Being A Champion

Tradition

Riley groans as her body starts to come out of her slumber. She slides her hands through the sheets and something feels...off. She freezes in her movements and her mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario; she had been abducted and was being held in some muggle room or at least she hope it was. She doesn't know where her wand is and she can't remember what she did last night. Taking a chance she slowly opens one one, expecting to see some disgusting basement, like the one in that muggle horror movie Lucas made her watch. However, she's very surprised to just see she's in her bed in the Hufflepuff dormitory.

How did I...

The confusion only lasts for a second before waves of excitement overtake her and she sits right up in her bed. She sees other girls are still asleep, but a majority of the beds are empty, mostly second-years too eager to sleep in. Riley smiles to herself, even returning students can't hold in their excitement to be back at Hogwarts.

"Well, no surprise seeing you're the first old-timer up." Riley looks over to her right to see a head full of red hair poking out from the covers.

She rolls her eyes, but her mega-watt smile is still in place. "First off, not an old-timer and second," without warning, Riley launches herself onto, Spencer's bed, "It's our first last day of school!" She doesn't mean to yell so loud and wake the rest up, but the joy in her is too much.

Spencer groans and buries herself deeper into the comforter. "Go away. You're sunshine is too bright for my dark soul." Riley giggles before hugging the lump of covers, much to Spencer's dismay.

"Come on! First day and there's suppose to be a huge announcement after the Sorting ceremony."

"Isn't there always a huge announcement every year." Her muffle voice groans out. Riley rolls her eyes before moving out of her friend's bed. "Besides why do we gotta be up so damn early?" She grumbles out while Riley proceeds to get changed. Spencer pokes her head out once more and grins lazily at the brunette. "Let's just sleep 'til then."

Riley rolls her eyes. "We could, but I really wanna go soak in the castle." Riley smiles to herself. "It's our last year, Spenc. I really wanna remember it." She spins on her heel to see her best friend sitting up in bed with a soft smile. "Anyway, Farkle told me that the announcement tonight has something to do with a tradition, that they're bringing back." Riley raises an eyebrow hoping to get the redhead fired up for whatever is in store. "A tradition that hasn't been used in let's say 100 years or so." Quickly Spencer's eyes light up and she's out of bed in a heart beat.

"Wait you don't mean-"

"I don't know." Riley says with a raised hand. "Farkle didn't tell me much. He says he might tell us later tonight, when he arrives." Spencer rolls her eyes before slowly making her way to her quidditch gear.

"Well, now that you have me up this early, wanna go hit the pitch for a bit?" Riley grins and gets her gear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The chatter from the Great Hall could probably be heard all throughout Hogwarts. Apparently news of the tradition being brought back has started debates and gossip to figure out what it is. Riley grins as she sees everyone talking with great passion, trying to figure it out. As her and Spencer were walking to the Hall, they saw all of the first-years exiting their boats. She could see the nervousness on their faces and the joy.

Riley remembers her first time arriving here. She was in awe by the castle, still is, but her young self just wanted to go wandering the place for hours. Even now, she knows she hasn't discovered all the secrets this place possess.

As they enter the Great Hall, Riley takes a moment to look up at the beautiful ceiling, it shows the cloudy night sky with stars poking out and the moon hiding. The candles hang in suspension and give the Hall that familiar feel to it that she loves. Her eyes sweep to the front of the room, where the sorting hat rest, sitting on that old stool.