Author's notes : much thanks to Cheyenne who has been helping with editing id be hopeless with out you, also please note in the 150 years since the Battle of Hogwarts Slytherin house has changed a lot, while it has not yet fully escaped its long reputation for producing dark wizards and witches it is looked upon with more honor now and while it still has a rivalry with Gryffindor it is a friendly one now rather than a genuine hatred.
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Tara look out into growing night distracting herself from the presence of Laura by wondering what house she would be sorted into, although she knew there was little doubt which house it would be, her entire family were Slytherins and it was expected she would be as well, after all she is a descendant of the namesake of the house, she thought to herself that if she was sorted into Ravenclaw there wouldn't be too much criticism, Hufflepuff on the other had her family would surely be disgusted with where the hat had placed her, then she amused herself for a moment imagining the faces of her parents if she was sorted in to Gryffindor, not that Tara desired to be in that house , but it would almost be worth it to see the looks on her parent's faces when they found out.
Jace checked the time on his watch and then said " we should have about 10 minutes before we arrive we best get in to our school robes " *the rest nodded and Jace and Barry left while the 3 girls changed then the girls stepped out while the boys changed then they all sat down again and Sam looked at the rest and said " well I hope we all have a great year and good luck to all you in getting sorted into the house you desire. " Laura smiled and said "thanks Sam and the same to you "all the others nodded in agreement then the train whistle blew and the prefects could be heard telling everyone to leave there pets and trunks on the train that they would be brought to the school separately as the train came to a halt and the students began to get off the train.
A man cried out in a Scottish accent "First years o'er here! First years to me! Come on all first years! " All the first years gathered around the tall and well muscled middle aged man and he spoke " me name is MacKinnon I am the grounds keeper and keeper of the keys now follow me to the boats no more than 4 to a boat ! He leads the first years to the boats and assists them in getting on board then the get into the last one himself. "Okay off we go! Forward!" he said in a spirited tone of one who enjoys his work and the boats glided off across the lake. As the boats cruised onward the first years got their first look at the castle and as usual they all gasped with awe, and soon Jace spotted something he wanting to see and he said to Barry who was next to him " There it is Dumbledore's Tomb!" Barry looked and nodded then said "yes that's it alright; the greatest wizard who ever lived rests there!" Jace nodded in agreement as did the others in the boat and in those near by as all now look at the tomb in reverence.
MacKinnon shouted "everyone duck! " they all did as ordered and pass through an ivy covered archway and on into a cove where they exited the boats and MacKinnon knock on the door that lead into the castle and it was opened by a dark skinned middle aged woman. "Here are the first years Professor Valour "MacKinnon said with a smile. "Thank you Ewan ill take them from here, Follow me all of you! MacKinnon nodded and went to deal with the fleet of boats. Professor Valour leads the first years into a room off the great hall then turned and faced them. "I am Professor Valour, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, welcome to you all, shortly you will join the rest of the student body but first you must be sorted into your houses, of which there are 4! Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, I am sure you will be a credit to which ever house becomes yours , also be aware your triumphs can earn you house points and rule breaking can cost you them, I shall return in a few moment to collect you for sorting!" she said then left the room.
Sam looked at Laura and Tara and said nervously "well its almost time now, good luck". Laura and Tara nodded as Jace and Barry came over and Barry said "alright can't wait for the feast im starved "just then Barry's stomach grumbled loud enough for everyone to hear and he turn a light shade of red as most of the first years laughed. Jace patted Barry on the back and said" it's okay Barry it won't be much longer now." Just then Professor Valour returned and beckoned them to follow her which they did and they walked up between 2 of the long house table as felt many eyes upon them as they were being sized up by the students in the 4 houses as well as by the teachers seated at the staff table The as the first years stood the Sorting hat sang its traditional song. When the hat had finished Professor Valour took out a scroll of parchment and spoke in a strong clear voice "when I speak your name please come forward and sit upon the stool and place the sorting hat upon your head then when sorted remove the hat and place it upon the stool then proceed in a dignified manner to you house table! " She unrolled the scroll and began to call out names.
Professor Valour went through the A's relatively quickly then began with the B's and soon came to the first of the 5 "Bones, Samantha! "Called Professor Valour called. Sam walked up to the stool and sat down and put the hat on her head and heard a voice in her ear. "Mmmm yes much courage and plenty of talent, and my my what competitive spirit, I know just where to place you! " Then with a great shout the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR! " Sam took out the hat and sat it on the stool and went and sat at Gryffindor table where she was greeted enthusiastically. Laura smiled at Sam as she dashed past very happy her new friend was a Gryffindor as she had no doubt she would be one as well. Professor Valour continued calling names working her way through the list and after a bit got to the J's and called out "Jenkins, Barris!" Barry went up and put on the hat and sat down and heard a small voice in his ear. "Oh yes very intelligent and with a nice thirst to prove your self, only one house for you then "said the hat then in another great shout it cried "RAVENCLAW!" Barry took off the hat and tossed it on the hat and tossed it onto the stool earning a stern look from the hat and professor Valour but he saw neither as he happily dashed over to the Ravenclaw table overjoyed to be in the same house as his beloved brother Marcus was in and he was welcomed as he sat and he watched wondering where the others he met would be sorted. The others were happy for Barry as he seemed so pleased in where he was sorted
The sorting continued and soon Professor Valour called out "Kiebarn, Jace!" Jace raced up excitedly and sat on the stool and then got up blushing after realizing he had sat on the hat and placed it on his head as the other students laughed loudly and heard a small voice in his ear "watch it lad I don't enjoy being sat on, well lets see where to put you, Hmmmm a great desire to prove your self and a history of not caring too much for rules, oh! What's this well that's not my business, and I suspect you will find out soon enough anyway I know where to put you" said the hat then it shouted "SLYTHERIN!" Jace took off the hat and sat it on the stool gently feeling he owed it after sitting on it then dashed over to his house's table and sat and was welcomed. Tara's eyes went wide when she heard what house Jace was sorted into and she smiled with pleasure as she had taken to him more than any one else her age, she felt a great warmth inside at knowing she would have a 1 friend for certain at school . Laura shook her head sadly at Jace being sorted into Slytherin, thinking he seemed such a nice boy, while she knew Slytherin house had changed for the better since her Great, Great Grandfather's time she still did not like it, perhaps something passed down the bloodline. Barry was disappointed Jace wasn't in his house, but shrugged and wished the sorting would hurry up so he could eat. Sam did not react strongly to Jace's sorting as the 2 of them had not really clicked as friends; it was Laura's fate she wanted to see.
The sorting progressed on through the alphabet and soon the moment Laura had been waiting for all night and also dreading as the entire school would know of her now. "Potter, Laura" said Professor Valour. Laura walked up and sat on the stool and put on the hat thinking this as highly anticlimactic as she knew where she would be sorted, and sure enough she heard a small voice confirm her thoughts "my goodness a Potter been a few years since one of your clan came to Hogwarts, but there is no doubt where you go!" said the hat and then it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Laura took off the hat and sat it on the stool and dashed over to where Sam sat and hugged her new friend and sat beside her both quite pleased they would be sharing a dorm. No one in the great hall was surprised in the least at where Laura had been sorted, although Barry had now resigned himself to not having any of his compartment mates in his house as he had a feeling Tara wasn't going to be a Ravenclaw.
Professor Valour got to the very last named and called out "Trayjan, Tara!" Tara walk calming to the stool and put on the hat and waited for what she knew the hat would say but she was in for a bit of a shock first as she heard a small voice in her ear "well aren't you a dark one, and yet there is a bit of light present as well, and what's this? How is that possible? How could you be HIS descendant! Anyway it's clear where you must go! "The hat said then shouted as if it was in great pain, and perhaps a memory from long ago was indeed paining it as it shouted "SLYTHERIN!" Tara took off the hat quickly and set it on the stool and dashed for the Slytherin table wondering how the hat could have known , but when she say beside Jace she smiled at her friend, hiding her worry at the hat's reaction . Laura wasn't surprised in the least Tara went to Slytherin although she wasn't happy about Jace being there as well.
The stool and hat were removed as a tall stocky wizard whose red hair was turning a bright silver white and he spoke " Welcome to you all and to our returning students welcome back , for the first years, I am Professor Haskell, the Headmaster, I wish you all a fine productive and informative year , now a few quick warnings , The Forest is off limits to all as is Hogsmeade to all under 3rd year, see your heads of houses for details on Quidditch try outs, not lets eat!" The feast appeared on the tables and all dug in hungrily perhaps none more so than Barry.