Staring blankly, Minerva McGonagall was lost in thought, her green eyes to the brim with tears that would soon well over. Minerva had to close her eyes. She was too close to breaking down and sobbing hysterically.
Closing her eyes only made it worse. She was back in her first year of Hogwarts about to be sorted when she turned her head, she noticed a boy who looked just as frightened as her. She inched her way over to him and introduced herself.
"Hello, I'm Minerva. What's your name?"
The boy turned to her and smiled despite his anxiousness. He had bright blue eyes and a crooked nose.
"Hello Minerva, my name is Albus. Albus Dumbledore. Which house do you want to be in?"
"Well, I haven't really thought about it. I don't think I would enjoy being in Slytherin very much. What about you?"
He didn't get the chance to answer because one of the professors started talking.
"When you hear your name you will come to the front of the Hall and put on the Sorting Hat. The Sorting Hat will tell you which house you will be in. Your housemates will be your temporary family while you are at Hogwarts. While here, you can earn your house points for good deeds while any rule breaking will lose your house points. If we're ready, we will begin."
Minerva looked at Albus and he smiled at her instantly calming her nerves.
The first person called up to the Sorting Hat was "Arthhi, Lucia" who was sorted into Slytherin.
There were a few other students called before the teacher yelled "Dumbledore, Albus!" and he walked to the Sorting Hat.
A few moments later the Sorting Hat yelled "GRYFFINDOR!" and the table burst into raucous applause. He smiled back at Minerva who felt a bit more nervous.
It seemed like hours later before Minerva was called up to the Sorting Hat.
Minerva walked up to the stool her heart going a thousand miles a minute she was so preoccupied that she almost tripped over her robes. Finally reaching the stool, she sat down. The teacher put the hat on her head and like so many others it fell over her eyes.
A moment later she heard a voice in her head. "Well, well what a brave witch we have here. Also you seem to be very bright and loyal. Hmmm. I suppose it'll have to be… "GRYFFINDOR!"
Feeling a sense of relief, Minerva slid off the stool and went over to join Albus at the Gryffindor table.
After the remaining students had been placed in their houses, Headmaster Dippet quieted them down.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" he spoke smiling into the crowd of students. "If this is your first year at Hogwarts, I'd like to start with a few rules. First off, The Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden. Unless you have a death wish, that is. Also, I'd like to take this time to welcome the newest professor, Professor Hollow."
A tall, thing, young woman stood up, smiled and slightly bowed her head. Her orange ringlets bobbed as she acknowledged the crowd.
"Professor Hollow will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. I don't believe there is anything else to say, so with all that said, let the feast begin!"
Headmaster Dippet waved his hand and the tables filled with food. There was anything from beef to and unidentified meat that tasted like cherries. After filling their plates, Minerva and Albus started talking again.
"This is so peculiar." Minerva found herself saying talking to Albus.
"It is. On the train, did you try Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? I ate an ear- wax flavored one thinking it was toffee. Nasty shock I got."