Chapter Two
When Luna and I walked through the double doors into the great hall my mouth fell open. I’ve never seen such a strange and mystical place. The entirety of the great hall was lit by thousands and thousands of floating candles, they were floating over the tables above the heads of students moving to sit down. The tables were set with sparkling goblets and plates. When I look around to the front of the hall I see another long table where all the teachers were sitting.
“Look up!” Luna says over all the noise.
I look up toward the ceiling and saw a glossy black sky dotted with millions of tiny stars. I was about to ask how that even works when I heard Hermione say behind me, “It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.”
“That’s crazy,” I say shocked. I’m speechless, Ilvermornys great hall was so small compared to this and it wasn’t lit by floating candels or a bewitched night sky. It was a small circular room lit by chandeliers with three rows of ten small tables. Definitely was not as magical as this. When I look back down at the long tables I see everyone looking toward the doors, I turn too and see a tall, dark-haired witch in emerald-green robes walking toward where Luna and I were standing. Behind the witch in emerald-green was a group of small children following her. Luna tells me that the witch is called Professor McGonagall and she directs the first years to the sorting ceremony. McGonagall walks up to us and says hello to luna and then turns to me.
“Are you Miss Gardener?” asks the professor.
I nod my head and she tells Luna to sit and for me to follow her, so I did. She leads me and the first years to the front of the hall and motions for me to stand by her side. I walk to her side as she places a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool, she put an old dingey hat. The hat was patched and dirty with a rip that opened at the brim like a mouth- then the hat began to sing.
“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. 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, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind; Perhaps in Slytherin Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends. So put me on! For I’m a thinking cap.
Everyone in the great hall claps until Professor McGonagall cuts them off with a wave of her hand. The hall goes silent as she picks up the hat.
“Before we sort the first years, we are going to sort our newest addition to Hogwarts. Everyone meet Twyla Gardener who has just transferred here from Ilvermorny.” She said in a thick posh Scottish accent.
Holy Fuck! I thought as I look out at hundreds of students staring directly at me. When I was sorted at Ilvermorny I just had to step on something and wait. Nobody watched, there weren’t protruding eyes everywhere watching. I wonder what house I’ll be in. What if no one likes me. At Ilvermorny I was a Horned Serpent which is the equivalent of a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts.
“Twyla dear, I’m gonna have you sit on this stool, she says while giving me her hand to walk me forward. I think she can tell I’m nervous, “There is nothing to worry about.” She says only loud enough for me to hear. As I walked forward to the stool I feel every eye on me I look over at the teacher’s table and the headmaster is looking at me with encouraging eyes. He has silvery-white hair and the brightest blue eyes, it actually calmed me a bit. I sit on the stool and look around at everyone. The last thing I see when the hat slips over my eyes is a boy at Slytherin table with platinum blonde hair and a slim face. Next second I was looking at the inside of the sorting hat.
“Hmm, lots of courage, bravery, and talent. I see some creativity but it better be.....Gryffindor!”
Well, that was a surprise.
McGonagall took the hat off my head and clapped with the rest of the hall. My eyes shot directly to the Slytherin boy with blonde hair. He was no longer there. I know I didn’t imagine him. I slid off the stool and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. I sat between a girl who Ron introduced as his sister and Hermione who gave me a warm smile. She told me she was a prefect and would lead me to my dorm near the common room. I barely heard her though, my mind was on the mysterious blonde boy. After a couple of minutes and a welcome speech from Professor Dumbledore, the plates and goblins filled and we ate. There was steak, potatoes, lamb chops, meat pies, and sandwiches. For dessert, there was pudding and eclairs. I’ve never had most of it until now but, it was all really good.
After we all finish eating Dumbledore makes a speech reminding everyone of the rules, at the end, he wishes everyone goodnight. After the plates empty and the teachers stand, Hermione tells Ron to direct the first years to the hall and she’ll show me where to go. The Gryffindor first years followed Ron to the common room and I followed Hermione. She leads me through the chattering crowds, through the great hall, and up the marble staircase. We climbed more and more staircases and just as I was about to ask how much longer we came to a sudden halt a couple of doors down from the common room where Ron was pushing the first years through.
“This is your room, mines just down the hall there if you need anything. Here’s your key and your trunks and schedule will be in your room. I’d get some sleep tonight, you’ll have time to unpack tomorrow. The classes start Monday, I hope you’ve got all your books. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow morning then!” She states.
Geez, this girl talks fast.
” I got all my books and robes already so no need to worry. Thank you for all your help, I’ll see you in the morning!” I say with a smile.
Hermione nods and walks away towards her dorm as I unlock my door. As I walk into my room I look around. It was a cozy room with a bed in the corner, a squishy chair, a lamp, and two small wooden bookshelves. The bed was a comfortable four-poster hung with deep-red curtains that matched the curtains to the window. Too tired to do much else I opened my trunk and pulled out a pair of pajamas and got ready for bed. As I turned out the lights and slipped under the covers I fell asleep almost at once. Only one last thing slipped in my mind before sleep; an image of the mysterious blonde boy.
