American Girl: Chapter 3

When they finally arrived at Hogwarts, Kirsten stepped off the compartment and onto the platform, taking in all the new sights and smells and sounds around her. She barely got a chance to look around when she saw a huge man feet taller than her approach her. Before she got the chance to become scared, Ron came up behind her and whispered, "Don't worry about him. That's Hagrid the groundskeeper. He wouldn't hurt a fly."
Hagrid came up to Kirsten and held out his hand. "Ello there! I'm Hagrid. Dumbledore's asked me to tell you that yer to follow the first years to the school. That means yer to come with me."

She took his large hand, shaking violently as the giant shook his hellos. Kirsten waved goodbye to her newfound friends, and followed Hagrid to the tiny little boats.

Stepping into the nearest boat, she found herself surrounded be three little first years, each at least a head shorter than her. They were three little boys, unmistakably triplets. "Hello," she said to them. "I'm Kirsten. I'm new here from America. What're your names?"

"I'm Zach," said one of them. He was definitely the most outgoing of the three. "And these are my brothers, Jack and Mack." They each nodded in her direction, smiling broad smiles. Mischievous, broad smiles.

"Cute! You're names rhyme! I wish I was a triplet," Kirsten smiled at the boys, and leaned over the side looking into the deep murky water. Hogwarts was so beautiful, the castle was much huger than the one in America, or at least it looked like it from her point of view. Out of the corner of her eye Kirsten thought she saw something move in the lake. She leaned over the side again, trying to catch a glimpse of the creature or whatever it was. Her nose almost touching the water, Kirsten felt the boat rocking. She turned around in time to see three identical faces move towards her and push her into the icy depths.

Down she fell, the icy water encircling her body, chilling to the bone. Kirsten threw her arms and legs reaching for the surface, towards her dream school, but an arm suddenly wrapped around hers, a large arm with suction cups. It began to pull her to the bottom, down to its den. She screamed, but it was only silence in this underwater world. "I'm going to die," she thought. "I'm going to die before I even see the inside of Hogwarts. This sucks!" But another huge arm grabbed her hands and pulled her out of the lake.

Kirsten was thrown into Hagrid's boat, gasping and choking for air. She looked around to see Hagrid and three other children, staring at her with open mouths.

"Are ye alright?" Hagrid asked with a worried tone. "I was scared sick I was! What happened?"

Kirsten sat up in the boat and tucked her sopping hair behind her ears. She knew she probably looked like a wretched mess. "Those boys..." she said, jerking her head around wildly looking for them. "The look-alike boys. I'm going to RIP THEIR IDENTICAL HEADS OFF!"

Inside the castle, wrapped in a warm blanket and at least partially dried off, Kirsten and the first years stood waiting for their turn to put on the sorting hat. Kirsten thought that Hogwarts was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. There were beautiful paintings and tapestries on every wall, and so many gorgeous statues. She was so excited to see her common room, whichever one it would be. Kirsten was very nervous about the sorting. She had no idea which house she would be in. And she didn't know any of the people in any of the houses, except for Harry Potter, and that Granger girl, and Ron... Wow, he was goodlooking. And nice too. Kirsten hoped beyond belief that she would be in Gryffindor, with her only friends. With a tap of Dumbledore's glass the sorting began, but she knew she had a while. Mullon was luckily toward the middle of the alphabet.

"When I call your name," Professor McGonagall began, (Kirsten had been introduced to her just before then) "Please step forward, and we will place the Sorting Hat on your head. You will then proceed to your houses. Ackland, Emelia!"

Kirsten zoned out for a little while. She knew she had a while to wait until her turn. She looked around the huge Great Hall, stopping at each table to look at the kids. First was Ravenclaw, nothing special there. Then Gryffindor. Ooh! There was her trio of friends! She stopped and waved at them, winking at Ron. He blushed a deep shade of scarlet, at waved back at her. Then Hufflepuff, which was pretty boring. And after them was Slytherin, the bad boys. She looked at each guy briefly, but stopped a boy with blond hair, and striking grey eyes. He was amazing looking. She noticed he was looking at her too. When their eyes met, he smirked at her. So cute. She wondered if he was nice? He sure was hot...

"Mullon, Kirsten. MULLON, KIRSTEN!"

Kirsten snapped to attention, jogged up the stairs to the stool, and took a seat. She could hear the people at the tables snickering, and could feel her ears turning pink. But she took a deep breath and straightened her skirt.

"This," said McGonagall, "Is Kirsten Mullon. She is spending this year here at Hogwarts as a part of our new student exchange program. She is from California in the United States and goes to NorCal School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I expect you all to treat her with the same respect as she will surely treat you. Introduce yourself and make sure her stay here is really pleasant. She could have been automatically placed into a house, but Kirsten decided it was being most fair to just be sorted." And with that said, the teacher placed the old raggedy hat on her head.

Hmmmm, Said the sorting hat, inside Kirsten's head. Interesting. I've never encountered an American before. Verrry interesting, Pretty intelligent, extremely cunning, definitely brave, boy crazy. But where to put you? Any preferences?

Not Hufflepuff, Kirsten thought, not quite sure if the hat could hear her, but too embarrassed to speak aloud. And I'm probably not smart enough for Ravenclaw. I have friends in Gryffindor already, but I suppose Slytherin wouldn't be too bad. So Gryffindor or Slytherin if you please.

Good choices. Very good choices. Either would be excellent for you, but since your only here for a year, I bet friends are very important to you. Be that the case it better be... GRYFFINDOR!