Chapter 6: The Feast
When we had finally reached Hogwarts, we were in our full school uniform. We hopped off the train with everyone else and followed everyone (except for the first years) to the carriages. James, Albus and Rose were all amazed by the carriages as there was nothing pulling them.
We all got into a carriage which held only us. As soon as we set off I started to get excited, I was going to a wizard school for the first time.
"What do you think it will be like?" Rose wondered.
"Super cool. This is the year Uncle George leaves which means there is going to be an awesome surprise during the exams." James answered, grinning.
"Also Uncle Fred is alive and Uncle George has both his ears still." Albus mentioned.
We finally came to a stop. We jumped out and headed to the great hall with the rest of the students. Inside, it was amazing. The Great Hall was lit with floating candles and the ceiling looked like it wasn't there. It was all really beautiful. The others led me towards the Gryffindor table.
I looked towards the staff table and saw the Doctor talking to Professor Umbridge who seemed confused at what the Doctor was saying. Sometimes I'm glad I can make sense of him.
"Shannon, where are our parents?" Albus whispered, nudging me. I turned to see James and Rose looking at me curiously, waiting for me to answer.
I sighed before beginning my search. Luckily the characters looked like the actors and actresses so I started to look for someone who looked like Daniel Radcliffe. I finally spotted a pair of glasses. I pushed my own glasses further up my nose so I could see a bit better, just to be sure I had found him.
"Hey, I think I've found them." I whispered, nodding in their direction. They all turned their heads towards the direction I nodded in.
After a few seconds, the doors banged open to reveal Professor McGonagall leading a group of first years towards the staff table. Everyone watched them. Professor McGonagall set out a stool and placed on top of it the sorting hat. Everyone was still, watching the hat. Suddenly, it burst out in song.
In times of old, when I was new, United by a common goal,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach" For were there such friends anywhere So how could it have gone so wrong? Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those These differences caused little strife Take only those they wanted, so, And only those of sharpest mind
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest So Hogwarts worked in harmony The Houses that, like pillars four And for a while it seemed the school And at last there came a morning And never since the founders four And now the Sorting Hat is here But this year I'll go further, Though I must fulfill my duty Oh, know the perils, read the signs, And we must unite inside her
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
must meet an early end.
What with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
Everyone burst into applause at the hat's song. It seemed quite strange what the hat sang, like it can predict the future, or it's been around Dumbledore for too long. As soon as it had quietened down, Professor McGonagall started to call out names.
What seemed like forever, she had finally finished. Dumbledore stood up and everyone was silent, waiting for Dumbledore to speak.
"I have a few words to say before we all tuck in." Dumbledore smiled, like he was enjoying a private joke. "Tuck in." He then sat down. When he did the plates filled with all sorts of foods. It was amazing, there were roast potatoes, chicken, lamb chops, peas, carrots, pasta, the list could go on.
"Wow!" Was all I could say, in amazement.
"I know, right." James answered, starting to pile his food onto his plate.
I turned my head to the Doctor who was now in a conversation with Professor McGonagall. However what he was eating got my attention. He was eating fish fingers with custard. How lucky is he? I've always wanted to try that. I sighed before turning back to the food and tucking in. However, when I reached for a lamb chop, a head popped out of it making me jump.
"Hello, welcome to Gryffindor." Sir Nicholas said with joy.
"You must be Sir Nicholas." I said.
He turned his attention to me before flying out the lamb chops and through me. It felt like everything was cold and damp which made me shiver. I turned to face him.
"That is correct, may I ask who you might be."
I quickly remembered the story.
"Shannon Smith. These are my cousins, Albus, James and Rose Smith." I half lied.
"Pleasure to meet you. However you and James seem a bit old to be first years."
I gave him the same story as I gave Malfoy which made him move onto someone else.
"Your stories sound quite convincing. If I were someone else I might have believed that story." Rose said.
"Well I'm hoping to be a writer when I'm older." I said with pride.
"Well, good luck with it." Albus said.
Shortly afterwards, the food was gone to be replaced with dessert. Everything was delicious. When I was finally full, I looked around, watching everyone enjoy dessert. I noticed a girl with dirty blonde hair sitting by herself on the Ravenclaw table. She seemed to be enjoying dessert though.
"That must be Luna Lovegood." I thought.
In fact, the more I looked, the more people I recognised. When I heard someone clap, the desserts disappear. I turned my head to the front and watch Dumbledore stand.
"Well, now that we are fed, I have a few announcements I would like to make. First the changing in staff, Professor Grubbly-Plank will be taking over Care Of Magical Creatures until Professor Hagrid returns. Next we have a new teacher, Professor Smith will be taking over Muggle Studies." The Doctor stood up when his fake name was mentioned before sitting down. "His sister and cousins have transferred from America to Hogwarts where they'll be in Gryffindor." I felt all the other students' eyes on us but I just ignored it. "Also Professor Umbridge will be taking over Defence Against the Dark Arts this year."
Not soon after that was he interrupted by a certain pink toad. I listened closely to her speech which seemed a bit confusing yet interesting. Afterwards we were all sent to bed.
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