Örlög

“... Hufflepuff!”

The declaration was met with an extreme silence, before the Hufflepuff table erupted into loud cheers. Harry thought he even heard someone whistle. Somehow, a chant of ‘we got Potter’ began while the Gryffindors complained.

 “Silence!” Professor McGonagall admonished the students.

Harry quietly returned the hat to and made his way to the Hufflepuff table, he was greeted with pats and handshakes. He felt himself smile at the enthusiasm. He looked towards the Ravenclaw table.

“Harry!” He looked around to see a girl wave at him and gestured to join her.

“Susan! What a surprise!” Harry walked to sit beside her.

“Surprise?” She laughed incredulously, “imagine my surprise to find that the two people I met in muggle London were wizards!”

“You both know each other?” A girl sitting beside Susan asked. Hannah, Harry thought her name was.

“We just met once this summer while I was shopping. You know, the date when you were busy and bailed at the last moment.”

“I already said I was sorry,” Hannah protested.

Susan sighed, “I know. Well, Harry met my bestest friend, Hannah. Hannah, met Harry.”

Hannah waved and grinned, “Hannah Abott, pleasure to be acquainted.”

“Harry Potter, and likewise.” Harry returned.

The two then returned to watch the progression of the sorting.

Ron was sorted into Gryffindor. Harry saw a pair of identical twins with red hair, cheering the loudest from the Gryffindor.
‘Those must be Ron’s brothers.’ Harry thought.

The last person to be sorted was Zabini, who was sorted into Gryffindor. 

An aged wixen, Headmaster Dumbledore, sitting in the center of the staff table, stood up, “Welcome students, to another year at Hogwarts. First, I must tell you that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden for a reason and out of limits, so is the 3rd floor corridor. You also know not to wander around after curfew. That being said, Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweat!.” 

As soon as the last word was uttered, a spread of food appeared on the table.

Harry jerked back in surprise, “that was a bit… weird.”

Someone snorted, “weird, that is certainly a way to put it. I’d call him utterly mad,” he added with a lopsided grin. 

“Ernie!” Hannah chided the boy.

“What? It's true, have you seen what he wears? Not an iota of fashion sense.” 

“I mean he’s not wrong.” Susan commented, take a sip of pumpkin juice.

“Susan! Don’t enable him!” 

Harry laughed watching the banter.

“I’m Ernest  Macmillan, very earnest, you can call me Ernie.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Harry Potter.” Harry shook his hand.

“Tell me dear Harry, how do you feel reading the books about yourself,” he asked, “fighting dragons,” he added, wiggling his eyebrows.

Harry laughed, “oh, it’s utter insanity, I myself would have believed them if I hadn't been, well, myself.”

“I know right,” Ernie exclaimed and stood up, “which is why the wixen society needs fiction books, entertainment. You’re looking at the person who is gonna bring joy to wixen society and get rich.”

Hannah hit his side.

“Oww!”

“Sit down, you’re causing a commotion, some people are trying to eat.”

“Esh pesh.” Ernie sat down with a huff.  

He took a rather big spoonful of shepherd pie.

—-------------------------------------------

After the feast, the students were told to follow their respective house Prefects, who would show them to their dorms.

Harry got enough time to give a quick wave to Theo as he followed his housemates.

They were led through the halls and made to stand in front of some barrels.

“First years please pay attention, I will show you how to access the common room.” The Hufflepuff prefect announced.

“Now to access the dormitory, you need to tap the barrels in the rhythm of ‘Helga Hufflepuff’. Be sure to watch carefully as the consequences are… unpleasant.”

Some people snickered. 

“Quiet please, now watch carefully.” The Prefect tapped the barrels in a seemingly random manner. 

She led them through the tunnel entryway, which opened to show a warm space, with earthy colored couches and indoor plants in every corner along with hanging plants. Harry could see a big lit fireplace, surrounded with climbing vines, and atop the mantle was a portrait of a woman. She had her hair braided back, wearing a coopery armor and wielding a double sword. She had a sly smirk on her lips.

“Welcome to the Hufflepuff common room. I’m Roxanna Florence, Hufflepuff Prefect and a 6th Year student. Feel free to call me by my name. Now let me go over some common things. You can see the bulletin board to the left, latest news, club recruitments and each Years timetable would be posted there. On the right is the Q/A board, you can attach any question you have there or answer someone’s question. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me or any upper year, we would be happy to help.” 

She continued, “Your timetable would be individually given to you tomorrow by our head of house, Professor Pomona Sprout. We also have another Prefect but as he is otherwise occupied, we’ll have a meet and greet tomorrow. Now I’m sure you’re all tired and would like to rest. The boy's dormitory is through the right upper staircase, and the girls are through the left upper staircase. Your name will be written on the door.”

She looked over at the students, “I'll answer any questions you have tomorrow, please search for your room and follow the instructions to key into your own room. Hufflepuffs care a lot about privacy, so each one will get their own room.”

This statement was followed by excited whispers of the first years.

“I know I know, it's exciting, remember to keep it a secret from others,” she added with a wink, holding a finger to her lips. "We also have study rooms downstairs so you can interact and study.”

“Now shoo go to your rooms.” 

—------------------------------------

“Wow, we get our own rooms!” Ernie said excitedly.

Susan smirked and said, “that's why Hufflepuff is the best.”

Hannah nodded at the statement. 

Ernie, apparently having noticed Harry’s confusion, said, “the other houses have 4 kids in one room. Hufflepuff is the only house to have such extensive expansion charms used to create so much space. It’s awesome.” He yawned, “I'm so tired, imma go sleep.”

All four of them waved their goodbyes and searched for their rooms.

Harry found his name written on a plaque beside the door. He opened it to find a cozy bedroom with large windows, flowy curtains, and a desk near the window. The four-poster bed also had willowy curtains. Harry’s trunk was placed beside the desk. Harry placed his messenger bag on the bed and carefully opened the pet carrier to carry Dame out.

“Hey Dame,” Harry whispered, “we’re going to stay here. Do you like it?”

Dame sniffed and looked around before jumping out of his arms to pad around the room before stopping in front of the window. She patted at the window and then turned to look at Harry and meowed at him. 

“Sorry Dame, I don't think that can be opened.” Harry said bemused. He moved to place her cat tree, toys, rugs, and couch near the window. Dame hopped onto the couch and stretched before curling inside. 

Harry moved to place her food (which was timed) and water dispenser. 

He looked around and found a message on the door. They were instructions on how to key himself and those he chose to have access to the room. 

Harry moved to flop onto the bed and sighed. He wondered how Theo was doing.