When they got to the station, they got off the train, and started making their way to the boats. It wasn't far before they heard a familiar cry.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way! Follow me ter the boats!
"And there's Hagrid!" Eddie said.
"We can't tell him we know him," whispered Tom.
Although they knew what to expect from Hagrid's appearance, they were partly amazed at his sheer size. Width of five men together and the height of three, he had a fiercely entangled black beard and hair to match the colour, through which they could see his warm, beady black eyes. The half-giant gamekeeper of Hogwarts led them down to the lake, away from what Eddie and the rest knew as thestral-pulled carriages.
"No more'n four ter a boat!" Hagrid hollered. The eight of them decided to have the boys in one boat and the girls in the other. When all the boats were full with excited and nervous students, and Hagrid had occupied one full boat, he bellowed "Righ', ready, then? FORWARD!"
At once, all the boats began to move forward, led by Hagrid's at the beginning.
As they were sailing, something from the water arose to catch their awe.
"Woah there's the squid!" Sean exclaimed.
Sure enough, the famed Giant Squid of the Black Lake was above the water's surface, and then drenched a boat in water.
"Aha, a Dennis Creevey moment!" Eddie muttered to Sean.
"Hold on, now, yeh'll be able ter see the castle in a moment," he shouted again. The tension and excitement in the air rose tenfold, and Eddie could feel the sense of anticipation bubbling in his chest. He saw people wringing their hands, simply frozen, or looking around rapidly.
It took a moment more before the magnificent Hogwarts castle slowly loomed into view. There was a series of gasps from the boats, as every single eye turned towards the castle. Eddie felt a now often sense of disbelief wash over him. After months and months of dreaming and longing, he had set foot in the Wizarding World. It was an impossibility. And Eddie knew, as he took in the breathtaking view of the castle, that he was probably one of the luckiest people in the world.
Soon the boats reached the bank. Hagrid got out first, motioning and helping the other first years to get out too, and began walking towards the castle. Being busy in taking in the majesty of the castle, nobody really was talking. As they reached the stone staircase outside the castle, Hagrid led them up to the giant door and knocked three times on it. Almost immediately, the door swung open, and there stood a strict looking figure that Eddie recognised to be that of Professor McGonagall
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said gruffly.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here."
She opened the door wider and led them all in, and made them follow her down a passage flanked by stone walls, which had torches clinging to it, to light the path. They followed her into an empty chamber off the hall. "Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and be sorted into your Houses. These are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your Houses here will be something like your family here at Hogwarts. Your triumphs will earn you points, while any rule breaking will lose you points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor indeed. As I said, the Sorting ceremony will take place in a few moments. I suggest you all try to smarten yourselves up while you are waiting." With that, she went into the Great Hall, leaving the group with feelings of tension and worry.
There was a loud whoosh from overhead, which told Eddie that the ghosts had arrived. He saw the Fat Friar, Nearly Headless Nick, the Bloody Baron, and the Gray Lady all swoop in and past them into the Great Hall, through the old oak doors.
"Which spell do you think we'll need?" Hermione asked. "I've learned plenty of them so far, it's just I can't think of any spell we will need to use."
"Maybe it's not a spell," Eddie said vaguely, playing along, "Maybe it's like...pull a rabbit out of a hat. I don't know. I have a feeling it's got something to do with hats."
"That's nothing more than a mere parlor trick," drawled a sly voice from the railing, "You muggle-borns really are dumb."
Eddie, along with Nathan and Natalie who were standing nearby, whipped his head around. They were staring into the pale, pointed face of Draco Malfoy.
"So you obviously know what it's going to be, right?" Eddie asked with unnecessary politeness.
"Why don't you tell us, Draco, if you're so smart?"
"I'm not telling you. It's a surprise." He strolled back to Crabbe and Goyle. At that moment, Professor McGonagall reappeared.
"First years, follow me."
And was it a sight to behold. The floating candles, the endless bewitched ceiling, the long gold elegant dining tables and the Sorting Hat sitting quietly on its stool at the head of the Hall. It was everything Eddie had dreamed of and imagined.
"See, I knew it had something to do with hats! Take that, Malfoy!"
The pale-haired future Slytherin didn't even turn his head. Everyone was soon assembled, neatly standing in a line, and looking around nervously.
At that moment, the Sorting Hat stirred. A rip near the brim opened like a mouth, and to the awe of most of the first years, 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 that the Sorting Hat can't see,
so try me on and I'll 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're 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!"
Eddie clapped with the whole hall at the last word. Professor McGonagall now walked to the spot where the now still hat was. She was holding a long roll of parchment which Eddie knew had the names of every first year in the school.
"Now, when I call your name, you will step forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head, and be sorted into your house."
She rolled down the list. It extended to the feet of the first years.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
The girl Eddie met in Diagon Alley stepped forward, put on the hat, and a few moments later the hat shouted,
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
And so the sorting ceremony continued. The first of the "foreigners" to get sorted was Claire, who went to Slytherin as was expected by her friends. Then went Tom, to Gryffindor, Lily, to Hufflepuff, Victoria, to Ravenclaw, and then it was Eddie's turn.
Eddie didn't have the sense that every eye was on him like Harry did, but he did feel a sense of immense pressure.
He took the Sorting Hat, and placed it on his head. The hat fell over his eyes.
A voice spoke in his head:
"Well, you're an interesting case, aren't you? There's something with you, particularly, but I can't figure it out. You seem destined for Hufflepuff, and that's what you want, oh yes, but there's something missing… oh well… better be HUFFLEPUFF!"
A roar of cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table, led by Cedric Diggory, only in his fourth year then. Eddie smiled at Cedric, but it was a sad smile as he remembered his destiny. He hoped that with Harry gone, he gets to live a full life. He turned his attention back to the Sorting.
There were three people left from their little group when Eddie was done. Natalie went to Gryffindor, Sean to Slytherin, and Nathan to Ravenclaw.
Finally, the Sorting was finished. Dumbledore got up from the High Table to speak.
"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I would like to say a few words:
Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you!"
Everyone applauded, a few exchanged confused, and even bamboozled glances, wondering if this was some code language. But soon, the headmaster sat down, and their attention was diverted to the aromatic loads of food magically appearing on the table.
"So, um, hello everyone," Eddie said.
"Hello," Justin Finch-Fletchley said. "Justin Finch-Fletchley. Who are you?"
"Eddie Pattinson."
"What's up with your accent?" said Justin.
"I'm from America," Eddie replied. "I don't know why I came here instead of Ilvermorny, but I'm happy for it."
"Oh, I remember you," Hannah spoke up. "I met you in Diagon Alley when you dropped your books."
Eddie gave a nervous smile, unsure why she chose to recollect that particular embarrassing memory out loud.
Ernie MacMillan was the next to introduce himself. "Now, are you a pureblood, half blood, or Muggle born?" he asked. "Not that it matters of course, but I'm always curious. I'm a pureblood myself."
"Actually, I don't know," Eddie said, thinking fast. "My parents died when I was very young, I grew up in an orphanage with Lily here."
"Ah, pleased to meet you too, Lily," said Ernie, offering his hand pompously. "I take it you don't know either?"
"No," she said.
"What about you, Hannah?" Eddie asked.
"Half-blood," she answered, "even though my family's part of the sacred Twenty Eight,"
"What's that?" Eddie asked.
"Oh, this guy in the nineteen thirties found the twenty eight families that were still pureblood, so I guess I have a Muggle relative somewhere between then and now."
"That's cool."
Too soon the dinner and desserts were gone, and Dumbledore was standing again.
"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."
"First years please note, that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils-"
'Except for detention,' Eddie thought.
"-and a few of our more experienced students would take care to remember that as well." And Eddie saw his twinkling blue eyes flicker towards the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch to remind you for what he told me was the seven hundred and sixty second time in the past ten years that no magic should be used in the corridors between classes. A minor change, beginning this year, is that all classes will be held with another house.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone wishing to play for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. A reminder.
"This year, first years will be able to play Quidditch for the first time in nearly a century. I shall talk to the staff and find out if we can provide, er, better brooms, as I've had dozens of complaints recently.
Eddie's mouth dropped. Whoa, he thought. He hadn't been expecting this. That meant he could play Quidditch in first year instead of second! He thought he'd try for Chaser, seeing as they already had a Seeker in Cedric. He turned and asked Lily what she thought she'd do.
"Commentate," she said, "I'm a huge sports nerd, even though I don't play much, I love statistics."
"And please note that this year, the third floor corridor is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death.
There were a few nervous giggles, and many frowns. The statement had caused a burst of confused murmurs throughout the Great Hall. And Eddie was hit with the reality of his real task. There was a strange, mixed sense of nervous excitement and fear that slowly became more real in his chest, as he thought about what all he might have to face. He slowly ventured to glance at the other seven, hoping that he was not the only one worried.
And then he felt a rush of affection for Harry, for he was sure that Harry would have felt a hundred times more strongly what he was feeling at that instant, when Harry heard the prophecy from Dumbledore's memory. He tried to shake off all these thoughts at once, and reassured himself that there were eight of them, and that there was plenty of time to dwell on this.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Everyone pick your favorite tune and here we go!"
Obviously, no one knew Hedwig's Theme at the Hufflepuff table except for him and Lily. So, naturally, Eddie decided to pick that tune to sing to. And maybe, due to his enthusiasm, he sung it a little too loud.
"That was quite the performance," Hannah said after Fred and George, the last to finish, concluded. "What song did you use?"
"Oh, a little tune I picked up in the States," Eddie told her, "Forgot what it was called."
After dinner, they all decided to meet up after classes tomorrow and tell Dumbledore exactly who they were, where they came from, and what they knew.
When Eddie and Lily arrived at the common room, the prefect, Terry Strickland, introduced himself, and demonstrated how to open the common room entrance.
He tapped his wand on a barrel two from the bottom in the middle of the second row, and then climbed through the now opened barrel. It was a sloping, earthy passage that traveled upwards a little ways until they reached the Hufflepuff common room. The first thing that Eddie noticed was that it was full of plants.
'I knew Hufflepuff was connected with Herbology, I didn't know they were this connected,' Eddie thought. Plants lined the walls and ivy vines weaved their ways through the stone walls.
As Eddie walked through the common room and was looking at the furnished wooden tables and comfortable couches, he noticed another feature when an ivy vine touched his head. He looked up and saw a bevy of plants hanging off the ceiling.
Hogwarts really is amazing, he thought. Eddie made his way down the hallway to the dormitories. Because the Hufflepuff common room wasn't in a tower like Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, it was a hallway and not a staircase. This too resembled the Hufflepuff House's love for plants, as it was a carpeted floor, but the walls were made of solid earth. He didn't have to go far as the first door on his right read FIRST YEARS. Replicating Helga Hufflepuff's famous hospitality, there was a bathroom facing each dormitory door. Eddie was too tired and exhilarated from the day's events to engage in any more form of conversation, so when his head hit his black and yellow pillow, he was asleep.