I stood in the hallway outside of the great hall. Joy was just pointing out yet another moving picture to me. I thought of how cool it would be if I made a photo album full of moving pictures. A severe looking woman stood before us, telling us about the houses. I doubted anyone was listening though. Luna had told us all about it in the boats over the lake. I thought about the houses pros and cons. Slytherin sounded misunderstood to me. They're ambitious, like Joy, what's wrong with that? Doesn't mean that they're all bad. The Ravenclaws were clever. I might be sorted into that. My friends usually said that I was too smart for my own good. I guess that they're right, I was known for correcting teachers. Then Grifandor, nope, I'm not brave. Not in the least. But I REALLY hope that I'm Hufflepuff. I mean, their traits are loyalty, hardworking, and kindness. They're the best of us. Professor McGonagle finished her speech and went though the great wooden doors. We were supposed to wait. While I waited I pulled out my wand and inspected it. I loved my wand. Ollivander had said that it was special, but he didn't say why. I was a dark mahogany color, with a matching handle and a design of vines tracing to the tip. It was about 13 inches, slightly flexible, Ollivander had said. There was a bang and the doors opened. My fellow first years and I walked into the Great hall. It was amazing, with a ceiling that looked like the night sky and floating candles. A girl with frizzy brown hair and brown eyes saw me starring up. "It's enchanted, I read about it in Hogwarts A History." I nodded and broke my gaze from the ceiling, looking around at the four dining tables that stretched from one end of the room to the other. They were full of older kids who stared at us. Suddenly I felt overwhelmed and slipped my hand into Joy's. "It'll be ok." She smiled nervously. In front of us was an old raggedy hat. That's when the hat began to sing. "Oh, you may not think I'm pretty but don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, your top hats sleek and tall, for I'm the Hogwarts sorting hat and I cap them all! There's nothing in your head the sorting hat can't see. So try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be. You may belong in Griffindor where dwell the brave of hart; You might belong in Hufflepuff where they are just and loyal, those patient Hufflepuffs are unafraid of toil. Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, where those of wit and learning will always find their kind; Or yet in Slytherine you might make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends. Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap. You're in safe hands (though I have none.) FOR I'M A THINKING CAP!" I gasped as the hat finished it's little solo. Professor McGonagle started to call names, I didn't pay much attention until Luna was called up. "Luna Lovegood." She called from her list, looking over her spectacles. The hat barely touched her head when it called out, "Ravenclaw!" The Ravenclaw table clapped like maniacs. I sighed, they would be lucky to have her. A little while later she called, "Joy Hubbard." I held my breath as Joy let go of my hand and walked confidently up to the four legged stool. As the sorting hat hovered above her head I saw Joy crossing her fingers. A moment passed, "SLYTHERINE!" I shouted. The Slytherine clapped and welcomed her in, it looked nice enough, even if it did have that boy. Who I now know as Draco Malfoy. "Veronica Harmer." Professor McGonagle called. I swallowed and walked up to the stool. I had to walk up the few steps and turn my back on the teachers who sat facing the hall. I looked out over the crowd of people and felt my heart pounding. Too many people. "You are clever, no doubt about that." The hat muttered into my ear. "Brave too." That was a lie, I'm sure of that. " But your more than kind, truthful, loyal, and just too." I could swear I was blushing, I mean, I'm not the meanest person in the world. But I just think he was laying it on a little thick. It's a he right? I thought, never-mind. "HUFFLEPUFF!" It called out. I could swear that my grin right the was too big for my face. I took off the hat and trotted to the Hufflepuff table. People patted me on the back and congratulated me. "Welcome to the best house of them all!" Said one kid. He had brown hair, hazel eyes, and a blinding smile. "Hi, I'm Cedric Diggory, head if house." I shook his hand. Before he could continue the head master said in a clear voice, "Let the feast begin." Then fruits, meats, and veggies blossomed in the clear dishes like flowers blossoming like flowers. The rest of the. Meal flew by. My fellow Hufflepuffs are really nice, and I have a lot in common with most of them. Like taste in books and games. One kid gave me a Every Flavored Bean, I got canned dog food. I think I've lost my taste for Jelly Beans. One time I made eye contact with Joy and we made pouty faces. I hopped that we would have a lot of classes together. "Come along," Cedric called as the first years followed him down a long corridor. Instead of following the other houses up a stair case. Instead we went down one into a large room that blasted my face with heat as I entered. It was full of little creators with large ears and huge eyes. "Hello." I said to one. "Um, they don't usually talk to us." Another first year whispered in my ear, she had blonde hair and brown eyes. "No, no, it's fine. We are used to friendly Hufflepuffs in here, we don't mind." The creature said in a high voice. It smiled at me. "I don't want to sound rude, but what are you?" I asked it. "I'm Daisy the house elf." She said. "Hogwarts has slaves too!?" A girl with dark red hair walked up to us putting her hands on her hips. "No, we are paid here, and most of us are free anyway. I have to go, but I would love to talk to later." Daisy walked away to a row of sinks. "I'm Jennifer," said the blonde. She shook my hand. "I'm sorry if I sounded like a jerk. It's just that I have a few friends with house elves and they usually don't like to talk. And this is Casey, my best friend." She nodded to the red head. "Hi, I'm Veronica. What did you mean by slavery?" I turned to Casey. "House elves are bound as slaves unless their mastered let them go by giving them clothing. It's terrible." I nodded. These two seem nice. "That is terrible." I hate slavery. It always seemed plane wrong to me. "Come on, we're falling behind." Jennifer pulled us along the kitchen to the group. We were standing in front of a pile of barrels. Cedric showed us how to tap out wands in a certain order to open up the door. "If you do this incorrectly you'll be showered in vinegar, so if you're unsure ask a older student. You are not to reveal the location or password to someone outside of Hufflepuff," everyone nodded and Cedric led us into the common room. It was earthy, with moonlight filling it through a window that was high up. There was a large fire place, thick, plush couches and a thick red rug. All of the older kids were in the middle of a large party. "THIS IS FORE THE FIRST YEARS." One kid shouted at me over the din. I grinned and flowed Casey and Jennifer to a pastry table were a ghost, who Cedric had told me was the Fat Frier, was. What seemed like a long time later we were led to our dormitories. I was relived to find out that Jennifer, Casey, and I were bunking together. I reached for the black handle and pushed. The room has a stone floor, window, and three four poster beds. They had thick black and yellow comforters that matched the beds curtained. My kitten, Princes Tiger sat I. The middle. She had a white belly and gray fur covered with dark gray stripes. She was licking her paw. I scooped her up in my arms and collapsed on my bed. My luggage was beside it so I changed into my PJ's and brushed my teeth. The. I crawled into the warm covers and cuddled up to Princes Tiger. I fell asleep talking to Casey and Jennifer. Murmuring about the next day.
