 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ ❄ Showtunes > Everything ❄ ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Ooh, so this was Hogwarts? Desiree had looked forward to coming here since she could remember! As the child of two former professors, she’d heard stories about this place all her life, but seeing it for herself was even better. She stood in line with her fellow first years, her favorite doll in her arms. It was basically The Prince from Beauty and the Beast with its hair dyed black and scars painted across half its face so that it strongly resembled her dad.
A pang of sadness gripped her as her thoughts turned to her dad. He was so sad when they said goodbye this morning, and now she wasn’t there to cheer him up! Hopefully Mum and Adam would keep him company until she came home for the Christmas holiday. They’d better or she’d learn a spell to turn them into icky slimy frogs!
Searching for something to distract her from her homesickness, she looked around the room at the tables full of students. Yay, lots of potential new friends! She wondered which table would be hers. Hopefully Gryffindor! From there, her bright blue eyes darted to the staff table. She knew from her parents’ stories that the man in the biggest chair must be the headmaster. Mr. Headmaster kind of looked like Aladdin! Did he know that? As her eyes scanned the dais, she wondered which seats up there had once belonged to her parents. Hmm ... she knew that the seats went in alphabetical order so… Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms… She counted five seats from the far left. Ooh, did that dark-haired lady (Leanne) have her dad’s old job?
Before she could figure out who was sitting in her mum’s old seat, a voice called out, “Marchand, Desiree!”
Heart fluttering, Desiree walked up to the stool at the front of the room and sat down daintily, her hands neatly folded in her lap and her legs crossed at the ankle in a ladylike manner. So this was the famous Sorting Hat? “Hello, Mr. Hat!” she greeted. “Is it true that you used to belong to Godric Gryffindor? Do you remember him? What was he like?”
“I see you have your mother’s curiosity, but in other ways, you’re very like your father.”
Desiree giggled as she heard the hat’s voice in her ear. “You knew my mum and dad?”
“I remember your mother from her sorting,” the hat replied. “Your father, on the other hand, I never met personally, but I can see from your memories how similar you are. You have the same kind heart and sensitive nature.”
Desiree beamed. The hat said she was like her dad?! Best day ever! “Thank you, Mr. Hat!”
“Yes, kindness, loyalty, and a thirst to prove yourself. I think I know just where to put you…”
Come on, Gryffindor! Desiree thought. No sooner had that thought popped into her head that the hat spoke again. “Gryffindor, eh? Interesting choice, but I have something else in mind.”
Desiree’s face fell. “If it’s all the same to you, Mr. Hat, I’d rather be in Gryffindor, please.”
“No, I think you’d be better suited elsewhere. Better be… HUFFLEPUFF!”
What? No! She just had to be in Gryffindor! Her dad was once Head of Gryffindor! Didn’t the hat know? He’d be so disappointed in her if she went anywhere else! But it was no use. The hat had already spoken. Desiree left the stool and trudged to the Hufflepuff table, clutching her doll tighter than ever.
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |