Some Badgers like Snakes

Jacob

I couldn't remember a time when I'd been so happy.
Elle was truly a force. She seemed so sweet but told utterly hilarious stories were she was cunning and sly.
I couldn't help but notice how her eyes lit up when she talked about her mum, or how she was always smiling. I don't know how she does it, my cheeks are sore just from the train ride.
I told her this and she said that I'd get better with practice. I liked that idea, it implied that there would be more reasons, more times to smile, and that she just might be in them.
I'd never really had a true friendship, but I think this was how one started.
She was very fascinating, I couldn't believe she'd gone to a muggle school! I'd never even really spoken to a muggle, I was kind of jealous. I wouldn't let on though, most purebloods aren't particularly fond of non magical people and I didn't want to give her reason to dislike me.
We talked for hours about things we liked, things we didn't like, our homes, Hogwarts; and before I knew it Prefects were telling us to change into our robes. She jumped right out of her seat and hurried to the lavatory to change. I watched her go, the waves in her hair practically bouncing along with her. She looked almost cartoonish, with her perky step and excited grin.
I came back from changing to find her staring out the window, just as she had been doing when we first met.
"Are you as positively nervous as I am?" She asked quietly without looking away from the night sky whizzing past us. I was kind of shocked.
"To be honest, I didn't know you could be nervous." I said seriously.
She laughed and faced me as if I had made a joke.
"Of course I get nervous, I mean I'm terribly excited," she beamed, ",but also well, terrified!" Her smile faded.
"You'll be fine, fit right in actually." I assured her with a slight smile.
"It's me you should worry about. I mean who wouldn't want to know you, but me well I'm...forgettable" I said quietly after searching for the right word. Her head popped up as mine lowered.
"Don't you say that! Heck, I've only known you a few hours and I think you're pretty cool." She said sternly, although she was kind of reprimanding me I couldn't help but smile a little on the inside.
"I like you too." I whispered.
She smiled, "Then what are we waiting for?" She stood up as the train came to a halt. I stood up with her, grabbed my trunks, and headed down the packed aisle towards the train's exit.
It was brilliant! The castle was lit up spectacularly, it twinkled in the reflection of the lake.
"First years! First years o'er here!" Came a loud, gruff voice. I looked for the source and only then did I notice Elle standing beside me. Her mouth was popped ever so slightly open, she reminded me a little of a fish. I couldn't laugh though, her eyes were so filled with awe and wonder, she looked at the school like it was the pearly gates of heaven. It was endearing.
"First years! Any more first years?" The voice boomed again. I tapped Elle on the shoulder, kind of ashamed to be the one to break her trance,and we headed towards the man herding all the new students. He was a large man, I suppose large was an understatement, he must have been over seven feet tall! He had a long dark beard, and a wild mess of frizzy hair. His long, dirty overcoat was not what you would expect to see donned by a teacher so he must have held some other position.
"Ah, yer all here now!" He grinned down at the lot of us.
"I'm Rubeus Hagrid, yous can just call me Hagrid though. I'm here to show ye to Hogwarts!" His voice echoed over the silent group.
He looked around, seemingly unsatisfied with the lack of expression from the crowd.
"Aight, twenty to a boat! Let's go!" He called out.
Kids began to arrange themselves into lines in front of the long wooden boats docked on the shore of the dark lake. I sat beside Elle in the back of the last boat. The water was an inky black in the pale moonlight, and the lanterns hanging on the vessels reflected in it like great balls of fire. The man, Hagrid was it, kept talking; explaining little bits of trivia about the castle and the school. He had an interesting accent, I wondered where he was from. I was a little uncomfortable being in the water, Elle seemed to be loving it, so I kept my nerves hidden.
We were all ushered down a great corridor situated right outside the great hall. I felt far too cramped and almost couldn't wait to be in the dining hall. Even if I was in front of all those people, at least there was room.
Elle was standing beside me. Her smile made her look confident, but I could see her hands were shaking and her eyes were plagued with nerves. I nudged her lightly with my elbow and tried to give her a reassuring smile. She looked over and seemed to calm down a bit and without really realizing I did to.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" Came a voice from the front of the crowd. However I couldn't seem to find the man speaking.
" Good evening students. I am professor Flitwick. Welcome to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, I will be showing you to the great hall in a few moments for your sorting ceremony. I'd like to ask you to please form two orderly lines on either side of me. Thank you." He said again. As people moved to follow the professors instructions I managed to catch a glimpse of Flitwick myself. He was a very small man, comically different from the giant like size of Hagrid, the man we'd met before. He had a long white beard, and kind eyes.
He seemed to be standing quite straight and as tall as his petit frame would allow.
Me and Elle stood across from each other in the middle of the two long lines. The group was so large the lines seemed to trail down the marble stairs we had just come up.
"Deep breath." I heard Elle whisper under her breath. Her eyes were scrunched tight in concentration, before they opened and she found her tall, bubbly persona again.
Flitwick pushed the two heavy oak doors and they swing open with a soft creak and loud whoosh of wind. The hall fell silent as we marched in, or shuffled rather. I caught a glimpse of Avery towards the front walking in a way that can only be described as an idiotic swagger. We reached the front of the room and stationed ourselves around the small wooden stool with a weathered looking brown hat resting on top.
Someone cleared their throat.
All heads turned to a distinguished looking lady in deep emerald coloured robes. She stood behind a grand podium shaped liked a golden bird, a Phoenix perhaps.
"Welcome students, to another year at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry." The headmistress began.
"For those of you who are not aware, my name is Headmistress McGonagall." She turned to the first group of first years beside her.
"And I am thrilled to welcome you to our wonderful school."
She went on for a little while about the history of Hogwarts, the meaning behind the sorting ceremony, the four houses you could be sorted into, and many more obvious details. I looked at Elle as if to say, "please we already know all this" but she was fixated on the headmistress. When it was finally time to begin, the sorting hat sang a short and confusing song about the four houses and what they stood for.
I fought the urge to tap my foot impatiently.
Finally McGonagall picked up the long roll of parchment and read the first name.
"Albert Addams?"
"Gryffindor!"
"Charlotte Alkins?"
"Ravenclaw!"
With each name picked the students at the house's table gave a thundering cheer as the newcomer joined them.
"You mean I have to put that greasy old thing on my head?!" A nasally voice came from behind me. I turned to see a blonde fluffing her large curls, a look of plain disgust across her face. I turned away and rolled my eyes. She looked vaguely familiar, her mother must have attended some of my families parties. I sighed as I was almost certain we would be in the same house.
"Olivia Fink?"
"Ravenclaw!"
I froze, it was almost my turn.
"Jacob Flint?"
I walked across the stage and sat on the stool as headmistress McGonagall lowered the hat to my head. It felt like it was tightening. I tried to keep my face hard, as no one else had shown any sign of pain.
Tough kid are we, don't want to stand out do we?
I heard a scraggly voice whisper from inside my head.
You know where I belong I urged. I know where my place is.
I see, one of you legacies , following in father's footsteps, mummy too.
I didn't react, I felt like that's what it wanted, it was egging me on for some reason.
If you're quite sure, better be...
"Slytherin!"
I heard someone boom as the hat was lifted from my head. I stood up and walked to my table with as much confidence and pride as I could muster. I got a few pats on the back and handshakes but went mostly unnoticed. I looked up at Elle and gave her a thumbs up. This was all so exciting! I couldn't help but start to understand her positive outlook on life. I couldn't help but see all the fun we were going to have.
We waited patiently as the list slowly went farther and farther down through the alphabet. Past G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O past P,Q,R,S,T,U,V and all the way to W. my heart was pounding as I heard the name I'd been waiting for.
"Elle Williams?"
She was one of the only kids left onstage. She walked over and took a seat. I slid over to make room on the bench for her to sit beside me as the hat lowered onto her head.
It was barely on for three seconds. When it cries out with certainty.
My face fell.
"Hufflepuff!"