The Decision

The grand feast

"I know just where to put you..."

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted.

A huge roar erupted from the Hufflepuff table and I felt the hat taken off my head and then a slight push on my back by Mcgonagall which caused me to walk shakily towards the Hufflepuff table.

Once at the end of the table one of the older boys came up to me:

"Nice to meet you. I'm Cedric, why don't you come and sit over here?" the boy I now know as Cedric offered.

So I walked over to where he was sitting and he introduced me to the people around me. I had been sitting in between Cedric and a girl called Addison (who was also a first year). There was a girl sitting in front of me who seemed to be one of cedrics friends called Katrina and another Hufflepuff called Charlie.

From where I was sitting I could see the High Table properly. At the end nearest the Gryffindor table sat Hagrid, in the centre of the High Table, in a large golden chair, sat the headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Dumbeldore's silver hair was the only thing in the whole Hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts. My eye then caught a nervous looking young man that I don't think I had seen before.

"Hey Cedric, who's that sitting over there?" I asked, pointing towards the man I presumed was a professor.

"That's our new defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Quirrell"

"Oh ok Thankyou" I replied, looking back up to the High table as Dumbledore had got to his feet.

He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. I'm not too sure what he meant by that to be honest.

"Is he- well is he a bit mad?" Addison asked me uncertainly.

Cedric seemed to hear her whisper and replied saying "Mad? Definitely but he's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But yes he is mad." He laughed

The next thing I know the empty dishes in front of me were now piled full of food. There were so many things on the table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire puddings, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and for some strange reason mint humbugs.

I piled my plate with my favourite, not being too greedy. On my plate I had steak, chips, roast potatoes and peas. It was all absolutely delicious. I just hope in the morning there aren't waffles as it would remind me too much of not being at home.

"Why hello there Cedric, I see you're helping out the first years," The fat friar said as he made his way to stand behind Cedric and I.

"Hi and yeah got to keep them company, this is Alexandra and Addison" He introduced us to the friar.

"Hi," We both said quietly.

"Shy, I see we'll soon get that out of you. Hufflepuff is your family too so you'll be seeing everyone here a lot of your time." He spoke softly "I'll be seeing you round goodbye" He waved goodbye and we went back.

When everyone had eaten as much as they could the food vanished and the plates were gleaming again. A moment later a variety of puddings appeared. Blocks of ice-cream in every flavour you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, rice puddings (Ew).

I grabbed myself a brownie which I later noticed and a scoop of vanilla ice cream which was absolutely amazing, definitely the best brownie I've ever had. However at this point I was becoming extremely tired and was holding my head in my hands.

At last the puddings too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The Hall fell silent.

"Ahem- just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give to you:

First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few older students would do well to remember that as well," Dumbledore's eyes seemed to flash in the direction of two red-headed boys.

"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term, Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."

"And finally, I must tell you that this year the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." What on earth was he on about?

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. He gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words.

"Everybody pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

Which caused the rest of the school to bellow:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts,

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

The song finished at different times and the two red- headed boys from earlier were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they were finished, he was one of those who clapped the loudest.

"Ah, music,," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now,bedtime. Off you trot!"

A/N

Hi everyone just so you all know I'm trying to update regularly but I'm back to school so I want do it as often. Thank you for all the votes and I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. 

Love your Author,  A

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