Hey, I know it's been forever, but I'm trying to actually stick to an update schedule now. I hope you like this chapter, as I've worked hard on it for a few hours!
Just a side note, someone told me that the houses can sit together in this generation. I don't know if it's true, but for my story, sometimes they will sit with their house, but others they will have free choice as to where they sit. In this chapter, which mainly includes the sorting, the houses will be sitting with only their own house.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter. (:
Enjoy guys! And please review!
Just thinking about the Sorting made Lily Potter's palms sweat. Her parents being who they were, there was a lot of pressure to be in Gryffindor. Lily's big brother, James, was in Gryffindor. Albus, however, had been the first to be sorted into Slytherin. Lily had worried about her father's reaction. Albus had been too ashamed to tell his father, in fact. But in the end, Harry had not cared. Quite the opposite, Harry had told Albus he was proud that his son had landed himself a spot in the house where Severus Snape, one man whom Al was named after, had once learned. Regardless of her father's attitude about Hogwarts houses, Lily desperately wanted to be in Gryffindor, like her namesake, the late Lily Evans Potter. Lily gripped her best friend Hugo's hand tightly while they walked into the great castle that was Hogwarts. Jonah had been walking beside them, making conversation which Lily could only half-heartedly respond to. Hugo wasn't afraid of what house he'd be in, but it was the only thing on Lily's mind.
"Back at King's Cross, I heard people talking about your parents. I don't mean to be rude, but why do they talk about your families?" Jonah, who turned out to be Muggle-born, didn't know the story of the Second Wizarding War, so Hugo briefly explained how Harry, Ron, and Hermione had led the defeat of Voldemort.
"Wow!" Jonah exclaimed, after Hugo had finished his tale. "So you two are, like, famous!" Hugo smiled, enjoying the fame. Lily, however, scoffed. She didn't like the attention her parents got her. It wasn't that she wasn't grateful for what her parents, and many others, had done for the wizarding community, but she heard people whispering any time they were in public. 'That's Harry Potter's daughter!' they gossiped to one another in hushed voices. Jonah didn't go on about Lily and Hugo's parents, so she felt sorry for thinking poorly of Jonah before. After all, he'd never heard of Harry Potter before today, so it wasn't as if he had struck up conversation with Lily and Hugo for that reason.
Lily was getting so frustrated with herself. She had worried herself sick about the sorting. She was paranoid that people were talking about her. Lily, she told herself, get a grip!
Now the first years stood in a clump towards the front of the Great Hall, awaiting their turn to appear in front of the school and be sorted into their new house. "Abercrombie, Nora" was called up first. After a minute or so of contemplation, the sorting hat declared Nora to be in RAVENCLAW! Then, Miriam and Bradley Coote, twins, were sorted into Hufflepuff. Jonah Elin, Lily and Hugo's new friend, became the first Gryffindor. Mya Finnegan, who strongly resembled her father, Seamus, was the next student to go to Gryffindor. Deana Kurt and Joseph Lee both went to Slytherin. Lily, who was shaking, watched while Thomas Peakes went up to be sorted. Lily didn't even hear what house he was in. The next thing she heard was "Potter, Lily" and then Hugo was pushing her up to the front. There was a general murmur from those in the room, as they tried to get a better look at the next Potter child to enter Hogwarts.
"Hmm, another Potter? I sorted your brothers to two different houses. But where to put you? You've got brains, I see. Talent, yes. Brave, yes. Very brave. Your mother and father both had bravery. Yes, well, it seems the answer is clear." Lily braced herself. "Better be…Gryffindor!" Lily sighed with relief, and she saw James standing on the Gryffindor table screaming "We've got Potter, we've got Potter!" Albus, too, was clapping enthusiastically for his sister. Lily skipped over to sit with the Gryffindors. James, it seemed, had saved her a seat with his friends. She sat down next to Jonah, who also had a seat, content with her new home. Now, she turned eagerly to see where Hugo would be sorted. They were only on Tate, Harold. Poor Hugo would be waiting a little while.
Lily twitted her thumbs nervously. What if her best friend in the world, Hugo, was sorted into another house? Hugo walked towards the stool in the front of the room. Professor McGonagall raised the hat and placed it on his head. It wasn't long before the hat shouted "Gryffindor!" Lily stood up to cheer, and she saw Hugo's older sister, a Ravenclaw named Rose, cheering too. Hugo strolled coolly over to Lily and Jonah.
"Nice job, Hugh!" said James, reaching out to give his cousin a high-five.
The feast was the best meal Lily had ever had the pleasure of eating, save perhaps Nana Molly's Christmas suppers. Lily treated herself to pot roast, pork, potatoes, a variety of vegetables, and crème puffs, her favourite dessert.
On the walk up to Gryffindor tower, Lily, Hugo, and Jonah met up with Rose and Albus very quickly. This detour left the three first years feeling lost, because they hadn't yet been up to the tower.
"Let's try this way," Lily suggested. James had told her all about Gryffindor tower, so she knew the general location. Lily ran ahead, to try and see if she was leading her friends in the right direction. The hall was empty and quiet, except for the portraits. Most of them were snoozing gently, and the ones who were awake didn't offer their help. Feeling aggravated, Lily kept walking, hoping to run into someone who would help them find their way. Even a ghost would have been helpful at that point. Well, every ghost except for Peeves. Lily had heard about Peeves the Poltergeist. Peeves loved to play pranks, and his favourite targets were helpless first years.
"Aw, Lils you got us lost!" Hugo whined, slumping to the floor. Jonah sat next to him, and buried his head in his hands. It was pretty late, and after such a long journey, they were all tired. It hadn't been Lily's fault. Rose and Al had given them bad directions.
"No, Hugh. It can't be much father. Come on! Jonah, Hugo, let's go!" She was trying to be encouraging. But she saw the moon high in the sky through a window. It was night time, and they were lost. Lily ran down the corridor frantically. She kept running, without her companions, determined to find the way back. Soon enough, Lily was more hopelessly lost than before. She plopped down on a bench and her eyes began to well up with tears.
"Keep following this corridor, Lily. You'll find your way." Lily looked up. Who had spoken? She stood up, spinning a few times, but no one was in sight. Lily jogged down the hall, peering around the corner for her saviour.
"W-who's there?" She asked, her voice quivering. It was cold, and Lily was slightly afraid. Only now did she realize that she was alone. Lily hadn't paid attention to where she was running, and now she had separated herself from Jonah and Hugo. It was a minute or two later when she heard the voice again.
"Your friends have already found there way back. Hurry to the common room before they set off to look for you." This time, Lily saw a flash of greyish-blue just around the corner. Lily bolted after it, but before she was close enough to discover the person helping her, the figure disappeared. Was it a ghost? Lily wondered. She didn't think on it too much, despite her curiosity. Lily was tired, so she scampered down the corridor, and sure enough, she had been miraculously close to the common room the whole time.
Jonah and Hugo were waiting for Lily to return. They were all worn-out, so they didn't stay to talk. Before retiring to bed for the night, Lily thanked her mysterious guardian.