Chapter Four
The Sorting Ceremony
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide open. The filed passed Professor McGonagall into the Entrance Hall. They followed her across the stone floor. Lily could year the rest of the school talking in the Great Hall as they passed it. Professor McGonagall led them into a small empty chamber. They crowded in, looking around nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be Sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will louse house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly," Professor McGonagall finished. She left the chamber. Several people behind Lily gasped. Ghosts had glided through into the chamber and straight through into the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall returned.
"Now, form a line, and follow me," she instructed the first years. They followed her into the Great Hall. Lily stared in amazement at the hundreds of thousands candles that lit the room, floating in mid-air. Professor McGonagall led them to stand in front of students, with their backs to the teachers. Mixed in with the students were the ghosts of Hogwarts; some Lily noted looked like they hadn't died that long ago. She noticed Keira looked up at the ceiling; her face was etched with bewilderment.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside," Lily explained. Professor McGonagall placed a three-legged stool in front of them. On top of the stool she put an immensely old hat, not to mention it was frayed, patched and very dirty. Everybody was staring at the hat, waiting. A rip near the brim opened wide, like a mouth. The hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the Hat fell silent. Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the Hat and sit on the stool to be Sorted," she said. "Abercrombie, Kyle!"
"Gryffindor!" shouted the Hat, after a moment. The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers.
"Ackerley, Cassidy!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Alton, Liam!"
"Hufflepuff!" the Hat shouted. Lily made her self pay attention at least until after Evan, and then she'd only watch when her friends and family were called.
"Baddock, Octavia!"
The Hat had barely touched her head, when it shouted, "Slytherin!"
"Boot, Rowena!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Cauldwell, Brandon!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Coote, Tristan!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Corner, Daniella!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Creevey, Dylan!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Dalton, Benjamin!"
"Slytherin!"
"Davies, Jeremy!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Dursley, Evan!" Lily watched as her third cousin stumbled up to the stool, the Hat waited for a whole minute before deciding,
"Hufflepuff!" What if I'm not in Gryffindor? she thought, My whole family's been in Gryffindor, what if I'm not? Lily turned back to the Sorting in order to clear her head.
"Finch-Fletchley, Lucas!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Finnigan, Riley!"
"Gryffindor!" Lily watched as Riley walked over to the Gryffindor table, and sat next to Dylan Creevey. She had met Riley once, when they had been seven, Harry had taken Lily into Diagon Alley for the first time to buy Ginny a birthday present, and they had bumped into Seamus and Lavender.
She turned to face the front once more, but wasn't really watching. Finally, she heard Kallista called.
"Lovegood, Kallista!" Kallista walked up trembling. Lily noticed Neville was watching as his daughter stepped up to the stool.
"Gryffindor!" Lily, Hugo, Fred, Neville, and even Hagrid clapped and cheered with the Gryffindors. Lily now waited for her turn. Professor McGonagall reached the 'P's.
"Peakes, Brynn!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Potter, Lily!" Lily went up to the stool and put on the Hat. It fell pass her eyes. She heard a voice in her ear.
"Hmm…Plenty of courage, like your father and mother. You've got talent my dear, goodness, yes. Smart, clever, and quick-witted too. I'll take it you'd rather not be in Slytherin. Alright, then– better be Gryffindor!" She heard the Hat shout the last word. The Gryffindors exploded with cheers, she walked shakily towards the table and slipped in a seat next to Kallista. She watched the Sorting, waiting for Nicholas' name to be called. When Professor McGonagall reached the 'S's, Nicholas was shaking.
"Sloper, Keith!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Smith, Chelsea!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Stanton, Nicholas!" Lily watched as Nicholas walked up to the stool with fright written on his face. He put the Hat on his head. Lily waited with abated breath.
"Gryffindor!" Lily cheered madly with the rest of the Gryffindors.
"Thomas, Edmund!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Travis, Keira!" Keira walked up trembling. Lily, Kallista, and Nicholas held their breath.
"Gryffindor!" Keira looked relieved. Grinning form ear to ear, she went and joined the Gryffindors. She squeezed herself between Lily and Nicholas. Lily gave her a hug.
"Vaisey, Patrick!"
"Slytherin!"
"Weasley, Fred!"
"Gryffindor!" Lily cheered with the rest of her cousins as Fred sat next to Ashlee.
"Weasley, Hugo!"
"Gryffindor!" Hugo sat next to Fred.
"Whitby, Amanda!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Wood, Keita!"
"Gryffindor!"
Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, and took the Sorting Hat away. When she returned a few minutes later, she stood in front of her chair, but did not sit.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I'm sure you would all like to eat, so let the feast!" she sat down. The food appeared. The talking broke out. A ghost wearing a ruff and tights glided up to them.
"Hello, your brothers told me you would be coming this year, Lily," he said. Lily looked at the ghost confused, then she realised who the ghost was.
"You're Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, then? Otherwise known as Nearly Headless Nick?" Lily asked him. He beamed at her.
"Nearly Headless? How can anyone be nearly headless?" Keira asked.
"Like this," Nick said, pulling his left ear, so that his head lay on his shoulder. Keira shuddered.
"How did you know I was Lily?"
"Your brother, Albus, said you look exactly like your mother, who used to be known as Ginny Weasley," Nick explained. Lily nodded. They continued to talk as they ate. Finally, when they had eaten as much as they could, the food faded away, and the desserts appeared. The talk turned to what they would like to do while at Hogwarts.
"My dad, when he was here, played Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team," Keita said. "So, I'd like to play Keeper too. I'm pretty good at it."
"Ah, yes, Oliver Wood," Nick said. Keita nodded.
"My mum and Dad were both on that team, also, Mum was a Chaser and Dad and his twin were Beaters," Fred said.
"I know who your dad is," Keita said to Lily. "Your dad is Harry Potter. You should here my dad go on about him, 'We never lost a match, with him as Seeker!'"
"My mum played Seeker too, but the year after, she played as Chaser," Lily said. "I'd like to play as Seeker, but either position doesn't bother me. What about you, Riley?"
"Not sure, really," Riley said. "'Bout you Keira?"
"Well, I'm Muggle-born, so I never even heard of Hogwarts, until I got my letter. So, I'm gonna say, make through my first week without doing anything wrong," Keira said. "'What about you, Nick?" she said turning to her friend.
"Same," he said. The rest laughed.
"Ah, don't worry, lots come from Muggle families, and they learn soon enough," Kallista said reassuringly. At last, the desserts disappeared. Professor McGonagall stood up. The chatter stopped.
"First years should note that the Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden. A few of our older students should remember that as well." Her eyes fell on James and his friends, and finally, the Weasley twins.
"Also, I have been asked by Ms. Rycroft, the caretaker, to remind you that magic is not to be used in the corridors between classes.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house should see Madam Hooch. That's all of importance. Off to bed now, off you go."
"First years! First years, over here, please!" called a girl's voice. The first made their way to her.
"Hi, I'm Tegan Maddock, one of Gryffindor's prefects" she said. "This is–" she continued seizing a boy's robes, "–Connor McKinnley, the other fifth year Gryffindor prefect."
"What to do you mean 'one of Gryffindor's prefects'?" Edmund Thomas asked.
"Well, there are six prefects for each house, two fifth years, two sixth years, and two seventh years," Tegan explained. "Now, if you'll follow us." Tegan and Connor led them out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. They had just been led through a door pretending to wall when they ran into–
"Peeves!" Tegan shouted, seeing as Peeves was throwing pieces of chalk at them.
"Ickle Firsties! What fun!" he cackled. He threw more chalk at them. Tegan drew her wand.
"Peeves, don't make me hex you!" Tegan warned. He merely laughed. Tegan raised her wand. "Silencio!" Peeves went to say something, but couldn't.
"It's a Silencing Charm, Peeves," Connor said. Peeves made a rude hand gesture before flying away.
"Watch out for Peeves, the Bloody Baron –that's the Slytherin ghost– is the only one who can control him," Tegan explained. "Let's move on, shall we?" They followed Tegan and Connor until they reached the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked.
"Mirabilia," Tegan said. The Fat Lady swung forwards. They scrambled through the portrait hole. "Welcome to Gryffindor Tower." Connor led the boys to their dormitory, and Tegan led the girls to theirs. The girls put on their pyjamas quietly.
"I think that is the best food I've ever had," Keira said. Lily agreed, she was going to say so, but fell asleep instantly.
Author's Note: This chapter is rather short, I think, but that's okay, I intended it to be. Any ideas for Lily's owl's name? Hedwig or Artemis? And if you don't think Fred or Colin Creevey wouldn't come back as ghosts, speak now or forever hold your peace. And I'm surprised at how fast I'm writing these chapters… I'm still suffering writer's block with my other two stories… I'm starting to think school helped.