Chapter Four
We entered the castle and filed up the staircase to stand in front of a stern looking woman with her greying hair pulled back into a tight bun. I had a feeling that she wasn't one to be messed with. "Good evening, first years." Her voice was as stern as she appeared but with a warm tone colouring it that I'm not sure many heard. "In a few moments, you will enter into the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into your houses. They are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." Again I detected a tone of pride when she said Gryffindor and almost of disdain when she mentioned Slytherin. "While you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded the house cup." And with that, she was gone. Maria turned to me worriedly.
"I wonder how they sort us into houses, Raimundo said it was really painful." I was about to reply with a scathing comment about Raimundo's credibility when I was cut off. How many times has that happened today?
"So, the rumours on the train are true." I pivoted to face the blonde girl from the robe shop. "Kimiko Tohomiko has come to Hogwarts." I heard a whisper of 'Kimiko Tohomiko!' rippling through the crowd and as all heads turned to me, the girl approached as did a tall brunette behind her. "This is Dyris and I'm Ashley." I managed to keep my face neutral at her blatant arrogance – thank you, years of etiquette lessons! Wow, never thought I'd say that!. Maria, however, couldn't suppress a snort. Ashley turned to her, eyes blazing, though not quite as intimidating as she seemed to think it was. "You think my name's funny, do you? There's no need to ask yours." Her eyes swept Maria from toes to crown. "Brunette, green eyes and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Pedrosa." Maria let out a snarl at this and I agreed with her. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." She held out her perfectly manicured hand for me to shake but I merely raised an eyebrow at her proffered hand.
"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." And by the tone of her voice and the way she glanced at Maria when she said 'the wrong sort' made me think that she was exactly the sort that I wanted to avoid. She looked like she was about to argue when the stern faced woman returned with a roll of parchment in hand, which she used to tap Ashley's shoulder with to announce her return to the bratty girl.
"We are ready for you now."
The Great Hall was magnificent, four huge tables for students – the four houses I presume – and one at the head of the room for teachers. It was lit by floating candles around the edges and the ceiling, was bewitched to look like the sky outside – yes, I read 'Hogwarts – A History' on the train. We came to a stop before the head table, where there was a small stool with a hat perched on top of it. "Now when I call out your name, you will come forward, place the sorting hat on your head and be sorted into your house." The woman unrolled her parchment.
Meanwhile, Maria leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I'm going to kill Raimundo, he was going on about wrestling a troll." I giggled and glanced towards the Gryffindor table where I saw him sitting, still maintaining a conversation with a boy with brown hair and eyes.
"Ashley Maris"
Ashley stepped forward, sat on the stool and the woman placed the hat on her head. It sat there for a moment before it screamed "Slytherin!"
The table of people clad in green and silver ties with a serpent crest on their robes cheered loudly whilst Maria whispered in my ear, once again, "There's not a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn't in Slytherin." I glanced up at the head table and saw Professor Quirrel, facing away from me, deep in conversation with a man with greasy black hair, grey eyes and a hooked nose who was currently glaring at me. I felt a stab of pain shoot up to my scar at that moment. Curious.
"Maria Pedrosa."
Maria stepped forward nervously and the hat was placed on her head, blocking her fearful eyes from view. "Ha!" the hat exclaimed. "Another Pedrosa! I know just what to do with you. Better be…Gryffindor!" The table clad with scarlet and gold ties and their robes adorned with the crest of a lion cheered as Maria skipped merrily to join them. I saw her brother, Pedro, congratulate her as did the others, but I noticed that Raimundo hadn't broken his conversation to do so. How rude!
"Kimiko Tohomiko."
The entire hall went quiet, even Raimundo stopped his conversation. Wow, I feel so special. I sat on the stool but the hat had barely touched my head when it screamed, at the top of its lungs – if it had lungs, "Gryffindor!"
The table erupted into cheers and I distinctly heard the Pedrosa twins chanting "We got Tohomiko!" I also noticed that the headmaster, Master Fung, was clapping harder than he had for anyone else.
After all of the first years had been sorted, Master Fung rose from his seat and began to address the students. "Welcome to our new students, remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step." I felt my lips twitch into a smile at the use of the familiar Chinese proverb whist Raimundo rolled his eyes and most others simply looked confused, Clay and Omi looked resigned. Apparently, Master Fung said that kind of thing a lot. "And to our returning students, keep walking." This got a laugh though. "I have been asked by Mr Argus Filch, our caretaker, to remind everyone that they are not to venture into the Forbidden Forest and, may I add to that, the third floor corridor is out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a most painful death. Eat up everyone!" And with that, he clapped his hands and the plates magically filled up with some of the most delicious food I had ever seen! And most of it I could eat – allergies! I could see everyone was still somewhat confused by the headmaster's last comment but it was Maria who spoke up first.
"I wonder what he meant by 'those who do not wish to die a most painful death'?"
"I don't know. He usually gives a reason why we aren't allowed to go places – the forest's dangerous, everyone knows that. I would've thought he would've told us prefects, at least."
"Oh, shut up Pedro. If he'd told anyone it would've been us." Raimundo indicated himself, Clay and Omi. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. For all Clay's politeness in conversation, he made up for that when eating. He was…animalistic. That's the word that comes to mind.
The boy who I'd noticed talking to Raimundo earlier spoke up then, "I'm Aidan, by the way."
The rest of the dinner went well, interrupted only by the arrival of the resident ghosts and I was introduced to 'Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington' or 'Nearly Headless Nick', Gryffindor's ghost. When it was over, the plates were magically cleared and the Gryffindor first years followed Pedro the Prefect up the moving staircases to the Gryffindor Common Room and the dorms. That night, as everyone else was asleep – I was still getting accustomed to the time difference – I sat on the windowsill with Sakura beside me, staring out over the grounds. I felt at home here. Just as much as I did in my house in Japan with papa but there was more to do here, people to do it with, things to learn, friends to make… I belonged here. Just as mama did before me, and grandmamma and grandpapa before her. I couldn't wait for my turn to begin.