The Sorting
After hours of being on the train it finally stopped. Séraphine stood with Atlas in her arms and walked off.
She was immediately met with a sight that surprised her, but not much. A very tall, bulky man with a lantern was on the platform.
“Hello!” he bellowed in a loud voice. As she got closer she noticed he had a long beard and hair. “ ’m here ter take yer ter Hogwarts.”
“Oh, well hello to you sir let me just grab my things.”
“Oh no need Miss Achard ’ll all be in y’room once yer sorted.” He smiled underneath his hair.
“Alright then. May I bring my cat?”
“M’sorry ma’am they’ll also have to stay but I promise on me life I’ll makes sure they’re safe.” He reassured and she nodded and looked at Atlas.
“Alright Atlas you have to stay with Romeo. I promise you’ll be fine amour.” She kissed the cat’s fur and put him in his cage next to Romeo. She turned around and faced the man. “Alright Monsieur, I'm ready.” she smiled, stepping up to him.
He chuckled. “ ‘Monsieur’, I feel fancy, call me Hagrid, young one it’s fine” Again he smiled.
“Nice to meet you Hagrid,” She smiled and nodded “Call me Séraphine.” he nodded and put out a large hand which she shook.
He turned. “Right on we go.” he walked towards the path to the school. She followed behind but it took great strides since he was moving quickly. Whilst walking she couldn’t help but see just how beautiful the forest looked and how the pathway was set. He brought her towards a lake and she saw a boat. “Thought since you missed out first year you’d like to take one of me favorite routes to the school, more less a scenic route.”
She nodded a bright smile on her face.
“Sounds fun.” She boarded the boat after he did and sat carefully, Beaux Batons would never have something like this. The boat glided across the lake, a lantern light guiding their way. She watched in utter awe.
Once the boat hit the docks underneath the school Hagrid helped her out of the boat and told her directions to the entrance hall as he tied the boat.
Séraphine walked the way he told her. Soon she saw a woman in emerald robes and a large hat.
“Evening Miss Achard, welcome to Hogwarts.” She said as Séraphine stepped closer. “Before you should be sorted and meet your classmates I must tell you there are four main houses of this school, once you are sorted you will sit with your house. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” She listed them, the younger nodded already knowing all about the houses. “Now, everyone is waiting, we must head on.”
She nodded and followed the older woman into the school’s Great Hall. Once the doors opened everyone had their eyes on them, mainly the new girl behind Professor Mcgonagall.
An older man stood hearing the murmurs start. “Students I would like to announce the arrival of a transfer student. Hence why The Sorting Hat is joining the feast this fine evening, and why the professor is bringing her in. Everyone give a warm welcome to Miss Séraphine Achard.” A young man behind her turned his head at the name in a snap. His friend was already staring at her side profile as she walked past. In fact a lot of people were looking at her.
“Séra?”
McGonagall brought her to the front and stopped at a stool lifting the hat.
“C’mon dear don’t be shy.” She said and Séraphine sat upon the stool, and the hat was on.
Gah, right a new one, with a new name too…hmmm
She jumped at the sound of the voice but relaxed as it thought. Yes I’m new.
You are mischievous, I see lots of courage in you, bravery in you, I see that you are quite brilliant, lots of talent. Thirst to prove your worth. Could be a good Slytherin-
Please do not put me in Slytherin, it's great just… it’s not really the house just the people there, according to her pen pal he said they’re awful.
Hard stories about it.
This is a difficult choice, hard to place, are you sure about Slytherin?
Yes.
Very well.
GRYFFINDOR!
She smiled and heard cheering from the table so she went to it. Girls her age looked at her and beckoned her over. She sat between a redhead girl and a curly haired boy.
“Hello.” she said to the girl.
“Hi, welcome to Gryffindor, I’m Lily.” She said sticking her hand out.
She took it, shaking hands with her. “Nice to meet you I’m-”
“Séraphine! It is you!” She heard a voice behind her and was met by the eyes of the curly haired boy already on her and looking up saw a boy with long black hair. “Sorry I should introduce myself. I’m Sirius,” he smiled, reaching a hand across the boy to her.
“SIRIUS! OH wow! I was going to come looking for you tomorrow! What a coincidence.” She laughed and took his hand, the boy staring at her still like he was in awe.
“You had written and I didn’t believe it! But you’re here wow! That’s great!”
She smiled as she laughed then saw his friend staring at her. She noticed as she turned her head. Curious why he was staring, but Sirius started talking before she could ask.
“Oh shoot me manners, Séra this is my friend James I told you about him.” he pointed to the boy in front of her, “and over here across from us is Remus and Peter. The two boys, one with scars, and holding a book. The other was a chubby boy with a bright smile, he seemed pretty sweet too.
“Hey.” The one with the book said. “I’m Remus, pleasure to meet you.” he smiled a bit.
“I’m Peter, hi!” The other said and she smiled at both then looked at James.
James seemed to blush, but she couldn’t tell, “hi.” He waved to her. She smiled and nodded her head.
“Hi James, Remus, and Peter” she looked at all of them and then at Sirius again. “Nice to know I’ve got friends here already.” She laughed and Sirius nodded.
“Well if you need anything just ask, would love to talk more but we have food so excuse me.” He smiled and sat down to start eating.
Séraphine nodded and looked at James, who was staring, but quickly turned back to his food. She shrugged it off and looked at the girl who she was first talking to, Lily.
“I’m sorry, again I shall say it is nice to meet you Lily.” She still had a huge smile and looked around. “And the rest of you are?”
A blonde across from Lily sat up and smiled. “Marlene, nice to meet you.”
“I’m Dorcas.” the girl next to Marlene smiled.
“Mary,” she sat across from Séraphine. “Nice to meet you.” she said happily.
“Nice to meet all of you as well.” Séraphine smiled widely. The girls all nodded listening to her accent.
“You’re from France, yeah? What’s it like there? I went once but I was 8 so I don’t remember much.” Dorcas said.
“Oh yes, yes I am.” She laughed, and thought, “it is nice there, I live near Paris so I get to see beautiful sights but every part of France is beautiful, in my opinion.” She gave a small smile looking at the food. “You all are from around here, yes?”
“I’m from Scotland,” Marlene said.
“Liverpool,” Lily answered.
“Yorkshire,” Mary said.
“I’m from London.” Dorcas answered.
“Oh wow, it all sounds so fascinating.” A thought came to her. “The band The Beatles are from Liverpool aren’t they?” She asked and Lily nodded proudly.
“Mmhmm, one of the best bands and best little villages.” She joked, and Séraphine smiled again.
“I agree they’re pretty cool now uhm, I hate to ask, but would you four mind showing me to Gryffindor tower after this?”
“Actually, I’m in Ravenclaw.” Dorcas said “They’ll show you.”
“Yeah of course!” The rest said in unison, they all seemed very kind and were nice about it.
“Oh- thank you that would mean so much, thanks.” The girls all ate and after supper Lily, Marlene, and Mary all showed Séraphine to the tower and to the dorm seeing a new bed there and her trunks she went up to it and smiled looking at it all. They all stayed up and chatted, getting to know each other, mainly the other three getting to know her, then they went lights out. As she was laying into her bed she smiled.
She felt happy in her new school, more friends and they weren’t off putting with one look, she’d have to tell her friend back home about Hogwarts. She lay awake and suddenly Séraphine remembered that curly haired boy who was staring at her, James. She didn’t know why it went to him, but it did.