18 The Gryffindor Table
~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~
~~~(Location: The Grand Hall)~~~
~~~(Date: September 1st, 1991)~~~
~~~(Time: 4:22 PM)~~~
I walk down from the stool and approach the Gryffindor table. Taking a seat next to some red-headed Gryffindors that look identical.
Many pat me on the shoulder and congratulate me for joining Gryffindor. After a few moments, we all turn our heads toward the sorting ceremony. Professor McGonagall holds the paper and reads the next name.
"Hermione Granger!"
The Granger girl is next. She nervously makes her way up to the stool and sits down. The sorting hat is placed on her head.
"Ahh, yes. Very nice, indeed. Hmm..."
If anywhere, the hat should put her in Ravenclaw; she has the mind for it.
"Gryffindor!"
She must have a lot of courage and loyalty under that thirst for knowledge. She walks over and sits with the girls she talked to when we walked into The Grand Hall.
The cheers and claps from the Gryffindor table calm down as McGonagall prepares to name another student.
She announces the next name.
"Draco Malfoy!"
A member of the Malfoy family. I've read about Pureblood families, and Malfoy is one of the sacred 28. The book about the sacred 28 was written by a Pureblood supremacist and left out houses that supported muggles.
The boy confidently exits the crowd and walks up to the stool. He has Slytherin all about him.
"Slytherin!!"
Before McGonagall can place the hat on his head, it shouts Slytherin.
The Slytherin table erupts now that it has another Malfoy in its prestigious history. McGonagall prepares to announce the next name.
"Susan Bones!"
Another notable family. She nervously exits the crowd of students. The sorting hat proceeds to put her in Hufflepuff. The table quickly welcomes her, and the ceremony continues.
"Ronald Weasley!"
Another family part of the sacred 28. The Weasleys have been around for a very long time.
They're among the leading supporters of muggle-born witches and wizards and one of the only Pureblood families not regularly sorted into Slytherin.
He has fear rolling off him.
"Ahh, another Weasley. I know just what to do with you... Gryffindor!"
His body relaxes, and he quickly makes his way to the table. He sits near me and starts talking with the twins. They're Weasleys, same hair and the same nose. Gryffindor is getting all the students this year.
The cheers quiet down, and the ceremony resumes.
"Harry Potter!"
The hall goes completely quiet, and after a second, whispers break out. Potter walks out of the crowd and approaches the sorting hat. The sorting hat speaks more than usual, and it seems Potter doesn't want to be in Slytherin.
I can understand that choice.
"Not Slytherin, eh? If not Slytherin, then... Gryffindor!"
The cheers and claps are louder than ever, and many teachers are clapping too. Potter is famous, and getting this sort of welcome is expected.
He quickly approaches the table and sits next to the youngest Weasley. The sorting ceremony quickly continues, and eventually, everyone is sorted into their houses.
I watch Albus stand up and make another small speech. After that, he claps his hands. Food appears in front of everyone: Turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes.
I fill my plate and have some chicken and mashed potatoes myself. Today has been a memorable 12th birthday. After an hour or so, it's time to head to the common rooms for our house and learn how to get there.
The Prefects are told to stand up and take their students to their houses. A red-haired boy from our table stands up and looks like another Weasley.
We follow him out of The Grand Hall and to The Grand Staircase. This is the staircase that leads to every part of the castle.
They say that Hogwarts has a sort of sentience and can tell which students want to go where. The staircase changes based on that.
However, that's just a rumor, and I don't put stock in rumors. We follow our Prefect to a painting of a fat lady. The path beyond here is where the Gryffindors stay.
