From Bitter Roots To Loving Leaves

Hogwarts

To say Harry was amazed would be an understatement because, after what he had just seen he couldn't make himself believe his own eyes. There stood in all its glory, Hogwarts with it's many turrets and towers.
From the moment he had heard of the castle from Hagrid, the groundkeeper, he was excited to see it and now when it was infront of his eyes... He was happy beyond measures because finally he will be out all his miseries... He just could not wait to see what was within this big castle.  He was finally able to be on the ground from the boat, and was ushered to where a stern looking witch was standing. Just one look at her face and he understood that she was never the one to be crossed and yet somehow he felt safe around her. They were then taken to another big room where they had to wait until her return. On his way he had heard lots of laughters behind the grand oak doors.Meanwhile murmurs broke out about how they were supposed to be sorted into houses. Harry remembered Hagrid saying something about Hogwarts houses but he was vague. But from the little speech that had been given by the stern looking witch,who introduced herself as Prof. McGonagall , he understood that there were 4 Hogwarts Houses;  Gryffindor- for the brave & daring, Hufflepuff- for the loyal&patient , Ravenclaw for those who valued knowledge , and Slytherin for the cunning & ambitious. He thought that he will likely be sorted to Hufflepuff, because he had heard from the murmurs around him that it is the house where the ones who doesn't belong goes. Now, he didn't believe that but still... More than any of these he dreaded that he won't be sorted and would be sent back to Drusleys. He was broken out of his reverie when Professor McGonagall got back and told them to follow her. When they entered through the grand oak doors, he was very much in awe.. The great hall... It was so big that Harry was sure  the entire Number 4 Private Drive could easily fit in here. It was huge. Candles floating above, the ceiling showing the stars above... He was curious. Was it the real sky or was this too magic? He couldn't ponder this long however as Prof. McGonagall had placed a 3 legged stool and a very ancient looking hat on top of it. Suddenly it began to sing, from a slit at it's front :
“Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Harry was enchanted with hat and it's song and clapped once the it had finished singing . Even though the song had him distracted for a moment, his anxiety came back crashing when the Prof. Started reading names out loud from a parchment. The first student, Hannah Abott was sorted into Hufflepuff. The girl with bushy hair, with whom he'd shared the boat with, was sorted into Gryffindor. Relief was evident in her eyes. The sorting went on and soon enough, Prof. McGonagall was calling out "Potter, Harry". Murmurs broke out among the students. Some were pointing at him while others were openly gawking at him... As though he were a souvenir or something on display. He hated it. On top of it all, his anxiety had turned his legs into leads and his heart was beating like mad. Finally, somehow he reached  the podium and sat on the stool. The Prof. dropped the hat on his head. It covered his eyes completely. Suddenly, there was a voice in his head, causing Harry to jerk violently. “Ah, another Potter, I see... No need to be frightened child, for I won't hurt you as others have. Calm down. Mm...
A mind you own Mr. Potter! How enchanting... Just like that of your mother's... But different too...  But not impulsive,are we?.. Defenitly not Gryffindor then. Difficult... Very difficult.”Harry began thinking desperately “Please sort me,anywhere is fine Mr. Hat but pls don't send me back... ” “Dear lad, don't worry.. I was just amazed by your mind is all. I shall defenitly sort you, but give me some time...Ambitious, cunning...A quench to prove yourself... Perhaps Slytherin? No... It isn't the one. Hmm...You value knowledge above anything.. I can see it in here, how it was your escape and such a curious and analytical mind too... Observant and inquisitive... I think I know just the right place for you, lad..” RAVENCLAW It yelled out for everyone to hear. As he took off the hat an gave it to Prof. McGonagall, Harry could see a hint of smile on her face and an unreadable emotion in her eyes. She pointed towards the table of  blue and silver, and Harry still reeling from his sorting, shakily began to move. He didn't miss that the hall was eerily silent. But once he approached the Ravenclaws, applause errupted from the table, from his housemates and his heart swelled with happiness . A boy with square rimmed glasses moved a bit so that Harry could sit. He introduced himself as Anthony Goldstein.
Blaise Zabini was the last to be sorted. He went to Slytherin. Once that was over, the headmaster Albus Dumbledore rose and 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!”
Harry had no idea what it meant and whether to laugh or not. He leaned towards Anthony and asked "Erm...Is he a bit mad?” Anthony smiled “He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But yeah, a bit mad too”. Harry looked up at the staff table to see that Prof. Quirell, the one he met at the Leaky Cauldron was looking at him. Suddenly he felt sharp pain in his forhead and clutched his scar. “Are you okay Potter? ” Anthony asked. “yeah, I'm fine” said Harry as the pain ebbed just as quickly as it had come. “Something fishy... ” he thought to himself. Moments later he felt a pair of obsidian eyes staring at him from above the staff table. It was a man sitting next to Quirell. He was staring intently at Harry, as though to figure him out. He was clad in black, with an unreadable expression in his eyes akin to conflicted. Harry turned to one of the other boys, likely older than him as Anthony was in a conversation with someone else. He asked “who's that man sitting next to Prof. Quirell? ” A boy with brown hair and blue eyes answered him “Oh, you know Prof.Quirrell already, do you? No wonder he's looking so nervous, that's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions,and is the head of Slytherin house.” “Oh... Thanks” muttered Harry. “I by the way am Septimus. Septimus Alexander Regis. You may call me Alex” the boy said with a warm smile. “I'm Harry ” and shook hands with Alex. “Believe me, I know it. ” Alex said with a chuckle.“I'm a fifth year perfect. So I'll be taking you to our common room.”
“1st years follow me” he said as he stood up. They began their treck towards the east wing of the castle where their common room was located. Finally they stopped in front of the door leading to the common room . “You'll have to solve a riddle that this bronze eagle here presents to you, in order to enter the common room everytime. It'll allow you entrance in case of emergencies of course but try not to go to classes without all the things you need. As it's your first time, you guys are to solve this riddle . ”Alex said to the group of first years infront of him. The knocker sprang to life at once :

"I am always coming but never arrive,
I have a head but never hair,
I have a bed but never sleep,
I have a mouth but never speak.

What am I?"

Harry thought it out and quickly got the answer.“River! The answer is river!” He said enthusiastically.Alex offered him a thumbs up and a smile which he returned.
The door opened reaviling a cozy looking common room draped in hues of blue and  silver.. It had a soothing effect to Harry who instantly felt at home, for the first time ever.
He felt like the air was alive with the whispers of ancient knowledge.
The room was a majestic, circular chamber, with soaring ceilings that seem to disappear into the clouds. Walls lined with towering bookshelves stretched upwards, their leather-bound tomes and glowing scrolls radiating a warm, golden light. The atmosphere was alive with the scent of old parchment, ink, and the faint hint of mystique.

Plush, midnight-blue armchairs and sofas beckoned him to linger, surrounded by intricately carved wooden tables and glittering crystal candelabras. Soft, silvery moonlight poured in through the stained glass windows, casting an ethereal glow on the room's occupants.

The walls were adorned with glittering tapestries depicting celestial maps,and ancient runes . Shelves displayed an array of numerous books on vast variety of topics.

In the room's center, a magnificent stone fireplace crackled with a warm, golden yellow flame, casting a hypnotic glow on the surrounding walls. Above the fireplace, a stunning stained glass window depicted the Ravenclaw crest: an eagle soaring into the sky, surrounded by stars.

As Harry settled into that cozy sanctuary, he couldn't help but feel the weight of Ravenclaw's rich history and the whispers of genius that lingered in every corner.

Once everyone got settled down, Alex along  with a tall girl with waist length black hair and warm brown eyes, Elowen Waverley,his female counter part gave the first years a brief overview about rules to be followed and shepherded them to their respective dormitories, seeing how tiered they were.
There were only 2 dormitories for 1st year boys as there were only 6 of them. Harry got to share the dorm with Anthony and another boy named Terry Boot. After the introductions, they were all quick to fall asleep. Before closing his eyes, Harry marveled at all that had happened till now and wondered how classes will be, tomorrow. He too fell asleep, thinking“I love magic ” with a soft smile playing on his lips.

A/n : when  I wrote updates will be slow, I had not imagined that it will take me a year to post the 3rd chapter... Sorry!!
BTW I'm so so grateful for all the reads! I'll try to be more consistent from now on...( I've made this chapter long as a way of apology ... )
Do tell if there are  grammatical or any other kind of errors in the chapter!
Also, I must admit, I donot know who these pictures belong to... It defenitly doesn't belong to me.I clearly state that All the rights of the picture belongs to the ones who own it