Chapter 11
We left our compartment and went to a giant calling for the first years.
"Firs' years," he called "C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
He lead us into something like a cave.
"Where do you think he's leading us?" Desiree whispered beside me. "This doesn't look like the way to Hogwarts."
"Maybe there's some kind of portal that brings us to the castle?" I said playfully. Desiree pushed my shoulder lightly while I laughed at her disgusted expression.
"A magic portal? That is the best that you could think of really?"
"Uh…Flying into a dragon's mouth that would fly us into Hogwarts." She said seriously.
I stared at her for a few seconds her eyebrows raised. I couldn't help but laugh. Unfortunately I stumbled on a rock and nearly fell into what looks like water. Thankfully Desiree managed to grab my one arm and the boy in front of me stopped me before I face plant into the ground.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah" I said as I managed to balance myself back on the slippery rock. I looked at the boy that saved me from faceplanting. He had light brown hair and bright green eyes. He had a thin scar running down the side of his chin.
He smiled shyly at me. "I'm Remus Lupin."
"Jade Potter" I said shaking his hand. "Thanks."
"No problem." He said then some guy went looking for him and started to drag him away.
"What was that I saw?" Desiree said. "Are you two…"
"Des, I just met the guy." I said in exasperation. "Seriously."
"You'll never know." She sang as I pushed her while she laughed.
"Come on everyone. No more than four in a boat." the giant said. Desiree and I managed to get a boat with Severus and Lily.
"Isn't this exciting?" Lily said happily. "We finally get to see Hogwarts."
We ducked under a large cove of trees then saw the large majestic castle.
"Jade." Desiree said. " Look closely at the castle tower. The tallest one. According to my brother, you can almost see the wards of the castle itself."
I squinted my eyes at the tower. I saw an outline of transparent glasslike dome around the castle.
"Wow."
"I know right." Desiree said then the boats stopped right in front of the gate. "Come on let's go."
We were lead to a large staircase and stopped at a really big door. Where a stern looking woman with brown hair with strands of white was waiting.
"Thank you, Hagrid." She said "I'll take it from here."
"Good Evening everyone, I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house."
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said "The start of term banquet will begin momentarily. But before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. They're Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I suggest you smarten yourselves up before the sorting."
Then she entered into the large door with the entire group of first years muttering like crazy.
"Great greeting, don't you think?" Desiree said sarcastically. I chuckled.
"Well, it's a memorable one for sure."
"JADE!" I turned and found James coming towards me with another boy in his side.
"Yes, James?"
"Can you believe it?" he asked "We're finally here."
"I know."
"So this must be the famous Jade." Sirius said with a smirk. "I'm Sirius Black."
"Jadelyn." I said shaking his hand. But before anyone else would do anything else. The door opened and Professor McGonagall came out.
"We're ready for you."
Desiree and I separated from my brother and his unusual friend as Professor McGonagall started leading us to a large hall. The ceiling was decorated like the night sky. Reflecting what was really happening outside. Candles were floating above our heads. And most importantly there were many older students watching us with smiles.
"Wow." Desiree and I said simultaneously. We looked at each other and shared a laugh.
"Hey Des."
"Yes?"
"Do you think we'll still be friends even if we are in different houses?"
"I'm sure of it" she said with a smile. "We're going to beat the odds of house rivalry."
Professor McGonagall called the attention of the entire group of first years.
"When I call your name, you will come out and I will place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses."
The Professor started calling the students alphabetically.
"Malfoy, Desiree." I gave my friend a hug of good luck which she accepted with a gasp.
"Good luck."
She gave me a pureblood like smirk. "I don't need luck. I'm me."
She went to the stool and before the hat could even touch her in the head it exclaimed.
"Slytherin!"
There was cheering from the Slytherin table. A boy with short platinum blonde hair stood out from the rest and sat beside her and congratulated her. I assumed he was Desiree's older brother.
It wasn't long until it was my turn
"Potter, Jadelyn."
Desiree looked in my direction and gave me a smile of good luck.
I sat on the three legged stool and felt the sorting hat placed on my head.
"Interesting." It said
"Hi." I said in my mind nervously. "What's interesting?"
"Hello, you have a very…peculiar mind. Very open. But also rather bold. I think I know what house you would be best in…GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor House clapped as I jumped off the stool and walked towards the crimson and gold table on the other side of the hall from my new friend. I waved all the way to Desiree from my table. She just nodded as we watched the rest of the sorting. I sat beside Lily who was also in Gryffindor.
"Hey Lily!" I said "Congratulations in making it in Gryffindor."
"You too" she said happily "Then that would mean we'd be roommates right?"
My brother came next. The sorting hat hadn't even been completely placed on his head then it said. "GRYFFINDOR!"
He happily sat across me and beside the other boy who I remembered was named Sirius.
I don't think there will be a year of peace in Hogwarts for the next seven years.