✓ | RECKLESS AND BRAVE | Draco Malfoy

3 | CHUTZPAH

CHUTZPAH
(n.) extreme self-confidence and audacity

TESSA WAS INTIMIDATED BY PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL'S STERN EXPRESSION. The first years were led by the tall witch in emerald robes up the marble staircase as the young girl watched the castle in awe. The professor stopped them all once they were in front of large doors. Everyone huddled closer to hear what McGonagall was to say.

     "Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."

     Tessa shared an excited look with Ron and Harry, and even Hermione who stood behind her.

     "The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

     Tessa tucked the stray pieces of hair behind her ears as Harry flattened his hair. "Your nose," she whispered to Ron who hastily passed a hand over it. She glanced to see it was still there, she rolled her eyes with a slight grin.

     McGonagall left shortly after telling them that she'd be back when they're ready for them.

     "How exactly do they sort us into Houses?" Harry asked.

     "Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking," Ron said in an unsure voice.

     Tessa's eyes widened. "Blimey, he better be joking."

     Harry's face turned white as he looked at Tessa nervously. "Do you know how the Sorting goes?"

     She offered him an apologetic look. "Sorry, no. Uncle Kasi went to Durmstrang, not Hogwarts."

     Harry's eyes were still wide as he focused his gaze to his feet. He nodded distractedly. "Right."

     Tessa was quiet, rubbing her scar out of habit as Hermione babbled about a gallimaufry of spells behind her. Everyone was talking amongst themselves when several students screamed behind her. Whipping around, she saw what seemed to be ghosts passing through the walls and gliding through the halls. Harry gasped as a fat little monk ghost said, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance — "

     "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?" A ghost who was talking turned to them, noticing the first years gaping at the ghosts.

     "New students! About to be Sorted, I suppose?" The Fat Friar smiled. Some nodded at him with dropped jaws. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! It's my old House, you know."

     "Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." McGonagall arrived, her gaze stern as she approached the first years. "Now, form a line, and follow me."

     Tessa went to stand in line behind Harry with Hermione at her back. They soon started walking again as they entered the Great Hall, greatly amazing Tessa. Thousands of candles were floating high up in the air above four long wooden tables. Students filled the four dining tables with plates and goblets before them. She caught the twins who were in clad in their Hogwarts robes, sitting side by side as they waved at her with smiles of mischief.