Welcome to Hogwarts
We pulled up to the dock right below Hogwarts and Hagrid helped us all out of the boat. He guided us to the hallway infront of two giant doors, where we were greeted by a tall, thin, and old woman in emerald robes and a black, pointy hat. “Welcome, first years, to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall. Beyond these large doors behind me is the Great Hall. In here, the rest of the school is waiting for you to be sorted into your houses. You will line up in alphabetical order to be sorted into your houses.” I looked at Fred and George, nervous to split from them, but they were already heading toward the back of the line. George turned to look at me and gave me a smile and a thumbs-up. Once we were in line, Professor McGonagall shouted “Follow me!” as she pushed through the doors. The hall erupted with cheers as we walked in the middle of four long tables. At the front of the room was an old-looking brown hat on a stool. The room fell silent as it broke into song:
In the halls of Hogwarts, where magic doth gleam,
Lies a hat of wisdom, the Sorting Hat supreme.
Its stitches hold tales of a thousand years,
To sort young wizards, quelling all fears.
With brim wide and tattered, it sits with pride,
A voice within, no secrets to hide.
"Listen closely, young minds so bright,
As I discern your path tonight."
"First, Gryffindor, courageous and bold,
Where lions roam with spirits untold.
Those daring and brave, with hearts that soar,
Find their home on Gryffindor's floor."
"Next, Hufflepuff, where kindness shines,
Loyal and just, like twisting vines.
For patient souls with hearts so true,
Hufflepuff welcomes and embraces you."
"Slytherin, a house of cunning and wit,
Where ambition and shrewdness both commit.
For those who strive, and schemes entwine,
Slytherin's chamber shall be thine."
"Ravenclaw, a realm of knowledge vast,
Where wisdom and learning forever last.
Eager minds with a thirst to know,
Ravenclaw's tower becomes their glow."
"The houses await with open arms,
To guide you through Hogwarts' charms.
Though different paths we all shall tread,
United we stand, together we're bred."
So let the Sorting Hat decide your fate,
As it delves into your soul so great.
Embrace the house where you belong,
For Hogwarts' magic shall make you strong.
The students in the hall stood and cheered as the hat finished its song. Then, Professor McGonagall called the first student, “Abbot, William!” He went up to the stool and sat down as Professor McGonagall put the hat on his head. After a few moments, the hat shouted, “Ravenclaw!” The table to our right burst with cheers. After a few more students and many more cheers, I saw one of the girls I met earlier sitting on the stool. I realized it was Angelina. Professor McGonagall put the hat on her head and it instantly shouted, “Gryffindor!” The table to the far right began to cheer as Angelina walked over. After a few more students, I realized no one was in front of me. I was next. I swallowed hard as I heard McGonagall say, “Lupin, Cassandra!” I walked up, sat down on the stool, and she put the hat on my head. In my ear, I heard the hat talking,
“Ahh, a Lupin, eh? Your brother was destined for Gryffindor, but, what is this I sense? Could that be, some kindness? And some patience? You’d do well in Hufflepuff. Hmmm.”
I whispered to myself, not thinking the hat could hear me, “Please be Gryffindor, please…”
The hat interrupted my whispers, “Gryffindor, eh?” my heart felt like it stopped, “I see it now. Courage. Determination. Bravery. Must be…. GRYFFINDOR!” it finally shouted. I looked up to see Fred and George jumping up and down and clapping. I walked over to the table, now on the far left from where I stood, and sat down next to Angelina.
After a few more people, I saw the other girl I met on the train, Alicia. She sat on the stool with the hat on her head and the hat shouted, “Gryffindor!” She waltzed over to the table and sat across from us, smiling at me, and began whispering to Angelina. Soon enough, it was Fred and George’s turn. “Weasley, Fred,” called McGonagall and Fred walked up to the stool. She barely put the hat on his head when it shouted “Gryffindor!” He came over to the table and sat next to me.
He wrapped his arm around me and whispered, “I had no doubt we’d be together. What are the odds Georgie gets sorted into Hufflepuff? He is a big softie.” Fred said, chuckling. After the ‘conversation’ I had with the hat, Fred’s joke about Hufflepuff made me tense up. If he noticed, he simply ignored it.
“Weasley, George,” McGonagall said, and George began walking up. When he sat on the stool, he looked over at me and Fred with a big smile on his face. When McGonagall placed the hat on his head, it took longer than it did with Fred. This time, Fred noticed me tense up.
“Cass, I was kidding! There’s no way a Weasley won’t be in Gryffindor.” Fred said, rubbing my shoulder. Shortly after, we heard the hat.
“Gryffindor!” it shouted, and George walked over to us. He chose to sit on the other side of me, next to Angelina. I moved closer to Fred to make space for him.
Fred leaned behind me to high-five George and whisper, “Cass truly thought you weren’t going to make Gryffindor, can you believe her?” He said and George and him began laughing. I, however, did not find this amusing, and George caught on.
“What happened when you were up there, Cass? Are you alright?” He said, concern in his voice.
“I don’t want to talk about it now, okay George?” I said, colder than I meant to. He didn't push and simply said,
“I’m here when you’re ready.”
Once all the first years were sorted, an old man with long white hair and a long white beard stood up and said, “Welcome all. First years, I am Professor Dumbledore, your headmaster. Now, before we begin, let me say a few words. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Let the feast begin!” Once he finished, piles and piles of food appeared before us on the table. Fred and George went in, taking handfuls at a time. I would’ve yelled at them for being so gross, but I, too, was overjoyed by how much delicious food there was.
When we had all eaten to the point where we felt like exploding, McGonagall announced that the prefects would be leading us to our common rooms. Charlie was one of the Gryffindor prefects. He stood up and asked the first-years to follow him. We followed him out of the Great Hall and up seven flights of stairs to the Gryffindor Tower. Charlie led us to a portrait of a large woman who was singing slightly off-key and sounded rather like a pig squealing. Charlie looked at the woman and said, “Venemous tentacula, and may I just say you sound wonderful this year.” The woman in the portrait blushed and giggled as her frame swung open. We all piled into the Gryffindor common room.
My first thought was about how cozy it looked. There was a roaring fire in the front of the room and multiple large, maroon couches. In the corners by the windows, there was a variety of furniture, including tables, comfy-looking armchairs, and desks for studying. Charlie spoke over the murmur of the first years and said, “Your dormitories are through this staircase, girls on the right, boys on the left. Since you are first years, you will want to go up the stairs to the first-year dormitories. Down the stairs are the dormitories for everyone else. There is a loo next to your dorms, but if it is full or out of order, there are more next to the dormitories down the stairs. If you have any questions, let me or the other prefects know. You will all meet with Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, to make your schedules. Your luggage is already in your rooms. Have a good night!” As he finished, he walked through the portrait. Everyone began running to their dormitories, but I remained frozen looking around the common room. I could not believe how gorgeous it was. The ornate rugs, the walls full of portraits, the Gryffindor crest above the fireplace, it was all too much to take it. I sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes for a second to try and calm myself down, but was interrupted by the feeling of weight next to me on the couch. I opened my eyes to see a boy I hadn’t seen before.
“It can be overwhelming, can’t it?” He said in a Scottish accent. “I remember my first year, I was a mess my first night. I’m Oliver, by the way, Oliver Wood.” He put out his hand and I shook it.
“I’m Cassandra, nice to meet you,” I said softly, “How long does it take to get used to the stairs and getting around?” I asked. Ever since seeing the staircases move on our ascent, I couldn’t stop worrying about it.
“It won’t take that long, don’t worry. We’re all here to help you out as well, so don’t be afraid to ask for help,” he was interrupted by a group of older-looking Gryffindors calling his name, “I’m afraid I have to go. Quidditch meeting. But don’t be a stranger, Cassandra,” he said and patted my shoulder before getting up to walk away. I took a deep breath and hoped that everyone would be as nice as he was.