Hogwarts was impressive. Emma couldn't figure out where to look because there was so much to look at. She stared at the torches that lit up the stone walls, the marble staircase that led to the floors up above, and the ceiling she couldn't seem to find the end of.
The group of first years followed Professor McGonagall across the entryway to a room that was separate from the large room to their right. They crowded into the room together, standing very close together and looking about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said as she looked over the nervous students in front of her. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses."
Emma listened intently as Professor McGonagall spoke. The professor explained how the houses worked, what the houses were, and then informed the group that they should make themselves presentable.
"I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
As Professor McGonagall left the room, the crowd erupted into hushed whispers.
"How do they sort us?" asked the dark-haired boy, who she realized was Harry Potter.
"Some sort of test, I think." The redhead next to him replied.
"I hope I'm in Ravenclaw," said a boy close to her.
"Ravenclaw? I want to be a Gryffindor!" said a girl off to his left.
Emma listened to her new classmates' discussions, and her eyes met Persephone's from across the crowd. They gave each other nervous smiles when suddenly she let out a scream along with several others.
There was a collective jump and gasp from the others as ghosts floated in through the back wall. The transparent white beings were arguing as they glided across the room, not noticing the group that was now staring at them in awe. As the two continued arguing, the one ghost suddenly stopped, realizing that they had an audience.
"What are you all doing here?" asked the ghost in tights.
"New students!" said the other ghost, the Fat Friar, smiling at them. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded to the excitement of the Fat Friar. He gleefully stated he hoped that some of the group would be placed in Hufflepuff.
"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony is about to start." McGonagall had returned, ushering the ghosts out of the room. "Now, form a line and follow me."
Emma found herself lining up behind the tall redhead with a blond girl standing behind her. Persephone was somewhere at the end of the line, and Neville was somewhere in front and Hermione in the back. They walked out of the chamber, across the entryway, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
There was a collective gasp from the group as they entered and had their first look into the Great Hall. They chattered quietly to each other, pointing up at the ceiling and its thousands of enchanted floating candles and what appeared to be the starry night sky. They glanced nervously at all of the faces that watched from the four long tables as they passed by. The room was a sea of blue, yellow, red, and green, and none of the first years could decide whether they were more nervous or excited. The Great Hall was just as overwhelming as the outside of the castle.
The moment Professor McGonagall stopped, the group of first years did as well. She turned to regard them all, her eyes as sharp as a hawk as she surveyed each student. However, McGonagall didn't speak. Instead, the hat that now sat in front of them opened up near the brim like a mouth and sung out for all to hear.
When the hat finally sang its last note, McGonagall finally stepped forward. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."
The first name to be called was Abbott, Hannah. She was a blonde girl with pigtails and was in the middle of the group. She stumbled up to the hat, placed it over her head, and sat. Moments later, the hat called out, "HUFFLEPUFF." The table that had a lot of yellow began to cheer and clap for Hannah as she ran over to the table in glee.
Emma smiled as Hannah sat down, her excitement finally taking over her nerves.
"Bones, Susan."
"HUFFLEPUFF."
Emma watched intently as Professor McGonagall ran through the list. She found herself clapping for Hermione as she was sorted into Gryffindor, a decision that she was surprised the hat had made. During her conversations with Remus, she was positive that Hermione would have been a Ravenclaw just because of her know-it-all personality. "The hat always chooses the correct house," he had told her before they parted ways. "It might not seem like it at first, but you'll be where you belong." She had no reason to not believe him as he had watched many sortings. Emma had to believe that Remus knew what he was talking about.
"Moon, Persephone."
Emma watched as Persephone made her way to the stool and sat, placing the hat on her head. After a few moments, the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN."
Persephone bounded over to the Slytherin table, a smile plastered on her face. Their eyes met, and Emma gave her a sad look, which Persephone returned with a look of confusion. She forgot that Persephone wanted to be in Slytherin. Emma, however, did not.
"Nickels, Emelyn."
Emma hadn't expected to be immediately after Persephone. She looked at the remaining crowd and slowly made her way to the stool, lifting up the hat so she could sit and then placing it on her head with a shaky breath. A lump was forming in her throat as she waited for something to happen. Was something going to happen?
Ah, yes, the hat said to her. You are a challenge, aren't you? Your mind has you torn in several directions. You would fit well anywhere, you know. Your intellect would fit very well in Ravenclaw, but your ambition would settle you well in Slytherin. You're talented, and you have drive. You would do very well in either house. They would lead you to your highest potential in time.
Not Slytherin, Emma thought desperately, gripping the sides of the stool nervously. Or Ravenclaw. I want to be either a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff.
Not Slytherin or Ravenclaw? It's all here in your head. You have a need to prove yourself and a mind far beyond your years. You're witty and clever. Slytherin would put you on a path to greatness…However, I see courage and loyalty. Perhaps you could be a Gryffindor, after all.
Please, either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, Emma thought pleadingly. Was this supposed to take so long? She was starting to get nervous that the hat wouldn't sort her.
Ah, yes, I see it here. Your dedication and determination could be placed elsewhere. You're like an open book for the world to read. Are you sure that you wouldn't consider Slytherin?
Yes, Emma thought. I've never been more sure of anything.
You would do anywhere you go, but that means there's only one place for you –
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Emma let out a sigh of relief. She could be sorted, after all. She took the hat off, shot up from the stool with a broad smile, and passed it off to Theodore Nott as he was called up. Emma practically skipped over to the Hufflepuff table and sat next to a boy named Ernie Macmillan. She felt many hands clap her on the back in welcome and many bright and warm smiles from the rest of her new house. Emma looked up at Dumbledore curiously. He gave her a kind smile, and she couldn't stop herself from smiling back. For the second time in her life, she was home.
After the Hufflepuffs calmed down, Emma realized that she was starving. Even though she ate on the train, her nerves had been running high. Her stomach made a low rumble, which made Ernie and the girl sitting to her right laugh.
"The sorting is almost over," whispered a blonde-haired girl with kind eyes. She gave Emma a polite smile and returned to watching the rest of the group being sorted. Emma took that as her cue to start watching as well. Now that she wasn't waiting, she could see what was finally happening.
A few names after Theodore Nott's, a "Potter, Harry" was called up. The entire room erupted into quiet whispers, and Emma realized that he was the boy that was with the man – Hagrid – at Diagon Alley when she was there.
"Where do you think he'll wind up?" asked a neighboring Hufflepuff with brown hair.
"No idea," said another, glancing up at Harry as the hat dropped over his head. "Could you imagine if he wound up in Slytherin?"
A few of the older Hufflepuffs gave each other looks of alarm at the idea and returned to staring intently at Harry. After a few minutes, the hat yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table rose up simultaneously in a raucous roar as they all greeted Harry. He looked both excited and uncomfortable at the same time.
Finally, they were down to the final group of people being sorted. A Dean Thomas and Ronald Weasley were sorted into Gryffindor, Lisa Turpin became a Ravenclaw, and Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll, took the stool with the Sorting Hat, and departed the Great Hall.
As Professor McGonagall departed, Professor Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."
Dumbledore returned to his seat to the cheers and clapping over everyone.
Emma let out a quiet giggle as she watched the old professor sat down and then gasped as the table was suddenly full of food. She was never left hungry at the cottage, but the amount of food on the table was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Potatoes, chicken, roast beef, steak, peas, carrots, and so much more were dotted along the table, and Emma had no idea where to start. The very sight was making her mouth water. Rather than making a decision, she decided to take a little bit of everything close by.
"What was your name again?" asked the blonde girl from earlier. "My name is Beatrice."
"My name's Emma," she replied in between bites of chicken and potato.
"Welcome to Hufflepuff," Beatrice said with a huge smile. "You're going to love being here."
"None of my family is magic," said the boy named Justin. "I was set to attend Eton, but when I received my letter, we all decided Hogwarts was a much better choice."
"What's Eton?" asked the boy named Ernest Macmillan.
Emma stifled a giggle as Justin attempted to explain what a muggle school was to "Just Ernie." She didn't think about the fact that schooling for magical children was a lot different than for Muggleborn children.
"Where are you from, Emma?" the girl named Hannah Abbott asked.
"Well, I was in a children's home for most of my life, but I now live near York near Upper Helmsley."
"A children's home?" asked Susan Bones.
Emma nodded. "Yes, it's for children who don't have a family to take care of them. I didn't know that I had any family, but Professor Dumbledore introduced me to my only family member. Er, at least I think he is, at least."
"You met Professor Dumbledore already?" Ernie asked, his mouth dropping open in amazement.
"Erm…well, yes," Emma said, taking another bite of her potatoes. "Should I not have?"
"He's one of the greatest wizards of our time, and you already know him? That's amazing."
"Well," Emma shrugged. "It was a scary thing, really. I didn't know what to expect when I met him. I already met Professor McGonagall, as well."
"So did I!" Justin said excitedly. "She came 'round the house with my letter to tell my parents all about Hogwarts."
"You've both met Professor McGonagall already?" Ernie lamented. "You two are going to be ready for her class before any of us!"
"What does she teach?" Emma added a helping of peas and carrots to her plate.
"Transfiguration!" Ernie said with delight. "You transform things into other things, and it's such an impressive skill to have."
Emma listened to Ernie explain more about transfiguration, working through her food slowly. When she felt she could no longer eat anymore, her eyes lit up as the table became covered in sweets. Greeted with just as many options as before, she began to take helpings of each thing she felt she would enjoy.
With pudding finished, Dumbledore stood up once more. He spoke about the Forbidden Forest being off-limits. He mentioned that a corridor on the third floor was out of bounds unless the person wanted to die a painful death. Emma was alarmed by his final statement, and clearly, she wasn't the only one as a few nervous laughs echoed through the hall.
Before Dumbledore let everyone leave, he led the room into singing the school song. Everyone clapped when the song was completed, and they were finally dismissed to go to bed.
"First year Hufflepuffs this way!" called a voice further along the table. The small group of first years stood up slowly, food full in their bellies.
"Hullo there," the boy that stood in front of them said. "My name is Gabriel. This beautiful lady here is named Paula." The girl shot him a look and rolled her eyes. "We are your Hufflepuff Prefects, and we are about to show you why Hufflepuff has the best common room in all of the castle. Follow us!"
Paula let out a huff and shook her head. "Don't listen to him," she said. "Hufflepuff does have the best common room, though. It's a little tricky to get into, but you'll learn very quick."
Gabriel and Paula led the first years out of the Great Hall, bickering quietly amongst each other. Gabriel wore a dopey grin on his face while Paula looked less than amused. They followed Gabriel and Paula back through the entrance hall and to a door to the right of the marble staircase. They walked down a flight of stairs and were greeted with a large hallway adorned with massive bright and cheerful paintings, mostly of food and vibrantly lit torches.
Emma inhaled deeply as they entered the hallway, recognizing the smell of baked goods. She turned to look over at Susan Bones, whose face lit up.
"Is that the smell of cookies?" Susan asked in delight.
"Ah!" Gabriel's voice rang out above them. "I see one of our first years has already discovered why Hufflepuff has the best common room. We share the hall with the kitchen. Wait until breakfast tomorrow." He turned and gave Susan a wink. Paula groaned and gave Gabriel a swift punch in the arm.
They continued down the hall, stopping in front of a stack of barrels that was tucked into a nook on the right-hand side of the hallway.
"Well, we're here," Paula said with a knowing smile at their confused looks. "Believe it or not, our common room is just past these barrels. To enter, you have to tap the barrels the correct way."
"That's right! In order to get into the common room, you must tap the barrel, two from the bottom, middle of the second row in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff.' When done correctly, the lid will open, and you can crawl on through. Make a mistake and well…you'll see. Everyone duck." Gabriel began to tap on a random barrel, completely missing the rhythm when suddenly a pungent-smelling liquid erupted from the barrel and shot in his direction. It was a good thing they all ducked as none of them wanted to be covered in the foul scent.
"That liquid there is vinegar, and you will smell all day if you get things wrong. I suggest laying low the first few times you try so that you don't get hit." Gabriel smiled and then tapped on the correct barrel, teaching them the proper rhythm of how to tap out "Helga Hufflepuff."
When the lid swung open, they all peered in and were surprised to see the pathway to the common room was very earthy.
"Unfortunately, I think they took the badger thing a little too seriously," Paula said at their concerned looks. "But I promise that you will love the common room. Go ahead, head on it."
One by one, they climbed into the barrel and lowered their feet to the earthen pathway. Plant roots stuck out at odd angles within the earthen hall and fascinated Emma. It took a few moments, but she realized they were underground.
Justin was the first to reach the end of the path and opened the round honey-colored door, and he gasped. The others followed suit as they took in the honey-colored wooden tables and chairs, the low cushions, and the many plants that were strewn about. A fireplace was lit across the way, creating a warmth that none of them would have expected being so low into the ground. Windows surrounded the circular room near the ceiling where they could view the grass blowing softly in the outside breeze.
Everything in the common room was made of soft shapes, everything molding perfectly to the circular walls. The furniture was clothed in yellow and black. Cacti and brightly colored plants that Emma didn't know the names of sat atop shelves. Many of the plants appeared to be waving at them as they entered. Ivies and ferns were hung from the ceiling, threatening to tickle their hair as they walked underneath. Above the fireplace stood a large portrait of a woman holding a goblet, also draped in yellow and black.
None of the first years knew where to look as they began to explore. Older students began to shuffle into the room, greeting them all in turn and welcoming them into Hufflepuff. Everyone was very friendly.
"Girls dormitories are off to the right, boys are off to the left," Paula said after letting them explore for a little bit. "The portrait on the fireplace is of Helga Hufflepuff, our very founder." The portrait nodded to Paula and raised her goblet to her.
"If you ever find yourself needing any assistance, Helga can be of help. After all, she's been here the longest. Now off you go!"
Emma and the other girls looked at each other in glee before running into their new bedroom. As they opened the round door, they were greeted with four-poster beds with draped canopies in yellow and black. The warmest looking quilt made of the same yellow and black material laid on top of the fluffiest looking bed they had ever seen and their trunks were already laid out. Emma's bed was sandwiched between Megan Jones and Sally Smith's beds.
Without a second thought, Emma threw herself on her bed, wrapping herself up in her blanket.
"This bed is divine," Emma said with a smile.
The other girls followed suit, their forms a blur of dark robes and grinning faces as they all giggled, wrapping themselves up in their blankets.
"Why don't we make a fort and stay in it?" Megan suggested from her bed.
All at once, the girl's faces lit up even more. Emma's smile wavered at the thought. She never would have had this experience in the children's home. While she didn't think the other girls were anything like her old roommates, her experience was slightly soured. Perhaps a fort would be fun; the girls all seemed friendly.
"That would be perfect!" Hannah exclaimed. "Let's all get ready for bed and make our fort!"
With high pitched squeals and giggles, the girls ran off to the bathroom to change in their pajamas and immediately set forth on making their blanket fort in the center of their dorm. Emma held back from the others, but their energy was infectious. It didn't take long for her to start joining in on the fun.
While their fort was haphazard at best, but for the new Hufflepuff girls, it was pure magic. They pulled cushions from the common room into their room to make a large mattress. Sheets were taken off the beds and tied to the posts of their beds and held up by brown wooden chairs in the middle. They laid their pillows down in a circle, so only their heads were touching and stared up at the twinkling lights Susan managed to charm into their fort.
They whispered to each other, excited and nervous for their next day. They talked about how excited they were for their classes and which boys they already thought were cute. They talked nervously about what their professors might be like. Occasionally one of the girls would let out a silly sound that would send them into a fit of giggles. One by one, the girls fell asleep, each one with a smile.
Emma stayed up a little longer, wondering what Remus was doing back home. She missed him, but perhaps he was right; Hogwarts wouldn't be bad at all. Snuggling into her blanket and pillow, Emma drifted off to sleep as well.
a/n: WHOOPS. I kind of forgot that I was reposting everything again. My baaaadddddd.
So, here - three chapters in a row. Yayyyy~