𝙎𝙋𝙀𝙇𝙇𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆𝙎 !!! (Modern Hogwarts)

. 𝙩𝙬𝙤

CHAPTER 2 - ONCE AGAIN - September 1, 2019

THE TALKING IN THE Great Hall ceased as the first years arrived. A horde of 11-year old children's shoes tapped in odd patterns on the tile as they made their way to the Sorting Hat. "Look how tiny they are! They're only, like, five feet tall!" Hana said, in awe. The Hufflepuff next to her, Marcus Reads, looked at her in great confusion. "You're smaller than them..." He pointed out somewhat awkwardly. Hana's face morphed into disbelief as she realized she was one hundred and fifty centimeters, her being related to a few dwarfs. A few housemates around her giggled cordially.

Headmaster Longbottom soon walked up to the podium, a shining golden owl embedded into the front. He seemed to mutter something before walking up as if to motivate himself. He hid his fiddling hands behind the podium. "Welcome first years to Hogwarts! First, I'd like to announce we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Robinson." A female teacher with long, curly red hair and pale skin stood, as the students clapped awkwardly. He took a pregnant pause as seventh years then rolled their eyes and the first years looked up in suspense like they were expecting him to say something wise and thoughtful. "Uh, we will now sort you into your houses." A few of the first years' faces turned disappointed as the dark-haired man walked away from the gold and gray stand. You could hear the older ones chuckling at the younger ones' faces.

The Sorting Ceremony had begun. As always, the Sorting Hat sprang to life, then sang it's little jig:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The Sorting Hat then proceeded to call the first years in alphabetical order. Professor Allen called the first name "Aaron, Samantha." She walked up, stood below the hat, and as soon as it touched her head, the Sorting Hat called "HUFFLEPUFF!" Next up was a short blondish-brownish haired boy "Acord, Gregory," who, after a while of sitting under the hat, was sorted into Slytherin. He worryingly stumbled over to his house table. After a handful of other students were called and sorted, Professor Allen bellowed "Campbell, Rosemary." She confidently walked up to the podium and sat on the old, rickety stool. The hat took a few seconds to decide, but finally called "GRYFFINDOR!" Oliver's family and friends clapped as she gleefully skipped over to her table and chattered with her friends she met on the Hogwarts Express, along with Elizabeth welcoming her to Gryffindor. He sighed but smiled afterward; everybody in his family except himself was sorted into Gryffindor, but he couldn't be happier for her.

Soon, all the first years were sorted and seated. A plethora of wonderful aromas filled the Great Hall as food magically appeared on the tables. Dishes of steaming meats, plates of fruits and vegetables, and assortments of sweets were quickly being eaten as students talked with their peers. Oliver grabbed two slices of ham, a green apple, and an éclair; he wasn't very hungry, but he always had room for dessert. He found the corner of the Hufflepuff table where his three friends were sitting and plopped down between Hana and Linnea. The group of friends received a couple of confused looks from the 1st years, but everyone else was accustomed to the group sitting together. He looked over to Elizabeth; her plate was filled to the brim with food. As she was chatting with Hana, he was pretty sure an entire drumstick had slid off her plate.

"What do you think about the outcome of Rosemary's sorting?" Linnea questioned. "I'm happy for her." The 13-year-old Ravenclaw replied. "You aren't disappointed?" Linnea asked, looking confused. "I would be disappointed if Quincey wasn't put into Slytherin." She muttered to herself quietly, looking as if she was going into deep thought over the matter. "Well, I'm the odd one out in the family, so really, my family should be disappointed in me," Oliver replied. Linnea rolled her eyes, but Hana glanced over at him with a sad look. "Oliver, you are an amazingly smart Ravenclaw. Your family could never be disappointed in you." Hana told him trying to cheer him up. "Yes. Your parents can't be like mine, they're Gryffindors, my father is a Slytherin." Linnea commented, though she still looked lost in thought.

Soon all the food, plates, and silverware on the long tables had disappeared, and the students began to exit the Great Hall, heading to their dormitories. The first years were being shown to their common rooms and settled in. Oliver walked to the west side of Hogwarts and lumbered up a long spiral staircase to the fifth floor. He sleepily walked up to the wooden door with a metal eagle set into its front. "Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?" The door asked. "A circle has no beginning." Replied Oliver while stifling a yawn. He stumbled to his assigned bed, then flopped onto it after changing.

Oliver stared at the night sky embroidered on the canopy over his blue bed. His roommates were already asleep, so he was left to himself. He thought back to his family and what Linnea had brought up. Was his family disappointed in him? They didn't act like it, but Oliver worried. What if his sister was being bullied by her new peers and he couldn't do anything about it? What if something happened and she was hurt? He hoped their older siblings would help her if that were to ever happen.

His thoughts then turned to his friends. Elizabeth was bullied by her foster siblings, and her friends knew. They would try to stick up for her, but her siblings always seemed to have some harsh words for everyone. He recalled a moment just last year when they were ridiculing Elizabeth for her ADHD, so of course, Oliver, Hana, and Linnea stepped in, only to be shut down by their insults. It ended up with Hana balling her eyes out in the abandoned girl's bathroom. Even Moaning Myrtle didn't want any part of it. Linnea was always the one getting the group out of trouble and messes. She was very sophisticated and held her head high. She was born into a rich family, as rich as Hana's (seeing as Hana is a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff herself). Linnea's parents were professionals, so naturally, she had to be.

Then his mind shifted to Hana. She had always been upbeat and virtuous, ever since she passed out on that compartment seat. Oliver had taken an interest in her; it was puzzling to him how someone could always make the best out of any situation. He recalls when they were studying for their exams in their first year. Oliver was reading through a book on charms for the fourth time while Hana was balancing a pencil on her upper lip. "Are you going to study?" Oliver asked when he looked up at her, light through the window behind him shining on her. "Nah, I've got all I need in my brain." She replied, her eyes crossed as she looked at the pencil that had finally stood still. "Do you think I could balance this on my nose?" She asked. Oliver sighed, shut his book, and closed his eyes. "No, your nose is not flat, therefore it cannot." He widened his eyes to see Hana laughing as her head was tilted back and the pencil was balanced on her nose. Her chair then fell and she tumbled to the floor, still laughing, people around the area stared. "Hana, are you alright?" Oliver rushed to crouch by her side and lifted her to her feet.

After going through his feelings and memories, he then decided to rest his thoughts and go to sleep, listening to the silence of the dormitory.