Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [29]
“Well, you should know,” she said. “By the way, where’s your pin, Harry?”
“What do you mean?” asked Harry. “I’m not a prefect, I didn’t get a letter.”
“Well, in my letter it says you are one,” said Hermione, taking it out from her backpack. “See?”
Harry grabbed the letter from her and read it:
“Slytherin Prefects: Draco Malfoy! What How did he get on that list?”
“Keep going,” said Hermione.
“He probably bought good grades,” said Harry to himself, “and Pansy Parkinson is the girl prefect. Hufflepuff Prefects: Ernie Macmillon and Hannah Abbot. Ravenclaw Prefects: Paulo Calvacanti and Lisa Turpin. Gryffindor Prefects: Harry Potter and Hermione Granger! Hey! I am a prefect!”
“So then how come you didn’t get a letter?” asked Hermione.
“I don’t know,” said Harry, giving her the letter back.
“Oh, wait, I think I know,” said Ron, digging through his backpack. He took out an envelope. “This came for you the day after you left my house.”
Harry snatched the letter from Ron, and tore it open. Sure enough, inside, was the prefect letter, and his shiny badge.
“Wow,” said Harry to himself. “I’m a prefect…” He threw his Hogwarts robe on over his clothes, and then pinned the badge onto to it. The incredibly shiny badge reflected the sunlight all over the room.
“Great job Harry,” said Ron. Harry thanked him, then realized something. Four years ago, he had found a mirror that showed whoever looked in it their deepest desires. In it, Ron had seen himself as Head Boy and captain of the Quidditch team. But, only prefects could become Head Boy or Girl. So, one of Ron’s dreams was not going to come true.
Just then, the train stopped, and Harry looked out the window. They had arrived at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione walked out of the compartment, and Harry ran out after them. As he stepped off the train, he heard a familiar voice:
“Firs’ years! Firs’ years this way!” yelled Hagrid, the very large groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Traditionally, he led the first years at Hogwarts over the lake to the castle in boats while the other students went up a path.
“Hello Hagrid,” said Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
“Hullo Everyone!” he said. “Can’t wait to get started this year! Got some great lessons planned for yeh.” Harry knew Hagrid was looking forward to teaching about dragons, Hagrid had always wanted one for as long as Harry knew him.
He, Ron, and Hermione headed up to the Hogwarts castle while about ten little kids got in small boats and crossed the lake with Hagrid. Harry wouldn’t have minded crossing the lake today, it was bright and sunny, clear and warm. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the first to reach the gates of the castle, so they threw open the door.
It was just as Harry remembered it. The front entrance was… huge was the only word to describe it. It was fifty times the size of Mrs. Figg’s house, and it had pictures on the walls, ghosts flying, and students walking everywhere. Harry kept walking forward until he came to the Great Hall, the place where the first feast of the school year would take place, and where the new students at Hogwarts would be sorted.
At the beginning of each year at Hogwarts, the new students were sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. A student was judged by a hat they placed on their head which house they shared the mist common traits with: Gryffindor is they were brave, Ravenclaw is they were clever, Hufflepuff if they were loyal, and Slytherin if they were ambitious and cunning. All were good houses, that is, except for Slytherin. There wasn’t a single witch or wizard that hadn’t gone bad that hadn’t been in Slytherin.
There were four tables in the Great Hall, one for each house. Harry, Ron, and Hermione (who were all in Gryffindor) sat down at the Gryffindor table. Harry spotted the rest of the Weasleys, all of whom were in Gryffindor, and they sat down across from him.
“Harry, meet us on the Quidditch Field after the Sorting. We have to have a team meeting,” said Fred to Harry. Harry nodded in agreement. Harry,