We joined the other passengers of the train in the hall. Everyone was cramming extra candy and chocolate on their pockets. Squeezing through the hall to get off the train.
When we got off, the sky was dark and cloudy. The train station was crowded with students from every year at hogwarts. Scarves, ties and hats of all the house colors were scattered among the sea of people. A large shadow was bellowing
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!"
The small group headed towards the man. As we got closer I realized how big the man was. He was the height of the three boys and me put together. He had a beard that covered most of his face but his black beady eyes could be seen through the whiskers.
"Any more firs' years? Le's go then." He said gesturing for us to follow him. We did so and we walked down toward the lake rather that to the carriages with the older years. I read it on hogwarts: a history.
"4 to a boat." The man called as we reached the edge of the lake. There were small canoe-like boats lining the lake. Will, Sirius, James and I climbed into a boat together.
I looked around and saw the redhead get in a boat with the hooked nosed asshole, crazy eyed girl and some other boy who looked quite worn out. I felt bad for that boy. He was going to have hell with that boat.
"E'reyone ready?" The bearded man commanded the boats forward when everyone responded yes.
The boats started gliding gracefully over the glassy water. After 8 minutes of the ride on the lake we saw the castle come to view. This wasn't something that could be explained. The castle had tall magnificent towers with pointed roofs, small windows lining the sides like small stars in the universe. There was a forest a little way from the castle. The black trees creating a spooky feeling that was quite intriguing.
"Jazmine," someone whispered behind me, William. "Wanna go for a swim?" I chuckled and looked to the other occupants of the boat. They nodded eagerly.
"Sure, follow my lead: right, left, right, left, right, left." We rocked the boat back and forth and it finally tipped over enough for us all to fall into the water. It was freezing. Like ice on my skin it seared. My body started shaking from the sudden temperature change.
Suddenly I wasn't in the water but flying out of the water.
Luckily the boat didn't flip all the way around and my kitten was safe in the boat.
I looked down and a huge orange rope was wrapped around my waist. Not a normal rope, a rope 30 cm in diameter that sprouted from the lake. I looked around and the three others as well as the boat had a rope around them.
Then the realization hit me. These where tentacles. The giant squid! The tentacles holding the boats occupants returned the people to their boat.
"Erm.. thank you?" I called to the depths. A beam of water sprayed on my face. Everyone laughed. The whiskered man came over in his boat and looked us over to see if we were ok. He gave me his coat and I tried to cover most of the affected. I carefully put the kitten in one of the many pockets.
As we got closer to land the boys offered me the coat for myself. I thanked them and did so. We finally reached land on the other side. We got out of our boat and followed the man to a door. He knocked it 3 times and the door swing open. There was Minnie! A very stern looking Minnie.
It was weird how different she seemed. She wasn't the semi strict foster mother who let you eat candy on Saturday if you behave, she was the "now I'm your professior, sit your ass down before I beat you with a stick." Person. She scanned the crown and her eyes rested the swimmers.
"Thank you Hagrid, I can take it from here." She said to the large hairy man I now knew as Hagrid.
We all followed Minnie inside.
At the top of the first flight she stopped and turned. Then she gave the speech on houses, the house cup and house points.
Then she turned her attention to us.
"Why are you four wet? Did you fall in the lake?"
"Yes, Minnie. We didn't fall, we did it on purpose." I said matter of factly.
She cleared her throat. "It's Professor McGonagall, and that was very irresponsible. If you had a house I would give the four of you detention. "
"Swimming is good for the brain. It gets blood flow... brain something."
She ignored me (rude) and turned her attention back to the other first years. "Follow me."
She led us into a small room off from the entrance hall. The entrance hall was a tall room with doors leading off in different directions and staircases to one side. There was a set of double doors that where very tall with intricate carvings.
"I suggest you get yourselves cleaned up before we go to the great hall for your sorting." Minnie said before exiting.
We stood in the room chatting about what we saw so far. I had given Hagrid his jacked back but I was still soaking wet. My kitten was prancing around the room.
"Why did you call her Minnie?" asked James.
"When I first met her she told me her name but I thought Minnie was better. It's a muggle tv character." I explained.
"You mean you've met her before?" Sirius asked joining the conversation.
"Oh, did I not tell you? She's my foster mother."
Their jaws dropped to the floor. Not just Sirius and James but everyone in the room. I looked at everyone then turned to the boys again.
"As I that loud?" I whispered. They shook their heads.
Everyone had started lining up. I ended up toward the back between James and William. I stood too close to Will and his wet sleeve hit my in protected hand. It was freezing cold so I squeaked. He turned to look at me and gave me a confused look
.
"Keep your cold sleeve to yourself." I said.
He gave his cousin behind me a look. Suddenly they both yelled "Potter sandwich!" And hugged me from both sides. I screeched and struggled to get away from them.
"Let me go!"
They finally let go when Minnie made another appearance.
"Follow me please."
We followed her back into to enter ace hall and towards the large double doors I saw earlier. We stopped right outside and Minnie opened the doors. We all walked into the great hall.
I gasped.
The great hall really was great. I was gigantic and the ceiling seemed to open up to the sky which was now dark and stormy. There were four long tables, each had students baring ties of their house colors and the banners above indicated which was which. Candles hung in mid air, illuminating the different faces that where watching us as we walked down the aisle towards the front of the hall where the professors sat at a long table.
Right in the center was a man with long silver hair and a long beard of the same color. His eyes where an electric blue which radiated power but still calm.
In front of the professors table was a stool with a an old battered hat.
Back in caithness, Minnie wouldn't tell me anything about hogwarts so I tried to find something that would. I found 'hogwarts: a history' at a book shop in diagonally and started reading. Minnie found me out right before I got to read about the sorting ceremony. Did the hat have anything to do with it?
Minnie stopped and told us about how the sorting was to take place.
I knew it. We try on the hat and it tells us.
Suddenly the hat opened at the brim like some sort of mouth. Even more shocking, it started singing.
It sang of what the different houses represent, and of how brilliant the hat was (modest).
When it was done singing the whole hall burst into applause.
Minnie cleared her trough and unrolled a piece of parchment.
"Aldo, Dunstan." She called. A small squat boy trembled and walked up and sat on the stool. Minnie put the hat on his head and it slid down his face because it was too big. After a few seconds the rim of the hat opened.
"Gryffindor!"
The shaking boy ran down toward the red and gold table that applauded.
"Black, Sirius!"
The whole hall went deadly silent.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine." I whispered. Hands patted him in the back.
He started walking towards the stool.
"Go Sirius!" I cheered."
James whistles and William clapped. As he sat down he sent us a smile.
Then the hat covered his face.
— un-heard by the crowd—
Ah, another black. I've sorted these for decades. Slytherin can welcome another pure blood.
I was placed on the head of the small 11 year old boy. I was expecting 'please slytherin' or if I'm not in Slytherin my mum will kill me' but I didn't.
'Don't you dare. I won't be in slytherin. Gryffindor please.'
Why argue?
The hat was on his head for a few seconds before the brim opened.
"Gryffindor!"
The slytherin table started applauding, albeit premature because they suddenly realized what the judgement was. The whole hall fell silent. Minnie took the hat off Sirius's head. He had the biggest smile. James, will and I applauded. Suddenly Sirius turned to the slytherin table.
"Take that!" He yelled.
The whole hall burst into laughter and applause with the occasional "ooooo!" or "ouch."
Minnie had to calm everyone down.
"Quiet please!"
The list went on to c, d...
Soon enough the list got to p's. My name is soon.
"Potter, James!" Minnie called.
The still dripping James skipped to the stool happily. He sat down with a "squish". Some people chuckled , including me.
The hat was placed on his head. "Gryffindor!" Bellowed the hat.
"Potter, William!" Minnie called.
I gave him a smile as he walked up.
The hat deemed him a ravenclaw. Then the dreaded.
"Prewett, Jazmine!"
The first year started whispering about me being Minnies foster child.
Two redheads from the gryffindor table cheered. Weird.
I straightened my back and walked up with pride. I sat down on the stool: before the hat covered my eyes I saw Minnie flash me a smile. Then the world went dark. Then there was a new voice in my head.
'What do we have here? Ah yes, troubled past but brave nonetheless, quite the temper." I raised my brow.
'I say that temper rules out Hufflepuff. Let's see... quite cunning but not slytherin.
"Please, gryffindor." I thought
Just to be with your friends? No, I think you'll do better in...
"Ravenclaw!"
Ravenclaw want too bad. I had William.
Minnie took the hat off my head and I skipped over to the ravenclaw table and sat beside Will. I looked to the Gryffindor table. Sirius and James where still clapping for me. I giggled and rolled my eyes.
I turned back to William. He stuck out his hand.
"I think we se considered friends now, my name's Will." I smiled and took it.
"Jaz." I said.
We turned back to each the rest of the sorting.
"Snape, Severus!"
The greasy haired roadblock sat on the stool.
As soon as the hat touches his head it hollard:
"Slytherin!" He moped as he walked over to the slytherin table. I looked in the small group of unsorted first years, redhead wasnt there. I looked it the other tables and at the Gryffindor table she sat.
"D'you know what?" I whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I bet he was sorted quickly because the hat didn't want to touch his hair."
Will laughed. "Agree, I mean look at it! Hasn't been washed ever."
The man with the silver bears stood up. Minnie was no longer sorting, but sitting on his right.
"Welcome to another year of learning! And to the first years, welcome to your first year here at hogwarts!" Everyone applauded.
"I will not say too much seeing as we are all starving after our train ride, and for some, swim in the lake, he said with a chuckle. Everyone had a little laugh and looked to either the Ravenclaw or gryffindor tables at the dripping first years.
"That's it.," the man said. "Let's eat." Suddenly the table was full of platters of food. There were potatoes in all forms possible, chicken, vegetables, other types of meat, steaming boats of gravy and other sauces, and all sorts of delicious food. Just as I was about to dig in I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see an older ravenclaw.
"You two took a swim didn't you?" She asked gesturing to me and Will.
"Yup." I said.
"I know a spell that could dry you off if you'd like, it looks pretty cold."
Surely enough I was shivering
"Yes please." Will and I said in unison.
She took out her wand and waved it. A warm breeze surrounded me. When it disappeared I was totally dry and warm.
"Thank you!" I said marveling over how it happened so suddenly.
"No problem. I'm the ravenclaw prefect so when it's time to go to the common room I'll show you the way."
After she said that she left.
I looked to Will who shrugged. Then we ate.
I stuffed myself with everything. Vegetables, meat and tons of pumpkin juice. The kitten was curled up beside me. I got a piece of chicken and fed her. I also took a saucer and poured some water on it for her. She ate and drank and then curled up on my lap.
Then the food disappeared and replaced itself with dessert. Piles of ice cream, tarts and cakes appeared. I saw some chocolate peanut butter fudge and I went straight for it. I also had some ice cream. After we ate dessert the plates cleared again.
During desert I had striked a conversation with the only other ravenclaw first year, Millicent Bagnold. She knew more about the wizard of world.
The headmaster stood, from my conversation with Millicent I learned his name was Albus Dumbledore , the guy who saved me. I was so disappointed in myself. I should've known.
"The caretaker Mr Filch would like me to remind you that there is no magic in the hallways," he said looking pointedly at the red headed twins that applauded me earlier.
"Also, the highly discouraged forest is, as the name suggests, highly discouraged. Now, it is quite late. First years, follow your prefects to your common rooms. Sleep tight."
With that the students got up and headed for the exit. I saw Minnie get up and come around the front of the teachers table. She came towards me.
"Jazmine, congratulations on getting into Ravenclaw. I'm proud of you." And with that she left. I blinked. No one had ever said that to me before, save Zoë.
"Jaz? Come on, let's go." Said Will pulling me along in search for the prefect.
"There she is." I pointed out.
"There you are," said the prefect, "Follow me." As we were leaving I cast a glance over my shoulder and saw James and Sirius. We waved at each other.
Will, Millicent, the prefect and me walked through halls, up twisting staircases and through doors that look like walls and then climbed a long winding staircase. We stopped at the door at the top. The door had a knocker.
The prefect used the knocker and the sound echoed down the staircase. The knocker morphed into a raven and began to speak in an angelic voice.
"I'm always hungry and must be fed, the finger I touch will soon turn red, what am I?"
"A riddle? Is that how we get in?"
Millicent asked.
"Yes," said the prefect, "but... I don't know this one. Do any of you know?"
"Um, I think so." I said.
"Ok, come try. Knock on the door and say the answer out loud."
I knocked and the door repeated the riddle.
"I'm always hungry and must be fed, the finger I touch will soon turn red, what am I?"
"Fire." I said clearly.
The door swung open and we walked in.
"Alright, sit down guys. Usually we would be more formal about this but there's only 3 of you. My name's Livith, what are yours?" Said the prefect.
"My name's William Potter."
"Mine is Millicent Bagnold."
"Jazmine Prewett."
"Ok, nice to meet you all. So I'll tell you some of the rules and then I'll explain the rest tomorrow. Is that alright?" asked Livith.
We all nodded.
"Ok, so the girls dormitories are that way, William your dormitory is that way." She said pointing to the respective staircases. "In the other house common rooms there is a charm on the girls staircases so boys can't go up there. We broke that a long time ago. Just like, be responsible about it please." She said exasperated.
"You can decorate and organize your dormitories how ever you like. Let me know if you need help getting stuff for that. Ehm... and then... yes! Curfew is 8 PM. You don't have to be in bed, just not out in the hallways. First class is at 9:00 AM. I think that's it for now." She said. Chop chop, off to bed childers."
We got up and said good night to each other then went up to our respective dormitories.
Millicent and I went to the door labeled "first years" . We walked through the door and there was a tiny hallway with two doors. One labeled with my name to the left and one with Millicent's to the right.
"Good night Jazmine."
"Good night Millicent."
I opened the door and walked in. I pulled the kitten carefully out of my pocket and put her down on the floor. She started exploring the room.
The room was very simple. Wooden bed, wooden dresser, some shelves. A door to the right. I opened it and there was a bathroom. There was a door on the opposite side. The door opened and Millicent's head peeped through. We looked at each other and laughed.
Ok, shared bathroom.
The dormitory looks like the room I stayed in in the orphanage. We'll have to change that. On the bed was my trunk. I put it on the floor by the foot of my bed.
I opened it and took out my pajamas. I had just got a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt with the Beatles on it. I changed and got my toothbrush.
I walked into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and washed my face.
I walked back to my trunk and went into the spell protected side pocket and pulled out my most prized possession. My diary. I also brought my pencil case.
I carried it over to the window and sat in the window sill. I pulled the muggle pencil out of my case. The book was leather bound and had a pink and a blue flower sown in the front. The pages where never ending, the first magical thing I ever owned, and the only one for a long time.
I sat in the window and wrote an entry.
Then I looked back at the entries I wrote from when I first was fostered to now.