#terry-boot

That’s what Isobel had told her when she saw Sue’s expression getting out of the train. Sue had managed to relax on their way to Hogwarts because of Isobel’s talkative personality. Isobel managed to solve most of Sue’s inquires about the Wizarding World and both girl have found themselves laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Isobel had told Sue she was going to be sorted into Ravenclaw, she was so sure of it and Sue was just...confused. She still didn’t understand which house she was supposed to root for.

Sue had been raised by her muggle father since her mother passed away giving birth to Sue. She didn’t know a thing about what magic was. The only thing she knew was that her mother might have belonged here, to this world that seemed even more amazing than the ones she had read about all her life. It was scary though. Her father have told her how dangerous it could be. She didn’t know anything about charms and potions and all those kids did. What if they made fun of her for not knowing how to do things? what if she got hurt? what if something attacked her...?

“Hey...” She felt a nudge on her side and she turned to see Isobel grinning at her. “Just calm down, it’ll be fun” She winked at her and Sue smiled a bit more and tried to focus on the things she was seeing. They were already in the carriages and around her there were unfamiliar faces. They were all excited, talking happily about how they received their letters and how they were so eager to see the Castle for the first time. Isobel was already talking to someone else and Sue was left alone. She wasn’t much of a conversation starter. Instead of talking, Sue observed. She looked at the sky and the stars, she paid attention to the carriages, pulled by a mysterious force and she looked at the people around her. All of this as she hugged her copy of “Around the World In 80 Days” close to her chest. A good book is always the best company, her dad always said.

They got out of the carriages, they crossed the river and in a heartbeat, They were already at the doors of the Castle. McGonnagall and Isobel have already told her how the castle was like but no description made it any justice. Sue almost drop her book as the doors opened in front of her. Was she dreaming? She looked at the floating candles on the ceiling,the beautiful and tall walls around her, the statues, the ghosts passing by waving at them with a big smile; the moving pictures. McGonnagall told them to keep walking but Sue was frozen on her place. This was too much to handle in just one minute. She wondered why the other kids weren’t as shocked as she was. She heard a giggle from behind her and two hands pushing her so she would keep walking. “C’mon now. This is not even the best part” She heard Isobel’s voice near her ear and she began to walk again. She was glad Isobel was there. If not, she would probably get lost in all this madness.

And then, another pair of tall doors opened in front of her already wide eyes. Sue felt in a sudden bliss. The room was so vivid, there were flags from what she remembered where the houses of the school hanging in the ceiling, the floating candles lit the room and  the smell of food filled her senses, the loud noise of chattering and laughs called her to join one of those tables but she wasn’t sure were she was going to belong to.

The girl felt scared for a second. What if she wasn’t sorted with Isobel? she was going to be alone again and for a moment she panicked. The moment was over when everyone’s attention was focused on an old hat that was sitting on a tall chair. The hat started talking and Sue jumped at the sudden sound. Some kids laughed seeing the reaction of the new students but everyone grew quiet as McGonnagall explained the sorting process. The woman started to call out names, names she didn’t know. They were on alphabetical order and she didn’t know why that calmed her down. She was starting to relax until it was her turn.

“Susan Li”

Sue swallowed hard and tensed up in her place. “Oh, don’t be such a baby, Sue!” she heard Isobel calling and pushing her to the front. She stumbled and got a few giggles from her future classmates as she walked upstairs to the sorting hat. Her face was red because of the embarrassment she felt by being the center of attention and she still hug her book as the hat was placed on her head.

“Book hugger, huh?” The sorting called in a sly tone. “Ravenclaw!”

She took a deep breath of relief as McGonnagall took away the hat from her and she heard a sound of cheers and claps coming from the blue and silver table. In a blur she got up from the tall chair and walked towards her table. She got a few pats on her back and a lot of smiles as she sat down in a free spot next to a blonde boy. The boy seemed as nervous as she was, pushing his glasses up his nose but she didn’t talk to him. She was still waiting for Isobel to join her and he seemed to be waiting for someone as well. She focused her attention on the next students and she couldn’t see Isobel. Her heart flipped. Had she missed it? did she missed her sorting and she was in another table now?

Suddenly she heard a squeal of delight and two arms pulling her in a tight embrace from behind. “I knew it! I knew you belonged here too!” Isobel almost sang as she gave Sue a last squeeze and let go. Sue laughed and smiled at her friend. Good. She was here too, things were looking up. She moved to the side so Isobel will set between the blonde boy and herself. “And you? who are you?”

The boy looked at the perky blonde with a coy smile and stretched out his hand to shake hers. “Anthony Goldstein.”

“Isobel MacDougal” she said with a firm shake and then looked around to point Sue. “And this is Sue Li.”

“Oh, Hey.” Sue said as she leaned a little to shake the boy’s hand.

“Hey” he said with the same coy smile. Both of them too nervous to function correctly.

“Okay this ‘I’m too shy to even talk properly’ act needs to stop.From both of you” Isobel said as she broke their hand shake and shook her head. Anthony seemed scared but Sue laughed, she was getting used to Isobel’s behavior already. “Let’s all just have fun and enjoy this, how about that?”

“Have fun! I like your way of thinking!” A curly haired boy came around and hugged Anthony with one arm and looked at Isobel and Sue with what was supposed to be a sly smirk. “Ladies. Terrance Boot.” he said with a wink. “At your services.” Both girls laughed but greeted him either way. The boy made them move away so he could between Isobel and Anthony and they kept talking through the whole dinner. Sue even managed to leave her book on the table to focus on the conversation.

“NO! BACK TO POSE!” Isobel yelled as she grabbed a snowball and pointed at Terry, do it or I’ll shoot!” Terry gasped and went back to pose, placing both of his hands on his waist and holding his head up high.

Sue chuckled and moved closer to Isobel. “C’mon, Iz...let me help with tha-...” the girl didn’t end up the phrase as Isobel pointed the snowball at her.

“Don’t you dare, Li...” Isobel said as he tried to look angry but Sue could see how hard Isobel was trying to hide an amusing smile. Sue gasped and placed her hands on her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare...” She said as she tried to look dramatic. 

“Oh, I will...” Isobel said as she maintained eye contact with Sue, Sue’s hand moving towards the head of the snowman dangerously. “Susan...don’t. Susan...”

Sue tried to keep a straight face as she pushed the face of the snowman down and it got destroyed on the ground. Isobel gasped and threw the snowball directly on Sue’s face. 

“FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!” Terry called as both girls started to throw snowballs at each other, between laughs and squeals. The war begun and Terry tagged along with it. The three Ravenclaws ended up on the ground covered in snow until Anthony showed up, eyebrows furrowed and arms folded on his chest.

“Seriously? I leave you alone for 10 minutes and THIS happens?” Anthony said as if he was scolding a bunch of first years.

Sue laughed and pointed at him. “You are no fun! Get him!” Terry and Isobel agreed and started to hoot at him as they got up and started to throw snowballs at him.