Day One

Prompt: Bones

The heavy doors to the Great Hall swung open and Professor McGonagall strode into the room, a group of first-years following her. She stood straight-backed and imposing, taking no notice of the students around her. She led the group of new students up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, stopping them only a few meters from where Dumbledore himself sat.

Most of the first-years were huddled together, looking around at the spacious room. Some stared at the head table; some gazed, wide-eyed at the enchanted ceiling, which showed a dark sky filled with twinkling stars. They were shivering slightly, from the cold mostly and a little from fear.

Fred Weasley surveyed the nervous group, his gaze resting on two girls standing very close to each other. One of the girls was grasping the other's arm tightly while fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. Fred grinned and nudged his twin, George, pointing out the two girls.

"Hey," Fred whispered, trying to get their attention. Both of the girls turned their heads in his direction. One girl had long, wavy, dark brown hair while the other's hair was straight and lighter brown.

"What could you possible want?" The darker-haired girl asked in a low whisper as she rolled her eyes. The other girl's eyes darted nervously between the twins and the girl.

The twins were momentarily taken aback by her sharp tongue. Fred glanced at George quickly and then returned his gaze to the girls. He grinned at them. "You scared?"

"Not in the slightest," the first girl replied. She held her head high, as if to prove she was fearless.

"A little," the lighter-haired girl admitted. She was still clutching the other girl's arm. The differences between the two were obvious, especially in attitude, but they looked alike and George assumed they were twins too.

"Vega, I've told you, it's just a hat," the darker-haired sister said. "You put it on and it tells you what house you belong in." The sharp whispered she had used with the boys was gone and her voice was gentle. She squeezed her sister's hand reassuringly. "See," she added, pointing to the front of the Great Hall where Chang, Cho was sitting with an over-sized hat on her head.

"They didn't tell you?" George forced his face to look surprised as he hid a smile. "That's just the first part. Then, you have to fight a troll and bring back its bones as proof." Fred covered his laugh with a cough and tried to look serious.

"Did you say," Vega shivered and swallowed hard, "a troll?" Her voice was high and quavering. She sounded close to tears.

Her sister squeezed her hand again and then rolled her eyes in George's direction. "Well, that shouldn't be too hard." She studied George for a second. "You don't look very hard to beat," she added. Vega finally smiled a little and Fred snickered.

"Montgomery, Capella," Professor McGonagall called. The darker-haired sister gave Vega's hand another squeeze, shot George a scathing look, and made her way to the front of the room.

"One sickle she's in Gryffindor," Fred said and George nodded. They watched as Capella took a seat on the little wooden stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It dropped down over her ears and she had to push it up a little so she could see.

The Sorting Hat sat on Capella's head for at least two full minutes before it cried out, "Ravenclaw!" The other Ravenclaws cheered and George held out his hand towards his brother, awaiting his little silver sickle.

This is in response to the 30 Drabble in 30 Days challenge at HPFC. Capella and Vega are the Montgomery sisters, mentioned briefly in The Half-Blood Prince.