Dominique can feel the train coming to a stop. Before long, everyone is piling out of the train. A loud, low voice shouts over the noise: "First years, o'er 'ere!"
She waves goodbye to her cousins and Scorpius and walks over to the man who she knows to be Hagrid. Her fellow first years surround her, and she spots Lily and Lucy in the crowd.
"LIL! LUCE!" She yells over the hullabaloo. They turn in her direction and spot her. Within a minute, they are side by side.
"What does one have to do to have a quiet conversation around here?" Lucy mumbles, glaring at the other first years.
"Aren't you excited Dominique? I sure am!" Lily jumps up and down in excitement. "James says I'm a shoo-in for Gryffindor. I guess Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad though."
Dominique feels her grin growing wider. This is really it! She is at Hogwarts, the most magical place in the world.
Hagrid instructs them to get into the boats and they do as told. Dominique can't help but worry slightly that Lily is going to tip the boat over in all her excitement.
"Lil, would it kill you to sit still?" Lucy looks over the edge nervously.
"She has a point, Lily Luna." Dominique stares into the depths of the Black Lake. "I sure don't want to meet the Giant Squid."
"You guys are cowards." Lily grumbles, but she immediately stops rocking the boat.
Hogwarts looms just ahead of them now. Dominique closes her eyes, trying to suck it all in. A billion questions zoom through her mind, but she ignores them. Hagrid is leading them up to the castle now. Dominique feels like she's walking on air. Is this a dream?
They enter the castle and Hagrid leaves them in front of a big set of doors. A woman appears in front of them and clears her throat. "Good evening, children. I am Professor Wingulem. I will be the Deputy Headmistress and Astronomy professor this year." She pauses dramatically. "In a few moments, we will be entering the Great Hall. Each of you will be sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Your House will be like your family through all your seven years at Hogwarts. Behave responsibly and respectfully to make a good impression." She nods at the group of first years. "Let us proceed." She pushes the doors open and the bunch of first years enter the Great Hall.
Dominique marvels at the enchanted ceiling and the floating lights. "It simply radiates magical." She thinks to herself. Without realizing it, she begins to fall a bit behind. Lily and Lucy automatically guide her up. Her face turns red once again as she hears the snickers of some older students.
The first years watch, transfixed, as the Sorting Hat sings its song. Before Dominique knows it, Professor Wingulem is calling out names.
"Ackerley, Jason!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Davies, Priscilla!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Longbottom, Ariel!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Sorting goes on, with Dominique only half listening. It isn't till Professor Wingulem yells out: "Potter, Lily Luna!" that Dominique starts really listening.
Lily was sorted into Gryffindor. Dominique resists the urge to jump up and down. The W's are approaching fast.
"Weasley, Dominique!" Dominique feels the jitters all over again. She approaches the Sorting Hat slowly and sits on the stool. Professor Wingulem places the hat on her head.
"Hm, more Weasleys? I was hoping I had already had the lot of you. Hm… not the normal Weasley, are you? Oh, but I know exactly where to put you. Kind, willing to work hard…"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Dominique hops off the stool and heads to the Hufflepuff table, feeling lightheaded. The applause dies down and she notices people shaking her hand and patting her on the back. She glances at the Gryffindor table at Lily, who grins, and then at the Slytherin table. Albus gives her a thumbs up. Scorpius doesn't meet her eyes. There is a pang in her heart. She shrugs it off and turns back to the sorting.
Her cousin Hugo is sorted into Hufflepuff right after her. It's Lucy's turn. Dominique watches as Lucy walks determinedly up to the stool and sits down.
"SLYTHERIN!" The whole hall is silent. Lucy freezes in her spot. Dominique looks around. What was the big deal? So what if Lucy was the only one sorted into Slytherin? Dominique realizes what she has to do. She stands up and begins to clap.
She ignores the stares she is getting and just keeps clapping. Across the room, Albus stands up and begins clapping too. Followed by Scorpius. Then the rest of the Weasleys, and the Potter's. Most of the Ravenclaw table. The entire Hufflepuff table. Even the Slytherin's and Gryffindor's halfheartedly joined in.
Lucy blinks and looks at Dominique, who winks at her. Lucy breaks into a grin and walks to Slytherin table.
The clapping dies down and Dominique takes her seat again. She watches the rest of the sorting. Finally, the prefects lead them up to their dormitories.
As Dominique follows the rest of the Hufflepuffs, someone taps her on the shoulder. Dominique whirls around and finds herself face to face with Scorpius.
"Hey." He says quietly.
"Hi." Dominique stares at him. "Shouldn't you be in your dorm?"
He smiles crookedly at her. "Yes, I should. Oh well." He shrugs and looks at the ground. "I just wanted to tell you that it was really cool what you did for your cousin." He looks back at her. "Not many people would have the guts to do that."
Dominique shrugs. "Any of my cousins would have done it. That's what family's for."
Scorpius arches his eyebrows at her. "You really think so?" He shakes his head. "Okay. Whatever you say, Dominique Weasley. Whatever you say."
Dominique nods and looks around. Her Hufflepuff classmates have disappeared. "Listen, Scorpius, I really have to catch up with my classmates. I'll see you around, okay?"
Once again, he gives her that crooked smile of his. "See you around, Dominique Weasley. See you around." He walks off. Dominique stares after him as he goes before running to catch up to her classmates.
