Song: Hits diffirent- Taylor Swift
As soon as I step into the Great Hall, the warmth of the room hits me—not just from the floating candles casting their soft golden glow, but from the wave of familiar voices and laughter echoing off the stone walls. It's like the whole castle has come to life.
The reactions are instant. Jane and I barely make it past the threshold as we notice there's movement from the Hufflepuff table.
Cedric Diggory.
He jumps to his feet the minute he sees me and Jane walk through the grand door. In just a quick few strides, he's standing in front of me, arms wide open.
Cedric Diggory. Wow. Not the actor—actually him. There he was, radiating that effortless charm, giving us an immediate warm welcome. He's even more handsome than he ever looked on a screen back in my CR. For a split second, panic rises in my chest, but I manage to compose myself. Act normal. Breathe
He pulls me into a tight hug without hesitation. "It's been way too long, I really missed you" His embrace is warm, grounding—exactly the kind of hug I needed. It instantly made me forget every anxious thought buzzing through my head.
Before I could even pull away, Fred and George had also shot up from their seats. "Oi, move over Diggory, we get a turn too!" Fred announced, dramatically pushing Cedric aside (though Cedric only laughed and rolled his eyes).
Fred pulled me into a hug, squeezing me just tight enough to make me laugh. "You're lucky we missed you, or else I'd be making fun of you for taking so bloody long to get here". George was right behind him, pulling me into a quick hug of his own. "I mean, I am still going to make fun of you, but its really good to see you Moonvale" he added with a smirk.
Damn they're tall. And handsome.
Jane, standing just behind me, laughs. "What, am I invisible? No 'welcome back' for me?"
Fred gasps dramatically, clutching his chest. "Jane! How could we forget our favorite bad influence?"
"Favorite?" George grins. "Bold of you to assume, Freddie."
Meanwhile, Hermione had also stood up from the Gryffindor table, her face lighting up when she saw me. Without hesitation, she wrapped me in a warm, genuine hug. "I missed you! How was your summer?" she asked as she pulled away, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement
She is absolutely gorgeous.
"I missed you too, girl," I said, grinning as I looked her up and down. "You look really pretty, by the way." The compliment made Hermione's cheeks flush a delicate pink, and she shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile soft but appreciative.
Even Ron, who usually wasn't one for too much physical affection, surprised me with a quick, slightly awkward side hug. "Yeah, yeah, missed you too, I guess," he muttered, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Harry, always the quieter one, simply grinned up at me from his seat, giving me a nod in acknowledgment.
"Took you two long enough to show up!" I heard a voice shout from the other end of the hall. I turned, and there she was—Pansy Parkinson, rolling her eyes dramatically at me and Jane. I couldn't help but chuckle. Pansy might be a bit of a nightmare to most people, but I scripted her to be one of my best friends. She could be sharp with others, but with us? She was loyal and always had our backs. Jane, already heading toward the Slytherin table, left me to navigate this next part on my own.
They were all there. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott, Lorenzo Berkshire, Sebastian Sallow and of course- Mattheo Riddle.
Shit. They were all looking at me, obviously expecting me to greet all of them. Don't panic now Vienna.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and made my way toward the Slytherin table, which was situated near the teachers. Jane had already claimed a seat next to her younger sister, leaving me to face my friends alone.
Most of them remained seated, as expected, but Blaise was the exception. With a devilish grin, he immediately stood up, his arms open wide. "Come on now, Vienna, don't leave your favorite behind," he said, pulling me into a warm, familiar hug. "We've got a lot to catch up on," he added with a playful smile.
Draco, of course, stayed in his seat, giving me a knowing smirk as he looked me over. "You know, I could stand up and give you a dramatic welcome back, but I think you've had enough of that for one day," he said with a cocky grin.
"Really, Malfoy? You're not gonna give your best friend a hug?" I said dramatically, raising an eyebrow. He rolled his eyes in response, clearly unimpressed. Prick.
Sebastian chuckled. He, of course, also stayed firmly in his seat. Arms crossed over his chest, his expression one of feigned boredom. "Took you long enough. Honestly, I almost forgot what you looked like" he drawled, shaking his head.
I smirked, my confidence growing as I stepped up behind him before he could react. "Oh, I know you missed me, Sallow," I teased, wrapping my arms around his shoulders in a quick, playful hug and planting a quick kiss on his cheek
Sebastian groaned, leaning away like I had just offended him, though the smirk twitching at his lips betrayed him. "Merlin Moonvale, you're so clingy" he muttered.
Lorenzo Berkshire, always the flirt, grinned from his seat. "Well, I for one have not forgotten what you look like, V. You look gorgeous as always," he said smoothly, his gaze lingering on me with an admiring glance. Such a flirt.
"Why thank you, Enzo," I responded, my cheeks heating up slightly under his attention. "You don't look too bad yourself either." I gave him a teasing smile, and his grin widened.
Next to him, Theo Nott was watching me with that cool, detached look he always had, but there was something in his eyes that made me raise an eyebrow. "Where's my hug, cara mia?" he asked, his deep Italian accent making his words sound even more charming.
I smirked, stepping over to him and giving him a hug from behind, resting my chin on his shoulder for a brief moment. "Here you go, Theo," I said playfully, pulling away just as quickly.
Then there he was. Mattheo Riddle. I found myself face to face with him, and his intense gaze met mine immediately. I didn't have to say a word—his silent scrutiny made my heart skip a beat. He didn't greet me, not verbally at least. He simply smirked, his eyes glinting with something unreadable before he turned his attention elsewhere.
He's so hot I thought to myself.
I finally pulled myself away, deciding to sit next to Jane and Khai, grabbing a pumpkin juice to steady my nerves. "The sorting ceremony's about to begin. It's my favorite part of the first day!" Khai exclaimed excitedly, looking at us with a bright smile.
The Great Hall was alive with the hum of excited chatter as the students settled into their seats. The long tables were filled with eager faces, their eyes gleaming with the anticipation of the new year. At the front of the hall, close to where we were sitting, was Professor Dumbledore. His dark grey robes shimmered under the candlelight, and his presence commanded attention, as always. His eyes, twinkling with a mix of mischief and wisdom, scanned the room.
And then, with a warm, welcoming smile, he began to speak. His voice filled the entire hall, and instantly the entire room became very quiet.
"Welcome back, students, and a very warm welcome to our first years!" His words were met with a round of applause, echoing off the stone walls. "The new year brings new possibilities, new challenges, and—perhaps most importantly—a new chance for each of you to make a difference in this world." A wave of quiet anticipation swept through the hall, as we all hung on every word. "Hogwarts is not just a school," he continued, his voice growing even softer. "It is a family. We are all bound together by magic, by our shared experiences, and by the love of knowledge. You will make mistakes, you will stumble, but you will always rise again."
Dumbledore paused, his eyes scanning over the sea of students, old and new alike. His gaze seemed to hold something unspoken—a quiet understanding, like he knew exactly what we needed to hear. "We have much to look forward to this year, but before we begin, let us remember that Hogwarts is a place where we come together, no matter our house. We celebrate the bonds we share and the challenges we face—together."
He smiled, that trademark twinkle in his eyes, before turning to sit down. But as he did, something unexpected happened. His robes caught on the edge of his chair, and for a split second, it looked as though time itself stopped. Dumbledore's legs gave way under him, and with an unceremonious CRASH, he fell straight into his seat.
A collective gasp echoed through the hall, followed by an eruption of laughter. Even Dumbledore himself couldn't keep a straight face. He sat up, smoothing his robes with a sheepish grin and looking around the room with that familiar sparkle in his eyes.
"No fucking way that just happened!" Lorenzo said, his voice full of amusement. "Looks like the old fool's losing his grip. Can't even stand up on his own anymore." Mattheo added, his lips curling into a smirk. I shot him a look, my brow furrowing at the rude remark, but despite myself, I couldn't hold back the laugh that bubbled up. His sharp tone, the way he said it so casually—it was too much.
"I suppose I got a little too carried away," Dumbledore said with a wink, his voice still full of warmth and amusement. "It is, after all, the first day of the term. One must expect a few stumbles along the way."
Professor McGonagall, ever the professional, stood up next, gracefully taking control of the proceedings. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, ensuring everything was in order before her cool, composed voice rang out. "We shall now begin the Sorting Ceremony," she announced. "First-years, please come forward."
The ceremony went by quickly, with each new student nervously sitting under the Sorting Hat before being assigned to their respective houses. Some cheered, some sighed in relief, others simply smiled as they walked to their tables. The room was filled with the buzz of excitement, as though a whole new chapter was beginning for each of them. When the last first-year had been sorted, Professor McGonagall stepped forward again, her sharp voice cutting through the chatter that had begun to fill the hall. "And now, I'm happy to announce that all classes for today have been canceled," she said, her eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "We are expecting a few more students to arrive throughout the day, and as such, we will begin our lessons on Monday."
The announcement was met with a wave of cheers and applause, the unexpected freedom sending ripples of excitement through the hall. No classes for the day? It was a welcome surprise, and the students couldn't help but revel in the thought of a day without lessons. It wasn't often that we were given such a gift.
"This is great, guys! No classes today. Now we have all afternoon to prepare for the party tonight!" Pansy said, practically bouncing with excitement. Khai and Jane nodded in agreement, both sharing her enthusiasm.
Oh my god, the party. I totally forgot I scripted that.
"Time to send those invitations out, Zabini," Lorenzo said, smirking as he nudged Blaise.
Blaise gave a small, casual nod. A few moments later, notifications buzzed. Students around the Great Hall suddenly paused, eyes flicking to their phones. Only the 6th years and above received it, so the younger students looked around, some confused, others a bit envious. They knew this party was exclusively for the 'older' students.
It was the invitation. For the first party of the year, thrown by none other than the Slytherins—naturally.
The theme was simple but perfect: wear your house colors. The invitation stated clearly to 'obey' the theme, or you wouldn't get in. And at the end of the message, in bold, red letters, was the warning: Remember—no snitching. Teachers can't know.
But of course, the teachers knew. They weren't oblivious, but given it was the first day back, they chose to turn a blind eye—probably figuring a little fun wouldn't hurt... for now.
My friends were hosting, so you knew it was going to be a good one. The atmosphere was exciting as everyone exchanged whispers, glancing over the invites and already starting to plan their outfits.
Tonight was going to be a blast.