The Forbidden Forest

Chapter 1

Gryffindor. Hm. I don't know what it means for me to have been sorted into Gryffindor. As I contemplate what just happened, an old hat being placed on my head that mumbled rude yet extremely honest comments about me with the final decision that I am suited to be in Gryffindor, I change into my proper robes, learning how to tie a tie in the process. Professor McGonagall had taken me to this small and empty room, which she explained wasn't how the ceremony was typically done but my case is special because I'm not a first year. The woman was overjoyed to have me in Gryffindor. Once I finish changing, I exit the room and leave with the waiting professor for what she calls the Great Hall.

When we enter the dining area, I am met with the loud bustling noises of people speaking and enjoying large sums of food. The ceiling has somehow been magicked to appear like a clear, beautiful night sky that is being lit by floating candles. It's truly a sight to behold. I follow her further into the massive room until she abruptly stops at one of the four tables, encouraging me to sit with a group of three people.

"Potter, Granger, Weasley, this is Kaia Mallory. Please be kind to her as she is a new student at Hogwarts. I trust that you will not involve her in any of your mischievous activities," Professor McGonagall says with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, of course," the girl responds, rather embarrassed while the boys, one a redhead and the other a brunette with a suspiciously perfect lightning scar, make awkward smiles as they slightly blush. I give them a closed-eye smile in return.

The girl shifts to the right. "Come sit next to me." I do as I'm told before Professor McGonagall lays a reassuring hand on my shoulder and departs to the long table perpendicular to this one.

"I'm Hermione. That's Ron and Harry," Hermione says as she individually points at the redhead and brunette, "We aren't as bad as she claims us to be."

"That's not true. We've gotten into loads of trouble for doing things we weren't allowed to do," Harry intervenes. Hermione gives him a look as though he's revealed some important secret. I laugh a little bit.

The night goes by in a blur of giggling and good food as I continue to observe the people around me. Each table is occupied by students with matching robes to mine but with a different animal patch and color scheme. Professor McGonagall had previously informed me that those colors and animals represent the houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw.

My attention returns back to the people I'm sitting with as Hermione vocalizes her refusal to eat the food prepared by the elves in protest of their mistreatment. "The food your eating was made through the slave labor of elves. You do know that, right?" Hermione says as she glares at us. They both shrug while I stare at my food wide-eyed and set my fork down.

The wise and elderly man that Professor McGonagall informed me of, Dumbledore, taps a glass, which is followed by him welcoming the new school year with a few typical announcements. Then, he moves on to the topic of the annual Quidditch Cup. He states that it won't be held this year, but in place of it, there will be another event.

Before he can speak further on the subject, the doors burst open, and in enters a man with a wooden leg and prosthetic eye strapped to his face. Ironically, the whispering that his entrance causes is quite loud and very easy to interpret. As he walks past me in the direction of Dumbledore, I see the deep scars lining his face like the stitching on a doll.

"Everyone, may I introduce to you the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody." We all clapped, some less than others out of confusion. One of the teachers, a dark-haired man, remains unmoving, though.

After the unexpected disruption, the headmaster continues explaining the replacement for the Quidditch Cup this year, the Triwizard Tournament, a competition so deadly that it's been banned for centuries due to how many lives it's taken. Three schools will be participating in this restarted competition of three challenges: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons. The rules for applying are simple: write your name on a slip of paper and place it into the Goblet of Fire. However, no one younger than seventeen can enter. At that, I frown. Competition is fun. It's obvious I'm not the only one disappointed as a wave of groans goes through the crowd. Dumbledore silences everyone once more. He informs us that the witch or wizard to reign victorious will receive 1,000 galleons.

"I wonder if any of the competitions will be in the Forbidden Forest," Ron ponders. I perk up at the mention of a forest and look over at him. Hermione scoffs. "It's called the Forbidden Forest for a reason. Although I would be curious to know how they'd keep that a controlled environment. It's certainly one of the most righteously frightening places on Hogwarts grounds." I stay silent despite all the questions whirling around in my mind. The Forbidden Forest.

After the meal and speech, everyone begins to stand up to return to their dorm rooms. However, before I can leave the Great Hall with my three new friends, I am abruptly stopped by an unusually tall man. My eyes widen at the sight of him, but I'm quickly pulled into a tight hug that blocks my vision. "Kaia! How amazin' it tis ter finally meet you. The name's Hagrid," the man says with a smile I can barely see under his bushy beard.

"Likewise, but who are you?" I bluntly question; I have never seen him before. "Yer parents and I are good friends. Yes, good friends," he says while reminiscing as he releases me from the hug, my feet resting on the floor once again. At that, I smile, grateful to have some sense of home at Hogwarts.

"Come visit me at my hut sometime; it's near the Forbidden Forest. I have many stories of when yer parents and I were jus' kids." The Forbidden Forest. I nod at his kind offer, an offer I will most definitely take him up on.

Once leaving the Great Hall after my encounter with Hagrid, I follow my friends while they walk to the dorms, the stairs moving in dangerous and unpredictable ways as we talk. A few minutes later, I observe Harry confidently say Caput Draconis before the painting of a woman swings open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. From there, we all say goodnight, and Hermione leads me to the girls' dorms where we get ready for the sleep that quickly takes my consciousness.

- Hey guys! I can't believe I finally posted chapter 1; I never thought I would considering how long it's been waiting in my drafts haha. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you in the next part!