Here's Chapter 1: Link (I'm not going to do many more of these linkings, so ask to be pinged sooner rather than later. In fact, nobody has asked to be pinged yet, which is a bit demoralizing...)
As the Hogwarts Express chugged through the English Countryside, there was a mix of tension and friendliness in the compartment. Erica was getting irritated by Anisha's constant hounding of British customs and landscape and was slowly raising her voice to talk to Isaac with Jason, making the closed-off compartment a cacophony of insults and questions.
The sky started to get darker, and voices got quieter. Jason seemed to be having some kind of problem- He kept wincing every time the train made a few sharp turns. Finally, Erica asked, "Is it acting up again?"
Jason nodded. "Motion sickness. Why couldn't they just magic all of us over to the school the moment the train got out of sight of those Muggles?
Isaac knelt down, not taking his eyes off of his novel. "You were a muggle a few hours ago," He said as he handed a barf bag to Jason, who promptly tossed his cookies into it.
Anisha took this moment to make another jab at England. "See? The Brits have truly awful vehicles. I went on a vacation to Japan, and bullet trains were much easier."
Erica had the sense that Anisha was a bit spoiled, but ignored her, sticking her wand into the barf bag. "Tergeo!" She announced, but nothing happened. "I didn't expect it," She said defensively.
A few minutes later, Hogwarts came into view. The train skirted the lake and headed straight towards Hogsmeade Station.
"What's happening?" Isaac mumbled sleepily, finally putting his book down. "Are we there yet?"
"Nearly," Anisha told him. "Just get your baggage ready."
Erica, before she could stop herself, remarked, "We call them trunks usually in England."
Anisha let out a rather rude blurt-laugh. "Do you think I care?" She snapped scathingly before pressing the release button on the handle of her valise, which popped up straight into her hand.
Erica grimaced before tying the top of Jason's barf bag into a knot and helping him up. Isaac came out hot on their heels, his suitcase nearly bursting with books.
As usual, it was pandemonium. A few Slytherins muscled their way to the front of the train, pushing past others. The four newcomers noticed two burly students parting a path for a slick-haired boy who sneered at anyone in his way.
"Hi," Said a somewhat short girl with large eyes that seemingly popped out of her skull. "If you don't mind, I might need to slip out to avoid those Callawits," She cut in front of Erica, who was in front. Erica squealed as she was almost prodded by the eccentric girl's wand, which was tucked in her ear and could potentially poke someone.
Without warning, the crowd surged forward. Isaac, who was groaning under the weight of his heavy suitcase, nearly tripped. His suitcase clubbed the hindquarters of a third-year, who spun around, pointing her wand at him, before realizing that it was merely a mistake.
Finally, everyone squeezed through the door and landed on the platform. Jason gave a deep breath of fresh air, sighing blissfully, while Anisha wrinkled her nose.
"Firs-Years! Over here!" An awfully rotund man bawled. Upon closer examination, he was just as tall as he was round and seemed to be herding all of the first-years a different direction.
"Let's go," Erica ordered, helping Isaac with his baggage. Anisha was already several steps ahead of her, though. She had somehow scrambled to the start of the line and was grilling the giant man.
"So, what is your name?" Anisha asked, whipping out a notebook and pen.
The giant looked apprehensive, but said shortly, "I'm Hagrid. The Groundskeeper."
"Ah," Anisha responded coolly. "Do all Brits have such bad phonics and grammar?"
Before a dumbstruck Hagrid could answer, Erica caught up to Anisha and pulled her away. "What was that?" She hissed angrily. "Phonics and Grammar? How is that relevant? Especially to a magic school!"
"You're right, it's not relevant. But it does spark some curiosity."
Anisha hurried off before Erica could make a snappy retort.
The giant-Hagrid, led everyone down a flight of stairs embedded in the crumbling stone. From their vantage point, the first-years were awestruck by the large castle before them, and even more by how all of the small boats were propelled without any motors or wind.
Coincidentally, Jason, Isaac, Anisha, and Erica were all stuck on the same boat. They all gazed around as the puny wooden raft flew across the water, flying through strands of kelp to get to some kind of underground dock.
Everyone, even Anisha, turned meek as Hagrid handed them off to a stern-looking woman with wrinkly, pursed lips and emerald-green robes. When she spoke, it was in a brusque but powerful voice. "Follow me. The sorting will soon begin." She led everyone up a flight of stairs into the castle, which was extremely amazing. It was made of polished, shiny materials, had a sky-high roof that showed what was happening outside, and comforting warmth.
Instead of heading to a long hall full of students, the woman, who Hagrid had referred to as Professor McGonagall, pushed them all into a nearby chamber, apparently sequestering everyone. "Please wait," She said briskly and then shut the door.
There was a tense silence. Finally, Isaac spoke up in a shrill voice. "Are we being abducted?" He asked quietly.
"Doubtful," A girl in red hair replied.
Before they could talk any more, Professor McGonagall walked in. "Follow me in a line," She said in a tone that was light but ordered cooperation.
"What's happening?" Babbled Isaac, who seemed to be a bit cowardly.
"I don't know," Erica answered boldly, but she was also shivering, though it wasn't cold at all.
The gigantic doors of the great hall burst open, and Professor McGonagall led the first-years in.
Immediately, they saw four long tables with chattering kids in color-coded robes. In the front was a horizontal table where several adults were sitting, clapping politely.
Professor McGonagall lined everyone up in front of the staff table and read a scroll, though it was just background noise to the anxious First-Years. Then, a mangled hat was placed forward and to everyone's surprise, it started to sing.
Although they tried to listen, the first-years were far too nervous to hear the lyrics correctly, but got the general gist- The hat would sort them into four houses. Gryffindor, which had brave and chivalrous students, Hufflepuff, whose students were kindhearted and outgoing, Ravenclaw, whose occupants were all wise and witty, and Slytherin, who was home to the sneaky and manipulative.
"When I call your name, sit on the stool and place the hat over your head," Professor McGonagall boomed. She unrolled the scroll. "Bhola, Anisha!"
Anisha gave a squawk, startled that her name popped up so quickly. She had been expecting that there was at least one person with an A last name, but apparently, she was wrong. Erica, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but smirk at an unnerved Anisha and looked on as she scurried over to the sorting hat, stuffing it on.
It was soon evident that the sorting hat was having a hard time. Anisha heard it thinking out loud. "Not a Hufflepuff... You do have a fine mind, but you are also bold and sly."
Anisha was unsettled that the hat was evaluating her in such a public way. "Just choose!" She half-growled, half-begged.
"RAVENCLAW!" Roared the hat. Right before Anisha stripped it off, it muttered, "I'm not sure if that was the right choice, but you rushed me, so I'm not at fault."
Anisha ran over to the cheering Ravenclaw table and sat down.
"Bonowitz, Gary!" Professor McGonagall announced.
After mulling it over for a few minutes, the hat wailed, "Slytherin!"
Jason and Erica both sensed that their names would come up soon, especially when the hat sorted Grace, Ja'Niyah in Hufflepuff.
"Carrasco, Erica!" Professor McGonagall called, and Erica strutted to the hat, trying to seem composed.
The hat took a few seconds before bellowing, "Ravenclaw!"
Anisha and Erica both looked sour as Erica traipsed over to the Ravenclaw table.
"Carrasco, Jason!"
Jason hurried up and stuffed the hat on. He promptly muttered, "Please please please put me in Ravenclaw my sister is there please please please!"
"Ravenclaw it is," The hat replied, though somewhat reluctantly. "RAVENCLAW!"
Jason screeched in glee and frolicked over.
In the line, Isaac let his mind wander, knowing that he would be one of the last to be called. He watched absentmindedly as people got sorted one after the other. Diaz, Frank. Gryffindor. Garson, Bethany. Gryffindor. Gersich, Camille. Slytherin. Halbert, Adrian. Hufflepuff. Kast, Corey. Ravenclaw. Lovegood, Luna. Ravenclaw. Isaac was nodding off, sure that he had missed at least half of the people, when Professor McGonagall declared, "Vasquez, Isaac!"
Isaac ran over to the stool, stuffing the oversized hat onto his scalp. Before it even touched his head, it screamed, "RAVENCLAW!"
The four kids cheered, all thrilled to have been sorted into the same house. All four could not believe their luck and listened to the sorting end with Weasley, Ginny, with happily opened ears.
