3 Chapter Two: The Ceremony
The train arrived right on time and many students stuck their heads out the windows. One compartment full of Slytherin and Ravenclaw boys set fireworks off from outside their window. The decorative, plastic rockets soared out of the compartment and over the lake. They exploded over the water in a brilliance of colors. Students pointed and gasped in awe and even the old trolley lady cracked a smile at the fireworks.
From within the castle, the headmaster looked about at the train and the fireworks, and the first year students. His name was Phineas Nigellus Black and he was especially excited for this year. For this year he was expecting peculiar students and peculiar events in the coming years. Although he hoped that the wizard or witch was not a muggle. He despised the muggle-born wizards, half-blood weren't as bad, but nonetheless, he hated them. Why there were aloud to wizarding schools he did not know.
Somewhere down there was someone that surely would change the future, but who? Which one of them would change it? There was a knock and he swiftly turned to walk into his office. It was a circular room with a claw-footed desk and was spotlessly clean. He had no liking for pets or for decoration besides dark-colored rapes that covered the windows. His office was quite bland, a stack of books here and there, portraits of former headmasters of the school on the walls, and a winding stairway that led down to the door. Behind his desk sat shelves of books and on off of the shelves sat the famous Sorting Hat.
His office was, of course, located on the second floor of the castle which had a grand total of seven floors. The corridor the office was in was the Gargoyle Corridor. This was because a large, ugly, and most terrible Gargoyle guarded the entrance to the headmasters office. A password was needed to enter and every headmaster had set a new one beginning their term. Now the headmaster hurried down the stairs and peeped into a little hole on his side of the gargoyle. This peeping hole allowed him to see through the gargoyles eyes and whoever was standing there. Of course it was the Professor of the Ravenclaw house, Gavina Gaundriel. She stood there, hands interlaced with an expectant look on her face. From the beginning of his term, he knew that Professor Gaundriel was a mysterious witch. She had snow white hair, bony fingers with long nails, and always wore dark colored robes. Over all his years serving as headmaster, he had never seven the woman's eyes. He wondered if they were green or blue, or something totally different. Perhaps she had no eyes at'tall. Nonetheless, she wore spectacles were almost hypnotizing.
The Headmaster opened the door, which was really the gargoyle moving and turning in a way that opened up a passageway. "They're here...the students." "Follow along with the normal proceedings. The Sorting Ceremony, Maypole twirling, the banquet, and Morris Dancing...the school song of course also." Professor Gaundriel nodded, "We shall have the whole staff doing this, is that right?" The Headmaster didn't seem to be fond of the idea of himself twirling and dancing, but he grimaced and said "Yeeessss," and clenched his fists unhappily.
"Professor Baldemar will go and get the students rallied up and bring them in. I'll get the staff rounded up as well," she said then briskly turned and strode away, her heels clicking on the marble floor. The Headmaster raised an eyebrow, she was quite the odd professor, he wondered what the former headmaster had thought of her. An instrumental sound came from within his best and he pulled out a black and silver pocket watch. "Peculiar, very peculiar." He stuffed the watch back in his vest, looked to see if anyone had seen him, fixed his collar and straightened his jacket, and strode down a hallway.
NAMORA
Namora's eyes were transfixed on the castle. It was so large and it towered over everything and shadowed the lake and the green hills beneath it making Namora feel quite small. Students from the other side of the train flooded into their compartment, pointing, whispering, laughing, and gasping at the sight of it all. Another firework went off and Albus gawked at the sight while others jumped excitedly. Elphias had his chubby hands clapping every time one of the fireworks exploded over the lake and soon other students started to join in the clapping. Albus nudged past a few people and opened the window to stick his head out to get a better view. And it certainly was. A green and blue firework sizzled and popped in the air right by their side of the train. Students within the train cheered while the compartment of Slytherin and Ravenclaw boys slapped each others hand excitedly, whooping and hollering.
A Slytherin boy with dark hair slapped a Ravenclaw boy with glasses and freckles on the back saying, "Good show, good show Linus." The boy smiled a cheesy smile as he looked at his fireworks exploding overhead. The Slytherin boy stuck his head out the window and gave another cheer, pumping his fist in the air. Students at the top of the train and at the bottom whistled and hooted as more fireworks came from the compartment, forming shapes like three of diamonds, and the ace of spades...
The train whistled loudly as it came to a stop. Students looked at each other excitedly and gathered into a long, cluttered line in the hall, waiting for the conductor to let them out. He appeared in a red coat with golden buttons and smiled as he held a microphone-type device to his lips and said, "We have finally arrived at your destination," he said and then brought out his wand and said, "Welcome to Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then he pointed his wand upwards and twirled it through the air and the doors flew open.
Students hustled out the train doors and came to a platform where a man stood with colorful robes. He was tall and had white blond hair. He seemed nervous and his eye twitched. The first years looked unsuredly at each other, but the fourth year students grunted, rolling their eyes at the first years nervous reactions.
The Slytherin boy and the Ravenclaw (Linus) went up to the man and shook hands with him. Namora stayed close to Albus as the students shuffled and separated themselves into boats. "How...is this supposed to work?" Elphias asked aloud as he cautiously climbed into the boat. Namora shrugged her shoulders and then looked up at the castle. "I, I think that these boats are meant to carry us to Hogwarts." Elphias' face grew a little sickly and Albus and Namora looked at each other a little worriedly. "Are you sick?" Albus asked him. Elphias had his hands clenching onto the edges of the boat, his knuckles turning white from it. "Nno, not yet." "Alright Everyone." The man with the red coat said happily as he raised his decorated wand into the air. "Off we go students!" He yelled and flicked his wand towards the castle. The boats all moved simultaneously at first, but then separated out a little as they floated farther down the lake.
Namora could feel the excitement growing inside of her. She wondered what the castle looked like on the inside. She wondered if the professors were nice. The biggest thing she thought of is what house would she get into. Ravenclaw? Slytherin? Hufflepuff? Gryffindor? It was all just a matter of time before she would get to find out and she could hardly wait for it.
~
"I, Headmaster Black, welcome all of you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe that these coming years will be quite interesting seeing as that we will be hosting the tournament. I urge you to raise your cups and sing the Hogwarts anthem!"
"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."
"Hoorah!" All the students cheered and drank butterbeer and pumpkin juice. The staff and teachers happily chatted with each other, pointing out new first years and eating roasted chicken with mashed-potatoes and fizzle-berry pudding. Professor Baldemar (The head of Gryffindor house and referee for the school's quidditch matches, had on a wide smile as he and Professor Aerodren (The Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher) attempted to out drink each other. Professor Aerodren was a mystery to most students on account that he never talked about personal things. He had red hair, a big mouth, and didn't really care much for robes. He usually wore all black with silver linings and trinkets here and there. His personality was raw, but humorous, being both strict and kind in the oddest of moments. Professor Baldemar was loud and brave with dark hair. He lead the Gryffindor house proudly. He did, however, have a major character flaw. He was just a little deaf which made him quite loud. He would tell, but to him he was just talking normally. It was great for quidditch, but it did get tiresome for the students in Gryffindor house.
Then there was Professor Gaundriel. As head of Ravenclaw house, she was impeccably smart and witty. She usually told stories of her adventures: Egypt, Peru, Greece, Paris... She was, by far, one of the most intriguing teachers at Hogwarts. She also had a furry companion that followed her everywhere she went. Most students didn't notice it, because her companion was a demiguise named Jeeko. A monkey-like creature that could turn invisible, Jeeko was a sort of patrol for the Ravenclaw's. If any student snuck out or came back late, he would always catch them alarmed with his high pitch screech and then Professor Gaundriel would appear from the shadows and punish them. Professor Gaundriel, however, was quite lenient with her students and that's why the lucky few sorted into Ravenclaw were always happy and excited to start their first year at Hogwarts in Ravenclaw. For Hufflepuff this year was with a new professor that all the upper-classman talked about. She was tall and broad with short, clipped blond hair. She had stunning blue eyes and rumors had it that she came from Durmstrang, therefore she wore long, fur robes and winter gloves.
As for Slytherin, Phineas Black had taken the position. He was a ruthless headmaster and even more stricter teacher. Those who were sorted into Slytherin were those of pureblooded heritage. Phineas Black liked it that way. He appreciated the pureblood families and as for the muggle-born and half-blood he didn't care much for. If students were half-blood and somehow managed to get on his good graces, then there would be minimal problems. But, for those students who were born from muggle families, he disgraced and despised the most. Most of the professors were terrified of him and those who were not afraid didn't say a word. He was the headmaster after all.
The rest of the staff consisted of Professor Binns (The most boring history teacher that had ever come to Hogwarts in most students opinions) Professor De Parte' (a Frenchman who came from Beuxbatons to teach Care of Magical Creatures), Professor Cragg ( who taught potions and was a potioneer himself and had won the championship three times) , Professor Beery ( who taught herbology) and Professor Molsee (an American charms professor who was quite frail and bony) .
Headmaster (and head of house Slytherin) rapped his black wand on a podium in front of the teacher's dining table. He looked over the first years knowingly and thoughtfully, like a father, but in his mind he was searching and deducing the students. Which were the bullies, the frail, the smart, the chap, the weak, the brave, the depressed, etc. etc. etc. Professor Baldemor coughed into his fist and Headmaster Black widened his eyes and smiled at the students once again. "Now..to see which house you all shall be sorted in." He said and gestured to the right where Professor Binns held a slightly tattered, dark brown hat with a pointy tip.
Some on the first years who had heard about Professor Binns from older siblings or parents whispered in low voices about him. He was, after all, famous for students falling asleep in his history class. The whispers went somewhat like this: "His voice drones students to sleep." "My brother said that Professor Binns said that he witnessed a war..." "I'm sure he sleeps most of the time." "My mother saw him when he died in the staffroom...". Netherless Professor Binns' reputation, he came waltzing out in a friendly and joyous manner that even made some of the staff surprised. Professor Cragg leaned by Professor Beery's ear who was petting his little golden bird, Oralie. Oralie was a peculiar bird and was quite stressed too, seeing that he was a golden snidget and was used for the school's quidditch matches. The bird would lose about five to ten feathers a game and there were quite a lot of matches. Professor Beery often went to Professor De Parte' who would give him a little bottle of clear liquid with golden specks in it that would make Oralie's feathers grow back.
Tonight the bird was happily nibbling on Professor Beery's gloves which had bird seeds sewn into it. His feathers seemed to be doing better than last year where Slytherin played Ravenclaw for the quidditch cup. The Seeker's from both teams were in a folly. Samuel "Sammy" Fletcher and Degan Quettish had a duel in the air last year that ended up with Oralie being burnt. The bird watched the students curiously though, as she always did, the ceremony was one of the most amazing events at Hogwarts an it was just about to start.
