A/N: Please read and review! Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Disclaimers: (forgot to do this last chapter, whoopsie) I don't unfortunately, own Harry Potter.
Chapter two: The sorting
Professor McGonagall greeted them all with stern gazes. "The sorting ceremony will commence in a few minutes. I wish you well and..." she looked pointedly at Al, "it is advised that you will be well presented."
Al nervously tried to smooth his hair down. But it immediately bounced back up again into random angles. "It's no use," he moaned.
Beside him, Rose was busy chewing her lip and constantly darted looks at the closed doors leading to the Great Hall. Hundreds of voices came from behind it; everyone apart from them was inside.
"Right." The Headmistress returned and waved her wand at the doors, which opened. "You are to follow my orders and when your name is called out, sit on the stool and put on the hat, then you are to join your House mates. There will be no dawdling."
Alex followed the rest of them through the doors and into the cheerfully lit, humongous room. She tried not to gasp out loud at the ghosts floating around, or at the ceiling that bore the exact resemblance to the sky outside, or at the way how everybody's attention was fixed on them.
As each name was called out, the students, some eagerly, some dreading, walked forward, sat on the chair and waited for the hat to decide. Alex was the first of her friends to get sorted.
Ignoring the muffled whispers as her name was called, she sat down stiffly on the stool and carefully jammed the hat on.
"Ah," muttered the hat, "It's you, Alexis Keithstone. Yes, you are very hard... You are loyal to your friends, and smart, but I can see you are neither brave nor ambitious."
Alex gulped, it seemed that she would be sorted into either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.
"But you are different. Perhaps putting you in a house where you can mix with students not like you can bring out your potential? Yes, yes.... In that case, it is either Gryffindor or Slytherin..." The hat continued to say.
Alex's eyes widened. She caught Fred and James waving at her from the Gryffindor table. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth. "Maybe... Gryffindor?" She asked tentatively.
The hat stayed silent.
"Hmm... you have friends in Gryffindor already? It would make your life easier to sort you into Gryffindor, but I do not think it would bring out your true potential. I think Slytherin suits you best."
Alex's face fell. "Oh..." She murmured. "Well, if you say so."
The hat seemed to glance at her uncertainly (well, Alex felt that it did, anyway). "If I say so? Are you sure? Well then it is going to be SLYTHERIN!"
It took a moment for Alex to register that the hat had just shouted out the last word for the rest of the others to hear. It did not surprise her one bit that Fred and James had stood up in shock.
What did startle her though, was that the majority of the Slytherin table had cheered and clapped loudly as she was sorted. From the stories Rose and Al told her, Slytherin was the 'evil' house. Alex hoped they were wrong.
She jumped off the stool, handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall and walked quickly towards the Slytherin table. She was well aware everybody's eyes were on her, though the next student was already on the stool trying on the hat.
She sat down, and smiled at a fellow Slytherin girl. The girl smiled back.
"I'm Belinda Goyle," the girl introduced herself. She was a rather pretty girl with a slender figure. One look at her told Alex that she was no first year.
"Are you a third year?" Alex guessed, crossing her fingers and hoping that she was right.
Belinda grinned, "how'd you guess? Yep, I'm a third year."
Alex smiled, revealing two sets of white, even teeth. "Oh, that's good." She let out a breath she had been holding. "It's nice to find a friend that's the same age as me."
"I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but you are the Alexis Keithstone right? Er- the magic dead-point, that is." Belinda asked, avoiding eye contact with Alex.
I guess everyone does know who I am, Alex thought. "Yeah, I am." She replied, a bit defensive.
Belinda waved her hand around, her eyes widening at Alex's tone. "Oh, I wasn't trying to offend you, or anything. It's just... I heard that you're you know... the only magic dead-point since centuries ago. I'm sorry, I guess I was prying."
Alex shook her head. "I am different after all. I have a million questions to ask about myself as well. I only knew that witches and wizards were real, that my parents were Squibs and that I was a magic dead-point a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I was told about it on my thirteenth birthday."
Belinda grimaced. "Nice birthday present, eh? But then, on the plus side you get to go to Hogwarts and be my friend."
Alex blinked at her. Friend? She called me her friend! Alex couldn't stop another smile from forming on her face. "Yeah, I guess that's a super plus. You know, I was worried about being sorted into Slytherin, I didn't hear... I mean, I thought..." She trailed off, uncertain of how to finish.
But her new friend just nodded in understanding. "I know what you mean. My father was in Slytherin, and he didn't exactly have a good reputation. I was afraid that if I was sorted into his house, everyone would think I was exactly like him. I'm not though. And, people in Slytherin actually aren't half bad. Most of them are really nice and get along well with students from other houses." She added.
"Malfoy, Scorpius!" Professor McGonagall's voice rang out. Malfoy, for once, looked nervous as he placed the hat on his head.
Everybody, including Belinda, held their breath as the hat thought about which house he was going to be in.
"Er- Why is everyone so focused on Malfoy?" Alex asked in a whisper. Without her eyes leaving the blonde boy, Belinda leaned in. "He's a Malfoy. All of his ancestors, well nearly all of them, were sorted into Slytherin. His grandparents and dad were Death Eaters, though I heard that his grandma and dad really regretted joining the Dark side. I kind of hope he isn't going to be sorted to this house. People are already expecting that he is his father through and through. His resemblance to his father doesn't help either."
Alex looked at the nervous, young boy. There was no trace of a smirk on his face.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted finally. The Slytherin table erupted into cheers and clapped him on the back as he stumbled towards the table, his face slightly crestfallen.
Belinda and Alex shuffled over so there was enough room for him to sit down. He glanced at Alex and nodded in thanks. I guess all that I'm-better-than-a-Squib was an act, Alex thought. Y'know, he actually seems like the younger brother I never had. We kind of look the same as well. Blonde hair, light coloured eyes, a bit skinny for our age...
"Potter, Albus!" Al tripped up on his way to the stool. From the Gryffindor table, Alex heard James shout out, "That's my brother!" to everyone's amusement.
The hat barely touched his head, and he was sorted into Gryffindor. Alex tried hard not to look sad, after all, she had already made one friend, and, hopefully, she was going to make another one soon.
"Weasley, Rose!" Finally, it was Rose's turn. Alex saw her uncross her fingers and open her eyes as she walked briskly to the stool. Alex was amazed at how confident she looked.
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted a minute later. Like Malfoy, she looked a bit sad, but she straightened and smiled at her house as she headed towards them. Though Rose wasn't her sister, Alex still felt proud at how well she disguised her disappointment. The girl should be an actress, she thought.
"Hey Alex, mind passing the Pumpkin Juice?" Belinda asked. Alex swivelled around confused. "Wha- oh my gosh!"
Dishes and dishes of delicious food magically appeared in front of them. Alex saw the jug of orange liquid to her right and passed it to Belinda. Alex herself grabbed everything she could reach, and within moments, she felt stuffed.
"Keithstone." Malfoy's voice was barely audible against the chattering of people beside them. He had to call several times before Alex looked up from her pudding.
"Yeah?" She asked, wiping her mouth on the napkin.
"Pass me the apple pie." He said. Alex felt annoyed at his tone and lack of manners.
"No." She said, turning her back on him. "Until you ask me nicely, I won't."
She heard him sigh again. "You're not my mum, or my sister. Just pass me the pie."
"No. Whether or not I am related to you has got nothing to do with you having manners." She retorted, "Although I hate to say this, but I am older than you, Squib or not. Just say please, and I'll do it."
Malfoy regarded her with a suspicious look. "You really remind me of my mother. Are you sure you're not, like, my older sister who got kidnapped or something?"
Alex bit back a grin as he echoed her thoughts. "Dunno, maybe I am. Belinda, can you please pass me the chocolate éclairs?"
Belinda, catching on, winked and passed her the plate. "Of course, after all, you did say please." She said, with a meaningful look at Malfoy.
He sighed. "Fine. Keithstone, please pass me the apple pie. Thank you." He said in a monotone.
Alex, with a bit of a grin, did as he asked. She watched him take a huge slice off the plate before taking the plate off him and returning it to its place before.
"Pst! Malfoy!" Malfoy looked up, slightly annoyed at being interrupted in the middle of eating. He relaxed slightly as he saw who it was. It was the big, bulky boy from before, on the train. He was sitting opposite them.
"D'you want to sit over here? Saved you a place." The boy gestured to the empty space beside him. Malfoy nodded and picked up his plate, still eating away as he walked.
The boy suddenly snapped his head up to look at Belinda and Alex. "What are you doing here?" He asked nastily. Alex immediately bristled at his tone and look on his face.
She was about to give him a nice, grumpy retort when she realised he wasn't talking to her. To her amazement, Belinda cracked into an evil smirk.
"Dear brother, is that how you greet your older sister? Aw... poor Crabbe's scared of big, bad Hogwarts?" She taunted, enjoying her brother's reaction. Alex looked from sister to brother, trying to find the resemblance between them.
From what she could see, there were none.
"Eww! Get away from me, stop embarrassing me!" Crabbe squealed, for a moment there, Alex thought she had mistaken his gender. But as Malfoy neared him, his face and voice resumed its usual pitch.
"Oh, stop acting like a three year old girl," Belinda said, the smirk still visible on her face, "You're embarrassing yourself. Brothers." she muttered the last word. She turned back to her plate and Alex followed suit.
"Hey Alex!" She turned around and saw Fred heading towards the Slytherin table. She smiled at him, glad that he hadn't forgotten about her.
"James wanted me to return this to you. He says he wants to borrow it again though." Fred handed her the book Alex had gave to James on the train.
"Thanks," she said, looking around. James was nowhere in sight. "Where is he?"
"Sick," Fred sniggered, "He nicked my cauldron cake and my Bertie Bott's. Then he stuffed himself with everything at the feast. He rushed off to the toilet not long ago, poor thing."
Alex tried very hard to look worried, but failed. She started giggling, then laughing, and found it hard to stop.
Belinda joined in, and so did, to both Fred and Alex's astonishment, Malfoy and Crabbe Goyle. Fred raised an eyebrow.
"Glad to know you've got a sense of humour," he smirked at Malfoy.
Malfoy immediately shut up and glared at him, "I wasn't laughing at your joke, Weasley. Shove off."
"Hey, hey, break it up." Alex wiped her tears away with her sleeve and tried to look stern, giving a nice imitation of Professor McGonagall. "Fred, meet Scorpius Malfoy. He's my friend now."
"WHAT?!" Both boys turned to look at her, their mouths open in shock.
"When did I- I never-Friend?" Malfoy spluttered, accidentally spilling Pumpkin Juice over his robes. Fred just stared at her, lost for words.
"A-are you jokin'?" He asked finally. Alex shook her head, "Scorpius is like the little brother I never had, isn't that right, Scorpius?" She asked, using the same teasing tone that Belinda used on her brother.
Malfoy glared at her. Alex gave him a meaningful stare. At last he gave a small, curt nod. "I 'suppose," he muttered.
Alex gave Belinda a small grin, who was now laughing so hard, she fell off the bench.
There was a moment's silence then-
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Fred, Alex, Scorpius and Crabbe all laughed, tears of mirth flowing down their cheeks. Belinda stood up, her face flushed. Alex couldn't tell whether it was because she was embarrassed or if it was from laughing too hard.
"Ahem, your attention please," the Headmistress had stood up and was now addressing the whole school. Everybody fell silent at once.
"Just a few rules before you all head off to bed," she said in a clear, ringing voice. "The Forbidden Forest, is, as it is called, forbidden to every student. The caretaker, Argus Filch, has...kindly asked me to remind each of you of all the things that are banned. For the list consisting of four hundred and ninety two items, please, if you have any desire to-" the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, "-the list is posted on the caretaker's office. You will receive your timetables tomorrow morning. Prefects, please lead the first years to their dormitories. That is all, good night."
All of the students jumped to their feet at once. Fred shouted a "see you tomorrow!" over the noise as he disappeared with the Gryffindor crowd. Alex saw a Slytherin prefect waving around and calling for the first years. She hurriedly went to him, Scorpius and Crabbe following.
The prefect led them around the castle, when they were at the stairs, Crabbe suddenly grabbed Malfoy by the hand and pulled him behind a statue. "Want to show you something," he muttered. Malfoy nodded, and they both slipped away from the crowd. Alex did not notice them leave.
They arrived at the Slytherin dormitories. The prefect had them gathered around the entrance. "The password for now is 'Dragon heartstring'." He told them. The stone walls slid open, revealing a comfortable common room, which they all traipsed into.
"Girls dormitories on the right side, boys on the left. Your things have been brought up already. Good night." The prefect walked out of the common room, leaving the first years uncertainly in the room.
The stone wall split again, and a group of fifth years and fourth year students walked in, all yawning and murmuring.
Slowly, in pairs, the first years headed upstairs. Alex was one of the last to leave. As she started walking up the steps, a pair of hands roughly pulled her down again.
"What?" Alex snapped, stifling a yawn.
"Squibs like you don't belong here," a burly fifth year boy hissed in her ear.
Alex sighed inwardly, she really wasn't in the mood for this. "Get your filthy hands off me, I don't want you dirtying my new robes," she said angrily.
The fifth year boy and his gang of friends all looked at each other, annoyed and furious at being talked like that. Alex didn't wait for him to respond. She shook his hand off and turned around.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Someone shouted from behind her.
Alex kept on walking up the stairs, yawning hugely. Whatever the spell was, it didn't work. Alex knew, because stunned silence followed after her as she walked away.
She couldn't resist a jibe. "Until next time!" she cackled, stopping and giving a small wave.
The boys all glared at her in fury. One of them made a movement as to try and hit her but the stone wall split again, and this time, Scorpius, Belinda and Crabbe walked in.
The boys visibly paled. "M-Malfoy," the fifth-year boy stuttered. Alex had to admit, Scorpius did look intimidating when he stood tall and sneered like that.
But it was still funny, all these fifth years and fourth years glancing nervously at a first year boy who was not only short, but skinny too.
"Get out of my way, you're blocking the entrance," Scorpius snapped, he brushed past them and noticed Alex grinning down at him. He gave a stiff nod at her. "Good night." He mumbled.
The boys gave her a scared look. She copied Scorpius's sneer and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, he's like my brother," she said to them.
Then she opened the door to the girl's dormitories, with Belinda following. Both of them nearly collapsed onto the floor in laughter.
"I'm so glad you're my friend, Alex," Belinda gasped, clutching her side, "Life definitely is more exciting with you around!"
Alex flung herself onto her bed, not bothering to change into her pyjamas.
"Yeah," she said with a grin.
On the other side of the dungeons, Crabbe saw Scorpius drop his 'I'm-tough-cause-I'm-a-Malfoy' act. "Alex better repay me for this," Scorpius grumbled, pulling on his pyjamas.
"Make her write a History of Magic essay or something." Crabbe suggested, getting into his own bed.
In the Gryffindor boys' dormitories, Fred helped James onto his bed. "You really need to know when to stop," Fred said with an amused look on his face.
"Whatever," James groaned. Al poked his head through the curtains. "You look a sight," he commented, and gave his brother a grin before heading back to his own bed.
Rose Weasley settled herself down on her four-poster bed in the Ravenclaw dormitories. She smiled to herself. She had made three friends already during the feast.
She turned over and thought about Alex Keithstone, and wished that she was in at least one of her class.
She was going to get her wish.
So... should I continue with the story? I know its a bit slow at the mo... but I wanted both Fred and Alex to be a little dense...
Read and Review please!!