“FIRST YEARS OVER HERE! FIRST YEARS COME WITH ME!” A giant man bellowed, his voice booming across the station. He was, quite frankly, enormous.
We followed him to small boats that would ferry us across the lake to Hogwarts. I spotted my brother boarding one with the kid we’d helped at the station, a bushy-haired girl, and another boy with exceptionally large teeth.
I saw Draco already seated in a boat with two hulking boys. I hurried over and sat beside him. I glanced at my brother, seeing his expression of disgust. I rolled my eyes and looked away.
“Who are these two?” I asked the boys in front of us.
“Their names are Crabbe and Goyle. Friends of mine,” Draco answered for them.
The boats began to move on their own, gliding towards the castle. I looked up, and my jaw dropped.
The castle was magnificent. A towering masterpiece of stone, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. Yellow lights flickered within its walls.
We disembarked and began walking towards Hogwarts. As we approached, Fred and George pulled me aside.
“Hey! What do you want?” I said, annoyed.
“What the bloody hell are you doing with Malfoy?” George demanded.
“He’s a little git! You shouldn’t be talking to him!” Fred exclaimed, glaring at me.
“It’s really none of your business! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to that ‘little git’ and away from you stalkers! First it’s Ron, then you!” I retorted, running back to my friends.
“Where’d you go?” Draco asked as I approached.
“My stupid brothers,” I replied.
He nodded as we re-entered the castle. It was lit by torches that flickered on the walls. A teacher stepped forward to greet us.
“Welcome to Hogwarts! In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.”
I saw Draco smirk and nod to us.
“While you’re here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, and any rule-breaking will cost you points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup—”
“TREVOR!” The buck-toothed boy yelled, reaching down to retrieve a toad. Several students laughed. The teacher glared at him as he mumbled an apology and walked away.
“The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily,” she said, turning away.
“What house do you want to be sorted into? I’m going to be in Slytherin,” Draco asked me.
“I don’t really care, as long as I’m not in Hufflepuff.”
We exchanged a smirk. Then, Draco’s attention was caught by someone behind me.
“It’s true then, what they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts,” he said, looking at a boy standing nearby. I whipped my head around and saw the boy Mum helped at the station. Looking closely, I realized it was indeed… Harry Potter?! I gasped slightly as whispers rippled through the crowd.
“This is Crabbe, Goyle, and Alex. And I’m Malfoy. Draco Malfoy,” he said, walking up to Harry. My idiot brother stifled a laugh, and Draco turned his attention towards him.
“Think my name’s funny, do you? Red hair… and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley.”
I smiled faintly as Ron looked down, embarrassed.
“You’ll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there,” Draco offered, extending his hand.
Harry looked at it, then back up at Draco. “I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks,” he said. What a git. Draco frowned as the teacher returned.
“We’re ready for you now. Follow me.”
The first years followed her into a vast hall. Four long tables stretched across the room, filled with students. The ceiling was enchanted to resemble the starry night sky, and floating candles illuminated the space. A separate long table was reserved for the staff. I spotted an old hat and a stool. That’s how we’d be sorted.
Names were called from a list. I heard my brother’s.
“Weasley, Ronald!”
He walked forward, and the hat was placed on his head. After a moment, it shouted:
“GRYFFINDOR!”
No surprise there. My entire family belonged in that house. The Gryffindor table erupted in applause as Ron joined them, sitting next to Fred and George.
I zoned out, then was snapped back to attention by another familiar name.
“Malfoy, Draco.”
The hat barely touched his head when it yelled:
“SLYTHERIN!”
The table clapped as Draco smirked, walking over to join them.
“Potter, Harry.”
A wave of whispers swept through the hall as the hat was placed on his head. It took a long time before it finally shouted:
“GRYFFINDOR!”
The table exploded with cheers as Harry walked over to it, smiling brightly.
“Weasley, Alexandra.”
I gulped and walked towards the stool. The hat was placed on my head.
“Ah! Another Weasley! Your entire family has been in Gryffindor, but where to put *you*…”
I looked over at my anxious brothers, then at Draco, who looked equally anxious.
“You’re so different from your family, yes. Maybe, just maybe, Gryffindor isn’t for you. You don’t have the exact requirements to be a Ravenclaw. Smart, indeed, but no. It seems you wouldn’t do well in Hufflepuff, for you aren’t the friendliest of types. You are very picky with who you talk to. Hmmm… Gryffindor… or… Slytherin…”
My brothers were looking worried. This was taking a long time.
“I think I know which house is best for you.”
“SLYTHERIN!”
The hall fell silent for a moment, the only applause coming from those who didn’t recognize my name. Then whispers began as I walked towards the Slytherin table.
“A Weasley? In Slytherin?!”
“Her whole family has been in Gryffindor! Even her twin!”
“Bloody hell…”
My brothers looked disgusted. Draco looked surprised. The Slytherin table glared at me.
“I’m not a blood traitor. I swear,” I said, addressing them. To my surprise, their faces softened. A girl who strangely resembled a pug piped up. “Really? Then welcome!”
This is going to be hard to explain.