The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 120 - Alex - A Spectacular Welcome

Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy up the road. Hogwarts Castle loomed ever closer: a towering mass of turrets, jet black against the dark sky, here and there a window blazing fiery bright above us.

"It's kind of bleak," Annabeth said. "They should've asked for professional help from me."

"Agreed," I said, nodding.

The carriages jingled to a halt near the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors. The horses jingled with delight. The air was filled with the sound of the horses stomping their feet against the ground so loudly that the other children who weren't able to see the horses declared an earthquake had hit the castle, and ducked underneath the carriages.

It was as though Hecate was welcoming us into her world, officially. 

Smiling, Jason and I walked in, arm in arm, with Annabeth, Percy, Nico and Will by our sides. 

The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast.

The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky we could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another's new haircuts and robes. People gave us strange looks as we passed, putting their heads together to whisper about the new students. 

Someone cleared their throat behind us. I turned around, still holding on tight to Jason's palm. 

"You all are the new students, I presume?" Minerva McGonagall said in a voice so formal I almost winced at her tone.

We'd already met her a few times at Grimmauld Place, but Dumbledore had specifically told us to act like we knew nothing for the sake of our reputation at Hogwarts and the Ministry and to protect the jobs of the teachers. 

"Yes," Will answered. "We're transfers from Ilvermorny."

"You have not yet been sorted into houses," Minerva continued. "Since you are not first years, we will sort you into houses in private. If you'll follow me."

Minerva led us to a large room on the second floor, presumably her office.

"As I call your name, you will come and sit on this stool to get sorted into your houses," she instructed. "Annabeth Chase."

Annabeth strode to the stool confidently and sat down. Minerva put a piece of filthy rag- wait, that was a hat- on her head. I looked on with suspicion as the hat stayed still.

And then, after two whole minutes, it called out- "Ravenclaw!"

"Ravenclaw?" Percy asked, confused. "I thought-"

"Just because she hates blue she wouldn't be in Ravenclaw?" Nico said, rolling his eyes. "I bet I'm in Slytherin."

I snickered. "Sure, Ghost King."

Annabeth got out of the stool almost shivering. She pointed at it furiously. "I will burn that hat down," she said, holding on to Percy.

"Nico Di Angelo," Minerva called.

The hat almost gasped once it touched Nico's head. I don't know what it said, but after it had screamed "Hufflepuff," Nico almost pounced at it, trying to rip into shreds.

"That bad?" I asked as he came next to me, his eyes dark and filled with hatred.

"You'll know in a while," he replied, panting.