ᴀ ᴅ ʀ ɪ ᴇ ɴ ɴ ᴇ [1]

08. fraying threads

chapter eight

FRAYING THREADS

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THE HEAVY DOOR SLOWLY SWINGS OPEN, revealing a tall witch wearing emerald-green robes and black hair pulled back into what looks like a painfully tight bun. She has an extremely strict manner about her, and seems to have spent the majority of her life sucking lemons, giving her a sour, hardened look. My first thought is that this woman is not someone to cross. That or it'd be fun to see how she handled being crossed.

"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid says, stepping aside so that she can see past his wide frame.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she says smoothly and sharply. "I will take them from here."

She pulls the doors open wide, and we all step into the vast Entrance Hall. The beautiful stone walls are thrown into a flickering light from flaming torches, and the roof is so high I can't clearly make it out.

Yet another, grander marble staircase sweeps out onto the flagstone floor, providing access to the upper levels. To the right, through another set of grand doors, I can hear the drone of hundreds of voices - the rest of the school must already be in there.

Hagrid slips through the doors, and I crane my neck to try and see past his large torso, but it's no use.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," says Professor McGonagall, drawing my attention away from what lies past the heavy doors. "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," she continues, and when she calls out Slytherin, I see Malfoy nudge Crabbe and Goyle, smirking. I wrinkle my nose; Slytherin definitely isn't the house for me. "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. 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."

Her eyes linger for a moment of Neville's cloak, which is fastened under his left ear, and Ron's smudged nose. Next to me, Harry nervously tries to flatten his hair.

"You're fighting a losing battle there, Harry," I whisper, and he sighs.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," says Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

With that, she sweeps through the doors and into the other room.

"How, exactly, do they sort us into houses?" Harry asks Ron shakily.

"Some sort of test, I think," says Ron, "Fred said it hurts a lot - but I reckon he was joking. You can't ever really tell with him, though."

My heart gives a horrible jolt. A test - in front of the whole school? But I barely know any magic - what on earth will I have to do? I didn't expect something like this the moment we arrived. I look around anxiously and see that everyone else appears to be terrified as well.