A\N: I do not own Harry Potter
This is written for The Golden Snitch Olivander's Wand Shop challenge
Prompt: 8 inch – write about a Gryffindor.
Word count: 642
Katie Bell shivered. The ride across the lake had been cold with an early bitter wind blowing. The dark water on the lake had been choppy and splashed up against her and most of her classmates. One girl had nearly fallen in.
Her hair had come undone from her ponytail. Several of the other students were also shivering as they entered the school for the first time. A few of them had been smart enough to wear heavier cloaks. Katie wished she would have thought to do so. The inside of the castle was warm and everyone's clothing seemed to suddenly dry. Katie smiled feeling better now that she was warm. A pair of heavy wooden doors opened and a tall witch approached the group of trembling new students. She smiled looking at them.
"Hello, welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, in a minute you will each be sorted into your houses. I promise, no matter what you heard, no harm will come to you during the sorting." Katie wondered just what kind of rumors had been spreading to prompt that kind of warning.
"I hope I get Hufflepuff," one of the girls said. Katie glanced at her wondering if they would be in the same house. Katie wasn't sure which house she wanted. She really wanted to play Quiddich, but knew first years weren't usually allowed on the team.
They certainly weren't allowed to own their own brooms. Katie had a broom, a Cleansweep. Right now, it was at home, gathering dust, since she knew her parents were unlikely to touch her room while she was gone. She followed the crowd into the great hall. She listened carefully as the hat sang about the four houses of Hogwarts.
She knew she wouldn't fit into Slytherin, she wasn't cunning, also she'd heard so many horrible things about the house. She hoped the hat would place her in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Both houses had decent Quiddich teams.
She didn't think she was smart enough to be in Ravenclaw, and her parents had promised her if she did well this first year, she could get an owl. She glanced at the Gryffindor table and saw a pair of red heads laughing about something. She wondered if they were twins, and if they played Quiddich.
"Katie Bell," her name was called. Slowly she started walking to the front of the great hall. She could hear people talking as she sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. Soon their voices were silenced and all she heard was the hat.
"This is easy," it muttered. "You have a decent mind, but that's not what you value. You're fearless in the sky, a want to win." Katie couldn't help but agree with this analysis.
"Gryffindor," the hat yelled causing the table to burst into applause. She handed the hat back and slowly walked over to the table.
"Welcome," a girl said. "I'm Angelina, this is Alicia."
"Are you one the Quiddich team?" Katie asked eagerly. She wasn't sure how much older these girls were, but if she started making friends with people on the team, then maybe they would put in a good word for her when she was old enough.
"Not yet. We're only second years, but we get to try out this year. Angelina bought a new broom just for tryouts! The boys over there," Alicia pointed to the red heads. "are trying out too. Their brother used to play for our house, and he was a legend."
"I hope you get on the team. I can't wait until next year when I can try out!"
