Entering Hogwarts

I sat in the corner of my room, doing my homework. I sighed in frustration. The number of algebraic problems I had to solve never seemed to end. My life was pretty monotonous and boring too. I desperately wished for something exciting to happen.

The doorbell rang. I walked across the hall and opened it. Someone who I had never seen before was standing outside. He was quite tall, had blonde hair and wore a sweater.

“How can I help you?”, I enquired, politely.

“Are you Ms. Saunders?”, he asked.

“Yes, I am.”, I replied.

“My name is Neville Longbottom. I am a Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am here to talk to your family about your admission at our institution.”

I was baffled. A school of witchcraft? This had to be a joke. Not knowing what to do or how to respond, I called my parents and told them someone was at the door. Professor Longbottom introduced himself again and explained why he was here. My parents seemed stunned too because it is not every day that you hear that you have been admitted into a school of magic, right?

The professor convinced mom and dad to let him in so that he could explain properly. Once in our living room, he sat down on the couch. We looked at him expectantly. First, he gave us proof that magic was indeed real and that this was not a hoax. He pulled out his wand and pointed at the fireplace. Flames roared to life exactly at the spot his wand was pointed at. He then pointed towards the ceiling and gave it a small twirl. Yellow canaries flew out of the tip. We were mesmerised to say the least. Then he gave us a brief history of Hogwarts and said it was founded over a thousand years ago and had honed the talents of generations of witches and wizards. He also praised the current Headmistress, Professor McGonagall.

My parents were not entirely convinced. They had never heard of Hogwarts and were not willing to trust this stranger. They were also worried that I wouldn’t be able to get an actual education or a job in the future. But they also wanted to know how I had been selected, considering that I never applied.

Professor Longbottom assured them that I would receive a proper education at Hogwarts and that I could get a job in the wizarding world. Of course, it meant that I would have to conceal the real nature of my job from nosy neighbours and other acquaintances. But I would get to live with fellow witches and wizards. He also said that my name had been put down the minute I was born! He then asked me whether there had been any unexplainable instance when I had felt a surge of emotions. I recounted a couple of instances where my plaits undid themselves because I didn’t like wearing them and one other time when I cleared an unbelievably long distance with a single jump because I was very excited while playing a game of tag. He said that all of this happened because there was magic in my blood. Once my parents realised that I was indeed gifted, they were willing to send me to Hogwarts. Professor Longbottom then gave me an envelope with my name on it and proceeded to talk with my parents.

I broke the seal, tore the envelope, took the letter and started reading it. My hands were shaking, my body was trembling and I was weak with joy and excitement. I could barely walk to the couch; I fell down, my face flush with emotions I could not name. It was happening! I was going to become a witch! I was going to Hogwarts!!

30th August dawned bright and sunny. My parents and I went took a flight to London. The next day, we went to Diagon Alley and got all the stuff I needed for school. We went to Ollivanders to get a wand. Mine was ash and phoenix feather, eleven and a three quarter inches, unyielding.

The next day, I went to King’s Cross station. It was quite crowded and despite being given instructions for how to enter platform 9 ¾, we were still unsure of how to pull it off. As we stood between platforms 9 and 10, a man with dark, messy hair and round glasses and a woman with dazzling red hair walked by with their family.

“I still remember my first time. I didn’t know what to do. Thank Merlin I heard your mom talk about getting onto the platform.”, the man, chuckled.

“The first year at Hogwarts is always wild. I know you’ll have loads of fun, James.”, said the woman, ruffling her son’s hair.

Hogwarts! They were talking about Hogwarts! They’d know what to do!

We followed them and watched what they were doing. The two boys ran into the platform and disappeared. That had to be a trick of the light, dunnit? The mother and daughter followed next and it happened again. We were baffled. My dad approached the man and asked him how to do the thing.

“First year?’, he asked. I nodded.

“Not to worry. All you got to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Best to run, if you’re a bit nervous.” He smiled warmly at me.

We braced ourselves and ran towards the wall. And by Merlin’s beard! We did it! We were on Platform 9 ¾ before 11’o clock. The Hogwarts Express, with its majestic scarlet engine, hundreds of witches and wizards milling around, exotic pets and students in various attires, was quite a sight to behold. The man followed us onto the platform and held out his hand to my father.

“I’m Harry. Harry Potter. Nice to meet you.” We introduced ourselves as the Saunders.

“Well, hello Katrina. I’m sure you’d have a fabulous time at Hogwarts. In fact, my son James is starting out this year as well.”

“There you are, Harry. The train’s about to leave.”, called out his wife, walking towards us.

“Ginny, meet the Saunders. James, meet Katrina. She’s starting out this year as well.”, replied Harry. James winked at me. He had a mischievous glint in his eye and was bursting with energy. He seemed to be one of those people who could always put a smile on your face.

On the train, James invited me to share his compartment. The journey to Hogwarts was quite lovely. We chatted quite a bit and munched on snacks we bought from the trolley lady. When the train pulled into the Hogsmeade station, the gate-keeper Hagrid was there to receive us. James and I travelled in a boat with two other first years. I was quite intimated by Hagrid at first. He was so huge that he had one boat to himself. But he didn’t have a hairy heart and was very jovial. The boat ride was pleasant as well, contrary to most year where rain lashes heavily on the students. I was awestruck the moment I saw the castle. What a sight it was! Perched on a cliff and towering over the lake and surrounded by the forest, regal and majestic in the starlight.

Once we entered the castle, Professor Longbottom was waiting to take all of us into the Great Hall. I was quite nervous before the sorting ceremony. James was babbling something about us having to fight trolls. But once we did enter the Great Hall, all they asked us to do was wear a hat which shouted the name of our house. James! What an idiot.

I really loved the ambience of the Great Hall. Thousands of candles were hovering in mid-air and the ceiling was enchanted to resemble the actual night sky. I was sorted into Hufflepuff. One of the tables in the middle cheered very loudly when that happened and I was very excited to join this house. But I would have preferred to have been sorted into Gryffindor as James was in it. Anyway, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor got along very well, or so I heard. When I looked around my table, I saw Jake MacMillan sitting with a prefect badge. He told us that Professor Roland-Jones was Head of the House. Jake led us to us our common rooms. It was on the kitchen corridor. He tapped on the barrels with the right rhythm and entered the common room. It was full of plants, comfy couches and felt just like home.

Today, I am in my fifth year, a Chaser for the Quidditch team and a prefect. My best subject is Herbology like most other Hufflepuffs, although I am quite partial to Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts. I am very happy and have cherished all my years at Hogwarts. Thank Merlin my life didn’t turn out to be that monotonous after all.

(No. James and I are just friends. Get your mind out of the gutter.)