Gold. That was all that was visible in the midst of light and laughter.
Alexis walked down what was called the "Great Hall"- and with good reason-
and marveled at the immense glory that seemed to fill it. Looking around,
she could see the many eyes of the students turn in her direction and
follow her as she walked. Finally, the elderly witch leading the group of
newcomers, stopped her pace. They were directly in front of a long table,
which seated all of the teachers. With the floating candles over it, it
looked like Olympus, and the teachers like Gods. Alexis shuddered with
nervousness as she stepped above the rest of the pupils and watched with
apprehension as the stern-looking witch placed a teetering old stool in
front of them. She then placed an old, battered, and rather frayed hat atop
the stool. She glanced up from where she stood before waving her hand for
attention.
"Attention students: the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." Every head in the hall now turned to face Alexis and the others. Alexis had no idea what was about to happen and she stared at the floor, prepared for the worst. When she looked up, she noticed the very few murmurs and whispers that had ensued this announcement. Many were looking with quizzical expressions on their faces, as if this were the first sorting ceremony they had been to. Alexis had also noticed, upon observation, that many- well, more than many actually- of the students standing beside her were younger than her. Years younger, in fact. Most of them looked to be merely ten or eleven. Why, she herself was already fifteen. There were a few others that looked to be her age, but not even half of them. This recent realization made her flush slightly, as she felt a bit out of place.
"Now," the witch continued, "when I call your name, please step forward and place the sorting hat upon your head." Alexis was completely bewildered. "Anderson, Abigail!" A short, portly girl stepped up to the stool and placed the hat on her head. The room was quiet only for a few seconds before a deafening shout broke the silence.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat shouted. An eruption of applause came from the hall and the now relieved looking girl walked over and sat down at one of the center tables.
"Brokopp, Eliza!" another member of their tightly packed group stepped to the hat.
"Gryffindor!" the thunderous applause that followed were too loud for Alexis to handle. She thrust her hands over her ears and waited for the noise to die down. As soon as it did, names continued to be called, closely followed by a rowdy round of applause. At last, she got to the 'M's.
"Mancino, Carly!" "Madden, Thomas!" and finally, "McLean, Alexis!" Alexis took a deep breath and steadily made her way toward the old hat. It fell over most of her eyes, but just high enough for her to see the students staring at her. Feeling it would ease her nerves, she closed her eyes and was startled when a small voice sounded inside her head. She snapped open her eyes, looking to see who had spoken, but the voice continued to speak, though nobody visible was moving their lips. She closed her eyes once more.
"Hmmm.. Tough one, you are. Courageous and intelligent.... loyal and resourceful as well. Where do you belong? Tough choice, but I think the place for you is." There was a long pause before the words were actually announced. "Gryffindor!!!"
"Attention students: the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." Every head in the hall now turned to face Alexis and the others. Alexis had no idea what was about to happen and she stared at the floor, prepared for the worst. When she looked up, she noticed the very few murmurs and whispers that had ensued this announcement. Many were looking with quizzical expressions on their faces, as if this were the first sorting ceremony they had been to. Alexis had also noticed, upon observation, that many- well, more than many actually- of the students standing beside her were younger than her. Years younger, in fact. Most of them looked to be merely ten or eleven. Why, she herself was already fifteen. There were a few others that looked to be her age, but not even half of them. This recent realization made her flush slightly, as she felt a bit out of place.
"Now," the witch continued, "when I call your name, please step forward and place the sorting hat upon your head." Alexis was completely bewildered. "Anderson, Abigail!" A short, portly girl stepped up to the stool and placed the hat on her head. The room was quiet only for a few seconds before a deafening shout broke the silence.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat shouted. An eruption of applause came from the hall and the now relieved looking girl walked over and sat down at one of the center tables.
"Brokopp, Eliza!" another member of their tightly packed group stepped to the hat.
"Gryffindor!" the thunderous applause that followed were too loud for Alexis to handle. She thrust her hands over her ears and waited for the noise to die down. As soon as it did, names continued to be called, closely followed by a rowdy round of applause. At last, she got to the 'M's.
"Mancino, Carly!" "Madden, Thomas!" and finally, "McLean, Alexis!" Alexis took a deep breath and steadily made her way toward the old hat. It fell over most of her eyes, but just high enough for her to see the students staring at her. Feeling it would ease her nerves, she closed her eyes and was startled when a small voice sounded inside her head. She snapped open her eyes, looking to see who had spoken, but the voice continued to speak, though nobody visible was moving their lips. She closed her eyes once more.
"Hmmm.. Tough one, you are. Courageous and intelligent.... loyal and resourceful as well. Where do you belong? Tough choice, but I think the place for you is." There was a long pause before the words were actually announced. "Gryffindor!!!"