Chapter 21
“Hufflepuff!” The Sorting Hat exclaimed.
Silence surrounded him and, as he took off the Sorting Hat, he glanced over at his brothers seated at Gryffindor. The twins stared at him in shock while Percy looked horrified by his placement. The silence was broken by the clapping of a few people and Ron relaxed just a small bit by the sight of his new friends clapping for him. Those few claps were soon joined by the house of Hufflepuff and Ron began walking to sit beside Neville. He did his best to ignore the whispers around him.
“Hufflepuff?!”
“He’s a Weasley! He’s supposed to be—”
“Why isn’t he in Gryffindor?”
“His family will probably disown him—”
“Is he really a Weasley?”
“Scandal—”
Neville leaned towards him, “Ignore them. Your family will understand if they love you. Even if they don’t… Hermione, Seren, and I will still be your friends. You’re not alone.”
Ron smiled back weakly, remembering his brothers face when the hat hadn’t called out Gryffindor and tried to ignore his fear of the rest of his family’s reaction. The last first year Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin and Professor McGonagall rolled up the scroll of names before taking away the Sorting Hat. Headmaster Dumbledore got to his feet and beamed at the students with his arms open wide, as if nothing fazed him in the sorting. Everyone fell silent as they waited for Dumbledore to begin speaking.
“Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few things. First off, I’d like to make it known that Prince Seren of the Ars Goetia has decided to attend Hogwarts and is currently being accompanied by his loyal bodyguard Vortex. I expect you to treat him with the upmost respect as a representative of Britain’s magical royal family. As you can also see, Harry Potter is not amongst the first year students this year. Mr. Potter is currently being privately tutored and will not be attending Hogwarts at this time. Now, I’d like to end this speech with just a few more words and they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!”
Headmaster sat back down, everyone clapping and cheering as he finished his speech before going back to talking amongst themselves. Seren stared at the headmaster in disbelief, was the old man crazy? He shook his head, brushing off the weirdness of the last part of his speech and turning back to the table. He raised his eyebrow at the dishes in front of his suddenly being filled with piles of food from different types of meats to a variety of vegetables. Seren took a bit of everything and waited for Vortex to try the food before he began. Once Vortex gave the okay, Seren began to eat and found the food to be quite delicious. It obviously wasn’t as good as the food back home, but it was still very good. Once everyone had finished eating, the remaining food faded from the plates, as if it had never been there to begin with. Only a brief moment passed before the table was once more filled with food, this time with different types of desserts such as pies, éclairés, doughnuts, and puddings. Seren again filled his plate with a small portion of each of the deserts and waited until Vortex told him that it was safe for him to eat. He was glad that Vortex’s presence managed to ward away the students seated close by from questioning him about himself and his family. Once the desserts disappeared, Headmaster Dumbledore got to his feet once more and the hall fell silent.
“Ahem, just a few more words now that we’re all fed and watered. I have. A few new start-of-the-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils and a few of our older students would do well to remember that too.”
Dumbledore’s eyes flickered towards the Weasley twins, a small spark of exasperated amusement twinkling in his eyes.
“I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.” Dumbledore continued, “Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must warn you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.”
At his words, both Seren and Vortex frowned. Was the old man serious? He heard Hermione question an older girl with long, curly brown hair seated beside her about whether the headmaster was serious or not. The girl introduced herself as Penelope Clearwater before turning her gaze towards the staff’s table.
She frowned as her eyes landed on where Dumbledore was seated, “He must be serious. It’s very odd because he usually gives us a reason why we’re not allowed to go somewhere… The forest is filled with dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. Those that don’t quickly ask the older students about it and we quickly let them know of the dangers. At the very least he would have informed us perfects. Also, don’t be afraid to let me know if you need help with anything. It’s one of the reasons there are two Perfects within each house.”
“And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!” Dumbledore enthusiastically told the students and the other teachers smiles quickly became strained.
Penelope winced, “I’d shut my ears if I were you, this is not going to sound good.”
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get something off the end of it, and a long golden ribbon flew out the end of it. The ribbon rose high into the air before twisting itself into elaborately written words.
“Everyone pick their favorite tune and off we go!” Dumbledore exclaimed.
Quickly realizing the danger their ears were in, many at the Ravenclaw table clasped their hands over their ears. Seren made sure to put a silencing spell on himself, Collin, and Vortex. Once the dreadful song ended and the Weasley twins had finished their slow funeral march tune, Seren removed the spell.
“Ah, music.” Dumbledore said as he wiped his eyes, “A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!”
The first years were each escorted by one of their House perfects to their dorm rooms.
“Was it just me or was that the second time he’s made animal references when speaking to the students?” Seren questioned Vortex.
“No, he definitely did. It’s not just you, little man.” Vortex replied.
They continued following Penelope as she led them through the castle. Seren blinked in surprise as he noticed the portraits move, whispering and pointing at them as they walked by. Eventually they made it to a blank wall with nothing, but a large bronze eagle-shaped knocker at the center.
“What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on?” The knocker asked.
Penelope thought for a moment before answering, “A coat of paint.”
The knocker quickly pushed itself deep into the wall and revealed the entrance to Ravenclaw. Penelope led them into their dorms common room decorated in their house colors, blue and bronze. Penelope showed the first year girls the doorway to their rooms before pointing to the doorway leading to the first year boys rooms. Penelope let Seren and Vortex know that there was a bed beside Seren's for Vortex. They parted ways with Hermione and followed the rest of the first year boys. At the top of the spiral staircase they came into a beautiful room with six four-poster beds with deep blue, velvet curtains. Their trunks sat at the end of each bed and everyone quickly got into their pajamas. They got into bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted by their first day at Hogwarts.