Finally, the Sorting Hat called out, "Gryffindor!"
Betty's thoughts were still racing; her fingers clenched to the edge of the chair like she could hold herself together by sheer force. She barely registered the professor removing the hat from her head, and it took a clearing of the throat to pull her from the trance.
A murmur ran through the rows of students. It had taken the Sorting Hat what felt like an eternity to make its decision, which, judging by the murmurs, was a rather rare occurrence at Hogwarts.
Immediately after Betty jumped off the chair, thunderous applause broke out at the Gryffindor table. Relieved, she placed herself next to Katie, who immediately made room for her and looked at her with a beaming smile. And yet, surrounded by the others, Betty felt anything but festive. She felt out of place in her wet clothes, her damp hair clinging to her skin. The cold slowly began to seep further into her bones. Silently, she wished for a towel. Or for someone to lead her to the dormitory. If only she could remember that drying spell.
"That was a proper performance," Katie whispered. "You nearly gave the hat a heart attack! Why did he take so long?"
Before Betty could answer, a boy's voice interrupted.
"A hatstall, very rare. They say Professor McGonagall was the last one."
Betty turned towards the voice and was horrified to realise that it belonged to Percy Weasley.
Her stomach tightened. Percy. After all these years, there he was, only a few seats away, every inch as formal as she remembered. With a posture so straight, her mother would have been proud of and that made herself straighten up, he looked her up and down.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, Elizabeth," he added, adjusting his glasses.
She frowned at the sound of her full name—Elizabeth. Only her mother ever called her that, and only when she was angry. Before she could stop herself, her mouth opened.
"Hello, Percival."
The words came out too quickly, too sharply, and regret rose up immediately.
Fred and George, just a few seats down, exchanged amused, barely concealed glances, and Betty's chest tightened in embarrassment.
Somewhere across the hall, Professor McGonagall's sharp voice called over the murmurs, "Carmichael, Edward!" shortly followed by a loud, "Ravenclaw!"
Percy pressed his lips into a thin line, eyebrows twitching as if weighing whether to correct her or let it pass, but he didn't seem to be bothered. If anything, a faint glimmer of pleasure flickered across his face.
"Percy will do."
Betty forced a nervous, uneven smile, avoiding looking him directly into his eyes. "And I go by Betty—please."
"Chang, Cho!" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through the awkward tension, though Betty barely registered it.
For a moment, Percy's sternness softened. He gave a tiny nod and sat up even straighter.
"Merlin's beard," Fred muttered under his breath.
George snorted and ducked his head, his shoulders shaking with laughter, while Fred pressed his lips together in mock seriousness.
Percy gave them a stern look.
"Betty was just being polite," he said evenly.
Fred's face turned into a wide grin. "No, she mocked you, Perce."
Betty's eyes widened and she felt a flicker of panic rise. She pressed her lips together, forcing her face into a neutral expression,and shook her head quickly.
But Percy now glanced at her with a frown, as if he were weighing up whether she had actually been making fun of him.
Then Fred leaned forward, grinning widely. "Oi, Betty! Word is you've already pulled off your first heroic act. Saved a poor boy from drowning, wasn't it?"
Betty glanced up slightly and returned his grin with a forced smile.
"It was nothing," she muttered, and shrugged. "If I hadn't done it, someone else would have."
George pretended to be offended. "But you did it. And you ruined your brand-new uniform in the process. That counts double."
Lee's head peeked over the twins.
"Hold on, Betty!" he called to her. "Did you catch a glimpse of the Giant squid?"
"Giant... squid?" Betty asked carefully.
"Oh sure," Lee nodded eagerly, "it's supposed to be friendly though."
Katie giggled next to her, and Betty shook her head. In the warm glow of the hall, everything appeared golden and festive—everything except her. And the sudden attention made Betty even more uneasy. She felt Percy's gaze piercing into her, and although she initially tried to look away, something inside her compelled her to lift her head, and their eyes met.
For a moment, it felt as if time had stood still. She saw a memory flash in his mind: a gust of wind sweeping through a child's bedroom, toys whirling through the air, a poster fluttering on the wall, the sound of Percy's body colliding with it, his voice distorted with panic, and her very own face—frozen in shock.
Instinctively, Betty looked away, her gaze dropped to her hands, which were beginning to take on a faint bluish colour, yet it was nothing compared to the weight that had settled heavily on her chest.
So, he had not forgotten—not how she had nearly made the room erupt, not what she had done to him back then—and though she knew she had been only a child, acting out of fear and pain, the old shame rose inside her. She pressed her lips together as she realised that, despite everything, Percy remembered, and suddenly she felt like that small, uncertain child again, unsure how to handle all the magic and all the fury stirring inside her.
Just as she tried to swallow the shame, a voice reached her.
"Siccare."
Confused, she looked up to see Percy leaning over, and he gave her a small, encouraging nod while he pointed at her wet clothes.
Betty blinked and reached for her wand in her pocket, which was tucked into her cloak pocket. She pulled it out, closed her eyes briefly, and murmured carefully, "Siccare."
At first, nothing happened, and then Percy's voice reached her again, almost lost in the noise of the hall.
"Think about warmth. And focus."
This time, she tried again with more determination. She imagined the warmth he had suggested and felt a faint tingling run down her back as she slowly traced her wand along her body and down her legs. The fabric of her robe lightened, and the cold began to fade.
Betty exhaled softly in relief. "Thank you," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Percy returned her look briefly, then gave a nod and straightened in his seat.
Betty turned forward again, her heart beating softly against her ribs. It felt lighter than before and she realised that a small part of the burden she carried had just lifted. She was relieved that Percy had somewhat forgiven her. Her mood shifted instantly, just enough to make her feel calmer. She glanced over to the twins.
"You owe me a box of Chocolate Frogs," she exclaimed.
Fred and George pulled faces, then rolled their eyes, though their expressions were showing amusement.
"So... Betty," Fred began with a wide grin, "got any big plans for your first year? Maybe a few legendary pranks? We could certainly use your help. Like in good old times."
Percy sighed audibly and turned back to Betty. "I hope you do not let those two lead you too far astray, Betty. They have caused enough chaos already."
Betty murmured, "I—I don't know."
She fiddled nervously with the hem of her sleeve. Surely, she missed the fun and laughter she used to have back in old times, yet she didn't want to cause trouble. At least not right away.
Fred snorted. "Oh, come on, Percy, we are the best role models she could ask for. You're just scared we might get on your nerves again."
Percy made a faint grimace but said nothing more. Instead, he started talking to an older boy next to him as if the conversation were over. Betty couldn't help but grin, and some of the tension she had felt during the Sorting process eased. She no longer felt like an outsider, and that meant more to her than anything else.
Betty turned to watch the sorting.
"Davies, Finnley!"
The boy that Betty had pulled from the lake stepped forward, still wrapped in Hagrid's enormous cloak. One of his feet got tangled up in it as he dragged it in front of him, and he almost fell in front of the chair if Professor McGonagall didn't grab him by the collar just in time and pulled him upright.
A giggle went through the crowd.
The boy adjusted his slipping glasses; a blush rose to his cheeks and he sank into the chair. Betty felt heat rising within her as she felt second-hand embarrassment and pity welling up.
The professor placed the hat on the boys' blonde curls, and it immediately shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
"Dunbar, Fay!" Professor McGonagall went on.
Fay, a rather confident looking girl with long dark braids, sat down on the stool. The hat touched her head and almost immediately it called out, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table cheered once more as Fay joined them, sitting opposite of Betty. She immediately began chatting with Katie, who seemed to have already met her on the train.
"Edgecombe, Marietta!"
A seemingly shy girl with curly, reddish blonde hair stepped forward. No sooner had the hat touched her head than it called out, "Ravenclaw!"
"Flint, Celeste!"
The hat wasted no time before sharply declaring, "Slytherin!"
"Hopkins, Carl!"
Carl, who seemed a little shy, sat on the stool. The hat was almost instant in its decision, "Gryffindor!"
Relieved and surprised, Carl joined Fay, who immediately involved him in conversation. He nodded shyly.
Cormac was called next. He stepped forward, Betty noticed a slight hint of uncertainty, his posture no longer quite as confident as it had been on the train, and the hat loudly declared, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in applause again, but Cormac hesitated slightly before sitting down.
Fred and George leaned in close, whispering and giggling.
"The know-it-all's in Gryffindor, then? Honestly, after that stunt you pulled by the lake, I'd have bet my last Galleon on you being sorted into Slytherin."
George added, "Throwing the boy into the water like that doesn't go unnoticed, McLaggen."
Cormac swallowed and glanced away briefly. His confident expression from the train ride was gone completely.
"It wasn't on purpose," he muttered, more to himself than to the twins.
Fred let out a disbelieving laugh and leaned towards Betty. "Well, looks like you won't be getting rid of him anytime soon."
He gave her an amused look. Betty rolled her eyes, wishing deep down that Cormac would at least leave her alone.
Betty barely noticed the rest of the first years being called by McGonagall as more children took their seats at the Gryffindor table.
"Rosier, Adrian!"
"Slytherin!"
"Wood, Garreth!"
"Gryffindor!"
One final cheer erupted from the Gryffindor table, marking the last one to be sorted. One older boy, more cheering than the others, jumped to his feet, clapping loudly and moving to make space for Garreth.
"Well, now that everyone has found their place," Dumbledore said slowly with a wink, "I invite you all to a delicious feast! May it strengthen you and mark the beginning of a wonderful year at Hogwarts."
No sooner had he said the word feast than a lavish banquet appeared on the tables. The first years stared with wide eyes and open mouths at the tables as the food appeared almost magically. The variety was overwhelming—golden roast chicken legs, steaming stews, fresh fruit bowls, and tempting desserts. Most threw themselves onto the food immediately, while others, like Betty, took a moment just to marvel at the abundance before them. Betty felt her stomach rumble and reached for one of the bowls of roast potatoes that had appeared in front of her. She took a bite and let her eyes wander through the crowd.
As she ate, she overheard Percy telling Holly Gallagher—a first year Muggleborn with blonde curls and bright blue eyes that had immediately caught Betty's attention—about the school ghosts.
"Each house has its own ghost," Percy explained. "Gryffindor has Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as Nearly Headless Nick. Slytherin has the Bloody Baron, Hufflepuff the Fat Friar, and Ravenclaw the Grey Lady."
Just as Holly was about to ask a question, a faint rattling sound came from one of the plates, and Nearly Headless Nick emerged right before her. The girl froze and let out a startled sound.
Nick said, "Good evening, my dear children!"
"There he is," said Percy with a brief nod towards the ghost. "He loves to give people a fright, but don't worry—he is actually harmless."
Betty turned away from Fred and George and caught sight of Cormac, who was now sitting upright again. His expression had regained its usual confidence, but there was a flicker of tension in his eyes that she didn't miss. When their gazes met, he grinned, speaking with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty.
"Not a Slytherin after all, then."
Betty shrugged. "Obviously not."
Cormac held her gaze for a fraction longer, as if he was waiting for a different reaction, but didn't say anything and eventually forced a smile. Betty who had no interest in feeding his bravado turned back to her meal without making a further comment.
Once the feast was over, Betty let her eyes wander around the Great Hall. Between the tables she spotted Tonks, sitting with Julian and Frankie at the Hufflepuff table. All three waved at her. Tonks pointed towards the boy, Finnley Davies, who was now dry, his hair slightly rumpled.
"Well done," Tonks mouthed with both thumbs up.
Two older students—a boy and a girl—with silver "V" badges on their robes called out the first-years, asking them to follow.
Betty rose from her seat, following the others through long, dim corridors, passing high stone walls and narrow side passages. As they approached a set of staircases, one of the prefects glanced back at the first years.
"Be careful," the girl warned. "These stairs shift without warning. Stay together, and don't get lost—or you'll find yourself somewhere you didn't intend to be."
Katie and Betty exchanged a quick glance, then fell in step beside Garreth Wood. He murmured that he was glad to be in the same house as his older brother. The girls kept their voices low and looked back often, making sure no one was left behind.
The portraits watched silently as they passed; some regarded the students suspiciously, others waved or winked.
Finally, they arrived a plump lady's portrait hung.
The prefect spoke the password "Valentia", and with a soft click, the painting swung aside to reveal the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"Come on, in you go," he warmly, stepping through first and gesturing them to follow.
The Gryffindor common room glowed cosily in the flickering light of the fire. Worn armchairs stood around the fireplace, and portraits of former Gryffindors lined the walls. Sofas and wooden tables with chairs were arranged in small groups throughout the room. Straight ahead, huge windows stretched along the tower walls, the dark sky visible beyond; in front of them, the window sills were furnished with cushions. Betty liked this place best.
The girl prefect pointed to the right. "Girls' dormitory is up there. Each year has its own floor. Bathrooms are in the middle, with shared showers and toilets," she explained. "No one should wander out at night."
Then she gestured left. "Boys' dormitories are upstairs on the left. There's plenty of space, and the beds are large and comfortable. You'll settle in quickly enough."
Betty followed the other first-year girls up the winding stone staircase. The room was simple yet homely—five large, four-poster beds were arranged in a semi-circle around a small stone fireplace in the corner to their right. Heavy curtains, deep crimson and trimmed with gold, framed the windows opposite. Between them, a gap wide enough to see the sky. Beyond the glass, the dark branches of the Forbidden Forest rustled gently in the distance, while the lake sparkled in the moonlight. Tapestries with lions and golden stars covered the brick walls, and above each bed was a narrow shelf for personal items.
They paused for a moment, unsure which bed to choose.
Betty spotted her trunk at the foot of a bed; someone had collected her belongings from the train and placed them neatly there; it had even been enlarged back to its usual size. She set down her cloak, took a deep breath and let the warm glow of the fire sink in. All the girls went to their beds with their luggage and began to unpack almost immediately. Betty gradually let her gaze wander over each of the girls; her new dorm mates, with whom she would be sharing a room for the next seven years. Betty was glad there were only five of them, but fewer would have been even better; she hoped that at least they would get along well.
Katie, whose bed was directly next to Betty's, walked over to her, turned around quickly, and wrapped her arms around her, then jumped in excitement. Betty froze; her muscles tightened under the sudden contact. The hug was warm, but also unexpected. She stood still, unsure whether to pull away or stay put to avoid offending her new friend.
Katie noticed immediately and stepped back, her cheeks flushed.
"Oh! I'm sorry—I am just so excited. I hope I didn't startle you or anything."
Betty forced a smile, biting her lower lip. "It is alright."
Inside, she hoped that Katie wouldn't feel the need to hug her again any time soon. Though, there was something in Katie's enthusiasm that was both comforting and unsettling—Betty wasn't used to people reaching out so quickly.
"I just can't believe we are actually here," Katie went on. Her eyes beamed with excitement, and in the dim light, Betty could see that they were a warm amber colour.
"It is going to be brilliant. I'm glad we are in the same house."
Betty gave another small nod and smiled. She did like Katie even if the sudden hug had been too much. She turned to her bed, kneeled before her laid her pyjamas on the mattress, and set the alarm clock she had pulled from her suitcase.
"I'm Holly," said a light, lilting voice from across the room. She looked around with wide eyes and shook her head in disbelief. "This is just... unreal. I'm the first witch in my family, you know."
"Oh, really!" said another girl, with a light Scottish accent. " What did they say when the letter arrived? And I'm Fay."
She lifted her hand and looked at each of the girls in turn.
Holly laughed brightly. "They thought it was a joke. My dad's a hairdresser, and my mum's a painter. They have nothing to do with magic."
She paused for a moment. "Dumbledore came to see us. Introduced himself, explained everything. Then a woman from the Ministry took us to Diagon Alley to get everything I needed."
"Wow," Fay replied. "Did that even work? I mean—Diagon Alley with Muggles?"
"It was—odd. But somehow it worked out," Holly replied, her voice carried a trace of pride. "My parents were surely impressed. My mum said it's like one of her dreams. Only with more weirdly dressed people."
Katie laughed, and Fay joined in.
Betty sank into the mattress, which was softer than she had expected. The smooth cover felt cool beneath her fingers.
"Are all of your families wizards as well?" Holly asked curiously.
Fay leaned forward slightly. "Both my parents are wizards. I think some great-grandmother or something was Muggleborn, but I am not exactly sure."
Katie grinned. "I'm Katie Bell. My parents are wizards too."
Betty rolled over her new bed.
"I'm Betty Black," she murmured as the girls turned their curious gazes towards her. "My mum's a witch too."
Fay raised an eyebrow and looked at Betty sharply.
"Black? As in the Black family? You know, those pureblood fanatics? And you ended up in Gryffindor?" She let out a flat laugh. "I reckon quite a few Blacks are turning in their graves right now."
Holly looked uncertainly between them, frowned, but remained silent. Fay lowered her voice a little and leaned closer to Holly.
"The Blacks have a reputation, you know. Dark magic, blood purity, following You-Know-Who."
Holly looked at her questioningly. "Who is You-Know-Who?"
"One of the worst dark wizards in history," Fay said, "Killed loads of people, tried to take over everything. And those blood fanatics like the Blacks don't want Muggleborns in Hogwarts at all. They think it's all about keeping the bloodlines pure."
Holly froze. "They—don't?"
Betty shifted uncomfortably on her bed. It was strange, having them argue about her like she wasn't there.
Katie shot Fay a sharp look, and her voice rose. "Oh, really? Betty was the only one who jumped into the lake to save that boy. Where were you then, huh? Maybe you should think twice before throwing accusations around."
Fay opened her mouth to reply, but Katie quickly continued, glaring at her angrily. "Betty saved a life. That's what matters. Not her name."
Warmth spread through Betty's chest as Katie defended her.
"My family's marked as blood traitors," Betty said quietly. "My uncle's a Muggleborn. My mother works in the Ministry, she supports Muggleborn rights."
She glanced towards Holly and spoke softly, "I don't believe in those old traditions, if that helps. Neither does my mum."
Holly nodded and beamed at her.
The other girl, who had been sorted into Gryffindor and had been watching the argument while scribbling into a book, looked up with interest. "Lucinda Malfoy is your mother, isn't she?"
Betty nodded, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected anyone to know.
The girl smiled faintly. "My uncle mentioned your mother the other day... said she was sending a daughter to Hogwarts this year. Thought it might be you. By the way—I'm Mira Ashford."
Fay blinked. "A Malfoy?"
Katie glanced at her. "Just shut it!"
Mira, sitting cross-legged with her book, glanced up. "Yes—a Malfoy advocating for the rights of Muggleborns. One in a million, but she does exist."
Betty looked from one girl to the other uncomfortably, wishing that her family history wasn't such a topic of gossip.
Fay held up her hands. "Aye—no offence. It's not just—very common."
Betty gave a slight nod. She rolled onto her side and began unpacking her books, stacking them on the shelf above her bed. The other girls had opened their trunks by now, pulling out bits and pieces. Katie draped one leg over the edge of her bed and pinned a Quidditch poster above her headboard. Holly stood nearby, her brow furrowed slightly.
She quietly closed her trunk and walked towards Katie's Quidditch poster.
"Does that really move? Or am I imagining things?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
"Of course it does move," Katie grinned, visibly delighted by the interest. "That's Quidditch! You don't know it? Oh well—no, obviously you don't."
Holly blushed faintly. "I overheard some boys talking about it on the train," she said, "one said his brother scored four goals last season? Or balls? I don't really know—I didn't quite get it."
Katie laughed.
"Okay, so—Quidditch is the best sport in the world. You've got seven players on each side, three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and the Seeker who hunts the Golden Snitch. The Quaffle is for scoring, Bludgers try to knock you off, and the Snitch ends the game—whoever team catches it gets a ton of extra points."
"Ah, that's sound," Holly said, eyes wide.
"It definitely is," Katie said immediately, grinning.
Fay came closer to her. "You play Quidditch?"
"Since I was six, I can't wait to try out for the House team next year," Katie said proudly, then turned to explain further, "Each house has its own team and there are matches throughout the year. The house that scores the most wins the Quidditch Cup."
"That's sound. I play Camogie back home," Holly said. "It's like Hurling, but for girls."
Fay frowned. "What's Hurling?"
"It's an Irish sport," Holly explained, then she laughed. "You play with a stick that looks a bit like a wide wooden sword, and you hit a small leather ball called a sliotar. It's fast, fairly physical, but you're not allowed to just carry the ball. You have to balance it on the stick or strike it."
Mira looked up. "Sounds like Quidditch. Only without broomsticks."
"And on the ground," Holly added giggling. "And without flying balls trying to knock you out. Still pretty intense though. I nearly broke my ankle last year."
Katie gave an approving nod. "Alright, that does sound impressive. I always thought Muggles only played things like—uhh—"
"Football? They do," Holly said dryly. "But I'm Irish, we have other priorities."
Katie and Holly excitedly exchanged stories about Quidditch and Camogie, while Fay stood nearby, asking Holly questions and showing great interest in her life outside the wizarding world. Mira, who, like Betty, was more inclined to watch than to join in, lay stomach-down on her bed, sketching something.
"You have an Aberdeen accent," Holly asked. "Are you from there?"
Fay shook her head. "Not exactly. I'm from near Inverness."
Holly tilted her head. "Did you take the Hogwarts Express too? I mean—Inverness isn't all that far from here. Couldn't you have just gone straight to Hogsmeade?"
Fay gave a shrug. "Aye, that would have been easier, but I wanted to do the train journey. How often do you get the chance to ride a magic train across the country?"
The conversation wandered on. Holly, now sitting on her bed, was sorting through a pile of clothes when she looked up.
"How did you lot get to London then? We flew from Dublin."
"Flew?" Fay raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean in one of those flying cars?"
"Airplane," Holly said laughing brightly.
Fay grinned. "Right. Well, we travelled by Floo Powder to the Leaky Cauldron and then walked to the station."
"What's Floo Powder?" Holly asked at once.
Katie turned from where she was adjusting her poster. "It's a network of connected fireplaces. You throw the powder into the fire, say your destination clearly, and you travel through the flames to get there."
Holly's eyes widened. "That's sound. We have a fireplace at home. So I could just step in and end up in London?"
Mira looked up from her sketchbook, shaking her head. "Not quite. The fireplace has to be linked to the Floo Network."
"So why can't you just come to Hogwarts by fireplace then?" Holly asked.
"Hogwarts isn't connected to the network for safety reasons," Mira explained.
Betty lay back with her arms behind her head, staring at the canopy, and yawned. The long journey, the jump into the lake and the feast had made her incredibly tired, her eyelids becoming heavy. She quickly changed into her pyjama, slid under the blanket, rested her head on the soft pillow and closed her eyes. She considered having a shower to wash the lake off her, but her mind and body felt too heavy to get up.
Just as she began drifting off to sleep, she heard a faint sound from somewhere across the dorm. It was barely audible, but it made her open her eyes just enough to see a movement and a faint silver shimmer behind the curtains. Before she could take a closer look, her eyes closed again, with a soft exhale she finally fell asleep.