The New Girl

Ch 3- The Welcoming Feast

As everyone piled out of the carriage, Jenna looked amazed. Never had she seen so many witches and wizards in her life. Hermione was explaining the houses and their colors when she noticed Ron had been starring at her. Every now and then Hermione would glance up and still see the tall red headed boy looking at her.

“Ron! Hey... hello, Earth to Ron?!” Harry was trying to get his best friend’s attention by snapping his fingers in front of his face.

“Oh, sorry mate…What’d ya say?”

“You stupid git! Could you make it any more obvious? I mean honestly, just starring at her, as if she wasn’t going to notice!” Harry was looking right at Ron as he said this and saw him blush.

“I was not looking at Hermione!”

Just as Ron said that, Hermione looked over, “ What about me?”

“Oh, erm... nothing,” Ron said sheepishly and kept his focus forward the rest of the walk to The Great Hall.

***

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat at the Gryffindor Table, while Jenna had to go stand with the first years.

The staff was all sitting at the long table in front of the room: Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Professor Flitwick, Professor Moody; who was going to be the new DADA teacher, Professor Trelawney, Professor Sprout, Hagrid, and Professor Binns. Dumbledore stood and began to speak, “I would like to thank everyone for coming back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year. Welcome to our first years, and our returning students. I hope all of you enjoyed your holiday and are happy to be back here. Now, when you hear your name, please come and sit on this chair.” Dumbledore turned to the first years and then looked over to the chair that stood before him. Suddenly, the old dusty Sorting Hat appeared over the chair and soon began to sing...

“Oh you may not think I’m pretty.

But don’t judge on what you see,

I’ll eat myself in you can find

a smarter hat than me,

You Keep bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall, for

I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There’s nothing hidden

In your head The Sorting Hat can’t see

So try me on and I will tell you where you

Ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.

You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal,

Those patients Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid to toil.

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you’ve a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind.

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You’ll make your real friends

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don’t be afraid!

And don’t get in a flap,

You’re safe in my hands

(Though I have none)

For I am a thinking cap!"

The kids cheered for the Hat’s song and Professor McGonagall began to read off the first year’s names.

“Leah, Abbot!”

The young girl walked to the chair and saw her sister, Hannah, look at her with a smile. Leah looked just like her sister; blonde hair always in pigtails and a chubby pink face. Soon after she sat, the Sorting Hat announced, “Hufflepuff!”

The Hufflepuff Table stood and cheered for their new member. Professor McGonagall continued down the list of names and for each child Sorted, that table would stand and cheer. After many names, Professor McGonagall announced, “North, Jenna!”

As she heard her name called, she walked to the chair and sat looking at the Gryffindor Table in hopes to see Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. When the hat was placed onto Jenna’s head, it became confused.

“Why, you’re not a first year, are you?”

At this, the hall became very quiet. Jenna blushed slightly

“No, you seem smarter, much smarter…5th year perhaps. My, my you do have a lot in your head. You have the qualities of every house, two in particular. Hmmmm, yes I put you in Gryffindor!”

The Gryffindor house stood and cheered and Jenna ran to sit with her new friends.

“Congratulations Jenna!” Seamus Finnigan said.

“Uhh... erm, thanks!” Jenna smiled and sat down next to Ginny. “I was so embarrassed!” she said after sitting.

“Well, we weren’t expecting the Sorting Hat to realize you weren’t a first year!” Ron said.

After all the names were read, Professor Dumbledore spoke again. “Congratulations to all of our first years in making your houses. I will quickly announce the heads of the houses, and then the feast will begin. Professor McGonagall, Gryffindor; Professor Snape, Slytherin; Professor Sprout, Hufflepuff; and Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaw.” Professor Dumbledore snapped his fingers and food appeared on all of the house’s tables. The kids ate their meals quickly and then all left to go to their houses.

****

On the way up to Gryffindor Tower, Jenna stopped many times and looked at all of the moving pictures.

“Nice to see you again, Ms. Weasley,” Nearly Headless Nick popped around the corner in front of the group and smiled at them.

“Oh, hello, Sir Nicholas! It’s nice to see you too.” Ginny smiled as Hermione, Ron, and Harry laughed at Jenna’s reaction to Nearly Headless Nick. She knew there were ghosts, but she never thought they would just come up and talk to you like that. Finally, they reached the portrait hole to the Common Room and they entered. The boys said good night and went up to their dormitory. Ginny went to the fifth year girls’ room and talked with Jenna and Hermione for a little while and then went to her room and fell asleep.

****

Next Chapter: Ginny and Harry take a walk by the lake and Ginny tells Harry something. Snape and Professor Dumbledore have a conversation about someone’s safety