Chapter 4 welcome to Hogwarts

A/N:- hey guys….. I'm sorry for not updating this story for what seemed like a million years. I'm so busy with skewl and my darn pc …… anyway..i've changed certain part of the story and I've decided not to confuse you guys with Cedric Diggory being alive… instead…I made up a character called Calvin Diggory who's Cedric's younger brother. So, do play along and please tell me what you think..this chapter is long because I really wanna make up to you guys for my delay. Enjoy…. N don't forget to drop me on what you wan me to do to the story. I'll try o update at least once a month… thanks to my reviewer who suggested me to have an AU…. Thx…I didn't know I could cause confusion…thx a lot….you made my day!

A/U:- well in this story… Harry Potter and his friends are in the 6th year… and in my story HP had already won the battle against Voldemort and killed him. Oliver Wood is the coach for Gryffindor's Quidditch team. ( yup…Dumbledore kinda allowed each house teams to have their own private coach)

Chapter 4 welcome to Hogwarts

"Welcome to Hogwarts!"

The 3 of us turned around. In front of us, stood an old man. His white beard was so long that it reached his waist. He was wearing a long pointed cone shaped hat and some sort of blue robe. In his hand he was holding some old fashioned smoking pipe.

This must be Dumbledore.

I scanned the room. It was definitely different than the principal's room back in my school. There was a strange looking bird on the table and a scary looking hat and… some odd looking……..

"You must be Miss Ganason, Miss Chan and Miss Shantini, the new Charmed ones!" the old man said trying to get our attention.

"Could you please use our first names? We are a bit uncomfortable being called like that." I said.

He nodded his head. "As you wish Miss Archana. I'm…..

"You're the headmaster, Prof. Albus Dumbledore, rite?" Devi cut in.

"Indeed I am. Well, let's not waste time. If you turn to your left, you can see all your essential books, materials & everything you need during your term in Hogwarts. In addition you'll each receive 50 galleons as your expenditure money. Do use them wisely though." He said with a smile.

"We would like to thank you for sponsoring our education here. We'll try our best to learn and catch up with the rest of the people….. I mean the magic-learning–students here." I said while Devi and Celina just nodded.

"Don't need to thank me girls. After all I'm just helping the Elders. It's just a small favor. As you were saying Archana, all students here are the same. Most of them are wizarding folk as in they have magic blood and we do also taking muggles." Dumbledore explained.

"Muggles? Is that some kind of Monster?" Celina asked.

"Muggles are ordinary people without magical blood. Although I do find it highly amusing that you associated muggles with monsters" Dumbledore chuckled.

Muggles are people like us then…

Dumbledore winked at me. "No, Miss Archana. You three are not muggles ever since you became the Charmed ones but I won't deny that you all were muggles before this EXCEPT for one of you."

I was shocked. Devi and Celina just opened their mouth in awe. I was busy thinking about Dumbledore's ability to read people's mind than to actually listen to what he had just said.

"You can read people's mind? This is so cool" Celina said.

Dumbledore nodded his head as he walked to his table.

"What is that hat and bird doing on your table?"

"I am NOT just any hat. I am a sorting hat!" the hat or rather the sorting hat said angrily towards us.

The 3 of us jumped back. Devi covered her mouth with her hand while Celina blinked her eyes and stared back at the hat.

OMG! A talking hat? Wonder what's next? A Flying cat?

Dumbledore just smiled at us. "Don't mind him! He gets angry if people refer him as a hat. This hat is a Sorting Hat. In Hogwarts, there are 4 houses. Each of houses is like a family. This hat determines which house you should be in based on your characteristics and he can read your mind better than I can. ("Another Mind reader?" Devi said.) This bird is a phoenix. They are highly loyal pets and their tears have healing powers. ("That's cool" Celina said.) You shouldn't be surprised at anything you see because this is the magical world. In here, there are ghosts, flying brooms, mirrors that show our future and much more!"

Whoa! This is one heck of a place!

"Alright, The 3 of you listen carefully. Here's your timetable. The 3 of you are in the 6th year which means you do have a lot of catching up to do. Your time tables won't be the same all the time because according to my predictions some of you do have a special talent for certain subjects but because you are new here, apart from your regular classes you will have to attend extra classes from 5-7pm taught by my top students or me, myself. And on every alternate night you will be meeting me at my office to take lessons on your new profound powers. The 3 of you do have the muggle device called hand phones, rite? Well…every now and then I'll keep you updated with the schedule and…………………

Dumbledore continued explaining 1001 rules pertaining to Hogwarts. He also warned us that under any circumstances nobody should know about our true identity, even to our friends and that we are referred as the exchange students. The weirdest moment was when he told us the password to his office which happens to be LINKIN PARK! Celina and I were speechless. We didn't know that the old man digs our rocking band!

Our moment finally came when Dumbledore said "Girls, Let's all go to the Great Hall and join your housemates. Follow me now."

We followed him silently without saying a word as we were too indulged with the surroundings. Dumbledore lead us down to the staircase… wait a minute….. The staircase can move? And the pictures on the wall seem to be alive as they were moving and whispering about us…. I think... A man in a picture actually greeted Devi who was stunned.

"This is unbelievable!" Celina whispered to me. I couldn't agree more.

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We kept on walking until suddenly Dumbledore stopped in front of a door.

"Behind these doors, is the Great Hall where you will be having your assembly and your meals!"

We took a peek inside from the mirror at the door. I could see a lot of students busy talking and there's 4 long tables spread out vertically and at the front of the Hall one long table spread horizontally which were seated by other professors. In the middle of the hall, there were a few students standing patiently and not to forget nervous too.

"Who are those students?"Devi asked.

"These are fresh students like you but they are late comers. They are about to be sorted. They are actually waiting for my presence. Well, let's not waste time. Just follow me…." He said hurriedly while opening he door.

Here goes everything…………………

As the headmaster entered, everyone in the room stood up. I felt weird because the 3 of us were still dressed in our casual clothes where else all the students here were wearing uniforms… I mean robes. As we entered into the hall, everyone started looking at us as if we were aliens and they were whispering among themselves. I looked at Devi and Celina and realized that they were engrossed with the ceiling. Wondering what so special about the ceiling, I looked up. To my amazement, I found out that the ceiling was none other than the sky! Wow! The night was beautiful as hundreds of stars were shining down on us.

"Sit here and when I announced your house, you shall join your housemates. Good luck girls!" And with that he went to the podium. As we sat down, I could feel that the entire Hall was staring at us but they immediately diverted their attention, the moment they heard one of the professor, a woman started talking.

"Attention, please! We were gathered hear for a special reason. Due to unexplained circumstances, we will have our second sorting this year to accommodate these 3 students. Now, when I call your name, please come forward as I place the Sorting Hat for you to be sorted."

Oh, that's how it works…….

The professor then places the hat on the stool and suddenly it started singing. Celina whispered to me, "Not bad. This hat can definitely audition for American Idol" I chuckled.

The professor then started calling out the names of the 5 students. The student then placed the hat on his head and after a while the hat shouted the name of the house. I realized that some students took longer time to be sorted while some were sorted faster. I then scanned the hall. The first table was the Gryffindor table, followed by the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Celina suddenly nudged my elbow and said, "Look! Our entire gang is there." Devi and I turned our eyes to the Gryffindor table and saw our friends. They waved at us and we waved back. "Whoa! All of them are in Gryffindor. I hope we are in Gryffindor." Devi said. "ME 2". Celina was about to say something when Dumbledore started his speech.

"Another year gone. I'm sorry to call you for this unexpected assembly though you already had one a few weeks ago. Welcome to Hogwarts to the new students. I hope you enjoy your school life here in Hogwarts. We wouldn't want last years incident to happen again. Let last year incidents teach you a lesson or two and I shall pray that none of you shall follow the dark path. On behalf of everyone here, I would like to thank Mr. Harry Potter (people were cheering from the Gryffindor table) who had won the battle with Voldemort."(The entire Hall sort of went into ooohhssss and ahhhhsss. Some were even terrified).

It made me wonder what had actually happened and why people was terrified of Voldemort but before I could even ponder on the thought the whole hall erupted into thunderous applause and a boy wearing glasses with his some sort of messy hair from the Gryffindor table stood up and bowed.

This must be Harry Potter… and his cheerleaders of course…

Celina then whispered, "This guy has his own fan club. He must be some sort of a celebrity here. I bet he gives free autographs!"

Devi laughed and said, "Nah, he just looks like any ordinary guy. I think he is really cute."

"Cute? Nah, I like the red headed guy sitting beside him. He looks adorable," I said without thinking. Devi and Celina just stared at me. Before they could say anything, Dumbledore continued his speech.

"As usual, Mr. Filch has reminded me to tell you that all first years are not allowed into the Dark Forest. I advise the 1st year's to take a look at Mr. Filch's list of prohibited items to refrain them from getting confisticated. Now, we've come to our highlight of our assembly. This year 3 young ladies will be joining the 6th years (Dumbledore pointed to the 3 of us and we stood up). They are exchange students from the muggle world. They will be studying and graduating here. I expect all of you to be accommodating to our guest here. Among he 4 houses here, 1 house will play the host or these 3 students. Well, let's welcome Miss Celina Chan (Celina just smiled), Miss Devi Shantini (Devi waved) and Miss Archana Ganason (I just winked my eyes). Without further ado, Sorting Hat, please tell us which house these 3 students should go."

The Sorting Hat looked at us. Please …let us be in Gryffindor……… Gryffindor please……

Suddenly the Sorting Hat shouted …. "Hufflepuff!" the Hufflepuff crowd cheered loudly. I was a bit dejected about not getting into Gryffindor but then again at least the 3 of us are in the same house. The 3 of us stood up and took our seats at the Hufflepuff table.

"Well….. Good luck girls and let's begin the feast!" Dumbledore said.

With that, food started appearing on the table. I forgot how hungry I was and we all started eating hungrily. I was sitting beside a tall, good looking boy. "Hi, I'm Calvin Diggory, 7th year student and captain of Hufflepuff's Quidditch team. Nice to meet you Miss Ganason."

I shook hands with Calvin and said, "Just call me Archana and this is Celina here. So, Calvin what's Quidditch and can you tell us all about the professors here?" Through out the entire meal, Calvin patiently told us about the professors and all the game Quidditch. Something about 7 players on a flying broom with 3 kinds of balls. Celina and I can't wait to see a game and Calvin told us that the Hufflepuff team is having some tryouts and that we should watch the tryouts.

He particularly told us that Prof. Snape, the potions lecturer was one of the nastiest Prof. and that he favors his own house, Slytherin. I looked at my timetable and found out that I'll be seeing Slimy Snape(that's my nick name for him) almost everyday. Just my luck…..now I've got to start digging into my potions book…. Aarrrrgh… what a nice way to start of my life at Hogwarts……studying!

While we were getting engrossed with Calvin and Quidditch, Devi was talking to a blonde haired guy called Justin something. Without realizing the time, it was late night and the prefects (can't believe they have prefects and head boy here!) led us to our common room and explained to us specifically about the portrait on the door which is some knight called Sir Cardogan. (Some kind of security I suppose) and the password for that week is "Chocolate frogs!

Eww….If that thing really exists, I'm never gonna eat it…….

With that I dragged myself up to our dorm with Celina and Devi. I was happy that my bed was beside the window and Celina was next to mine and Devi after Celina. There were 5 girls per room and we got to know the other girl which is Sylvia and Angelina. Angelina who looks like a super hot model is of a mixed parentage… she's half muggle and half witch unlike Sylvia who has never been to the muggle world. Sylvia reminds me of my friend Ee Von. She's so cute and chubby. She seemed to be fascinated with the muggle world. Angelina and Sylvia quickly filled us in about the magical world and they even told us about Voldemort…I mean He-who-must-not-be-named (they keep shrieking at us every time we said Voldemort)…..and why Harry Potter is so famous (something about the boy who lived) and of course all about the hunks in Hogwarts. When I told them about Calvin Diggory, they squealed saying that we were so lucky (I have no idea how!) because Calvin is the hunk of Hufflepuff and that he had a brother who is much more older by the name of Cedric Diggory and he had died being killed by Volde….I mean He-Who-must-not-be-named! (Gosh…don't they have a better name for him!)

After filling us with almost everything and a tour promised by Angelina and Sylvia (since tomorrow would be a Saturday), we all bade each other good night and went off to slumber land.

Next chapter:

"We made the Quidditch team?"