Chapter4: the Test
Merlin and Albus got out together, Albus deliberately stirring them so they lost Grace. Outside the rain was falling thick and fast so the hesitated letting some of the older students overtake them.
As they got off the train they heard a lower booming voice calling from the other side of the platform: "First years this way! All first years this way!"
Merlin looked across at Albus who was looking relieved.
"Well I suppose we better go over there?"
Albus nodded and as they drew closer the giant form of a huge man materialised from the rain.
"You alright there Albus? Who's this?" He said jerking his massive thumb towards Merlin.
"This is Merlin Hagrid,"
"Right you comin' then?" And he lead the way down to a small fleet of boats bobbing on the turbulent water. They all scrambled in, Merlin found himself sharing a boat with Albus and the tall girl with shoulder length black hair, Grace.
As Merlin leaned forward to try and move the ores the fleet of boats began to move away from the dock and into the middle of the black lake. They caught their first glimpse of the great castle Merlin gave a sharp intake of breath. Never had he seen anything so huge and grand, throbbing with magic.
There was a small bump as they touched the shore in a deep underground cave. They all scrambled out and followed Hagrid up a narrow set of steps, until they found themselves in front of the castle itself with a huge oak front door and light spilling from windows high above their heads. Hagrid raised one hand and knocked.
The door was opened by professor Longbottom wearing dirty green robes.
"Come in Hagrid, I'll take them from here," he said, leading the first years up the stone steps, through the oak front doors and across the entrance hall, which was big enough to fit at least two orphanages inside with room to spare, with a huge marble staircase on the other side and doors coming off all around. It was into one of these doors that professor Longbottom led them.
Merlin stood along with the rest of the first years in a small room off the great hall.
"Wait here until I return, the rest of the school needs to get settled," said professor Longbottom following them into the room. Everyone fell silent, waiting.
"How do you reckon we'll be sorted? James said something about a test?" Albus was sounding slightly nervous. Merlin didn't reply, he was thinking, what sort of test would it be? Or was James just lying, according to Albus James was something of a joker. But standing there waiting for professor Longbottom to return Merlin didn't find it very amusing.
"What did you say about a test?" Merlin almost jumped at the sound right next to his ear to find Grace standing there.
"I hope it's not too difficult and they don't ask us to produce counter jinxes I haven't learnt any of them yet."
Merlin stared at her, he knew he could perform counter jinxes, well he thought he could he'd never tried but something told him that if he had to he could probably produce a counter jinx. But he hadn't learnt it from the textbook. Yes he'd read them but had always been able to perform most of the stuff mentioned, well ever since he could remember.
They all fell silent except for Graces muttering about all the spells she'd learnt which continued next to Merlin's ear. But obviously Albus hadn't noticed or he'd have said something by now, or maybe Albus was too nervous to get annoyed, he did look distinctly green.
Then the door reopened and professor Longbottom came in.
"Follow me," he commanded and lead the way back through the entrance hall and into the great hall. This was a huge room with the whole school sitting at long tables, and sitting at the far end were the rest of the teachers. As Merlin followed Albus into the hall he looked up at the ceiling which was grey and sowed rain hammering down on them.
"Its enchanted to mirror the sky outside," he heard Grace say behind him. But to Merlin it looked like the hall simply opened out into the sky outside.
Suddenly the line of first years stopped with the staff table behind them, facing the rest of the school who were all looking at a small stool with a hat sitting on it. This was no ordinary hat however, it was the oldest, dirtiest hat Merlin had ever seen but after looking around at everyone he gazed at it just like everyone else.
Then as Merlin stared a rip near the brim opened and the hat began to sing:
Welcome, welcome, welcome,
Welcome to these halls were once lived a Hogwarts four.
Welcome to there school where you may live.
Welcome to the four houses: Ravenclaw,
Huflepuff, Slytherin and Gryfindor.
Welcome to the knowledge of what they expect.
Ravenclaw want those with a ready mind.
Ravenclaw are those of wit and learning.
So if you're that, welcome to Ravenclaw.
Hufleuff wants those who are just and loyal.
Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil.
So if you're that, welcome to Huyfflepuff.
Slytherin wants those who are sly.
Slytherin use any means to their aims.
So if you're that, welcome to Slytherin.
Grifindore wants those who are brave at heart.
Grifindore are daring and chivalrous.
So if you're that, welcome to Grifindor.
Now you know I will say were you ought to go,
Where you need to be welcome to.
So be welcome to place me on your head,
I will say where you can stay to welcome others to Hogwarts.
The song had finished Merlin Glanced at Albus, he was definitely looking very green. Then he muttered: "don't you think its saying too much, I definitely don't think I'll be welcomed to Slytherin."
Merlin nodded, especially not after what he did to Malfoy, although he didn't actually touch him.
Professor Longbottom came forward holding a long roll of parchment:
"Blain, Grace." He said.
Grace came forward with her head held high, still it seemed muttering spells, as though she might still use them.
She sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. A few seconds later the rip opened and shouted:
GRIFINDORE
next to him Albus groaned as the table on the far right cheered and clapped. Then:
"Barker, Katie" as called and a girl looked slightly green came to the stool.
RAVENCLAW
The Ravenclaw table exploded into cheers. Merlin was now feeling distinctly uneasy, surely he would be soon, after all how many people could have names beginning with 'B' but to his surprise:
"Butcher, Chloe."
who went into:
HUFFLEPUFF
Then it was Merlin's turn as professor Longbottom said:
"Coleman, Merlin."
Merlin walked forward. Some people seem to be muttering, probably about his name but he could not hear them. Once he reached the stool he sat on it feeling the eyes of the school and its teachers on him. The hat fell over his eyes.
He heard a small voice in his ear:
"Now, how interesting, not all from this world I see," Merlin froze, what did that mean, 'not all from this world'? But then the voice spoke again: "lots of skill I see, loyalty as well, but there's also bravery, lots and lots of it. So where shall I put you?" Merlin kept his mind completely blank.
"Not letting anything on are we? Who tort you that?"
Merlin thought his reply "no one," the hat sounded slightly surprised as it said:
"No one, now that is unusual, yes an unusual amount of skill for a first year but I think I say GRIFINDORE"
The last word which had been shouted to the rest of the school caused the table on the far right the clap once more. And slightly shaken Merlin took off the hot and went to sit down.
It was still a while before Albus was sorted. There was a girl called Shannon Higgins who in her panic about putting the hot on her head caused the brim to start smoking, but in the end she was sorted into:
RAVENCLAW
Then soon after came Malfoy who, us as Merlin had expected went into Slytherin the moment the hat touched his his head. Then he swaggered off to sit next to Goyel.
Then finally came:
"Potter, Albus" who went to the stool with the whole school muttering, plainly what Albus had said about his father was true. Merlin remembered how nervous Albus had been in the line, but he needed have worried. Only a few seconds after the hat was lowered over his eyes did it yell:
GRIFINDORE
And Albus came over to sit next to Merlin and and enjoyed the rest of the sorting.
Finally the sorting was finished as:
"Wormington, Alix" went into Slytherin.
Once the Slytherin table had stopped clapping a women in the middle of the staff table who had grey hair and square steel rimmed spectacles which seemed to glint menacing in the candlelight.
When she spoke it was in a strict but still kind voice.
"Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts, now you have all seen the new students to your houses I must make some announcements: one: that the quidditch cup will not be taking place this year,"
this news was greeted by groans from many people, but Merlin did not join in as he had no idea what quidditch was. "This is due to another event that will be starting in November, and will go on till the end of the year. This event has not been held for over 20 years, I am pleased to inform you that the triwizard tournament will be taking place this year at Hogwarts."
The whole hall burst into excited chatter but then the moment professor McGonagall, for that was who the women was opened her mouth the hall fell silent once again.
"For these of you who do not know," she continued, "the triwizard tournament is supposed to be housed every 5 years between the three oldest magic schools: Beabatou, Durmstrang and of course Hogwarts. Due to certain circumstance however this has not happened for many years, there have been several attempts during the years to re-enstate the tournament, each time they have however failed. This time we are putting in many security measures: last time they attempted to put on age line in the rules except this unfortunately failed, so we are making sure that whenever the champions, who there are one from each school could be in danger, there are always older more experienced wizards no side to step to step in, but now I have told you that I think we can start with our excellent feast as the students from beabonton and durmstrang will not be arriving until Halloween"
Just as she said this, the golden plates and goblets on the table magically filled themselves and everyone started eating.
Then just as Merlin was helped himself to all his favourite foods Albus said: "Are you going to do it?"
"Do what?" asked Merlin.
"You know. Go in for the triwizard tournament?" Albus sounded slightly exasperated but exited.
"But we're only first years."
"Yeah I know, but its not like we'll be chosen it'd just be fun to see."
"I don't know, what if we are chosen?"
"We won't be. There's no way we'd be chosen against all these 7th years, is there?" at this point though Albus sounded only the slightest bit nervous.
"What did you say about entering? You know I might, I might even have a chance as I've been studying all summer." Grace said butting into the conversation. Suddenly all trace of nervousness vanished as he said: "and what's it got to do with you what Merlin and I are doing?"
"Nothing its just, I was hoping to be able to talk to someone as everyone else seems to be ignoring me," Grace sounded slightly annoyed as she said it.
"And what if we don't want to talk to you? Then will you bugger off and go and do some more studying if you want to get into the tournament," Albus retorted.
"Okay then I will, but I was hoping you might be half dissent but surely its not to be," Grace turned around and stared pointedly in the other direction and merlin thought he almost heard her sniff.
"Why did you have to say that? You don't go on about it to me like that cos I'm good at magic,"
Albus shrugged, "but would you really want to be friends with such a stuck up person?"
"No maybe not but I'm sure she's better if you get to know her."
"Pah! You don't even believe that yourself," said Albus turning away and continued to eat the food till Merlin said: "What's quidditch? I heard Professor McGonagall mention it."
Albus stared at him,
"Don't you know what quidditch is?" He asked sounding incredulous.
"No," Merlin said.
Albus shook his head slightly but started to explain about the chasers and the cwaffel, the bluger, the snitch, the seekers and everything else to do with it like all Britain's quidditch teams. By the time he'd finished the main course had vanished and the pudding had appeared. He stopped then to take a huge chocolate-gato and poured cream all over it.
Once everyone had finished eating the puddings too disappeared and and with a huge scraping noise the benches were pushed back and everyone left for bed.
"First years this way?" come a voice that Albus plainly recognised. According to him it was Victoire his cousin.
Merlin then followed Victoire up and down flights of stairs, along corridors, through doors, and walls that were really doors until finally the first years arrived in front of a portraits of a very fat lady in a salmon pink dress.
"Password," she said.
"Gillyweed," Victoire said and the portrait swung open.
The room they found themselves in was a conformable enough with squashy old armchairs and groups of chairs huddled around small tables. There was also a shelf of books which was curved to fit the walls as they seemed to be at the top of a circular tower. Victoire then pointed the girls up one staircase and the boys up another, Merlin and Albus both followed a boy with brown curly hair that looked almost like an afro, finally near the top of the tightly spiral staircase they came to a door with a plaque saying '1st years' on it. The boy pushed it open to find another round room this one with four posters around it's wall and long windows. There trunks had been brought up for them.
Merlin found his bed, got undressed and fell straight asleep, only just hearing the faint:
"Good night,"from the bed next door.
