survivor | HARRY POTTER

-Chapter 3-

C h a p t e r  T h r e e

Jess had dreamed of the day she would finally walk through the magnificent hallways of Hogwarts castle, her head held high and a proud smile on her face. Both her and Alyssa had anticipated the day they would arrive and be sorted into their houses, never dreamed of being separated, only anticipating the thrill of experiencing the dream of every child from the wizarding community. The two just never realised how nerve wracking it would be.

The heavy wooden door swung open at once, a tall, black haired witch adorned in emerald green robes waiting impatiently on the other side, her stern face glaring down at them, eyes clouded with the wisdom and authority she beheld. "The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." The giant nodded in respect, his shaggy hair falling into his eyes.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I shall take it from here." The giant, Hagrid, nodded his head, striding down one of the corridors to his left, his massive footsteps shaking the castle until he rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight. Professor McGonagall pulled the door wide with ease, making most of the students awaiting gasp in surprise.

The Entrance Hall was so big it could have easily held both Alyssa and Jess's houses inside it, the cold stone walls lit with flaming torches held in brackets, the ceiling too high to make out, a magnificent marble staircase facing them leading them to the upper floors of the castle. The first years followed McGonagall across the flagged stone floor, the sounds of hundreds of voices droning from a doorway to the left, most likely housing the rest of the school.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet shall begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is an incredibly important ceremony as, whilst you are here, your house shall be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your year, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. If a member of another house wishes to enter another common room, they shall be allowed to do so as long as their ears are covered whilst the password is said and they have permission from another student within that house. 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 shall earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will begin in a few minuets. In the meantime, I suggest that you all smarten yourselves up."

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, fastened under his ear, and on Ron's dirt-smudged nose. Out of the corner of her eye, Alyssa could see Harry try to nervously flatten his messy black hair, and smiled to herself whilst she straightened out her robes and wiped away any stray mascara from under her eyes. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

McGonagall quickly left the chamber, and Alyssa turned to Jess, Hermione, and Millie. "Jesus I'm terrified." Jess muttered, both Alyssa and Hermione smacking her arm as a scolding for her language. "Me too. I wonder how we get sorted." Millie said, a frown drawing her eyebrows closer together.

"Dunno. Do you think it's painful?" Alyssa asked, Hermione simply rolling her eyes and shaking her head in response. "Don't be ridiculous. I highly doubt that they would pin a bunch of helpless eleven year olds against something dangerous. I wonder what spells I'll need." Alyssa shrugged and held her hands up in mock surrender, rolling her eyes at her new friend.

"Honestly, Mionie, I've only known you for a couple of hours and I already know exactly what your going to say before you say it." Hermione opened her mouth in mock offence and made to roll her eyes, but was cut off abruptly when multiple students screamed. About twenty or so ghosts had streamed through the solid stone back wall, their skin a pearly white, eyes blank and staring. They were terrifying, but not so at the same time. The ghosts, however, seemed not to have noticed the students, and appeared to be arguing among themselves. What appeared to be a short, fat monk was saying "forgive and forget, I say. We ought to give him a second chance."