Chapter Text
I was being led through the wide halls of Hogwarts by a large man with the craziest hair.
What had he said his name was? Hagrick? No… Hagren? No, that didn’t sound right.
Hagrid. That was it.
Oh, shit—he was saying something. I missed, like, everything he just said. He was explaining something about the school, I think—how it was built?
I nodded along anyway, pretending I understood.
And, I mean, don’t get me wrong, the castle was beautiful. But my brain was so overwhelmed with the past few days.
Every instruction my caregivers gave me.
That stupid meeting with my brother.
And the hope—no… not hope.
Dread.
Of seeing him.
Before I could spiral any farther, Hagrid stopped at a small, out-of-the-way set of doors.
“These lead into the Great Hall,” he explained, “though they’re usually reserved for teachers only.” He glanced down at me. “But today we’ll make an exception. Faster this way.”
He winked.
I nodded and took a deep breath as the doors opened, and for a second, I was blinded.
The hallways had been dim, and this room was so, so bright.
I stepped through the doorframe, and as my eyes adjusted, I took in the large room.
It certainly was something.
Five tables in total—four for the students and one at the front for the professors.
It was crowded, humid, and loud, and immediately I could feel a headache coming on.
Hagrid raised his arm, and the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, turned toward us.
His eyes lit up once he saw me before turning back to face the students.
He stood and, lifting a glass, tapped it lightly with a knife and spoke in a surprisingly soft voice.
“If I could have your attention for a moment.”
The room quieted slowly, older students shushing the younger ones until, finally, silence.
“Thank you,” he said with a warm smile and a nod. “Today, I have the honor of introducing a new student.”
Whispers broke out instantly.
Dumbledore raised his hand and waited for them to quiet down again.
Then, raising an arm toward me, he said,
“I hope you all will give her a warm welcome.
Elara Potter… let’s begin your sorting.”