As a tall woman in a pointed hat led Andi into the castle, she was awestruck. The staircase in the main hall of the school was so large that she felt as if she was in a giant's house. Then again, it might very well have been, seeing as the man who escorted her across the lake with the younger students was tall enough to be a giant.
"My name is Professor McGonagall. In a moment, I will take you into the Great Hall, and you will be sorted into your house. Please stay in your lines," said the witch. "First years through the doors, single file now," she continued.
"Miss Haggerty?" called McGonagall, putting a hand on her shoulder. Andi turned. The younger students were already filing into the Great Hall.
"You'll be going after all of the first years. I know that this is all very new to you, but don't worry," she said kindly. Andi smiled and nodded shyly. The professor smiled.
"Here is your schedule. Your parents sent us your preferences and we have selected your courses based on them. Hurry now, stand behind young Weasley there," said McGonagall. Andi took the paper and moved into line behind Ginny. She could feel butterflies rising in her stomach. She shoved her hands into her pockets and clutched her wand. She rubbed her thumb nervously over the rings. She glanced over at Ginny and they smiled nervously at each other.
Andi suddenly heard singing. She looked up over the heads of the younger students to see an old brown hat. The hat was the source of the music! Her mother had mentioned that a hat had something to do with sorting, but she hadn't thought it was… sentient.
As the hat finished singing, McGonagall began to call off the names of students. Andi tried to hear what she was saying, and watch what the younger students were doing, but there was a tug on her robes. She turned to see Fred at her side, sitting at the Gryffindor table. He winked at her. Andi tried to smile but she was starting to feel sick to her stomach. She didn't know what house she'd be put in.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" yelled the hat. Andi started. She looked in front of her, and to her dismay the line was getting smaller and smaller as the other new students were getting sorted.
"Weasley, Ginerva," said McGonagall. Andi smiled encouragingly as Ginny walked up to the stool. It had barely grazed her head when the hat shouted a hearty, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Haggerty, Aenegael," called McGonagall. Andi breathed a sigh of relief. At least the professor had said her name correctly. There was an eruption of whispers as people began to wonder why an older girl was just starting at Hogwarts.
Andi sat on the little round stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head, an immediately her head was filled with a deep, croaky voice.
Hmmm… You're a tough one. I see that you love your family very much. You're very devoted. Hufflepuff? I think that's a good choice–
Andi cut the hat off.
No! I mean, Hufflepuff is a great house, sir. My mother was a Hufflepuff. But I would like to be considered for other houses.
Well, if that's the case… Very smart… You could do well in Ravenclaw. I see a streak of cunning, and self-preservation… Slytherin? No, that's not self-preservation, that's pride! Well, I see you've got some new friends in Gryffindor. And you're very brave to be coming here on your own, so late… Better be–
"GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the hat. Andi wasn't sure how long the hat had been on her head, but it didn't matter. She beamed as cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table. She made her way back between the table and was pulled to a squishy seat between Fred and Oliver.
"Glad to have you Haggerty," said Oliver. She smiled at him. Fred slung an arm around her.
"This is going to be a good year," he said.
When dinner was over, Andi followed Angelina and Katie up to Gryffindor Tower. There were rumours spreading about Fred and George's younger brother Ron and his friend Harry. Apparently they had missed the Hogwarts Express and had flown to the school in a Ford Anglia. The whole house was standing around discussing the possibility of their expulsion when the portrait-hole opened up. A young girl with bushy brown hair rushed over to Harry and Ron. Quickly, Lee piped up.
"Brilliant!" he yelled. "Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be talking about that one for years!" Andi rolled her eyes at him. She walked over to Ron and Harry.
"Are you two alright?" she asked. They nodded, blushing crimson under all of the attention. The two boys sneaked off to their dorm. Eventually, the bustle of the common room died down and Andi walked over to Katie and Angelina.
"I'm not exactly sure where to go…" she said. They smiled.
"We'll show you the way. Your room should be just up from ours," said Katie. She and Angelina led the way up a set of stairs. Andi followed closely behind them, careful not to get lost in the growing group of yawning girls making their way up the stairs.
"This is ours," said Angelina, gesturing to a door. She stopped and examined a note pinned to the door.
"As there is no room in the sixth year Gryffindor girls' dormitory, Miss Aenegael Haggerty will be staying in the fourth year girls' dorm in the bed vacated by Miss Alicia Spinnet," she read. Andi stroked Davey nervously.
"I hope you don't mid–"
"Mind? This is brilliant! We can all hang out together!" said Katie.
"I just hope you don't mind getting thrown in with a bunch of younger girls," added Angelina. Andi smiled.
"I'm really glad I'm in with some people I'm acquainted with," she said, following the girls into the dormitory. She sat down on her new four-poster bed, setting Davey down beside her trunk. He quickly hopped onto the bed and cuddled up between two pillows. The window of the dorm was open and her owl, Derval, was perched on the sill.
"Is that your owl?" asked Angelina. Andi nodded.
"I want to send a letter to my sister. I think he knew," she said, smiling and patting the barred owl on the head. He blinked with nearly black eyes.
"I'm going to bed. It's pretty late," said Katie.
"Me too," said Angelina.
"Goodnight you guys," said Andi.
"'Night," they replied.
Andi sat down at the small desk under the window and pulled out a quill. Her mother and father had bought her a set of inks of all colours. She chose a deep red in honour of her new house, and began her letter to Laurel.
Dear little Laurel,
I can't believe it! Mom was a Hufflepuff, dad a Ravenclaw… and I'm a Gryffindor! There really is a magical hat that sorts you, and it almost put me in Hufflepuff.
The castle is even bigger than in the photos dad showed us. I made some more friends on the train. It's pretty late now, so I'll tell you about them in my next letter. Send Derval right back! Apparently the post comes tied to the owl's leg at breakfast.
Lots of love from your sister,
Aenegael xoxo
Andi tied the letter to Derval's leg. He flew out the window in a whirl of grey feathers. Andi took off her robes and put on her pyjamas. She noticed a red and gold tie hanging over the end of her bed. She picked it up and examined it.
As Andi curled up to go to sleep, Davey sat on her head. She smiled at her cat. She rolled over and Davey meowed. He wasn't pleased. Andi lay awake, thinking about her classes, her new friends, and how long it would be before she'd see her sister again.
When Andi fell asleep, she had her Gryffindor tie wrapped around her hand.
Hey! I'm sorry I waited a long time to post this, but it's important! Andi made Gryffindor! Now, what else is going to happen? Hopefully, the quidditch season will start... I also plan on finally starting up the whole X OC part of this. It's taken a little while to get started. I also will be incorporating the different parts of Harry's 2nd year i.e. the Chamber of Secrets in case nobody noticed the Ford Anglia reference… Thanks to anyone who got to Chapter 3!
Love some feedback, so rate and review please!
All the best,
~Kit~