ch 43. My Hogwarts life begins

The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." the stern looking witch led us to a flagged stone floor and into an empty chamber. We hear a crowd from the back of the door.

I could feel the nervousness off everyone as we stand there huddle together.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, I'm Professor McGonagall." She stare at us and observe our appearance. She nodded and continued, "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. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

She then left after giving us a passing glance. Hearing her words, we began to tidy up our appearance.

Professor McGonagall had returned and said, "Now, form a line and follow me."

The doors open and we were met with a large banquet hall. The ceiling show a starry night sky while candles float above the four long dining tables.

At the end of the hall is an elevated platforn. There, we saw the tables where the teachers are seated. Below the platform is a pointy witch hat resting on a stool.

When we crowded together in front of the hat, it move and a visible face appeared. Then it started to sing,

🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

Professor McGonagall motioned us to gather at the side while she holds a long parchment. She lifted the hat above the stool and said, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A shy looking girl clumsily made her way to the stool. She sat and the hat was placed on her head. A moment later, the hat yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

What follow are scenes of kids named being called and the hat yelling their house.

"Bones, Susan!"..... "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Boot, Terry!"...."RAVENCLAW!"

"Brown, Lavender!"...."GRYFFINDOR!"

"Bulstrode, Millicent" ...."SLYTHERIN!"

....

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"..."HUFFLEPUFF!"

...

"Granger, Hermione!"....."GRYFFINDOR!"

I just laugh at Ron's groaning face.

...

"Longbottom, Neville!" ....."GRYFFINDOR!"

.....

"Malfoy, Draco!"...."SLYTHERIN!"

.....

After a few more names were sorted. Harry was called out.

"Potter, Harry!"

As he made his way to the hat, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.

As the hat lands on Harry's head, the hall became silent. I could see Harry having a silent conversation with the hat. A moment later, the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table erupted with applause. Harry

Walked shakily towards the lion's table where he was welcomed by Percy and the twins. He look at me and Ron and I just gave him a nod.

The sorting ceremony continued

...

"Turpin, Lisa!"...."RAVENCLAW!"

....

Then it was Ron's turn.

"Weasley, Ronald!"....."GRYFFINDOR!"

I could see Ron take a sigh of relief as he quickly ran toward Harry and his brothers.

Now the Weasleys and Harry look at me with expectations.

"Witcherly, Marshall!"

I made my way toward the stool. I sat and the hat was placed on my head.

The hat immediately reacted, 'What the! Kid that's one mighty fine shield you got there! I'm afraid I'll hurt myself if I try to get pass that!!'

I mentally replied, 'Yeah, sorry about that. So how will I be sorted now?'

'No worries. If I can't read your mind, I'll judge your aura instead.' The hat said.

'Oh, you can look into people's aura?' I asked. I'm curious about the hat's judgement.

The hat mumble,'Oh, pure white. That's rare. Haven't seen one in a long time. Hmmm.. can't say you're courageous... a little smart but you don't have a hunger for knowledge... and definitely not cunning enough.....but loyal..very loyal to those you consider friends and family..'

I frowned. I feel kinda offended by what the hat is saying about me. I question myself, 'Am I not courageous, smart and cunning?'

Not waiting for my reaction, the hat yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

McGonagall took the hat off and I stood up and made my way to the Puff's table. I looked back at the hat and gave it the stink eye.

I glace over the Gryffindor table to see Harry and the Weasleys defeated faces. I just gave them a reassuring smile.

I then started to look at the people around me. I sat next to Justin Finch-Fletchley. Across the table, I gave a nod to Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott.

I then felt someone tapping my shoulder. I turned around to see Edwar-...i mean Cedric extending his hand to me. He said, "Welcome to Hufflepuff, Marshall."

I smile and shook his hand, "Thanks. Please take care of us."

After our interaction, some of the older girls gave me an inquisitive look. I thought, 'Seriously! His fan girls are so..."

After the last student, Blaise Zabini, was sorted to Slytherin. The headmaster got up and the hall became silent.

He said, "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!'

Instantly the tables are filled with different kinds of food. I saw roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and, for some strange reason, mint humbugs.

I really can't find fault with the food. I start putting a little of each on my plate and sample as many as I can. I observe the others and take note of what they're talking about.

Justin start talking to me and said, "Hi! Marshall right? I'm Justin."

"Oh?" I swallow the food in my mouth and hurriedly replied, "Sorry about that. Yup, Name's Marshall Witcherly." We shook hands.

I'm trying to remember anything about Justin but I can't recall any. I'm now realizing that I'm going blind entering the Hufflepuff house.

"Are you also new to the whole magical world? You see, 'til now I only attended muggle school. My name was already down for Eton." He became talkative immediately.

I replied, "Oh, same here. I went to a muggle school down at Devon. But I grew up knowing that magic exists. See those group of red heads in Gryffindor table?" I point to the Weasleys and continued, "I met them a few years back. I vistit their house often. So even if its just my Nana and me now, I was not isolated regarding magic."

A brown boy with glasses heard me and said, "Wait! You know the Weasleys? I remember now, you were in the same boat at Harry Potter earlier! The tentacle kid! Are you guys close? Do you think you could get me an autograph? Oh where's my manners!" He extended his hand and introduced himself, "I'm Wayne Hopkins."

Then a blond haired boy reacted as well, "Ah! I also remember you! Draco try to peek at you guys while changing in the train! I never knew that Malfoy had such preference. I'll tell my parents back at home. They'll have a laugh with that. I'm Ernest MacMillan. Just call me Ernie."

"A.. a..are you guys.. muggle borns?" A shy boy with curly black hair stutter as he ask.

I said, "You could consider me as half-blood. But I grew up around both Muggles and magical people."

Ernie said, "I'm from a pureblood family. But we're not that stuck-up like the Malfoys."

"I'm a half-blood. My mom's a witch and dad's an accountant. I also went to a muggle schòol before coming here." Wayne explained his household members.

Justin recalled, "Both my parents are Muggles. How about you?" He asked the boy with curly black hair.

The shy boy answered, "I'm a muggle born. I'm Kevin by the way. Kevin Entwhistle." He exhale a sigh of relief and continued, "I'm relieved. Me and my folks read the history of the magic world and got scared about what's written."

I nodded with what he said. I added, "You are right to be concerned. But like in the Muggle side, there are good guys and there are bads one. You just have to be smart with the people you meet."

My new classmates nodded with what I said.

I then look around while I continue to eat and find myself checking out the teachers' table.They look exactly like in the movies. I saw Snape talking to Quirrell . I thought, 'I could already sense something foul on that guy's head.'

I then find myself locking eyes with the Headmaster's. I just smile and nodded. He then gave me a slight nod in return. Good thing there's no windchimes sounds ringing in my head.

I turn around to see my friends at the Gryffindor table. I find the lions are still celebrating the fact that they got Harry. I don't really need to be concerned about the boy for now. With the Weasleys surrounding him, he won't be lonely.

After dessert, Dumbledore stands once again to address the room. He notes a bit of housekeeping: the forest on the grounds is forbidden to students; students should not use magic in the halls between classes; Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term; and "the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

After a rousing rendition of the school song, the students head back to their houses.

The Hufflepuff prefect lead us down to the dungeon after exiting the great hall. I saw the group of Slytherin students going the same way.

I saw Malfoy scowl at me. I jokingly tighten my school robe as if I'm afraid he'll see my body. He almost lost it and was going to dash towards me. Good thing my group made a turn to where the kitchen is, finally separating the badgers from the snakes.

Our group went further down the corridor where we saw many stacked barrels. We stop at the end and face a large barrel that went through the wall.

Our prefect said, "Remember firsties. The barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, will open if tapped in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff'." He then showed us how its done. *tap*tap*...*tap*tap*tap*

The large barrel then opened up into a passage going up. We made our way in and a little way after ...a cosy, round, low-ceilinged room is revealed. The room is decorated in the cheerful, bee-like colours of yellow and black, emphasised by the use of highly polished, honey-coloured wood for the tables and the round doors.

A portrait over the wooden mantelpiece ,carved all over with decorative dancing badgers, shows Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School, toasting her students with a tiny, two-handled golden cup.

My mind went, 'Damn! I've some recollection of the Gryffindor and Slytherin common room from the movies but they don't hold a candle to the Huff's common room. It's sooo spacious and the ambiance gives off the impression that forest elves live here.'

I observe my fellow first years and I can tell they're really liking the cozy vibe of the place.

"See the big round doors.." Our prefect then point our attention to the doors at the back. He explains, .."Thats leads to the dormitories. The one in the right are the boy's and the left one is for the girl's."

He called me and the other four boys and said, "You five will share the room at the end of the hall. Your luggage are already placed in front of your beds."

He then hand out our timetable. I checked and saw that I have DADA at 9am with Ravenclaw followed by Herbològy at 10:45 am with the lions. In the afternoon, Transfiguration and Charms, both with Slytherin. 'Ugh!'

We quickly went up to our dormitories. We saw five four-poster beds covered in patchwork quilts and were furnished with wooden bedsteads. Copper lamps cast a warm light in the dorms and copper bed warmers hung on the walls which made the floor warm. A wooden nightstand was situated on one side of the bed, and a wooden trunk was located at the foot of the bed. A desk, an armoire and a dresser were located against the wall.

The beds were covered in yellow eiderdowns with yellow curtains, a wooden nightstand next to it and their school trunk at the foot of the bed.

I checked my bed and then my lone suitcase. I open it and walked down in the expanded space inside. I then gather my school supplies and clothes and let out Nagi, Tania and Bunta out my mindscape.

I then made my way up outside my suitcase. My three pets followed me out and observe our new room.

My four roommates look at me with shocked expressions.

Ernie broke the silence, "Marshall! What in the world?!"

"Oh, let me introduce these little ones. The owl is Naji, the fairy is Tania and the toad's name is Bunta. I hope you guys don't mind." I introduced my pets one by one.

"Hoo!" "Crooakk!" 🔔"ting!"🔔 My pets said thier hellos but kept their distance from the other boys.

Wayne made his way to my suitcase and inspect it, "Woah! It's a suitcase with expanded space inside! Doesn't these cost a lot!"

Justin then pointed out, "Wait! The letter said we can only have one companion pet. Either an owl, a cat or a toad? How are you able to bring these guys?"

I scratch my head and explain, "Ah..Well, I have a license to own XXX creatures and below. I also had the headmaster's permission for these three."

My new roommates look at me with various looks. Ernie in particular kept wracking his brains whether he had heard of the name Witcherly before.

I just sigh internally, 'I guess I will be explaining these three for at least a week or two.'

~end chapter ~