The Universe had many rules. most of which it enforces. Gravity pulled, time flowed, Ancient slumbering horror was to be beyond mortal comprehension. But not for Selena Blackhearth, she broke all of them before Breakfast, she was there in the great Hall, sitting at a Table without being sorted, Buttering a Toast. behind her the Shadows she casted, twisted and winded themself into shapes that no Human mind should be able to perceive. Though those who dared to look closer at the twisting and winding Shadow's would later report, migraines, prophetic dreams, and an uncomfortable interest in nihilism. (means like nothing matters anymore)
Meanwhile Selena stayed at her Seat her Toast Buttered and she took a large Bite, she sat there as if she always belong there at the long Table of Gryffindor House, unsorted, Wandless, unbothered by the Shadows behind her. The Toast when she bit into did not crumble nor left butter on her lips it knew better.
Whispers begann to crawl trough the Great Hall as more and more People noticed the strange Girl, there classmates complained about if you looked at her life would become meaningless. If they had looked up as some did you would have seen the Sky portrayed on the ceiling of the great hall would flicker and distort, it showed the sky about Hogwarts that could not have been a sky since it Twisted and Danced it Shook and stayed still as if it was something that should not be.
Professor Flitwick squeaked, he was one of the Unfortunate too look up. Professor Sprout crossed herself, then stopped, remembering she was a witch, and crossed herself again for good measure. At the High Table Professor McGonagall noticed her Fellow Teacher's behavior and looked where they did, first at the Ceiling but not for long since it looked wrong and then at Selena the whispers of Student and Teacher alike nicking her on. She louvered her Teacup and looked. Selena gave her a distinction one she hadn't felt in a long time, like with the last Dark Lord, Selena felt of, like she was wrong...on a Fundamental lever, she should not be.
"Albus" she begann her gaze not flinching away from Selena as a Headache started to brew. "why is there an unsorted student in the Great Hall?" she had noticed. Dumbledore looked over to Selena and adjusted his half moon glasses. his eyes ever twinkling, reflecting the stars, negotiating for permission to exist.
He stroke his beard and spoke. "Well, she arrived" he spoke a voice as calm as the Ocean. McGonagall frowned. "That does not explain" her voice a contrast stern and unmoving like a boulder. "It usually works." Dumbledore takes a bite of his food. They watched Selena. behind her the Shadows stretched longer with there strange Dance, they folded inward, formed angles that should not be, and some who saw like a few curious Ravenclaws would Loose the light in there eyes, or a Hufflepuff would decide to never go near here, for the better of it.
Selena ignore that, she took another bite of her Toast, the shadows behind her stilled just for second and continued there strange twisted, folding and pained dance. A collective, unconscious sigh rippled through the Hall. Finally Selena looked up and spoke. "I was Hungry" her voice sounded soft like silk.
The Great Hall fell Silent, hundred of eyes on Selena. It wasn't the Normal kind of Silence, no it was the kind were noise simply stopped, the deeper kind of noise were no one dared to breath nor move, it was the heavy kind of Silence, that sugested rethinking life choices.
Dumbledore gave a soft Smile and a rough Chuckle. "Well, hunger is something we can solve, but now please come forth to be sorted" Selena gave a curt nod and stood up from the bench her movement were like she was gliding through the air, it looked like it itself was moving out of Selenas way, her movements were like that of a doll graceful and precise. The Shadows continuing to Dance there twisted game.
When Selena sat down, hands folded on her lap, Professor McGonagall hesitated. The Sorting Hat had sorted hundred of Student's, Selena would not be the last. The Hat seen much, knew too much and regretted knowing some if not most of what it knew. Though once placed on Selena's head it knew it had never sorted this.
The Hat now on Selena's head gave a silent scream.
[YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT.]
Selena closed her eyes and answered the hat. "I am though, being hungry qualifies me, acording to Headmaster Dumbledore" The Hat's brim shriveled slightly. Still it went into Selena's mind, or attempted to, the space was dark as if nothing was there, layered deep the hat noticed something looking back wherever it looked. There were Ambitions, Itelligence working together sharp and cold. there was Courage and loyalty, calculating what to do.
It was something the Hat, had never sorted before. the hats tip shivered, the brim curled up further, it gave of a wave of exhaustion.
[You would unmake my Houses]
it whispered, suddenly tired.
[You would unmake the walls between them.]
Selena though about it. "I can sit still" she told the hat and it paused. That would help a little? The hat decided. Slytherin she would not go, she would twist there minds. Hufflepuff is out to, she would have followes that would do anything, Ravenclaw could be, though on a second though no her knowledge would twist and make them dance a different tune, Yes Gryffindor it shall be.
"GRIFFINDOR!"
The Word was loud and heavy, falling into place, the sky looked normal, the shadows stopped Dancing, it looked just like before but if you took a closer look it was just a mask, everything was still there...
The Hat was liftet of Selena's head, it sagged into the arms of McGonagall, it fabric uncurling and the tip stopped shivering, though it knew what it saw it would never forget the things starring back.
Selena stood up, she returned to her Seat and ate, like nothing had happened. that is when the People notice, Food wasn't even served jet so how did she get it?.
That was the question that stayed on some minds in the Great Hall, It hovered over the tables, unspoken but shared, from mind to mind. Dumbledore rose from his seat, disrupting there thoughts and spoke loud and clear, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Welcome," Dumbledore began warmly, spreading his arms as if nothing had happened, "to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" The shadows did not react, That was new. "Before we retire for the evening," he continued, his voice cheerful and carefully loud, "I have a few announcements"
Student's leaned forward and did not eat. Selena continued her meal. Dumbledore continued, "The Forbidden Forest," he was smiling pleasantly, "is forbidden to all students." A ripple of murmurs followed. "Not," he added thoughtfully, "because it is dangerous" The murmurs stopped. "But because," he continued, adjusting his glasses, "it is territorial"
Somewhere far beyond the castle walls, something old turned over in its sleep and briefly considered its options. "Secondly," Dumbledore said, "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley's" Fred and George straightened in unison. "Your experimental joke products are," Dumbledore paused, glancing very briefly, very briefly, at Selena, "once again forbidden on school grounds."
"That's unfair," Fred muttered."Yes," George agreed, "we haven't even finished half of them" Dumbledore's smile sharpened. "And finally," he said, voice softening just enough to be unsettling, "the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful, gruesome death"
It was silent for just a moment and then Dumbledore sat back down. "thank you" he claps his hand's and the Tables shift just for a second and food started to appear on them, Platters overflowed with roast meats, steaming vegetables, bread, puddings, pies, it's the usual abundance of Hogwarts, rich and warm and reassuring.
Selena's plate did not change, It had already been full. One of the other first years wondered and stared at Selena's unchanging platter a little too long, he felt a sudden urge to reconsider the facts he knew of cause and effect. Around Selena talking slowly resumed, careful but it did and the student that starred to slowly returned to his own plate and soon the Great Hall was filled with the voices of Children and Teachers alike as well as the sound of Cutlery being used.
At Gryffindor Table, some of the braver Student's too dared to glance at Selena between bites of their food and those who looked close could see her shadow stretch and turn in it haunting dance. It was like the Girl was slightly out of their reality and then again she was not.
Selena listened to her fellow Student, Percy Weasley whispering about rules, Ron Weasley about keeping a distance from Selena. Harry Potter curious asking about thing's and at the high table Selena could see Professor McGonagall leaning close to Headmaster Dumbledore whispering about her.
"Albus, the food" whisper's McGonagall and the old Man nodded "Yes," he said softly. "That was… earlier than expected." McGonagall looked thoughfull before asking."What, is she?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, this time with effort."A student," he replied. Behind Selena, the shadows stretched just slightly. And Hogwarts, ancient and patient, settled around her, not welcoming, not rejecting, but watching. The year had begun.
The feast continued in the same manner, till everyone's stomaches were full and thirst was clenched, then the feast ended. the plates were empty, voices quite down replaced by yawn's a collective and comfortable silence fell over the hall. The Candles dimmed and Professor McGonagall tapped her cup with a spoon to get the Student's attention. "Perfect's lead the Student's back to their Dormitory, make sure the First year's don't get lost.
Student's stood up, Benches scraped, robes rustled, the great hall was filled with noise of moving Children and Adults alike. Selena rose with the rest of her Yearmate's, the air around her changing to make room, the shadows pulling under her and unmoving as if nothing was ever wrong with them. As she followed her Yearmate's out into the halls of the Castle, the air changed, the warmth faded first into a deep cold, the sound's of there footstep's grew louder, expect for Selena's.
This night at Hogwarts was different it was as if the Castle woke up and watched, it's magic shifting, the stones colder then in the memory's of the older Student's, the Castle Darker than it should be. Shadows in places there weren't before and everything watching. The Student's walked closer together, talking in hushed tones.
The staircase creaking, though it's Stone's should not, Portraits moving like they did before, watching from there places, more aware then before, there gaze lingering and all seeing. One of these followed Selena with it Gaze if you looked closer haunted by thing they could not see, the portrait Swallowed though it could not.
The Staircase creaking and turning under them, ever chaining in the direction's they went, intentional, the higher they went the darker the light under them until there were only shadows that watched. A Ghost driftig past, Nearly Headless Nick if you listened closely you could hear him mumble. "Oh...." in a faint whisper.
Then he drifted away faster then he came, leaving a cold chill behind, trough a door that wasn't there before and wasn't there now, ever changing as the castle was.
Selena continued her walk, following her Perfect up the stair's, around a Collum, down the Hallway to a portrait. The air felt warmer here, welcoming, they heard a fire crackling on the other side if you listened close.
The Perfect halted in front of it and Selena watched, The portrait was that of the Fat Lady, if the name Plaque had anything to say she wore a lose with dress, her brown hair made up in a fancy style adorned with a flower crown she held a Wine glass and looked down at the Perfect over it's brim. "Password?" she asked her voice high and shrill.
"Fortuna Major," called the prefect. Her Portrait shiftet and swung open, revealing a large room behind with mismatched furniture, everything a different shade of red, a small bookcase in the back, a chandelier for light and a fire place near a sitting area to keep you warm, it was inviting like a good lived in home.
Selena was the last one to step into the Welcoming common room of the Gryffindor Dorm. the light just got a tiny bit darker and the shadows grew, still the Welcoming feeling didn't disappear, it just mixed with recognition of something entering that should have not.
The Perfect stood in front of the group of first Years and clapped their hand's to get there attention. "So firsty's, boys to the legt and girls to the right" he gestures to a winding staircase where the older classmates were already going up.
Selena was the first one to move she gave a short nod at the Perfect and started her way up the stairs, wherever she passed the candles seems to dimm, giving her skin a sickly glow, she continued her way into the Girls side of the Dormitory. It was a long circular hallway that she walked along till she reached a door that had. 1 Year written on it and entered, the door left open behind her, she stepped into another Hallway and walked till she found her Name-tag.
The dorm room itself was also circular shaped, four poster beds where in the room, with drapes hanging around the post for privacy, the trunks laid at the bottom of the Bed's so finding her own Bed wasn't hard to do. She walked up to it, it was stationed in front of a Window that gave her a beautiful vive of the Hogwarts castle ground's.
She sat down on the bed, the mattress didn't bend from her weight nor did the bed creak as she sat. Selena simply sat and observer her roommate's do there nightly routine. Talking and laughing getting to know own another.
Selena waited and watched, slowly the room grew silent each girl laying in there own bed's, covers pulled up to there chins as they felt into a calm state of sleep, Selena removed her shoes after she was sure her Dorm mate's were asleep, undressed out of her robes and into a long night dress in black, her brown-red hair up in a bun to keep from tangling for the night. She then laid down under the covers, on her back arms resting over her chest and she fell asleep never moving through the night's only the Shadows curling around her and dancing. The curtains of her bed closing on their own and the first night in Hogwarts begann.
The old castle continued to change and shift trough the night, the stones talked, the fire flickered, the stairs creek'ed, the Ghost listened, the Portraits looked, Magic flowed trough each brick and Stone of Hogwarts Castle as it laid awake and observing on top a dislocated mountain in Scotland the squid in the lake guarding.