A/N: Like I said last chapter, Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. I know the ending last chapter was a bit cheesy. Bear with me here.
Chapter 2
The train finally stopped. One look at Nick was all Alex needed to see that he was just as nervous as she was. They stepped out to join the bustling crowd on the platform. There was a jumble of students whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Most of the first years looked like they were about to hurl from nervousness. A few, like Malfoy, showed no trace of the same anxiousness that their fellow students felt.
A large lantern appeared over the students, and a booming voice called, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Alex, along with all the other first years, made their way to the speaker. He was large, twice the height of a regular man, and at least five times as large. His face was hidden behind his long hair and beard, which were extraordinarily messy.
"Who's that?" asked Alex, directing her question to Nick.
"That's Hagrid," he said. "My brother says that he's the gamekeeper for Hogwarts."
"C'mon, follow me-any more firs' years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid's voice boomed as he led them down a steep, narrow path. "Yeh'll get yer first sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid told them, "jus' round this bend here."
There were many gasps of wonder as they caught sight of the school. They were near a great lake and a mountain could be seen in the distance. Upon that mountain was a castle of great size. Its many windows sparkled gold, and the towers pierced the night sky.
Hagrid pointed to boats near the shore. "No more'n four to a boat!" he called, already clambering into his. Alex and Nick claimed a boat, followed by a Hannah Abbot and Terry Boot.
"Everyone in?" asked Hagrid. "Right then-FORWARD!" At his last word, all the boats began moving at once. It was dead silent. Everyone was in awe of the huge castle looming before him or her. "Heads down!" Hagrid yelled, as they reached the cliff where Hogwarts stood on. They bent their heads as they passed under strands of ivy that effectively hid the hole in the cliff. A dark tunnel led them to an underground harbour where they got out of their boats.
After the toad that Hermione had been inquiring about was found and returned to the owner, they followed Hagrid up stone steps that led to an enormous, oak door. "Everyone here? You there, still got your toad?" asked Hagrid before he knocked three times on the door.
The door opened, and there stood a woman. She was tall and black-haired, and had emerald green robes on. Her eyes took in the first years in such a way that made it clear that she would not tolerate any foolishness.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She fully opened the door to reveal the entrance hall, which was lit by the numerous torches that lined the walls. A marble staircase led up to the other floors. Voices could be heard from a door on the right, which meant that the rest of the school had arrived before them. Instead of going in, however, they were led to a room off the hall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, addressing them all. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The-" It was at this point that Alex stopped listening to her. She had just caught sight of a black-haired boy standing near her. Alex nudged Nick, and he looked to where she was looking. Both looked at each other, then back to the boy. They were in the same year as Harry Potter? Neither could believe it.
They were shaken out of their thoughts when Professor McGonagall left them. Alex looked around. Everyone, even Malfoy, seemed terrified. Nobody was talking except the girl they had met, Hermione. She was whispering all the spells she had learnt and trying to decide which she would need. Alex wished she would stop.
Suddenly, a scream came from behind. Alex spun around to see what caused the scream, but was relieved that it was only twenty or so ghosts that had come from the back wall. They seemed to be arguing, but stopped when one of them noticed the first years.
They gathered around the students until a voice called out, "Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." It was Professor McGonagall. "Now, form a line and follow me."
Alex got in line behind Hermione, with Nick following her. They walked out of the room and through a pair of double doors that led to the Great Hall.
As soon as they walked into the hall, her breath was taken away. Thousands of candles floating in the air lit the hall and the four tables underneath. The top table was were all the teachers sat, and was where the first years were led. Students, as well as teachers and ghosts were staring at them from all around. Above them was a black ceiling spotted with stars. In front of her, Hermione whispered, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
Her attention was drawn from the ceiling as Professor McGonagall placed a stool in front of them. On it, was a dirty, patched-up wizard's hat. Everyone was staring at it. There was silence, and then the hat began to sing.
Applause erupted around them as the Sorting Hat finished the song. It bowed to all the tables, then became still once again. Professor McGonagall stepped forward.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
The girl with blonde pigtails that was in the same boat as her put the hat on, and sat down.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table on the right cheered as she sat down.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Susan ran to sit next to Hannah as the table on the right cheered yet again.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
This time, the table second from the left clapped.
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
Her heart sped up as more names were called. What if she didn't belong in any house? What if everything was just a big mistake? The idea was horrifying and Alex only wanted to crawl in a corner.
Finally, they reached the letter g. "Granger, Hermione!" The girl from the train ran up and thrust the hat on her head. Alex wished she could be her; she didn't seem nervous at all, only excited.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
THUMP-THUMP
THUMP-THUMP
THUMP-THUMP
"Greystaff, Alexandria!" Alex took deep breaths to calm her heart rate. You'll be fine, she thought. Completely and utterly fine. The whole school is definitely not watching you. Nope. Totally not. Calm down. Calm down Alex.
She looked over to where Nick was, and he encouragingly smiled at her. Alex headed towards the top table, put the hat on her head, and sat down.
"Let's see," said a small voice. "Where to put you? Difficult decision. You have intelligence and cunning, that's for sure. Perhaps Ravenclaw or Slytherin? There's courage too, and plenty of it too. Gryffindor would surely suit you better. Yet your kindness stands out. You would fit in at Hufflepuff. It seems that most metamorphmagi end up in Hufflepuff for some reason. Well, it best be HUFFLEPUFF!" This last word was shouted to the whole school.
Alex took off the hat and headed towards the Hufflepuff table. They were cheering, and a few got up to hug her as she found her way to a seat next to a brown-haired girl with a prefect badge on her chest.
"Congratulations," the prefect said. "I'm Nicole Clarice, Hufflepuff prefect."
"Alexandria Greystaff."
"I know," she said with a smile on her face, turning back to watch the Sorting Ceremony.
A couple other people were called up, until Professor McGonagall shouted, "Holloway, Nick!"
A nervous looking Nick crossed the distance to the hat, and put it on his head. Alex crossed her fingers. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
She got up and applauded with the rest of her house as Nick made his way over. When he finally reached her, Alex pulled him into a hug. "We're in the same house!" Alex happily cried.
"Boy are we lucky," he responded, taking a seat beside her. Nicole introduced herself to him and they redirected their attention to the Sorting, where Malfoy had been called up. Immediately after touching his head, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
The table to their right burst into applause as Malfoy joined his friends, Crabbe and Goyle.
Name after name was called until Professor McGonagall finally called, "Potter, Harry!" The effect was immediate. Whispers spread like a wildfire as the black-haired boy headed to the Sorting Hat.
"Potter?"
"As in the Harry Potter?"
As soon as the hat dropped, everyone stopped. There was a tense silence as each house waited to see which one of the four were lucky enough to get Harry Potter in their house. The tension kept building until the hat opened its brim. Everyone was on the edge of his or her seats.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table to the left jumped up and cheered, giving the loudest cheer yet. Hufflepuff house respectfully clapped while the other two looked sullen that they didn't have him. The Weasley twins could be heard chanting, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
As soon as everyone quieted down, the remaining three people were sorted. Turpin, Lisa was a Ravenclaw, a tall, ginger boy named Ron went to Gryffindor, and Zabini, Blaise became a Slytherin.
The Sorting Ceremony was finally over, and Alex could breathe again.
A/N: Next chapter is the feast and beyond. Reviews for this chapter would be highly appreciated! Merwhopotterlock out.