Hello All!

Sorry this has taken me so long to upload, I'm very busy and will try to write and upload chapters as frequently as I can but I can't make any promises! Thanks to everyone who has read the first chapter! I hope you like this one too!

Again thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Love

Char

xoxo

CHAPTER TWO - THE SORTING HAT

As the journey progressed, Wylda quickly discovered that Sirius and James did not like Severus Snape. Between the snide jokes and funny looks, it had become pretty obvious. It also became apparent that the feeling of dislike was very much mutual between the 3 boys. Severus' face was constantly set in a sneer. Not just towards James and Sirius, but towards the newcomers -Remus and Peter - too. She was pretty sure he didn't like her either, but was too caught up cracking jokes with James to really care very much. The only time his face ever softened into a relaxed smile was when he was looking at Lily, which by the way, was a lot. Wylda wasn't sure whether Lily was aware of Snape's clear affection for her, but Wylda was 100% positive that Severus Snape had a big fat crush on Lily Evans. You see, Wylda was a people watcher. She liked to sit and observe how people interacted with each other. It fascinated her. But just as much as she liked to observe people, she also loved to get stuck in and be involved with what was going on around her.

"So, Wylda, when do you think we'll be able to have flying lessons? I love flying and I'm dying to get up in the air!" James babbled animatedly, his trademark grin firmly in place.

"I don't know, but I hope its soon! I love flying too! My brothers taught me how to play quidditch a few years ago. What position do you play in? I'm a Chaser myself, but I love being a Seeker too." Wylda said, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. Lily and Severus were quietly talking amongst themselves while Sirius, Remus and Peter listened to the conversation with mild interest.

"Me too! We should partner up at some point! I'd say we'd be pretty unstoppable." James smirked, running a hand through his already unruly curls. Wylda nodded eagerly, beginning to plan strategies against imaginary opponents. After the sweet trolley had been and gone, their arrival at Hogwarts was fast approaching, so all seven kids changing into their new uniforms, taking in turns to use the train compartment as a changing room. By seven-thirty that evening, the train pulled up at Hogwarts station, and a whole new wave of nerves overcame Wylda. What if nobody liked her? What if the teachers thought she was stupid? What if she tripped on her way to the Sorting Hat? All kinds of thoughts were running through her head, and her thoughts must have showed on her face, as Lily came over to her with a reassuring smile and looped her arm through Wylda's, effectively dragging her off the train and onto the platform.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years this way!" a deep booming voice called across the platform, Lily pulling Wylda in that direction. As they followed the giant, their eyes were glued to the magnificent castle before them. The seemingly endless towers standing proud and tall. Wylda couldn't quite believe she was really here, about to embark what was sure to be an absolutely wild and exciting new journey that was somehow her life. She found herself in the boat alongside the boy's she'd shared a train compartment with, grinning eagerly from ear to ear, completely entranced by her surroundings. As the boat reached the shore on the other side of the Black Lake, she clambered up and started shuffling up the pathway, Lily still firmly attached to her side.

The Entrance Hall warm and welcoming, the stone walls and lanterns hanging from them casting a warm orange glow, only interrupted by the large oak doors that concealed the Great Hall, loud chattering seeping out from under the door. An elderly looking witch with a large brimmed, pointed hat and a taut face with what looked like a permanent pursed - lipped look about her face stepped up onto the top stair.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor those doors the rest of your class mates are seated on four tables, each containing one of the four houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. When I call your name, you will be seated on the stool and the Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. The house in which the Sorting Hat places you in, will be where you spend the next seven years of your life. That house will become your family, your home. You will form close bonds with your housemates, so this ceremony is very important. Good luck, follow me". Professor McGonagall lead the first years through the doors and into by far the most extraordinary room she had ever entered. Her father's descriptions had not done it justice, as he'd said they wouldn't. The ceiling were alive, floating candles lighting the room from front to back. While the four long tables were laced with as yet empty silver plates goblets and cutlery. The students seated along the benches, pausing in their conversations to take a look at the newcomers. The teachers at the head table smiling kindly at the first years. The familiar face of Hogwarts Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore grinning, sending a subtle wink to Wylda, who smiled bashfully, giving him a small wave that didn't go unnoticed by the students around her.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts! Before we can tuck into the obviously delightful meals that are waiting for us, the matter of sorting our new friends into their houses needs attending to first, so without further ado, Professor McGonagall, if you will." Dumbledore spoke with a slow but precise manner, with a sweeping arm gesturing to the group of first years in front of him.

After the Sorting Hat recited its poem for that year, Professor McGonagall began calling names, where they were then sorted into their houses. Lily was sorted into Gryffindor, as was Sirius, much to his delight, although a few gasps were heard around the room. James, Peter and Remus were all sorted into Gryffindor, so she hoped more than ever to be placed there, so she would have a few friends. Eventually Wylda's name was called, and on shaky legs, made her way up to the stool. She hopped up and the Hat was placed upon her head.

"Scammander, eh?" the Sorting Hat whispered in her ear, while also projecting across the hall. Quite a few heads looked up at the sound of her name, recognising it from their Care of Magical Creatures textbook - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Her father's book. The very book that brought her parents together."Will you be a Hufflepuff like your father? You're very loyal, to the core actually. But there in a courage within you that I haven't seen for a very long time. I can feel your pull to Gryffindor, but your loyalty to your father, and his house. This is a tough one, but your courage and honour belong to only one house..."

There was a pause, and Wylda's heart hammered. Until suddenly the Sorting Hat yelled,

"GRYFFINDOR!" and Wylda released a breath she had no idea she was holding, and the biggest smile overcame her face, almost splitting her face in half. As the hat was lifted off her head, she leapt down off the stool and slid in on the bench next to Remus, accepting the one armed hug from him and the numerous pats on the back and high fives from her new housemate. She shy blush coloured her cheeks from all the attention, especially from the handsome black haired boy further up the bench. Wylda was grateful when the attention once again returned to the front, as they watched Severus get sorted into Syltherin, what a surprise. She heard James and Sirius snicker from behind her, and shook her head amused. A few more people were sorted before Professor Dumbledore spoke again, congratulating the new students, and opening the feast.

The most delicious looking food appeared in front of Wylda and her stomach growled loudly, reminding her how hungry she really was. She tucked in happily, and she chatted to her new found family, learning more about her fellow Gryffindors. She met Nearly Headless Nick, chatted to James about Quidditch, and told Lily how much she hoped they'd be roommates, along with another of the girls sorted into Gryffindor that night; Marlene McKinnon. Overall, by the time Wylda made it to bed that night, to say she was exhausted would be an understatement. She giggled with her new roomies; Lily and Marlene, Mary McDonald and Dorcas Meadowes until the early hours when they all fell asleep, totally exhausted by their long day. Wylda fell asleep with a smile on her face, excited about what lay ahead for her and her new life as a Gryffindor.