The group of nine friends gathered and huddled smack dab in the center of the Quidditch pitch. On most days, this would be one of the very last places to hold on hushed discussion, but it could be correctly assumed that there wouldn't be much practice conducted today. The statium was completely empty besides a few wild owls swooping here and there in search for field mice, or the like.
It was right chilly, so the crowd at detoured, and made a quick stop at both the Ravenclaw dorm – for Luna – and the Gyffindor dorm – for the rest – to gather as many layers of wool cloths as they could gather. The group resembled Eskimos in an almost hysterical sort way. It was Hermione's brilliant idea to use a heating charm to melt the thick layer of snow that had gathered on the groud, leaving a warm patch of newly reviled grass for them to set upon.
Discussion began rapidly.
"The beginning of what?" More than one student asked, in unison.
From this, a spoken list was formed.
"The Beginning of Hogwarts?"
"The four founders."
"The first ride on the Hogwarts Express?"
"The sorting ceremony?"
"The sorting hat."
"The entrance hall, perhaps?"
While this list went on, and on, growing more, and more, confusion and frustration began to arise.
"All right," said Harry, interrupting the frantic words. "Let us go and investigate a few of these ideas. We're not going to get anything done, sitting here, and freezing."
Since the red tips of each person's noses and ears could not be ignored, they began to disperse in groups of twos, and threes, to search for the beginning.
Fred, George, and Lee, traipsed away to 'search the grouds,' or perhaps more accurately, to try out their new invention; Ever-Changing Silent Fireworks, which were rumored to change shape and color at the wish of the igniter.
Harry, and Ron decided to go on a search for the Sorting Hat, which may prove difficult because it usually resided in Dumbledore's office. But they reasoned that if it were, indeed, intended to be a part of the game, then it would surly be accessible. While Hermione, rather predictably went off to the library.
Neville and Luna, not exactly sure of what to do, followed uselessly behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they stalked off towards to the castle.
Ginny, the only one left without a pair, had her own idea brewing in her mind, and therefore set off with purpose. She bypassed Neville, Luna, and the group they were following, and was the first to enter the castle. When she did, she stopped fast, causing Harry to bump softy into her. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Gleaming before them was the oddest sort of thing they'd encountered yet today. And that was saying something. What was most odd about it, was that at fist glance it appeared to be completely Muggle.
"A ticket dispenser?" Intoned Hermione from behind, taking the words out of Harry's head, and erasing the confused looks from the two Weasley's faces.
Placed a few paces to the left of the door, directly in front of the Slytherin house point hourglass, was a black plastic box of about three feet high, completely smooth a blank, besides a ticket sized slot and a tiny round hole beside it.
"That hole looks about the proper size for a wand," said Ron, taking a few steps closer to it. He extracted his wand from his pocket and inserted it into the hole. A perfect fit. Then, quite suddenly, a female's voice spoke from the box. "Good morning, Ronald. You may speak your answer now."
"uhm, my answer?" Ron responded sheepishly.
"Haven't got one yet? That's fine. Come back when you have. Here's your wand."
Ron's wand extracted itself from the box, and flew into his waiting grip. He only stared.
"Well, that certainly does clear a few things up." Declared Hermione, as she headed swiftly away towards her obvious destination.
Ginny Weasley peered at the box for a only a few more moments, and then she ran off too, leaving the other four to stare in confusion for as long as they wished.
Ginny climbed flight of stairs, after flight of stairs, not stopping until she had reached the Fat Lady, she then mumbled the words, Pumkin Pasties, then dashed inside before the picture had even swung all the way forward. "In a bit of a hurry are we, dear?" The lady's voice spoke to her retreating form.
Under her bed, in her trunk was her Hogwarts acceptance letter.
Four years ago, when she had received the letter she had been so overjoyed that she had held onto to straight, for weeks. Taking it everywhere she went, like a pet. And then, when September First had come, she had shoved it into her truck along with her other belongings, so she could steal random peeks at it in the night.
She knew, even back then, when she was eleven, that it was a childish thing to do. But she didn't care, the letter filled her with such pride. And now she wondered…
She peeled back the blazing red seal, and began to read from the heavy parchment.
Dear Ms, Weasely,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September First.
Could it really be that simple? Heart racing she ran back past the Fat Lady, down the many, many stairs, and into the entrance hall. Her heart dropped, it was packed. Bodies floated here and there all around the black box. How could she ever test her theory without all of these people overhearing and discovering the answer. Her confidence faltering, she paced over towards the box, noticed that a small line had began to form leading away from the front of the thing, and took her place at the end. She hoped deep down that these people were only just now discovering the box at all, and not in line to already display their answers. After a short amount of time, she was right up next to the thing. She took a deep breath, and inserted her wand, watching it disappear within.
"Nice to see you, Ginerva. You may speak your answer now."
"Hear it goes," she whispered, mostly to herself.
"Oh, really? Well, well, you're a quick one. Dumbledore said not expect answer for at least a few more hours. Very well then." The box hummed, very violently for a second or two, and then a mostly transparent sort of field enclosed about a six by six patch of the room, holding Ginny and the box inside. Inside the space, everything was silent. It was a sort of magical sound proofing. Encouraged by this, Giinny spoke, "September First?"
"Don't phrase it as a question dear. Very lovely. Here's you second clue. Have a pleasant day."
Just then a lilac colored slip of paper, ringed with a silver and gold printed chain, shot itself from the ticket slot. Ginny caught it with grace, and the field dissolved.
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