4
Wes
As usual, the platform at Hogsmeade was packed when Maggie and I got off the Hogwarts Express. It felt almost nostalgic being pushed and shoved around, just like in my first year. I could almost remember the feeling of clutching my suitcase and glancing around the dark platform, trying to find my way around. Being a muggleborn didn't help my case much but once I stepped foot in that castle I suddenly felt like I really and truly belonged. That's what being a wizard was really about, wasn't it?
I turned my camera back and forth across the crowd of students, appreciating my height for once. I filmed a group of first years heading toward Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher and then a sea of upperclassmen heading toward the carriages. For the first time, I could finally see the thestrals that pulled the carriages and it was obvious that everyone else could too.
"Wes, do you see them?" Maggie whispered to me suddenly, gazing at the line of carriages ahead of us. I nodded absently, turning my camera off and tucking it into my pocket. "They're kind of sickly looking aren't they?"
"They look like death." I replied quietly, surging forward to the nearest empty carriage. We got in silently and gazed out at the newly rebuilt school just across the shining lake. You would never know that only a year ago that same school was being run by dark wizards and eventually was the place for one of the most important battles in wizarding history. The Ministry was worried that the school shouldn't open so soon after due to mental scarring and whatnot and I finally began to realize that they might have been right.
I pulled my camera from my pocket again and began filming the smooth ride to the castle. It had been a long time since I had really appreciated the school grounds and even longer since I had appreciated Hogwarts on the first night of the year. It was a real sight to see the boats filled with first years gliding across the water and the dozens of carriages pulled by ghostly horses. The best sight of all was Hogwarts itself, gleaming against the sky and literally pulsing with the magic inside.
"I can't believe this is actually our last year." Maggie said, not taking her eyes off of the school. The moon filtered through the carriage, reflecting off her dark skin and eyes. I slyly began to film her gazing outside.
"I don't even know what I'm going to do after this." I replied, not letting myself dwell on the thought. It had become a real problem over the summer and I tried not to think too much about my lack of a future. Choosing a wizarding career was much harder than a muggle one and I happened to be a huge procrastinator.
"I don't think any of us do. " Maggie said, looking at me. "I mean, we've been through so much we might as well just retire now. I'd bet most of our class will become aurors though."
"We'll all end up like Mad-Eye Moody in that case." I said, remembering the tough man with the fake eye and wooden leg that was our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher a few years back. It wasn't actually Moody but I had heard that he played the part quite well.
The carriage came to a smooth stop and Maggie and I got out, lugging our trunks behind us. I still had my camera out and got a wide shot of the castle up close. I could almost imagine the looks of amazement on little wizard and witch's faces and the recognition on adults as they watched the footage. Maybe if my documentary took off I could live off that money for the rest of my life. Then I wouldn't have to worry about getting a job in the first place.
"Here we go." Maggie smiled, giving me a sad look mixed with excitement and a million other emotions I couldn't recognize. It still amazed me how Maggie could go from headstrong and vaguely pissed off to melancholy to on the verge of tears. Sometimes I really didn't understand her.
We spilled into the Entrance Hall with the rest of the school and made our way into the Great Hall, dropping off our luggage on the way. Everything was the same as I remembered it, with the same long four tables for each house and the starry night sky above. Maggie and I headed toward the Ravenclaw table where I already could see people I knew. People I hadn't seen since... I really had to stop thinking about that.
But as I got closer though I could see people at my table that I didn't recognize. Students with ties that weren't the familiar Ravenclaw blue but maroon and gold and green. I inspected the other tables and found that they were the same way. It wasn't not until I heard Professor McGonagall yelling that I understood.
"No more house tables! Sit wherever you want in honor of our coming together as a school!" McGonagall shouted, directing students to random tables. Some kids looked pleased, sitting with their friends from other houses while others seemed confused and all around annoyed. I glanced at Maggie who shrugged and took a seat at what was once the Gryffindor table.
"It's about time we got some house equality in this place." Maggie said, gazing around the crowded Great Hall. "You should get this on film. Something like house integration hasn't happened since...well ever."
I nodded in agreement before turning on my camera and filming the whole room, zooming in on students in different colored ties laughing together. Up above, instead of the four house flags hanging from the ceiling, there was only the Hogwarts crest. I couldn't get enough footage and with each new detail I became more excited, not only for my documentary, but for Hogwarts itself. After countless years of competition and barriers between houses, we were finally getting the equality we deserve.
Rhys and I were some of the last people to walk into the castle, trailing behind the sea of first years. I used to rush to the doors when I was younger, terrified of being late for the feast. But for once I didn't feel worried as I strolled into the Entrance Hall, taking in the familiar details of Hogwarts. I had been waiting so long to be a 7th year and after the Battle, I thought I was about to get the last year I deserved.
"I don't want to be a Hufflepuff." one of the first years exclaimed as Rhys and I passed by. "They aren't like the other houses that actually have talents. Hufflepuffs are useless!"
"Oh no." I muttered, moving to grab Rhys but she was already gone, striding towards the boy. When he spotted her, his smug face turned into one of fear. I jogged after Rhys who pointed her wand at the kid and made sparks fly from the tip.
"Useless huh?" she barked, gesturing to her loose yellow and black tie. "I could have you unconscious and with Madam Pomfrey with one twitch of my nose. The only useless person then would be you."
The boy looked like he was about to throw up and all the kids around him were either on the verge of laughter or tears. The sparks from Rhys' wand started to come faster and brighter but before she could do anything drastic I pulled her behind me.
"Come on, you need some food." I said, turning her around and shoving her toward the Great Hall. Rhys gave the kids one last death glare before stalking away. I heard the first years whispering behind me but they stopped as I turned back around.
"Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff." I said quietly, before following Rhys. After the Triwizard Tournament, Cedric Diggory had become a household name and even more so after the Battle. I didn't know him personally but after his death, everyone felt like he was a close friend.
"That ungrateful little-"
"No house tables! Sit where you prefer!" Professor McGonagall shouted from the front of the hall before heading out to where the first years were waiting. I surveyed the Great Hall and was surprised to see that the usual house tables were in the same spots but filled with different people. It didn't take me long to realize that the Slytherin table had a lot less students than usual.
"Cool." Rhys said, nodding her head in approval. "I've always wanted to know what it's like to sit with the troublemakers." Before I could argue, she walked to the sad looking, former Slytherin table and sat right down.
I scanned the rest of the table, trying to figure out which classmates decided not to come back this year. I wasn't surprised to see that several most of the kid's whose parents were Death Eaters were gone while the rest look either pissed or suicidal. No matter what your family background was though, everyone hated Slytherins and even more so now that the Battle was over. Being Slytherin at a time like this was like walking in front of a speeding train.
I craned my neck to try and see the other end of the table but immediately put my head down when I saw a pale head turning in my direction. Rhys gave me a weird look but the feast had already begun before she could say anything. And as the sorting and speeches went on, despite everything, I decided that I was getting sick of hearing about Harry Potter.