After the feast all the new Hufflepuffs were lead down to the kitchens and the Hufflepuff
head boy called everyone's attention.
"Listen up new Hufflepuffs, the entrance to the common room is located in a nook on the
right hand side of the kitchen corridor, concealed behind a stack of barrels. In order to reveal
the entrance, no password is required. Instead, one must tap the barrel two from the bottom,
middle of the second row, in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff', which will make the lid swing
open, exposing a passageway that will lead to the basement when crawled through. If either
the rhythm of tapping or the lid tapped is wrong then the intruder will be doused in vinegar
and barred access. Now pay attention." The head boy tapped out a little tune on a barrel
and, as expected, the lid swung open. As everyone scurried into the dorm the head boy kept
talking;
"The Hufflepuff dorm is round and earthy and low-ceilinged; it always feels sunny, and its
circular windows have a view of rippling grass and dandelions. There is a lot of burnished
copper about the place, and many plants, which either hang from the ceiling or sit on the
windowsills. Our Head of house, Professor Pomona Sprout, is Head of Herbology, and she
brings the most interesting specimens, some of which dance and talk, to decorate our room
– one reason why Hufflepuffs are often very good at Herbology. Our overstuffed sofas and
chairs are upholstered in yellow and black, and our dormitories are reached through round
doors in the walls of the common room. Copper lamps cast a warm light over our four-
posters, all of which are covered in patchwork quilts, and copper bed warmers hang on
the walls, should you have cold feet." By now most of the Hufflepuffs had stopped paying
attention to the rambling head boy and where looking at a boy who was sprawled out and
snoring very loudly on the couch in front of the fireplace. April stepped forward and tapped
the head boy on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, who is that?" He spun around and looked at the snoring mass.
"Oh, that's just Andy. He usually sleeps out here."
"Doesn't he have a bed?" April asked looking at Andy. He had a mat of blond hair that hung
in his eyes, a very lanky body and had a big nose sort of like that Goth potions professor.
What was his name? Professor Nape or Snake or something like that.
"Yes, but he doesn't use it." The head boy answered. Suddenly April was gripped by the
arm and someone squealed:
"What's your name?!" It was Vayvar and sparrows where spilling out of the end of her
wand. Andy snorted and sat up mumbling about Puking Pastels, whatever they were, before
falling back asleep.
"Umm, my name's April Thompson. Why do you want to know?" Vayvar looked confused
"Don't you remember what happened in Diagon ally? I was the girl who nearly got crushed
by the caldrons." April thought back:
April bounced out of Ollivanders with her wand; a 9" Ash with Dragon Heartstring.
"Come on April," called her father, "we've got to get your school books now." As they were
walking away April saw a girl with bright blue eyes and frizzy hair trying to get a caldron
from a stack in front of a store. As she tried to reach up she stumbled and knocked the stack.
As she fell on to the ground the stack of caldrons rocked and was about to fall on her. April
razed her wand and the falling caldrons stoped in mid air, the girl scrambled out of harm's
way and with a jerk of her wand April released them. They clattered to the ground in heaps of
metal, clanging and bouncing right where the girl had been. She looked up at April;
"Thank you." She said as she looked back at the caldrons scattered about the street. April
herd her parents call her name and ran off.
"I remember you now." April said smiling. Vayvar released Aprils arm and stepped back.
"You ran off before I could ask you your name." She smiled. "I'm glad I finally found out
who you are."
They talked about how both of Vayvar's parents went to Hogwarts, but April's Dad went to
Durmstrang while her mum was a Hufflepuff. When they got to their room there was one girl
with bright blond hair striping the sheets off her bed.
"I knew it was a good idea bringing my own sheets." She was saying as she pulled some
bright pink sheets from one of her many bags. April saw her stuff sitting next to Vayvar's.
"Nevermore!" she cried excitedly. Vayvar Jumped and several bubbles escaped the end of
her wand. April ran up to her pet raven and stuck her finger through the bars, the black bird
swiftly cuddled up to his master's finger.
"You have a pet crow?" Vayvar asked as she pulled out her pyjamas out of her trunk.
"He's a raven," April corrected as she fed him a snack, "I named him after a muggle poem."
"Nevermore." The raven cawed. April placed his cage on her bedside table and fed him
another treat.
Once everyone had gotten ready for bed the girl with the pink sheets, dressed in a hot pink
frilly satin nightgown, bounced around the room introducing herself to everyone:
"Hi, my name's Linda." She squealed, "I'm just so excited to be here! Until just a few
weeks ago I didn't even know this place existed!" On the bed next to her was a very tall girl
with long straight black hair in a plat that stretched midway down her back. Her Pyjamas
looked second hand and little too small for her. She was lying down her bed with her nose
stuck in a book. The only luggage beside her bed was a small rucksack; she probably didn't
think she'd be staying for too long, or the rest of it got lost. At least she had her PJ's.
"My name's Ellura." She mumbled as Linda bounced over.
"Oh, that's a pretty name." The blond admitted. "Can I call you Ella?" Ellura looked up
from her book.
"It's a little perky." She said. Linda took that as a yes and pulled Ellura into a strong hug.
The only other person in the room was feeding her pet owl. She looked up to see April
watching.
"Her name's Mouse." she said gesturing to the owl. "My Mum got her for me as a 'Don't-
Tell-Your-Father-About-Magic' present. He thinks I'm going to a privet school, but I
suppose I am. My name's Isabella, but if you call me that I'll kill you. Izzy or Wings I
usually answer to." She walked over and shook April's hand.
"April, I've had Nevermore for about a year. My Mum gave me him for a birthday present
last year, while Dad got me a broom." It was late and everyone was tired and looking forward
to their first real day at Hogwarts, so everyone went to bed. As everyone started falling asleep
April couldn't stop grinning; she was a Hufflepuff, just like her mum, and everything was
just like she'd imagined; moving staircases, talking pictures, and to make it perfect: she had
a new best friend. Vayvar Willowwitch, something about that name was familiar, maybe one
of her family members where on a chocolate frog card? April didn't have much time to think
about it before she fell asleep.