Soon we reached the entrance to the common room. About a dozen students of different ages, who did not manage to get into the common room, stood on both sides of the entrance in the form of several huge barrels.
"So, guys," I stopped next to the barrel lids, which, by the way, were almost my height. "Here is the entrance to our common room, to the Hufflepuff house common room. Look carefully so as not to make a mistake."
Waiting for the children's attention to concentrate on me and on my actions, I pointed to one of the "barrels", under which the passage was masked.
"Here is this barrel lid—actually a passage to our common room. Do not confuse. Remembered?"
"Yes..." a discordant chorus of voices was my answer.
"And now, for the door to open, need to knock in a certain rhythm."
I knocked out the necessary simple rhythm, and the door opened. Guys from different years immediately reached inside, and while they were entering, I continued to speak:
"The rhythm changes once a month, it is always simple, can knock at different speeds, but the main thing is the rhythm itself. This is important, believe me. If you make a mistake once, you will hear a warning crack of the door, and if the second time—you may be doused with vinegar. Even if it is not a magical mixture, but little good, so take it seriously. Remembered the rhythm for this month?"
Slight confusion was in the eyes of the kids, but I smiled encouragingly.
"Nothing terrible. First time you will walk around the castle accompanied by me or Hannah Abbott, the girl prefect," I pointed my hand to Hannah standing nearby. "Believe and do not doubt—you will quickly get used to it. And now—welcome to the Hufflepuff common room."
I waved my hand invitingly at the open passage, and the kids poured inside.
"You handle well," Hannah smiled at me. "I'm even a little surprised."
"Not so bad am I," I feigned offense, but immediately smiled.
"Will you allow to say a welcoming speech? Or else I prepared."
"Of course."
Following the last first-year, Hannah and I entered the common room, and the door closed behind us. What can I say—nothing changed here. Students checked plants in pots, arranged those brought with them. Someone ended up by book cabinets, and someone—at tables, on sofas or armchairs. Some, judging by the total number, hurried to go to their rooms, like for example, current second-years almost in full force and the majority of third-years. Newcomers stood not far from the entrance and looked around. Satisfaction with the general atmosphere was clearly read on their faces.
"So, guys," I stood in front of the newcomers, and Hannah stood next to me, smiling at them. "You are surprisingly cheerful, judging by looks, so now is the time for a welcoming speech. Hannah?"
"Yes..." she attracted the general attention of first-years. "So, congratulations to you all on sorting into our house, Hufflepuff. Congratulations, and welcome. Would like to say..."
She began to speak something of a standard speech, which I had already heard performed by Cedric as many as two times. There was nothing special in this speech, but it wasn't dragged out or tedious either. Mainly about what kind of house this is, how to communicate with guys from other houses, a short extract from basic rules, like curfew, and so on.
"Would like to add a couple of words," I spoke when Hannah finished with her speech, and out of the corner of my eye noted the appearance of our Head of House, Pomona Sprout, in the common room. "As the hat sang today, our house is open to any people—both cunning, and brave, and smart. But what does this mean? Someone will say that we do not stand out in any way, but the point here is different. Distinctive feature of students of our house, what distinguishes us, but what is not easy to notice—diligence. Here, within the walls of Helga Hufflepuff's house, a person with any character will find a place. Both sociable, wishing to find more friends, and smart, craving knowledge, and loner. Brave will find comrades for adventures, and ambitious and cunning, which is characteristic of guys from Salazar Slytherin's house—will find faithful associates. Mutual respect allows achieving such things, and diligence—any set goals. So go for it. Everything is in your hands, and if something happens—you can always count on help both from us and Hannah, as prefects, and other guys."
"Good words, Mr. Granger," Madam Sprout smiled, and looked at the first-years. "I am—your Head of House and Professor of Herbology, Pomona Sprout. I would also like to say a lot, but I see how tired you are from a long journey, and after also such a wonderful feast—Merlin himself ordered to lie down and sleep sooner, right?"
The kids really got tired, because the marathon of events and impressions came to an end, so fatigue made itself felt.
"Now your prefects will escort you to your rooms," Madam Sprout looked at us. "When you finish, come to me, okay?"
"Yes, Professor," I nodded. "So, boys follow me, girls—follow Hannah."
Boys separated from the general mass of first-years and followed me into the male wing. Did I know where they were settled? Not once! Nameplates on each door saved the situation. Of course, I knew who lives where from those who are already studying—after all, I walk here several times every day. But new names... Turned out on the door where seventh-years used to live. Oddly enough, but only now I noticed such rotation of rooms.
"So, all of you are distributed in one room," I opened the door to this very room. "Your things are already there. Come in, distribute who wants to live where, but remember—all places are completely identical. Questions?"
"Nah..." two guys drawled sleepily, and the rest only shook their heads negatively.
"Well excellent. Rise at seven in the morning. Won't work to oversleep—Hogwarts itself will wake you up. True, after that can go back to sleep, but don't advise—first days are quite important, and points are deducted for skipping. Who would tell me why they are needed at all..."
I said the last phrase quite quietly, but enough for the guys to hear it and smile, entering the room.
"Good night," I wished them after and closed the door behind them.
It was still crowded in the common room—after all, older students can afford to go to sleep somewhat later. Can afford both physically, getting less tired and not passing out on the go, and morally—who at our age cares that need to get up early tomorrow?
Approaching Madam Sprout, who was sitting on an armchair at a table, and Hannah on a sofa opposite her, I sat down next to my friend and prepared to listen carefully to the Head of House's speech not yet started.
"So, guys," she looked at us attentively and, at the same time, benevolently. The Head of House almost didn't change over the summer, except that gray in curly short locks increased. "Want to congratulate you on becoming prefects."
"Thank you, Madam Sprout," I nodded politely, as did Hannah.
"To begin with, about the schedule. It is already compiled—pick up tomorrow around seven o'clock and distribute. Are you already familiar with the duties of prefects?"
"Yes," I smiled. "Hermione, my sister, learned everything by heart and read out to everyone back on the train."
"Good," Madam Sprout smiled back. "Duty schedule for September is also already compiled, here..."
The Head of House pulled out two thin sheets of parchment from somewhere in the robe and handed them to us.
Taking them, we quickly familiarized ourselves—prefects of other houses were not indicated there, only us. What can I say—nothing special. On average, it turned out about two shifts a week. Half a night per shift. Eh...
"Since you already know all your duties, then I have no need to tell them. But if suddenly you have any questions—feel free to contact."
"Of course, Professor," Hannah nodded.
"And here's another thing," Madam Sprout seemed to remember something just right now. "You, like other prefects, will need to come to me tomorrow during the day. Will need to get information on house clubs. And to the Headmaster—for information on school ones. There we will tell everything—what, for what and why."
"Understood."
"Well, in that case, have a good evening."
Madam Sprout stood up from her seat, and Hannah and I immediately stood up with her—peculiar etiquette, it seems, in both blood.
"So," the blonde girl smiled. "How is the first day as a prefect for you?"
"Unclear yet, but I feel a bunch of problems, and my self-development schedule will undergo obvious changes."
"That's for sure," she nodded. "But, think we'll manage. Okay, I went to sleep."
"Good night."
"And to you."
Hannah left, and I headed to Herbert and Tamsin, who were whispering quietly about something on one of the sofas.
"So," I sat nearby, on the other side, from Herbert. "About the team..."
"We heed you, oh great one!" Herbert began to clown around, but immediately received a fist in the side from Tamsin. "Ouch, understood, understood! I'm good... That is, bad—Hector is good."
"Exactly," the girl nodded.
"Actually, what I want to say," my face took on a serious expression—I literally felt it with every cell of my skin. "I definitely won't be captain, otherwise I'll just die."
"Okay, that's understandable," Herbert nodded. "You found little time for rest last year anyway. And the year before last. Why suddenly set sights on Keeper?"
"To not go to training, obviously."
My smile caused slight misunderstanding among the guys.
"Well look. With my skills I won't let a single Quaffle through anyway—force majeure not counted."
"Hmm... Fair," Tamsin smiled. "Can stop talking further. Thus, you give everyone the opportunity to play in interesting roles. Exclude yourself from training, because the Keeper, in fact, does not participate in team play."
"Yes."
"And free up time for your studies and duties," Herbert nodded, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
"Exactly."
"Okay. Acceptable. Tamsin and I will figure out who will be captain. Although for you it would be a tangible plus."
"No-no," I waved my hands. "Enough pluses for me. I have access to the Restricted Section."
"Wow!" they simultaneously expressed their admiration.
"Exactly. I need to devote maximum time to books and information on magic—where will I get such on advanced topics later? When I finish Hogwarts."
"So in home lib... O-o-oh..." it dawned on Herbert. "I sometimes forget that in this regard you are naked as a falcon."
"Thanks for the kind word, buddy."
"And what? Don't take offense at the truth. Okay. Here I understood you. And besides, our principle—Quidditch not for the sake of victory, but for the sake of the game. What's the point in all this if have to sacrifice future?"
"Did you get smarter or something?" Tamsin played very natural surprise. "Unexpected, really."
"Well yes," Herbert became proud. "Growing, you understand, above myself. Not forever for me to be without a tsar in the head, like concussed by a Bludger. Or else become, what good, similar to Ludo Bagman. What use to me from fame if I'll be a fool?"
"So what?" I interrupted Herbert's stream of thoughts. "Will you take on captaincy?"
"Will decide. And Keeper, perhaps, will also yield to you," Herbert patted me on the shoulder. "Anyway want to try Beater—I do it better. Means, will open recruitment for Seeker, Beater and two Chasers."
"Perhaps. But if anything, you know yourself, Herbert—I can stand on any role."
"Just don't on Seeker—I won't survive another such ridiculous game."
"Only if no one wants to play the match at all."
"Agreed."
"Then," I got up from the sofa. "Leaving you."
"Go on," Herbert and Tamsin waved their hands.
Looking around, realized that I have no need to talk about anything with anyone else present, and all ours—classmates, meant—already dispersed who knows where. Thinking and twisting thoughts and plans, I simply went to my room—time to sleep. Difficult and busy two first weeks are ahead, during which many issues need to be solved really. Eh... Cedric had nothing to do but offer my candidacy. But, on the other hand, let's not be afraid of difficulties, right?
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