"Ash, Lilia!" Crud. I hate being first for everything! Well, technically, I was second after some poor guy called Aaron Aaron. Seriously. He was put in Hufflepuff - no way am I going to get put in Hufflepuff. I'm not mean or anything, loyalty is great, but Hufflepuffs never grow to be things. Oh no, what am I going to be?! Slytherin would be all right, I guess, but they held that scum the Malfoy family, and Voldemort! I've read up a lot since I got my letter. I suppose I could live with Slytherin, but I wouldn't be really happy with it, knowing who they've spawned. Ugh. What about Gryffindor? Yeah, they'd be okay, I guess, and they're really brave, but they don't think very much. Just charge into battle randomly without a thought. Well, I suppose they aren't all like that, but that's how they're portrayed in pretty much everything. Ravenclaw? Yeah, Ravenclaw! But I'm not smart enough, no way am I smart enough for Ravenclaw. I'd be too stupid to even get through the common room door! Oh God, I am a Hufflepuff! Crap! But is that bad? Bloody hell!

After what seems like a million years, I finally reach the stool I place the hat on my head and sit down. Ah, a difficult one here. Now, let's see...there's bravery and loyalty and intelligence, oh, lots and lots of that. Hufflepuff? Oh God, please no. Not Hufflepuff? Yes, I can see that, not the right mind for a Hufflepuff here. What about Slytherin? Yes, that's one choice. But you seem to have your doubts about that. No, Slytherin's no good. Now, Gryffindor, that would be good, yes. But I think you'd be better off in...

"RAVENCLAW!"

Yes! Cheers explode from the Ravenclaw table. I walk over shakily. My legs wobble and I nearly fall over. I sit down at the bench and stare at the golden plate before me. A prefect smiles at me and welcomes me to Ravenclaw. I smile back at her. I stare at my plate, waiting for the food to arrive. When will this stupid ceremony be over? Well, I know it's important, but I'm starving. 

A girl comes and sits next to me. I can't remember her name - her last name began with C. She smiles at me and looks up at the ceremony. I do the same. We're down to the Es now. Blah blah blah. This is seriously boring. Finally some guy called Zachary Zimmermann. He gets put in Gryffindor. The Head steps up, welcomes us. We're not allowed in the Forbidden Forest, yeah, yeah. Give me food. When the Head's done, suddenly a bunch of food appears on the tables! There's so much!

"Wow!" I say aloud.

"I know, right?" The girl next to me says. "I'm Beth."

"I'm Lilia, but you can call me Lili." I grin and take a huge slice of steak pie and stuff most of it in my mouth at once. "Yum!" I say with a mouthful of pie. It's the best thing I've ever eaten. I grab a ton of chips as well. Oh wow. It's all gone in a matter of minutes. I take a second plateful of roast chicken, boiled potatoes and a mint humbug. Beth stares at me.

"How...can you fit that much in your mouth at once?"

"I'm hungry."

She laughs. "I can see that." Then the food disappears! 

"Hey! Where'd all the food go?!" I yell indignantly. I nearly cry - I was still eating! But then, the desserts appear! Jellies, ice cream, cakes, fruit pies, tarts, blancmanges, vats of custard and cream, every pudding you could ever think of. I fill a bowl with bubblegum and rainbow ice cream and shovel it into my mouth. I take a slice of apple pie and smother it vanilla ice cream. I notice a chocolate pizza that wasn't there before and devour five slices before Beth can stop me.

"Whoa. Haven't you ever eaten properly before?"

No. "Yeah, I'm just starving. Ooh, cupcakes!"

Three refills later, the food disappears. I manage to grab some Fizzing Whizbees before they go. I pop one into my mouth. 

"Want one?"

"What are those?"

"Oh, they're Fizzing Whizbees. Haven't you heard of them?"

"I'm Muggle-born. I was so shocked when I got my letter!"

After the Headmaster's speech we head to the Ravenclaw common room, lead by the prefect who smiled at me. There's an exquisitely carved eagle knocker. To my surprise, it speaks. "In marble walls as white as milk, 
Lined with sin as soft as silk 
Within a fountain crystal clear 
A golden apple doth appear 
No doors there are to this stronghold 
Yet thieves break in and steal the gold."

"So, what do you guys think? It's a riddle." A boy raises his hand. "A hidden temple?"

"Not quite." I raise my hand this time.

"Is it an egg?"

"Exactly. You may enter," the knocker says, and the door swings open.