It was the most splendid place Nancy had ever been. She looked upward and saw a dark-blue ceiling full of stars like the night sky outside, lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the end of the hall, a step higher, there was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up there. Among the hundreds of faces staring at them, ghosts shone misty silver.
"Everyone, wait along here, please." She asked them to wait before a four-legged stool where laid an old and patched pointed wizard's hat. Then the hat twitched. One of the folds of the hat opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing. The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, come and sit on the stool, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you be sorted into your house," she said, right before starting calling the names.
"Ali, Badeea."
A pale girl wearing a blue sparkled hijab stepped out of the group of students, sat down on the stool and Professor McGonagall put on the hat on her head. A moment later —
"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.
Badeea smiled and the table second on the left cheered and clapped as she went to sit down at the Ravenclaw table.
"Billingsley, Jason."
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat again and the table on the far left exploded with cheers.
"Caplan, Diego."
By far the most proud-looking kid among them.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table on the right clapped this time and several Hufflepuffs stood up to shake hands with Diego as he joined them.
"Copper, Ben."
A pink-faced blond boy nervously stumbled up on his way. When the hat moved on his head he jumped in fright. The hat took a long time to decide with Ben, but it finally shouted.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Egwu, Andre."
Nancy was anxious to see what house Andre would be in. She wanted to be there, if possible, since she already knew him, she didn't want to be a loner, if possible. She felt she didn't really care much about other people company, but she did care about being mocked.
"RAVENCLAW!"
It was not a bad choice. It wasn't Slytherin. And then, finally.
"Gould, Nancy."
She tried to walk as steady as she could, not to trip in front of everyone. Hanging her head low, anyone could hardly see her eyes under her curly bangs. As she put on the hat, many things passed on her head. Her mother was a Gryffindor, her father a Slytherin, thought she felt she didn't look like none of them. Damian, her cousin, was a Slytherin and she didn't want to be one. Fortunately, she hadn't seen him yet. If possible, she wanted to be as far as she could of him. She didn't ask much, just a peace and quiet year that she could read and improve her skills.
"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the Sorting Hat, startling her from her thoughts.
Nancy was surprised but very happy with the choice. As she walked eagerly at the Ravenclaw's table, she couldn't wait to write to her mother. She was so relieved not to be in Slytherin. Nancy sat beside Andre and across Badeea. Chester Davies, the Prefect, greet her and shook her hand. There were still a lot of people left, Nancy thought. She wanted to see it closer. Once she sat, she couldn't see their faces that well. But she could see the High Table properly now. At the end sat Hagrid, who caught her eyes and pointed to the ground. There she spotted her kneazle sat under the table, near his big foot. Nancy grinned back.
A few names later, "Haywood"…, "Karasu"…, "Khanna"…, "Kim"…, and then —
"Levesque, Nohelia."
After a perfect, profound silence, whispers suddenly broke out like hissing leaves on the wind. So, that girl was the one people was talking about? She was a brunette with wavy hair, shoulder length, wearing round glasses, nothing unusual about her could be said. Nancy sharpened her senses, curious to hear better.
"Hmm… very interesting. I haven't seen one like this in a long time." The Hat spoke. "Ah, yes, I see, better be — HUFFLEPUFF!"
Nohelia took off the hat and walked smiling towards the Hufflepuff table. Nancy saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
After a few names, it was Liz time being sorted. Nancy was already preparing a place for her on the seat. As the girl sat on the stool, she found Nancy's eyes in the Ravenclaw table, that looked back at her encouragingly.
"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat.
Nancy's heart skipped a bit and she couldn't avoid to express her shock with wide eyes. She was rather disappointed and Liz had an apprehensive expression on her face, Nancy didn't want to make her sad. So, she gave her a half smile and shrugged, making Liz smile back. Nancy looked with longing at her friend turning back and going to the Slytherin table. Not the best scenarios, but they were still friends. And now there were only a two people left to be sorted. A freckled red headed boy and Talbott.
"Winger, Talbott."
Nancy thought with surprise that she was sincerely curious by what house he would be in. It was not common for her to be interested in other people.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Nancy clapped loudly with the rest as Talbott sat into the chair next to her. After the last boy, Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.
Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. "Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. The past few years have seen a great weight lifted from our world. The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter, is safe. Years from now, young Harry will be old enough to attend Hogwarts. But for now, it is your turn!"
Everybody clapped and cheered. She kept looking at Professor Dumbledore all the time and felt strange that she didn't have anything interesting to make mental notes about the one whom was considered the best wizard in the world.
"Thank you. So, let the feast begin."
The dishes in front of them were now piled with food. Nancy made a plate with everything she liked, roast beef, boiled potatoes, corn, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, more potatoes…
"I heard about the ghosts of the houses. All the other houses seem to have ghosts, where is the Ravenclaw ghost?" Andre asked Chester Davies.
Chester pointed to the lady accompanied by the ghost of the tower of Gryffindor. Nancy thought she was beautiful, with her waist-length hair and serene manners.
"I heard about her, is the Gray Lady, isn't she?" A red-haired girl called Tulip Karasu, said.
"She prefers Helena, she is not much open to conversation. Still, if you ever get lost, she can help. My advice is: be kind to her." Chester said, feeling quite proud of himself to actually have an advice about their house to give the first year.
A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream of many flavours, apple pies, chocolate eclairs, jam doughnuts… Nancy though she was dreaming and regretted not leaving more room in her stomach for the dessert.
"…Hagrid" She hoped to have remembered the name right. "What subject does he teaches?" She asked.
Some people at the table laughed at her question and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"He is not a teacher. Rubeus Hagrid is Hogwarts' gamekeeper. He tends to and look after the grounds of the school, as well as the security of Hogwarts Castle." Chester patiently explained.
"That was hilarious, next she could mistake Filch, the squib, as a Hogwarts' teacher."
"Shut up, Brennan!" Chester reprimanded him.
At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"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 should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils." Nancy could swear that Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the first-year Nohelia Levesque, for some reason.
"Why are we not allowed to go there?" Tulip asked Chester.
"The forest's full of dangerous beasts, it is worrisome even for adults."
"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. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch." Dumbledore continued.
"I would love to join the team." Andre said.
"Ha-ha, you have to wait a few more years. New students cannot be part of the house teams. Moreover, the selection is not easy, you may not be able to." Brennan Doyle was the keeper of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. And Nancy realized that she didn't like him at all.
"And now, time for everyone to go to bed." Dumbledore said at last.
Before following Chester along with the Ravenclaw first years, Nancy ran to Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid for taking care of Prowler." She smiled.
"Prowler, uh? Tha's a good name."
"And my name is Nancy Gould." She said, twisting her hands shyly.
"Pleasure to meet yeh, Nancy. Like animals too, huh?"
She nodded, smiling.
"Pass by me' house anytime for a cup of tea. But now, you better get ter yer Common Room before it's late."
"Of course! Thanks again, Hagrid. See you around!"
She waved him good-bye and Prowler followed her out of the Great Hall. She had never been invited for tea before, so she felt quite excited about that. It was still not the same as making a friend, though. Andre was there, behind the group, waiting for her and strangely, Talbott was with him.
"Where did you go?" Andre asked.
"I was taking to Hagrid."
"You can talk to him plenty over the year, you were almost left behind." Talbott said.
She was actually a bit surprised that Talbott talked to her. She noticed he was clearly dragged by Andre into looking for her.
The Ravenclaw first years followed Chester through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. People in the portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed as they passed, some welcomed them. They heard a surprised shout coming from the Hufflepuff's group when a bunch of broomsticks were floating mid-air and sweeping over their heads. The poor Hufflepuff's prefect shouted to the air. "Peeves! Show yourself!"
A little man dressed in loud, outlandish clothes and a wide mouth appeared. He was laughing and floating cross-legged in the air.
"It's Peeves, the Poltergeist. Watch out for him, he likes to play pranks, he listens to no one. The Bloody Baron's the only one who scares him." Chester said.
To Nancy's surprise a Poltergeist was very different from a ghost as he was colourful and solid-looking, not pearly white and transparent.
The group went on to the west wing of the castle, where they climbed up a spiral staircase. At the top there was a door without a doorknob or keyhole, but a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. Chester turned to the first years.
"Here we are, Ravenclaw common room. For you to enter the room, you must answer a riddle asked by the eagle knocker. If you don't have the answer, then you must wait for someone else of your house who gets it right."
Chester turned to the eagle doorknocker and its beak opened but instead of a bird's call, a soft, musical voice said:
"It has cities, but no houses. It has mountains, but no trees. It has water, but no fish. What is it?"
"It is a map." Chester answered.
"Well reasoned," said the voice, and the door swung open.
Chester smiled and pushed gently the doors. The Ravenclaw Common Room was a wide, circular room with graceful arched windows that punctuate the walls which were hung with blue and bronze silks and a midnight blue carpet covered in stars, which is reflected onto the domed ceiling. The room is furnished with blue tables, chairs, and a divan. Next to the door leading up to the dormitories stands a tall statue of Rowena Ravenclaw made of white marble. There were also many portraits hang on the walls.
"First years, welcome to the Ravenclaw Common Room." Chester pointed to two passages on the wall that led to other rooms "Boys' dormitory is on the left, the Girls' on your right. You will find all your belongings there."
"Ravenclaw also have its own library within the common room, which is nowhere as big as the main library, but we have almost as many books. I hope you all make good use of them. Now, good night for you all."
Everyone bids good night. Overpowered by this time with weariness, she scarcely noticed what sort of a place the bedroom was, except that were at least five beds with blue blankets and blue velvet curtains. It felt good to have other people to share the room, the room bubbling with lively conversation and whispers before everyone fell asleep. It was nice for a change, since Nancy slept alone in an almost oppressive silence, since she remembered. She slipped into her pyjamas and fell asleep effortlessly that night.