11 Chapter 11 - Candice

"Hmm! Interesting. Very very interesting." the Sorting Hat started talking, "A Black. But you're not very Slytherin-like.. There's a lot of bravery, oh yes, and an awful lot of knowledge too. Oh and kindness! I can't forget that. But then which house do I place you in?"

Sirius was a Gryffindor and Candice knew he wanted her to be a Gryffindor too. But she also knew that her father was a Slytherin... But she isn't a Slytherin? She's not cunning nor evil, she thought.

"Dumbledore. This requires your help." the Sorting Hat suddenly speaks again.

The girl looked up to see three shocked faces. McGonagall just stood there unmoving as she watched the event unfold, whereas Snape recovered his facial expression rapidly and shifted his weight from one side to the other. Dumbledore blinked then took a step toward the student and the Sorting Hat.

The Sorting Hat has been deciding for thousands of years, and sorted millions of witches and wizards into their houses, with never once being wrong. It never asked for help before either. Am I somehow different? Maybe I don't belong here at all, Candice thought anxiously.

"What can I do?" the Headmaster asked unsure, but the Hat first responded to the girl's thoughts.

"You certainly do belong here, child. But you seem to fit into all of the houses somehow. Not one overpowers the other." the Sorting Hat explained calmly, earning another set of wide eyes from the professors.

"So what do we do?" Dumbledore questioned the old hat again.

"I'm... I'm not really sure." the hat said.

At that point, the office door opened and Hagrid walked in.

"Oh. Sorry Headmaster. Am I interruptin'?"

"Not at all, Hagrid. Perhaps we could use your help." Dumbledore waved his hand to shut the door behind him, and gestured the half giant to stand with the other professors.

Candice took a glance at the Potions Master, to see him slightly annoyed. She assumed that he probably had places to be and her sorting was wasting his time. They made eye contact, making the girl feel flushed and speedily look elsewhere.

"Oh!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed, and everyone jumped a little.

"Yes? What is it?" Dumbledore tried with a hopeful tone, while Hagrid looked awfully confused at what was going on.

"SLYTHERIN!"

The exact two words passed through all minds in the room: Wait, what? That's not right, Snape's expression showed. This hat seriously needs help.

"Are you sure?" McGonagall asked astonished.

"Yes. Yes." the hat chuckled, "You see Candice, since I couldn't choose based on your personality and skills, I had to look deeper."

"But.. I'm not evil.." the girl whispered not really comprehending the decision.

Due to the silence in the room, all professors heard.

"Slytherin doesn't mean evil, Miss Black." Snape snapped.

"Now now Severus." Dumbledore pulled a face at Snape's tone then turned back to the student, "Well Candice. I guess it's time for you to meet your peers and explore your common room and dormitory."

McGonagall warily took the Sorting Hat off Candice and placed it on a top glass shelf.

"Severus, if you could please escort Miss Black to the Slytherin dormitories?"

Snape sighed and was about to refuse when the Headmaster cut him off.

"You are her Head of House after all."

Let's such say the new Slytherin girl paled under the glare of the dark man. After she hurriedly followed the flying cloak out the door.

The Slytherin common room was full of people, as it was after the feast and everyone was catching up or getting to know each other. Snape decided to push the girl in, and leave her there unexplained. Candice didn't appreciate it, especially because she didn't even have time to thank him. He was gone so quickly, she inwardly sighed. Of course, as cliche as it sounds, everyone stopped everything and turned towards her.

The newcomer awkwardly stood near the entrance, when a girl, seemingly similar age to her own, came up to her.

"Hey there! I'm Lyra Lomax." she stretched a hand out.

She was a bit taller than Candice, mere centimetres, and had auburn hair and hazel eyes.

"I'm Candice Black."

Candice thanked the Gods for her lack of stuttering and they shook hands. Whilst, the friendly girl's happy face abruptly changed to a one of fear yet curiosity, along with more footsteps coming their way.

"Black, ha?" an older boy asked.

"Y-yeah?"

She cringed and dared to look around to read people's faces. She observed a mix of emotions, mostly all negative; disgust, fear, hatred. They were judging by her name, Candice became aware. She despised prejudice but it seems it is very common in the wizarding society. She wondered if there was something that perhaps her uncle forgot to mention about the Black family's reputation. They didn't seem to be very liked.

"You should keep to yourself, Black" the boy, who spoke before, sneered.

The girl wasn't sure whether her hands trembled from anger or fear, but more likely the latter. Before she could embarrass herself further with a snappy or shaky remark, Lyra pulled her away. She led her up some stairs and into a room.

"Nice to meet you, Candice." Lyra said, flopping onto a bed.

The new girl looked around taking in the scene. The room consisted of two beds, each with a bedside table and wardrobe beside it (one on the right side and one on the left). Straight ahead - standing from the door - stood another door and not far from it, a window showing an underwater image.

"T-this is beautiful!"

"It is." Lyra paused,, "Come now, that's your bed."

She pointed to the opposite bed from her, and Candice noticed her owl and luggages next to it. She made her way over and sat.

"T-thanks for helping me b-back there." she eventually said, facing her new friend.

"No problem." the girl gave a smile, "Sorry for the comments. Dais is a bit of a... dunderhead."

They laughed a bit, then ended up in a long conversation. Lyra told her a lot about herself, family and life. Turns out she's a half-blood like Candice, except she had a muggle father and her witch mother (both alive). She was sixteen like Candice, and they were both starting their fifth year. Lyra told her a lot about the school too. Rules, teachers, students, etc. It was a lot to take in, but our girl thought she understood most of what was said. Lastly, Candice found out names of people to avoid. There were several bullies in Slytherin, as well as the other houses.

Luckily, Candice had Lyra. Maybe this fate was meant to be, because Lyra herself says that she's been pretty lonely. She hasn't succeeded in making any friends over her years - which the newcomer found hard to believe due to Lyra's easy-going personality - and she has also been alone in this room with an empty bed next to her since First Year. So long story short, they were glad to have found each other.