The excited murmur of students filled the narrow hallway where the first years waited anxiously. Aurelia Potter stood amongst them, her mind whirling with a blend of anticipation and uncertainty. The journey to Hogwarts had been surreal, but now it was time for the moment everyone had been talking about—the Sorting Ceremony. She cast a quick glance around, noticing the wide-eyed awe in the faces of her fellow students. Standing close to her was Nora Prince, her excitement barely contained.
Suddenly, the sound of clicking heels echoed through the hallway, and Professor McGonagall appeared, her face stern yet not unkind.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she began, her voice carrying easily over the whispers. "In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses. Your house will be like your family during your time here at Hogwarts. You will earn points for your house, and at the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup."
The students exchanged nervous looks. Points? House Cup? The idea of competition lit a spark in the air.
McGonagall continued, her expression serious. "But remember, misbehavior will result in losing points for your house, so conduct yourselves accordingly."
Aurelia's heart thumped in her chest. Everything about this world was so different from the quiet, uneventful life she'd lived in Cirencester with the Harrisons. But it was also exciting. She had a strange, nagging feeling that this was where she was meant to be.
"Now," McGonagall said, straightening her robes, "form a line, and follow me."
Aurelia found herself stepping into place between Nora and a boy whose robes were slightly too big for him. As they moved down the hall, Aurelia's curiosity got the better of her.
"Do you think we'll be in the same house?" she whispered to Nora.
Nora gave her a sly grin. "If there's any justice in this world, we will be. I'm destined for Slytherin, after all."
Aurelia nodded, but internally she felt unsure. Harry, her supposed brother, was a Gryffindor. Did that mean she would follow in his footsteps?
The group shuffled forward, following McGonagall through the massive double doors and into the Great Hall. As soon as Aurelia stepped inside, her breath caught in her throat.
The Great Hall was a sight to behold. Hundreds of floating candles hovered above the tables, casting a warm, flickering glow over the room. The enchanted ceiling mimicked the night sky, filled with glittering stars that twinkled softly. Ghosts drifted serenely through the room, their translucent forms glowing faintly as they chatted amongst themselves.
"Blimey..." a boy beside Aurelia whispered, clearly as stunned as she was.
Aurelia couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over her. This place, with its magic and grandeur, was so different from anything she had ever known. She felt a tug of excitement—this was the world she belonged to.
"It's beautiful," she muttered softly, not really expecting a response.
Nora Prince, standing next to her, nodded in agreement, her eyes wide with wonder. "My parents told me about this, the ceiling being enchanted and all, but seeing it in person is... something else," she said with a grin.
But it wasn't just the ceiling. The entire hall was grander than anything Aurelia had ever imagined. Long tables stretched out across the room, each one buzzing with students. At the far end, a table filled with professors sat in front of a raised platform. Aurelia's eyes found the figure of Albus Dumbledore, the wise, white-bearded headmaster who had already garnered a legendary reputation. But she was looking for Harry The Gryffindor table, like the others, was full of unfamiliar faces. Which one was her brother or was he here at all?
YOU ARE READING
The Untold Reborn
Fantasy❝. . . AURELIA POTTER has thought herself of nothing more than just a normal human living with her parents. But when the shock that comes in the form of a letter to an unusual school named Hogwarts, her life is suddenly not what she always thought...
