A lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry, Ron and Y/N heard a familiar voice.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! All right there, Harry?"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over to Harry, as the boy nodded.
"C'mon, follow me, any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!"
Slowly and stuttering, they followed Hagrid down steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them, because of the thick trees there. They were all quietly walking. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.
Harry, Y/N and Ron were followed into their boat along with Hermione.
The fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. They all reached the underground harbour and clambered down their boats.
"Oy, you there!" Hagrid pointed towards Neville, "Is this your toad?"
"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed with joy, running towards Hagrid and taking the toad from him.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open to reveal a tall, black-haired witch, in green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid stated, looking at her.
"Thank you Hagrid. I'll take them from here." She said, turning and walking inside.
The students followed the stern-looking witch, rather sheepishly. Y/N looked around, she, herself, had never been to Hogwarts, but had read all about it. It was more beautiful than she had imagined it, to be.
Professor McGonagall took them to small empty chamber, off the hall and turned to them, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-the term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room."
The children seemed even more nervous.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
She turned her back to them and left. They all released a breath they didn't even know they were holding.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron and Y/N.
YOU ARE READING
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (Female Reader Insert)
FanfictionY/N Weasley had lived the first eight years of her life, thinking that she was special to not have the traditional red-hair like the rest of her family. She finally finds out on her eighth birthday that it wasn't even close to because, she was spec...
