“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” from a Hufflepuff’s Perspective
Dear Diary,
My name is Katie Clearweather, and this year was my first year attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I couldn’t wait to get my letter, and I also couldn’t wait to spend all of my parent’s money at Diagon Alley. The ride to Hogwarts was amazing; we got to arrive by the Hogwarts Express. The train has a trolley witch that walks up and down the corridors with a cart stocked to the brim with candy and magical treats. I had two Chocolate Frogs, a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, and a Licorice Wand. Needless to say, my stomach wasn’t very happy between the candy and the moving train.
Once we arrived at the platform, a huge man escorted us to some boats. Only first years take this route onto the school grounds. It was at this moment, floating in the middle of the Black Lake, that a student with bushy brown hair and two large front teeth informed us there was a giant squid living in the lake. The rest of the boat ride was very stressful, to say the least.
Once inside, we were introduced to Professor McGonagall and were told to wait to be Sorted into our Hogwarts Houses. While we were waiting, I heard someone up front mention the name Harry Potter. I couldn’t believe The Boy Who Lived was actually standing in front of me. Every wizarding child grows up hearing about Harry Potter. Can you imagine how cool it would be to be friends with him? I saw him turn down a friendship with a mean boy, Draco Malfoy. How does an eleven-year-old look ninety? I mean, what is with that hair being slicked back?
Once we were led inside the Great Hall, Headmaster Dumbledore made a speech about staying out of the third-floor corridor to avoid certain death. I turned to a girl standing next to me and said, “I thought this was a school. Like, for children.”
The Sorting Hat ceremony went in alphabetical order, so soon enough, it was my turn to try on the hat that looked old as dirt itself. I got Sorted into Hufflepuff and became quick friends with Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley. Harry Potter got up on the stool, and the whole room went silent as we all waited to see where he would be Sorted. The hat eventually announced Gryffindor, which earned a rousing rumble from the Gryffindor table. Does this mean seven years of “The Famous Harry Potter?”
The rest of the school year only got weirder from there. Classes started, and Transfiguration and Charms quickly became my favorites, with Potions being my least. Professor Snape has to be the most unhappy person I know. Someone mentioned seeing a stag in their front yard this summer, and he gave them a week’s detention and a paper on why does are better than stags. Defense Against the Dark Arts was my most interesting subject. Professor Quirrell was an odd man; his turban often moved when he mentioned anything with defensive spells against the dark arts. We would often hear scoffs and see Quirrell murmuring to himself, which prompted confused looks all around.
Halloween came with the best feast we had all year, followed by the least amount of sleep I have ever gotten. A troll was found in the dungeons, and it caused mass panic among the students and teachers. The next day, all was well since Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger had somehow defeated the troll. Not a single clue how they’re still alive or how they actually gained points for Gryffindor.
After our final exams, the whole school found out that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had not only broken several rules but also kept He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from stealing something called the Sorcerer’s Stone. Why they decided this would be something to keep hidden in a school, I’ll never know.
The end of the school year and my first year at Hogwarts hit a big snag when Dumbledore completely rigged the points system. Hufflepuff was in third, and although I hated Slytherin being in first, it was still nice to be ahead of Gryffindor. But then Dumbledore awarded a bunch of crazy amounts to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, thus landing Gryffindor in first and Hufflepuff in last. It was fun to see Draco Malfoy so upset, but still. Like thanks for saving the wizarding world, but I think ten points each would have sufficed.
With that said, I rode the Hogwarts Express back to London and rode the Tube back home. I am already so excited to go back to Hogwarts. With any luck, this year is the craziest it gets. Overall, I loved my first year at Hogwarts and am already loving learning to use magic. Maybe next year will be Hufflepuff’s turn to thrive, Draco won’t be a conniving wanker, and Harry won’t go looking for more danger. One can hope!
Sincerely,
Katie Clearweather (Year 1)
