1974, Welcome to Hogwarts
September 1st, 1974
The time had come. The trunks were on a trolley, waiting to be stored into the storage compartment of the train. Around them, people were agitating as the departure was approaching. Agnes felt quite overwhelmed. Fortunately, Joshua and Jimmy seemed more than used to it and were leading the way. Mr Dunbar and his wife were closing the group.
They had woken up early that morning to make sure that everyone would be ready in time. Agnes had shopped in Diagon Alley a few days back, to purchase the basic school uniform, which featured a black tie (pre-sorting ceremony attire) and a few books. She had decided to change later in the train, and was for now wearing a simple grey dress and a long-sleeve white cotton shirt underneath. She had tied her hair with a ribbon of the same color to look a little neater.
Joshua and Jimmy were wearing casual knitted jumpers and black jeans. They already looked so much alike, what would it be like once they'd wear the same uniform? Agnes had thought.
It was time to say goodbye to the parents, and Agnes felt quite awkward. She had lived with Mr and Mrs Dunbar for months now. She'd got accustomed to them and it was strange saying goodbye to them like this.
- Thank you for everything. She said.
- We will expect you all for christmas, dear. Now, off you go! Mrs Dunbar had answered, a soft smile on her lips.
The sound of the whistle announced the departure, and the three lots jumped through the door before the train started to move. After a few waving hand moves had been exchanged, Joshua invited Agnes to join him and his friends into the seats they had reserved. It was a large compartment with six to eight seats available. Inside, a few kids Agnes had never met were already chatting and getting comfortable in their seats.
It was a long journey to Hogwarts, almost half a day. They had eaten the lunch prepared by Cosmey and Agnes had bought some chocolate frogs and sugar quill lollipops for her comrades.
She was getting nervous again. They were slowly approaching Hogwarts, her new school. They'd reached Scotland and were now less than two hours away from their destination. The sun was starting to set already.
Just like a few other students, she had already changed into her robes. It felt weird being the only grown up kid wearing the black tie. The only ones wearing were all 11-year-olds who were about the start their first year.
She knew it was going to be embarassing once she would get there. Jimmy had told her all about the sorting ceremony, how everyone would be present and looking at her. The Dunbar boys had been respectively sorted into Hufflepuff for Jimmy and Gryffondor for Joshua. She learnt later that Mr Dunbar, her father, had been in Slytherin.
What house would she be in? She didn't really know how it was going to be determined. She had heard all sorts of stories about the sorting ceremony, and it was definitely different form Beauxbatons.
She still remembered when she'd got into the Millefeuille house. Each new student had to shoot an arrow as strong as possible, and it would eventually explode into a spark of our new house color. For her, it had been green, the color of Millfeuille. It was one of the best moment of her life. She had felt so proud at that moment.
At Hogwarts, Jimmy had mentioned a hat, but she did not really grasped the idea.
It was dark outside when they finally reached their destination. Agnes had to separate with her brothers and follow the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, a huge man (probably half-giant) named Hagrid. He seemed quite friendly and Agnes had decided to walk close to him, as she did not feel to comfortable talking with all the children around her. She felt so out of place she couldn't wait for the day to be over so she could finally get to learning and doing some magic.
Her days at the Blacks' house seemed so far now that she was looking up at the huge castle in front of her. It was truly magical. They had hopped on small boats, which led them to the school. Soon enough, they were standing in front of what she'd heard Hagrid called the Great Hall.
It looked indeed big. Around her, the first years were talking between themselves, all excited. An old lady came towards them.
- Children, children! I will ask for your best behavior and the most sincere attention. I wish to welcome you to your new school, Howarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry. You will now enter the great hall and be sorted into your houses. When I call your name, don't be shy and just come up to me, I will put the Sorting Hat on your head for a moment and you will then join your new affiliated house. Any questions?
She had looked around and stopped for a second on Agnes, who was legimitaly taller than everyone else. The young witch had smiled politely, returned by the professor in an understanding look.
A few seconds later, they were walking down the hall, and all the other students were looking at them, some even called the names of their siblings among the first years.
The first name was called and a girl with brown short hair climbed up the few stairs and Professor McGonagall, as informed earlier, put an rusty-looking hat on the girls head. A moment later, a voice emanated from the same hat, and screamed "Slytherin!!". Agnes felt her heart racing in her chest. Everyone applauded and the next student was already walking up to the professor.
When the alphabet came down to 'L', Agnes knew she had to clear her throat and expect her name to be next.
- Lenoir. Agnes. Called out the witch.
Agnes took a big breath, as she heard everyone lower their voice in the hall. Most were probably curious to why such an old student was doing the sorting ceremony. She wondered if Jimmy and Joshua were looking at her too.
She sat down on the chair and heard the professor whisper gently to her.
- Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Lenoir.
Agnes smiled awkwardly and waited. When she felt the weight of the hat on her head, she couldn't help but close her eyes, to forget the crowd facing her.
"Hmm... You are not from here. You are foreign... I feel in you a past, you have been sorted in a house before... You seem to know who you are... Or do you?
You have a kind heart. Good, good quality for a wizard.
You are devoted and brave too, hmm.. Good... Let me think... You enjoy learning and winning as well, very interesting.
You are intelligent, very, very intelligent before all... And, oh... You are destined to be a powerful wizard, too. Hmm...
You should be in...
Ravenclaw!!!"
Before she could take her next breath, the crowd had shouted in celebration, and applauded the fresh new sorted student. Agnes stood up quickly and looked around, before her professor indicated the table on the right, in between two others. Students seemed the most enthusiastic and the young witch hurried to join them and sit where they had left a space.
She felt a few hands patting her shoulder in a welcoming gesture. She couldn't stop smiling. She hadn't really put much thought on which house she would have liked to join. After all, she did not really know their particularities. But she would have probably been satisfied with any, if they had all welcomed her so warmly.
She felt a tingle on her chest, and noticed that her tie had magically turned blue, just like the rest of the students at her table. Next to her, a boy who seemed about her age shook her hand enthusiastically.
- Hi! I'm Hassan Shafiq. I am one of the prefect for the Ravenclaw house. It is nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you! I'm Agnes Lenoir, you can call me Agnes.
The boy looked tall and seemed to be liked by everyone. As soon as he had talked to Agnes, a bunch of other students had started to ask her all sorts of questions, especially regarding her transfer to Hogwarts. Quickly, the whole school knew she had been at Beauxbatons.