Forever... Always

Year 1 - Sorting Ceremony

Fred, George, Cedric and I had all stayed close together while getting off the train as we didn't want to get lost.
    "First years this way!" a very large man called. "Follow me!"
We did as we were told and followed the man, the four of us were right behind him and he randomly started to talk to us.
"I'm Hagrid, I'm the Gatekeeper and you four are?"
"Fred and George Weasley" They said at the same time.
"Cedric Diggory"
"And I'm Rayne Dutchman."
"Pleased to meet you all." He said extremely joyfully. "Four to a boat!" he yelled as we approached a lake with a beautiful castle on the other side.
"It's Hogwarts." George told me, making it clear that I was staring in awe.
"I can't believe it, my dad went here, your mom and dad, James Potter, Sirius Black, Newt Scamander..."
"Are you going to list everyone that ever went to Hogwarts Rayne?" The three boys asked, teasing me.
I giggled a little before responding, "Oh I was just getting started, Lily Potter, Remus Lupin..." We all laughed some.
Once again, Hagrid told us to follow him after we got out of the boats, leading us closer to the castle. Once we were up the steps, an older, stern looking woman appeared.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I'm Professor McGonagall, you'll follow me to where you'll be staying until the feast starts."
We followed her through the castle and into a room where all the first years gathered together.
"Now stay here until I return to bring you to the sorting ceremony and Peeves, if you're here, leave the poor children alone!"
All the muggle-borns and some half-bloods were confused about what or who Peeves was but the rest of us knew and were ready to tell anyone who asked. After what felt like a very long time, almost every first year knew about Peeves and Professor McGonagall had returned to lead us to the Great Hall for the feast and sorting ceremony. Once in the Great Hall, we were given our instructions.
"You are to wait until you hear your name called, then you will come up, sit on this stoll, I will put the sorting hat on your head and it will tell you your house."
"Sounds simple enough." Cedric had said to me.
Name after name was called, we got to D and I started to get anxious, George whispered to me that it'd be ok no matter what house I get sorted into and then I heard,
"Diggory, Cedric."
He went up and almost as soon as the hat touched his head it yelled,
"HUFFLEPUFF"
The whole table erupted into cheers, he was the first to be sorted into Hufflepuff so far. George, Fred and I also cheered as he was our friend. As soon as the table calmed themselves, more names were being called.
"Dutchman, Rayne."
I ran up, careful not to trip, sat down and the sorting hat was placed on my head,
"Hm, curious... brave as Gryffindor, smart as Ravenclaw... Loyalty, dedication and patience, best make it... HUFFLEPUFF"
Just like they did for Cedric, the Hufflepuff table erupted with cheers as I went to sit beside Cedric.
"Guess we'll be spending a lot of time together, huh?" he asked me.
"Is that a problem?" I joked.
"Not in the least." We both laughed.
Name after name was called,
"SLYTHERIN"
"GRYFFINDOR"
"RAVENCLAW"
"SLYTHERIN"
"RAVENCLAW"
Finally the twins time came,
"Weasley, Fred."
But as the boy went up, I realized it was George, I whispered that that was George to Cedric and we both started giggling. Once the hat realized it yelled at George,
"OH GET OUT, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE NEXT BOY"
The whole hall broke into laughter as George ran back to where Fred stood and you could tell on McGonagall'sp face that she knew stuff like this would continue through their seven years.
"GRYFFINDOR" The hat yelled out for both twins.
They made their way to the Gryffindor table with everyone trying to talk to them, I could tell they'd be popular and were already making friends faster than me. Dumbledore gave his welcome speech and we all dug into the feast. I looked over to where George and Fred were and saw them giving me smiles as they both lifted a pumpkin pastry, I laughed having not realized dessert had appeared and gave them a smile back. Our prefects lead us to our common rooms and after entering Hufflepuff's with Cedric, we said goodnight to each other and headed to our dorms.
I can't believe I only thought of this now, I'm the first Hufflepuff in my family. I'll write my mom and dad a letter about it tomorrow.