Chapter 1 I can't believe it. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I was quite sure that this was all a dream. There was no way that this was my school. My Mum had told me how lovely it was, but lovely couldn't even begin to describe it. For once in my life, I, Rose Lavender Weasley, was at loss for words. Which is something that couldn't often be said. We drew nearer to the castle, and I glanced over to Al, my cousin, he looked just as amazed as I did. His eyes were fixed upon the magnificent castle. It was then I realized how close we were to the castle. Sometimes, when I get excited, I tend to get a little clumsy, and as I stepped out of the boat, I nearly lost my balance. I was fortunate enough that the boat was already on the shore of the lake. One girl wasn't as lucky. She tripped whilst trying to get out and fell into the chilly, September waters. She was near enough to the shore that she could grab my hand, and so without really thinking about it I extended my hand out for her to grab. She grabbed it thankfully and I helped pull her up to shore. I knew a spell that could dry her off, but I knew it would be too advanced considering it was near to the end of my book, The Standard Book Of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk. I had practiced the easier ones at the beginning of the book, but no more than that. I wanted to try other spells later. As soon as I helped pull the girl up to shore it was time to enter into the castle. Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwart's gamekeeper knocked on the big oak door. The door opened and the first years all clambered inside. "Here yeh are, Professor Longbottom. The firs' years." Said Hagrid. "Thanks Hagrid, you can go on ahead." Said Professor Longbottom, or as I know him Neville. He and his wife Hannah often would come by to visit during the Christmas Holidays. It would take some time getting used to calling him Professor Longbottom. He lead us through the door and into the Entrance Hall.
Chapter 2 "Welcome to Hogwarts!" said Professor Longbottom happily. "In just a few moments, we'll go into the Great Hall and you will be sorted into your Houses. There are four different Houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. You can earn points for your House by any triumphs." He paused, "But, make sure you don't break and rules or you'll loose points for your House." He added looking pointedly at Al and me. We nearly giggled, but then we remembered what would be happening in a few minutes, and my stomach began to churn. Noticing nervous looks off everyone, he smiled brightly and added, "Not to worry, it'll be over before you know it." and then he left.