3 Chapter 2

After I read the letter that the cat had given me I had so many questions, but before I could ask any of them the cat told me "I know you have questions and all will be answered but I need you to come with me. We must reply to this letter as soon as possible." I agreed on the terms on the way she would answer my questions, she agreed and we set off. 

On the way my main questions were 'whats Hogwarts?', 'how are witches and wizards real and why are they a secret?', 'what's her name?', 'why can i understand cats but no one else can?' she explained she had no name and it was my job to name her, so i called her Midnight after her fur, she had no clue why only i can talk to cats she said i must be an especially gifted witch, witches and wizards are a secret from muggles because the muggles have never reacted well in history, and Hogwarts is one of many schools for witches and wizards age 11 to 18 to learn about magic and how to use there powers appropriately and chanel them through a wand' i also asked where we were going and lots of other questions she explained everything, my past was a big shock. Apart the family that raised me weren't my own my real parents gave me to the muggles because they didn't love me, my power of fire is because of them, they are what's called a pure blood family and they are very rich, in the wizarding world they are famous, but Midnight advised i kept my heritage a secret, i didn't plan on talking to anyone else at 'Hogwarts' anyway.

2 days later we reached Manchester and Midnight showed me a post office but then she went to the back room and transformed. She talked for me as I was very shy because I have really bad social anxiety. I wore a mask to hide my mouth as it tells people I don't want to talk.  We sent a reply to Hogwarts and said I would be attending the semester starting the 1st of September. After that we headed to london, we met up with Charaxe on the way and we made it just in time, Midnight transformed and we headed into and alley, Midnight pressed something and it opened up in front of us, there was a lot of people there do i let Midnight talk for me again, she took me to a shop called Olivanders wand imperium to get my wand, she said it was to channel my magical abilities, oh and she also told me to 1) keep my fire powers secret and 2) Keep Charaxe a secret also. I agreed we got my wand and all the thing Midnight said i needed including a uniform and books, Then we headed to Gringotts Bank, apparently i have a lot of money in my account because they took me to my vault and it was full, i got the amount of money Midnight advised and put the rest in a special purse. 

Then it was time to head to King's Cross Station Platform 9¾, I was terrified as Midnight sat on a trolly thing we got as we entered the station and had me run at a wall, i went right though, someone caught me on the other side, she said she was a 3rd year returning, she said her name was Centuri Black-Grayback but just to call her Tori, Midnight transformed and spoke to her for me and explained to her that i don't talk, then she handed me a mask similar to mine but with a smile on it, i instantly put it on, then the train whistle blew she grabbed me and led me to an empty room in one of the carriages, she sat with me, i put my headphones in until the sweet treats cart came round, I pointed to a few things for me and 1 thing Torri told me she liked, i did it to say thanks, then Torri told me to get changed into my uniform and robes, i did but i didn't realise she was watching me, she saw my scars, she quickly became worried for me and started asking questions, i burst into tears and started having a panic attack. She apologized and i told Midnight to tell her the story, Midnight transformed and explained everything to her, she told me she promised to help, she also said i would also never need to go back to that awful house, I thanked her using sign language and asked if she could stay with me and talk to the teachers and other people for me so I could keep Midnight a secret so people thought she was a normal cat, she agreed, as we got off she flagged down a professor called Professor Raine and explained to him about my severe social anxiety and the fact the i asked her to speak for me as she understood sign language, the Processor was so kind and agreed to it he announced to the other Professors the situation and they all okayed it. So in we went. 

I was terrified. But Tori explained it was just formality, we would sit on a stool in front of the school and a hat would be placed on our head sorting us into our house, that house would be our home and sleeping quarters for the rest of our time at Hogwarts, the had based our house of certain traits; Gryffindor are brave, Chivalrous, Courageous and confident, Slitherin are Determined Ambitious, Innovative and Accomplished, Ravenclaw are Intelligent, Creative, Wise and have originality and finally hufflepuff are Loyal, Kind, Honest and good Friends to all. She explained she was a Ravenclaw, each hose also has 2 corresponding colours and an animal mascot; Gryffindor, red and orange and there animal mascot is an eagle, Slitherin, green and Silver and there animal mascot is a snake, Ravenclaw, Blue and Bronze and there animal mascot is a Raven and Finally Hufflepuff, Yellow and Black and there animal mascot is a Honey badger. Finally it was my turn to be sorted, I sat on the stool, everyone staring at me….

Then out of the silence there was a voice "HUFFLEPUFF!" Then there was rawing cheers at a table to my direct left isat down next to a girl she then introduced herself as Katrina Ching but wanted to be called Kat. I nodded but didn't say a word, Tori had to go sit on her table after i had been sorted just then i felt Midnight brushing against my legs and picked her up, the girl Kat said 'pssst, you know pets aren't allowed in here right, oh wait your a first year, shoo cat go wait in the hall", she hissed and lay in my lap i smiled under my mask and giggled the girl wasn't impress but wasn't that bothered. After everyone had been sorted the headmistress spoke and went on about the rules and things then she said my name and asked me to stand up and come to the front, and also said if i wished Centuri Black-Grayback could come with me to interpret and speak for me as i had seemed to have bonded with her. I started panicking when Tori approached me and held my hand as we walked up together, I started panicking even more when Midnight jumped onto my shoulder and started rubbing up against me. When we got to the front the headmistress spoke again, she said 'Students of Hogwarts school for witchcraft and Wizardry this girl here is Ember Flame, She is a mute and has Severe social anxiety, this cat with her is her familiar and a coping mechanism for her anxiety so please treat her well and if i hear of anyone being unkind to her you will be in my office immediately and will receive a fitting punishment. After that she dismissed everyone 1 house at a time, Gryffindor, then Slitherin, then Ravenclaw and ginaly Hufflepuff, she asked the 2nd year girl Kat who i sat next to, to show me my room as i would be sharing with her, she had a 2 bed bedroom so it would be less stressful for me. She agreed as she had no choice really as it was the head who asked, after that she helped me unpack and told me there are no lessons until tomorrow and we will be sent our schedules later tonight, she told me it was appropriate to get changed and then i could come down to the common room. I did when she wasn't watching (not making that mistake again) then after she left the room decided to ask Midnight to go to Tori and see if Tori  wanted to come and Hang out, she dis and Tori came soon after, she popped out for a minute to call her dads and told me it's so they knew she was there safe but i could tell she lied, not sure why she did but obviously had a reason, i didn't bother question it, soon she returned, i took off my mask and started to speak to her using my voice she told me to meet her tomorrow night before curfew at the east starwell. She even gave me a map, she called the marauders Map, she told me To say "I Solemnly Swear I Am Up No Good" to use it and "Mischief Managed" when i was done, she told me it would how me anyone i wanted as long as they were in the castle.

That was my 1st day at Hogwarts, so I went to bed.