Chapter Two: Sorting and Shabby Teachers
I went across the lake with the first years. We slipped through the inky black water in enchanted boats, a glowing lantern on each. Suddenly, looming out of the darkness, was a huge castle. Shimmering Orange lights streaming from the windows of the turrets stained the dark water. I let free a breath I wasn't aware I had been holding in. It was just as beautiful as my Father had told me. And even more.
We reached the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts, and walking up in pairs of two we reached the closed doors. Professor Minerva McGonagall, I guessed (Another person my Father told me about) stood before us. She had an extremely stern look, and her hair was pulled sharply back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She peered down at the First Years and I steely through her spectacles. She wore robes of brilliant emerald, with a pointed black witches hat.
She began speaking, and as much as I tried to listen, I couldn't. Numerous students were talking in front and behind me, and I couldn't catch a word from my position. Soon the doors of the Great Hall swung open and she was marching us along the different Hogwarts house tables towards the dais, where all the teachers sat at one long table. Standing before them, behind the golden owl stand, was Professor Dumbledore, the man who had convinced my Father to let me go to Hogwarts. He smiled kindly at the nervous (but excited) First Years. I had to admit, I probably looked as worried as they did.
We reached the top of the Great Hall, and stood in a long line along the right wall. In front of the Owl, was a small wooden stool. McGonagall stood behind this, holding an old leather brown hat. The Sorting Hat. In her hand she held a large scroll of Parchment. She began at the A's. My mind wandered as she began to go on, knowing it would be a time before my name was called. I skimmed over the Hufflepuff table and saw Therese, who began waving madly at me. Sitting beside her was a tall, pretty blonde, with extremely long curly hair, and looked very similar to Therese. I guessed she was Therese's sister, Jennifer. They had the same brown eyes. Sitting on the other side of Therese was a tall burly teenage boy with a goofy grin on his face. This was Michael, I guessed, Jennifer's non-Identical twin.
My eyes skimmed over the rest of the crowd, but finding nothing interesting but George Weasley smiling at me, looked towards the table of teachers. Sitting closest to me was a haggard teacher, who looked like he needed a few decent meals. His robes were shabby and looked like they needed the attention of a good seamstress. He had three long scars across his face. Our eyes met, and he smiled at me. I quickly looked away, feeling my face burning red.
"Punil, Hannah!" McGonagall's voice cut across my thoughts as I felt myself walk to the stool, and sit. The hat was placed on my head. "Hmm..." The voice boomed. "Brave...but not Gryffindor...and ambitious...but there's an intelligence, and wisdom. An imagination..." The hat was quiet before announcing, "RAVENCLAW!" I saw Therese's smile falter as I stood, walking to the Ravenclaw table. I sat down next to a black haired girl with thick silver framed glasses.
Dumbledore gave a speech, telling us the rules. He then introduced two new teachers, Rubeus Hagrid, who was replacing Professor Kettleburn in the teaching of Care of Magical Creatures, Dumbledore then introduced the teacher that smiled at me, his name was Professor Lupin, and he was the new Defense Against The Dark Art's teacher. There was a low rumble of applause from the tables.
Food began to fill the plates on the tables, and everyone began to dig in. I piled chicken, potatoes and gravy onto my plate, I sipped the water in my goblet, and ate my food, savoring the taste. "Don't kill yourself." The girl next to me said dryly. I looked up at her, confused. She sighed, "Don't gorge yourself on food like it's your last meal before execution." She explained. I swallowed and laughed. "My name's Hannah. Hannah Punil." I said to her, she looked at me through her coke bottle glasses. "Yes I'm aware," She said, I smiled. "You?" I asked, as she cleared her throat. "Maeve Meredith Henderson-Capaldi. I'm Scottish." She said, her Scottish accent obvious. "Huh...So, what do your parents work as, Maeve?" I asked, politely. "Dad's a Obliviater and Mum's a Healer at St. Mungo's. You?" She asked, munching on a crunchy roll. "My Father studies Magical Creatures, mostly Dangerous ones. I don't know about my Mum. I never knew her." Maeve nodded.
Our conversation continued until the last of the tarts and other desserts disappeared off our plates. Professor Dumbledore stood and ordered all of us to bed. Maeve and I followed the rest of the Ravenclaw's to the common room, and we entered the Girls Dormitory. Maeve's bed was next to mine. Maeve said Dumbledore probably put me in with the Third Years (my year) Rather than with the First Years, which I was thankful of. I shared the door room with two other girls, Mary and Helena. Helena was covered in freckles with shocking ginger hair that hung to her elbows, she smiled as she climbed into her four poster bed, nearest to the door. The area around her bed was pristine.
The second girl, Mary, was not as neat. Her brown hair was pulled back in multiple tiny ponytails, and the area around her bed was already littered with sweet-packets and other documents. She wore tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt with "The Weird Sisters Tour 2013" printed on the front in changing colours. A poster of the said band was pinned over her bed, where the singers were flicking their hair sulkily, obviously bitter from being put away during the journey to Hogwarts. She grunted and waved offhandedly as she fell backwards off her bed.
I pulled on my boxers and long t-shirt, and then climbed into the warm bed. My bed. I heard the wind howling outside the window as the room turned silent, and the lights went out. I suddenly realized how exhausted I was, and how stuffed I felt for the first time in a long time. I don't think I had ever had a meal like the one like I just had. I chuckled to myself, remembering how scared I was of going to Hogwarts. How foolish I was, I thought, as I drifted off, looking at the moonlight's beam, stark against the bleached floorboards, and then fell asleep feeling quite content.