Chapter 9
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and I heard a booming voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Looking up the platform I saw a huge man. He was at least twice the size of a normal man and at least three times as wide. The man had wild, bushy black hair and beard. *Must be Hagrid* I start walking twards him with penny close behind me, and jax on my shoulder. "C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years. Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Slipping and stumbling, we followed the giant of a man down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that I thought there must be thick trees there.
Nobody spoke much. "Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the giant called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here." There was a loud "Oooooh!" The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. "No more'n four to a boat!" The giant called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water, by the shore.
I stared up at the castle, until penny pulled me too a boat with Percy and Woods. "Everyone in?" shouted the giant, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!" And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over us as we sailed closer and closer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff, we all bent our heads, and the little boats carried us through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. We are carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking us right underneath the castle, until we reached a kind of underground harbor, where we all clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
Then we clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. We walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak door. "Everyone 'ere. Did we lose any one?... Good." The giant raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood their, she had a very stern face, *Professor McGonagall!* "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the giant. *Called it* "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." McGonagall pulled the door wide. *Right again!*
The entrance hall was so big, the stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringott's, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. We followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Then we could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right but Professor McGonagall walk right past it and brought us first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. We all crowded in, standing rather closer together, more than we would usually have done, but we had no choice because the room was a tight squeeze. Everyone was peering about nervously. Penny is sticking close to me, Percy and Woods as well.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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. 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 and gane detentions. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. 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 roamed over us finding all the children with their uniforms out of place. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She then turned around and left the chamber.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses." he heard someone ask. "Some sort of test, I think." I looked around and saw that everyone else looked terrified, No one was talking much except Penny who was whispering very fast about all the spells she'd learned. I tried to listen to her as I viciously squashed my own nervousness excitement. I kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would be coming back in to lead them to the sorting.
Then something happened that made me jump about a foot in the air, several people behind me screamed. jax growled "What the..." i say spinning round to glare at those who had screamed almost in my ears. However as i turned around, i saw the last thing i expected to see at that moment.
About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance."
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves. He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost, I say, what are you all doing here." A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose." A few people nodded mutely. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. *They must do that every year just to give the kids a fright, because it happened just like it did in the books*
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me." I got into line behind Penny who was behind Woods, with Percy behind him. We walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
I had never even imagined it too be this wonderful! It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. *Just like in the books!!!* These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Their is hundreds of faces staring at us walking in. I looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars… I heard Penny whisper. "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heaven. Professor McGonagall led the first years cross the front of the hall, so that they came to a halt in a line. I glance at my father and smile and he nods.
I looked upward, at the stars once more before I quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. *Here we go!* I raised an eyebrow silently but otherwise gave no other reaction. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing:
Oh you may not think me 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 Gryffindor's apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff's 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!
As the hat finished the students and teachers all clapped, with the red and gold table being the loudest and more annoying. Once Professor Mcgonagall calmed down her table she began calling names and the hat began sorting them into houses. I tuned out most of it only waiting for me name but the 4th name was "Penelope Clearwater" and I tuned in curious where she might end up. *We could be friends, she's a little talkative but it's probably just her nerves* it was only 15 seconds before the hat yelled out "Ravenclaw" and the Ravenclaws cheer and she smiles at me and waves I give her a small smile and nod.
Chapter 10
After a couple more minutes I hear, "Selina Snape!" and the room goes silent… So I make my way to the stool and take my seat and the last thing I see before Professor Mcgonagall put the hat on my head, witch is huge by the way, is all the upper classmates looking at me in confusion. Some of them looking at jax.
*Ahhhh a second Snape interesting and that's not all that's interesting about you seems your from another world and known all about what is to come! I see, I see, yes is seems you have training in Occlumency, very powerful indeed. Not even Dumbledore could break these shields. Good, you must protect what's inside your head bad things will happen if ANYONE gets a hold of this…* I hear inside my head.
I think back *How can you get past them?* He replies with a chuckle *My magic is very old and I don't use Legilimens to see in side your head, but even still it is very difficult to move about your mind. Now were too put you? Hmm your brave that's for sure, but I don't think you would be happy with gryffindor, no not there. You can be very loyal yes but not like the hufflepuffs… Hmm Ravenclaw could work indeed very well for you, but I think your place is in,* "SLYTHERIN!!!" I hear yelled out above me.
My knew house table bursts with excitement! More than any of the other students that was sorted into Slytherin. *Must be because I'm there head of houses daughter.* I glance at my father and see him trying to hold back a smile but I can see how proud he is and I smile back and move to my new table and take my seat. Than the sorting continued. Both Percy and woods went too gryffindor, where they belong and before the food arrived Dumbledore said his random words and we all ate.
I noticed I was the only girl who was sorted into Slytherin this year… *I hope that means I get my own room* there is also 8 other boys with me. I'm sitting next to a second year and he turns to me, he looks tall and relatively muscular he has rather large teeth, shifty grey eyes, and coarse black hair. He says "Good evening, Ms Snape I'm Marcus Flint, welcome to Slytherin." and he holds his hand out for me. *Shit I forgot about be surrounded by death eaters… Ok time for some 5 star acting!* I raise my eyebrow like my father, I've been practicing in the mirror. "Good evening, Thank you." I say as I take his hand and before I can shake it he brings it up too his lips and kisses it! *Oh gross, I forgot I was dealing with purebloods* I smile politely and discreetly wipe my hand off under the table. Than jax moves too my lap to get a better look at him.
Another second year said "Yeah welcome, I thought for sure all our firsties would be all blokes…" Some laughed at that, my fellows especially. Flint looked at me again, "So your Professor Snape's daughter? I didn't known he had one..." I give some chicken to jax. "Nether did he till this summer." *Here we go truth buried in lies time to play the Slytherin game!* "I was abandoned at a filthy muggle orphanage by my mother. But luckily my father came to get me with my letter to Hogwarts." A second year girls ask me "Was your mother a muggle too?" I noticed most everyone is secretly listening, "Of course not, you really thing my father would lower himself like that? Disgusting, no but she was a muggle born." *I will not hide that face, but they don't need to known witch muggle born.*
"That's just as bad!" A third year said. "Oh hardly! At least she had magic! Muggle the filthy beasts have nothing." I say. The conversation was interrupted by Dumbledore standing and the food disappearing. "I hope you enjoyed the meal as much as I did. There are a few things we must go over, First being that the forbidden forest surrounding the castle is as it's named forbidden. Secondly first years, should you ever need help getting around the castle please don't be afraid to ask your upperclassmen, or professors should you come across them. The ghosts of the school as well as the portraits are quite helpful as well! Lastly there have been reports of A Chimaera getting loose from the local zoo. It is far away but is may attempt to seek shelter in our forest another reason not to go there! Thank you."
With that said the Slytherin prefect take us to our common room. Were my father gave us a speech on house unity and sticking together. After he turns to me, "Selly you are the only female in your year so you will be getting your own dorm." My face lights up "Ok thank you fath-Professor!"
After he leaves we all go to our dorms. The girls dorm is a spiral staircase on the right side of the common room, going down. Mine was on the first landing and inside was a single four poster-bed covered in green eiderdowns with a nightstand witch a lamp is placed on, on the right side of the room. I put my school trunk at the foot of my bed. There is a bookshelf covering most of the wall, and wooden desk and chair on the left side of the room. There's also another door. The second door leads to a half bathroom all to myself! There is a dresser is near the bed, a wooden board is situated on the right side of the door for students to decorate. The walls and floors are stone and a large green rug across the floor. The window was four feet from the floor and went up 6 feet and was 8 feet wide, it has a view of under the black lake and in the distance I can see the mermaid village. There is also a pile of white pillows on the floor witch jax makes a nest in and I dig in my trunk for his large midnight blue blanket and throw it over him.
As I'm unpacking my trunk I here a knock on my door, "Come in!" Three girls come in, the first had dark curly brown hair in a bun and brown eyes framed by dark round glasses, the second had short black hair with her bangs on the right side of her face in a ponytail and green eyes, the third had short and messy dark brown hair, with one area an orange color, and violet eyes. She had thick furrowed eyebrows. I noticed her stockings has a hole around her left kneecap and she wore black combat boots. She starts talking "Hello Selly, My name is Merula Snyde, and these are my roommates Ismelda Murk and Liz Tuttle. We are fourth years, we wanted to see how you are setting." She looks around the room with obviously jealousy.
"I'm fine, thank you." I say in a neutral voice. *Note to self ward room and everything inside!* She and Murk wandered around the room looking at everything and Tuttle walks over too where jax is making his nest. Snyde continues "We also wanted to let you know if you need anything too let us know. You are our head of house's daughter after all, it's the least we can do for Professor Snape." Murk whispers under her breath, "Even if you are a mudblood…"
"Right, well I'm sure I'll be fine. But if I have any questions I'll be sure to ask you ladys." I reply a bit colder than before. Tuttle specks now, "What is this creature?" she's crouched by his nest and every time she tries to get closer he hisses at her. "That is jax he is my farmilur. Also he is very territorial so I would not move into his nest area..." I say not going in too detail. She adjusts her glasses. "Well duh, but what is he?" I sigh, "He's a Nu'wam. Now I appreciate the visit ladys but I must get back too unpacking and I prefer to do that alone, I'm sure you understand." I look too Snyde and Murk. They glare slightly but get the point and leave, but Tuttle is still looking at jax. "What's a Nu'wam? I've never heard of it." she asks.
"Why don't you try and figure it out for yourself, it will be a fun mystery." I say trying to get her to leave and she nods, makes some notes into a notebook and makes a quick sketch of jax than leaves not once looking at me. I shake my head and close and lock the door behind her than ward the door, and go back to unpacking.
The next morning I follow the rest of the first years too breakfast. I glance a my sedula my father just handed out and I have Potions first with the Gryffindors. Just then a hundred or so owls fly in and drop the mail and I grab the Daily Prophet my father's owl dropped for me before he flew over to give my father his.
Across the hall I hear "Roderick Plumpton died" yelled, so curiously i look in the obituary section.
Roderick Plumpton (1889-1987) was an English wizard who was the Seeker for the Tutshill Tornados Quidditch team during the early 1900s. He invented the Plumpton Pass during a match against the Caerphilly Catapults in 1921, where he caught the Snitch after three and a half seconds. Plumpton was also accomplished in the arts, having painted Witch and Wizard Couple, a painting of a medieval couple, currently hanging at Hogwarts Castle, Plumpton led the Tornados to five consecutive League Cups. While critics allege his 'Plumpton Pass' was an accident, and the Snitch had merely flown up his sleeve, Plumpton insisted until his death that he meant to do it. He died at the age of 97 by choking on a lemon drop.
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT