A Hogwarts Rose Year 1

Chapter 7

When the sorting ceremony (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called) finished Professor McGonagall went and sat at the table with the rest of the teachers then a old man with a long white beard and grey hair (Hermione identified him as the school's headmaster: Professor Albus Dumbledore) stood up from his seat at the middle of the table and addressed us.

'To students both old and new welcome to Hogwarts, I hope you had a pleasant holiday and are ready to begin classes again tomorrow, but before we enjoy the wonderful feast that the house elves have prepared for us, I have a few announcements first: the Forbidden Forrest is out of bounds to all students, second: the third floor corridor is forbidden to all who do not wish to for a most painful death (everyone in my opinion) and third our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to remind you all that no magic is to be used in the corridors. Now let the feast begin!'

As soon as he said that plates and plates of every food you could imagine magically appeared on the table in front of us. This is amazing! How did I not know about this? Ron nudged me in the ribs trying to tell me to eat, he would have told me, but his mouth was full of chicken. I couldn't help but laugh at his face; his cheeks were so full that it looked like his face was going to explode! Harry, Hermione and I were hysterical by the time he emptied his mouth and then he started all over again!

Anyway two hours and six drumsticks, ten boiled potatoes, seven pieces of bacon, two helpings of chips and five sausages later (Ron's meal not mine), dinner was over and just when I though no one could eat anymore the dinner plates disappeared and desert was served. Usually I have a sweet tooth, but I decided to just keep it simple and have ice cream and apple pie. Once desert was finished the prefects showed everyone to their common rooms, ours is Gryffindor Tower and the view of the lake from my window is absolutely spelltacular! (Yes I did just add a magic pun, but I used to say that at my old school all the time which was one of the many reasons I was considered weird).

'The view is amazing.' I said, Hermione came stood next to me and nodded in agreement. My bed was next to Hermione's on the left and the window on the right. I was surprised to see that all our stuff was already in the rooms.

'Hey Hermione?'

'Yes.'

'How did all our stuff get up here?' I asked, Hermione smiled at me like she had been waiting for someone to ask.

'The house elves brought it up.' She explained.

'What are house elves?'

'They're magical creatures which are devoted to a master and their job is to serve their master unless they are set free. We have a lot of them here at the castle, but they are treated better than most others. The majority of house elves belong to old wizarding families and are often treated like slaves. They get kicked, hit, abused, yelled at and heaps of other punishments if their master becomes unhappy with them.'

'That's terrible.' I was shocked, how could anyone treat another creature like that?

'They can only be set free if they are presented with clothes by their master. Of course all the house elves here are free to go whenever they like and have proper clothes of their own.'

'That's good. So they made all the food for dinner?'

'Oh yeah and dessert too. They do all of the meals here.'

'Cool so what time do classes start tomorrow?'

'Well breakfast starts at eight and classes start at nine.'

'Ok, sorry but I'm really tired.' I yawned.

'That's ok Stephanie, I'll see you in the morning.' Then we both closed our eyes and fell asleep, I couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.