Ch.3 Houses

The train pulled into the Hogwarts station an Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Alexa all got up, rather reluctantly, from their seats on the train.

"So where do I go, again?" Alexa asked.

Harry glanced behind his shoulder at her. "Just follow the first years. And then we'll see you inside after you've been sorted."

Alexa paled a little.

Harry noticed and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. It's nothing dangerous or difficult…they just put a hat on your head that tells you what house you're going to be in."

"Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin?"

Harry grinned. "Those are the ones."

Alexa followed him off the train and looked around once she had gotten outside. It was dark, but Alexa could still see the castle looming in the sky in the distance. She turned around, looking for where she was supposed to go.

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" A booming voice called out.

Alexa turned towards to voice and saw a bunch of small children gathering around a gigantic person. Possibly with giant blood? Alexa mused. She walked over and joined the group. Once all the first years had assembled, the giant, who introduced himself as Hagrid, guided them over a little ways to a pair of docks that had about 10 boats waiting.

"Alrigh' now, everybody get in a boat, no more than 4 per boat, ok?" He turned around. "And don't mess with anythin' once you get in 'em," he said over his shoulder. He walked towards the closest boat and climbed in, claiming it for himself.

The first years in front of Alexa seemed too paralyzed to move.

"O, honestly…" Alexa muttered pushing her way through to the front. She inspected the boat closest to her before climbing in. She turned and met the gaze of the first years. "Come on, it's perfectly safe."

Reluctantly, the first years clambered into the boats. Once everyone was settled, the lanterns in the boats lit themselves simultaneously, and then the boats started, of their own accord, to drift away from the docks and across the lake.

When the boats reached the other side, the children climbed out and followed Hagrid up to the entrance. They were scanned by a smelly man with a Secrecy Sensor before being allowed to go inside the entrance hall. There, a new teacher greeted them.

"Hello, I am Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. In a few moments, you will walk through these doors," She gestured behind her, "And join your classmates. You will then be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Your house is like your family. Any triumphs in classes will earn your house points; Rule-breaking will make you lose points." She looked at each one in the eye, as if determining which students would be troublemakers from the start.

Personally, Alexa felt the whole speech was rather rehearsed. Alexa felt McGonagall's gaze rest on her and Alexa looked McGonagall square in the eye.

McGonagall broke the eye contact. "Please wait here. I will return."

The minute she left, Alexa heard the mutterings start around her. Despite herself, Alexa felt cold sweat break out on her neck and she waited anxiously for McGonagall's return.

In a few minutes, McGonagall returned. "We're ready for you now." The doors behind her opened and Alexa and the first years all saw the Great Hall for the first time. McGonagall turned and walked through the doors and the first years slowly followed.

As Alexa walked down the central aisle, she saw and felt the stares of the Hogwarts students. She was glad when she got down to the front so she wouldn't have to see them anymore, and she could hide her flaming face. She felt so conspicuous—She was way taller than every other first year.

"When I call your name, come forward, and I will place the sorting hat on your head, so you can be sorted into your houses," McGonagall said, gesturing to the hat resting on the stool beside her. She picked the hat up in her hand. "Helen Conorsby."

A small girl with flowing blond hair stepped forward and hesistantly sat on the stool.

"Hufflepuff!"

Scattered clapping greeted this announcement.

"Gregory Edwards."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Regina Favis."

"Gryffindor!"

"Harold Hornsby."

"Gryffindor!"

"Rachel Jacobson."

"Hufflepufff!"

"Peter Kingsforth."

"Slytherin!"

"Jeremy Johnson."

"Slytherin!"

Alexa sighed. It was going to be a while till McGonagall got to Rs. She tuned out and tried to remember what Harry, Ron, and Hermione had told her about each house.

Harry smiled. "Ravenclaw…that's where all the smart people go. So, basically, the hat misput Hermione."

Hermione grinned. "But then I'dve never met you all…and done you're homework."

"Good thing, yeah?" Ron said.

"Gryffindor is where they say all the brave go. So Ron actually should be…" Hermione started.

"Right where he is!" Ron finished, glaring at her.

"Hufflepuff is basically, everyone else who doesn't fit in the other three houses."

"So Hufflepuff is rejects?" Alexa asked incredulously.

"That's the mean way of putting it," Ron said nodding.

"And then…you have…" Harry started dramatically.

"Slytherin," All three finished. They all gave evil looks.

"I'm assuming that you don't like that house," Alexa said.

"No, we love it." Ron snorted.

"That's where all the bad wizards come out. Like Vold—" Harry started.

Ron hissed.

"—emort. Honestly Ron…" Harry finished, shaking his head.

"Not all of them are bad, though" Hermione said.

Harry grimaced. "Just about."

Ron glanced out the window. "Oy…the food trolley is here!"

"Alexa Regalton."

Alexa looked up startled. McGonagall was summoning her up to the stool. Alexa gulped and walked forward out of the remaining group of first years.

She sat down on the stool and felt McGonagall place the hat on her head.

Well, well, well…Ms. Regalton.

You will not go where you should have gone.

But the house that I will put you in,

is the one that needs you most within;

Ergo, you go in "Slytherin!"

Alexa sat in shock as McGonagall removed the sorting hat from her head. Slytherin? She was sure she would be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. She got off the stool and reluctantly moved to the Slytherin table. She took one of the remaining seats at the end of the table. She was much to distracted to pay attention to the rest of the sorting.

Why Slytherin? She thought angrily. I already had friends in Gryffindor. Now I have to start over, and I don't even fit the criteria for this house! Dark wizard, bah! I'm the total opposite.

Alexa's contemplation was broken by a huge round of applause. She looked up to see the last student run over to their table. It was, inadvertently, the Gryffindor table. Alexa eyed the boy enviously.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and gestured for silence. "I feel obligated to say something about Ms. Regalton, new member of Slytherin house," Dumbledore said lightly. "Many of you may be wondering why there is such a tall first year this year? No, she did not run amuck of a badly-done stretching hex." This was greeted with chuckles from the students and Dumbledore smiled and continued, "She is in fact a transfer student from America and will be joining us in her 6th year of schooling.

"Now, as you may have noticed, there are additional security measures in place to protect this school and its students from Lord Voldemort." A ripple went through the room at these words. "Mail leaving and entering the school will be checked, as will you all be when entering or exiting the school at anytime. Mr. Filch also wishes me to say that all objects from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes are strictly prohibited as well as numerous other objects. If you wish to see what else is banned, you can view the entire list outside of Mr. Filch's office. Thank you." He sat down. "Let the feast begin!"