Finally another chapter. Enjoy! R&R!
:D
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Lilly griped Hugo's arm tightly as they followed Hagrid through the massive doors that led to the great hall. Though they had both heard about the halls magic from both family and friends the two were still awestruck as they looked around. Hugo gasped and pointed at the floating candles while Lilly giggled when she noticed the large constellation of stars above their heads. Then they noticed the faces all pointed in their direction eyes turned towards the group of new first years and this made them feel a bit uncomfortable and nervous all over again.
The group stopped when they reached the steps up to the staff table and Hagrid went to sit down after giving Lilly and Hugo a big thumbs up each. A few minutes later a very tiny man appeared carrying an ancient patched hat and a small stool.
'Hello, I am professor Flitwick.' Said the man 'I am the deputy head of Hogwarts and this is the sorting hat. You will each come up when I call your name, sit on the stool and I shall place the hat on your head. May I make it clear that the hat's decision is final so whatever house it chooses for you that is it. Shall we begin?'
Hugo sighed in relief, 'Good.' He whispered to Lilly 'Everyone always made the sorting sound really horrible but that doesn't sound too bad.'
'Shhh.' Lilly replied as Flitwick began reading out names.
Lilly and Hugo watched and waited tentatively as Ewan Anderson became a Ravenclaw, Rebecca Barnes and Lucy Bevin became Hufflepuffs', Lois Carter became another Ravenclaw and Joshua Collins, Rupert Danes, and Oscar Down became Slytherins'. Hugo glared at Collins, Danes and Down as they passed but Lilly elbowed him hard in the ribs and told him not to be so mean so he stopped. As they continued to wait more first years were sorted each one receiving a cheer from their new house. Poppy Elliott, Susan French and Olivia Grange all became yet more Ravenclaws whilst Jonathan Harris and Francesca Hollis became more Hufflepuffs'. Kevin Hopper became another new Slytherin and Katie James became the first new Gryffindor. At this the Gryffindor table let out an almighty roar and Katie ran over to join them. Next came twins Matthew and Gordon Lionel who were also both sorted into Gryffindor. However after them came a boy with sandy blond hair and an unpleasant expression called Draco Malfoy JR who was sorted into Slytherin.
'No!' Lilly exclaimed when she heard Malfoy's name 'Scorpios never said he had a brother!' Suddenly Lilly jumped as she heard her own name, she gave Hugo's arm a squeeze and headed towards the hat and stool. When she reached them she sat down and Professor Flitwick placed the battered old hat on her head. It was miles to big for her and slid straight over her eyes and nose so that you could only just see her mouth and so she was looking at the lining.
'This hat smells old.' She was just thinking when a voice appeared in her head.
'Well I am old.' The voice (that Lilly assumed belonged to the hat) said 'Hmm, What've we got here then? A Potter and a Weasley, well that's easy ... Gryffindor!'
Lilly beamed as she pulled the hat off and ran towards the Gryffindor table.
'Lil, we saved you a space.' She heard James call and looked up to see him pointing towards the empty space next to Alex. As she sat down Alex patted her on the back and welcomed her to the 'pack' as he put it. She grinned, and then turned her attention anxiously towards where Hugo was walking towards the hat.
It was an anxious wait while the hat deliberated but finally the family was put at ease when the hat announced Hugo a Gryffindor.
Not long after the sorting was finished, McGonagall stood to make the customary Heads speech.
'Welcome to our new students,' she began 'to our old ones, welcome back. I have a few announcements before the feast begins. Once again Filtch reminds me to remind you all that magic is not permitted in the corridors, anything bought at the joke shop Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is band as is any graffiti on school buildings or property. The full list of band items can be viewed in Filtches office. May I ask all students to make sure that any owls, cats, toads, rat or other pets are kept under control at all times, last year we had a number of pet related incidents and I do not want a repeat again this year, if you cannot keep you animal under control then I kindly request that you leave it at home. As many of you are aware this will be my last year as headmistress of this school as I plan to retire at the end of the year. Professor Flitwick will of course be taking over my post when I leave. Has anyone got any more announcements?' she asked the rest of the staff, 'No? Very well, let the feast begin.'
As McGonagall said this, the four house tables and the one long staff one began to groan with every kind of food imaginable. Lilly gasped and looked at Hugo who was eyeing a plate of chicken wings hungrily. 'Like father, like son,' Lilly thought thinking of her Uncle Ron who had a great love of all things chicken, 'Like father, like daughter.' She revised spotting a massive treacle tart.
Once everyone was full to bursting (which took a remarkably long time) McGonagall once again stood and declared the feast over. With this said all the leftover food, the gold goblets, plates and cutlery all vanished. After this McGonagall bayed everyone a good night and sent them off to their common rooms and bed.
When McGonagall's speech was over everyone flooded towards the large doors but Lilly and Hugo just looked at each other completely unsure what to do. Lilly tugged the bottom of Alex's shirt to get his attention, 'What do we do?' she asked.
'Find a prefect.' He replied 'they'll show you everything.'
'Who are the prefects?' asked Hugo
'They're the ones with the badges.' He said as though that cleared everything up. He sighed however when he saw their still confused faces. 'Follow me.' He said leading them through the crowd and over to a tall boy and a pretty looking girl. 'They're prefects.'
'Oh.' Lilly and Hugo both replied
'Hay John I got you some first years.' Alex said to the tall boy prefect.
'Ok great. Thanks.'
With that Alex walked off leaving Lilly and Hugo just standing there awkwardly. Thankfully though another small group of Gryffindor first years turned up shortly after.
'Ok then.' Said the girl prefect 'I'm Alice and this is John. We're the new Gryffindor prefects, so if you just want to follow us we'll show you up to the common room and your dorms.'
Alice and John began to head towards the doors and up the marble stair case the line of new Gryffindors following behind.
'So this is the fat lady.' Said John when they reached a large picture of a very fat lady in a bright pink dress. 'Our common room is just behind her so you always need to remember the password otherwise you can't get in. Its Sugar Quills this term, remember that, Sugar Quills.'
When John said the password the whole portrait swung forwards to reveal a hole just the right size for someone to fit through (assuming they weren't too over weight of course). The first years all followed Alice through the hole and into a cosy room full of desks, sofas and comfy looking arm chairs. There was also a huge fire place with a roaring fire blazing in its grate that heated the whole room very nicely. The room was circular which gave the impression that they were in one of the castles many towers. It was decorated in red and gold.
On the opposite side of the room there were two doors one said boys in fancy gold righting and the other girls.
'These are your dormitories. Girls your dorm is the first door up the stairs, boys yours is the same.' John said beckoning to the two doors.
'You will find that all of your stuff is already up there, so go unpack and get to know each other.' Said Alice 'breakfast is between seven and eight thirty tomorrow morning, if you miss it you go hungry.'
