Aesthetic Love: Ginny Weasley

~ 4 ~

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"Hufflepuff" The hat shouted. Athena felt so happy, she couldn't describe it. At least she had one of her friends with her. Professor Mcgonagall took the hat from her head as Athena walked towards the Hufflepuff table who were still clapping for her. She shook hands with many people as the prefects and the older students congratulated her for getting in there.

She sat near Naomi who had already made space for her.

"Did you know I would be sorted here only." Athena asked her smiling which made Naomi smile at her. "oh, my heart knew you belong with me." She winked at Athena which made her smile more widely.

"Hello !" A girl spoke looking at Athena and Naomi. Both greeted her as she introduced herself as Shirley Matthews. She was in her fourth year. She was too friendly and Athena took a liking to her. Shirley introduced her other friends to the group of first year Hufflepuffs as the sorting had ended now.

One of them being Cedric Diggory. Cedric was charming and gave a protective brother feeling to Athena. She smiled at him as he smiled at her reassuringly. Many food appeared in front of them. She and Naomi spoke whole heartedly and in between they would check on Luna who would smile at them dreamily.

The fifth year prefects after the dinner ended asked them to follow themselves. They did as said.

The Hufflepuff common room is entered from the same corridor as the Hogwarts kitchens. Proceeding past the large still life that forms the entrance to the latter, a pile of large barrels is to be found stacked in a shadowy stone recess on the right-hand side of the corridor. The barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, will open if tapped in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff'. The female prefect showed them the right sequence and told them to remember that. She advised them not to take night strolls.

One of the first year's asked, "What will happen if someone forgets the right sequence." The prefects shared a look and the male prefect spoke, "As a security device to repel non-Hufflepuffs, tapping on the wrong barrel, or tapping the incorrect number of times, results in one of the other lids bursting off and drenching the interloper in vinegar." This made every one of them shudder.

"This is why we request you all to remember it, but help will be provided by the other students if you forget it." The male prefect spoke. Everyone nodded. "The kitchen is just there." They nodded in the direction where a painting was situated.

Athena was truly on cloud nine. Hunger problems solved. She thought as she and Naomi entered with everyone. A sloping, earthy passage inside the barrel travelled upwards a little way until a cosy, round, low-ceilinged room was revealed, reminiscent of a badger's sett. The room was decorated in the cheerful, bee-like colors of yellow and black, emphasized by the use of highly polished, honey-colored wood for the tables and the round doors which lead to the boys' and girls' dormitories.

A colorful profusion of plants and flowers seem to relish the atmosphere of the Hufflepuff common room: various cactii stand on wooden circular shelves (curved to fit the walls), many of them waving and dancing at passers-by, while copper-bottomed plant holders dangling amid the ceiling cause tendrils of ferns and ivies to brush your hair as you pass under them. One brushed Athena's hair as she smiled looking at the room. It was warm.

A portrait over the wooden mantelpiece (carved all over with decorative dancing badgers) showed Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School, toasting her students with a tiny, two-handled golden cup. Small, round windows just level with the ground at the foot of the castle showed a pleasant view of rippling grass and dandelions. It would look more clear in the day-time.

The prefects gave instructions to the first years about the breakfast, lunch and dinner time. About how to maintain their legacy of being one of the most understanding and welcoming house. At last they all were ushered towards their respective dorms.

Athena and Naomi shared their dorm with two more girls. It looked like they had become fast friends just like her and Naomi. The girls introduced themselves to each other. The other girls' names were Freya Collins and Esme Shaw. Both were pretty sweet.

The dorm room was furnished with comfortable wooden bedsteads, all covered in patchwork quilts. The honey-color was making her swoon over it.

The girls talked for a bit. Esme was a half-blood. Similarly Freya and Naomi too. Athena told how she was a muggle-born. This made Freya ask her all about muggles, their lifestyles etc as she wasn't aware of it much. Both her parents were half-bloods but they never much indulged in muggle things. It made Freya more excited to know everything from Athena.

The four girls shared their stories until midnight but had to go to bed at last. A prefect knocked at their door and scolded them to sleep otherwise they would miss the breakfast next day.

Athena grinned to herself feeling that her life here was going to be some of her best years.

The next day Athena and her friends went to the great hall to get breakfast. They were pretty much lost until an older girl had helped them. She was really sweet. Athena got to know she was Calista Wilson, a second year from Slytherin. Athena talked with her all the way to the hall. Her friends except Naomi were grinning from the side and looking at her wiggling their eyebrows. Naomi rather looked much interested in the paintings that they were seeing while passing through.

After getting her routine Athena was delighted to say the least. She was excited to learn something other than mathematics even though she wasn't bad in it. But you know new life, new world and new subjects. Quite fascinating.

One of the first classes she attended were of Professor Snape with the Ravenclaw house. He was strict and reminded her of her previous geography teacher. Though the subject potions was fascinating and all, the aura of the professor didn't help as he made everyone fear him.

She was much more interested in Charms. She had heard about a spell called Accio and was very happy to learn it's incantation and about it.

Overall it was all going good.

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