What do I want?

Chapter 6

"Ummm," I stuttered, "I think that I'm going to be in Ravenclaw."

The Ravenclaw table cheered and Azalea and Thomas grinned at me. As I made my way to the table, I looked over at the Slytherin table and saw that they were scowling at me. I was afraid that I'd made some enemies already.

I sat down next to Azalea and looked back at the sorting. When the last person had been sorted, the woman sitting on the throne like chair at the centre of the teacher's table. She looked around at all of us and simply said, "Let us eat!"

Then, food magically appeared on the plates! There was so much food and everyone immediately tucked in to the delicious dishes.

Suddenly Azalea choked and orange juice splattered everywhere. "What is that?" She asked, staring down into her golden goblet.

"Don't worry my dear, many people mistake pumpkin juice for orange juice on their first night as well." All of us reeled back from the speaker whose head was sticking out of the table. "Oh I am so sorry, I haven't introduced myself! I am Helena Ravenclaw or as most people call me, the Grey Lady. Although I haven't been grey in many a year." At this the ghost gave a little laugh. She rose out of the table and floated of to scare some other first years, leaving both of us stunned. Thomas turned around and burst out laughing.

"Your faces! You look like you have seen a ghost! Get it! A ghost!" Thomas laughed so hard at his own joke that he choked on his chicken.

"Serves him right," Azalea said under her breath and we both giggled at his detriment.

When we had all finished eating, the woman at the middle of the teacher's table stood up and waved her hands. Suddenly, al the leftover food that was on all the plates vanished! Then she started speaking. "Welcome back to Hogwarts! I only have a few announcements to make this year. Firstly, the forbidden forest is out-of-bounds for all students. Secondly, the first floor corridor is also out-of-bounds until someone comes and removes the huge pile of muck left there at the end of last year. Mr Grendon will come and see me after the feast," At this point she stared at the far table and at a boy who was laughing his head off, "and thirdly, no Wealsy's Wizard Weezes products are to be used by anyone," Here again she stared pointedly at Mr Grendon, "If anyone would like a full list of all the items that aren't permitted, please come and see Mr Filch. First years will be escorted to their dorms by their prefects. I'm sure you will all have a great nights rest, ready for a full day of learning tomorrow."

Then everyone started standing up and making their way towards the huge double doors. Azalea, Thomas and I looked up and down the table to find our prefect and saw an older girl standing up and making her way over to our end of the table. She motioned to all of us to stand and then led us out of the hall.

Once we had reached a quieter hallway, she started speaking, "Welcome to Hogwarts! My name is Jessica and I'm one of the Ravenclaw prefects. You have all joined the house of the wise. 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!' The symbol of Ravenclaw house is an Eagle and our common room is at the top of Ravenclaw tower. There is such a great view from there. I just know all of you are going to love being in Ravenclaw."

While she told us all this, we were making our way up some stairs. They all seem normal until we shifted. The staircase started moving while we were on it! We all grabbed the banisters and a few kids almost fell down!

"Everybody relax. It's just part of the magic of Hogwarts." Jessica said, putting her arm around a tiny girl wobbling next to her, "But make sure you leave for all your classes earlier than you need to so you have extra time if a staircase takes you on a detour."

The staircase finally came to a stop and we continued on our way. After another long walk and three more moving staircases, we arrived at a huge door with a big eagle door knocker. Jessica rapped on it and it came to life! We all looked at it in awe. The eagle looked at us all in turn then opened it mouth with a very regal expression. However, what came out of its mouth was completely gobbledygook! I was very confused about the contradiction this was but no one else seemed to find this unusual.

"Would anyone like to try and answer?" Jessica asked us all.

"Well it can't be anything alive cause then it would have a voice to make noise." Someone answered.

"I know this one!" A girl says, "It's the wind! Because it cries and flutters and bites with cold and makes muttering noises!"

The door swung open at her answer and Jessica ushered everyone in. I hung back to talk to her.

"Um, Jessica, um, how did she answer the riddle?"

"She used her intellect. Don't worry though," she patted me on the shoulder, "you'll get better at it as the year goes on."

It seemed like everyone else could hear a riddle when the door knocker spoke but for some reason I could only hear nonsense. But I couldn't tell anyone about it cause I would lose the friends I had only made this morning!

By the time I had worked this out, everyone else had entered the common room. I entered after them and I walked in.

The room was huge, and it was blue, blue and more blue. The couches were blue, the curtains were blue, the carpet was blue. It was slightly overwhelming. All along the walls were huge bookcases filled with books. There was a huge fire in the fireplace warming the room.

"The boys dormitories are up to the left and the girls are to the right. You'll find your stuff already up there." Jessica pointed at the two staircases, "Those of you with owls will find them in the owlery and cats and toads will be in cages in your rooms. Eva, could you come with me."

Everyone looked in my direction and I stood stock still. Surely they couldn't know about the door? They wouldn't find out that fast. I followed Jessica back out of the room and down the stairs. We walked for ages and I very quickly had no idea where we were. Finally we arrived at a stone gargoyle that was so much bigger than both of us. Suddenly it spoke to us and I froze.

"Password?"

"Oranges and lemons," Jessica answered.

The gargoyle swung around to reveal a stone staircase and Jessica immediately stood on it, beckoning for me to follow. Once I was on, the stair started too turn slowly, taking us upwards. We reached a huge wooden door and Jessica rapped briskly on it.

"Come in,"

Jessica opened the door and motioned for me to go in.

The room I entered was huge. It was circular and had three levels. There was a beautiful desk with a throne like chair and all the walls were covered in bookcases. I saw a tiny red and orange bird sitting atop a huge golden stand. The tall women who had been at the head of the teacher's table at the feast came down the stairs. She was an imposing figure and her glasses and high purple hat just added to her scariness.

"I believe this is yours," she said pointing to the basket floating behind her. I hadn't even noticed it!

It floated down to the floor and I stared into it. It was Bonnie! She was sleeping peacefully was her tail wagging gently. I had completely forgotten that she had been taken by a little thing that called himself a house elf. It had put her in a bubble thing and she had immediately gone to sleep.

I got to take Bonnie back to the common room where she was immediately fawned over by about thirty kids all wanting to pat her and tell her how lucky I was to be able to bring a pet with me. But even though I was enjoying myself and making many new friends, I was still worried about the door. Because when we had come back to the common room, I hadn't been able to hear the riddle again.