Hogwarts Again - A New Generation
Chapter 7 - Hogwarts
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters except the OCs.
I'll not be able to update for a while, guys. I have exams for two weeks. Stay in tune, I'll update as soon as I can.
The train slowed to a stop after a few hours. The twins had eaten the sandwitches the their mother gave them and the chocolate frogs they had gotten from the Trolley Witch. They had started collecting the cards since they were three. By the time the train stopped, they were very hungry, and eagerly jumped off the train to hear a shout of "First years over here!"
They followed the voice to see a large man with a very bushy beard but a kind face beckoning to some other first years. The girls didn't know who these were, as they had travelled in a compartment that was empty except for them. They did as they were told, trying to keep their curiosity and questions from overflowing.
They heard older students calling to the large wizard, "Hello, Hagrid." and "All going well?"
They followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. It was dark, and everybody was mostly silent, except for some whispers of, "I'm scared."
The narrow path opened onto the edge of a big lake with some boats, which the girls assumed was the Black Lake. Perched on top of a high mountain on the other side was a big castle, its windows gleaming, its towers high and commanding. The twins stood there silently, staring up at the castle in awe.
Hogwarts. It was magnificent. Breathtaking.
Hagrid called out that only four students must get into each boat. The twins got into a boat with two other first years. The journey itself was not anything exciting, though the thought of going into that great castle was overwhelming. They reached a kind of underground harbour where everyone got out. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door. Hagrid knocked on the castle door, and a stern looking, elderly witch opened it. Her sharp eyes swept over the crowd.
Hagrid said, "The first years, Professor McGonagall."
Professor McGonagall thanked Hagrid and pulled the door wide open. The entrance hall was huge. Like, huge. There were flaming torches on the stone walls, a high ceiling, and a magnificent flight of stairs. Professor McGonagall led the first years into an empty chamber and turned to face them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, as if she had said these exact same words many times before. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."
She proceeded to say something about each of the Houses, but the Dursley twins weren't listening. They were looking at the walls and the architecture, admiring the perfect finishing, though it couldn't have been hard, what with wizards and witches and magic and all.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. Wait here till I call you all," Professor McGonagall finished, before turning and leaving the chamber.
All the students started chatting nervously, but the twins remained quiet, as they always were when they were nervous. After a few minutes of waiting, the teacher returned, and told them to form a line and follow her. Everyone followed her obediently. They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
It was lit by thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. They came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. Here and there among the students, the ghosts of Hogwarts were visible. There was no ceiling. Instead, they could all see the night sky that was outside. Violet had told them that the sky was bewitched to look like the sky outside.
Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool, on which was placed an old, pointed, wizard's hat, that the twins recognised immediately as the Sorting Hat that their mother had told them about. It stood still for a few moments, and the twins stared at it eagerly. And then, a rip near the brim opened, and the Hat burst into song.
I was there a thousand years ago,
When four founders united to say,
That they wanted to build a school
That has stood strong till this day.
Go on, put me on top of your head,
And I'll tell you where you belong,
You'll each do well there, I hope,
For I have never yet been wrong.
You may be in Gryffindor, who value the brave,
Or in Ravenclaw, where all the cleverest dwell,
Maybe in Hufflepuff, where kindness is prized,
Or in Slytherin, where they're cunning as hell.
Come forward, do not be afraid,
For, to everyone, I am always fair.
Come and sit on the stool and wear
me on your head, if you dare.
All the students burst into applause as the Sorting Hat finished its song. Professor McGonagall opened a scroll and read off the names of the first years. The first two, Elizabeth Aaron and Frederic Alfred, were sorted into Gryffindor, the next, Ruth Alley, into Hufflepuff. After William Bailey was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor McGonagall called, "Dursley, Daisy."
Daisy went forward gingerly, sat on the stool and put the Hat on her head.
"Interesting," said a small voice, which Daisy supposed was the Hat's. She hoped the others could not hear it, as she did not hear anything like this for the other students. "You're clever, I can tell. There's only one place for you. RAVENCLAW!"
The Hat shouted out the last word. Daisy sighed in relief and ran off to the Ravenclaw Table, where everyone was cheering. She turned toward the staff table again, where the Professor was calling Ivy.
"Dursley, Ivy."
Ivy went up and put on the Hat. "The Dursleys are a smart pair. I suppose you'll have to go with your sister, though I love separating siblings. Don't get into too much mischief. All right, then, RAVENCLAW!"
Ivy grinned as the Hat said the House's name out loud, and joined her twin on the Ravenclaw table. They grinned at each other. They would be up to so much trouble, and the teachers wouldn't even expect it from a couple of Ravenclaws.
They watched as the last students were sorted, and then ate to their fill. Then, they started off to their common room, the Ravenclaw Common Room, waiting impatiently to see their dormitory, and generally looking forward to the coming days.
This was going to be fun. Oh, so fun.
_
A/N: Pls review, guys. I need some feedback. How do you like it? Constructive criticism is appreciated.