Toujours Pur

Eventful Evening

Walking off of the train I followed the rest of the first years to the boats. There was a big Oaf waving a lantern around and bellowing for first years to follow him. I can not believe that Father has been unable to get that Oaf fired. We walked down a steep, narrow path that opened onto the edge of a Black Lake. Resting on a tall mountain on the other side of the lake was a huge castle with dozens of towers and turrets, the windows looked liked stars twinkling in the night. Hogwarts, in all it's glory. 

"No more'n four to a boat!" The Oaf called, he gestured at a set of boats that were sitting on the shore. I climbed into a boat with Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. Pansy stomped off to get into a different boat. "FORWARD!" The Oaf shouted and all the boats stated sailing across the lake. Nobody made a sound as we stared at Hogwarts. It is so beautiful, I can not believe that this is my future, my home for next seven years. 

"Heads down!" yelled the Oaf as the first boats reached a cliff. We all ducked and our boat sailed through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. After we went through the ivy we traveled through a dark tunnel that sent us under the castle. We finally reached an underground harbor, where we climbed out of the boats onto some rocks and pebbles. 

The Oaf led the way up a passageway that led to damp grass in the shadow of the castle. We continued to walk up a flight of stone steps until we reached a huge, oak door. The Oaf knocked on the door and it instantly opened. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. Professor McGonagall, my father warned me about her. She is the head of Gryffindor house and does not like Slytherins at all. She opened the door and we walked into the Entrance Hall. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

Following Professor McGonagall across the stone floor we could hear hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right. Professor McGonagall led us into a small, empty chamber off the hall. 

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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. 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." She peered at all of us as if daring to misbehave. 

"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. 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," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly. "

I looked around at everyone and some people actually looked scared. What idiots. I heard some people scream when the Hogwarts Ghosts came in, they really are idiots. The Ghosts welcomed us to Hogwarts before disappearing when Professor McGonagall showed up. "Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told us, "and follow me. " I stood between Draco and Crabbe, with Goyle and Pansy behind me. We went into the Great Hall, which was lit by thousands of floating candles. There was four long tables each with a banner over them. On the far left was a green banner with a snake on it, Slytherin. 

The house my family had been sorted into for Generations, my home. Then the table second the the left had a blue banner with an Eagle on it. Ravenclaw. On the far right was Hufflepuff, their yellow banner had a badger on it. I would rather go home than spend anytime in that house full of dunder-heads. Finally, the second to the right was Gryffindor, the worst house of them all. Filled to brim with blood-traitors and Mudbloods. Their bright red flag hung above their table, they had a Lion on there banner. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.