Chapter 3

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I awkwardly sit on the staff table in front of the Hogwarts students. I am next to the eminent Professor Flitwick – who makes up for what he lacks in stature with his big personality, and Neville Longbottom, one of my greatest friends of all time. The seat in the middle of Professor Flitwick and Mother is empty – I suppose that is where Professor Slughorn sits; he's the Potions Master.

I look out at the Great Hall – it is amazingly beautiful, with the night sky drifting over everyone's heads on the ceiling.

All of a sudden, the doors open; Professor Slughorn walks into the Great Hall, followed by a large group of children dressed in Hogwarts robes but with grey ties – the freshmen. When I was sorted into Ravenclaw twelve years ago, Mother led us in. This was before she became Headmistress.

Slughorn arrives at the front of the Great Hall with the freshmen and opens his big, fat mouth. "Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone! To those who don't know me, I am Professor Slughorn, the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts. I also have two other jobs, one better than the other. Let's start with the better one – I am head of the best house in the school, which is Slytherin! And the other is that I've got to teach you lot Potions. Now, let's start the Sorting Ceremony!"

Slughorn started saying all of the names of the freshmen, which I, of course, didn't listen to. But then I heard Professor Slughorn say two names that I recognised.

"Bones, Blossom," Slughorn said. Jayden and Blossom Bones are one of my good friend, Susan Bones', younger siblings. Their parents passed away when they were only babies. So she had to bring up those poor children all by herself. I will care for them in my dear friend's place.

All most instantly, the Sorting Hat said… "HUFFLEPUFF!" Blossom had a massive grin on her face as she skipped to the Hufflepuff table.

"Bones, Jayden!" Slughorn said. I knew that Blossom would get into Hufflepuff, because of her bubbly personality and her kind, true nature, but Jayden… I wasn't sure… Maybe he'd get placed into Slytherin?

It took the sorting hat 10 WHOLE MINUTES to decide Jayden's fate. After a long wait, the hat finally said… "HUFFLEPUFF". Jayden was furious!

"Sir, your hat is wrong. I am not Hufflepuff. I was destined to be in Slytherin!" Jayden screamed.

Slughorn looked very mad at Jayden. "Boy, you have been sorted into Hufflepuff! If you don't sit down this instant, I will make sure that Professor McGonagall removes you from this school, instantly!"

With a giant frown on his face, Jayden sits down on the Hufflepuff table. The Slytherins all burst out with laughter.

The Potions Master says the rest of the names and promptly sits down. Then, Mother stands up from her throne and walks to the front of the room.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" Mother says with a huge grin on Grandma's face… She turns back to the rest of Hogwarts. "Before we eat, I want to welcome some new members to the Hogwarts family. First of all, I want to announce that we will be starting the core class Defence Against the Dark Arts again. We decided five years ago that there was no need for DADA, as Voldemort was killed. But we realised, with the recent attack we had in Diagon Alley in the summer, that there will always be darkness in the world. So I welcome your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Malfoy!"

Draco stands up from the end of the table. He looks extremely similar to the Draco I knew 5 years ago, though he is starting to grow a beard and a ponytail. He so happens to look much better with a ponytail…

Mother continues talking. "Thank you, everyone. I am also pleased to welcome your new Transfiguration teacher, Professor Lovegood. Unfortunately, Professor Emberwood passed away in the summer. Now please give our new teachers a warm welcome!"

I stand up and smile at my new life. Everyone applauds.

Mother continues. "Professor Lovegood will also be the Head of Hufflepuff, as Professor Trelawney wanted to focus more on Divination."

"Professor McGonagall," I whisper to her. "I was in Ravenclaw, not Hufflepuff!"

"Who cares?" Mother says to me in a carefree manner. "All you need to do is be their head of house. It's simple!"

Mother then turns towards the students once again. "I hope that you all have a great year. Now, let the feast begin!"