Ch 2 The Sorting September

I stood nervously beside Remus and Mary, shuffling from one foot to the other. Looking around I noticed everyone must have been feeling the same, even James and the boy I had met first were looking a bit subdued. There had been stories of fighting trolls and dragons, of having to display a difficult spell, and the most ridiculous of all, wearing a talking hat.

A woman with brown hair tied in a severe knot at the back of her head, beady eyes and a pointed witches' hat strode through the gigantic doors in front of us into the hallway we were standing in. Everyone craned their necks to get a view into the Great Hall, but to no avail.

"Welcome first years." She smiled briefly, and her stern face melted, "I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house and professor of transfiguration. Today marks the beginning of 7 years of magical education. Entering the hall, you will be sorted into houses according to an esteemed judge. Your house will be like your family. Achievements will earn you points, while misdemeanours will lose you points. The house with the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup." She checked her watch. "I believe they are ready for you. Enter in single file line please."

We jostled into a wonky line and slowly walked through the doors.

If I had thought the castle was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, the great hall had proven me very, very wrong. The ceiling was black with stars scattered across identical to the constellations outside. I heard the redheaded girl on the train whisper to her friend that the ceiling was an exact replica of the sky outside. There were candles dimly lit suspended in mid air and four long tables covered with empty plates. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were staring directly at us. I felt my cheeks grow warm. In front of me, Remus' ears had turned a startlingly bright red. At the front of the hall, in front of another table for the professors, was a stool with a tattered and patched up old witch hat on top. Next to that stood an old man with long white hair and a longer white beard. He wore gold half moon glasses, and I could see his blue eyes twinkle as he watched us walk in.

"That's professor Dumbledore." Remus whispered.

"Another year! Welcome new faces, and welcome back to our old ones. Before we tuck in to another delectable feast, we will begin the sorting. First years if you would please come up as your name is called, sit on the stool and place this hat on your head. But first..." He turned to the hat.

We all waiting with bated breath. Then something amazing happened. A rip in the hat opened like a mouth and it began to sing.

Welcome all to a new year

Filled with lessons, friendships

Falls and fears

But first it's time to see

Where you will fit

On this ever growing family tree

Our four founders started out

Joined in love with

Not a single doubt

They taught together

United and strong

Hogwarts would surely last forever

But discord and distress

Penetrated our wall

Not long after, I will confess

Brave Gryffindor

Only wished for the courageous students

To walk through the door

Clever Ravenclaw disagreed

Only those with aptitude for smarts

Were what the school did need

Sly Slytherin said only those

As cunning as he and pure of blood

Were who they should've chose

Kind Hufflepuff took anyone

Who wanted to learn her magic

No account for smarts, bravery, or cun

So the four houses were created

But soon outside forces may threaten these halls

And our divided school may soon become ill-fated

It's my job nonetheless to see

How you shall be divided

On the Hogwarts family tree

After a few silent moments the whole hall burst into applause. All the first years were looking at each other nervously. Outside forces? Ill-fated? What was that supposed to mean?

"Ackerly, Andrew" McGonagall read from a long scroll.

A short, skinny, black haired boy approached the stool. He gave the hat a sideways glance before placing it on his head.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat called. Ackerly hurried to the table of cheering Hufflepuffs.

"Aiglee, Jaycee" My hands were sweaty and my stomach was turning somersaults. Remus quickly squeezed my hand for luck as I left the line and approached the stool.

I picked up the hat and dropped it on my head.

"Ohhh... very tricky, this one." A soft voice inside my head muttered. "Potential, yes, lots of potential. Very clever, cunning, and lots of courage I see. But... what's this? Something... different? I've seen this only once before. You will amount to greatness, my dear. However... I see Ravenclaw in you. Rowena reincarnated. But no... " I gulped. "I think, yes I very much think..."

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat suddenly called out. A wave of relief washed over me as I hurried to the scarlet and gold table.

"Black, Sirius." It was that boy again. The one from before the train. His eye had subsided a little in the cold lake water, I supposed. He swaggered up to the stool and confidently placed the hat on his head. No sooner had it touched his hair it screamed:

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hall was absolutely silent. The Gryffindors were wide eyed and the Slytherins had gaping mouths. The awkward silence lasted only for a few moments until Potter cheered loudly leading the rest of the school in a whooping applause.

I listened as Evans Lily, Macdonald Mary, Lupin Remus, Pettigrew Peter (the blond fat boy), Potter James, and Prewett Alice were also sorted into Gryffindor. Avery, Nott, and Malfoy, the three bullies on the train were sorted into Slytherin.

"Now that we are all sorted, let the feast... begin!" Dumbledore waved his arms and the most mouth-watering food appeared in front of us. I immediately dug in to the delicacies in front of me. Remus, to the left of me, was chatting to James and Sirius opposite him. Mary McDonald was on my right nattering away in my ear. But I wasn't listening. I had never been so happy in my life. Finally escaping my home, where I was too different to be part of the family, was a feeling indescribable.

After the feast the Gryffindor prefects, Molly Prewett and Arthur Weasley led us up to the Gryffindor tower. I wondered if Molly was a relative of Alice. They didn't look very similar. Alice had dark hair and olive skin where Molly had flaming red hair and pale, freckled skin.

"The password is 'Devil's Snare.'" Arthur Weasley stated and we watched the portrait of a fat woman in front of us swing open to reveal a round, cosy looking common room. There were two staircases winding up to the dormitories.

"Girls, you dorms are up there," Molly Prewett gestured to the left staircase, "You'll find all your bags already in your room." All we girls scurried up the stairs to see our bedroom. I heard Arthur Weasley show the boys up their staircase and warn them that if they tried to get up our staircase it would turn into a slide. Black and Potter groaned loudly causing me to roll my eyes.

Lily, Alice, Mary and I stepped into the round room with four four-poster beds flung with thick, red, down covers. I found my bags and pulled out my pyjamas. Drawing the curtains around me I quickly changed and pulled the covers up to my ears. I heard the others making noises as they got ready for bed. Lily and Alice had said nothing to me or Mary. They were whispering together and shushing one another. I didn't think I was going to like them much.

When I closed my eyes pictures of lakes and starry nights swam across my vision. I thought about home. I wondered how little Emily was doing without me. That was the only bad part about this place. I didn't get to see her. It's alright, I consoled myself. I'll write to her tomorrow. I turned on my side and soon fell into a fretful sleep, where golden eyes haunted my dreams.