Language table

"hello" - Main language

"hello" - Secondary language

'hello' - thought

"hello" - yelling in main language

"hello" - yelling in secondary language

'hello' - yelling in a thought

A Hat of Sorts

Don't panic. The Great hall loomed before her and she took a step back. If she had thought the castle's outside looked impressive, or the headmaster's office impressive, she had not yet seen the hall. There were 5 tables, 4 parallel and filled with what had to be hundreds of students. The other table overlooking then had adults, who had to be the teachers.

Harry noticed her discomfort and directed her gaze up to where the ceiling should have been. There should have been stone, wood, or even plaster, but instead there was sky. Not just any sky, she was watching a storming, crashing, windy chaotic sky. The sky was a deep royal blue, unlike anything she had seen, and was offset by bouts of violet lightning that would strike just above a table before dissappearing. The clouds were a dark silver grey and it had to be the most beautiful thing Kaida had ever seen. She took another look at the students, and gaped in disbelief. Unless lightning was right next to them or the rain effecting them, they were completely ignoring the storm.

"Amazing" she whispered to herself, at the sky and their reaction. She started digging through her bag, ignoring Harry's murmers about the ceiling being on the fritz and not to worry that it was this way all the time.

"Erm... what are you doing?" He asked as she brought out severel pieces of woodand started putting them together. She didn't answer and he soon saw it was an easel as she pulled a canvas over it and brought out some charcoal pencils. 'How does that fit in there?' he thought, missing the fact that they were almost completely blocking the doorway.

By now they had attracted somewhat an audience. The meal was almost over and with an easel blocking part of the door, next to THE Harry Potter no less, there was no way they wouldn't notice something happening. After the triwizard tournament, and specifically what happened after, most were not too comfortable with his presence even when it wasn't affecting anyone.

Kaida's concentration was broken as she heard a voice behind her.

"Whats he doing there? Who's the girl?"

"Quiet you blockhead! Can't you see they're busy?" A tall redheaded boy said smacking a chubby boy clutching a toad on the back of the head.

Kaida flushed bright red and cursed to herself as she saw the people surrounding her in black robes. She breathed deeply and shut her eyes while putting up the easel and rolling up the canvas. 'Calm down. They did not see. That did not just happen. I did not lose it over one storm. Again. I did not forget everything for one drawing. My training is still valid. I am a kunoichi. OhmygodIcan'tbelieveIjustdidthat! They are civilians even! How did they even get behind me here? If this was a mission I'd be dead by now! Gah!!!!!!!!! Calm down! Breathe! Okay... relax..."

Harry noticed her furious blush and blank expression and thought it was only her art she was worried about people seeing. "You'll get used to the stares eventually, that was really good by the way."

"Breathe, just relax." she told herself until her face resumed its natural color, and her expression its normal state of detached calm.

"And here I thought I'd have to call the hall's attention myself." Dumbledore beamed apprearing behind the students. He was clutching an old hat and seeming oblivious to everyone except Kaida's suprise. "I would like to introduce Miss Masako Kaida, a transfer student of sorts until some memory problems work out. Now, lets get her sorted shall we? Back to your tables."

At this the students that had come to see Harry took a good look at Harry's companion and those that had ignored the commotion turned around. Most that had come over in the first place had been staring at him and wondering what the others had been doing over here, and now that Dumbledore had come, they were wondering if the girl would be more interesting. Somehow they doubted it after all the news over the summer.

By now Masako had calmed herself and had everything away neatly where no one could see and/or get near it. She stared at the crowd as they stared at her.

The robed students broke out in voices filled with confusion.
"Transfer student"
"Masako"
"Memory problems?"

Kaida raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore, letting him presume what he would without giving him a reaction from her. She did wonder what a sorting hat was and why he would introduce her as a transfer student, or reveal her "memory gaps". She walked calmly behind him as he led her to the table at the opposite end of the hall where the adults were. He put the hat on a stool and stepped back.

"Albus! Its too early! I haven't made a proper rhyme yet." It complained, a mouth opening through the brim.

"I'm sure you can come up with something, we have one more student."

The hat sighed before breaking out in a song halfway off beat.

'A girl brand new in mystery

she can't recall her history

through cloak and dagger the truth be found

of dragons and faith Justice resounds'

There was a brief silence where everyone either stared at the hat or at her. It had never sung about a student before, let alone made such easy rhymes in such a mocking tone. Then it said exasperated, "Well, what are you waiting for? Put me on your head and lets be done with it."

Kaida cautiously stepped forward and ignoring the eyes of the crowd, placed it on her head. The eyes were what bothered her most of all. A ninja is not supposed to be seen, ever, so having so many stare at her was disconcerning to say the least. Then again, could she call herself a ninja anymore after running away like she did?

'Yes, yes, I can see you are a skilled occlumens. Now drop your guard so I can read your mind or I'll refuse to sort you.'

'If I do will you swear upon kami and your hope of whatever half life you live now that you will not reveal my secrets to anyone?'

'Yes, yes, lets just get on with it.'

At that she let it into her mind, seeing the images flow as the sorting hat saw them. 'Now this IS interesting. Can't remember, huh? Imagine, a real ninja in Hogwarts. I am getting old. Brave enough in missions are you? Yet cowardly enough to run when its over. Loyal to yourself alone so that ones out. No.. not that one either... your just not... ambitious enough. Well, you are definately clever enough for her house, and dreamy enough, so it'll have to be...'

"Ravenclaw!"

Instantly she heard cheering from the table with blue and bronze decorations. She started towards it, then stopped a moment and searched for Harry . He was at a gold and red table. He met her eyes and shrugged giving her an encouraging yet somehow sad smile. She found a place between a dark brown haired boy and a girl with sandy blond hair and what appeared to be raddish earings.

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