Hogwarts Mystery- The Beginning of Mystery

Chapter 2: Welcome to Hogwarts

On September the first, Cyrene boarded the Hogwarts Express on platform nine and three-quarters in her train compartment with Rowan, happily chatting about Hogwarts and the spells they will learn there. The compartment seats were littered with many pasties, cakes and candies from the witch who pushed the food trolley.

When they arrived at Hogwarts, they travelled by boat across the lake to the castle followed by a large bearded man. They followed a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes, known as Professor McGonagall to the Great Hall, with thousands of floating candles, a ceiling which looked just like the night sky, and four long tables packed with students staring at the first years. The golden plates and goblets on the tables gleamed brightly.

Professor McGonagall placed a patched, old dirty hat onto a three-legged stool. Cyrene knew this is the Sorting Hat, as Rowan had told her this on the train.

'Welcome to Hogwarts. Before the welcoming feast, we must sort all first-year students into their proper houses.' said Professor McGonagall. 'The sorting ceremony is very important. While you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.'

'The four houses are called Gryffindor, the brave and chivalrous. Hufflepuff, the kind and diligent. Ravenclaw, the witty and wise. And Slytherin, the cunning and ambitious.' she continued. 'Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. I hope you all will be fine additions to their ranks.'

Afterwards, each fist-year student put on the Sorting Hat as it shouted out their selected house. Cyrene waited in line as she saw a sly looking girl get into Slytherin, a nervous looking boy get sorted into Gryffindor, a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes sorted into Hufflepuff, and Rowan in Hufflepuff as well. Cyrene thought that Rowan was more likely to be in Ravenclaw because of her knowledge.

'...and now for...Lennox, Cyrene!'

Cyrene watched almost student starting to whisper among each other. She knew it was because of her brother. She walked forward, sat down on the stool, and put the hat on. The sudden voice from the hat gave her a shock.

'Hmm... very interesting. I haven't seen one like this in a long time. And what house are you hoping for, hmm?'

Cyrene didn't think much about which house she wanted to be in, but was hoping to be sorted into Hufflepuff like her brother and Rowan. She mumbled to herself about wanting to be in Hufflepuff.

'Ah, yes. I understand now.' the hat spoke again.

'Best make it...'

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

The students at the Hufflepuff table started cheering, and Rowan scooted aside so Cyrene could have a seat next to her.

'A Hufflepuff! I can't believe I'm really at Hogwarts!' Cyrene cheered. 'I'd better sit down. The headmaster is about to speak.'

The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, as Cyrene knew from her Hogwarts letter, stood up and spoke to everyone. The hall fell silent at once. 'Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. The past few years have seen a great weight lifted from our world.' he said.

'The boy who lived, Harry Potter, is safe. Years from now, young Harry will be old enough to attend Hogwarts. But for now, it's your turn!' Cyrene knew about Harry Potter. In fact, the whole wizarding community knew his name for defeating the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort when he was a year old.

'Remember, while you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you House Points, while any rule-breaking will lose House Points.' Professor Dumbledore continued.

Cyrene looked at four hourglasses with different colored jewels, each representing the color of each house. Green for Slytherin, blue for Ravenclaw, red for Gryffindor, and yellow for Hufflepuff.

'At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded with the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to your house.' Cyrene hoped for her house to win the cup.

Professor Dumbledore finished his speech and walked over to the staff table behind him. Suddenly, the empty plates and goblets on the table were now piled with food. She had never seen so many things she liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.

After a huge feast, a witch with short curly hair walked up to the Hufflepuff table. She had on an old, frayed witch's hat. 'The feast has ended. Hufflepuffs, please proceed to the Hufflepuff common room.' she said. Cyrene knew she was their head of house, Professor Sprout.

Cyrene followed Professor Sprout and the other Hufflepuffs into their common room. It looked very warm and cozy, with its yellow color scheme and many soft chairs and couches in front of a warm fireplace. There were also many different types of plants everywhere. She saw Rowan waiting for her nearby.

'It's fantastic to see you again, Cyrene. I'm so happy we both got put in Hufflepuff. Would you like to hear an exhaustive history of our house, including a comprehensive biography of our house founder?' she said.

Cyrene knew Rowan read a lot about Hogwarts, but she definitely wasn't expecting her to know this much.

'For now, let's just take it all in.' she laughed nervously. She did not want to hear a long history lecture from Rowan on her first day.

They both looked around at the activity in the common room. There were two girls on the couch eating Fizzing Whizzbees, and some first-years crowded around a table where a fifth-year levitated a frog. The others watched, amazed.

'It's incredible, isn't it? Even better than I imagined.' said Rowan.

'I was thinking the exact same thing. It's so cozy!' replied Cyrene.

Suddenly, a third-year boy walked up to Cyrene. 'I can't believe they even let you in here after your brother got expelled and ruined Hufflepuff's reputation.'

'I didn't choose to be put in Hufflepuff.' Cyrene answered.

'We certainly didn't choose you.' said the third-year boy. He then stormed off towards the boy's dormitory.

'I'm sorry, Cyrene. I wanted to do something, but you asked me to keep quiet back in Diagon Alley. said Rowan.

'Thanks, Rowan. I'm hoping that if I ignore them, people will leave me alone about my brother.' Cyrene was glad that Rowan kept her promise. 'Have you had a chance to look at your timetable?'

'Yes, can you believe it? Herbology with Professor Sprout, Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall...' Rowan was very excited about her classes. 'What are you most looking forward to, Cyrene?'

'I'm excited about Charms Class. I want to learn all of those amazing spells from Ravenclaw's Head of House, Professor Flitwick!'

'Luckily, we have Charms Class with Professor Flitwick first thing tomorrow! See you there, Cyrene!'