Everlasting ⁂ Harry Potter [1]

Chapter Five

Olivia couldn't stop gawking in amazement at everything that surrounded her. From the moment they arrived to the train station in the small village of Hogsmeade her awe of everything that surrounded her never ceased. Seeing the giant man who had welcomed them, who Olivia remembered seeing in Diagon Alley when she was there herself (he was hard to forget), travelling across the lake in the boats which took them to the big castle, and entering the castle itself. She was completely stunned by the beauty of it all.

She walked up a set of stairs beside Hope, and another two girls who they had met on the boat ride to the castle, Susan and Hannah. The murmuring of the first years that surrounded her echoed through the large halls, ricocheting off of the high stone walls that surrounded them. However, soon the whole group turned silent as they all came to a stop.

Olivia's eyes stopped admiring her surroundings as she focused on the front of their group to see what had caused them to stop. A smile came upon her face as she spotted Professor McGonagall waiting for them at the top of the stairs. Her stern expression silenced all of the first years, allowing her a chance to welcome them to the school and explain what happens next.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."

The Professor explained, however, she was cut short as one of the students broke off from the group, reaching down to pick up his escaped pet. Many laughed once more, and Olivia was quick to realize this must've been Neville whose toad had tried to escape him once more. Apologizing for his disruption, Neville retreated back to his previous position. Continuing on, Professor McGonagall informed them that the sorting ceremony will begin shortly before turning around and walking off to prepare the Great Hall for the arrival of the first years. Soon after the Professor's departure the students began talking amongst themselves once more.

"Oh I'm so nervous." Hope whispered silently, jumping up and down as the wait was starting to become too much for her. She really wanted to know which house she'd belong to. Her mother had made it a point to her that it didn't matter which house she was in, but that did nothing to stifle the young girl's curiosity. And Hannah, Susan and Olivia could understand her as they themselves had the same question coursing through their own minds.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." A voice coming from the front of the group caught everyone's attention, the words met with a set of surprised whispers. Olivia looked to the front and frowned as she spotted the same white haired boy she had encountered in Diagon Alley. Now it wasn't hard to know he would be going to Hogwarts, but Olivia was highly disappointed by the fact that they were in the same year. It would have to mean she would see him around much more than she would have had he been a year above her or even older.