The Philoso what now? Book 1 ON HOLD

Trouble Is Everywhere

NExt chappy chap chap

TROUBLE IS EVERYWHERE

The first thing Alfie thought, was Strict. That’s what the woman in front of him screamed. Her bun was tight; she had on glasses and wore dark green robes.

“The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid announced as her eyes scanned the group of eleven year olds. Alfie kept a hold of his brother’s robe.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here,” she told him, and led them into a huge entrance hall, past a set of doors behind which had a lot of noise and into a small empty classroom.

“Welcome to Hogwarts. 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. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.”

               Alfie watched a smirk cross Malfoy’s face and wondered why, he’d get someone to tell him later if he remembered.

“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 honour. 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. I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly,” McGonagall said as she left.

                Ron and Harry talked about the sorting and what might happen, Alfie didn’t like the suggestions they came up with and jumped as several people screamed. There were ghosts coming through the walls and floors. Alfie decided just to hide behind Harry until McGonagall came back, lined them up and led them into the Great hall where students sat at four long vertical tables, and the teachers at one long horizontal table at the top of the room.

                McGonagall placed a hat on a stool, which started to sing, then she declared that all they had to do was put the hat on to be sorted. The list went alphabetically, Hermione went to Gryffindor, But Malfoy and his two goons went to Slytherin. To Alfie, they seemed like an unpleasant lot. Eventually it was his turn, and the hall broke out in whispers as he shuffled up the steps and sat on the stool. The hat was too big, and covered his eyes when it was on. His knuckles went white as he gripped the stool.

Hmm, difficult, you don’t like fighting but you’re brave, you fear nothing, a unique trait I think. You can be sly, you can be studious, you can be carefree and you’ll stand up for someone, traits for all houses, dear boy. But I’ve made my choice. GRYFFINDOR

                Alfie let out a sigh as the hat was lifted off his head and he hurried over to sit next to Hermione. Harry joined him shortly after, and then eventually so did Ron. The feast materialised out of nowhere on the table, plates of things Alfie had never seen before, so he gave it all a try. After deserts, Dumbledore gave a speech about rules, the school sung a song and they were dismissed to bed.

                Over the space of the first week, Harry, Ron and Alfie found lots of staircases that moved, portraits that went off to visit other places and unhelpful ghosts. But by Friday they knew the easiest and quickest way to each class. First class that day was potions with Slytherin which turned into a disaster. First Snape decided to pick on the two boys, then they were creating potions but Neville’s went wrong and spilled across the floor, covering him and anyone else who touched it in angry red boils, and Snape somehow found a way to blame Alfie and Harry for it.