Year One
Chapter Two
"Firs' years, this way!" cried the relentless voice the Potter and Weasly clan knew so well. "Hi Hagrid!" Rose and Albus called up the friendly giant. Scorpius just stared due to Hagrid's abnormal size.
"Hey Hagrid!" James called from where he was loading into a carriage with Fred, Molly, Victoire, Jessica Lee, and Bella Boot. Hagrid waved a bucket sized had in response.
"Yeh guys okay?" Hagrid asked, turning his attention back to the trio. Noticing Scorpius, he asked, "And who might yeh be?" Scorpius looked at his feet, embarrassed to be part of the infamous Malfoy family. "N'vr mind." Hagrid said, noting his Malfoy colored hair, pale skin and ice-blue eyes. Scorpius flushed in anger, and Rose took his hand and gave an encouraging squeeze.
When the rest of the first years trickle in, Hagrid booms, "All here? Great! Follow meh." The bundle of first years fed off of each other's anxiety as they stumbled towards the boats.
Hagrid took his boat in the front while the rest of the first years separated into groups of four. Rose, Albus and Scorpius were soon joined by a cheerful-faced girl with beautiful blonde ringlets, who introduced herself as Ava Longbottom. Rose knew her father Neville, of course, but he never came with his daughter because she was always busy. Rose thought that Ava seemed nice enough and hoped to get to know her better.
While on the boats, Rose recalled a conversation that she had with her mother over the summer holiday.
She was outside reading about squibs when a startling thought occurred to her. "Mum." She said to her mother who was researching something for work. "Am I a squib?" Her mom had burst out laughing and pulled Rose close. Rose breathed in her familiar scent.
"Of course you're not a squib!" Hermione reassured her. "You showed signs of magic at a very young age." She looked around and whispered to Rose, "In our day, the caretaker at Hogwarts was a squib, and he hated the students. He got your father, Uncle Harry and I into loads of trouble. Why, in our first year, we-"
But a voice had interrupted her. "'Moine, are you telling our sweet, innocent daughter about our misdoings at school? We shouldn't give her any bad ideas, now."
"Just boosting her confidence." Hermione responded airily. "Oh really." Ron exclaimed, tickling his wife and chasing her around the garden.
Remembering their joyous laughs and shrieks made her heart yearn for her parents. "Earth to Rose!" Albus' voice shook her out of her memories. She looked around and saw that everyone was getting off the boats. "Come on!" Albus said, tugging her off the boat.
Once they were all gathered, Hagrid gave three loud knocks on the oak doors. The door creaked open and revealed a man who looked as ancient as Hogwarts itself. "That will be all Mr. Filch, thank you.", a pristine voice announced. Mr. Filch slinked off; a young kitten at his heals.
A young woman with blonde hair tucked into a witch's hat came into view. She looked as tidy as her voice had sounded. "I am Headmistress Penelope Clearwater." She turned to Hagrid saying, "I've got them from here, thank you." She gestured for the children to follow her. As she lead them through the twists and turns of the Hogwarts castle, Rose took the time to search for familiar faces. There were Albus and Scorpius, of course. She spotted the bubbly Ava chatting-up-a-storm with a girl who was pointedly ignoring her.
"Alright," Headmistress Clearwater's voice rang throughout the corridor, silencing the conversations that had broken out. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before the start-of-term banquet, you will be sorted into one of four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.
At the mention of Slytherin, two boys near the front high-fived and Scorpius let out a barely audible groan. Headmistress Clearwater fixed her icy gaze on them until the commotion died down.
"As I was saying," she continued, "the Sorting ceremony is extremely important because for the next seven years, they will be your family here in Hogwarts. You will join your House in classes, sleep in your House dormitory, and any action that you take will be taken into account. If you have a triumph, House points will be rewarded; break any rules, points will be docked. At the end of the year, whichever House obtained the most points will be rewarded the House Cup.
"Any free time may be spent in your House common room or the joint common room, our school's tribute to the famous Harry Potter, and his act to join all the Houses together to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Any questions may be answered by the Head Boy or Girl."
After this sentence was completed, the Gray Lady drifted through the wall. "They're ready for you."
"Right then," Headmistress Clearwater turned to the children. "Please form a line, and follow me." They hastened to fulfill request and hurriedly formed a line behind her.
Rose gripped Al and Scorpius' hands. "I can't believe that we're doing this!" Rose squeaked. "At least we're doing it together." Scorpius responded with a shaky smile. Rose nodded and they followed their future classmates into the Great Hall.
"Whoa." They took in the amazing room, with the bewitched ceiling, hundreds of students, each decked out in a different color according to their house, until their gaze came to rest on the legendary Sorting Hat.
Headmistress Clearwater took a seat at the table at the front of the room, and an old lady stood with a scroll in her hand next to the Hat. Rose wondered who she was and why she wasn't beginning the ceremony, when the hat burst into song.
"Even though you're looking at me,
A question in your eyes,
You'll just have to wait and see,
The magical extreme!
In order for you to find a House,
Just put me on your head,
If you can find a hat like me,
You might as well be dead.
You could do great in Gryffindor,
Where the bravest like to stay;
Or maybe Hufflepuff is more your speed,
Where loyalty will never give way;
Or Ravenclaw, which is the best
For those who are most intelligent;
Slytherins are the most cunning
Friends you will ever see.
So put me on, so I may find
Where you ought to be.
I promise not to disappoint,
The first one, please come join me!
The room broke into applause and Headmistress Clearwater shot sparks out of her wand to quiet it. "Let's welcome Ms. McGonagall to read the names of our new students, just as she has every year since retirement."
McGonagall nodded to the Headmistress before beginning. "When I call your name, please step forward." She began, in a surprisingly strong voice. "Astro, Benjamin!"
A nervous looking boy with pale skin and a shock of black hair stumbled over to the hat. His hands shook as he put it on his head. After a few moments, the hat announced, "RAVENCLAW!" He scurried over to the Ravenclaw table, which was cheering loudly.
Rose tried to stay 100% focused, but ended up drifting in and out of focus, only tuning in the familiar names. Corner, Alison became a Hufflepuff; Finch-Fletchley, Stella joined Hufflepuff; Finnigan, Sarah ran to the Gryffindor table; Longbottom, Ava skipped to the Ravenclaws. She only fully jerked into consciousness when a very familiar name was called.
"Scorpius, Malfoy!" The room filled with hisses as Scorpius, who looked smaller than ever, took a seat and jammed the hat on his head, not even looking at the crowd. Rose crossed her fingers for him and waited for nearly two minutes until the hat cried, "GRYFFINDOR!" Rose cheered and the Gryffindor table broke into a punctured applause. She saw her cousin Molly put a comforting arm around Scorpius.
Albus' name was called a few names later, and a hush broke-out, followed by excited whispers. Rose gave him an encouraging smile before the hat obscured his vision. Almost instantly, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" She saw Albus take a seat next to Scorpius and James, a huge grin on his face.
Rose did a head count and realized that there were only five people left. Thomas, Lisa became a Hufflepuff; a pair of twins were sorted into Slytherin; Waterrose, Lillian, a girl with the longest blonde hair and piercing green eyes, joined the Slytherins. Noting the colors, she exclaimed, "Green! To match my eyes!" The hall rippled with laughter.
"Weasly, Rose!" Rose anxiously walked up to the stool, blood pounding in her ears, and raised the hat over her head. "And yet another Weasly." A small voice said. "Very clever… got your mothers talent. Brave like your parents too. But overall, the best fit for you is RAVENCLAW!"
Rose stood on shaky legs and walked over to the Ravenclaw table, where Victoire was applauding her. She glanced over at Scorpius and Albus. She knew that they were disappointed that she wasn't in Gryffindor, but that was the hats decision.
She looked around at her new House and thought, 'Hogwarts, I'm ready for you.'
