The Adventures of Godric Gryffindor

A Memorable Feast

12th of July - 978 AD

It was a day to remember. This particular summers day was a beautiful, seemingly joyful occurrence. The sky was cloudless and blue like the ocean and the hot sun was smiling down at the people gathering in the village square below. Today, the Gryffindors had organized a tremendous feast and they were all there. The Gryffinhofts, the Gryffgroggers, the Gryffinmoors and the Gryffindors, were all singing in between servings of stuffed turkey, wild boar, and rabbit gravy. The Gryffinmoors had already devoured the stewed pigeon, and were now working on emptying a barrel the pumpkin mead. All types of ale were pouring over and laughter was becoming louder by the minute.

A small boy, although big for his age, was standing on top a long table. His face was beaming at the watching crowd who were singing in honor of him. When the song ended, a huge man with a big crimson beard stepped out of the crowd. In his big hands he held a dark wizards hat. The hat appeared to be average of all sorts; not too large, not too pointy and certainly not an eyecatcher. Furthermore, the man stepped towards the boy on the table, placed the hat on his head and crowned him.

"Godric Gryffindor!" the man bellowed to the people below him.

Loud cheering erupted from the crowd. A massive amount of colorful wizards hats were thrown in the air and Godric Gryffindor grinned from ear to ear as they cheered his name. He couldn't believe everyone had gathered to witness his hatting.

"You are a man now," said the bearded man, clapping Godric on the shoulder. Godric's chest swelled in delight. It was the first time he had been addressed as man and not boy. Today was his eleventh birthday and he felt quite ready for the adventures of adulthood.

He scanned the crowd and saw his three younger brothers standing on the tip of their toes, trying to get a good glimpse of him. Right behind them, his mother was carrying his baby sister, Gwendolyn, on her arm, and she waved encouragingly when he caught her eye. Beside her, his favorite uncle Merwyn was clapping enthusiastically. Behind Merwyn, the Gryffinhoft and Gryffinmoor chiefs were bumping their cups of mead together, toasting his health.

With one hand still on his shoulder, Chief Grimmauld Gryffindor guided Godric off the table. "My son!" he bellowed, slightly intoxicated. "My firstborn child! My legacy!" His eyes were shining with pride as he studied his son. "You'll do great things, ma boy, you hear me? Great things, I am confident. It's in your blood."

Godric felt his cheeks flush. He wished his father wouldn't say such things. Godric didn't feel special. He was just like any other kid. After today, he would be just like any other man. In fact, Colbert Gryffgrogger, also a man, could run much faster than him and Daya Gryffinhoft was ten times better than him in levitation charms. Suddenly, Godric felt a lump forming in his throat. There was no way he was as great as his father claimed. He was sure to become a disappointment. Sometimes, when his father was on his bragging spree, Godric secretly wished he lived far away from his family and the village of Gryffith. There were just so many expectations

"Father, please stop," Godric pleaded.

"Why on earth would I do that? You are my successor, the next chief of Gryffindor, and I'll be damned if I keep my mouth shut!"

"But I don't - " Godric was cut off by his uncle Merwyn's drumming laughter.

"Take it easy, my dear brother, you don't want your boy get too confident. Wouldn't want him ending up as arrogant as his father."

Grimmauld stared at Merwyn for a second before he too, chimed in with an equally drumming laugh, punching his brother playfully on the shoulder. Merwyn winked at Godric before he led Grimmauld away towards the mead table. Immediately after, Godric's brothers ran towards him, interrupting each other and speaking rapidly.