NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Ch. 15 Hogwarts
Since we were arriving I took a set of robes from my trunk and put them on.
'Although it's impractical, it was galleons well spent to make them this comfortable. And I've always wanted to wear these so I'll make it work.' I thought to myself after getting dressed.
"Alright Artemis, Aunty told me that they'll bring you to owlery so I'll see you later. Be a good girl ok?" I said before feeding her a few treats and receiving an affectionate nip in return.
I head out of the train to hear a booming voice. "Firs' years this gather 'ere! Firs' years over 'ere!"
I walked over with my peers and find Hogwarts keeper of keys and of the grounds. The heavily bearded half-giant stature was even more obvious next to a group of eleven year olds. He stood near 12 feet tall, with his untamed beard and hair, arms and legs thicker than our bodies. Physically speaking Hagrid is very intimidating man. I know that he's basically a big teddy bear unless you insult Dumbledore, but still. And the man doesn't seem to realize the differences between himself and others, it's fine to be different but you have to understand it. I mean who keeps an Acromantula as a pet, or raise a Cerberus and name it Fuffly, tries to raise a dragon, and from what I remember he later tried to get students to raise some weird cross-breed he made.
"Firs' years follow me!" He yelled out seeing that no one else was coming.
We followed him like we were baby chicks, it was a little bit funny thinking about that comparison, and reached a bunch of docked boats waiting for us.
"No more than four a boat!" He announced
I simply hopped onto a boat. Two others joins me on the it. One was a girl with long black hair, dark green eyes, lips on the thinner side, high cheekbones. The other was a very nervous looking boy. He had wavy sandy blonde hair that reached just under his ears, clear blue eyes and a gentle look to his features. The girl was very confident in herself while the boy seemed to not trust the boat as he jumped slightly and grabbed onto the sides of it as soon as we set off.
I look at the both of them and decide I should introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Aedan Bones. It looks like we'll be spending the next seven years seeing each other, so it's nice to meet you." I said smoothly and with a smile to the both of them.
"Bones? Like Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE?" Asked the girl in a surprised tone.
"That's right, she's my aunt." I answered in a slightly guarded manner. I love my aunt, but I know some people would do a lot to get to her. She holds a lot of authority and is responsible for many people going to Azkaban. It makes you enemies.
The girl is slightly shocked but introduces herself anyway. "Victoria Travers, heir of of the most ancient and noble house of Travers." She said in a proud tone whilst puffing her chest out.
"A sacred twenty-eight heir is it?" I responded with a raised eyebrow.
"A what?" I hear the nervous boy ask.
"I'm guessing you must be muggle-born then?" I asked in response.
"That's right, names James Calaway. It's nice to meet you both." He said looking at us.
I see Victoria frown at his introduction.
'It looks like she's been fed that pure-blood supremely crap.' I thought quickly.
"Well James, the sacred twenty-eight is a title given to twenty-eight families in the 'pure-blood directory', a book listing the so called 'truly pure-blood wizard families' left in Britain, meaning all wizards with no muggle or muggle-borns mixed in. The Travers family is part of said book, and with miss Victoria here being the eldest daughter or only child, she is the heir of it." I explained to the boy.
"Hmph! And from your tone you seem to dislike it I see." Said an offended Victoria
"Not dislike, just don't see the point of being pure-blooded if it forces inbreeding and short-sidedness." I said with a shrug
"What did you say!" Screamed Victoria getting some looks from other boats, before noticing and sitting down with a red face.
"I have nothing against the concept, but if it ruins the possibilities and abilities of the next generation then I frankly don't see the point of forcing things." I said with another shrug.
Victoria herself was looking like she'd explode any second, until we heard Hagrid's booming voice yelling to keep our heads down. I watched everyone else and just laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Asked James with a weird look.
"He's a half-giant, of course he has to duck, but we're eleven and not even half his size." I said with a big grin on my face.
James looks around sheepishly and noticed I'm right, while Victoria is just giving the stink eye.
We pass that bit and we can finally see it, Hogwarts. The movies just can't do the scene justice. The magnificent ancient castle, with every window light up with an orange glow and all of it reflecting off of the Great Lake as we slowly approach. Simply breathtaking.
We disembarked and followed Hagrid up to the castle. I could feel the magic in the air here, it lightened my steps and made my cores quicken their pace.
'It's no wonder Dumbledore stays here all the time. The magic here is insane compared to anywhere else I've been.' I thought to myself after feeling it's effects.
We finally reached the doors to the great hall and were instructed to wait. And as that was happening, the ghosts of the castles started to head into the hall through the walls.
"Oh, hello there new students. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the Fat Friar, hope you can come to Hufflepuff! My old house you know." Exclaimed the portly ghost before being on his way.
I felt a tug on my sleeve and turned to see James being the culprit.
"Were those ghosts?" He asked with some fear in his voice.
"Yeah, but there's no need to fear ghosts in general since they can't interact with their surroundings. Plus, most ghosts in Hogwarts are supposed to be quite friendly apparently. The only exception is supposed to be Peeves, a pranking poltergeist, so if you meet a jester in an orange suit be careful cause he'll get you in trouble." I explain trying to warn and calm James.
"Hey. If you know so much, do you know how their going to sort us?" He then asked.
"From what I know they use a magic artifact left by the founders to judge which house we would do well in." I answered, trying to sound like I don't know everything for sure.
"So we won't have to do anything?" He then asked.
"Shouldn't have to no." I replied to his visible relief.
At that moment, the famous deputy headmistress, Head of Gryffindor and our future transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall, arrived in front of us. I have to say that Maggie Smith nailed her to a fault, it was that accurate when it came to how she looked, tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood with a very stern face .
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall." She said introducing herself. "The 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. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. 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 rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor."
She finished her speech waited for a few minutes and during that time I looked around at the rest of the students. What i noticed was that I was taller than pretty much everyone here, standing 5'1 at the age of eleven. Then opened the doors to bring us into the Great Hall.
'How magic is great.' I couldn't help thinking as I saw the beautifully bewitched ceiling with a smile on my face.
Without even realizing it, I somehow ended up at the front of first years, with James right behind me and Victoria trying be in the front at the same time. All eyes were on us, but I'm already used to being stared at so I just kept on admiring the hall itself. We reached the end of the tables and saw a stool, with an old hat on it. And behind it was the professors tables.
'I was happy to see Alan Rickman is alive and well in this world.' I thought after seeing our dear potions master.
I then recognized Hagrid, Professors Pomfrey, Hooch, Flitwick, even Kettleburn, due to their rather unique traits and appearances, and of course Dumbledore, with his really weird eye twinkle that I think has to do with his magical cores maturation level. The rest I'll have to learn latter. But I was broken out of my musing by a certain hats song.
"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 Hufflepuffis 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 folk 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" he finished with a bow to the applause of the students and staff
Professor McGonagall steps forward with a piece of parchment and announced how things would work. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she simply said.
"Ashwood, Thomas!"
A short brown haired boy stepped forward nervously, sat on the stool and the hat was put on him. After a moment.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Shouted the hat as applause erupted at the houses table. Even McGonagall had a small smile at having the first student this year.
"Bones, Aedan!"
People turned their eyes on me and started whispering to themselves. I also saw Dumbledore look at me intently with a raised eyebrow. I walked up took out my wand and used a quick "Scourgify" to clean the old hat before I had to use it. Making students quiet down and some professors pay more attention.
"Why thank you young man. It's been years since someone actually cleaned me." Said the hat in response.
"It's no problem. Hope it helps me get into the house I yearn for." I answered with a cheeky grin.
"We shall see if it is the house which would fit you first." It replied.
I sat on the chair and the hat was placed onto me.
'Boy, you are a difficult customer aren't you?' I then heard the hat say in my mind. 'You fit every house, and you know it, but you also understand the value of each. The courage to fight, the wisdom to learn, the drive to work, and the ambition and cunning to reach your goals.' It continued in its analysis.
'So, this becomes one of the rare occasions when your house will be up to you.' The hat concluded.
'Then I wish to join Ravenclaw please.' I thought to the hat.
'Are you sure? Slytherin would be a place to learn many things and you would gain dependable allies in Gryffindor.' Said the hat to test my resolve.
'Ravenclaw is my choice. It's closest to what I believe I am.' I responded resolutely.
"RAVENCLAW!" Then announced the hat in response as applause burst out from the table.
I went over to the welcome of the upper years and observed the rest of the sorting. It didn't take that long since there was only 33 of us. Not many wizards had kids during the war and a lot of muggle-borns were killed or disappeared. On a side note, James went to Hufflepuff, Victoria went to Slytherin and 6 others were sorted into Ravenclaw.
After the sorting was done, Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Without further wait, let the feast begin." And with a wave the feast appeared in front of our eyes.
It's been a while since I ate till a was completely stuffed, but boy was it satisfying. At the end when all the food disappeared from the tables, Dumbledore stood once again to speak.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors and that the list of forbidden objects shall be posted in front of his office for perusing. Quidditch trials will also be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And now it's time for our school song before heading to bed." He said with a smile.
And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
Everybody finished the song at different times. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic as old as time! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
And so ended my first feast at Hogwarts, with lots of food and music that can break the ears of anyone who's heard actual muggle music before. I stood and followed the Ravenclaw Prefects to head towards our tower.