Chapter 3

Finally, at Hogwarts

The Hogwarts Express had stopped. It had taken a lot of time for students to get off the train, having such a huge crowd around them. In front of them there was a tremendously huge lake that they had to cross to reach Hogwarts, School of Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry. It already was pretty dark outside, but the night landscape was marvelous.

Rubeus Hagrid was sitting there carrying a torch in his hand, heading first years towards the magical boats. He was old enough by now, but he still kept his position as Keeper of Keys and Grounds. As an eager observer could have seen, he was scanning the crowd, looking for a particular student. It didn't took him a long time to find him, though; he had a noisy owl and a blonde-haired friend.

- Hey, Albus, out there!

The young wizard looked in the direction of the sound and saw Hagrid, who couldn't help but give him a strong hug.

- Easier...I'm...choking!

- Sorry, boy. 'Twas the thrill. I'm, ya know, Hagrid.

It was then that Albus remembered him.

- Indeed, it's you! Dad told me so many things about you from when he was at Hogwarts!

- Right, right!

Then, noticing the boats were beginning to move away from the shore, he slowly whispered:

- Go now. You don't wanna be late for 'he sorting, d'ya?

The half-giant let him go, shedding some tears in the process. He had a particular bond to Harry Potter's family and felt Albus was a special child.

- They grow up so fast, he said to himself.

...

Rosabella happened to share a boat with other two girls her age. They were both talking way too much for her taste. One of them had reddish-orange hair and called herself Rose...Rose what? Ah, of course, Weasley. All Weasleys had the same hair colour. Another friend of the Potters. And the other was named Ambyra Bayrn, from what she remembered. Your tongue got tangled if you tried to say that.

She honestly hoped the journey wouldn't be too dull. The girls kept talking about their common friends, the house they hoped to be sorted into or how handsome was Arton Heathrill, the Ministry representative that taught Apparition in the final years - his picture appeared monthly on the front cover of the Daily Prophet. As for her, she had long known which house she wanted to belong to, she had no friends and last but not least, she did not give a knut on how the Apparition teacher looked like.

But her apparent boredom was suddenly disrupted by a loud shriek coming from one of the adjoining boats. Every single student turned their eyes in that direction. She didn't quite get the idea of whatever was happening, but she nevertheless heard the horror-stricked voices from the rest of the passenger. One of them was Albus Potter, the other one was a blonde boy and the third was a girl of the same hair colour, but with brownish highlights.

- Daphne! The monster took her to the bottom of the lake!

Ambyra yelled at the others:

- What monster?

- It must have been the giant squid, the blonde shouted.

- That's impossible! The squid doesn't attack humans! desperately cried Arachne.

While the rest kept blaming one another and tried the solve the "monster dilemma", Albus dived for the young girl. He had no idea what had pushed him to do that, but he would have done it anyway. He just couldn't let her drown.

Rosabella stared in terror at the surface of the lake. So Potter had truly ventured to rescue someone's life. So unexpected. She began to regret that it hadn't been her who had gone for Daphne, but she was afraid of water. Rose Weasley was feeling useless since she couldn't be of any help to the two still left in the boat, while her friend, Ambyra, was holding tight to the edge of the boat so that she didn't fall as well.

Since the event, the boats had magically stopped. Only random whispers could be heard among the scared first years. Even Scorpius Malfoy was saying in a low voice:

- Come on, Potter...Don't die...not now!

After a few more moments, Albus resurfaced and brought Daphne as well, being immediately followed by thunderous applause. They faded away in an instant, however, since the young witch did not appear to be in good condition. Nobody had any idea what to do. Being first-years, they knew no spells. A few teachers could be seen approaching in the distance, but it could've been too late until their arrival.

In the middle of this general despair, a faint incantation was heard:

- Redivivo.

Rosabella had knelt down and was now pointing her wand at Daphne. All eyes were set on her, but were as quickly turned towards the girl that was recovering her consciousness.

- Where...where am I? What happened?

Rosabella answered, this time in a louder voice:

- Temporary amnesia. A side effect of the resuscitation spell. It will pass.

A tall witch appeared all of a sudden at the scene. Surprisingly, she had deep blue hair caught in a bun and rectangular glasses – some knew she was Charms Professor. She threw the girl a questioning glance.

- She seems alright. It was nothing more than a minor shock. I can't believe something like that happened at Hogwarts!

And then she looked as if she remembered something. Her blue eyes were instantly fixed on the all dressed in black child in the other boat. Rosabella started panicking.

- And you, miss...Magic outside classes! Normally, I would subtract points from the house you belong to...but since you don't belong to any house right now and since the spell was performed to rescue someone else...you might as well consider yourself free of all charges. Abitio, she said, pointing her wand over the surface of the water, and the boats resumed their movement.

The girls who shared one with Rosabella were amazed. Ambyra could barely find her words to say:

- Wow, you...you know spells? How come?

For a second, she thought to reply: „Because I spent those years learning, not like yourselves, staring at Heathrill's picture in the newspaper". But she didn't do so.

- Well, I just...happen to know things.

- I'm Ambyra Bayrn, the first one introduced herself.

- I'm Rose Weasley.

Although she wasn't that pleased with shaking hands with two supporters of the Gryffindors and the Potters, she ultimately did so as not to appear rude in front of them. She could guess what would come next: questions about her, her family, her impressions on Hogwarts etc. She guessed right. Why couldn't people understand that she hated revealing that many aspects of herself?

Finally, they reached the edge of the lake. The dark-haired girl was the first to descend from the boat, eager to escape their interrogation. She wanted to reach Hogwarts once and for all. Rose and Ambyra had nevertheless formed a not-so-good impression about her. It wasn't normal for a child their age to speak that little.

The first-years were quickly lead to the main hall. The older ones were already sitting at their respective tables. Right in front of them there was the professors' table, which was of course fully occupied, except for one place.

The same Charms Professor asked the freshmen to make silence and thus began her yearly speech:

- Welcome to Hogwarts, School of Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry in this school year. My name is Verna Velfinna and I'm Deputy Headmistress and Charms teacher as well. As some of you may know, here will take place the sorting ceremony, during which the Sorting Hat will pick you for one of the four houses. The house you belong to is extremenly important. You'll add or subtract points for your house, you'll sleep in the same place as other members and you'll all spend your free time in the Common Room. Well, having said that...let the sorting begin!

The whispers could be heard again after Velfinna had finished speaking – in fact, nobody had uttered a word during the time. They were all anxious, not knowing where they would end up or if they did end up in the house they or their relatives hoped for.

Velfinna shortly received a very long parchment from another old wizard, that is headmaster Sapientio Magophilus, former Care of Magical Creatures professor.

- I will call out your names in alphabetical order. When you hear your own, come here and sit on the chair, and the Sorting Hat will decide your fate. Without further ado, let's begin: Arutus, Aeber!

The first was sorted into Hufflepuff.

After a while, another name was heard:

- Bayrn, Ambyra!

Ambyra headed angrily towards the chair because Velfinna had mispronounced her name. Wasn't there anybody who could?

She placed the hat on her head and it said:

- Hmm...I feel a bit of anger...but also intelligence and determination. Ravenclaw!

Ambyra couldn't have been happier. Her lifelong hope was not to end up in the same house as Arutus Aeber, that ugly, overweight and clumsy boy.

A few minutes later, another name was uttered:

- Malfoy, Scorpius!

All eyes at the Slytherin table were fixed on him. It didn't take a long time, though; no sooner did he get close to the chair than the Sorting Hat said aloud: Slytherin! All of a sudden, every single one in that house rose and applauded him. Of course, his last name was highly respected among them.

He almost reached his new housemates as Velfinna read:

- Mortrand, Rosabella!

The freshmen lost their tongues when they saw her walking towards the Hat. Her name was by no means familiar to them, but her figure was. They had all seen the weird girl who was wearing exclusively black outfits performing spells.

James whispered to Evan, who sat at his left at the Gryffindors' table:

- Mortrand...Nice name, isn't it? Resonant...

The answer he got was:

- Oh yeah...If she doesn't get into Slytherin, I'll rip the Marauders' Map apart.

James quickly warned him to shut his mouth. His father wasn't aware that he had stolen it from his office at home. Moreover, he would've received some painfully long detention had this been found out.

The young witch stepped proudly towards the chair. Ever since she had found out about Hogwarts' house system, she had known where her place was. And if that hat dared to contradict her...

The Charms Professor placed the magical item on her head.

- Hmm...What do we have here? I feel lots of determination, yes...and ambition as well, and loyalty. You should be a Gryf...

Without anyone noticing, the brim of the hat suddenly began to crack.

- Slytherin! Slytherin! Definitely Slytherin!

Rosabella smiled subtly, as for herself. Persuasion – always useful. Even for thinking magical objects.

And then the professor mentioned a long-awaited name...Albus Potter. Silence fell all over the hall. He hated that.

The Sorting Hat thought for a few seconds, then concluded:

- A Potter. Courage, fidelity and honesty. Gryffindor!

The little boy was relieved. Meanwhile, so as to keep up with the Slytherins, Gryffindors also rose and applauded Albus.

Later on, few important events took place. Arache Syrtis, the blonde with brown highlights was sorted into Slytherin as she wished, being immediately followed by her sister Daphne, who was in a pretty good condition after the recent "giant squid incident". She was put into Hufflepuff. Indeed, their colours were adorable! But...wouldn't Ravenclaw have fit her better? Or perhaps...

But then it stroke her. She and Aeber now belonged to the same house. This could not possibly happen! It was the very nightmare of every first-year girl! The young witch kept crying during the whole ceremony.

The last major name was Rose Weasley's. The Hat recognized her right away:

- Another Weasley? How long am I going to endure this? Gryffindor!

Soon, every Hogwarts student was sitting at his or her corresponding table, and headmaster Magophilus announced the beginning of the school year, in the same time conjuring the food onto the plates.