Mistress Of Magic

11 ~

underline - taken from book

"mind talk"

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We followed her across the flagged stone floor, she brought us to an empty chamber off from the main hall where we could hear the other students. We all crowded together, waiting eagerly to listen to her. I had practically felt the nerves and fear coming off everyone, I had never been one to like standing in front of crowds but had always been good at pushing away my nerves. I send a small pulse of my magic into the air around me while focusing on the feeling of being calm. I had discovered I could do this when Bipsy had broken glass by accident and started hitting her head against a wall as 'punishment' for being a bad elf. I had wanted so desperately to calm her that I had ended up influencing her emotions. After that, I had practiced with her until I knew how to do it. I could now direct it to one particular person or aim at a whole crowd.

I watch amused at the first years all take on a small smile as their tense shoulders fall. They all looked more at home and I could feel Hogwarts itself thanking me. Minnie stands in front of us all and looks over the group.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

I see her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. "I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." After she leaves I reach over and correct Neville's collar, he gives me a look of thanks and I see the surrounding first years start fixing their clothes. I could feel their panic start to rise up again so I send out another pulse. This time it was one of comfort and reassurance. I made sure it was a smaller pulse so no one would notice the instant change.

My efforts are proved useless when the ghosts of Hogwarts decide to make themselves know. The students scream as around twenty of them come around the corner. They were talking and didn't seem to notice the screaming first-years. I had already expected to see them so I didn't react. "oh, new students. How exciting. About to be sorted I suppose?" A few of the students nod mutely to the friendly ghost. "I hope to see you in Hufflepuff. My old house you know," The ghost puffs his chest out proudly before Minnie returns.

"Move along now, The Sorting ceremony's about to start" Her tone was sharp and each ghost bowed in turn before floating through the opposite wall. "Now, form a line and follow me"

We do as she asks and follows her through the large doorway. The great hall was filled with light from the floating candles while the ceiling resembled the night sky, I smiled at the stars ignoring Hermione as she begins to do her impression of a tour guide. When I look around me I swallow down my own nerves as members of each house looked our way. Once we all reach the front of the hall Minnie silently places a four-legged wooden bar stool in front of us and places the Sorting hat on top. The rest of the first years look slightly confused before the brim of the hat opens and begins to sing.