A Harry Potter Fanfic

Chapter 3

---------- Chapter 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hogwarts Castle is spectacular! The moment the horse-less carriage takes a bend, the castle comes into sight, and I am shocked into silence. The castle is on the top of a cliff, overlooking an ocean. And I realise, I have no idea which part of England we're in! Are we still in England?!

The castle looks ancient and so full of history. There are huge windows lining the walls, and just like Harry said, there are four amazing towers on each corner.

"It's mesmerising, isn't it?" Draco murmurs, his eyes glued on Hogwarts Castle as well. I mumble my agreement, still staring at the place I'll be calling home for the whole year!

The carriage comes to a stop at the main entrance and I hop off. The castle is made of grey bricks, which looks very appropriate. I wrestle with my bag a little, but manage to get it down before Draco needs to help me. Students are crowding around what must be the main entrance. All their bags lie in a corner, so I dump mine there too. When in Rome, right?

I wonder how the bags are separated? Do we come back after the assembly?

I turn back and notice Draco's disappeared. I should really start paying attention to my surroundings!

I wonder into the main entrance and gasp in shock. The exterior of the castle is so misleading! I imagined the inside would be a little dark, damp and ancient. But instead, I step into what looks like a plush hotel lobby.

The floor is made of an amazing black marble that seems to shine with its own inner light. There are a few arm chairs in the corner, with a huge portrait of an elderly looking man wearing half-moon spectacles, covering his enchanting blue eyes. And you know what was the most amazing thing? The man in the portrait moved and smiled!!

The ceiling are high above and seem to look out at the stars? But that's impossible! Where'd the roof go?!

As I'm taking in my surroundings, a hand rests on my shoulder. I whirl around to find myself staring into Harry's green eyes.

"Thank god you're here, De! I thought I lost you!" he exclaims, almost shouting to combat the surrounding level of noise.

"Yeah! I was so scared. I just jumped into a carriage," I shout back. He grins and holds his hand out dramatically. I grin back at him, so amazingly stoked to be here.

Just then, as if on cue, all the older students begin filing into a room to the left of the entrance. I follow Harry, not wanting to be left alone. The room has four long tables, and another table at the head of the room, where the...teachers are sitting, I suppose. I sit in between Harry and Ron, and watch as the other tables start filling up. Soon, the noise level reaches an all time high, and the door leading to the main entrance bursts open.

A small boy stands at the door, his face red in embarrassment. All the other younger students who were waiting outside walk into the room nervously.

"This is the sorting ceremony. It's to sort the first years into their houses," Harry whispers to me.

"What about me?!" I murmur back, panicked. Harry just shrugs and continues watching the little kids. A strict looking lady with her hair pulled back into a tight bun starts calling out their names. One by one, they take turns to sit on this small little stool, and a hideous hat is put on their heads. The hat then talks! It calls out some kind of a name and a table will erupt in cheers.

My heart beats faster and faster as I notice all the first years are almost done with the sorting. Once the last little girl is sorted into Slytherin, the strict lady looks right at me and calls, "Deidre Dursley."