This is my first go at writing anything like this, so reviews would be greatly appreciated :)
Antonia is a character based on me, so a lot of her personality will be similar to mine.
Jack's character is based on one of my friends, who got me into fanfics and writing in the first place. So thanks Jack :)
The rest of the characters, unless stated otherwise, are of J.K. Rowling's creation and have nothing to do with me.
The train ground to a slow halt at Hogsmeade station. The excitement of the first years, including myself, couldn't be contained, and the nearby carriages erupted into chatter and laughter. We got off the train, and were led to boats to cross what I'd been told was the Black Lake, led by the gamekeeper, who's name I'd heard was Hagrid. He was huge, with a big bushy beard, and a head full of messy hair.
Around what I'd judged as half an hour later, we were lined up outside the Great Hall. We could hear the chatter of the older students, already inside the hall. I turned round, to see if I could spot anyone that seemed as nervous as me. I saw 3 people I recognised; all of them were quite a distance in front of me. The one nearest to the front of the line was Jack Edge. He'd been a friend of mine for a long time; one of the only I'd had. The second was Draco Malfoy. He was hard not to recognise, with his signature blond Malfoy hair, and his silvery-grey eyes. The third I recognised, not as far away from me as Draco, was none other than Harry Potter. I was going to school with Harry Potter. The Boy who Lived. Not only that, he was in my year!
Professor McGonagall beckoned us forward, as the doors opened. I could tell why the Great Hall was named that. It was beautiful. What must have been hundreds of candles were suspended in the air above the four large tables, which I presumed were one for each house. Above the candles was what looked very similar, maybe even identical to the sky. It was indeed a Great Hall.
The sorting ceremony started, but not before a song from the Sorting Hat itself… I tuned out to the first lot, but as soon as I heard names that I recognised, I started to pay attention. As Jack's name was called, my head snapped up from my feet to pay attention. As soon as the hat touched his head, it shouted "RAVENCLAW".
I tuned out again for a while, until I heard Draco being called. He seemed like the kind of person I'd like to be friends with. He sat on the stool, and with no hesitation at all, maybe even slightly before the hat even touched his head, it shouted "SLYTHERIN!" earning and applause from everyone that sat at the Slytherin table.
Of course Harry Potter was going to be a Gryffindor, everyone knew that would happen.
My legs ached, as McGonagall read my name from the list. "Antonia Wright?"
Only now had I started to consider what house I'd like to be in. Hufflepuff was the only house I didn't know anyone from, so I ruled that out. Potter-Shmotter, he's famous, why would he have time to make friends with a person like me? That was Gryffindor gone too. Jack was already my friend, and he was in Ravenclaw. But I was quite fond of Draco too. I was torn between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I had no idea where I actually belonged, though.
I walked up and sat on the stool, shaking a little. McGonagall placed the hat on my head, which caused a little of my ginger hair to fall to the sides of my face. The hat muttered as it thought about its decision. "Hmm. Smart, but cunning. Brave, but maybe a little too brave. Very ambitious…" and after a little pause for consideration, the hat added "SLYTHERIN!"
I sighed with relief and a little disappointment as McGonagall took that hat off my head, and I strode over to the Slytherin table, sitting opposite Draco. I ignored the rest of the ceremony, stealing glances at Draco. He was strange. He held himself with grace, and I couldn't help but noticed that he always looked and acted and moved as if someone was watching him that he had to impress. I wasn't about to complain about my house, but I couldn't help being a little sad for being separated from my only friend.
As the ceremony finished, Dumbledore, the best wizard as of yet, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, stood up to say a few words, none of which I really got. Draco was too interesting. He held himself in such a way; I've never seen anyone act like that. He always looked like there was something on his mind; someone he had to impress. I may only have been 11, but I knew strange behaviour when I saw it.
The feast began, and the aroma of the best food I could possibly imagine filled the room. I tucked in and joined in the conversations around me, doing my best to fit in.
After the meal, the prefects lead us to our common rooms, and we settled in for the night.