Chapter Text
🎵 So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap! 🎵
Thinking back to the last couple of years, Colin wished he’d paid more attention to his parent’s tales of their first day in Hogwarts. Or his brothers’. Or anyone’s, actually.
Don’t get him wrong. The 11-year-old boy adored listening to his family’s experiences at the ancient wizarding school, even more so because it was the place where Violet and Edmund Bridgerton had met and fallen in love. He just happened to be so focused on their day-to-day life, the classes, Quidditch, or the copious amounts of food usually served to the students, of course, that it never occurred to him to ask the most basic of all questions.
How would one determine which house they’d be in?
Anthony, of course, went straight to Gryffindor, following their mother’s steps. Currently, his eldest brother was about to start the seventh year and was one of the obvious picks as a head boy, alongside his once nemesis, now turned girlfriend, Kate Sharma.
Benedict, who would now start his sixth year, was also a proud Gryffindor. From what Colin had heard, his second brother wasn’t exactly a stellar student, which he compensated for by making the entire school fall in love with him. Ben never aimed for a place in the Ministry of Magic anyway, being the most artistic of all of them, so it was of no consequence how he handled his education.
Colin, for his part, wasn’t really sure what to expect. At some rate he hoped to just end up in Gryffindor like his siblings, if only to avoid all the gossip that would follow him being the first Bridgerton since his father to be chosen for another house. But, once in a while, he also wondered how it would be to live away from his brothers’ shadow for a change. This was the perfect opportunity for that, after all.
It didn’t matter what he wanted, though. He would have to wait.
After leaving the train and crossing the lake that led to Hogwarts on a bunch of little boats, the first years were rushed inside the castle, where Professor Danbury only mentioned that the “Sorting Ceremony” would begin shortly in front of the rest of the school. Since then, they’d been waiting in a hall full of portraits, but otherwise empty, and the boy was starting to spiral, violently picking at his nails. What was this ceremony?
“Do you think they’ll take much more time to let us in? I’m famished”, a voice from his side broke through his thoughts, and the boy turned to find a girl looking straight at him, an easy smile on her face. “You’re a Bridgerton, right?”
“Yes”, Colin answered, already used to being easily recognized due to the similarities with his siblings and his father. “You’re also familiar”, he continued, eyeing her in an attempt to figure out where they knew each other from. She was also wearing the school robe, which didn’t give him any hints, and her black hair was loose, reaching the middle of her back. But it was the colour of her eyes – impossibly dark – that finally gave her away, causing him to take a step back involuntarily. The action didn’t go unnoticed by the Stirling girl.
“I take it you’re not a fan of my family?”, she prompted sadly, as if resigned to always being linked to her relative’s mistakes. In a weird way, Colin understood that feeling; coming from such a successful family, it was hard to stop people’s big expectations for each and every one of them, from Anthony to little Gregory. The exact same happened with their neighbor and good friend, Penelope, who, even as a child, couldn’t get rid of the Featherington’s bad name. He instantly felt bad for judging the girl so quickly without giving her a chance.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to react like that. As you are probably aware, our families have been clashing for centuries in the Ministry, mainly because of this disproportionate hatred for muggles, but that has nothing to do with us, at least for now”, he apologized, extending his hand in her direction. “Let’s try that again, shall we? Hi there, I’m Colin Bridgerton. Col to my friends and family”.
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bridgerton”, she quipped, bowing theatrically before shaking his hand. “My name is Michaela, and you can call me Mika or Kilmartin, but please, never Stirling. I’m not particularly fond of my family either, to be…” she continued, just as four ghosts streamed through the closest wall, making a couple of students yell and run to the other side of the room. Watching the scene, neither of them were able to contain a laugh, attracting the attention of the people who’d stayed in their spots. Suddenly self-conscious, the duo lowered their voices, continuing the conversation.
“So, which house do you think you’ll go to?”, Michaela asked eventually, reminding Colin once again of his previous worries.
“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. Both my older brothers went to Gryffindor, and my mom was also from there. My father, however, was a Hufflepuff. Just and loyal to the teeth”, he explained proudly, watching the way her brows arched.
“Really? I’ve always imagined every one of you would be from the same house”, she replied surprised, and was about to say something else when they were interrupted by a third person.
“That’s not realistic though, is it? Each person from a family can’t have the same personality, even if brought up by the same people or in the same environment”, a boy, who Michaela remembered sharing the boat with, stated calmly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She stared at him for a while, deciding whether he was nosy or just a know-it-all, and was ready to confirm her assumption – the latter – when Colin spoke.
“Fair enough. Now tell us, Merlin, do you have a name?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation”, he said softly, but kept talking. “I’m Phillip. Phillip Crane”, the boy told them, waving his hand – in which he had a cellphone – as a greeting. Noticing the stares, he added. “My father insisted that I bring it, even though I told him hundreds of times this kind of thing doesn’t work here. I guess his workaholic brain didn’t accept that possibility. He simply doesn’t listen”, Phillip finished, whispering the last part as if he was talking to himself.
“What does your dad do for a living?”, asked Michaela curiously, quickly realizing, just as Colin, that Phillip had not been raised in the wizarding world.
“He’s a civil engineer, working to make London greyer than it already is. Maybe so it will finally match his soul”, Phillip joked lamely, noticing the glares some of the other students were giving him now. He turned back to the duo and saw they too had taken notice of the behavior.
“Don’t mind them”, Colin whispered, giving his shoulder a tap. It still made no sense in his mind why people would judge someone based solely on their blood. “And your mom?”
“Mom was a gardener. Ironic, isn’t it?”, he smiled sadly, looking at his feet. “That won’t do”, thought Michaela.
“So, have you been looking forward to the start of the classes?” she changed the subject, hoping to distract the boy. It worked surprisingly well.
“I can’t wait! I’ve read a lot about the school in some books, but it’s one thing to read and another to experience everything here. Do you know they have a huge vegetable patch just outside the castle? And greenhouses, lots of them! I hope the herbology classes begin soon”, he blabbed excitedly, suddenly emanating so much joy both his new friends smiled broadly.
“Are you sure there are enough hours in your day for all you plan to explore?” Colin teased, fleeing to the side as Michaela tried to hit him in the head.
“Ignore him. It’s adorable”, she appeased a very much embarrassed Phillip before continuing. “I’m particularly looking forward to the first broom flight class. One can’t become a beater without knowing how to fly, after all”.
“You like quidditch? I can introduce you to my brother Anthony, he’s been captain of the Gryffindor’s team for ages now”, Colin replied, noticing Phillip had raised his hand as if to draw attention.
“What exactly is quidditch?” he questioned once given the opportunity, and watched as Michaela grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “God, it’s a shame they wouldn’t understand the reference”, the boy thought.
“We’ll need time for that answer. I can talk for ages about the best sport ever!” she said, turning to Colin then “And about your brother, first we need to know in which house I’ll be, but thank you for the offer”.
“Anytime. Do you have an inkling about your house?”, the Bridgerton sibling asked intrigued, following Michaela’s gaze until it landed on Phillip.
“If I’m being honest, I’m hoping your theory about the houses and the families is correct. My entire bloodline went straight to Slytherin, including some of my cousins who are already ahead of us, and I’m really not looking forward to spending time with them. Unfortunately, the only cousin I actually like, John, won’t be here for another year”, she complained, sounding miserable just by thinking about it.
“Don’t worry, Michaela. We’ll like you even if you’re wearing green”, Colin tried to lift her mood.
“Promise?”, the girl said, unsure.
“Let’s make a deal”, Phillip spoke, motioning for them to come closer. “We’ll stick together, same house or not. Up until the end”.
“And how do I know I won’t despise you by next week?”, Michaela jested, barely containing a chuckle. “Or him, for that matter?” she complemented, pointing at Colin.
“Ouch, you wound me, Mika. I may not even tell you about the secret passage to the castle kitchen because of it”, the boy whispered with a devious smile on his face, matched in kind by the one in Michaela’s.
“You guys are trouble”, Phillip intervened, more amused than reticent about it.
“Team ‘mollip’ for the win!” Colin yelled, just as the doors to the Great Hall opened and they were all rushed into an alphabetical line before being pushed inside.
…
And at the end, they didn’t need to worry that much. Hufflepuff felt just like home.