I slam the carriage door, and dart out of the situation as hastily as possible, knocking into a few other doors to the screeching of the other First Years. I find an empty compartment, at the very end of the station. Phew. I guess there was space. I collapse, panting, into the leather seat. Great, Jamie, the last words your parents say to you are 'Don't let anyone know straight away.' and you walk into a SEER'S compartment. She looked like a Pygmy Puff-Unicorn hybrid vomited all over her and she proceeded to think it was a good idea to go out in public. I was glad not to make friends with a brat like that, especially that hyper-caffeinated goon of hers, who probably ate a bulk packet of Fizzing Whizzbees to keep up that level of exuberance. The other two seemed nice enough though. I thought concealer would be enough to cover the scars, but a SEER, for Merlin's sake? Maybe that spiteful, cunning suck-up would get into Slyther-thingy or Raven-talon. I need to be in the Huffly and Puffly one, apparently their whole ideology is to welcome people who stick out from the rest. Just then, a knock on the carriage door. The trolley lady, in her sickly sweet voice, smiles, 'Hello dear. I've barely got anything on the trolley now, a girl earlier bought almost everything. I roll my eyes. Who else could it be but that Seer girl? What was her name... Something ludicrously posh, Serenity! That was it. 'It's alright, ma'am. I haven't got any money with me,' The lady looks sympathetic, for some reason, and shoved a chocolate frog into my grasp. She winks, so I share a small grin with her. The lady moves on, going to the next booth. I joyfully unwrap the frog, but it escapes through the window. A window with L + R still smudged on it. That should be a landmark or something, and I feel weird settling in the same booth that THE Ron Weasley did all those years ago. I don't mind about the frog, I prefer dark chocolate to milk, it's stronger. I take out a square from my bag, and bite into it with force, delicious. Serenity's exclamation still lingers in my mind. I get out my notepad, it helps concentrate on something I actually enjoy, like Herbology. I flick through the pages, loaded up with samples and scribbled notes, finding a blank page to jot down my notes on a crossbreed of plants I created back home. Devil's Snare and the Mandrake; they make a sort of reverse Mandrake, the human-like roots are exposed above the dirt and the Devil's Snare part grows beneath the surface, and when pulled, the Mandrake screams loudly, and the Snare part latches onto your face, blinding you. It took far too long to get those off. Just then, the train stops. We're here. I was already changed into my robes as I exit the carriage, suitcase and notepad in hand. Helping us off the platform is the towering Rubeus Hagrid, with a shock of grey hair in his massive beard. As I approach him, he declares, 'Miss Jamie! I knew you'd be 'ere! Professor McGonagall told me all about you,' I shudder just thinking about the strict headmistress. I nod, 'Thank you, sir,' The half giant pats me on the shoulder, which inadvertently hurts quite badly, 'Ay, I ain't one for formalities, call me Hagrid,' I smile and walk off. At least I have one friend, even if they aren't a student. I hear shouts and high-pitched squeals from Serenity as Hagrid complains, the words 'There ain't a pink or white house, so change into some uniform for Dumbledore's sake!' looming behind me. I get into one of the boats and bob gently on the vast Black Lake, lantern blazing in hand.
- CONTINUED - There's an audible gasp from the awe-stricken students as the great, sprawling shadow of Hogwarts appears, previously cloaked in shadow. Our new home. I can hear little complaints of the Seer girl as she moans about the uniform, with her insanely hyper companion nodding sympathetically. We reach the coast, and the students are herded in the building, indistinct chatter going between everyone; there's a girl with sandy brown hair with striking blue eyes in front of me talking feverishly about her father to a ginger boy. Just then, we are hushed by a strict-looking, pursed lips witch in emerald green robes. Who else could it be but Headmistress McGonagall? She exclaims, 'Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting will be an extremely important ceremony because, whilst 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. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.' She bows her head as she finishes, and sits down at the head of the table. I hear whispers from other students as we sat at the front. 'I heard that they read your thoughts!' says the ginger boy. Oh great! Another thing to declare everything about me! The sandy-haired girl raised her eyebrow, 'Me brother said that the ghosts pick an' choose you,' Ah yes, the ghosts... there was the Fat Friar, the Grey Lady, the Bl00dy Baron and Nearly-Headless Nick. Well, there used to be. The Gryffin-thingy ghost was changed, Nick gave up his position to the Jeering Jokester, or Fred Weasley as the respectful call him. It's sad, really, he died recently so it still sends shivers down my spine when I hear about the man. Like the speak of the devil, the grinning ghoul slinks right through table and straight into the view of the ginger boy, who nearly falls back on his chair. 'How's Uncle George? Is he well?' he asks, pretending to lean on the table. 'He's fine, sides from the ear, obviously,' he says, still a bit bewildered. 'You better have bought something from us in Diagon Alley, or me and Peeves will haunting your dreams...' he declares, wiggling his fingers in typically ghostly ways. Then, McGonagall clears her throat, 'The Sorting shall begin,' And there sits a hat. A hat. I don't why, but I expected much more. Thank goodness, what's a hat going to do? And then it sings. Being raised as a Muggle for half my life kicks in all of sudden, and I'm shocked. He sings a song, a perfectly composed song, something about Huffleclaws and Slytherdors, I forget the house names to be honest... And then after mumbling words to the School Anthem I don't the lyrics to, the Sorting begins. 'Abbott, Pomona!' McGongall calls, and a pink-faced, short blonde girl approaches the front, and sits down politely, dusting her robes. The hat mumbles to her, and then declares, 'HUFFLEPUFF!' A table erupts with clapping, and the Herbology teacher grins happily at her. I dose past most of the other names, Maria Finnegan in Ravenclaw, Hart Granger-Weasley in Slytherin, and then... 'Lukas, Serenity!' She comes to the front, flicking her hair as she sits down, staring with disgust at her robes. The hat doesn't even hit her head before 'RAVENCLAW!' Then, 'Lurkcaller, Natasha!' She mumbles to the hat, but it insists, she raises her voice, but the hat insists, her voice is easy to hear now, but the hat insists. Then, a shout; 'PUT ME IN RAVENCLAW!' and then it exclaims, 'FINE THEN, RAVENCLAW...' She walks happily to the table, and sits next to Serenity, beaming. No-one claps. After some more, 'Silvereye, Jamie!' I approach, cautiously. Oh no. Oh no. What if it tells everyone? Too late, the hat is on my head. 'Ooo.. You're a nice one.. a kind heart, but you're so moody! You love your work, and you're sneaking your notepad into robes right now, I know...' A kind heart? Hufflepuff, yes! YES. I will finally be accepted, be loved, have A FRIEND. 'R a v e n c l a w.' it says. My life is over.
