Everywhere, Everything

iv. Puddlemere

    The door opened right away, almost as if it's sole purpose was to wait for someone to knock so it could reveal what was behind it. A rather severe-looking woman came into view, and behind her there was another door. She wore an emerald cloak, a pointy hat with a large, brown feather stuck to its side, and thin rectangular frames. Her dark hair was drawn into a tight bun just below her hat. She took some steps forward, her heels clicking on the floor, and examined the kids over her glasses.

    "The first years, Professor McGonagall." The enormous man who'd escorted them announced proudly, holding his hands behind his back and wearing a bright smile.

    Professor McGonagall nodded once, "Thank you, Hagrid."

    Hagrid glanced back at the kids one last time before waving goodbye and walking away, disappearing through an archway to the left. As Tigerlily waved back, she realized almost none of her peers returned the gesture to the half-giant.

    "Welcome to Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall greeted them once he'd left, her eyes flickering back and forth between their small faces. "Now, in a few moments, you will walk through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin."

    Tigerlily noticed out of the corner of her eye as Draco and his stupid friends smirked at each other when they heard the mention of that last house. Perhaps it was a good one? Couldn't be if he was in it. She frowned for a second before turning her attention back to the Professor.

    "While you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily." And with that, she turned and walked away, heading for the same corridor Hagrid had disappeared through, leaving the group of kids alone.

    Immediately, nervous chatter filled the room. Tigerlily squirmed in her place, fidgeting with her hands and the hem of her school robe, nervous about whatever came next. Then, she heard an arrogant voice she recognized over the rest of the noise.

    "It's true, then, what they're saying on the train?" Draco Malfoy said, drawing everyone's attention to the front of the room, where he now stood. Tigerlily refused to look up and give him any further satisfaction, so she listened intently with her eyes glued to her shoes. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

    There was a lot of whispering, gasping and murmuring among the first-years, and that was enough to get Tigerlily looking. Whoever Harry Potter was, everyone was suddenly very amazed by him, though Tigerlily couldn't figure out why. In fact, even as she stood on her tiptoes, she couldn't make out anyone worth fussing over.

"This is Crabbe, and Goyle." Malfoy continued, introducing the same bulky boys from earlier with a nod in their direction. Tigerlily peered over the shoulder of the girl in front of her, and realized he was talking to a boy with jet-black hair. "And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

A red-haired boy standing close to them was now snickering behind his hand. Draco quickly turned his head towards him, his friendly demeanor gone and replaced by a nasty scowl on his face.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours." He spat defensively, looking the boy up and down disdainfully. "Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe...you must be a Weasley."