Entry 022

(Written in 06.2014)

(Harry Potter Fanfiction) Scene of Rose Wesley's Arrival to Hogwarts and the Sorting Ceremony

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“Can you see that? The castle is huge!” Albus’ mouth hung open, but he wasn’t the only one. Most of the first-years were already stunned by Hagrid the gamekeeper, who happened to be a half-giant over ? feet tall, the self-motored boats and the giant squid which decided to show itself by dousing all of them in freezing water.

Rose looked up from the boat and gasped. The castle was much more majestic than all of her cousins’ descriptions combined. Looming over the forty first-years, it was as mysterious as it was beautiful with the tall towers and numerous windows. It was all Rose could do not to squeal. She longed to study in Hogwarts ever since she was six, when she found her mother’s copy of Hogwarts: A History. The wait to exploring the school grounds was agonizing, especially when you have cousins who gushed about its existence every Christmas and summer. It is more real than ever now that she finally stepped onto its grounds.

When they entered through the enormous doors, walked down the twisted corridors, and found themselves in the little room adjacent to the hall, the first-years were buzzing with energy, whether it be nervous or expectant or simply curiosity with awe. Whispers on the merits of each house were treading among clutters. How Gryffindor was amazing because Harry Potter was one. That Slytherin was cursed after the second wizarding war against You-Know-Who. Hearing Ravenclaw was a weird bunch. And Hufflepuff had the cosiest common room. The bearded man who led them there tried to claim order, ushering them into a queue.

After finding her place in the line, Rose straightened her tie and smoothed her wrinkle-free robe that her mother bought her this summer. Despite the old reputation of the poor Weasleys, her family could afford much more than at her father’s time, and she was grateful for it. It was their luck that Rose didn’t turn out as one of those spoiled brat. Amongst all the things that she had, her most prized possession was the pretty ribbon that her mom got her when she became the top of her class for the very first time. She remembered how happy she had been putting it on to school every day and how miserable when she thought she had lost it in an outing. Instinctively, Rose reached up to adjust the ribbon, only to find that it wasn’t there. Panicked, she looked around quickly, turning furiously and scanning every inch of ground that she could set her eyes on. How come she had once again lost it? And at this time, too? The ribbon was still there after she was drenched. She checked before she boarded the boat! Not finding anything, Rose’s eyes stung with desperation. There was no way she could navigate the corridors on her own, plus, she could hear the applauses from the hall - the sorting hat had finished its song. It was time for the Sorting.

“Elly Erwright” Eighteen to go.

“Oliver Healing” Seventeen to go.

“Rachel Lee” Sixteen to go.

The line shortened unsteadily. Sometimes the sorting hat called out the house without so much as a millisecond, but other times it took over minutes. To Rose though, it was all the same, given that she still hasn’t found her ribbon.

“Scorpius Malfoy.” Fifteen to go.

A white-blond haired boy strolled to the stool confidently. In spite of herself, she took a look at the boy on tiptoes, remembering her father’s word on Nine and Three Quarters: Make sure you beat him in every course. He didn’t need to tell her. It was always her plan to stay on top.

“Slytherin!”

The Sorting Hat shouted after a whole minute, surprisingly long for a Malfoy. Nevertheless, the Slytherin table clapped enthusiastically, welcoming the new housemate, among which Malfoy took a seat smiling.

“Albus Potter.” Fourteen to go.

The name stirred whispers in the Great Hall. Fingers pointing and heads turning, everyone was eager to get a glimpse of the second son of the famous Potter. Seeing him standing as rigid as a statue, Rose wished him luck and patted him on his shoulder, getting out of the queue in the process. Albus smiled weakly at her and almost ran to put the hat on.

“Gryffindor!”

The second it touched his head, the hat shouted. Thunder erupted from the Gryffindor table, as if they were at all surprised when James was already one of them. She shook her head. It seems Albus’ wish to be a normal kid was sabotaged, but that was to be expected.

What was not expected was her ribbon, missing. She hated it when things didn’t go the way she had expected, like that time when she mixed [wt] with [wt] and it turned into a tub of mud instead of a clear liquid.

“Rose Weasley.”

She felt like curling up and crying, instead, she raised her chin and went into the hall. Once the hat covered her eyes, her surroundings died down.

Another Weasley…hungry for knowledge…Ravenclaw would suit you, but I also see bravery like your kin…then you better be in Gryffindor!

Rose hurried off to Albus’ side, receiving multiple pats on the back, including James’ and her cousins’, and a stare from the Slytherin table. Malfoy was staring at her. Feeling uneasy, Rose fixed her gaze at the Sorting Hat and the girl (Tracy Weldon) who was tripping over herself to get to the stool.

Silence came into the Great Hall once again after the bearded man left with the sorting hat and the stool. Professor McGonagall, the headmistress, stood and gave an opening speech. Most of which Rose didn’t process since she was very aware of the staring eyes from across the Hall and tried to decipher as to why that might be. She had never seen him before today. There was no way they have ever spoken, or introduced, for the matter. Not if you count that moment on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Rose sneaked a glance at Malfoy, only to turn her head back the instant she met his eyes.

“Rose, are you okay?” Albus whispered to her left ear.

She nodded abruptly and mouthed I’ll tell you later, just in time to hear the last sentence of McGonagall’s speech.

“…Have a good feast and rest well.”

Plates after plates were filled with food that second: roasted beef, baked potatoes, barbequed ribs, lemon pies……Rose could go on and on. Despite the creepy feeling of having someone watching her and the sadness of losing her ribbon, she stuffed herself with anything she could get her hands on. It was not like her family couldn’t afford good food, but her mother really isn’t the best cook around.

(To Be Continued)