Before us stood an older witch, with dark green robes, and a stern expression. She towered above us, and I knew instantly that if I did get into trouble, she was not the one to be caught by.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid told the women, she nodded back before replying.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door the rest of the way open to reveal a massive entrance hall, far larger than the entire Dursley residence. Like at Gringotts, the wall were lit with torches. You couldn't make out the ceiling, in front of us was a grand marble staircase which led to the upper floors.
We followed Professor McGonagall through the entrance hall. To the right was another large wood door, which must have been the rest of the school. We were led to a side chamber. Once we were all packed inside McGonagall began to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she began. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
She paused for a moment, seeming to wait for any comments of concerns. Where there were none she continued.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
Again she paused, again no one spoke.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes found Neville's cloak, fastened under his left ear, to Ron's smudged nose. Harry tried to flatten his hair as she scanned over us, and for the slightest moment her strict face vanished. Replaced with what looked like concern as she saw our skinny frames, but in an instant it was gone. And she turned back to the entire room.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," she finished. "Please wait quietly."
She left the room, and you could hear a pin drop. I saw Harry swallowed, Ron fiddle nervously, and Neville try and fix his cloak. Anthony, who looked so confident earlier, seemed to be going over thoughts in his head and was silently talking to himself. Lisa actually looked rather relaxed, or rather, she looked like what house she was sorted into was the least of her worries.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked quietly to Ron, I turned to the boy to, begging for him to know the answer.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." Ron replied.
At that Harry looked terrified and started glancing around. The room continued to be silent, except for a brown haired bushy haired girl whispering about all the spells she knew, and which one she needed. Harry then turned to the door, while I closed my eyes and tried to take deep breaths...
Calm, everyone has to go through this, just be cal...
Several people screamed behind me and I jumped.
"What the —?" Harry began, then he gasped. I turned to where he was looking and nearly fainted. A large contingent of...ghosts had just entered the chamber through the back wall. They flew across the room speaking to one another, not interested at all in us. In fact they seemed to be arguing with one another.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —" A ghost that looked like a small, fat monk was speaking.
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost in ruffs and tights had noticed us, but despite the question no one spoke.
"New students!" the Fat Friar said, as he began smiling around at us. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
Some nodded, though most still seemed to be in shock. Me included.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" The ghost replied. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
We all turned and saw that Professor McGonagall had returned. The ghost threw the wall one by one as McGonagall turned her attention to us.
"Now, form a line, and follow me." Everyone lined up then, nervously, we followed. I stood behind Harry, and in front of Ron. We followed Professor McGonagall out of the side chamber, headed back through the entrance hall, and were led through large double doors.
As we entered all the nervous energy was replaced, at least temporarily, with astonishment. The chamber was massive, lit with thousands of floating candles, which great contrasted the night sky looking ceiling. Four long tables filled with students watched as we were led closer to another table, this one filled with teachers. Along with the staring teachers and students, the ghosts from earlier watched eagerly. All the staring faces made most of us forget the wonder of the chamber, and the nerves quickly return. We stopped in front of the teachers table. Causing some to look again at the ceiling.
"Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." The same girl who'd been going over spells earlier whispered to other nearby students. Some nodded, though most still nervously stayed still.
In front of us Professor McGonagall pulled out a four legged stool, and placed a extremely old, and dirty looking wizards hat. Everyone in the hall had gone completely silent and was staring at the hat, so us first years all followed along. Harry looked like he was trying to figure how this test would work, Ron was swaying nervously, what was this hat for?
The hat then twitched, and a rip opened into a mouth. The hat then began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The entire room burst into applause as the hat bowed to each of the tables. I took a deep breath and was relived, no crazy test. I turned to Ron and Harry.
"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to us. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."
Harry nodded but I could tell he was still nervous. I silently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll be fine." I said, he again nodded and took a few deep breaths. Though clearly he was still very nervous.
As we turned back to the front Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long piece of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she explained, before calling "Abbott, Hannah!"
A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line and sat down on the stool. The hat covered her eyes and the room was silent...
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted, and the table to the right exploded into applause. The Hufflepuff ghost from earlier waved happily at her, and the black tie she was wearing magically became black and yellow.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat again stated, and the girl scurried off and sat next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
I watched as Terry gave Anthony and Michael a quick glance as he made his way to the stool. Both Michael and Anthony appeared to be holding there breaths with Terry...
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted and the trio looked relived. His tie transformed blue and bronze, while the table second from the left burst into applause and several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"We'll be next." I heard Michael tell Anthony quietly, he nodded firmly.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" was the next called. She had long, straight, dark brown hair, and confidently strode to the stool. She put the hat on and was placed into Ravenclaw as well.
"Brown, Lavender" was called next and went to Gryffindor. The table to the far left exploded, and her tie transformed into gold and scarlet red. As the girl sat down, Fred and George jokingly catcalled at the girl, while Ron placed his head in the palms in his hands, clearly embarrassed.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" was the first Slytherin. Like the others, he tie magically transformed into green and silver. When I saw the people sitting at her table, I instantly understood there reputation. Some looked...unpleasant. Me and Harry exchanged glances as the sorting continued.
"Corner, Michael" Again I looked over at the boys. The same process played out as they all seemed to be holding there breaths. Again they were relived as Michael was sorted into Ravenclaw, he and Terry hugged.
"Crabbe, Vincent!" I recognized the last name and noticed Harry and Ron staring. This was supposedly one on Pale Boy's bodyguards, and he looked the part. Large and intimidating I decided I'd try a little harder than Harry to...avoid Draco Malfoy's ire.
The sorting continued and I turned to Harry, who was looking more nervous by the second. I took his hand and squeezed it, and he gave me a smile.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"What if were separated?" Harry asked me worriedly.
"We'll still be twins Harry, no matter what that hat says." I told him, he nodded.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"What if I'm in Slytherin?" He asked me, clearly not wanting to be.
"What if I was?" I asked.
Harry froze at the thought. Clearly he couldn't picture me in the house.
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it." I told him, he nodded and the sorting continued.
The sorting continued, and I noticed that not every kid was sorted instantly. For example, "Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy haired boy who stood in front of Harry in line, took nearly a minute before he was placed in Gryffindor. While others were instant.
"Goldstein, Anthony."
Anthony walked up to the hat, Terry and Michael watched nervously from the Ravenclaw table. There worry didn't last long as Anthony was placed into Ravenclaw instantly.
"Goyle, Gregory!" The other bodyguard of the pale boy stepped forward, as Harry and Ron glared again. He was taller than Crabbe, But less fat, still I reckoned his punches would still hurt...
"Granger, Hermione!"
The girl who was also helping look for Neville toad, and knew a lot of facts and spells, raced to the stool. She took nearly four minutes, until...
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat declared, which caused Ron to groan in annoyance.
"What's wrong?" I asked him confused.
"She came into our compartment while you were gone, she's annoying." He told me, I looked at the girl, who clearly was enthusiastic to be here, and...couldn't understand how Ron couldn't like her. I didn't say anything and turned back to the sorting.
The next student sorted was a Daphne Greengrass, who was quickly placed into Slytherin. After her Neville was called and I watched in sympathy as he fell over on his way to the stool. Like Hermione, Neville took a long time, nearly five minutes. Finally he was placed in Gryffindor. Again I winced as he forgot to take the hat off, and had to bring it back and handed it to "MacDougal, Morag." Who was a white haired girl also placed into Ravenclaw.
"Malfoy, Draco!" I curiously watched the "pale boy." That Harry had offended. He did seem very...confident, as he casually walked up to the stool. Harry and Ron again glared as the hat was placed on Draco's head. Instantly he was sorted into Slytherin, and he strode over to join Crabbe and Goyle.
Mine and Harry's name kept getting closer.
"Moon, Lily"
"Nott, Theodore"
"Parkinson, Pansy"
All were sorted into Slytherin. Next was another set of twin, and me and Harry both watched in interest. Could twins be separated?
"Patil, Padma!" Was called, and placed in Ravenclaw.
"Patil, Parvati!" Was next, the hat placed her into Gryffindor and Harry looked more nervous than ever.
"It'll be fine." I whispered to him.
"Perks, Sally-Anne!"
"Just...please not Slytherin. Not for either of us." He replied. I nodded, though if the hat thought so..
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward the whispers began. I looked at Ron in annoyance who just shrugged. I noticed Lisa look at him, then me again. Clearly Anthony and the other's had told her the full story.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
I noticed people from across the hall were doing everything in there power to get a good view of Harry. He placed the hat on his head, and the room went silent. Next to me I heard Ron clench his jaw, and under his breath kept saying. "Gryffindor."
"...GRYFFINDOR!" The hat finally shouted. The room burst into the loudest applause of the night as Harry began to shakily walk towards the Gryffindor table. I gave him a little smile, and he nodded. When he reached the table Percy Weasley shook Harry's hand vigorously. While Fred and George both shouted. "We got Potter! We got Potter!" While Harry sat down opposite one of the ghost's we'd seen earlier.
"Potter, Sarah!" When my name was called the room again went silent. Though this time people at least expected me, I sat down and the last thing I saw was Harry looking at me. Half hopeful, half nervous as the hat went over my head. Everything was black...
"Well, well, the other Potter." I heard a voice in my mind. I decided to be polite with the hat...
"Hello...sir." I thought.
"Politeness will not get you placed wherever you want. No, your mind, your personality, your values, they shall determine that."
"Tell me then?"
"Eager to know...let's see here. Very good brains, a desire to learn of our world. The world of your parent's though you are willing to sell off your brains for protection, not very fair minded or noble of you."
"I didn't want to get beat up." I snapped back.
"True. But you still have that same mindset."
"I admit I'm not brave." I admitted, slightly ashamed.
"You are braver than you think, still, it's not your defining trait. As for Slytherin, while you do have a history of self preservation, you have no desire for power. Tell me, like your brother, do you have any...requests?"
"Harry requested something?" I asked.
"Not to be in Slytherin. Do you have that same desire?"
"You know where I belong, I'll trust you judgement."
"Very well, seeing as your not as brave or daring as your brother, Gryffindor isn't the best option for you. You do not seek power like any true Slytherin would. As for Hufflepuff, you are kind and loyal to people you know, but a true Hufflepuff would never undermine the hard work of others, or participate in cheating even under threating circumstances, that only leaves RAVENCLAW!"
As I removed the hat the clapping started. Harry looked stuck between disappointment that we'd been separated, but relived that neither of us were Slytherin. Our eyes met and he began clapping loudly. Some of the other Gryffindor's looked somewhat disappointed but still clapped respectfully. The Ravenclaws were clapping the hardest they'd clapped all night.
As I walked over my tie changed colors to blue and bronze. A few older student's welcomed me with enthusiastic handshakes. After the initial wave of excitement, I sat down next to Padma Patil, who gave a excited squeal, and across from Anthony, Michael, and Terry. The latter two looked excited, while Anthony looked pleased with himself.
"I told you." He said to both me, and the other two boys.
"You truly are a sorting expert Anthony." Terry said, half impressed half annoyed. While I gave a smell chuckle, then turned back to the sorting.
"Smith, Zacharias!" Was the next name called, a tall skinny, blonde boy strode forward. He seemed to act just like Draco had acted as he strode up to the stool.
"Slytherin." Anthony whispered.
"He's been right every time." Mandy said, everyone who'd been at the table longer nodded.
"He seems like the typ..."
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted. Zacharias smirked and cockily walked over to Hufflepuff. Anthony was in shock, while both Michael, and Terry were grinning.
"I was sure..."
"You can't win them all mate." Michael said pleased.
"I guess, but Hufflepuff was the last house I thought for him." Anthony replied, clearly disappointed his perfect record was tarnished.
"I guess the hat take more into account than body language." Morag added, and Anthony side but nodded.
The next student to be sorted was "Thomas, Dean," Who joined Harry in Gryffindor.
"Turpin, Lisa!" I watched as the nervous wreck I'd found on the train stepped forward. She clearly was nervous. Anthony, after not picking Dean, again decided to try and guess her house.
"She'll be joining us." He said confidently, and this time both Terry and Michael agreed.
"Agreed." Terry said thoughtfully.
"She's the typical stereotype." Michael added, me and the others girls turned and watched eagerly as we waited for the hat to speak.
"RAVENCLAW" The hat shouted after a few seconds. Our table clapped loudly as Lisa made her way over. She sat down on the empty next to me.
"I told you." Anthony told her.
"Are you going to keep telling everyone I told you so?" Michael asked before Lisa could respond.
"Yes."
"Welcome." I told the girl, she nodded, though she still looked at me...with pity. Clearly she still hadn't gotten over my situation.
Ron was next, and he almost looked green as he walked up to the stool.
"Gryffindor." Me and Anthony said at the same time. Anthony smirked, while Michael and Terry just rolled there eyes.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I clapped for Ron as he made his way over and sat across from Harry. I knew the two had hit it off, and was glad Harry already had someone he could count on in Gryffindor. "Zabini, Blaise," was the last to be sorted, and was made a Slytherin.
The sorting finally finished, McGonagall rolled up the parchment and removed the sorting hat. I looked to the head table, I saw Hagrid at the end. We met eyes and he gave me a thumbs up. I saw Professor Quirrell sitting nervously, now wearing a purple turban. In the middle of the staff table, in a golden chair, sat who I assumed must have been Albus Dumbledore.
He was tall, had a long beard and silver hair that indicated his age. His blue eyes sat behind half moon spectacles, and the gave a calming feel. As if on cue the headmaster stood and had the room's full attention. He opened his arms wide, and began to speak.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
I looked at some of the older student's who seemed to think the man's speech was completely normal. They just clapped as did the rest of the chamber, and I joined in. I looked around at my year mates, Lisa looked just as lost as I was. While everyone else just shrugged.
"When your the best wizard of your lifetime, you can say whatever you want." Terry explained, then picked up a piece of chicken. I looked down and, to my amazement, the once empty golden dishes were now filled with food. From roast beef, peas, lamb chops, fries. There was everything, and for the first time in my life...I didn't have to let Dudley have it all.
I began piling my plate full of everything...
"Hey, Potter?" I turned and saw a group of girls from the year above us. All of them looked at me with interest.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Just wanted to welcome you to Ravenclaw, and were wondering..." One of the girls began.
"Do you remember anything from that night?"
"How did Harry fend of you-know-who?"
"Could you get us his autog..."
All these girl talking to me at once was overwhelming. I didn't know where to start, the other first years clearly wanted to help, but angering student's older from you in your own house...
"Enough." A commanding voice said, the other girls stopped and looked to the voice.
"But Cho..."
"The poor girl just got here, give her some space." I saw the face of the voice now. She turned to me. "Sorry about that, I mean we our the house of curiosity. But all that is way to much."
"It's fine, thank you." I replied.
"By the way, I'm Cho Chang." She said holding out her hand, I took it. Cho had long shiny, black hair, and freckles on her nose.
"A pleasure." I replied.
"I'll try and keep the older student's from...asking to many questions." She told me as she turned to the girls she'd just silenced. All looked down at there plates.
"Sorry." One said, and the girls all went back to eating there food.
"It's fine, I knew how this was going to go. And I'm not even the main event."
I looked over to Harry who seemed to be talking to the ghost in the ruff from earlier. When Cho saw where I was looking...
"Seems your brother's met Nearly Headless Nick." Cho said grinning.
"Are there a lot of ghost's?" I asked. The other first years all turned to Cho, clearly curious about the ghosts.
"Plenty, there's Peeves, though he's more of a poltergeist. The Fat Friar, and Nicholas over there, there the ghost's of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively..."
"Who's our ghost?" Morag asked.
"They grey lady." Cho motioned to the dark corner, and indeed leaning against the far corner wall, was a ghost. Even in death she was beautiful. She had waist length hair, but also seemed distant.
"Don't call me that name Cho." The ghost suddenly spoke causing all of us to jump, Cho just rolled her eyes.
"If you'd just tell us your name." She tried to reason.
"Hmm." The ghost said nothing and went back to leaning against the corner and watching the house eat in silence. Cho just sighed.
"Anyway. If any of you need anything, don't be afraid to ask." Cho gave as one last smile, then sat down a few people away.
"So." Mandy began. "I guess we should introduce ourselves." She said.
"I guess we should." Michael replied.
"I'll go first. Then I'll choose who goes, and so on?" Padma asked excitedly. Everyone nodded. "Well obviously I'm a twin, our parent's our from India. Both my parent's work at Gringotts's. Mum's a translator, dad's a curse breaker."
"A what?" Lisa asked.
"Basically he opens vault's of criminals."
"Ah."
"Well, what about you?" Padma asked Morag.
"Dad works security in the Ministry, Mum...loves magical creatures."
"Really, what kind?" Anthony asked.
"Let's just say we have a big back yard."
"Let's see... Mandy?"
"Dad's a muggle auror... Mum's a muggle security...thingy?"
"A police officer?" Lisa corrected.
"Yeah, one of those."
"Interesting." I said.
"Anyways...Terry?" She asked. He shrugged.
"Dad does investitive work for the Daily Prophet, mum does the same for Muggle paper...The Times."
"Sound interesting."
"Let's just say I get a lot of information about both worlds. Anyways, Michael mate?"
"Dad...didn't make it during the last war." He said, there were some sad gasps. "World's not perfect but my mum always gotten us through. She sells Potion ingredient's to Diagon Alley, she's an expert at it. Really proud to be her son."
"You should be." Mandy told him firmly.
"Yeah, anyways...Lisa?"
"Mum work's at the Muggle University, Cambridge, she take's her job...seriously. Dad Is a soccer coach..."
"A What?" Anthony asked her.
"A muggle sport coach. He's more relaxed than she is, still..." Lisa turned to me, as did the rest of the group.
"I mean...most of you already know about me." I said.
"What about your Muggle relatives?" Terry asked.
"Yeah, what are they like?" Mandy added.
"...not pleasant. Let's just say they lied to me and Harry about how are parent's died. About us being magic, we didn't know anything until a month ago." I said, all of them looked disgusted.
"That's horrible." Padma told me, giving me a sad look.
"It was. Really this is the first time in our lives me and Harry..." I looked down at all the food, and my skinny frame, but I couldn't. "Have ever really been happy."
"I'm sorry." Michael said, everyone else nodded.
"We all our." Anthony added.
"It's fine, just...don't tell anyone about any of this. It's..."
"We understand." Lisa said quietly, I nodded. Then turned to Anthony. "What about you?"
"Stay at home Mum, while Dad works at the Ministry."
"What's he do?" Morag asked.
"Can't sat, because I don't know." Anthony said.
"How can you not know what your father does?" Lisa asked.
"Because' he's a unspeakable."
"A what?"
"A member of the Ministry who does...something. It's top secret, only he and his colleagues know."
Everyone of us from Muggle backgrounds was staring at him in confusion, while the other's were more accepting of this...situation.
"I asked him hundreds of times, like I said top secret." Anthony finished shrugging.
After introductions I turned back to my plate and began to eat some more. Conversation turned to more one on one interactions. The meal continued and eventually dessert was served. As I ate I turned to turned to the high table, curious who would be teaching us. I turned to Cho
"Cho?" I asked curiously.
"Hm?"
"Can you give me a rundown on the staff?" I asked, she nodded eagerly.
"Of course...Well you know Dumbledore and McGonagall." I nodded and saw the pair sitting together talking in the middle of the table talking. "See the tiny Professor sitting on a stack of books?" She asked, I nodded. He was indeed short, had white hair, and was chatting happily with Hagrid.
"That's Professor Flitwick, he's our head of house. Basically he handles everything in our house, discipline, and anytime you need anything go to him. Heck if you're having a hard day stop by his office."
She pointed out Professor Sprout, the squat, grey haired, head of Hufflepuff. Then Professor Kettleburn who had lost limb's in Care of Magical Creatures.
"Let's see, that's Professor Quirrell..." As I listened to Cho I noticed the greasy black haired Professor, with the equally black robes.
"That's Professor Snape. Head of Slytherin, you wouldn't want to cross him." She said, clear dislike in her voice as she spoke."And that's all of them."
"Thank you." I replied, still looking at Professor Snape.
As I was about to turn to my meal, Professor Snape looked past Quirrell I followed his line of sight to Harry. Harry had clutched his scar in pain? Snape looked at Harry with...what looked like Hatred. I looked back and forth between the two, it seemed Harry's pain had gone. I again looked at the man. And his eyes met mine.
I expected the same look that Harry had gotten, and for a second he glared at me. But then the glare faded, replaced with...guilt? That to was gone as the man then looked at me with complete indifference, finally he turned away. I turned back to Harry, who was also looking at the man, he then turned to me. He looked confused, I shrugged. And continued dessert.
Finally after everyone was stuffed and tired. The desserts disappeared, and Dumbledore stood.
"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
Everyone payed close attention as the headmaster began.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
He blue eyes looked towards Fred and George who smirked.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
Dumbledore motioned to a scary looking man with a clear hatred of the student population. He was holding a dusty looked cat.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."
Cho smirked and I guessed she planned to try out, I knew first years never made the team. So placed that nugget of information in the back of my mind for next year.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Harry laughed, he was one of the few who did. Cho and the rest of the house had a very serious tone.
"Really?" Lisa asked in total shock.
"Yes." Cho told the girl.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore announced. And While our Professor Flitwick took it in stride, most of the other Professor smiles...were rather forced.
Dumbledore gave his wand a flick. What seemed like a golden ribbon came out the end, and transformed above the table into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," I settled on rule Britannia, "and off we go!"
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everyone ended at different time, and I was happy to be in the middle. Fred and George were the final two singing, using the tune of a funeral, Dumbledore kept conducting until the pair finished. He clapped the loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
The hall began to empty, and a older looking Ravenclaw approached us. She had a P just like Percy, but hers was blue and bronze. When she saw us she smiled.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw house. I'm Penelope Clearwater, one of the Prefects." She said cheerfully. "I fully expect all of you will make fine additions to our house." She said the last part looking directly at me. "I'll be showing you the the common room. Any questions, just ask.
As we left the hall, I found Harry amongst the crowd and gave him one final smile, which he returned.
Penelope led us through the chatting, older students. We made our way up the marble staircase.
"Our common room is on the west side of the castle." She explained as we made our way through a corridor. "It's one of the tallest towers in the school." She continued, as she began leading us up a spiral staircase.
"To enter our common room, you'll have to answer a riddle." She said, all of us looked at each other as we approached a large wooden door. There was no knob, or keyhole, but a Bronze Eagle door knocker.
"For example." Penelope knocked the door and in amazement the eagle door Knocker began to speak.
"Take off my skin and I won't cry. But you will. What am I?" The knocker asked. Penelope smirked.
"An onion." She replied.
"Well played." The knocker replied, and the door opened.
Penelope held the door open as we all entered passed through the entrance way. When we saw the common room, there were a few gasps of amazement.
We entered a wide and circular room. Arched window covered by blue and bronze silk decorated the walls, and a midnight blue carpet with stars reflected onto the dark domed ceiling. Dark blue furniture dotted the room, and the wind outside could be heard whipping around the tower.
In a corner was a niche where book shelves lined the wall. A statue of a women made of marble stood between two doors.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw tower. As I said, and just showed you, a riddle is required for entry."
"And if you get it wrong?" Lisa asked.
"You wait for someone to let you in."
All of us shifted nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Besides, the hat put you in Ravenclaw for a reason. Have some confidence in yourselves."
Lisa nodded, though no one looked convinced.
"What else. Professor Flitwick, our head of house, will hand you your schedules tomorrow at breakfast. Along with the Prefects, he's always willing to lend a hand. The library of is free to all of you, but don't share our books with other houses. Speaking of not sharing, don't share our common room's location with the other houses. We don't know there locations, they shouldn't know ours. Even to siblings." She looked at me and Padma, we both nodded.
"Good, girls sleep on the right." She pointed to one of the doors by the statue. "Boy's on the left. Your house pin's should be on your beds, and worn from here on out when in uniform. While your trunks should already be by your beds. I'd suggest getting some sleep, tomorrow classes begin. Any questions?"
Everyone shook there heads, Penelope looked satisficed.
"Good, if you need anything find me, or any of the other student's who have this P badge. Again welcome to Ravenclaw." She headed off and left us to ourselves. And I realized I was indeed very tied.
"Well, it's been a pleasure. But I'm beat." I told the others. Everyone else nodded.
I began to make my way up to the dorm's, and the other girls followed me. Like Penelope had said, there was a blue and bronze badge with a eagle on the bed. I placed it on my chest and gave a sleeping Uric a glance. I pulled the curtain on my bed closed, changed into my pajamas. Then pulled the covers over my body, and for the first time in my life felt comfortable in a bed.
I began to doze off, and knew. Hogwarts would be truly special.