Next in Line - Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

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Next in Line

Chapter 3 - Hogwarts Castle

It was dark when we reached our destination. When we got out of the train, a nurse was already waiting for Scorpius. After giving him a foul-smelling potion to drink and urging him to change into fresh robes, she deemed him well enough to not be confined to the hospital.

The four of us were then ushered into one of the small boats that were to take the first year students through the vast lake to Hogwarts. We sat in tense silence as the boats magically sailed through the dark waters.

At last, we reached the dock, and then we were led to the castle doors. What happened next was a bit of a blur, which might have been due to the intense bouts of apprehension I kept having. All I could remember was that a wizard (a teacher, probably) stood facing us, explaining some things (I could not recall a word he had said), and then we formed a long straight line into the famed Great Hall.

I remembered clasping clammy hands with Rose and Al. I could not explain it, but I felt even more dismayed when I saw Scorpius clutch Rose's other hand.

I had read last summer that we were to be sorted into the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. With a sudden flash of insight, I knew that I was about to be separated from my new friends very soon. I held onto their hands as tight as I could, ignoring the numbness that was slowly creeping into my fingers.

I could not even remember hearing the Sorting Hat's song, nor the applause of the older students sitting at the four extensive tables. I could only look at the wizard (who called himself Professor Longbottom) call out the first years' names alphabetically. The feeling of dread dulled my senses so much that I didn't even hear my name being called out. "Lore, Camelia! Cammy, that's you!" Rose whispered, nudging me towards the stool where the Sorting Hat sat. My cheeks grew warm as I sat on the stool and placed the hat on my head.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted.

I tried my best to hide my disappointment. I knew I didn't have any special qualities, but a tiny part of me wished I were in Gryffindor, which seemed to be the greatest of all houses.

I smiled shyly at the Hufflepuffs who cheered me as I found a seat in their midst.

I then listened to Professor Longbottom as he called out the next names. When at last he said, "Malfoy, Scorpius!" my ears perked up.

He sat on the stool as I had done and placed the hat on his head. At first, the hat did not say anything. I knew that everyone in his family was a Slytherin, but as the silence lengthened I hoped against hope that he would be sorted into Hufflepuff and we could be together.

At last, the hat decided. "Slytherin!" I felt my throat work up and down. "That's alright, Cammy. There's still hope that Al or Rose will be a Hufflepuff." I consoled myself.

Next, I waited for Al's name. "Potter, Albus!"

I heard murmurs as Al walked up to the hat. "Harry Potter's younger son!" and "He looks just like his father!" was heard everywhere. I've never seen Harry Potter in person, only pictures and statues of him during my short trip to Diagon Alley. I admitted with awe that Al definitely looked like his younger version. How had an insignificant muggle-born like me befriended such famous friends?

The hat had just grazed his forehead when the hat announced, "Gryffindor!" Albus seemed to exhale with relief. He grinned as he joined his brother at their table.

With a sinking feeling, I waited for Rose's name to be called. "Weasley, Rose!"

She sat on the stool and as the hat sat on top of her head, I saw her face pucker. "I'm sorry lassie, but you're in Ravenclaw!" Rose's eyes were watery as she joined the other Ravenclaws, who were only too happy to have a celebrity in their house. I knew that her father wanted her to be in Gryffindor, and I longed to sit next to her and comfort her. As if reading my mind, she looked at me and gave me a brave little smile.

I thought she was lucky, though, because a few minutes later her cousin Vicky approached her. She was not alone in Ravenclaw after all.

I ate my dinner in silence. Alright, so all of my friends were in different houses. That couldn't be so bad, right? I heard that some classes were composed of two houses grouped together. That meant I would still see my friends in some of my classes. I only wished I could talk to Rose in bed when the lights were off, or study with Scorpius and Al in the common room after class. No matter. I could still make new friends in Hufflepuff. And I could always meet up with my three friends during breaks or school events.

With those cheerful thoughts in my head, I finished my meal with a lighter heart.