Starry Nights

The Sorting Ceremony

Cathleen exits the train surrounded on all sides by the new friends she'd made. Hogsmeade's station is dark, crowded, and bustling with Hogwarts students, the older students walking with an air of confidence, the first years and some second years looking very overwhelmed. Then, a loud familiar voice cuts through the commotion, "Firs' years, firs' years this way."

"We go that way then?" Nora asks looking around at them.

"Suppose we do," Joseph says shrugging.

Everyone else nods or mutters something along the lines of "guess so" and they head in the direction of the voice.

Her friend group ends up in the back of the large group of first years but Hagrid notices her and waves. Cathleen had seen Hagrid for the first time at Remus and Sirius' wedding and a few times since. Her other friends however were not expecting their welcoming committee to be a half-giant.

"Wow, that guy is huge." Oliver points out, wide eyed.

"Yeah," Erin laughs, "Must be part giant or something."

Cleo narrows her eyes thoughtfully, "I think he might actually be, I've heard about them before, half-giants that is."

"Wait- how does one...how's a half-giant supposed- I don't know be conceived?" Izzy stutters, "You know, I shouldn't even ask."

Cathleen laughs, "Oh Merlin, why? I don't want to even think of such things."

"Well his mom must be the giant one, don't suppose a human woman could- well you know." Joseph says wiggling his eyebrows.

"Ughh," Erin groans, "I'm going to need to see a mind healer after this conversation."

"Come on, before you're left," A voice shouts from ahead where the group of first years had already started to follow Hagrid towards the black lake.

They follow Hagrid and the other first years down a slippery narrow path away from the platform. It got even darker as there seemed to be trees surrounding them. Not only had their conversation stopped, everyone had seemed to go quiet, the only noice was a few people sniffling.

“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” Hagrid calls over his shoulder, “jus’ round this bend here.”

The sea of first years let out a chorus of "Ooooh."

The narrow path had opened suddenly and on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle, Hogwarts.

"Four to a boat, no more!" Hagrid called out, pointing towards the shore where a small fleet of little boats sat in the water.

Everyone piles into the boats in groups of three and four, Cathleen ends up with Joseph, Erin, and Izzy. Oliver, Nora and Cleo get together in another boat.

“Everyone in?” shouted Hagrid, who had gotten into a boat all to himself, “Right then – FORWARD!”

And then the boats were off, all together, gliding towards the castle. Everyone remained silent staring ahead in awe.

When they reached the mountain they had to duck as they were carried through a curtain of ivy, hid behind which was a wide opening. And then they were carried through this dark tunnel that seemingly led under the castle into an underground harbor. Everyone clamored out of the boats waiting for further instruction.

"Jus' this way, not much further." Hagrid says leading them up a long stone staircase out the other side of the mountain. Then they follow a long winding path from the back of the castle to the side where Hagrid stops in front of a large set of doors.