It was another day in London, not a normal day, it was September 1st 10 am. Wizards of all ages were gather at platform 9 3/4 to leave for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Every face on the platform looked excited and ready to go, all but one. It was going to be his first year at Hogwarts and he didn't want to go. Now I know what you're thinking, why would anyone not want to go to Hogwarts? Well, for this young man, he knew what to expect. He looked around the platform, all the happy faces and families getting ready for the send off, An old man in a fancy suit was the only one escorting him to the train.
"Now Master R.J," The man started, "Remember, stand tall and represent your house with pride. Understand?"
"Yes." The boy answered looking away.
The man gave him a pat on the shoulder, "Off you go! You don't want to miss the train." Without a second gesture he got on the train and sat in the nearest empty compartment.
The train ride was long, and R.J had a compartment all to himself, he looked in the window and squinted, he ran his hand through his slicked back black hair. The door opened and some other students were about to walk in, they stopped when they saw R.J. He turned quickly squinting at them.
"Oh! Sorry! We'll just find another car!" One of the students said and slammed the door.
"Did you see him?"
"Scary that one.."
"He's probably going to be a Slytherin!"
R.J heard the students as they walked away and turned back to the window. He sighed, "Typical. Always the same."
"What's always the same?" R.J jumped and turned to see a tiny girl with messy strawberry blonde hair. She giggled at his expression and sat down, "Mind if I join you?"
"You're already sitting, so I guess so." R.J looked less than amused. They sat in silence for a little while too long, the girl began to fumble and fidget. He looked back at her confused, "What's up with you?"
"Nervous I guess.." She smiled sheepishly.
"Hmm.." He squinted and ignored her the rest of the train ride.
Once they arrived at Hogwarts, a large man yelled to all the first years to follow him. R.J went with the crowd and followed him out to a large lake.
"Alright then! Come on! Four to a boat! Let's go!" The large man shouted repeatedly. R.J didn't really care where to go, he saw the same strawberry blonde girl in a boat with two other people and walked over. The girl smiled and waved as he got in, R.J just slouched down and looked at the other two in the boat. On the left was a dark skinned female with twin braids, on the right was a tan skinned male with dark brown hair that almost covered his eyes. In the front, the girl he met on the train was leaning over the front looking down at the water.
"Wow! This is so cool!" She leaned a little too far and almost fell into the water. The other two in the boat laughed. R.J didn't understand what was so funny.
Finally they got inside and the first years were being lead up the corridors, an older man was waiting for them at the top with a big smile. "Hello! and welcome, I am Professor Longbottom and I am the head of Gryffindor. Now, you're all about to go through the sorting process and be separated into your houses. Follow me please." The students followed Professor Longbottom into the great hall. Professor Longbottom set up a stool with a dusty old hat. "When I call your names, come up to the stool and you'll be sorted." He rolled out a long parchment,
" Akimoto, Kaage."
R.J watched as a boy with a bowl haircut walked up and sat down. The hat looked like it was contemplating something, then screamed. "RAVENCLAW" Cheerful claps came from the Ravenclaw table.
R.J was less than interested in some of the people who were going up and being sorted. They soon got to the B's
"BellaBerr, Regina"
The dark skinned girl from the boat walked up, as the hat was placed on her head, it yelled, "RAVENCLAW"
"Buckner, Alister"
The other boy from the boat walked up. "HUFFLEPUFF"
"Collins, Jasper"
A pale boy with ash blonde hair walked past R.J up to the stool. The hat was murmuring and then yelled, "SLYTHERIN" The boy looked excited and rushed to his Slytherin companions.
The list kept going on, R.J phased out after the C's, he wished his last name wasn't near the bottom. He snapped back for a little bit when they got near the end of the O's.
"Owens, Jacquie"
A pale girl with short orange hair nervously walked up. "GRYFFINDOR" The hat said instantly. They finally got down to S's. R.J was about ready to take his place.
"Stanton, Felix."
A dark skinned male walked up confidently ready to be sorted. R.J figured he'd be a Gryffindor. The hat yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF" The boy looked a little disappointed and wanted to protest but Professor Longbottom called out the next name.
"Sparrow, Ro-"
"R.J" He interrupted and sat down on the stool. The other boy made his way over to Hufflepuff.
"Very well then, R.J." Professor Longbottom put the hat on his head. The hat took it's time contemplating.
"I see, you only know what you've been told, yet your heart yearns for that which is bold. Gryffindor can help you free your soul. But Ravenclaw will give your mind a something bigger than you think will make you whole. As for Hufflepuff-"
"Just put me in Slytherin already." R.J interrupted.
"Very well then, if you insist, SLYTHERIN"
R.J stood up and left to go sit down with the boy known as Jasper Collins.
"What took you so long R.J?"
"Forget about it Jasper."
"As cold as ever I see. Come on!" R.J began to ignore his fellow Slytherin as well as the rest of the sorting, he instead listened in on a conversation some fourth year Slytherins were having.
"It's almost her turn!" A fourth year boy with well groomed dirty blonde hair said.
"Conner, you're too excited." One of his friends laughed.
"Yeah, you being impatient isn't going to bring your little sister over here any faster." His other friend pat him on the back.
"I know, but I'm so excited! My little sister's first year! Oh! She should be up next!"
"Young, Beatrix"
R.J watched as the strawberry blonde girl from the train and the boat walked up to the stool. He had a strange feeling about her, and it didn't help that he knew she would be in Slytherin with him. It didn't take long for the hat to yell out, "HUFFLEPUFF" Beatrix stood up and smiled, rushing towards the table. R.J was shocked, as was her brother who looked like he was about the flip the table over.
"What happened?"
"Maybe it was a mistake?"
"But the hat never makes mistakes?"
"Conner? I thought you said she would be in Slytherin?"
"I thought so too!" Conner nearly stood up but his friends grabbed him and sat him back down.
R.J was suddenly interested in something, for the first time in a while he didn't know what to expect. He just witnessed a tiny girl break her family tradition and become a Hufflepuff. He didn't know why, but he wanted to know how she did it so easily.