The Sorting

Her eyes scanned the hall, searching for someone, but as she made her way to the front of the cavernous Great Hall she saw no sight of them. She tried her best to keep her eyes peeled, but it was difficult to do that and stay upright. Elie let out a huff as she accidentally ran head on into the stocky eleven-year-old in front of her. He looked down at her, his eyes coming to almost a foot above her head, and almost as threatening as a childs could be. Just then a boy appeared between them. He had sandy hair and was barely taller than Elie.
"Don't you even think about picking on her," he said, his voice strong and sure. The boy almost growled as he turned back to the front - leaving them alone.
"Thank you," Elie said softly, brushing her wavy black hair behind her ear with a bright red blush on her face.
"No worries!" The boy replied. "I'm August, by the way. August Longbottom."
"Elie Jacobs," she replied. The boy, August, smiled and turned back to the front of the hall. He was now standing right next to her and she hoped then that she had just made her first friend.

Their names were called out alphabetically, and Elie watched as A through I were sorted. Finally she heard her own name, and made her way up.
"Elie Jacobs."
She walked calmly to the stool, taking a deep breath and concentrating too hard on not tripping over on the way up. As soon as the hat slid over her eyes she heard a voice begin to speak.
"Ah... I've seen one like you before - have I not?" The hat asked softly, and Elie could almost hear the smile. "Your brother." Elie lifted the hat up slightly, allowing herself to see the mass of students staring at her. Right at the front was August, a huge smile on his face, and a few meters back - sitting at the Slytherin table - was her brother, Milo. His face, however, was completely blank.

Their mother had fought in the battle of Hogwarts, right in this very room. But afterward she lived by a new name, changing from the old one as if running from something. Her birth name was one which noone around them knew, she had never trusted anyone with it - not until her son had been sorted into Slytherin. He had boasted to Elie that their mother was a hero, and that she loved him the most. But all Elie could think from that moment forward was that if their mother had been a hero... why had she needed to run from it?

Elie was called from her thoughts by the hat, as he told her that the decision had been made. Without a moment to ready herself, Elie listened as the word echoed around the hall.
"Hufflepuff!"

She took off the hat, placing it on the stood she had just been occupying, and slowly turned back to the hall. She started towards the table with all the cheering students, and turned back to see Milo - his face twisted into a scowl. With a sad look, Elie turned away, and as she did she caught sight of August. His face was still stretched into a smile, and his thumbs were raised high. Soon he was also sorted, and Elie couldn't help but feel sad when the hat shouted "Gryffindor!" as he put it on. Though, she still had hopes when he turned to her a moment later, giving her a small wave. Maybe we could still be friends?

A/N: Words - 609

Choose Your Own Adventure - Choice: Hufflepuff.