Chapter Three
Louis soon joins us in our compartment, along with Dominique, who stops briefly to gossip about the fact that her sister and Teddy have finally announced their relationship to everyone (not that they had much choice after James caught them snogging) before hurrying off to find her friends. Louis stays with us. The boys soon become involved in a deep discussion about Quidditch, and I get out a book. It's a fictional book, not a school textbook. I know that Mum had read all her school textbooks several times over by the time she started school, but it was different for her. To her, reading a book about this magical world she'd only just discovered was like reading for fiction. For me it's just finding out lots of stuff that I've already heard about from my parents, aunts and uncles and older cousins.
The book is Eragon: a muggle storybook. Mum always encourages us to read muggle books as much as wizarding ones, saying that it's important to know about both cultures. Parts of the story are a little ridiculous. The way dragons are described, for one thing. One of my uncles works with dragons, and I know for a fact that they're nothing like this. It's still a good story, though.
A couple of hours into the journey I leave the boys chatting to go to the bathroom. On my way out, not looking where I'm going, I walk straight into somebody, who stumbles backwards. It's Scorpius Malfoy.
"Sorry," he mumbles, looking at me nervously. I smile reassuringly at him.
"Nah, it was my fault," I say, "I wasn't paying attention. I'm Rose Weasley, by the way."
"Yeah, I know," he says, "I'm Scorpius Malfoy." I grin.
"I know that, too," I say, "I guess introductions are a bit pointless when you have parents like ours, aren't they?" He looks nervous again, as though I'm suddenly going to turn against him for being a Malfoy. I sigh.
"Why don't you come and join me and my cousins in our compartment?" I ask, "I'm sure they'd love to meet you."
He looks as though he can't believe he's actually hearing me right, but nods eagerly. I wonder whether he's been wandering up and down the corridor all this time. It seems ridiculous that people could hold onto a prejudice for so long, and refuse to let him sit with them because of something his father did years ago, but I guess it's possible.
When we arrive back at the compartment, Al and Louis are still talking about Quidditch. I have no idea how they can do that. It's not like I've got anything against Quidditch. In fact I'm a massive fan of the sport (what Weasley isn't) but I could never talk about it for three hours straight.
The two boys glance up when we come in and briefly greet Scorpius, but other than that don't react to our new companion. I'm glad that they haven't listened to what Dad said about not befriending the son of Draco Malfoy. Not that Louis would, but sometimes Al takes the words of our parents a little too seriously.
I'm unsure how to start a conversation with Scorpius. It's been a while since I've had to make a brand new friend, and for several minutes we sit in a rather awkward silence, listening to Albus and Louis argue passionately about the Chudley Cannons' new keeper. Then Scorpius notices the book I've left lying on the seat and picks it up.
"I don't think I've ever heard of this one," he says, seeming a little surprised.
"It's a muggle book," I explain, "Not many witches and wizards have heard of it."
"Oh," he replies, "I've never read a muggle storybook. Is it good?"
"It's brilliant! I've read it five times now." I stop, thinking that maybe he'll think it's weird that I reread books so much. He just smiles.
"It must be good then," he says, "I only ever reread books if I've really enjoyed them. I've got one at home that I've read at least ten times. That one's my absolute favourite ever."
I grin with delight. I've met a few girls in the past who shared my passion for reading, but never a boy. He goes to hand me back the book, but I don't take it.
"Would you like to borrow it?" I offer. His face lights up.
"Really?" he says, "Don't you mind?"
"Of course not. Go ahead."
We spend several delightful hours discussing all the books we've read. He may never have heard of any of my favourite muggle books, but it seems we have very similar taste when it comes to wizarding ones. The book he's read ten times turns out to be one of my all time favourites.
When the train journey is almost at its end, Scorpius has to go and find his luggage in order to get his robes to change into. I decide to go with him, and discover that, until I invited him to sit with us, he was sitting in an empty compartment.
"Why didn't you go and find somebody to sit with?" I ask, "You must have been so bored sitting on your own for three hours."
"Nobody wanted me to sit with them," he admits, "They just kept glaring at me every time I opened the door of a compartment. In the end I figured it was easier to just to sit alone."
I frown.
"You shouldn't just give up," I say, "Don't let people treat you like that. You deserve to have people to sit with as much as anyone else does. Besides, you're probably one of the nicest people on the train. Anyone would be lucky to get to sit with you, and if they don't realise that then they're idiots and they don't deserve you anyway."
"Thanks, Rose," he says shyly, staring at his feet. I know I'm probably embarrassing him, but I can't help it. I always get a bit defensive when genuinely nice people are being treated badly. Mum tends to laugh and tell me I can't protect everybody. I want to, though, and I don't see why I shouldn't try to protect as many people as possible.
I leave him alone in the compartment to change and head back to find Albus and Louis. Miracle of miracles, they're stopped talking about Quidditch, but have gone back to what has been everyone's main topic of conversation over the last couple of weeks: the Sorting.
"According to Dad, it's possible to persuade the Sorting Hat to put you in the house you want," Albus says, "Like if you really don't want to go into a particular house then it'll take your choice into account."
"I'm not sure I'd want to do that, though," Louis says, "I mean, surely the Hat knows best? If it thinks you'll do best in a certain house then I think it's probably best just to trust it."
"Yeah, I guess," Albus says, but I can see that he's still uncertain. I know he's still a bit worried about going into Slytherin. Personally, I agree with Louis. I'm quite curious about where the Sorting Hat is going to put me, and I can't imagine ever wanting to argue with its decision. I don't think I'd mind getting put into any of the houses. They all sound quite interesting in different ways.
The train comes to a halt and we climb out. I can't see Scorpius anywhere, but I figure we'll catch up with him later. Just as Mum and Dad told me, Hagrid is standing on the platform, calling for the first years. He grins when he spots me, Albus and Louis.
"Alrigh' you three?" he says, ushering us all away. We make our way down to the edge of the lake, where Hagrid tells us to get in the boats – four people to each boat. I spot Scorpius again, standing on his own and looking like he's not sure who to go with, and I grab him and drag him over to our boat. He smiles gratefully at me.
It's a warm evening and the boat ride over the lake is a pleasant one. We all gasp when we get our first glimpse of Hogwarts. It doesn't matter how many times you've had it described to you or in how much detail; nothing quite prepares you for the first sight of that magnificent castle. I can't believe I'm truly here, and that this place is going to be my home away from home for the next seven years.
Eventually we reach the doors of the castle, which are opened by Neville, or Professor Longbottom as I suppose I should call him now that he's my teacher. He beckons us all in and into a small room just off the Entrance Hall. He briefly explains the Sorting process, and the significance of the different houses within Hogwarts. I try not to become impatient during this part, reminding myself that although I've heard it all a thousand times before, lots of people haven't.
When we're finally led into the Great Hall, I can feel nerves beginning to build in my stomach. I know I said that I don't mind what house I'm in, but it's still very important. The house I'm sorted into today could determine the whole of my time at school, and potentially my entire future. And that sorting is going to take place in front of the entire school.
Neville – Professor Longbottom – begins to read out the list of names. I suddenly find myself wishing that my surname wasn't Weasley. I'm going to be one of the last. In fact, there's every possibility that I'm going to be the last.
"Malfoy, Scorpius." I've been ignoring the Sorting up until now, but this name catches my attention. I try to give Scorpius a reassuring smile, but I think it comes out more like a grimace. He stumbles up to the stool and sits down. Professor Longbottom places the Hat carefully on his head.
Up until now, most of the Sortings have been fairly quick. Not this one, though. The hall falls silent, watching, as Scorpius sits there for a very long time, hat perched on his head. He has his eyes closed and a very intense expression on his face. I wonder what the Hat is saying to him. I haven't known him long enough to be able to make any sort of guess about what house he'll be in. Obviously his whole family have been in Slytherin up until now, but that doesn't mean he will be. The whole Weasley family had been in Gryffindor until Victoire went into Ravenclaw.
Eventually, just as we are beginning to wonder whether Scorpius will ever be sorted, the Hat shouts out its decision.
"SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table erupts in cheering as Scorpius carefully removes the Hat and makes his way over to his new housemates. I'm curious as to what took the Hat so long. Clearly he's not as definite a Slytherin as his parents and grandparents before him.
There are a few more people sorted and then:
"Potter, Albus." There's a murmur of interest as people register the surname, but nothing too extreme. I'm very glad that Al is the second Potter child to start to Hogwarts. I imagine it was probably James who got most of the attention last year, whereas by now the novelty has worn off a little. James, incredibly confident to the point of being cocky, no doubt loved all the attention, but Albus wouldn't have dealt with it very well. He's quite a nervous person, and prefers to stay out of the limelight.
Just as I had expected, the Hat shouts out its decision almost the moment it touches Albus' head:
"RAVENCLAW!" He looks a little surprised for a moment, then sags in relief and practically runs over to the Ravenclaw table, who greet him enthusiastically. I can see Molly chatting excitedly to him, and Victoire gives him a wave from where she's sitting with the other seventh years. I relax a little, knowing that he's in safe hands now.
Slowly, our numbers dwindle until it's only me and Louis left standing at the front of the hall.
"Weasley, Louis."
"Good luck," I whisper as he makes his way over to the stool and sits down. He's there for a little while, though not nearly as long as Scorpius, before the Hat makes its decision:
"SLYTHERIN!"
He grins and goes over to join Scorpius at the Slytherin table. I see Victoire's face fall a little, while Dominique's lights up as she congratulates her brother.
I don't have long to notice these things however, as it's now my turn.
"Weasley, Rose."
I take a deep breath and walk over to the stool, concentrating on not tripping. Why is it that simple things like walking become a thousand times harder when as entire school is watching you?
The Hat falls down over my eyes, obscuring my view of the hall. I'm quite glad, really. I don't want to see all those people watching me. This way I can pretend that it's just me and the Hat.
"Hmmm," says a small voice in my ear, "Interesting. There's a fair bit of intelligence in here. Courage, too. A strong sense of fairness. Quite a temper, but only when it comes to defending your friends. I think we can safely say you're not a Slytherin. Not a Hufflepuff, either. Brains like that you'd do well in Ravenclaw."
I stay silent, sensing that this isn't its final decision.
"No, perhaps not Ravenclaw after all," it says, "Though you do have the potential. But no, I think it had better be GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupts, and I can hear James, Fred and Roxanne cheering loudly. Feeling a little shaky, I stumble over to sit down next to them. Albus gives me a small, sad smile, and I can't help but feel a slight pang of disappointment that I'm not going to be in the same house as my favourite cousin. Glancing around the lively, smiling table, however, I realise that this is definitely where I belong. I may love reading, but I've never been quite as quiet and studious as Al. I'm happy with Gryffindor. Very happy.