The night air was cool and crisp as we stepped off the Hogwarts Express, the sky above us a blanket of stars. Students milled about the platform, laughing and talking as they gathered their belongings. A few of them stole glances at us, curiosity evident in their eyes. I held my head high, trying to keep my nerves at bay. Tom's words echoed in my mind: we were Riddles. We belonged here.
"First years, over here!" a voice called out, and I turned to see a giant of a man standing at the edge of the platform, holding a lantern aloft. He had a wild beard and kind eyes, his grin wide and welcoming. "Come on, first years, don't be shy!"
"That's Hagrid," Mattheo whispered to me, a smirk on his lips. "He's the gamekeeper. Don't let his size scare you; he's mostly harmless."
Mostly. I caught the glint of mischief in Mattheo's eyes and smiled. "Noted," I replied, tightening my grip on my bag.
"Come on, Sera," Tom said, gently nudging me forward. "You'll go with Hagrid. We'll meet you in the Great Hall."
I hesitated, not wanting to leave the safety of my brothers' side, but Mattheo gave me a reassuring nod. "You've got this," he said quietly. "We'll see you soon."
I took a deep breath and nodded, making my way towards the group of first years gathering around Hagrid. As I approached, Hagrid's eyes fell on me, his smile widening.
"Ah, you must be Seraphina Riddle," he said, his voice booming but warm. "Heard about you. Welcome to Hogwarts, lass."
"Thank you," I said, feeling the eyes of the other first years on me. I forced a smile, trying to seem at ease.
"All right then, follow me!" Hagrid called, turning and leading us away from the platform. "We'll be takin' the boats across the lake, just like every year. It's a tradition, you see."
We followed Hagrid down a steep path that led to the edge of a vast, dark lake. Several small boats bobbed in the water, waiting for us. The sight of the lake, its surface reflecting the stars, took my breath away. In the distance, I could see the silhouette of the castle, its towers rising high into the night sky.
"Four to a boat!" Hagrid called as he helped students climb into the boats. I hesitated, unsure where to go, until a girl with red hair and a kind smile gestured for me to join her.
"Hi, I'm Lily," she said as I climbed into the boat. "Lily Moon. You must be Seraphina."
"That's right," I replied, grateful for the friendliness in her eyes. "Nice to meet you, Lily."
Two other students joined us, a boy with glasses and a girl with long, dark braids. They introduced themselves as Theodore and Claire. I gave them a small smile, trying to ignore the way Theodore's eyes lingered on me, as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.
"Everyone ready?" Hagrid called from his own boat. "Off we go!"
The boats glided across the water as if by magic, smooth and silent. The castle loomed closer, its reflection rippling in the lake. My heart pounded with anticipation. This was the start of my new life. A life I had only dreamed about while confined to the manor.
"Hogwarts is beautiful, isn't it?" Lily said softly, her eyes fixed on the castle.
"Yeah," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. "It really is."
As we neared the shore, the castle's grandeur became even more apparent. It was massive, its stone walls ancient and imposing, yet there was a warmth to it, a sense of belonging that made me feel both awed and comforted.
The boats bumped gently against the shore, and we climbed out, following Hagrid up a set of stone steps. The entrance hall was even more magnificent, its ceilings high and arches grand. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering light and shadows.
We were led to a set of double doors that opened into the Great Hall, and my breath caught in my throat. The hall was vast, its ceiling enchanted to mirror the night sky outside. Hundreds of candles floated above the long tables where students were seated, their faces turned towards us, the first years. At the far end of the hall, teachers sat at a raised table, their eyes assessing us with varying degrees of interest.
Hagrid led us to the front of the hall, where a stool with a tattered hat sat waiting. I remembered Mattheo telling me about the Sorting Hat, about how it would look into our minds and determine which house we belonged to. My heart pounded with both excitement and anxiety. What if the hat didn't want me? What if it saw something in me that I didn't want anyone to know?
"Welcome to Hogwarts," a stern-looking woman with a tall hat and sharp features said, stepping forward. "I am Professor McGonagall. When I call your name, you will come forward, place the Sorting Hat on your head, and be sorted into your house."
She began calling names, and one by one, students stepped forward, the Sorting Hat calling out the names of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Cheers erupted from the tables as each student found their place.
"Seraphina Riddle," Professor McGonagall called.
My heart stopped. The hall fell silent, all eyes turning to me. I swallowed hard and stepped forward, the weight of their gazes heavy on my shoulders. I climbed the steps to the stool and sat down, placing the hat on my head. It slipped over my eyes, and I held my breath, waiting.
"Well, well, well," a voice murmured in my ear. "What do we have here? A Riddle. But different, oh yes, very different. I see courage, a thirst for knowledge, a desire to prove yourself. But more than that... so much more."
I gripped the edge of the stool, my heart hammering in my chest. What was the hat seeing? What did it mean?
"Ah, you would do well in many houses," the hat continued, its voice thoughtful. "But where to put you? You have ambition, cunning... but also a kindness, a heart that seeks connection. Where to put you, indeed?"
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the hat to make a decision, to choose.
"Ah, I see it now," the hat said finally, its voice filled with a knowing smile. "Better be... SLYTHERIN!"
The word rang out through the hall, and the Slytherin table erupted in cheers. I pulled off the hat, my heart racing, and made my way to the table, where Mattheo and Tom were clapping, grins on their faces. I slid into a seat beside them, my mind spinning.
As the cheers from the Slytherin table died down, Mattheo's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with pride. He slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a side hug, his voice full of teasing warmth. "Welcome to Slytherin, little sister," he said.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, though I was smiling. "I'm only five minutes younger than you, Matt," I retorted, nudging him playfully with my elbow.
"Five minutes makes all the difference Sera," Mattheo shot back, his grin never faltering. "Besides, I've got to keep reminding you who the older twin is."
I laughed, feeling some of the tension melt away. Despite Mattheo's teasing, his presence had always been a comfort, a constant in our strange and secretive life. No matter what, we had each other.
Tom nodded from across the table, a small, approving smile on his lips. "We're glad to have you," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. His grey eyes, so similar to mine, held a softness I rarely saw. It was moments like these that reminded me that, despite his seriousness and the weight he often carried, he was still my brother.
I looked around the table again, taking in the faces of my new housemates, the emerald and silver banners above us, the flickering candlelight that cast long shadows across the Great Hall. This was my new home, my new beginning. And with Mattheo and Tom by my side, I felt ready for whatever challenges awaited.
"Here's to Slytherin," I said, raising an imaginary glass, my voice steady with newfound confidence. "And to new adventures."
Mattheo and Tom both nodded, their smiles mirroring mine. As the Sorting continued and more first years found their places, I settled into my seat, a sense of belonging washing over me. Whatever secrets my father kept, whatever the future held, I knew one thing for certain: with my brothers beside me, I was ready to face it all.
