star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER THREE

When all of the first years had been Sorted and were seated at their various House tables, Professor McGonagall tapped a spoon on her goblet and said, "Your attention, please."

Professor Dumbledore once again stood up, said "Let the feast begin," and sat back down. When he did so, delicious food appeared on all of the plates in the Great Hall. The students and teachers all ate until they were bursting, engaging in plenty of conversation as they did so.

"I'm half and half," Seamus Finnigan said. "Me dad's a Muggle. Mum's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out." Those surrounding him laughed at this.

"Say, Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" Harry asked.

"Oh, that's Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin House," Percy explained.

"What's he teach?"

"Potions, but everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years."

As Harry continued to watch Professor Snape from a distance, Ron was reaching for yet another chicken leg. But just then, a silver head popped up through the table, spooking everyone into nearly screaming.

"Hello! How are you?" the ghost asked Ron, seemingly unaware that he had just scared everyone surrounding him half to death. "Welcome to Gryffindor."

The students in the Great Hall looked around as the ghosts of Hogwarts swooped about all around them.

"Hello, Sir Nicholas," Percy said to the ghost that was still in the Gryffindor table. "Have a nice summer?"

"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied," said Sir Nicholas, rising up out of the table and starting to float away.

"I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick," said Ron.

"I prefer Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind."

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked.

"Like this," he said, pulling on his hair and letting his entire head rest on his shoulder, revealing the inside of his neck. At the sight, Ron and Arabella yelled and Hermione grimaced. Then, Sir Nicholas let his head fall back to its proper place and floated away.

Once the feast was over, it was time for bed. The prefects led their Houses to their dormitories. Arabella's eldest Hogwarts-age brother, Percy, was one of Gryffindor's prefects, so he was the one that led the Gryffindor's to Gryffindor Tower. For a bit, they walked with Ravenclaw, but the Houses separated at the top of one of many staircases. Here, Percy stopped and faced Gryffindor.

"This is the most direct path to the dormitories. Oh, and keep an eye on the staircases. They like to change," he explained, then continued to lead the House up the stairs. These staircases zigzagged upwards for what seemed like forever. The four walls surrounding them were covered in paintings. Those who grew up in Muggle families were amazed to see the people in these paintings moving.

Finally, they seemed to reach their destination. They stopped in front of a large painting of a large lady in a pink frilly dress. "Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis," Percy said confidently. The lady waved her hand, and the painting swung forward like a door to reveal a short hallway. Percy led them all through this and into the Gryffindor common room. Once in, he stopped to face them all once more. "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boys' dormitory is upstairs to the left. Girls, the same on your right. You'll find all your belongings have already been brought up."

After this, Arabella left to the first year girl's dormitory along with Hermione and two other girls. After having experienced a very exciting day and an excellent feast, all four girls fell asleep almost instantly without saying a word to each other.

[word count: 636]
[written: 4/14/20]
[published: 5/7/20]