SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 2- the sorting

Everyone had changed into their school robes on the train, so when we arrived at the Hogwarts platform they were ready to go straight to the Great Hall. As the carriage pulled up to the gates of the castle my jaw dropped. I had never seen something so big and magnificent. "This is Hogwarts?" I asked Hermione.
"That was my exact reaction." she laughed.
"This isn't a school, it's an estate. This is bigger than the White House!" I exclaim.
"I think that might be an exaggeration." Harry mumbled.
"It's not." I mumble back. I couldn't believe my eyes. The castle was massive, the grounds even more so. There were rolling hills all around and the towers of the castle raised high into the clouds. The carriages stopped in a line and we all began to get out while a couple professors began shouting instructions.
"First years, this way! Follow me!" A very tall, hairy man boomed. My eyes widened at the sight of him and I mouthed 'whoa'. Harry must've seen my shock and chuckled.
"That's Hagrid. He's the groundskeeper. He's very nice, one of our best friends." I nodded along as we walked towards the tall man. He got even taller the closer we got, I was only slightly terrified. "Hi Hagrid!" Harry said happily.
"Hello 'Arry! Ron and Hermione, good to see you."
"You too, Hagrid." greeted Ron.
"And who do we have here?" Hagrid asked as he motioned to me.
"This is Melanie." Hermione introduced me.
"Hi." I waved.
"Melanie, what a nice name. I'm Hagird, groundskeeper here at Hogwarts.
"It's nice to meet you."
"Melanie's new to Hogwarts, she's the same year as us." Ron explained.
"My family just moved from America. My dad got a job at the Ministry." I furthered.
"I bet he was real happy. Well, you lot better get to the Great Hall. Wouldn't want to miss the sorting and the feast." He winked and ushered us along. We followed the crowd of students across a large bridge and into the main doors of the castle. It was slow, like herding cattle, but it gave me time to gawk at all the paintings and stone statues around me.
"Harry, we heard you had a run in on the train." A voice spoke from behind us. We all turned to see the Weasley twins.
"Was it really a dementor?" George asked as we continued to walk into the Great Hall.
"Yeah, it was!" Ron answered. "But thank Merlin Professor Lupin was there and scared the thing off."
"Wait, what are they exactly?" I asked. It was one of the many questions I had swirling around my mind.
"Azkaban is the wizard prison," Hermione began. "Dementors guard it and keep the prisoners well behaved."
"So why were they on the train?"
"Haven't you heard?" Fred asked. "Someone escaped. Sirius Black, a murderer. He was one of You-Know-Who's followers back when he was still around."
"Oh, him. I think I remember hearing my parents say something about a prison escape, but I didn't think it was such a big deal."
"Well, it is. Nobody has ever escaped from Azkaban." said Ron as we stopped in the doorway. I looked into the Great Hall and saw four long tables filling the floor. On the opposite side was a long table where all the professors sat looking out at the students. There were also flags hanging from the ceiling, one above each of the tables. I recognized the names as the houses from Hermione telling me earlier.
"Well, we better get a seat." Fred said as he and George pushed through the crowd to the Gryffindor table.
"Wait, where do I go?" I asked before the rest of them could walk away.
"Up there," Harry pointed. I followed his finger and saw the group of first years standing in the space between the house and professor tables. I nodded as they walked away and I made my way to the front. I probably stick out like a sore thumb, I'm at least half a foot taller than the first years around me. My height makes it easy to see the small stool with an old hat. That must be the sorting hat I thought to myself as an old man in half-moon glasses stands at the podium and everyone instantly quiets.
"Good evening, students. It is wonderful to see all of your happy faces as we start a new term. Before the sorting and feast I would like to make an announcement concerning the recent incident at Azkaban prison." The entire hall immediately began buzzing with hushed whispers. I looked around me to find even the first years discussing. I still am confused on what exactly is going on with all this, but I have a feeling it's not good. "As you all know a man named Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban late just a few nights ago. His whereabouts are still unknown, so as an added precaution, we will be hosting some of the dementors. They are only to stay on the perimeter of the grounds, but be warned. They know not the difference between a student and Black, and will be merciless should you encounter them." His tone was serious and sent a chill down my spine. Great, my first day, and already I have something to worry about. "Now, I turn your attention to Professor McGonagall, who will conduct this year's house sorting." An older woman in dark green robes and a pointed hat stood next to the stool with a roll of parchment in one hand.
"When I call your name, please come forward." she instructed and then began reading off names. It didn't seem to be in any sort of order, so I had no clue when I was going to be called. The process seemed harmless. When your name was read you went and sat on the stool, then Professor McGonagall would place the hat on your head and wait for it to yell out a house name. Each house erupted when they gained a first year, only making me more nervous. Before I knew it there were only a few first years left standing around me. Ugh, seriously? I'm going last? Of course, let's just make the new third year feel even more out of place.
"Now, our last student who needs to be sorted is, in fact, a third year student." McGonagall announced and looked at me. I wanted to shrink to the size of a tack. My cheeks tinted red as I felt the eyes of everyone on me. "Miss Reynolds?" she motioned to the stool. I took a deep breath as I walked up the few marble steps and sat down. I wish I hadn't turned around because it was only then I realized how many people were actually in the Great Hall. It was less than at Ilvermorny, but still more than my imagination had predicted. I looked up at the hat as it was lowered onto my head.
"Hmm, a third year." the hat mumbled into my ear. My eyes widened as it spoke and I tried to keep my composure. "American too. That brassy attitude would do well in Gryffindor. Although I'm sensing more relaxed tendencies, you would fit in well with Hufflepuff." I was slightly offended that the hat was judging me on literally nothing, but also impressed at the enchantment that allowed it to read people so well.
"You have the qualities of all the houses, you would do well anywhere. But it'll have to be…HUFFLEPUFF!" I sighed as the hat was lifted off me and I saw the Hufflepuff table going wild. I quickly joined them and snuck a glance at the Gryffindor table where Ron, Harry, Hermione, and the twins were all cheering.
"Welcome to Hufflepuff, Reynolds." a boy beside me said with an outstretched hand. "I'm Cedric Diggory."
"Melanie Reynolds." I said as I shook his hand. He had short, blonde hair and gray eyes. A few more people welcomed me, but all conversation seemed to halt as Dumbledore stood and raised his hands. Instantly, the tables were filled with plates and bowls filled with meats, potatoes, vegetables, and desserts of all kinds. My stomach aptly growled quietly and I realized how hungry I actually was. I wasted no time in loading my own plate with mashed potatoes, roasted ham, pudding, pasta, and cookies. Throughout the feast a few more of my housemates introduced themselves, but I quickly forgot names. I was too focused on the most delicious food I had ever eaten. At some point between my second helping of potatoes and fourth cookie Cedric started a conversation.
"So, Melanie, why did you transfer to Hogwarts?" I quickly swallowed my mouthful of pasta and took a sip of pumpkin juice before answering.
"My dad got a job at the Ministry. He worked at the American Ministry before, but he was very excited when the letter from Fudge came with the offer." I explained as I picked up another roll.
"Interesting. My father also works at the Ministry, what department is yours in?"
"Department of Mysteries."
"Wow, impressive. Mine's in the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Now that's cool!" I echoed the praise. "Have you ever seen anything crazy, like a dragon? Or a mermaid?"
"He once sent a letter with a picture of a dragon's nest while he was in Romania on business, but other than that, no I haven't." We both chuckled. The feast soon ended and each house dispersed to their respective dormitories. Cedric and I continued our conversation as he led me to the Hufflepuff dorm. I gave him a puzzled look as we and Slytherin headed down a flight of stairs.
"Wait, aren't the dorms in the towers? Why are we going downstairs?"
"Only Gryffindor and Ravenclaw have towers. We are down right next to the kitchen and Slytherin is in the dungeons." he explained.
"Well, at least we're not in the dungeon, I guess." I shrugged as we continued down and towards the kitchen. I was hit with a wall of glorious smells as we neared the small door to the kitchen. I had a few more questions, but decided not to stop us again. We then turned down a small hallway, which almost looked like a dead end.
"Okay, there's no way you're taking me to the dorms. This can't be it." He gave me a small smile before carefully looking at the stack of barrels next to us. He then knocked in a pattern on the very middle barrel and suddenly a lid opened.
"Come on, then. In we go," he instructed as he climbed in and seemingly disappeared. I looked around for a moment, but we were alone. I sighed before stepping onto a different barrel and climbed in. I was expecting some sort of fall, but my feet landed safely below me and I was met with the Hufflepuff common room. It was a large round room with plants everywhere. Warm and inviting. There were windows along the ceiling that allowed us to see onto the grounds of the school. Above the fireplace there was a large portrait of a woman with brown hair wearing yellow robes.
"Who is that?" I asked Cedric as he rejoined me from greeting some of his friends.
"That is Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founders of Hogwarts. Her name is actually the password. You just knock how you would say it. Helga Hufflepuff." He knocked as he said her name again showing me.
"Interesting. Does every house have something like that? A password?"
"Yeah, but they're all actually words. Ravenclaw's is a riddle that changes every month. The brainiacs have to solve a riddle to even get to their beds, typical." he scoffed.
"Is there a lot of rivalry between the houses?" I asked as I settled into one of the large armchairs.
"Definitely." he assured me. "Especially in quidditch." My eyes lit up.
"Do you play?" I asked eagerly.
"Yeah, I'm actually a captain this year. I'm taking over as Seeker."
"Oh, no way! I love quidditch! I was a Chaser last year on my team at Ilvermorny. I'm hoping to join a team here."
"Really, a Chaser as only a second year? That doesn't happen much, at least not around here. Most of the Chasers are fifth years and up. Do you want to be a Chaser again?"
"I really liked it, but I've always been interested in the Keeper position. I like the idea of seeing the whole pitch during a game."
"Funny enough, we actually need a new Keeper this year. Andrew McCallum had been the Keeper since my first year and was captain, but last term was his last at Hogwarts. I almost fainted when he told me I was going to be the new captain and Seeker."
"Seriously? When are try-outs?"
"This weekend. I'm going to put a sign-up sheet in here tomorrow after class." I was even more excited for tomorrow to come. We sat by the fire and eventually more people joined us. Mostly fifth and sixth years that knew Cedric, but it gave me a chance to learn a few new faces. I even met a girl in my year, Hannah Abbott. She offered to show me to the dorms and to walk with me to classes tomorrow.
"Thanks for showing me around tonight, Cedric." I said as I stood to leave.
"Yeah, it was no problem. Good luck tomorrow." He waved as I followed Hannah down a hallway. It came to an end with a door on either side labeled 'BOYS' to the left and 'GIRLS' to the right. We entered the room and it was even more cozy than the common room. There were five beds in a circle around a small coal stove.
"Here's your bed. I thought you might like the window, even though it's small." Hannah said as she motioned to the very small window near the ceiling.
"Thanks, it's still nice to have some natural light." I took in the bed before me. It stood tall with its four posters, a nightstand to the side, and my trunk placed at the foot. There was a single pillow placed on the made bed with a yellow and green patchwork quilt. My hands ran up the blanket as I walked to inspect the nightstand. It was very soft wool so I knew it would keep me warm. "Are there more beds past this?"
"No, this room is just our year. We stay in the same room every year. I'm here, Susan's on this side of me, then there's Gibson, MaClean, and Tait." She named off the girls as she pointed to each bed. "There is a small bathroom just through there, with a larger one down a different tunnel off the common room with full baths."
"What's with all the tunnels?"
"Our house animal is the badger, it just sort of makes sense I guess. I didn't ever really think about it much until you said something. I'm going to bed, don't want to be late for tomorrow. Breakfast is served in the Great Hall from eight to nine-thirty, and classes begin at ten sharp. We have half our classes with Ravenclaw, half with Gryffindor. But depending on what classes exactly you're taking, you might have some from each house. Our first lesson tomorrow is Potions with Snape, he hates people who are late." As she rambled about classes I began sorting through my trunk. I laid out my pajamas and changed, making sure to hang my robes for tomorrow. I then took a few minutes to set up Poppy's cage and food bowl near the window. I checked to make sure it opened, and thankfully it did.
"Are you taking Care of Magical Creatures?" I asked as I brushed my hair.
"No, not for me. I'm not much of an outdoorsy person, plus I heard a group of Slytherin's talking about the class at the end of last term and I've heard they're an absolute nightmare to have in class."
"Hmm, can't be that bad." I thought back to Ilvermorny and how the houses treated each other. There wasn't much rivalry other than quidditch, and we didn't sit exclusively unless we were required to. Must be an English thing I thought to myself as I crawled under the quilt. I was right, it was so warm and inviting. I made sure to set an alarm, but my mind quickly drifted off with dreams of the many adventures I knew would be finding me.