Harry was in love with his new house. The common room alone would have had Harry selling internal organs to stay there. The room was warm both in temperature and color. The room was filled with sunlight streaming through large round windows along the walls, giving the already yellow room a golden hue. Plants hung from everywhere, the air felt fresher in here than it did out in the hall. Walking into the Hufflepuff common room is how Harry imagined a warm hug felt like.
"Congratulations first years! I'm Prefect Gabriel Truman and I am delighted to welcome you to Hufflepuff House." A tall boy with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes said standing in front of the main fireplace, followed by a girl with short-cropped blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
"I am Prefect Beatrice Haywood, we are very excited to have so many new faces in the house of the Badgers."
"Now room assignments are up to you, you just have to find a room with a blank plaque in front of it. Everyone has their own room so no worries about sharing rooms down here. Boys rooms are to the left and girls are to the right. But before you go hunting down a room I want to go over the rules here in Hufflepuff." Gabriel continued, his mellow voice carrying easily across the common room.
"First rule is to absolutely ignore anything the other houses say about Hufflepuff. It is not as bad as how the Slytherins get treated, but the other houses will try to put you down just because you are in this house. Do not let them discourage you. They will underestimate you and you have to use that to your advantage." Beatrice's voice was warm but firm, a fire in her eyes, clearly very prideful of her house.
"Second rule is that we 'puffs must stick together. We are the house of loyalty for a reason. That does not mean you have to like everyone in this house, but it does mean you treat them all with kindness and respect." Gabriel looked into the eyes of every first year as he spoke. He was sure they would need this rule more than ever with Potter in their midst.
"Third rule is please follow curfew. It is there for a reason. Not to curb your fun or study habits, but to keep you healthy and functional for school. If you are having problems sleeping or keeping your schedule under control please see either a Prefect or Professor Sprout." Beatrice smiled, relaxing her stance as they reached the end of the rules.
"There are other smaller rules that are posted on the notice board, but these three are the most important for you to remember. Also, remember to have fun. You are going to spend the next 7 years in this house and with your classmates, remember that." Gabriel teased.
"Now shoo, go find your rooms. Professor Sprout will see you all at breakfast with your timetables." Beatrice dismissed the firsties, enjoying seeing their joy as they ran and laughed trying to find the best room. All except their very colorful addition.
"Potter, what's wrong?" Beatrice asked concerned, leaning down so she was at eye level with the boy.
"Nothing." Potter's voice was soft and a little raspy like he hadn't used it often.
"Well, then you should go up and find a room with the other boys." she urged.
"I'm allowed a room?" Potter asked with hope in his eyes and Beatrice felt her heart break and confusion fill her. Where had Potter been that he thought he wasn't allowed to have a room?
"Of course you are sweetie. Come on, I'll help you find one." Beatrice smiled and held her hand out. Potter seemed hesitant like he wasn't sure what to do at first, but Beatrice was patient. Slowly Harry slid his own icy-cold hand into the warmth of her hand and held on like a lifeline.
Slowly she went with Harry down the hall to see what rooms were still left for him to take. The boy looked more and more worried the further down the winding hall they went and no open room presented itself. But Beatrice knew the castle would just add on more rooms if need be. But finally all the way at the end of the hall there was one room open across from Cedric Diggory's room and next to Melvin Catterick.
"Put your hand on the door and this room will register as yours." Beatrice nudged the boy.
"A whole room just for me?" Potter asked a little nervously.
"Yep, all for you little badger. This room is all yours for the next 7 years."
Hesitantly Harry let go of the kind prefect and placed his hand against the door. A tingle shot up his arm and the plaque next to his door suddenly had his name. A whole room just for him. Harry was going to love Hogwarts.
It was the first day of classes. Harry was so excited.
Last night Harry spent several hours lovingly putting all of his clothes and accessories up in his massive wardrobe and dresser. He also organized his books and supplies on the desk the room came with as well before sinking into his golden yellow comforter to sleep.
It was the best sleep of his life and now it was the first day of classes.
Harry was in the great hall sitting at the end of the Hufflepuff table next to Ernie Macmillian and across from Susan Bones. Both were very friendly but also not very talkative so early in the morning.
All the first years were silently munching on their breakfast while impatiently waiting for their class schedules. In comparison to the very loud and rowdy Gryffindor table next to theirs, the Hufflepuffs were way more mellow.
Finally, the time had come. Harry felt his impatience making him tap his foot. Professor Sprout was making her way down the long table starting with the 7th years up by the head table. The first years would be last and Harry thought he might rip out his hair trying to wait.
"Oi Potter! Why'd you get sorted into the puffs?" A loud red-headed first-year yelled from behind Harry startling the poor boy.
"Um, the hat said I would do my best here in Hufflepuff?" Harry answered unsure what the boy was trying to get at.
"You were supposed to be in Gryffindor!" The boy argued, slowly drawing attention to their conversation.
"Says who?" Susan Bones yelled back at the obnoxious boy.
"Says, everyone! His parents were both Gryffindors." The boy insisted.
"Well, Potter isn't his parents. He wasn't even raised by them. So that's not a very good reason." Susan huffed.
Harry was feeling very confused and stuck in the middle of the two shouting parties. Ernie was watching with sympathy but making no moves to interfere.
"He's the boy-who-lived!" The redhead tried again.
"Why would that put him in Gryffindor?" Susan asked exasperated.
"Because… because he is supposed to be a hero!" The boy looked like he was pouting at this point.
Beatrice made her way down the table to break up the impending fight.
"Okay, that's enough of that. Weasley turn back around and eat with your house. Don't harass Potter. Bones good job sticking up for your fellow first-year but let's try to keep the shouting to a minimum so early in the morning." Beatrice interjected before the two first years could yell anything else.
"Miss Hayworth is exactly right. 5 points to Hufflepuff for standing up for a fellow housemate. Now let's get everyone their schedule." Professor Sprout said jovially once she arrived behind Beatrice.
Harry eagerly waited his turn, taking the paper Professor Sprout handed him as if it was the most precious thing he had ever been given. His class schedule at last.
Monday:
Transfiguration
History
Lunch
Double Herbology
Tuesday:
Double Potions
Lunch
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Flying
Wednesday:
Double Charms
Lunch
Transfiguration
Astronomy
Thursday:
Herbology
Potions
Lunch
Double Defense
Friday:
Double Transfiguration
Lunch
Charms
History
Oh, Harry couldn't wait. He was glad he grabbed all of his textbooks this morning so he didn't have to rush back to the dorms to get what he needed for class. The only problem now was actually being able to find said classes. Harry was pretty smart, even if the Dursleys made him pretend otherwise, but he was a bit directionally challenged.
He had just left the great hall and he was already lost and feeling frustrated when he saw the group of first-year Slytherins up ahead who was supposed to be sharing his first class of the day.
Quickly making his way to the group of green and silver-clad students, Harry grabbed the closest Slytherin's hand so he wouldn't lose them, which in retrospect was a pretty stupid decision.
He had grabbed and startled Vincent Crabbe whose first response to being grabbed was to punch the small Hufflepuff. This is how Harry ended up in the infirmary close to tears on his very first day of classes.
Harry just couldn't do anything right. Maybe he didn't belong here either.
"Well, Mr. Potter this has to be the quickest any first year has ever entered my infirmary. Lucky for you that black eye is an easy fix but you will be missing your first classes of the day." Madame Pomfrey informed the small boy huddled on one of the hospital beds.
"I didn't mean to," Harry whispered, feeling miserable.
"It isn't your fault that Crabbe overreacted. Though maybe don't touch the Slytherins unexpectedly again." Beatrice said while patting Harry's shoulder gently. Beatrice had been the one summoned to take Harry to Madame Pomfrey after Crabbe had punched him.
"I just didn't want to get lost. I was really excited for my classes." Harry said mournfully.
"Oh I know you were little badger. Don't worry, you'll be out of here by lunch and then I can make sure you make it to Herbology on time okay?" Beatrice petted Harry's soft colorful hair as she reassured him.
"Promise?" Harry asked hopefully, unshed tears still in his brilliant green eyes.
"I pinky promise I will make sure you are able to get to the rest of your classes." It was an easy thing to promise the boy with the slowly fading black eye. "Now I am going to go to my morning classes while you stay here under Madame Pomfrey's excellent care and I will be back to pick you up to take you down to lunch and then classes. Be good for the healer and I will see you later."
"Bye Beatrice." Harry waved goodbye to the bubbly Prefect before leaning back on the pillows of his hospital bed. He was supposed to rest and heal, but Harry was sure he was too wired to take a nap so soon after waking up. Before he knew it though, his eyes were slowly closing and he fell asleep, curled up on his side, hugging one of his pillows to his chest.
Hopefully, everything would be better once he woke up.