CHAPTER TWO: Hatstool
Arty had changed into her uniform, making Imogen promise to look away for the duration of it. Night had fallen and they had already reached Hogwarts. They were really excited now. They made their way outside into the misty cold night. "Firs' years here!" a giant man yelled out from the end of the platform. Arty and Imogen walked up to him, where other first years were waiting with them. They were lead to a group of boats on the lake, and were instructed to go in them and they'd reach the castle soon enough. Arty and Imogen shared a boat, Imogen holding the lantern each pair had been given. All of the boats started moving and all of the first years giggled in surprise. "This feels weird." Arty informed Imogen, who nodded in agreement. It seemed like forever until they finally saw Hogwarts Castle, the light from inside illuminating the outside walls and showing parts of the grounds nearby. Arty and Imogen's boat got a bumpy as the Giant Squid was swimming around beneath them. "It's...beautiful." Imogen whispered in shock, her mouth gaping open and her eyes wide. "Yeah..." Arty agreed, remembering what her father had said just hours ago.
A few minutes later, they were all getting out of the boats and putting their lanterns away as they were following the giant, Hagrid, into the castle, which was even more beautiful inside. The walls and floors were all made of stone and candles hung on the walls, fires ignited in them, lighting up the Entrance Hall. At the top of the stairs stood a tall woman with dark robes and a wizard's hat on her head. She looked down at the students. Her name was Professor McGonagall, and she informed all of the students about Hogwarts and its houses. She instructed them on how to handle the Sorting and walked off after what felt like only one minute. Then, the conversations ensued.
"So excited!" Arty said, almost squeeling in delight. A girl next to her with auburn hair then chimed in. "I can't wait. But I'm scared about the Sorting." she said nervously. "I'm Hannah, by the way." Arty and Imogen introduced themselves too, but were then interrupted by McGonagall who lead them into...the Great Hall. It was magnificent. The walls- pure stone- four long wooden tables filled the room with the High Table at the front. Fired up candles on each wall, and a stool at the front as everyone in the Hall stared at them as they walked. McGonagall took out a parchment and read out everybody's names in alphabetical order.
First it was A...then it was B...then came C. It was Imogen's turn.
"Clarke, Imogen." McGonagall read out. Imogen stopped breathing for a moment. She was nervous. Her legs felt heavy as she walked up the stone step up to the stool, where she sat and looked at the older students staring at her- some didn't care, some were waiting with anticipation. Then the hat hit her head, and she HEARD it.
"My, my, my. Hello, there. I see a lot in your mind. Curiousity-yes, that's good, good. Loyalty- also another good trait to have. Also a trace of bravery, but I see a lot of intelligence, wittiness...a thirst for knowledge. Yes, that's even better. You have it all, don't you, young lady? You would do well at each House. Gryffindor, where the brave dwell...yes. Slytherin...so much ambition, I must say. Your loyalty would do well in Hufflepuff, too. Your cleverness, though. Overwelming, isn't it? Not just book clever- but there is a lot of that- but rather...socially. I think I know...but, wait. I can see you in Gryffindor. You in red, the warmest colour, of course, supporting your house. You would be very happy in Gryffindor. Very happy, indeed. But you'd be even happier in...RAVENCLAW!"
Imogen beamed in delight and relief as everyone in the Ravenclaw table cheered her on, a couple of people jumping on the table in happiness, and quickly jumping down so they don't get told off. Imogen gave Arty a thumbs-up as she joined the Ravenclaws, being clapped and cheered, some people patting her on the back.
"Hi, I'm Cho." a Ravenclaw next to her said. "You were there for quite some time. Not too long, though. Congratulations, Ravenclaw is definately the best house at Hogwarts!"
A few minutes and Sortings later, it was Arty's go and she was undeniably scared. "Tenson, Artemis." McGonagall called her up. She lifted her legs and sat on the stool, her legs and arms shaking.
"Well, well, well. You're scared, aren't you? Understandable. You have so many qualities. You have many ambitions and you want to be more clever, you are curious about...everything. This is just too easy. SLYTHERIN!"
Arty jumped down from the stool and ran to the Slytherin table, where everybody was cheering her on. She caught Imogen's eyes from over on the Ravenclaw table and they smiled at each other. But soon enough, it was time for food. Professor Dumbledore announced the dinner and everyone's plates were filled with chicken and rice, goblets filled to the brim with pumpkin juice- which tasted heavenly. Throughout the whole dinner, Arty and Imogen kept making faces at each other from their tables, despite getting strange looks from other people at their House tables.
About an hour after the dinner, each House was escorted out, the House prefects showing the way to the common room and dormitories. The Ravenclaws were escorted out first and the prefect who showed them around, Arnold Quinn, was very enthusiastic about the common room. There were big windows and the common room had grey stone walls in a circular shape, as they were in Ravenclaw Tower, and bookshelves against the wall,- "You can read books by Merlin, Bathilda Bagshot and other brilliant witches and wizards to Muggle authors such as Charles Dickens and playwrights like Shakespeare! It's amazing!"-a noticeboard beside it,- There were pieces of paper saying things like 'Hogsmeade weekend next month!', 'To the person who didn't return my Standard Book of Spells, Grade Four last year, give it back please!' and 'The Grey Lady has informed us that the missing shoe belonging to the sixth year student has been spotted in the Greenhouses, in a pot of dragon dung. Please collect ASAP.'- a fireplace across from the three blue comfy-looking sofas and two large tables and chairs behind those sofas.
"Girls- your dormitories are upstairs on the right." Arnold said, slightly more calmly. "Boys- upstairs on the left. Let's go to bed, guys! See you tomorrow! I've got to catch up with my Mark Twain!" "What a weirdo..." said Anthony Goldstein, whispering to Imogen, who agreed with him.
The Slytherin first years were taken to the dungeons to their common room. It was green, with windows around it which show the Lake, and the Giant Squid passing by. A small bookshelf was next to the fireplace, and four sofas, two lage tables and chairs. The walls ahd green wallpaper and had a very warm vibe to it. The prefect, Gordon Samuels, was either very sleepy or just moody. Or maybe both. "Girls, up to the left. Boys, up to the right. Go to bed." Arty and three other girls walked up to the first year girls' dormitory and saw that all of their trunks were by their beds. Arty got changed and got into bed, but didn't fall asleep immediately. She heard the girls talk.
"A pixie cut? Weirdo. She's going to be trouble, girls. Pansy isn't going to let her get away with anything!" one of them said.
Arty gulped and pulled her warm, emerald green up to keep herself warmer and protect herself from the girls she was sure would try to ruin her life. She just hoped tomorrow would be better.