Chapter 2: Hogwarts
A/N: Well, thank you for the reviews everybody! (That was meant to be sarcastic at first, but now I have two real reviews!! Thank you thank you!) And you know what, Manda?? You really won't wake up on Tuesday if you don't review soon!! But also, if any of you have read this almost exactly the same story by Sally Ally, do not fear. Because Sally Ally is me, and me is Sally Ally. The story is the same, just I forgot my email and I think I sort of got sick of Sally Ally. So anyways, I'm not a copycat, just a terrible writer that nobody likes. Here are some replies to reviews -
MzHissyFits: Thanks again, and I don't really have much to tell you as I answered most everything on email, I think.
Tobias Charity: Thank you; you are my second real reviewer! I have a couple of questions and comments. What's a Livejournal meme? How do you get a beta reader? Do you have any fanfictions? I'll look and see on your name, and if so I will try to read and review. Also, tell me if you have any ideas, I've got one about the Harry thing, but I won't tell you yet, as I don't want to give everything away. I like the idea about Stella and Harry, I might use it. Also, thank you for being one decent reviewer! You are the first one I have had that's reviewed and it wasn't just "It was good, it was bad, etc." I actually got ideas from it and I know what is good and bad! Thanks a bunch again!!
Disclaimer: Yet again, I'm not the owner of most of this; J.K. Rowling is. Yes, yes, a little is mine, but not most.
Also, thanks Jess.
The train slowed, causing Stella, Tory and Neville to scrape all of the uneaten sweets into their pockets or bags. As it came to a complete stop, all three of them peered anxiously out of the window to get their first glimpse of the castle.
'I can't see it, can you?' Neville said.
'Nope,' Stella replied. 'I guess we'd better start getting off. We wouldn't want to get left behind.' She, Tory and Neville all got up and walked towards the luggage rack. They each got their own trunk, and Stella and Neville got their toads.
As the three of them disembarked from the train, they saw a tall, skinny brown-haired man standing before them. His face was so smooth it looked like a porcelain doll's face, minus the prickly moustache and half- beard around his chin. His nose was long and thin, and he wore a super- clean black suit with a dark blue tie underneath.
'If you are a first-year, follow me immediately,' he said, sounding as though he had rehearsed every word he was saying.
'I guess that's us,' suggested Tory. 'He doesn't exactly look to happy though.'
'You're right, he sure could do with one of those Cheering Charms my mum told me about,' said Stella. Neville beckoned them towards the man, who promptly led them down the side of seemingly horseless snow–white carriages, which all of the older students were climbing into. The carriages left, and the small group of first years veered off towards a vast lake with a row of rowboats lined up.
'We will be riding in the boats. Three of four people for each one and no pushing,' the tall man sneered. Stella, Tory and Neville took to boat on the far left. No sooner had they clambered in them than the strange man shouted, 'Forward!', and the boats set off at a fast pace. Nobody talked during the little time that they were actually seated, as the man shot cold looks at anyone who so much as opened their mouths. There was a sharp intake of breath, however, as the magnificent castle came into view. The windows were alight with candles, and imprinted against the dark sky it almost looked as if it wasn't real.
Shortly after they had seen it, the group was pulling up along the shores of the lake. It was a cold night, and Stella looked up at the sky wishingly. She knew that the castle would almost certainly be warm and welcoming inside, but the fact was, they weren't yet inside of the castle. And Stella shivered, and every freezing second seemed to stretch out for eternity. The man in the suit strode over to a huge door and rapped his knuckles hard on it four times. The door opened to reveal a witch in red robes that matched her rosy cheeks and round, jolly face.
'Hello, Mr Stickman. These are the new students, I presume?' Her words were lukewarm and made almost every first year feel relieved. Mr Stickman gave a curt nod, entered the threshold and strode off down a corridor to the left. The smiling witch beckoned them inside.
'Well, there's no need to stay out there freezing to death. Come in, come in. I daresay it'll feel quite good to you.' The group hurriedly crowded in, and the witch led them off down the right hallway and into a grey stone chamber.
'Now, welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor Washlepot, Transfiguration teacher and assistant headmistress. Before we have the beginning of the year feast, you need to be sorted. The four houses of Hogwarts are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each one has its ups and downs. In a minute or two, I will lead you into the Great Hall. When I call your name, you will go and sit upon the three-legged stool in the front. Put on the Sorting Hat, and it will tell you which house to go to. And questions?' Nobody had any, so Professor Washlepot took them into the Great Hall and they formed a line by the wall.
The Great Hall was indescribable. Sparkling gold goblets and plates were set at every place at each of four long tables. There was a separate table at the front of the hall, just to the right of where they were standing. There was a row of adults sitting there, and the one in the middle had a raised chair. It was obvious that he was the headmaster. Seated around him were all sorts of people. Stella didn't recognize any of them really, though she could tell what some of them taught.
For instance, on the second to the far left, there was a witch with a hat made out in the shape of a humongous leek, and large red radish earrings protruded from her ears. She taught Herbology. And also, a witch to the right of the Herbology teacher had dragon skin gloves sticking out of her pocket and long wiggly hair pulled back with a clip in the shape of a dragon. She also had a tattoo of a hippogriff on her shoulder, which was visible through a tear in her green robes.
All of the other teachers showed no sign of what they taught to Stella, so she looked up at the ceiling instead. She gasped in surprise. What she had thought to be the ceiling was actually not there; she glanced up to the dark sky. Neville nudged her.
'It's just a charm. The ceiling's actually there, just you can't see it. My parents told me about it.' Stella let out a low whistle.
'It must be a really good witch or wizard to get that charm in place.'
'Not really. It's quite simple, I think,' replied Neville.
'They have a charm a bit like that at the Ministry of Magic as well,' Tory said. 'Except it's in the windows, and it's not real weather, just whatever Magical Maintenance decides.' Stella, who was about to ask what Magical Maintenance was, had her words cut short by Professor Washlepot shushing the Great Hall. Stella realized that a large and very battered hat in the middle of the hall had opened its mouth and started to sing.
'Many years have passed since I was first made,
My colours have already become washed-out and frayed
Hogwarts founders charmed me to uphold their task,
To choose the first-years' houses, I am whom they ask.
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are two of the four,
Then there is Slytherin and Gryffindor.
In Gryffindor you will find the truly brave,
Many innocent lives Gryffindors often save.
No person in this house is ever afraid,
These lion hearts show us the way the game's played.
The second house is Hufflepuff, where truth conquers all,
Though it may not seem so, their hearts have brains and brawl.
A Hufflepuff never gives in,
Through both good and bad they continue to grin.
Then comes Ravenclaw, where wits are always key,
They are sharp as a needle with minds vast as the sea.
Every Ravenclaw has a will to learn,
Eager as can be; for knowledge they yearn
Slytherin house is last but not least,
They are sly as the fox, the wiliest beast.
Though this house produced the Dark Lord,
Great wizards emerge, soon to be adored.
So now put me upon your head,
Soon then, the answer I will have said.
I know every corner of the Fountain of Youth,
Do not be scared, I will tell you the truth.'
The Great Hall clapped, and Professor Washlepot started shouting the first name on a long list of people.
'Arling, Jacob!' A brown–haired boy with a hobble walked over to a three-legged stool that looked like all of the legs had each broken off a number of times. There was a minute's pause while Jacob Arling plunked the hat on his head, and then the hat shouted,
'GRYFFINDOR!' Jacob headed towards the table cheering and sat down at an empty place. Next was a girl that looked so frightened Stella thought she was going to pass out, and the Sorting Hat put her in Hufflepuff. There was a tall boy called François Caessing in Ravenclaw, a tall thin boy in Slytherin by the name of Nathan Dermot and three girl triplets – Jackie, Jaimie and Justine Effonfeather in Gryffindor. Neville was called right after a boy named Gil Krispijn was sorted into Hufflepuff.
'Longbottom II, Neville!' Stella watched Neville get sorted anxiously. She held her breath while the hat sat without moving on his head, and let out a long sigh of happiness when it shouted,
'GRYFFINDOR!' She was able to relax after that for a while, but when Professor Washlepot called,
'Persephone, Polly!' her stomach tightened up. She'll call my name soon, thought Stella. And sure enough, the next name on the list was hers.
'Potter, Stella!' Swallowing the lump that had arisen in her throat, she stepped up to the stool and sat down. The hat was on her head, and it was murmuring in her ear:
'Ah, well, look what we have here. You will be hard. Your mind's not bad, and neither is your courage. I can see a little truth in there too. Hmmm . . . so where should I put you? You're very complicated, lots of qualities. Should it perhaps be Hufflepuff? Not Slytherin, I think. But it could also be Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. I've just got to see what would fit you the most . . . '
Stella opened her eyes, which had been shut tight, and peered at the teachers' table. And then she took a closer look at the person sitting there. She gasped, just at the moment that the hat shouted its verdict . . .
Well, I tried. I don't even know for sure what house to put her in. I think I've changed my mind, but we'll see. Also, if you have any great ideas, email me or review and tell me them. The song was completely pathetic earlier, but with somebody's help I got it so it was halfway decent. By the way, does anybody know how to get a beta reader?? No idea, so tell me if you know. And also, another reminder to my "friend" Amanda: REVIEW OR YOU WILL DIE!! That's all. Thanks, everybody.