"We're here." Rose said as she looked out the window then to Lily and Hugo. They were grinning madly and Rose and Al couldn't help but laugh at them. They grabbed their trunks and stepped off the train.
"Okay, look, you guys will be riding the boats to Hogwarts and we're not. So I guess we'll see you there." Rose said as he pushed Hugo gently so he could walk faster.
"Yeah, you guys better be in Gryffindor, or else we'll pretend we don't know you." Al said. Lily and Hugo turned their heads quickly to Al; they were both shocked at what he just said.
"He's just kidding, right Al?" Rose said as she gave a "you better say yes or I'll hex you" look. Al laughed and nodded.
"Say hi to Hagrid for us." Al shouted as Lily and Hugo walked towards the half giant, waving to the first years to come forth with one hand and holding a lamp in the other.
This year, and for the rest of the years to come, they'll be taking the carriages that were magically pulled. Harry already told them that it wasn't charmed, but instead, it was pulled by a magical creature that was only to be seen by those people who have witnessed death. Rose, Al, James, Dominique and Louis weren't really happy about the thought, they were really curious of what it looked like, since they didn't bother asking Harry.
Rose and Al were sitting with Sera, Hayley, Sam and Louis in the carriage. Rose and Al did not get too engaged at the group's conversations; they were busy starring at the one who was pulling the carriage.
"What are you staring at?"Hayley said as she looked towards the thing Rose was starring at.
"The creature." Rose said.
"What? What creature?" Sam said.
"The one pulling the carriage." Al said
"What? I thought this carriage was charmed." Hayley said; they were still looking at the invisible creature.
"No, a thestral is pulling it." Sera said and all heads turned to her.
"A what?" Al said.
"A thestral. You know, the boney, scary-looking, black and winged horse?" Sera said.
"You've seen one?" Louis said.
"No, not really. I've read about them in a book." She said.
"Quite creepy actually, Uncle Harry told us you could only see them when you witnessed death." Rose said and all of them fell silent.
"Creepy." Hayley shook her head.
They were welcomed by a prefect who led them to the great hall. The people in the paintings that they have passed by welcomed them back too. The castle was silent, only the sounds of burning torches and moving staircases were to be heard. But the atmosphere changed when they've entered the great hall. It was occupied by four long tables filled with chattering students, the ceiling was charmed so they could see the night sky and there were thousands of candles floating in midair burning bright enough to light up the whole place. All of them took their seats in their table and waited for the sorting ceremony.
After a while, Professor Longbottom walked in, with a line of nervous looking kids behind him. The children were amazed of what they're seeing; Rose suddenly thought of what she felt when she first walked in those double doors.
The children stopped and gathered in front of the old hat patched with different shades of dark colors. The sorting hat came to life and began to sing; the song had a different tune and is composed of different lyrics but it had the same meaning as the one the hat sang last year.
When the song finished, Professor Longbottom unrolled the parchment and began to read the names. One by one, the very nervous children sat down on the chair and the hat sorted them in their houses. Every time a house is called, they would give a loud cheer and applause.
"Potter, Lily." Neville said as he looked at Lily. She sat down on the stool and Neville placed the hat on top of her head.
"Is that your sister?" Hayley leaned side wards to James who just nodded.
"Another Potter, e? Oh, very clever. Talented, but shy, I see. Ah, yes, yes. I know where to put you, GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindors roared with cheer; Lily closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She skipped her way to the table and received a few pats on the back as she sat down.
A few more names were called and sorted before Hugo. Rose was quite nervous for her brother, what will happen if he wasn't sorted into Gryffindor? Of course, Hermione and Ron wouldn't mind. But still, all of them belonged to the house Godric Gryffindor and. . .
"GRYFFINDOR!" Before Rose could of more things, the hat has sorted Hugo in Gryffindor. It merely touched the top of his head. Hugo grinned from ear to ear as he took a sit next to Lily.
McGonagall gave a short speech before the feast started.
"Now, I welcome all of you to another year at Hogwarts. You ought to know the rules already and you will do well to tell the new students. Now let's eat." McGonagall's speech ended. And the food appeared right before their eyes, on their plates.
"Wow, it- it just appeared!" Hugo spluttered.
"Yeah, it does that." Rose explained mildly.
"How did that happen?" Lily questioned curiously.
"Never mind that, just reach for the bowl of mash potatoes and pass them to me. Thanks." Al said. He started to pile his plate with food within his reach. If he can reach it, he will eat it. If he can't reach it, he'll ask someone to pass it to him and then he'll eat it.
Hugo started to copy Al's example. He started to grab a humongous turkey leg, scoop mash potatoes for himself and grab a handful of chips and fries.
The general chatter was growing louder. People were still exchanging stories, telling jokes-- no matter how corny it is, and mainly, just catching up.
"I wash thinking out trying pout for Ee-ditch." Al said
"Without the food this time, please." Rose said laughingly.
Al swallowed his food a little hurriedly then said "I said, I was thinking about trying out for Quidditch."
"We already know that." Hayley said teasingly.
"Yeah, you were so excited about it last year, we didn't think you'd forget about it." Sera mocked.
Rose laughed at the look on Al's face. He looked like he was defeated by hinkypunks.
"I meant, about what I'll do about it, should I practice some more?" Al said, worry in his voice.
"Don't worry about it Al, we've practiced hard enough this summer." James said.
"Yeah, you'll definitely get in." Rose said.
Al rounded on Rose. "You are trying out with me. Remember?"
"Uh yeah, about that, uh," Rose mumbled
"Yes? You promised you'd try out with me." Al pouted
"Oh alright, I'll try out, only if Hayley and Sera would try out with me." Rose answered.
Al, this time, rounded on Hayley and Sera.
"Of course! It'd be so much fun." Hayley said
"Uh" Sera said.
Rose and Hayley faced Sera, "Come on Sera, it'll be fun, like Hayley said, with all of us trying out, it won't be as embarrassing as it would normally be." Rose plead.
"Yeah, what she said." Hayley said laughing at Sera.
"Oh fine, but I don't have to pass." Sera said defeated.
"You will, and you will like it." Hayley said jokingly.
And just like that, a promise was made. A promise, they knew not, would soon be broken.
HELLO PEOPLE OF FANFICTION ! My name is krayzzeedoodle. =)) What am I doing here, you may ask? Well Speggy came over, actually she's still here ["Hey!" –Speggy], to my house. And I'm helping her write this fic. :D I wrote starting from McGonagall's "speech" until the end, go easy on me, this is my first time writing. :))
Yes, we know it's shorter than Speggy's usual but we need to cut it here. =))
So you see, it's a little cliffhanger-y. That will keep you guys tuned. :D =))
"AAAHH, your mouse fell!" –Speggy's farewell
"Byee! :D" –krayzzeedoodle