An: I forgot to put this in my first post, but as many of you realize I do not own nor ever will own Harry Potter. This will be my one and only disclaimer. Also I will be updating about once a week, but it might be a little less as I have a busy life. Enjoy :)
About ten minutes before we arrived in Hogsmead we changed into our school robes. Once the train stopped everyone hurried off the train in a buzz of excitement.
When I stepped off the train I noticed all of the older years heading towards a bunch of carriages that seemed to be pulling themselves, but it wouldn't be long until I saw what really pulled them. All of a sudden I heard a booming voice calling, "Firs' years over 'ere. Firs' years." I turned around to see a very, Very large man with thick bushy black hair and a beard was holding up a lantern. He led us all down a path towards a lake where a fleet of boats were waiting. Quickly the five of us climbed into one of the boats. Once everyone was in a boat the giant man got into his own boat and pulled out a pink umbrella.
He pointed it and yelled, "Forward!" And all the boats started to glide across the lake.
At the start of the journey Sirius and James rocked the boat back and forth, scaring Peter and earning a reproving look from Remus, but then all the small chatter from the rest of the boats stopped causing all of us to look up.
The view was absolutely breathtaking as the castle came gliding into view. It was perched atop a high mountain, and looked absolutely amazing with all the turrets, towers, and about a million glowing windows. The rest of the trip across the lake was silent as everyone marveled in the beauty of the magnificent castle. When we reached the castle we were lead into a small room on the side of what I assumed to be the Great Hall where we waited. Eventually the excited chatter of the students returned when suddenly a group of ghost floated through the wall, causing some of the other students to gasp in fright. The ghosts seemed to be deep in conversation and oblivious to the students standing there.
One of the braver first years took a chance, and attempted to poke one of the ghosts to get his attention. When his finger went straight through him the boy shivered and recoiled. Although it was able to alert the ghost of his current surroundings. He looked up smiling and greeted us, "Ah, first years, welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, Gryffindor ghost at your service." he said with a little bow. Then the rest followed suit introducing themselves and what house they belonged to. There was the Fat Friar for Hufflepuff, the Bloody Baron for Slytherin, and the Grey Lady for Ravenclaw, but she was very shy and left before she could introduce herself as Sir Nicholas explained after she had vanished. After that they too floated out a tall stern looking women with her hair pinned up into a bun came into the room.
"My name is Professor McGonagall; you will follow me into the Great Hall where you will stand in a line to wait for your name to be called so you can be sorted into a house. There are four houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin." She announced, turned on her heel, opened the door, and led us to the front of the Great Hall. I felt a sudden pang of nerves as I looked around at all of the older students staring at us. Next to McGonagall there was a three-legged stool and an old ratty looking wizards. Of course I had known that it was the sorting hat, but I was still surprised when the brim of the hat split open and burst into a song about all the houses.
When it was done Professor McGonagall held up a long piece of parchment and called out, "Abott, Maria." A pretty girl with long blonde hair stepped out of line and cautiously made her way over to the stool and put on the hat on, which fell past her eyes.
Shortly after the hat called out, "Hufflepuff!" and loud cheers came from the table with a badger banner over it as she made her way towards it and sat down.
I looked around at my fellow classmates, seeing there were quite a few kids in front of me, when I noticed that Snivelous kid whispering in the red head's ear. She seemed to notice me, and huffed turning her back to me. I rolled my eyes at her before turning back to the front. I really hope she isn't in the same house as me because she can really hold a grudge for just laughing.
A few more names were called out before McGonagall called, "Black, Sirius." He hurried over to the stool and looked extremely nervous as he put the hat on.
A couple of minutes past before it finally called out, "Gryffindor!" And a look of relief washed over his faced as he joined the clapping Gryffindor student at their table.
I zoned out as more first years were called forward until McGonagall called, "Evens, Lily." and the red-headed girl I saw on the train walked over to the hat and was also sorted into Gryffindor. As she made her way over to the Gryffindor table Sirius waved her over, but she turned up her nose and walked to farthest possible spot away from him. I was really starting to dislike this girl, and I hadn't even met her yet.
Eventually McGonagall made it to my name, and as she called, "Jackson, Skyler." I confidently strode over to the hat, and put it on knowing Gryffindor was definitely the house I wanted to be in. I quickly looked back over my shoulder to where James, Remus, and Peter were standing before putting on the hat. Remus gave me a thumbs up, James gave me a reassuring wink, but Peter didn't seem to notice at all.
The hat slid over my eyes, and I heard a voice, which seemed to be coming from inside my head, say," Ah, Miss Jackson I had thought I'd be seeing you soon. A very smart girl, indeed, clever, very loyal, but I see there are some trust issues. You are very powerful as well, but your power scares you. Your parents were both in Ravenclaw, but then again you are very different from them."
"Not Slytherin! Anywhere but Slytherin." I said firmly in my mind.
"No, I think the choice is quite clear where you should be even though you would've done quite well in Ravenclaw I think you should be in Gryffindor!" as the hat shouted out the last word I got up quickly putting the hat back on the stool. I ran over to the cheering Gryffindor table as fast as I could, and sat down next to Sirius.
"Congratulation Skyler!" Sirius said smiling at me.
"Thanks, you too." I said returning the smile. I thought it was a little odd that he said that both my parents were in Ravenclaw when only my dad was. I shook off the idea, glad to have been put in Gryffindor with my friends. I watched as more first years joined the other tables all with varying degrees of nerves and confidence.
"Longbottom, Frank." Was called and a strong looking boy walked over to the stool and soon after he joined the cheering Gryffindor table.
Next, "Lupin, Remus." Was called and Sirius, and I perked up waiting for the placement of our friend. When it called out, "Gryffindor!" we sighed in relief and clapped loudly along with the rest of the table as he walked over and sat across from us. A little while later Peter also joined us at the Gryffindor table. After him James was called and he strode over to the stool with confidence. The second that the hat touched James's head it called out, "Gryffindor!" A huge grin spread over his face as he jogged over to us and sat on the other side of Sirius. Eventually there was only one boy left in line. It was the greasy haired boy that I saw on the train.
McGonagall called out his name, "Snape, Severus." And like James as soon as the hat touched his head it called, "Slytherin!" Loud cheering erupted from the table at the other end of the hall as he joined the Slytherin table. Then a man wearing half-moon spectacles with long flowing sliver hair, beard, and mustache stood up, smiling broadly at the students.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin I would just like to remind everyone the Forbidden forest is of course forbidden, and that the new tree planted is called a Whomping Willow. It is very dangerous and should not be played with. Anyone who wishes to keep their limbs in tack should head my warning. Now, tuck in." he sat back down and everyone clapped. When I turned back to the table my eyes widened as I saw the once empty bowls filled with piles food.
"So who here is up for a little tag the trunk this weekend?" Sirius asked with a mischievous grin.
Remus paled and said, "No! I don't think that's a good idea, besides Dumbledore said we weren't aloud."
"Come on Remus, where's your sense of adventure." James pleaded.
"Well I think it'd be cool to check out, but I don't know how close we'll be able to get to it. I've read about whomping willows and they are really vicious." I said not wanting to be in the hospital wing my first week there.
"The risk will make it all the more fun, though." Sirius said trying to make puppy dog eyes at me, and they would have worked if I hadn't already mastered the art myself. Although he did make a point, and being the thrill seeker I was I couldn't pass it up.
"I bet five galleon you won't make it past a foot within the tree's reach." I said smirking.
"You're on!" Sirius said, and shook my hand making it official.
"You're all crazy. By the end of this year I bet you will all have been in the hospital wing at least five times." Remus said with a little more color in his face.
Once everyone was done eating Professor Dumbledore Stood up again announcing, "House prefect will now show all of the first years to their dormitories. I suggest that you all go to bed early so you are well rested for class tomorrow morning. Goodnight." With that we got up and followed the Gryffindor prefects to our common room. We walked all the way up to the seventh floor and stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady.
"Password?" she asked.
"Flubberworm." One of the boy prefects said, the portrait swung open revealing the entrance to the common room. Inside there were chairs and couches around a fireplace, and tables around the room to work at. On the other side of the room there were two doors. One labeled girls and the other labeled boys.
Before the prefect left us he said, "I would just like to warn the boys that they are not allowed in the girl dormitories. If you try and climb their stairs an alarm will sound, and the stairs will collapse into a slide."
Next to me I could just barely hear Sirius whisper to James, "Dam!"
Quickly the five of us found a table where we played exploding snap until I decided we should all go to bed so we weren't tired during class the next day. When I got up to my dormitory the other four girls were already there.
"Hi, my name's Skyler Jackson. What are your names?" I asked waving at the girls.
Lily spoke first, "I'm Lily Evans."
Then a round-faced girl with short brown hair smiled and said, "I'm Alice Smith."
Next a girl with long purple hair, that she had obviously dyed, said, "I'm Marlene McKinnon."
Last a girl with very curly brown hair said, "I'm Jennifer Watson."
"Well it's nice to meet all of you." I smiled and walked over to the bed closest to the door, pulled out some parchment, and started writing a letter to my dad telling him about my new friends and that I was in Gryffindor. Then I put it in my bag and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Just as I was leaving the bathroom, I could hear the other girls whispering. I wasn't really sure what they were talking about, but Lily had clearly said her name. I clenched my fist as I walked past them to my bed. Why was this girls making such a big deal about her laughing? Was it really so bad?
I laid down, and tried to let her slip from my mind as I fell asleep.