Day Dreams [Open]

[Aisling Fraser R1]

When she first stepped off the Hogwarts Express, her eyes were large. She clutched Kimon and her book to her, trying her best not to get lost in the sea of students.

"First years! All first years o'er this way!" A loud voice boomed out in the failing light. Aisling did her best to follow it, being jostled this way and that by the other students. At last she made it to the voice where she stopped at his feet. Blinking, her gaze traveled from his enormous shoes and up to his beard and mop of brown hair. All Aisling could do was gulp. She had never seen someone so large before.

The large giant of a man simply looked down at her kindly. "Are ye a first year, li'l girl?" She squeaked in reply. "On wif ye. Inn'er ta boat wif ta others. Four to a boat, now, mind. Don' want it sinkin' on ye."

She blinked at him then looked around, finally noticing the boats as the older students got into the carriages pulled by odd looking horses with wings. She smiled at them as they pranced around, looking ready to head towards the castle.

She gently lowered herself down into one of the boats; this one with only one other passenger. She nodded and smiled at the other child, but only clutched Kimon and the book closer, causing Kimon to mew loudly in protest. Thankfully he was in her robe and couldn't get away.

They made it to the castle safely enough, Aisling's off colored eyes staring at it in awe the whole way. With only the lanterns on the boats and the lights from the windows of the castle, the whole landscape seemed like a scene from a fairy tale come true.

She was shaking with excitement the whole way, following the throng of first years as they were ushered into the castle and outside the entrance to the great hall. Aisling barely listened to the older witch speaking about Hogwarts and their houses. She was just impressed with the school itself, magic being an understated thing at home.

The older witch escorted them all into the hall where all the other students sat waiting for the sorting. She felt tiny and out of her depth with all those eyes upon her. By the time they were in front of the staff table, she was trembling, doing her best not to let Kimon out of her robe while the sorting slowly happened.

She was vastly impressed by the rhyming capabilities of the old and worn out hat. Her gaze kept glancing at the roof, and she smiled brightly, remembering what her book had said about it.

It took three calls of her name for her to realize she was being summoned to the stool. The older witch smiled kindly at her. "Sit on the stool dear. The hat won't bite you." She did as commanded and the witch placed it on her head. It fell down past her eyes, her ears barely holding it up. She squeaked again when she heard a voice in her mind.

Ah, you are a brave one. Fierce and loyal, with a thirst of knowledge I've only seen a few times before. You would make a wonderful Gryffindor. Or maybe a Hufflepuff? You seem the hard working type. No. No, those houses wouldn't do for you. Riddles and learning are too dear your heart. I know what it shall be. You'll fit quite nicely in RAVENCLAW!"

The last made her flinch at the loud voice the hat had. The table on the far right started applauding and cheering. The older witch took the hat off her head and readied it for the next student. "Off you are now. Your house mates are waiting for you. Go sit down." The witch smiled at her and pushed her gently towards the table opulently decorated in blue.

She blushed and happily jumped off the small step and ran over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting down in one of the few free spaces. She place the book on the table and cuddled Kimon more gently as she received smiles, pats on the back, and a chorus of greetings.

[Arywiel Coone G3]

Ary hopped off the Hogwarts Express and took in the scent of wet grass, the steam billowing from the engine and excitement coming from students all around her. She felt elated, on the one hand, but at the same time there was a little knot in her stomach. The holidays were over, and it was back to school. What would this year have in store for her?

Ary dragged her trunk across the platform and left it in the pile to be collected and taken to school for them. She pulled her robes around her closely, shivering in the evening cold. At least it had stopped raining. The crowds of students dispersing milled in different directions, jostling her back and forth. She forced her way along with the older students to the carriages, hearing the yells of "Firs' years! Ye coming wit' me!" fading behind her. Ary piled into a carriage and straightened her robes, looking at the others sitting around her. She didn't recognise any of them.

The way up to school was shorter than she remembered and the carriage bustled and jolted up the hill. All the students leapt out and pressed into the Great Hall and took their usual seats. Ary plonked down in the place she usually sat, amongst the other Gryffindors in her year. The golden platters lay before them invitingly. "Please hurry up with the sorting! I'm positively starving!" she muttered sorely. Ary hadn't been able to buy anything on the train as she had fallen asleep half way.

The sorting hat belted out names of the terrified new students as it was lowered onto each of their heads. Finally "Aisling, Fraser!" was called forward. Nothing happened. A few students looked round. Again, "Aisling, Fraser?" some students started tittering. Ary suppressed a giggle. It seemed like a lifetime ago, when she had scurried up to be called to her house. Finally when Aisling was called for the third and last time she hurried up to be sorted. A few students laughed now. The hat had barely been on her head for a minute, when the rip at the seam cried "RAVENCLAW!"

Ravenclaw table erupted with whistling and clapping and the little girl was rapped on the back by some older students. Ary's stomach rumbled furiously. A few minutes later, however, the feast was opened. Mouth watering, Ary lunged at the boiled pork and mashed potatoes, ladling peas and carrots onto her plate. After the main came treacle, vanilla ice cream and Victoria spongecake. Once everyone was sufficiently stuffed, the plates magically emptied, leaving them sparkling.

[Samaal O'Toole S5]

Samaal leapt off the train and discarded his trunk on the pile by the platform. He lazily sauntered off towards the carriages, pushing past younger students as he went. He had grown nearly a foot over the summer and was remarkably taller than most his age. His chest had broadened and his face lengthened, making him seem more adult than when he had left Hogwarts in June. His summer had been enjoyable, but lazy. His parents hated leaving England, unless they were going to Africa to see family. Samaal had stopped going on these trips when he was 14, as it was so hot and fastidious there.

Samaal found himself a place on a carriage and put his feet up. "There's no place in this one" he drawled to another student looking in. From behind came the grunts from Hagrid beckoning First years to him. Samaal peered out the grimey window. All the New students scurrying to that oaf, Hagrid, looked like scared little mice. He had never been like that in his first year. He had walked with a commanding gait, looked up at older students placidly, not squeaking and shrinking away. He couldn't remember being so small either.

A girl in Gryffindor piled into his carriage and sat in the space next to him. He wrinkled his nose and turned away from her. Another one of them. They finally reached the school and Samaal leapt out before the others. He pushed past the others into the Great Hall and settled himself on the Slytherin table. As well as the tallest, he was nearly the oldest too, turning sixteen in two weeks. He hoped Papa would remember to send him the broomstick he asked for.