The First Night

After the Main course was over, I laid back a little adjusting my stomach for the desserts. Soon Dumbledore stood up and waved his hands and all the items on the plates just vanished replaced by pastries, smoothies, and cakes and I am not wasting even a drop of hot chocolate drink in front of me.

I saw Harry as helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to our families.

"I'm half-and-half," said Seamus. "Me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell

him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him.."The others laughed.

"What about you, Neville?" said Ron."Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch," said Neville, "but the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me — he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned — but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced — all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here — they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad."

I looked at him with sympathy. Looks like his Uncle hated him to the core if he tried to kill him so many times. He also bought him a toad which is out of fashion for centuries and only laughed at.

Hermione was talking to Percy about the lessons."I do hope they start right away, there's so much to learn, I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration, you know, turning something into something else, of course, it's supposed to be very difficult —"

"You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that sort of thing — " He replied and I zoned out. I was interested in learning but I still have to be alert from a certain person.

I looked back at the teacher's table. Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor Dumbledore and Snape is drinking wine from his goblet and there he was Professor Quirrell aka Voldemort. I looked at his turban and had a sudden urge to open his turban right in front of the great hall and get it over with but I controlled it. I don't know when Voldemort attaches himself to Quirrel so it's best I leave him alone for now or else he would become alert and it could go down badly.

"Ouch!" Harry clapped a hand to his head. I knew that misunderstanding will start from here but I left it alone.

"What is it?" asked Percy.

"N-nothing," he replied while looking at Professor Snape.

At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. "

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

He sat back down. I knew what is going on on the third floor and frankly, I was eager to get my hands on Philosopher's Stone. After all how many times you get to see an actual stone that can turn any metal into gold and I really want to study it. I know I am not ready to get it out yet but I still have an entire year ahead of me to steal it and replace it with a random rock.

As for Quidditch trials yes I will apply but I am not sure how much talent I have. Hopefully, it would be enough to get me in reserves.

"He's not serious?" I heard Harry mutter to Percy.

"Must be," said Percy, frowning at Dumbledore. "It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere — the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."

"Well whatever reason it may be, best stay away from there" I replied."He wouldn't be so serious if he was just pranking us"

"Yeah I will look out for anyone trying to get in third floor" Percy replied.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. I noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed. Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:

"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."

It was humiliating. Even the tune was off the mark. Everyone has a different rhythm which made it impossible to coordinate with each other.

At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest. Other's only joined him to not make him awkward. I think he purposely made the song so dull to make first years a little comfortable with the change.

"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. I took every step carefully, others thought it was funny the way I walked. Soon some students tripped on the tripping staircase while others tried to balance themselves after the step vanished.

I looked at nearby portraits and saw them wave at me. I awkwardly waved back not knowing what to do. Some just ignored them and walked away. Percy led us through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries. We climbed more staircases, yawning and dragging our feet when suddenly he stopped.

Looking up I saw a bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair and started to throw themselves at us. I knew it was Peeves but still took shelter behind Percy as most of the sticks seemed to be aimed at me.

"Peeves," Percy whispered to the first years. "A poltergeist." He raised his voice, "Peeves — show yourself." A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered.

"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?"

There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks." Oooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" He swooped suddenly at us. We all ducked immediately.

"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" barked Percy. Peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished while trying to drop the walking sticks on me which I dodged.

"What have you done to piss off Peeves" Percy asked while getting me back on my feet."I don't know, I met him for the first time" I replied.

"Well you year will be a lot difficult with him pestering you. The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are" Percy said.

At the very end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she said.

"Caput Draconis," said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it — Neville needed a leg up — and found ourselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs.

Percy directed the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another. At the top of a spiral staircase — they were obviously in one of the towers — they found their beds at last: five four-posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains.

I looked around my room. There was a Bed near the window with my trunk and Gonzo cage on it while Gonzo was sitting near the window looking at me.

"Hey bud" I said while giving him some lamb chops I stole during dinner. He looked happy and immediately flew in the dark knight after his meal. I placed my trunk on the side of my bed. I looked out the window where all the castle was visible. For now, I was too tired to change so I immediately head towards my bed.

"Great food, isn't it?" Ron muttered through the hangings. "Get off, Scabbers! He's chewing my sheets."

I closed my eyes while snuggling inside my blanket. It was a great day overall Let's hope tomorrow will be better