Things that Fall

Prologue

Hazel

The young girl of eleven froze at the sight of the train. She turned around to her father smiling at her. He had brown hair and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth making him appear older, but happy. Hazel's mother, who unfortunately was unable to cross the magical barrier that separated Hazel's two worlds, had the same scorching red hair as she did. 

"Hey, why the long face?" Her father cocked his head and smiled. "You're going to get sorted and meet new friends, it will be the best time of your life. When you come home for winter break, you'll be dying to go back." 

Hazel didn't think so. She hugged her father, promising herself she wouldn't cry, and quickly got on the train. She walked past many different compartments, some holding more students than others, and finally found one that was empty. It wasn't that she didn't want to make friends yet (or even at all), but she really disliked intruding on people. She didn't know if they had saved seats for friends, or even just wanted to sit alone. She knew she didn't want to, but she did. 

It wasn't long before she had her book in her hands and was reading. It wasn't long before the words got blurry and her face got wet. She wiped away her stupid, ugly tears. You're the one who decided to sit alone aren't you? You could've sat anywhere else but you decided to be shy. Hazel stood up and started pacing. Is this what the rest of the school year is going to be like, she wondered. The bright-haired girl decided she wouldn't allow it. She stopped pacing and quickly put on her robes. She figured they'd be arriving soon. She sat back down and fell asleep. It was what she usually did after she cried.

She was awoken by the abrupt halt of the moving train. Prefects helped usher her and other first year students into a cluster near a large man. He was a man larger than Hazel had ever seen. He said some words that she really couldn't focus on, and lead them to be taken over to the castle on boats.

Both the inside and the outside of the castle amazed Hazel. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a beautiful starry sky. She decided she wanted one like that when she was older. Suddenly the room hushed as a witch, who everyone called Professor Mcgonagall, then placed a old weathered hat on a stool, and it began to sing a song. She then began to call out names and place the hat on their head. Hazel was the fourth called. She jumped as the hat began speaking.

"Ah, Hazel Attwood. Hmmmm.... interesting, very interesting. Your father was a Gryffindor, though you don't seem to value bravery at all. I suppose Gryffindor is out of the question. Smart and a sense of creativity, Ravenclaw could be a good fit for you. Ah, though you yearn for and value knowledge, it's not where your loyalties lie. I see, hardwork, kindness and patience are your main values. A strong sense of loyalty. Not ambitious enough for Slytherin... I think I know where to place you."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The relived redhead was welcomed to the Hufflepuff table with loud claps and many high fives. She spent the remainder of the sorting ceremony clapping for all the students, no matter what house they were in. Hazel hoped she would make fast friends with the first years in all of the houses, and desperately hoped her shyness wouldn't get in the way. During the meal time, She talked with a seventh year who turned out to be the Head girl.

"I remember my first year," the girl said. "Trust me, you're going to love it here."

This same girl leaded the first years to the Hufflepuff common room, which happened to be in the same corridor as the kitchens. She lined the first years up in front of a large pile of barrels, and told them to knock on the middle second row in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" to get in. Hazel bypassed the common room that reminded her slightly of bees and went straight to her bed. She pulled the patchwork quilt up to her chin and snuggled into the wall. She really hoped she would have as good of a time as her father said.