Thursday, September 1st, 1994
"The antlers were at least this wide," Gabrielle said as she stretched out her arms as far as she could.
"That's around six feet," Isabel said as she shook her head and sighed.
"Then six feet," Gabrielle confirmed.
"You said four feet the second time you told the story," Jennifer said with a groan.
"My memory has improved, and I remember it better the more I tell the story," Gabrielle said with intense conviction.
"Pris, scooch over. I want to get out of here," Percival whispered. "I can't deal with this any more."
"Me first," Priscilla whispered back as she stood and opened the carriage's door. Upon opening it, the breeze settled and the warmth escaped. The earlier dark clouds that Percival witnessed had managed to catch up. The torrential downpour stopped Priscilla in her tracks. Turning back to face the Ravenclaw boy, he said, "Actually, you first."
"No. I'm pretty sure the saying goes 'Witches first'," Percival said as his body shuddered.
"The remaining bit of the quote says 'Wizards just before,'" Jennifer said, already prepared to leave. "Go on then, Percy. You first."
Shaking his head, seeing himself being outnumbered, Percival reluctantly exited the carriage with his wand drawn, pointing towards the dark sky. With a flick, he conjured an incorporeal umbrella and offered each of the girls assistance as they stepped out one by one. Once safely on the ground, they also conjured their own umbrellas, and together, they made their way towards the Great Hall.
Gabrielle continued her animated retelling of her hunting story once again as they walked to their destination. Once they entered the old castle, they unsummoned their umbrellas and cast Exsicco to expel any rain that managed to get past their umbrellas. They were almost at the Great Hall; they just had to take a left turn and go down a set of stairs, and we'd be there. However, familiar faces coming from that direction made them stop.
"Hello, Mrs Norris. Hello, Mr Filch," Jennifer said as she lowered herself to greet the dust-coloured cat. Its bulging, lamp-like yellow eyes returned the greetings before it retreated behind Mr Filch's legs.
"You look quite... l'air bien soigné, Mr Filch," Gabrielle said as she noticed the caretaker's attire. Gone was the dirty and scruffy suit, replaced by a finer and tailored counterpart.
"My wife said I had to look the part for my first day," replied the well-dressed man.
"You have a wife?" Isabel said incredulously. "I thought you were..."
"… A sad old squid who spent every day of his miserable life cleaning up after students and wishing misfortune upon them?" Mr Filch continued in a dead-pan voice as the student shifted uncomfortably. "I am aware of how the students perceive me. And I do have a life outside of my role at Hogwarts despite what people may think. And yes, I do have a wife. We married in the spring."
The five Ravenclaws offered their congratulations and warm wishes as the newly married man graciously accepted. The conversations turned the special day, and the girls enquired if he cried on the day, to which he unashamedly nodded.
"...Professor McGonagall was the only staff member that attended. The rest of the staff did send their regards and sent a gift," Mr Filch said as he turned to the Ravenclaw boy. "My wife did want to invite you after what you have done for us. But hearing you were busy, we didn't send you an invite."
"I'm pretty sure I don't know your wife," Percival said with his eyebrows raised and being very confused.
"She was a part of your initial trial. We managed to catch AF early and seek treatment. With her profession, if we didn't catch it, she would have been half a step into the grave by now. And for that, we will be forever grateful," Mr Filch said as he placed a hand on the boys' shoulder.
As the awkward silence hung in the air, the cogs in Jennifer's head were turning. Something about Mr Filch's first sentence was confusing. "Your first day?"
"Pardon?" the older man asked.
"You said, 'Look the part for my first day.'You've been here for years," Jennifer said.
"Oh. That!" Mr Filch said. "I'm the new financial officer intern."
"I don't want to sound rude, but how does that happen?" Gabrielle asked.
"McGonagall saw my accounting prowess and decided to give me a chance," Mr Filch continued to explain. "Due to the new assistant professors, McGonagall had more free time and attended my wedding as previously mentioned. The stress of my wife's job gave her a shopping addiction. McGonagall was surprised how well the wedding ran given the circumstance. Given that the financial officer is retiring later this year, I'm in training."
"How's the job treating you so far?" Isabel asked with genuine curiosity.
"Quite well actually. We took the Board of Governors to Wizengamot but I guess that was drowned out by the attack at the World Cup. Essentially, they were using creative accounting to make existing services and works a part of the pledge to inflate their numbers," Mr Filch explained proudly.
"I remember there was a small section in the Quibbler about that, though the Daily Prophet had no mention of it," Jennifer said. "That being said, who's going to replace you? Not replace you. Take over the position of caretaker. Ugh, words! What I'm trying to say is who's the new caretaker?"
"I have not met them yet, but I know it's a descendant of Mr Moon, the caretaker from Headmaster Black's reign," Argus Filch stated.
"So, where are you headed?" Priscilla asked. "The Great Hall is that way."
"Minerva asked me to wait for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and guide him to the Great Hall. He's a retired Auror, and he's behind schedule," Mr Filch said.
"But shouldn't he know his way around Hogwarts?" Isabel questioned.
"Yes, but she's not in the best of moods. And I'm planning to head to the staff room with the other professors and administration," Mr Filch replied. "Oh, and Minerva looked quite displeased not to see the seventh-year Ravenclaw at the table. You might want to hurry before she starts her speech for the first year. We'll catch up with you all later."
"See you later."
"Goodbye."
As the group turned the corner and descended the stairs, the grand entrance to the Great Hall came into view, its massive oak doors wide open to welcome the students. The air was thick with anticipation as the first-years awaited their sorting, their whispers mingling with the gentle flicker of candlelight that danced across the walls. But what caught the Ravenclaw's attention was Professor McGonagall standing at the front of the hall, addressing a group of first-year students.
"Let's try to sneak past," Isabel whispered, motioning for them to keep low and quiet.
"We have nothing to hide," Gabrielle replied in hushed tones.
Isabel shook her head as they kept their heads down, hoping to slip by unnoticed to the pleasure of Isabel, but just as they reached the halfway point, Professor McGonagall's stern voice cut through the air.
"Could you wait there for a moment?," she commanded, her gaze fixing on us with an unwavering intensity.
They froze in their tracks, exchanging nervous glances as Professor McGonagall finished her introductory speech to the first year.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will result in losing house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. It is my greatest hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours," she said while glancing at the older group.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. However, before that, I would like to introduce your Head Boy. If you have any issue about anything, whether it is about academia or something social or something you feel you can't speak to a professor about, our Head Boy and Girl are always here for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly and patiently. Come along, seventh-years."
They approached the door to the Great Hall after the Transfiguration Professor.
"Ms Ward-Prowse informed me of the situation and noted you might be late. I am proud of how well you handled the situation. When you have time, could you inform the student body Madam Pomphrey and her staff are willing to continue their services? I have a feeling it would be better if this message came from fellow students."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.
"Regarding our previous discussion, have you considered inducting one of my little lions into your EPQ? She would prefer, if she is allowed, for one of you girls to be her mentor," Professor McGonagall said.
"Percy has the most free time out of us. He would be the best option," Jennifer replied.
"I had informed my lion of the most likely outcome. She would prefer not having Percival be her mentor, and I must preface this. These are not my words, but I quote, 'His resting face looks like he's thinking of different ways of hiding bodies. It's... unnerving sometimes,'" the professor quoted as the girls nodded in agreement.
"I don't look like that, do I?" Percival asked as his question remained unanswered.
"I can probably do it if Madam Pomphrey reduces my hours in the infirmary," Isabel said.
"I will have a word with her. You have my thanks. Now, along you go. The sorting will begin soon," the deputy headmistress said as she headed towards the front of the Great Hall.
By the time the group had settled, they glanced up to see Professor McGonagall exchange a few words with Headmaster Dumbledore at the head table before returning to the centre of the room, her wand raised to gain everyone's attention.
"Students, this year's sorting may take longer than usual as this is the largest influx of students in the past 15 years," Professor McGonagall announced, her voice projecting across the hall. "I will go and fetch the first years. Please be patient and remain seated until the sorting is complete."