There was so much for me to learn and now it felt like I didn’t have enough time to learn everything that should be as simple as knowing who the professors are, the types of courses that I’ll be learning, and even knowing at least one spell. When arriving at the platform, Elliot had to go a separate path since the first years have their own way to the castle and it honestly made me nervous since I was used to his company by now. I pressed my lips together as I followed behind all the first years and they put in these small boats that floated itself towards the castle.

This was the second beautiful thing that I’ve seen during this trip: the large castle of a school that was illuminating over the moonlight. I was amazed by the sight of it; even the boy beside me was turning his head trying to see more from where we sit. Once the boats docked we carefully got off and we made our way up the steps. They gave us instructions on how they’ll sort us, who will care for us when or if we need help, and it really felt like a boarding school with the rules being listed. I glanced over at the boy that sat with me on the boat and it seemed like he was also nervous; we wound up walking side-by-side once we were ready to be sorted.

We entered the Great Hall walking down to the front of the large table; this was real. This was magic. Candles floating from the ceiling, the night sky was above us as well, but you can see the roof above. One-by-one students were called and a raggy old hat began to call out houses for them to be seated. The boy beside me was called, Luis is his name, and I watched him take a seat, but right when the hat was placed on his head it declared him Gryffindor. I watched him move to sit at the same table that Elliot is sitting at and I turned back to the sorting when I heard my name being called. I nervously made my way to the chair and took a seat feeling the hat being placed on my head.

“Hm, where should I put you.” It said in a husky loud voice. “Seems like you should be put in, Hufflepuff.”

I felt a bit upset that it wasn’t the house that Elliot or that boy Luis is in, but there was a table already cheering for me as I stepped off the chair. I smiled kindly to everyone who reached out to greet me and Elliot gave me a small smile like he knew how I felt. The headmaster gave a speech once everyone was sorted and to end the night there was a feast with such delicious food that I’ve never had before. I never ate as much as this before and I felt a little shy getting dessert when it appeared once the dinner meal disappeared. Being in a new place has been a challenge that I never expected and for a while, I wasn’t too sure how it will go, but I was glad that I was able to have my classes with Luis when I saw that they are combined with all the houses.

A few times I saw Elliot and he was able to help me find my way to class around and during the weekends we met up to study in the library or we would go outside to the open field away from the Black Lake. I was looking at the lake from a distance waiting on Elliot after having lunch and pulled out my sketchbook wanting to practice a bit since my classwork has kept me busy. There are so many things I can’t wait to show my mom when I return home for winter break and show her what I’ve done. A few students walked by me, some tried to peek over at my work, and it felt a little embarrassing so I started collecting my things deciding that I will just go look for Elliot at the Great Hall.

I was making my way up the steps when I bumped into someone and I had to reach out to grab the railing so I wouldn’t fall back down. “I’m sorry,” I said as I’m trying to balance myself and try not to feel my heart racing from almost being in an accident. “I didn’t see...”

“You shouldn’t be running in the first place,” the boy in Slytherin robes said as he dusts off his robes as if I threw something on him when I bumped into him.

“I wasn’t-”

“You’re going to talk about back to me?” He said stepping towards me and I had to take a step down away from him.

“No, I-”

“Michael,” I turned to look behind the Slytherin boy and saw Elliot walking over to me.

“Next time you better watch your step,” The Slytherin said and walked past me, bumping his shoulder against mine.

My notebook slipped from my hand and I quickly bent out to grab the loose paper; my heart was beating so fast that I wasn’t too sure what to make of everything. Elliot walked over and grabbed a few of the papers, handing them to me. I tried to figure out how to explain what happened, but even I don’t know what happened. It wasn’t like I knocked him over, I almost fell down the stairs instead, and I wasn’t trying to make an argument out of it. I made sure everything was safe when I noticed there was one paper missing and I looked around the ground trying to find it.

“There’s one missing,” I tell him, looking behind Elliot’s feet and the steps.

“It’ll be here,” He said following behind me and we looked down at the bottom of the stairs.

It took almost five minutes until Elliot found the paper by the bushes, but it was wet where it landed and the drawing was smeared with mud.

“I’m sorry,” He mumbled, handing the paper to me.

I looked over it and it was the drawing I did on the train when Elliot showed me the stars. “I really liked this one…”

“He was overreacting and shouldn’t have tried to bully you,” He said looking at the ruined drawing before turning to me and sighed. “You worked really hard on that one as well.”

I folded the drawing and placed it on the last page. “I can still try and redo it.”

“Are you sure?” He asked me.

We started making our way towards the quidditch field and I shrugged my shoulders, “Maybe. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really had the chance to draw and the classes just take a lot of my free time.”

We made our way to the open field and sat down in the side-line and watched the Ravenclaw beginning practice. “Yeah, the first month or two can be hard.”

I glanced over at him and sighed, “It has been hard, but I’m having fun with it all. Learning spells and charms, the history of these amazing witches and wizards. I’m not pure-blood, but I can do magic. It’s amazing.”

Elliot smiled, “Seems like Hogwarts changed you.”

I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders, “I guess it’s just a new eye-opening, but now I miss my mom and I just hope she’s doing all right since she lives alone.”

“I’m sure she’s doing fine,” He said and moved to lay down on the ground.

“Yeah…” I said, watching him and I can see the shadow of the students flying over us. “Elliot, do you have anything you like?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you enjoy? I enjoy art and learning magic is something new for me, but what about you?” I asked him.

He was quiet for a minute and moved to face me. “I’m not sure honestly. I guess coming here has been fun as well, but I don’t really have a talented hobby like art or found something to distract myself like quidditch.”

I ran my fingers over the end of my notebook, “I think you're very kind and you’ve helped me a lot during the beginning of the first week. You can be a great teacher.”

Elliot sat up and pressed his lips together, thoughtfully. “That is something I’ve never thought of. Maybe I can consider it as the year passes.”

I smiled, “I mean it.”

“I believe you.” He said, laying back down and closed his eyes.

We stayed quiet for a while and I opened my notebook again beginning to draw. I was drawing the quidditch field and before I knew it I was adding Elliot into the picture. I glanced over at him, studying his figure and face, before looking down at the notebook. We were able to change the subject of the topic as he began to explain quidditch since I’ve never heard about it and I asked what the students were doing flying above us. It was a bit confusing to understand, but I was interested in seeing a match that’ll be starting next month and I could see Elliot playing in a team.

“What are you doing during winter break?” I asked him.

“Um, I’m not sure yet. I’ll be going home, but I don’t have any plans so far. Why?”

“Would you like to come by?” I asked him; I don’t know why I feel so nervous. “If you're not busy and if you don’t have anything to do as well.”

“You want to hang out?”

I opened my mouth and looked up at him hoping that I’m not blushing, “Yes.”

We both looked at each other before he nodded, “Sure. Yeah, I would like to  visit.”

“You want to?”

“Of course. You have to show me more of your artwork when I visit. I’m sure you have a lot more than what’s in that notebook,” He said, giving me this warm smile that felt like he really means it. “And you know what this means?”

“What?”

“We’re going to need to exchange Christmas gifts.” He tells me.

I smiled, “Alright.”

Authors Note:

Happy Halloween!

Hope you are all safe and enjoy some amazing Halloween movies!

What's your favorite spooky movie?
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this special~

I just wanted to add in that Inksgiving is coming up over Thanksgiving weekend [Friday, Nov 20th to Sunday, Nov 22nd] and I have another Alternative Universe story already typed out; a full 3-part special; It's called Arranged Marriage.

I'm trying to figure out what to type for Christmas/New Year and if you enjoy any of these special, leave a comment later on if you want more of the story.

Unless you have a suggestion you like to pitch in?