Property of Brian Ledger

Brian gave a last glance about the room that he was sharing with his cousin Ethan, he didn't quite think that he would miss this place above Hogwarts, but he would miss being around his Aunt, and being around his cousins so much. It wouldn't be the last time that he'd see this room (there was still Christmas, and next summer after all), but somehow he still felt a little reluctant to leave it. It was rather nice being able to stay up some nights and speak to Tibsy, even if it was a little childish. Of course, he was trading in Tibsy for one of his best friends Matt, who Brian couldn't dislike in the least. Somehow though, he always missed the close companionship that sharing a room with his cousin brought- especially when their houses always seemed to be very much isolated from each other.

Brian gave a rather large shrug, grinned to himself for his own silly personal attachment to this place that wasn't even his home, then grabbed at his trunk, already set nicely next to the fireplace. After a moment of readying himself, he threw some floo-powder into the fire, and surrended to the swirling sensation that flooing always gave him.

The train was already at the platform, but hardly anyone was here. He was grateful that someone had at least had the sense to link the platform to the floo network- even if the customary journey in a muggle car was tradition. He felt especially grateful when the alternative had been 'get up at five in the morning and drive'. The experience of being thrown into a car with his three younger cousins, and Aunt, would not be very pleasant. Now standing at the platform he looked around for his cousin- Brian had gotten up late, and Ethan had never said if he would be taking the floo, or going in the car with his siblings. All Brian knew was that Ethan's trunk had gone when Brian woke up, and so had simply made his bed (to save his beloved Aunt the trouble) and made his own breakfast.

Not seeing Ethan, and not yet wanting to board the train, Brian placed his trunk somewhere distinctly out-of-the-way, but still in view of the barrier, before he settled himself upon it.

Within a few minutes, Brian was reminded of something that he'd known all along- being early was boring.

( WHAT DOES MY CHARACTER THINK OF YOU? )

I'm wearing a dress, Brian thought to himself. No. No, not a dress. A robe. A wizard's robe, he added in some attempt to console himself.

It wasn't as if he didn't like dresses- his sister had one which looked nice on her and she would wear it when they had birthdays, but this was different. This was odd, this was unnatural and it was just slightly unnerving.

Brian Ledger had never been a 'new' student, he had always been the companionable welcoming lifetime resident of his town, and he had only ever been to one school in his life. So yes, this was decidedly different in that he was wearing a dress in front of an entire hall filled with peering students.

"Brian Ledger," called a woman in another one of these 'robes', who beckoned for Brian to come forward and sit on an ancient looking three legged stool, right in the absolute middle of the hall. I will not blush. I will not blush, a trickling mantra ran though Brian's mind. The need to blush had nothing to do with so many people staring at him. The need to blush had nothing to do with the fact that he knew no one at all in this school. The need to blush didn't even have anything at all to do with the fact that he was a boy wearing a dress!

The need to blush came from the fact that he felt like an absolute twit when some tatty hat was lowered onto his head, because he had no idea what value it had. Brian had witnessed other students leap away after the hat had bearly touched their heads! Others had shuffled forward, or walked towards the stool with some arrogant poncy look on their faces. Brian wasn't sure what he did, but he was now here with some smelly, sweaty hat on his head.

Well now, I'd forgotten all about you. Wasn't even sure if I'd see anyone from- the voice in his head stopped short. -oh. Well now, welcome to Hogwarts. You're either a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff, but I'll go for the more extensive history. I'm sure your mother won't be disapointed if you're not a Ravenclaw.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

And the hat was removed before Brian barely had a chance to comprehend things. What did a Hufflepuff mean? And what kind of history did Brian have there? He shook his head to clear it, and waddled down to the bright yellow table where he figured he was supposed to sit. They had been the ones cheering the loudest- so Brian figured it was his best bet.

He took a seat and watched the rest of the ceremony dubiously.