[Cutie_Hootie]

Day three began with a knock at the door. I had been anxiously waiting for this...and I was invited back to both Slytherin and Hufflepuff. I was so excited and thankful that I wasn't going back to Gryffindor. My friends Kristin, Jill, and Jess had all been invited to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. We were all thrilled for each other and excited and nervous for ourselves. For Pref I wore a basic black dress (so did the other three girls) and we all wore pearls. However, we had suddenly had a snowstorm, and were told by our Rho Chis that it would be acceptable to wear slacks, snow boots, or heavy winter coats because of the snow. The houses had been instructed (!) not to hold our slacks or snow boots against us!!! I opted to wear my heels anyway, and so did many girls, although I did see a few with boots on instead. However, I saw no one in slacks.

First I went to Slytherin. The Slytherins were wearing white blouses with full skirts in their color (Side note--they had worn these same outfits for years I found out later). I was met at the door by a very close friend of mine. We went upstairs to the living room where we had very beautifully decorated cookies and punch. Then they had all the PNMs sit on the floor as they gathered around us and sang a song. Then they sat amongst us as a few sisters spoke. They talked about how special their sisterhood was and how their sisters had always been there to support them through anything, good or bad. Then they showed a slide show. At this point I was in misery because my foot and leg had fallen asleep. I was not very comfortable sitting on the floor. I was also in tears after hearing these stories because I was questioning if this was the right house for me.

After the slide show, I got up (very carefully) and was surrounded by my friends in the house. They were all talking to me about why I would be a great member of Slytherin and why I should choose Slytherin. I was then given a poem by my hostess and we read it together. After we read it, I was to throw it in the fire and make a wish. I made my wish and was crying with all the girls. I kept telling them what a hard decision this was to make. Finally, it was time to go. I hugged everyone goodbye and left.

Then it was time for Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuffs were wearing black dresses with pearls. As we were coming in the door, our hostess met us and said, "Cutie_Hootie, the sisters of Hufflepuff wish to invite you to our preference party". My hostess was a good friend that I hadn't seen all week. After she met me at the door, she then took me downstairs where the lights were dimmed. Each PNM had a beautiful plate (with the crest imprinted at the top) that had her name written on it in chocolate along with a chocolate seashell that held delicious fresh fruit. We also had champagne flutes with the crest imprinted that held sparkling cider. The chapter members knelt next to us and talked to us as we tried to eat (I was so nervous I don't think I ate a bite!).

Finally, all the chapter members left us at our seats as they linked arms and made a circle around the room. Songs were sung (and I was already crying). Then another sister came over to kneel by me--it was Katie, who had been so shocked and excited the day before when she learned I wasn't going back to Ravenclaw. We went upstairs to the living room, where it had been turned into an almost all white room. All the furniture had disappeared. There were rows of white chairs in a horseshoe shape facing the window seats. At the window seats were a few of the chapter members, holding candles. They each spoke, telling us about the sisterhood and what it meant to be a member of Hufflepuff.

At some point, we given all given candles. While the room was filled with candlelight, one by one the sisters recited lines from their creed. They all recited the final lines together. It was breathtaking. We blew out our candles and lingered for a few minutes chatting. Girls were already lining the steps singing and other PNMs were leaving. I was still talking to some of the sisters. As I was walking back up the aisle, one of the seniors stopped me. I knew who she was and had actually always been intimidated by her. She said, "Cutie_Hootie, I'm really glad to see you here tonight". It was such a simple statement, but it had a huge impact on me. As we were walking out, Katie handed me a oyster shell, very similar to the chocolate ones we had eaten earlier. The shell had a pearl inside. She told me to take the pearl, throw it in the fountain, and make a wish. I made a wish (a different wish than I had at Slytherin), and we walked down the stairs. I was the last PNM in the house, and we stood talking for a second while I thanked her for being my hostess. Then I said goodbye and walked to the lecture hall to fill out my preference sheet...