This Chapter is slightly longer than I was going for but I couldn't think of a good time to end it.
Chapter 3 – The Sorting Hat
The trained slowed to a stop. Alex peered out at the dark starry September sky as she stepped off onto the platform. The cool night air cooled her face. She shivered looking around for a familiar face but no one she recognised.
"Alex Russo." A familiar voice laughed. Alex recognised that tone of voice anywhere Alex turned and smiled staring into the face of none other than Stevie.
"Stevie!" Alex gasped as Stevie held out her hand to perform their signature handshake.
"I'm surprised to see you here." Alex grinned raising her eyebrow.
"Touché" Stevie replied grinning back at Alex.
"Shall we?" Stevie asked beckoning Alex towards an empty carriage.
"We shall." Alex replied climbing in after Stevie only to be joined by Draco and his comrades.
"Who said you could join us?" Stevie sneered at the three boys. Draco gave Stevie a small smirk.
"We can sit where we want." He drawled lazily taking his seat next to Alex, Crab and Goyle sitting opposite either side of Stevie. Alex laughed as Stevie's faced contorted into a disgusted look of being squashed between the two gorillas.
Alex and Stevie departed from the Slytherin trio to join the first years and the rest of the WizTech students that hadn't been sorted into houses in the entrance hall.
"Hey Alex," said another familiar voice. Alex turned to smile at the amber-haired ginger want-to-be giant.
"Hey Hugh," Alex smiled her smile was fake the last person she would want to join her at Hogwarts was Hugh Normous.
"Can you believe how small this room is?" Alex struggled to contain herself.
"Yes this room would be very small for a giant like you Hugh." She sigh becoming impatient with waiting around when a sudden object flew hurtling through the air and hit one of the first years on the back of the head. A high-pitch cackle filled the hall as a poltergeist revealed himself.
"Ickle firsties," said the poltergeist in a high-pitched voice.
"What fun," He called rubbing his partly transparent hands together.
"Leave now Peeves!" Barked a stern voice as the poltergeist rolled in mid-air dive-bombing the terrified first years.
"You always ruin my fun!" He cried disappearing through the stone wall. The woman was tall and thin dressed in emerald green robes a hat perched neatly on top of her head.
"I'm Professor McGonagall deputy headmistress, follow me." She ordered turning and making her way through the large golden doors and into the Great Hall. Alex's mouth dropped open as she entered the massive hall for the first time thousands of tiny candles hovered in the air filling the hall with flickering light. There were four long tables that stretched the length of the hall and one large one where all the teachers sat, sat behind them were four large hour-glasses filled with tiny coloured beads. Alex tripped knocking into a couple of first years. She watched as the woman in the green robes placed a stool with an old hat in the centre.
"That must be the sorting hat." Alex whispered nudging Stevie in the ribs. Alex watched as people were being sorted into houses she recognised some of the WizTech students.
"Long-cape Ronald" McGonagall called. The sorting hat had barely touched Alex's former boyfriends head when it shrieked
"Slytherin!" The table on the far right exploded with cheers and Ronald went to join the table.
"Nicholas Stevie!" She called. Alex turned and wished Stevie luck as she went to sit on the stool. The hat took a few second before shouting.
"Slytherin!" again the table on the far right applauded.
"Normous Hugh" McGonagall called looking around the hall. Hugh got up to the stool and said,
"I don't think that tiny hat will fit on my head." Alex along with the rest of the hall burst into laughter. The sorting hat was placed on Hugh's head none the less and the sorting hat shouted,
"Hufflepuff!" The table on the left applauded as Hugh went to join them. Finally it was Alex's turn her heart began to race as she calculated that she was next.
"Russo Alexandra!" She called as Alex made her way up to the stool she caught Justin's eye who gave her a thumbs-up, a small smile appeared on her face then she could see nothing but the inside of the hat as it began to speak.
"Ah a Russo, This will be a hard one…There is intelligence here perhaps Ravenclaw with you brother? But no you are not book smart. Perhaps Hufflepuff, yet your patience and lack of hard work does not suit you. Maybe Slytherin ah yes I see you are cunning and mischievous but you lack ambition so better be Gryffindor? You are brave when it comes to protecting those you love so where to put you?"
Alex's hands began to sweat, on one hand Stevie her friend was in Slytherin but what about what Justin had said? She thought but before she could make a decision for what was right the sorting hat made it for her.
"Gryffindor!" It cried as the hat was jerked off her head the table on the far left cheered she smiled over at Justin who was on his feet and applauding also. Her eyes darted over to Stevie who had now become sour faced Alex shrugged and went to join the Gryffindor table where she heard Max's name.
"Russo Max" McGonagall called. The sorting hat did not hesitate and bellowed,
"Gryffindor!" The table cheered once again as Max took a seat beside his sister.
"Nice going Maxy" Alex smiled, everyone turned to face the head table as Professor McGonagall tapped her transparent gold rimmed goblet.
"The head master would like to say a few words." She announced re-taking her seat as Dumbledore took his place at the golden podium in the shape of an owl in mid flight.
"Is it just me or do all old wizards have long white beards and pointed hats?" Max sniggered poking Alex in the ribs. Dumbledore's eyes surveyed the entire hall for a moment before he spoke.
"I trust your journey to Hogwarts was a good one but before we enjoy our wonderful feast I must introduce you to our new members of staff our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge of the Ministry of Magic and Doctor Evilini who will be taking Hagrid's place for Care of Magical Creatures." Alex's mouth shot open at the sight of Evilini and she searched for Justin's face, she knew he would be just as shocked as she was.
"That's the one who tried to steal Justin's powers." Alex hissed into Max's ear.
"I would also like you to give a warm welcome to the WizTech students who have joined us this year we look forward to what we have to learn from you and with that, let the feast begin." Alex couldn't believe what she saw suddenly the table that had been empty was filled with plates piled high with delicious looking food and water goblets. She turned to her little brother in amazement but Max had already piled his plate high and was waffling his food down as if there was no tomorrow.
"Whoa Max slow down." She laughed beginning to fill her own plate.
"There's enough here for everyone." She continued. While they were tucking into their meal Alex jumped in horror as the head of a ghost appeared in the middle of her mash potato.
"Hello there." The ghost said smiling pleasantly and to Alex's dismay his head fell to one side.
"Cool!" Max bellowed while Alex's face filled with disgust.
"Enjoying your meal?" The ghost asked placing his head back on his neck and pulling up his ruff, eyeing the food on Alex's plate.
"I was…until you're head appeared in the middle of it." She scowled.
"I'm dreadfully sorry young lady." He said apologetically floating above the table.
"I don't think I've introduced myself, I'm Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington, ghost of Gryffindor house." He announced bowing in mid-air.
"Otherwise known as Nearly Headless Nick," Chipped in a red-headed boy.
"But he doesn't like that." Said another red-headed boy sat beside him, to Alex's amazement they looked exactly a like.
"I'm Fred and this is my brother George." He announced extending his hand.
"I'm Alex." She replied taking hold on Fred's hand.
"We know." They chorused together.
"We heard your name when you went up to the sorting hat" Fred said smiling at Alex.
"We know your brother," piped up George.
"Played a few pranks on him." Fred added proudly.
"Oh my gosh I do that all the time." Alex laughed excitedly
"Maybe we can pull some pranks on him together this year." She continued a wide grin appearing on her face.
"Pranking other students is not permitted." A girl with bushy brown hair retorted glaring at Fred and George, Alex noticed she was wearing the same badge with the letter 'P' Justin had been wearing only this time it was scarlet.
"Aww you always ruin our fun Granger." Fred groaned but still grinning wildly.
"Didn't seem to mind when it was towards a few Slytherins." George added. Hermione's face turned a light shade of pink as she replied.
"Well they deserved it." She said weakly turning back to her food.
"You're bloody well right they did." Another red-headed boy added turning to smile at Hermione.
"Language Ronald," George mocked digging into his food. The rest of the evening Alex listened to all of Fred and George's pranks.
"Wow you guys are officially my idols." Alex giggled she was beginning to feel the effects of the long journey and being full made her sleepy. Dumbledore stood in front of his students again.
"Now we are all fed and watered I believe we are all in need of a good night's rest." And with that everyone began filing out of the Great Hall.
"First years and WizTech students follow me." Hermione called over the sea of heads. Alex and Max followed Hermione up the large marble staircase as she turned.
"This leads us to the first floor there are seven floors in Hogwarts and over 142 staircases so it's easy to get lost." Hermione informed.
"So you bloody better learn fast." Ron added with a grin. Alex caught site of Justin leading a group of Ravenclaw students up the staircases. While Hermione explained Gryffindor's common room was on the seventh floor at the top most tower. After climbing the many staircases that kept twisting and turning they finally made it to the seventh floor where they stopped in front of a portrait of a Fat Lady.
"To enter the Gryffindor common room you must give the correct password." Hermione stated.
"So don't forget it or give it to people in any other houses." Ron added giving them a wide grin. Hermione turned to the Fat Lady.
"Password?" The portrait asked.
"Flibbertigibbet." Hermione responded, the portrait swung open to reveal a small passage. Alex climbed through she looked around the common room filled with large red comfy looking arm chairs placed by a warm blazing fire. Hermione again spoke.
"Boys your dormitories are off to your left and girls on your right…no mixing," As Ron smirked.
"Trust me don't try climbing to the girls dormitory you'll only regret it." He laughed as the new students filed off boys and girls going their separate ways.
I will explain the reason I placed Alex in Gryffindor along with Max.
In Wizard's Max has no fear so this would make him brave so I thought Max totally suits it.
I could have placed Alex in Slytherin but because Alex isn't actually a bad person, she cares for here family and the people she loves and always trys to fixs the problems she has created. Also I've read many of the stories on here and I've found Alex has been placed in Slytherin a lot so I thought it would make it different.
What lesson do you think Alex should have first? I also will be adding more Harry Potter characters in now that they are in Hogwarts...sorry I havn't got to the bit with Harry but we will get there.