The Next Generation - Harry Potter

Victoire Weasley

The start of term feast was tremendous. Huge joints of meat and stacks of potatoes and vegetables lay on shiny golden platters in which you could see your reflection. I was just helping myself to seconds of jam tart when Professor McGonagall stood up at the front of the staff table and waved her delicate wand for silence. The grand doors of the great hall opened and a crowd of nervous first years entered, trailing behind a professor carrying the sorting hat. I looked up to see an excited looking boy with untidy hair. James Potter. He smiled weakly and turned to the front. A few names were called, "hufflepuff!" "Gryffindor" "SLYTHERIN" until finally, "Potter, James". I could swear I saw Professor  McGonagall's mouth twitch slightly into a smile as she read the name with warm eyes. It had obviously been a while since she had read that name. The hat had barely brushed his dark hair when it screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!" My table erupted into applause as James sat down in relief. After the rest of the new pupils were sorted and speeches were given, I headed down the stairs to the entrance hall and waved goodnight to Teddy as we went to our common rooms for some much-needed sleep, his in the kitchens corridor and mine in Gryffindor tower. Yawning, I climbed the familiar spiral staircase and spoke the new password to the portrait covering the entrance to the common room. The portrait's occupant was elaborately dressed in a plum coloured dress and stiff curled hair. It swung open to reveal the cosy, high-ceilinged room beyond. Once I had finally collapsed onto my scarlet duvet in the sixth year girls room, I was so tired and full that I rolled over and fell asleep instantly.