Gingerly stepping from the rickety boats, the first years arrived on Hogwarts grounds. They followed Hagrid towards a slither of distant light.
They reached the light: a wide, high set of wooden doors with gilded detail. Passing through the doors, they were led into a hallway with lofty arches. A teacher stood in the hallway. Her hair was frizzy and her eyes wild.
"Greetings students! Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Professor Trelawney, divination professor. Now! As you're first years, you'll must be sorted into your houses before you can be seated in the great hall. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Follow me through here and we will start your sorting!"
Trelawney led the students into the great hall. The first years gasped and erupted into chatter at the sight of the transfixed ceiling. Instead of a ceiling, over them loomed a night sky lit with floating candles undulating overhead. She leads them to the front of the hall. 4 long tables of students watch them intently.
Trelawney stands before them at a podium. By her is a chair. She holds in one hand, a list, in the other, a hat with a face in its crinkles.
She squints through her glasses at the list. She begins to read off names.
"Omari Adel." Hortencia flinches at someone poking her arm. It's Julianne.
"Aren't you excited?!" She whispers, trailing off into a squeal.
"I'm not that arsed really-" replied Hortencia.
"Aedos Aeruginosa."
"Layla-Arnona Brown." The rude girl from the train takes the stage and sits down on the chair. The hat is placed on her head.
Hortencia jumps back again.
"I hope she gets Ravenclaw!" Half-whispers Chester.
"WizardGod- can you two not do that?!" Hissed back Hortencia. The trio look intently at the girl who holds her head up high, confidently.
"Hmmm... I see.." spoke the hat in a creaky way. "Gryffindor!"
The table of Gryffindors erupt in applause. The girl furrows her brows. She stands hesitantly. Hortencia sees her say something to Trelawney that she couldn't quite discern. Nonetheless, she sits down at the Gryffindor table.
Julianne and Chester look at each other.
Trelawney continues to read off names.
" Grace Giwgib." She reached the H's
"Hortencia Harding."
She took to the stage hesitantly. Her eyes flicked over to the large crowd ahead of her. She felt her palms get sweaty. She dried them on her cloak before sitting down on the chair. Trelawney placed the hat upon her head.
She took a deep breath in before grimacing. The hat smelled of mildew and damp laundry.
"Mmmyes. I see. I have the perfect place for youu. Slytherin!"
The table dressed in green cheer. Some from Gryffindors boo. She stands up and goes to the green table. She glanced at Mcgonagall on her way there, who gives her a reassuring look.
She walked alongside the long table. A group of older students cleared space for her to sit.
"Welcome to Slytherin." Smiled a girl with icy blonde hair and icier gray eyes. She held out a hand to shake Hortencia's.
"Ramona Malfoy. 3rd year." She shook her hand.
"Hortencia. Harding-" Ramona's hands were remarkably small. Her skin was so pale you could see each vein trailing over the tendons of her hands like tributaries. She pushed her oval glasses up her pointy nose.
YOU ARE READING
Hortencia Harding and the Draugr's wrath
Fanfiction"My parents are Portunus and Melpomene Harding. They are both in Azkaban. But I am not them and they are not me. I can forge my own path. I have to. Before I follow their lead."
