-𝕏𝕀𝕀-
As they stepped onto the Hogsmeade platform, the students were greeted by the majestic sight of Hogwarts Castle in the distance. The excitement among the first-year students was palpable, and Adhara couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandeur of the magical school. The group made their way to the other first-years who were grouping around Hagrid.
"How yeh been?" Hagrid smiled down as he spotted Adhara and Leo.
"Brilliant! You?" Adhara smiled up at him.
"Alright, m'self!" Hagrid responded before standing up straighter and announcing, "First years! Follow me!"
Draco eyed Hagrid and her with a slight, baffled grimace. Leo subtly elbowed him, feigning innocence as Draco made a small grunt and glared at Leo's back as they began to follow Hagrid. They were led down a winding path to the edge of the Black Lake where enchanted boats waited for them, each large enough to accommodate groups of students. Adhara, Leo, Neville, Draco, Vincent, and Gregory climbed into one of the boats together, exchanging curious glances as they settled in.
As the boats glided across the Black Lake, they couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of Hogwarts. The castle loomed larger with each passing moment, its towers and turrets reflecting in the still waters of the lake. Adhara leaned over the edge of the boat, captivated by the giant squid that neared the surface. Leo grinned at Adhara's fascination.
"Pretty impressive, huh?" he remarked, nudging her gently. Adhara nodded, her eyes wide with wonder, "It's incredible! I can't believe we're actually here."
Neville anxiously peeked over at the squid, "Do you think it's friendly?"
"Do you think it's friendly?" Draco repeated, unable to hold back his sarcasm, "Oh, I'm sure it just wants to be friends. Maybe we can invite it to dinner." Vincent and Gregory snickered, amused. Leo chuckled.
"Well, if it does, I hope it likes mash. Maybe we can teach it some magic tricks." Adhara stated as she playfully tapped Draco's foot with her own, shooting him a teasing look, "Come on, Draco, don't be such a pessimist. Maybe the giant squid is just misunderstood."
Draco rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smirk, crossing his arms, "Misunderstood? Right, because that's what we need - a giant squid with emotional issues."
Leo laughed, "Hey, you never know. It might be the most sociable creature in the lake."
Neville, still looking worried, chimed in, "Well, I hope it's not hungry. I'd rather not be on the menu for our first night here."
Adhara smiled, "Don't worry, Neville. I hear the giant squid prefers a vegetarian diet."
Vincent chuckled, "Maybe it's a fan of Herbology. We can offer it some magical plants as a peace offering."
Gregory added with a grin, "Or maybe it's just waiting for the next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to fall in. Uncle Arwen says the post is cursed."
Adhara looked at him wide-eyed, "Cursed?"
Gregory nodded as the boats reached the rocky shore, and Hagrid ushered them out. The first-years followed him up the path, the castle looming ever larger.
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Hagrid opened the big entrance doors and led them all up the stairs before stopping right outside the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Good luck!" He smiled before leaving to sneak into the Great Hall, as they remained nervously waiting.
Leo turned to Adhara with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I bet you a Chocolate Frog that Draco gets sorted into Slytherin," he whispered, casting a sly look at his cousin.
Draco overheard and scoffed, "Oh, please! Like I would be anywhere else. Slytherin is the only house for someone of my caliber," he retorted, arrogantly.
Neville, still looking a bit anxious, added, "I just hope I don't end up in Slytherin. My gran would probably disown me."
Vincent, with a reassuring pat on Neville's shoulder, reassured him, "Don't worry, Longbottom. You're more of a Hufflepuff type."
Gregory chimed in, "Yeah, Hufflepuff suits you. They're known for being kind and loyal. Nothing wrong with that."
Adhara, scanning the group with a smile before nervously turning to Leo, whispered, "W - We'll be in the same house ... right?"
Leo grinned at Adhara, swinging his arm over her shoulder. "Of course, Adhara. We'll stick together no matter what. Hogwarts can't keep us apart." He winked, trying to ease her nerves.
Draco, who overheard the exchange, couldn't resist adding a touch of sarcasm. "Well, isn't that heartwarming? A reunion in whichever house you end up." He smirked, teasing Leo.
Adhara shot Draco a playful glare. "Oh, hush, Draco. You know you'll miss us if we're not in Slytherin with you."
Draco scoffed, "Miss you? Hardly. I'll have the common sense to choose my company wisely."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, Adhara. Pureblooded Slytherins are just allergic to emotions." Before Draco could retort, the large oak doors swung open. A tall, dark-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face, and Adhara swallowed nervously, inching closer to Leo.
"My name is Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
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She began a whole speech explaining the sorting, the house points, and so on. Adhara was so nervous, she almost didn't hear Professor McGonagall telling them to follow her. Feeling oddly as though her legs had turned to lead, Adhara got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Leo behind her, and they walked behind Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall.
Adhara had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, ghosts shone misty silver. Thank Merlin! Remus had told them about the ghosts. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Adhara looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. It was beautiful. She heard some girl whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open onto the heavens. Adhara quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. She tilted her head curiously at it before glancing around, confused - noticing that everyone in the Hall was now staring at the hat, she turned back and stared at it too. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began to sing a song, to her immense shock! The whole Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. A hat? A hat is what sorted them ... brilliant! Though, she did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching. The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; Adhara didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment. If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for her. Leo sensing her nervousness, took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We got this!" He whispered. Adhara nodded back.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
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Student after student was called up and made to put on the hat before it simply shouted out a house name. She couldn't help but smile and clap along whenever a table would explode with cheers as it gained a new student. Adhara also could see red-headed twins catcalling whenever someone joined Gryffindor, which made her giggle. She was brought out of her pondering as Leo was called up. She was starting to definitely feel sick now. Leo made his way up to the stool and sat down, all while thinking, "Please be in the same house!" over and over again. The Great Hall fell silent as Leo placed the sorting hat on his head. She exchanged a nervous glance with Draco, who seemed surprisingly focused on the sorting ceremony. The hat seemed to take its time, as if deep in thought, considering Leo's qualities. After what felt like an eternity, the hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers, and Leo beamed as he took off the hat and joined his new housemates. Adhara couldn't contain her excitement and clapped enthusiastically.
Sometimes, Adhara noticed, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others, it took a little while to decide. Professor McGonagall worked her way down the list alphabetically, each student going to either one of the Houses. Vincent was sorted into Slytherin, Gregory following after him. It was now Neville's turn. He looked even more nervous than Adhara felt. "It's going to be alright Neville, just take a slow, deep breath," Adhara whispered to him. With a nervous smile and a grateful nod, he made his way up to the stool. The Hat fell to just above his eyebrows as he sat there for a few moments before the Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Leo, naturally, stood up on his seat and began cheering wildly. As he got up with the Hat on his head Adhara quickly waved her arms attracting his attention and pointed to her head. Realization dawned on him and Neville quickly took the Hat off, placed it back on the stool, before walking towards the cheering Gryffindor table. Draco swaggered forward when his name was called and Adhara tried so hard not to snicker: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" She cheered and clapped for him, he looked at her slightly surprised before quickly making his way to the Slytherin table and sitting next to Vincent and Gregory.
ϟϟϟ
She looked around. There weren't many people left now as another student was called up... and then, at last - "Potter, Adhara!" As Adhara stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall. "Potter, did she say?" "The Adhara Potter?" The last thing Adhara saw before the hat dropped over her eyes was the Hall full of people craning to get a good look at her. Next second she was looking at the black inside of the hat. She waited.
"Hmm," said a small voice in her ear. "Don't be frightened, dear child. It's just me, the Sorting Hat. Now, let's see. Hmm, difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. A very intelligent mind you've been forced to hide, but learned to use this to your advantage. They underestimate you. You're loyal to those you love, fiercely loyal in fact, despite the hardships you've faced already in your young life. I am sorry, dear child." The Hat said, making Adhara tense and fear what he'd seen. "Difficult. There's talent, oh yes. Such talent indeed. And a thirst to prove yourself, my dear girl, you are a tricky one. It appears the founders all want you in their house and you could indeed go into whichever one you want," The Hat exclaimed, seemingly shocked. "Now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"
"Gryffindor, please! I want to stay with Leo!"
"With that being said, better be... GRYFFINDOR!" Adhara heard the hat shout the last word to the whole Hall. She was so relieved to have been placed with Leo, she hardly noticed that she was getting the loudest cheer yet.