The Feast

"Hufflepuff!" Roared the Sorting Hat, it's voice echoed throughout the hall.

An eruption of cheering - mostly from the Hufflepuff table - and clapping erupted through the hall.

"Personally, I would hate to be in Hufflepuff," Annebel admitted, smiling sheepishly at her friend. "Too much yellow. Plus, it must stink of food, their common room is right beside the kitchens!"

Bernadene barked out a laugh as she listened to her friend, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. "Don't forget, Bel, but you're other best friend is in Hufflepuff."

And it was in that moment that Ryan had turned to wave to them - it was almost as if he had a sixth sense. The girls grinned as they waved back.

"He knows I love him, really," Annabel said as she clapped for another first year who had just gotten sorted into Ravenclaw.

Bernadene could only laugh and shake her head at her friend. She, too, returned her attention to the sorting.

After the sorting had finished, Dumbledore made his usual speech but he was hardly able to finish whenever the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher interrupted him.

Annabel quirked a brow as she glanced over to Bernadene. "Someone's favourite colour is clearly pink…" murmured Annabel, turning her nose up at the outfit. How could someone wear so much of the one colour?

Dolores Umbridge seemed nice. A little too nice. This teacher was never going to last, Annabel already knew.

Finally, whenever Dumbledore was able to finish speaking, the feast was able to commence.

The House Elves definitely worked hard this year for them returning to Hogwarts this year as there was so much of everything. From mash potatoes to roast beef, chicken legs, lamb joints… It just went on!

"Someone ought to thank the house elves," Annabel said carelessly as she scooped some mash onto her plate.

Bernadene nodded in agreement. "I wish I had a house elf to cook for me and to clean for me."

Annabel sniggered and made chatter with the rest of the people in her house.

There was one person she was unable to get any words out for, though, and that was Jonathan Hart. Same year, Quidditch Captain, tall, dark and handsome. What more could a girl want? He was perfect in Annabel's eyes.

Jonathan looked over at Annabel, briefly, and smiled. This caused Annabel to choke on her pumpkin juice, half of it dribbling out of her mouth. Her face was now a shade of scarlet, her eyes were watery from the coughing and she had pumpkin juice all down her robes. Perfect.

Annabel dipped her head in embarrassment and kept her gaze on the plate of food in front of her for the rest of the night.

"Do you want to head to the common room?" asked Bernadene once she was done with her dessert.

Annabel nodded. "Yeah. I'm beat. Lots to do tomorrow! With it being the first day of classes and what not," she chattered as she left the Great Hall, arm in arm with Bernadene.

They weren't even five feet out of the hall until they bumped into two, very tall redheads. "Why hello ladies!" they greeted the two, although their eyes were mainly fixtured on Annabel.

Annabel quirked a brow upwards as she watched them. "What are you two up to? I hope you aren't experimenting on any of the new first years."

"Not at all. Although, considering you aren't a first year yourself…" George dug into his pocket to bestow the girl with a nosebleed nougat.

Annabel snatched the sweet and put it into her own pocket. "Five points from Gryffindor." she said stiffly. "And you know I meant on any student!"

George blinked in surprise. His eyes went from his hand, to Annabel and back to his hand. "Don't let the power go to your head now, love." the grin instantly reappeared on his face.

Fred laughed and wound an arm around the head girls waist. "Don't mind my brother, sweetheart. He's a bit of special one."

Annabel shrugged him away. "You both are a bit special. Shouldn't you be going to your own common room? First day of classes tomorrow, you know."

Fred and George both laughed at the idea of classes in the morning. "She does know how to Joke, Gred!"

"Greenwood, you should know us by now that we won't be rushing, or getting excited about any classes." Fred shrugged.

Annabel frowned and took Bernadene by the arm again. "These are your Newts! You should be taking them seriously." And with that, she brushed passed the two boys and made her way down to the dungeons.


"I know it's only the first day of the bet, but I think this is going to be a little harder than what we anticipated, Georgie." said Fred, watching the two girls go off down the steps.

"I think you're right, Fred," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Does this mean I get to keep my fifty galleons?" smirked Lee Jordan, finally joining the two boys.

Fred and George both stared at him. "We said harder, not impossible, Jordan."

Lee Jordan put his hands up in the air. "Did I mention that yous have by Christmas?"

Fred glared at the boy and as did George. "No, I think you forgot to mention that part!" they both snapped, clipping Lee around the head.

"C'mon, let's go to the kitchens for a little midnight snack." said George, stalking off.

Annabel walked into the common room and finally felt completely at ease. She loved their common room, she loved the fact that it was directly underneath the lake. She loved that she was able to stare out into it. If you were lucky, you were able to see the giant squid from time to time.

The two girls caught up with a few other people from their year before they headed to bed. They had always been dorm mates since first year and they were very pleased to find out that this year was like all the previous years.

"The twins are going to have my head turned by the end of this year, Bee," whined Annabel as she flopped onto her bed.

Bernadene sniggered. "At least you'll never be bored! Think of it like that."

Annabel shook her head as she kicked her shoes off. "I think I'm going to end up murdering them. Honestly." she said as she opened her trunk to find her pyjamas. "There is a time and place for jokes and school isn't one of them!"

Bernadene could agree with that up to a point. "Yes, but it's nice to have a laugh every now and then. Especially when they pull pranks on Filch! Or have prank wars with Peeves. Although that can get very messy." Bernadene shuddered as she remembered back to her fourth year whenever she got covered in black ink and feathers.

Annabel wrinkled her nose. "Each to their own I suppose.."

Bernadene shrugged and climbed into bed once she was ready. "Are you excited for the first day of classes tomorrow, Bel?"

Annabel nodded as she began to brush her hair. "Of course I am. I have to be serious this year if I want to become a healer."

Bernadene smiled as she cuddled into her pillow. "You're going to be a great healer. You know that."

Annabel sat her brush down and pressed her lips into a fine line as she got herself cosy in her sheets. "I hope so…" she yawned as she closed her eyes, sleep quickly taking over.

"Goodnight, Bee," she murmured softly as she finally dozed off.

"Goodnight, Bel."