Aftermath

Chapter 3: The Sorting

“You mean I can go?” I squealed, hardly daring to believe it. Mum nodded, laughing.

“Of course you can go! I don’t know how we’re going to pay for all this, but I won’t let you miss out on such a brilliant opportunity. it says nothing about tuition fees, does it?” she glanced back at the letter worriedly.

“No, mum,” I grinned, pulling her into a fierce hug.

I smiled at the fond memory, remembering my delight at being allowed to go. Now I was leaving though, I wasn’t as sure. Would I really have to spend three months away from home? Mum said I could visit at christmas, but I was still nervous. I brushed down my new robes - one of the things my mum had insisted upon. She didn’t want people to think I came from a poorer background as soon as they saw me. She had also managed to cobble together enough money to buy me an owl; a cute imitation of the one that had delivered my Hogwarts letter. I had named her Chelsea, after my best friend from primary school. We were both going to go to Haggerston in September. I’ll miss her.

The clicking of the compartment door opening caught my attention and I looked up to see two boys about my age, both pulling heavy trunks behind them.

“Can we sit here?” the one of the right, who had curly brown hair, asked me. “Everywhere else is full.” I smiled at them.

“Sure, come in!” I welcomed in my cockney accent, standing up to help them lift their trunks up to the shelf above our heads. The other boy, whose hair was dark and straight, noticed Kaitlyn’s trunk opposite mine, but made no comment.

“I’m Rosanne, but call me Rosi,” I told them, holding out my hand. The boys looked at each other.

“I’m Adam,” the one with dark hair said, “and he’s Oscar. We’re brothers.” I nodded.

“Kaitlyn’s just gone to get changed,” I informed them. They looked curious, but didn’t ask. Once again, the compartment door crashed open and in strode Kaitlyn, now in her school robes. She stopped suddenly as she saw Adam and Oscar sitting in the compartment with me.

“Who’s that?” she asked me, pointing to the boys. I introduced them quickly, watching her give each of them a cold, calculating glance before returning to the corner opposite me and coaxing her cat down from the luggage rack, where she had hidden. “This is Midnight,” she told us. “She’s mine.” Adam looked at me. I shrugged. We settled into an awkward silence.

“Rosi...?” Oscar stated hesitantly. I turned and smiled at him, prompting him to continue. “What house do you want to be in at Hogwarts?” I sighed. it was one of the questions I had been dreading. Luckily, the second hand bookstore had a battered copy of Hogwarts: A History that I dove on with relish, so I wasn’t as ignorant as before.

“I think that Hufflepuff sounds like a nice house,” I replied slowly. Oscar nodded encouragingly.

“Muggle born,” Kaitlyn muttered. I looked at Oscar, confused.

“Someone with non-magical parents,” he explained. I nodded, understanding.

“Yes, I’m a muggle born,” I confirmed. Immediately, the boys faces grew much more understanding, and Adam gave me a quick summary of the houses.

“Gryffindor is the house of the brave and courageous,” he told me. “It’s the best house around. Ravenclaw is for smart people who like school,” he wrinkled his nose, “and Hufflepuff is the useless house for everyone else.”

“Dad was in Hufflepuff,” Oscar interjected. “And haven’t you forgotten one?” Adam counted on his fingers quickly, realising he had only named three.