Everyone sat in silence for a few seconds before the Professor spoke. "Now I know what happened last year was a bit shocking but I know that Professor Dumbledore would not have wanted the school to stop, in whatever absence he had from the school. I have been granted the role of Headmistress and I can only hope that I will live up to Professor Dumbledore's example." Harry could tell she was fighting back tears as she spoke about Professor Dumbledore. She took a deep breath. "But now I welcome all of you to a year at Hogwarts I hope shall be rewarding."
The door swung open and every head in the room turned quickly to see Professor Flitwick walking briskly down the hall, the first year students walking with anticipation. In almost no time at all, they were at the front, each student squirming or chatting to their neighbour about what house they'd be in.
The sorting hat sat on its usual old stool and slowly, it opened its eyes and cleared its throat, much to some of the first years surprise.
"Welcome to another year,
that I'm sure will be great,
Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff,
these are the houses that begin to wait.
So put me on you little head
and I shall tell you your fate."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, and another moment of silence followed before Professor McGonagall started clapping. Of course, the whole school soon joined in. Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.
"Well, that was strange and… short..." Hermione whispered as Amelia Dole was sorted into Slytherin.
"Most of his songs are strange." Harry whispered as Rebecca Goffee got sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Yes, but not that short."
"I wish it would just stick to the basics." Ron replied as he clapped with the other Gryffindors as Amanda Rin came and sat down at their table.
"But what did it all mean?" Hermione asked as the Hufflepuff table erupted into applause.
"No idea." Harry started as a small boy was covered by the sorting hat. "But I have a feeling we're going to find out."
"Yep, now I'm full." Ron said, patting his belly as they stepped out of the Great Hall and into the entrance way to Hogwarts.
"Me too." Harry replied, as they started following the large crowd of noisy Gryffindors up the stairs.
But soon he stopped. He was certain he had hears something.
"Can you hear that?" Harry asked innocently. Hermione and Ron would have replied "no" except for the fact that there was now a loud, booming, squeaky noise coming from beside them. Harry turned around to see the great, magnificent doors to Hogwarts opening before him. Locks and bolts were undone, clinking and clanking as everyone began to gather excitedly around the squeaky doors. Slowly, the light forced its way through the gaps, slowly pouring more and more light into Hogwarts.
Two hands began to show themselves, large and rough as they pushed with all their might to open the doors. Now there were millions of questions running through everyone's heads, "what's happening?" and "Who is it?" some of the more popular ones.
But then Harry realised. How else could have hands like that? There was a huge sigh as everyone began to see who it was.
Hagrid.
Everyone turned away, rather disappointed but getting back to their usual lives and making their way back to their common rooms. But slowly but surely, everyone fell quiet. A paced beat of heels on stone could be hear, becoming louder and louder. Before anyone knew what was happening, they had all turned around to face… well, they didn't know yet.
Who was it? What was it? The sound of the high heels gradually was getting louder and louder still. Whoever it was, they were getting closer. And then everyone saw.
At first it was only a tiny lock of hair blowing in the light breeze. But soon a figure appeared. But not just any figure. A girl, a girl so beautiful she ripped out boy's hearts as soon as they laid eyes on her as she filled all the girls with the ultimate envy.
She kept walking towards them and with each step; the students began to see her beauty more clearly. Her hair was soft and blew gently, her golden locks soaring and shining in the light. Her eyes were gentle and soothing, deep green that captured people and pulled them in. Her lips were the perfect red, as though he had stained them with mountains of blood when she was little. Her smile was amazing, it was like a breath of warm air on a cold day and it made her look so beautiful and so friendly. She was almost the perfect human Barbie doll as she walked in, in her jeans and t-shirt, as everyone closed their mouths, hoping that no one had seen them open.
"Move along now please, its time to go to your common rooms." Professor McGonagall's voice rang out and suddenly the crowd erupted into life and started moving off again.
"Mr Malfoy." Professor McGonagall yelled, causing Malfoy to spin around and smile at the new girl as he ran his fingers through his hair. "You," Professor McGonagall said point at Harry, Ron or Hermione but they couldn't figure out whom. "Mr Thomas, Miss Schwer… shcwer… Belinda!"
Slowly, the teenagers made their way across the entrance way to Professor McGonagall's side.
"Well, come on then." Ron said, still not able to take his eyes off the new girl as she also walked towards the Professor.
"You've got to be kidding me." Hermione started, looking at the girl as though she was contagious.
As Harry made his way across the floor, he didn't know how every other boy felt about this girl, looking at Malfoy, Ron of Mr Thomas he was almost certain they were in love or other wise they had just had their brains taken out by an ant in a bulldozer. Either way, he knew he felt differently. Sure this girl was beautiful, but he couldn't help thinking one thing as he looked at her. Every time he looked he saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and just like everyone else he was entranced, but somewhere, in the back of his head, his mind was warning him.
"Welcome to you all." Professor McGonagall started. You have been chosen to help us with this… dilemma." She said, noticing that the only two people who weren't staring at the new girl were Hermione and Belinda.
"Khm!" Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, drawing their attention back to herself once again. "This is Alyssa."
Alyssa smiled and instantly every gaze was upon her. "Depending on what house she is put in, one of you will be her guide. Unfortunately, she was a little bit late-"
"Sorry." Alyssa muttered.
"And she missed the sorting. The sorting hat has to be… repaired and won't be back for a couple of weeks. Then, she shall be sorted. Until then, we need a volunteer to be her guide. Would anyone like to-"
All the guy's hands (except for Harry who wasn't sure why he didn't put his hand up) shot up in the air, causing Alyssa to blush.
"Alright Mr Malfoy, you can guide her for now. I shall address all of you when she is sorted. Thank you, I'm sure you'll all make her feel right at home. Mr Malfoy, a word please…"
Ron's hand suddenly felt as if it had been chopped off. He had the chance to take the most beautiful girl ever around the school and Malfoy stole that chance from him. Everyone began to leave, Ron watching as Malfoy and Alyssa followed Professor McGonagall, Malfoy making Alyssa laugh.
"Come on Ron, you need some sleep." Harry said, pulling his friend away.
"Can't believe… stupid Malfoy, always does that." Ron muttered as he and Harry entered their dorm. "Why does it always happen like that? Why? WHY?"
"Because Ron, because." Dean said as he jumped up onto his bed.
"Hey, did you guys see that new girl?" Seamus asked as he pulled on his pyjama top.
"Yeah! God she was beautiful!" Dean replied.
"And I almost got to be her guide!" Ron blurted out.
"What! No way!" Neville, Seamus and Dean chorused before Ron began explaining; in great detail how Malfoy had stolen his chance.
"Bummer." Dean said, turning of the lamp by his bed.
"Yeah," Ron agreed, turning off his own light and jumping into bed. "You're pretty quiet Harry." Seamus began, truth being, Harry was being very quiet. "What did you think?"
Truth was, Harry didn't know. He had been going over that question in his head, trying to find a suitable answer. In the end, he hadn't come up with one so he just said: "Well, she was okay."
The others burst out into disagreement with Harry, almost shouting insults at him.
"Harry, that's an understatement and you know it." Or "What has gotten into you Harry?" were just some of the things that were flying around the room all at the same time.
The talked about Alyssa for most of the night, each one not able to get any sleep, the picture of this new girl fresh in their minds. No matter what happened, it just kept slipping in… her hair… her eyes… her smile…