Hogwarts in 5 Seconds

Twins, Tables and Trunks

Four long tables stretched the length of the hall, with hundreds of students seated along the benches, chatting happily to each other. On her left she could see Ella and Michael seated with the rest of the Slytherins, and the older witch saluted her mock-seriously when she spotted Eleanor hesitating in the doorway. Oliver and Lara were at the next table over, the Ravenclaw table and although she tried to spot him, she couldn’t see Luke. Then there was the table where the only person she recognised was the quiet one, Matt. And finally, on the far right, was her new house: Gryffindor.

She started to make her way over and Kyla was the first to see her approaching. She whooped and stood up, rushing over to give her a hug before leading her to the table, pulling her into the seat next to her.

Ashton, Calum and Lucas all greeted her enthusiastically but before she could talk to any of the other students, McGonagall entered from a door behind the staff table and strode to the lectern at the front.

Silence descended immediately on the hall as all students turned to her respectfully, waiting eagerly for her to speak, “Welcome students, to another year at Hogwarts.” Someone on the other side of the hall wolf whistled, the sound coming suspiciously close to where Ella and Michael had been sitting, and McGonagall frowned over, “Thank you.” She remarked scathingly.

“Now, to business. I would like you all to welcome our new students.” She lifted her hands and the doors at the back opened and a wizard dressed in flamboyant purples robe marched in, head held high as he carried the Sorting Hat, a timid crowd of first years hurrying after him, eyeing the other students with fear and curiosity.

A muffled laugh spread across the hall as a young  boy, in his attempt to keep up with the wizard, stepped on the train of his robes and the wizard jerked back, whipping round to scowl at the unfortunate boy.

His head ducked and he muttered an apology, but as soon as the wizard had shook himself off and resumed his march, he turned to the other students behind him and grinned, revelling in the attention.

“Slytherin right there.” Said Calum, “Five galleons?”

No one was surprised when Lucas whipped round, grabbing his hand and shaking it, “Deal.”

“I’ll add ten sickles that he’s actually Ravenclaw.” Ash muttered out of the corner of his mouth as McGonagall’s gaze snapped to them.

“Would you shut up?” Hissed Kyla as the procession reached the front of the hall and the wizard placed the hat on a stood and produced a scroll of names with a dramatic flair.

He  cleared his throat as the first years gathered in an uncertain clump in front of him, “Ashwater, Katie.” The girl took a deep breath and trotted to the stool, sitting and facing the rest of the school as the wizard placed the hat on her head.

The crease in the hat deepened as it frowned and Eleanor saw the girl tense as the hat spoke to her mentally, before it barked, “Ravenclaw!” to the applause of the girl’s new table. She grinned and hopped down, handing the hat back before skipping over to the table.

The Sorting Ceremony continued, each table cheering when a student got sorted into their house. Three quarters of the way through, the boy who had tripped on the wizard’s robes, “Shacklebolt, Jack”, was sorted into Slytherin and everyone looked a bit confused when Lucas started cursing while Calum leapt to his feet, cheering wildly.

The boys shrugged and went to his seat, opposite Michael. “Looks like they have a new protégé.” Smirked Ashton as Ella and Michael immediately started to talk to him, from the looks of it they were congratulating him on tripping up the wizard.