[Hogwarts Between] First Year's Entrance

[Margaret Dean]

Patrick McCartney wrote:
> 
> > Hagrid held his lantern up high to signal where the students
> > should gather.  He patiently waited without saying a word until
> > everyone left their boats and gathered in front of him.
> >
> > He kept his lantern raised as he turned and lead the students
> > up a passageway in the rocks.  The rocks on the floor of the
> > passageway were worn smooth with hundreds of years of First
> > Years' arrivals.
> >
> > They reached a flat grassy area with the walls of the Hogwarts
> > castle rising into the air next to them.  Hagrid led them up a
> > flight of wide stone steps.
> >
> > He stopped in front of huge oak doors and turned to view the
> > progress of the students.  Once everyone was gathered at the
> > top landing of the stairs he turned and gave three booming
> > knocks on the oak doors.
> >
> > He then stood there and waited.
> >
> > Amber looked around as if she was missing something, then
> > turned to Kadyn and whispered, "What are we supposed to
> > do...?"
> >
> > Glad to be off the boat, Heath looked around. He couldn't see
> > much besides other kids quietly whispering to each other and
> > looking as confused as Heath was. Glad that he hadn't missed
> > anything Heath thought reassuringly to himself, "If your as
> > confused as everyone else, you probably haven't done something
> > wrong."
> >
> > Cyrus looked upwards in fresh awe at the castle rising in front of
> > him.
> >
> > Kadyn spoke up, to his friends as well as to the boy who had spoken
> > to Amber. "I suppose we wait... Not much else we can do..."
> 
> The students did not wait long.  The door opened and a tall, black
> haired witch walked out.  She wore a flowing emerald green robe.  Her
> face was stern with no sign of levity.  She stood there lookout out
> over the flock of students.

"Here's the First Years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Very good, Hagrid," said the tall witch.  She swept her gaze
over the group of eleven-year-olds and then said, "Follow me,
please."


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>