward. Kiss whoever the bottle lands on. Angelina, you start."
Angelina spun the bottle and it landed on Lee, the two pecked and giggled it off. Then Katie spun the bottle. Once again it landed on Lee.
"Looks like I get all the ladies!" Lee said jokingly right after he and Katie pecked.
You spun the bottle and got George.
You saw Katie's eyes widen and Angelina discreetly slap a hand over her mouth.
"Alright Weasley," you taunted, and rolled your eyes, "let's get this torture over with."
You leaned into George and he met your lips with his. It was deeper than a peck, but nothing too crazy for anyone to say anything.
Roughly twenty more minutes of the game went on. Katie kissed Fred, Angelina kissed Lee once more, and then George. At one point George spun the bottle and it landed on Fred to which they both shouted, "NO TWINCEST!" and refused to kiss, which everyone agreed was for the best.
After the game of spin the bottle ended, everyone was completely drunk. Lee climbed into his bed without saying goodbye to you, Angelina, or Katie, and immediately started to snore. George carried a blacked-out Katie to your dorm. You followed them close behind, struggling to walk, and then your head began to pound. You stumbled over to one of the couches in the common room and sat on the edge of it, trying to get your bearings.
Suddenly, you saw Fred. He stumbled into the main common room from his dorm. His steps were uneven and he nearly tripped a bunch of times.
"Fred!" you hissed, "Be careful!"
Fred hadn't heard you and he continued to awkwardly walk towards you and the couches. You quickly ran to him to the best of your ability, despite your burning headache and lack of balance. However, you managed to reach him. You grabbed Fred's outstretched arms, steadying him.
"Come on," you said, walking backward to help guide Fred to the couches. Once you reached them, he collapsed onto them.
"I couldn't sleep," said Fred, "my head is killing me and Lee's snoring wasn't helping. That fire whiskey is so strong." he groaned.
"Me too," you nodded, "I'm sure that tie around your head isn't helping though."
You moved, your head now hovering over Fred's, who was laying on his back, eyes closed.
"No no I got it," he insisted, reaching for the tie, but both of your hands met at the tie at the same time.
Fred's eyes opened and stared into yours, you were mere inches from each other's faces.
"Don't worry Freddie," you whispered, "I can take care of the tie. Go to sleep, it's fine."
"Y'know," he said, "we played spin the bottle."
"I do know that Fred I was there," you responded laughing lightly at his drunkenness.
"Well I didn't kiss you," mumbled Fred.
"Ha then I guess you lost, " you joked, still struggling to untie the tie.
"Gosh this tie is so hard to untie!" you quietly muttered to yourself, "Oh I think I did i-"
You were in the middle of saying that you had successfully untied the tie, however, you were cut off by one of Fred's big hands cupping your face and the other, holding the back of your head, his long fingers tangled in your hair, pulling you into a deep kiss. Your eyes fluttered closed and your heart felt like it was pounding out of your chest. You let him kiss you and leaned into him to further deepen the kiss. You couldn't tell what was making you overheat, the fire whiskey or this. After a few moments, Fred pulled back and looked at you.
"I guess I win then huh?"