It's dark, as you stand in front of an extraordinary castle, heart racing in anticipation. You find yourself soon surrounded by other eleven year olds, each and every one speaking in an English accent. Of course, except for you. You were from America. "And so, it begins." you said out loud, but to yourself. A group of three heard you speak, asked where you were from, and one of them told you to "Talk more. I want to hear your accent!". They introduced themselves as Hermoine Granger, Harry, and Ron. But as we spoke, I saw something. Something underneath Harry's fringe, that he was trying to hide. Had I just met, and had conversation with… Harry Potter?
After nearly half an hour talking to the trio, you'd forgotten your nerves, and almost forgotten where you were. You were quickly brought back to reality when a very large, hairy man came walking towards all of you. "Welcome to Hogwarts! First years this way!"
The sun had disappeared behind the castle hours ago, as I stood waiting for the sorting to begin. I looked around at the other first year students and made an attempt to remember all of their names. I thought to myself, Of course, Harry Potter. I don't know him well, but I know of him. And his friend Ron, he's quite.. Well, he's interesting. Oh, and Hermoine Granger! She's nice, and rather intelligent. I do believe that we might already be great.. Acquaintances. I hated the word "friends". My thoughts were interrupted by a loud, throat clearing cough. I looked up to see from whom the sound came. I turned around and saw a very thin, very light-haired boy who used too much hair gel and had piercing grey eyes.
"Hello, the name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. What's your name?" said the boy. "My name is Andromeda Hale, it's nice to meet you." I replied. "HA! A Hale? No wonder you were over there making friends with the Mudblood. Your family is well known for muggle-loving." He laughed. "You listen to me," I said quietly, voice tense as I grabbed him by his shirt, "I am nothing like my family, and you will not compare me to them. I was not making friends with Granger. I don't make friends. You'd be wise not to cross me again, Draco." What almost sounded like a whimper escaped from his lips as I released him, just as the doors opened up into The Great Hall, where on a platform stood a stool, and on the stool sat a hat.
This hat looked to be nothing spectacular. In fact, it looked quite ragged, patches over holes and dirt, all rather average. Then without warning, it opened up at one of the patches and began to sing.
"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
When the song finished the entire Hall clapped and applauded. Once things settled down, a Professor named McGonagall began to read off names from a list, asked them to sit down, and placed the hat on there heads. She called "Abbott, Hannah." to be sorted, there was a moment of silence, and then the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!". There was cheering coming from one of the four, long tables. The next few were sorted into Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and two more Hufflepuffs. Professor McGonagall then called "Hale, Andromeda."
I sat down on the stool and folded my arms. The sorting hat began to speak in a bit of a hushed tone in my ears. "Ah, I see. Family history here at Hogwarts… related to Godrick Gryffindor himself, eh? Hmm… but… of course, your rather book smart… No, no, you're not to be a Ravenclaw. Oh my! A desire… a thirst. You will do anything to get achieve whatever it is that is your goal, and I do mean anything. And you do wish to make yourself known as a woman of her own, and not "just another Hale", correct? I see… you're surely a… SLYTHERIN!" I heard the hat shout the last word to the entire Hall.
There was a great amount of cheering from the fourth table, and quite a few shocked expressions spread amongst the faces of the other three tables. I smiled and made my way to the table, where I was greeted by two not-very-friendly looking boys, who were, oddly enough, very friendly to me. I strained my neck to look around at the other tables, to see my new schoolmates. At the Gryffindor table, I saw three redheaded boys, two of which were twins, most likely relatives of Ron Weasley. The twin sitting on the left saw me looking, so he smiled and waved. As I waved back, his brother punched him in the arm and gave him a warning look.
They continued the sorting, placing Hermoine Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and a goofy mannered boy named Neville Longbottom all into Gryffindor. The Malfoy boy was sorted into Slytherin, and The Sorting Hat barely bad to touch a blonde hair on his head to do so. He sat next to me at the table and greeted me with a glare. "Hello, Andromeda".
