Chapter 2: Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat
I searched the train for a compartment. There was like, nowhere to sit. I ended up sitting down by my cousin Rose Weasley, who was playing with her wand, wrecking the other seat then re-mending it. I really don't know what's up with her. I tapped her on the shoulder. She looked up. "Hey, Albus! First year, right?" Rose is in her second year. One below James and one above me. "Yeah. Can I sit with you?" I mumbled really sarcastically. "Sure. And, Albus, have you met my best friend, Denise Bragstone? She's awesome. But, one year above me. We're both like, the smartest kids in all of Hogwarts. I'm in Ravenclaw with her. You know what house you'll be in?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, you never really know until you get there. If you're brave, you'll be in Gryffindor." I smirked. I guess Rose never was really that brave. "If you're smart, you'll go into Ravenclaw." So, I guess Rose was pretty smart. Rosie-Posie. "And if you're loyal, you'll go into Hufflepuff. But you don't want Slytherin. Whoa, they are ambitious, disloyal, and anything bad you can think of in your little head." I thought of atrocious, manipulating, and cruel. But my brain was sealed shut for other thinking spaces. "I bet you fifty galleons that I'll be in Gryffindor. Not in a grotesque house like Slytherin." Rose replied, "Well, I bet you don't even have that much money. So, there."
I walked out of that compartment and went to the baggage compartment. Teabag was still sitting on my luggage. I picked her up and walked back to my compartment. But there was really no point, because when I walked in I fell into my seat. The train had arrived.
Apparently your luggage was brought up for you, so I stepped out of the train and looked around. Just a normal train station. But I changed my mind when I saw a huge castle in the distance.
"Firs' years this way!" yelled Hagrid. "Hi Hagrid," I muttered. "Oh, hello, Albus! Your brother just got off. Talked to me. Said ya don' wanna be in Slytherin?" Merlin's beard. How could he? James, my own brother, had told my Dad's favourite teacher about my worries of houses. Oh, he was going to get it... "Albus.. ya okay?" Hagrid asked. "Yeah, fine. Are we going to the boats now?" "Yes, I suppose. Firs' years this way! To 'he boats!"
I stepped over a dozen train tracks on my way there. We all hopped into a little boat. I hopped into a one with a pale looking boy. "Aren't the secound years and up coming?" I asked. "Oh, only the first years go in the boats." I seemed so dumb probably, not knowing that. I was hoping to sit with Rose. "I'm Albus, by the way. You?" The pale boy looked up. "I'm Scorpius Malfoy, at your service. How do you do?" We both laughed at this strange reunion. I almost fell out of the boat! Then I realized that this was Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco Malfoy. "Oh, you've finally realized who I really am, haven't you? I know you're a Potter." Scorpius looked down, clearly disappointed of my expression. "Well, I am a Potter, yes. But I don't care who your father is. You're my first friend here!" We both smiled.
When we got off the boats, we arrived at a huge front door. Hagrid knocked, and then a man I knew was Neville Longbottom, the Herbology teacher, answered. "I'll be heading off now," said Hagrid. I was the only one who waved to him goodbye. Neville motion us to come inside.
"I am Professor Longbottom, your Herbology Teacher and Hogwarts Administrator. It is nice to meet you all. In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and head to the Great Hall. There the sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. While you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn your house points, any rule breaking and you will lose points. The house with the most points at the end of the year wins the house cup. We are ready for you now."
I walked with the other students into a great big room. There were four tables and banners hanging from the ceiling. There was another long table at the front of the room for staff members. In front of that table was a stool, with a strange, old looking hat on it.
"OK. When I call your name, please come up and sit on the stool. You will put the hat on your head and be sorted in to your houses. But first, he will sing you a song!"
The hat sang:
"Oh, here you are at Hogwarts, where learning and fun are assured
At a school with no dull moments, and you'll never feel bored.
Here magic awaits you, the time to learn is now
But first you must be sorted, and so I'll tell you how.
Just place me on your head, and let your mind roam free
I can see your every thought, and know where you should be!
You might belong to Gryffindor, where bravery is cherished
Or you could go to Ravenclaw, where your mind will flourish
You might end up Slytherin, if you're confident and cunning
Or perhaps you're best in Hufflepuff, where disloyalty gets you nothing
Just know that where you're sorted, shows not where you will end,
It shows how you are seen by you, not whether you're a foe or a friend.
Apart you will collapse, But united you stay strong
Forget your house and accept all around you, and now I end my song."
I am sure I'm not in Slytherin. Right?
Neville Called out,
"Malfoy, Scorpius!"
Scorpius shyly sat on the stool and placed it on his head. It took a few minutes, but then finally the hat shouted,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Gryffindor students cheered, and Scorpius happily skipped to the Gryffindor table.
When Neville stopped clapping, he yelled,
"Glazely, Kim!"
A tall girl with small ears ran over to the stool and jammed it on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Kim frowned as she walked over to the Slytherin table. Albus knew that she probably had wanted to be in Gryffindor.
"Pilfiger, Jake!"
A boy with blonde hair shyly put the hat on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR"
There were quite a few students. I hadn't gone yet. It ended up that all the Gryffindor students that had already gone were Scorpius, Maple and Poppy Patil, Jake Pilfiger, and Polka Shiverdot. The Ravenclaws were Marlin Peters, Lisa Weasley, Arthur Weasley ll, Roxanne Weasley, and Eragon Peters. The new Hufflepuff students, Dominique Weasley and Dorria Peters were chatting at there table. A new Slytherin, Rocky Alex, was hitting it off because of his name. Only me, a tiny girl and a tall boy were left. And finally-
"Potter, Albus!"
I stepped forward, and took the hat on my head. I heard it mumbling, "Oh. Very much of everything... well..."
The hat screamed,
"DAWNOVA!"
What? Everybody in the hall was puzzled. The hat said, "New house. Made it myself. All they need is a common room now."
Neville screamed, "This is an outrage, hat! The houses are named after great wizards, not our heads!"
"Well, those other two," He motioned to the boy and girl beside me, "Are in it too." And the hat disappeared suddenly.
"Well, new house it is, then, if the hat says it," said Neville. "Well, go find a common room!"
We three had nowhere to go.