Hats & Wands
Sitting rigidly on the bench’s of the great hall, George bit his lips as he watched the first years gather outside the hall, all short and gangly, shaking with nerves. He himself could understand how they felt, having both been in their position and having seen several years of first years get sorted.
But this time it was something different. The prefect badge seemed to be weighing itself down also like a reminder that as a prefect, he has so much more responsibility towards those first years, and how he reflects the house.
Scanning the rest of the hall, George’s eyes met with several of his other friends. The tension in the air grew heavier with each passing second, as the brown dusty hat was brought out.
The hat was burnt and ashy from the last Hogwarts war and no one bothered to replace it. George heard a golden sword could fall out of it if you ask nicely enough, not that he think it’s true. He felt a rush of pity towards the first years, since they have to put it on their heads. Someone with lice definitely wore it before.
One by one, the students were called. “Simons Thomas, GRYFFINDOR!” “Tobias Smith, HUFFLEPUFF!”…
One by one, the first years got sorted, quite a few got into Ravenclaw. George was more than happy to warmly welcome the new members, all with respectable achievements to their name, but there was one girl remaining.
All eyes in the hall trained on her and George noticed her gulp. Her bright green eyes seemed to scan the crowd and their eyes suddenly locked. George gave a reassuring smile and the tense seemed to drain from her posture as she walked gingerly over to the hat
George briefly caught sight of Dream standing at the end of us table. He too was focusing on the girl but there was something different about the way he looked. Instead of his usual, cocky grin plastered on his face, Dream was rocking back and forth, anxiety radiating off him in waves. What could this girl have done to get Dream so worked up?
There was silence as the hat mumbled something. “RAVENCLAW!” The hat yelled and the raven claw table cheered but a moment of ill contained rage appeared on Dream’s features.
George had never seen Dream look so angry, but he turned his attention to the peculiar newcomer.
“Welcome to Ravenclaw. I’m George, your house prefect. You are?”
“I’m Bella, but you can call me Drista .” The girl said with a smile and warily glance over to the seething Dream back at the Slytherin table. Drista seemed well aware of the other’s disappointment but she said nothing of it.
After the speeches and songs right when everyone was preparing to dig into the feast, trouble brought himself over.
“Bella, come.” Dream hisses as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere next to the Ravenclaw table. All the Ravenclaw seventh years tensed at the unwelcomed visitor, George included.
Although Ravenclaw doesn’t have anything big against Slytherins, there is an unspoken rule among the houses to stay away if they didn’t get permission. And George would have let it slide if it wasn’t Dream the one asking.
“No. Clay! I’m perfectly fine here, go away.” Drista hissed and everyone around recoiled at the sound of the name coming out the girl’s mouth. No one called Dream by his real name. It’s taboo. Drista sure is brave.
“It’s Dream and you know it. We need to speak with the headmaster.” Dream hissed and after a few more lines of heated debate, Drista finally caved.
Excusing Herself, she followed Dream to the teacher’s table. From a distance, George could tell Dream was arguing with Headmaster Dumbledore. Dream’s patience clearly straining with each exchange.
When Drista returned, she looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry. Dream’s a brat sometime. I promise he wouldn’t do that again.” She apologised but George waved her off.
“No need to apologise. But I do need to know what’s going on…”