Chapter 4: The Sorting Hat and the Broom Stick Disaster

"Bloody hell, Ella, where were you?" Ron asked rudely when he found me walking by myself on the winding path leading up to Hogwarts. After my farewell with Cedric, I thought it would be redundant to go back to the end of the train just to get off. "We thought you might have met some nasty people on the train."

"Sorry, if I scared you. I ran into Cedric, we were chatting," I shrugged, footsteps quickly syncing with Harry and Ron.

"He fancies you," Ron rolled his eyes. I gave him a warning glare before turning away from him, not saying anything. "What? You know it's true."

"Shut up, Ron. Come, Harry, let's take this one," I said, hopping onto an empty boat. The two boys followed suit and climbed onto the boat carefully. I settled myself at the back of the boat, relaxing and stretching out my legs.

"E-excuse me," a voice called, feeling a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a boy standing there with a big blush on his face, looking down at his fingers as if in embarrassment. He was weakly built but quite handsome with a mass of brown hair on top of his head. "Sorry, it's just – is – is it okay if I joined the three of you?"

"Not at all," I replied. I scooted over on my seat lazily and patted the seat beside me, in which he hopped in and settled himself quickly.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid, the game's keeper of Hogwarts, shouted. "Right then – FORWARD!" and with that the boats started to glide along the water, getting closer to the dreamlike castle in front of us.

"My name is Estella, but I usually go by Ella. What's yours?" I asked.

His face started to turn into a brilliant shade of red that matched my hair as he peaked at me with his big brown eyes. "Th-Theodore Nott." The boy said shyly. Just then, we reached the other side of the Lake and traveled underneath the vines into the underground harbour. It was when I had been trying to balance myself, whilst Ron and Harry jumped out, rocking the boat, the boy reached his hand out to me.

I took the hand, surprised at the boy's kindness, muttering a thank you before jumping out of the boat. I could almost feel Ron rolling his eyes as he watched the scene play out in front of me. He always found it annoying that I had an effect on the general male population, not that it was really my fault. I excused myself away from Theodore as I walked over to Harry and Ron (giving Ron a shove) and fell into comfortable steps between them, walking inside the castle.

We were given an introduction by a pointed witch, Professor McGonagall, which proved to be boring, and I found myself distracted, and looking around the castle. However, when my eyes landed on Harry, I realized he looked as if he wanted to vomit, going almost a pale green. He caught my eyes and I gave him a sympathetic smile, giving him reassurance that everything will be fine.

Soon we were led into the Great Hall, through the body of students that looked over at us first years with anticipation. I saw Percy, Fred and George, eyeing Ron and me with stern looks. I also saw Cedric as he gave me a brilliant reassuring smile, but I wasn't very reassured as we stood before the whole school, and watched as the ratty hat started to sing.

When the hat finally stood still, Professor McGonagall stepped forward again. This time she was holding a long roll of parchment in front of her. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she instructed, calling the first name, "Abbott, Hannah."

I watched with wary eyes as the people began to file out into their respected houses. I saw Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom, both whom I briefly saw on the train, being sorted into Gryffindor, when I heard a familiar pureblood last name being called. "Malfoy, Draco."

I was surprised when the familiar boy – the same boy I had met and talked to at Madam Malkin's, and the same boy who I walked away from in the train. He swaggered up to the stool, with an ever present smirk on his face. But before putting on the hat, he caught my eyes, and he gave, what looked like, an apologetic smile, before the hat descended down to his head. But as the hat touched the tip of his head, yelling "SLYTHERIN!" I couldn't help but breaking eye contact, rolling them as I saw him join the Slytherin table which cheered loudly.

And then it was called, "Potter, Harry!" Harry gave both Ron and I a look, still scared. And as he placed the hat on top of his head, he looked like he was going to be sick even more. The hat debated its options, speaking to him in his head before it finally screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!" I could hear the Gryffindor student body cheering, overjoyed at the fact that they had gotten Harry Potter in their house. And I could hear Fred and George's voice towering over everyone else's, whooping.

After the long lasted applause for Harry, Professor McGonagall looked down at the long parchment again. My heart instantly stopped when she called out, "Prewett, Estella!" I felt as if my ears were ringing and my throat had become instantly dry as I walked over to the stool. Sitting down, I looked to Harry first, who gave me an encouraging smile. I looked at Ron next, but quickly looked away, seeing his equally unsure expression made me feel sick. But then, my eyes landed on Draco Malfoy, who looked surprised at my name, but watched me intently. I rolled my eyes at this and placed the hat on top of my head, letting the Sorting Hat speak to me.

"Ah, the daughter of Gideon Prewett, yes I've heard of you. Your father's bravery and courageousness lives within your blood. However, you could be great in Slytherin… Slytherin would become the easier way for you to achieve what you're destined for," it whispered.

I instantly felt my hands going moist with nerves. 'I want to make my father proud. I don't care if I have to achieve my destiny the harder way," I thought.

"You know, Miss Prewett, another boy that was here wanted the same thing you wanted – to make his family proud. He was radiating the desire to do so, and thus I put him in Slytherin. Perhaps maybe you don't want to make the same mistakes? No? You don't care? Then why not… GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat screamed.

Another cheer erupted as the Hat made its decision. I gave a big smile, happy with the decision the Hat has made. I walked with a little bounce to my feet and saw as Fred got up from his seat, met me halfway and led me to empty first year seats. I took a seat between Harry and Percy, both whom gave me a wide grin and a sideway hug, congratulating me. However, we soon turned our attentions back to the front where Ron looked back at us, he nearly looked like he was going to burst into tears.

"Honestly, I don't know what Ron's so worried about, of course he will be in Gryffindor," I rolled my eyes as Ron approached the Hat. It only took a few seconds before the Hat called out Gryffindor and he came bouncing, sitting across from Harry and me. Soon the foods appeared onto the table and the three of us started to load our plates with all different kinds of good foods. I looked at Harry who had instantly become a great friend of mine, and then to Ron, who was my closest cousin besides Ginny.

"Well then, boys," I said out loud, smiling. "I think this is going to be a lovely year,"


Matter of fact, the first week or so of classes wasn't as lovely as I thought it could have been.

Hanging out with Ron, and Harry was brilliant. I have never felt closer to my cousin, and I have never felt any happier in my life, learning magic and going to school. However, school proved to be annoying in a lot of other ways.

Since hanging out with Harry, the three of us started to get a lot more attention than we ever wanted. Harry was the new talk of the school, and was stared at for the obvious reasons. But it didn't stop from gossiping about Harry, as people wondered who Ron and I were. Rumours flew that I was dating Harry Potter, and that Ron was a jealous cousin who tried to keep us at bay – which was ridiculous.

The girls in my house proved to be a complete nightmare as well. Lavender Brown, Pavarti Patil, Jane Greyson, and Fay Dunbar were all kind-hearted, but they were the typical superficial, over-dramatic motor mouths who gossiped about nothing. Every night they tried to get information on whether I was dating Harry or not, and I had to avoid them. Hermione Granger, who usually avoided people, and preferred the company of her books, was the one person I was most tolerant with. Thus, it was quite often I only hung around with Harry, Ron and their new bunkmates, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom.

Finally, to add cherry on top, it looked as if the Potions Master of the school, Professor Snape, and the entire body of Slytherin house decided to single out Harry and torment him anyway possible. Professor Snape looked as if he was going out of his way to humiliate Harry, and blamed him for every accident that ever happened in potions. Slytherin house, led by Draco Malfoy, jeered at Harry, Ron and me. It was a good thing that we only had Potions with the Slytherin.

Until that was, we saw the notice on the Gryffindor common room. They had flying lessons with the Slytherin starting this Thursday, which was today.

"Typical," Harry said darkly. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."

"You don't know you'll make a fool of yourself," Ron reasoned, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, I know Malfoy's always going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet that's all talk."

Harry still looked gloomy despite Ron's attempts at cheering him up. I could imagine, how scary the thought of flying must be for Muggle-borns, or someone like Harry. Even Ron and I had favorite teams, and have been on a broom couple times, in courtesy of Charlie or the twins. For Harry, it was brand new, nothing was familiar.

At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Ron and I rushed down the front steps of the grounds with the rest of the Gryffindors. The Slytherins were already there, and as soon as the Gryffindors arrived, Madam Hooch instructed us to stand by the brooms. We fell into a line, Ron standing between Harry and me, and me standing between Ron and Dean.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom," Madam Hooch instructed from the front. "And say UP!"

"UP!" I watched as everyone shouted.

Harry's broom along with a few others, such as Malfoy, flew up to his hand at once. I noticed that Granger's broom rolled around a little pathetically, while Neville's broom didn't move at all. I cleared my throat and called to my broom, which responded immediately. Ron raised an eyebrow at me and I could see Granger looking at me with narrowed eyes but I shrugged, gripping the broom happily.

Then, Madam Hooch showed us how to mount our brooms without sliding off the end, surveying up and down the aisle, observing everyone. Harry and Ron looked happy when Madam Hooch corrected Malfoy's grip, making me roll my eyes at their immaturity, but smiled nonetheless.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle – three – two -,"

However, I was surprised as Neville, pushed off hard few places next to mine.

"Come back, boy!" Madam Hooch shouted, making me snort before I could stop myself.

'Believe me, if he could, he would,' I thought as I saw him rise over twenty feet. His face was as white as sheets and I imagine the clammy hands he would be getting. He looked as if he was moving a little before he gasped, and slip sideways off the broom and – WHAM.

I wasn't able to comprehend what has happened for a second. Neville had managed to fall from his broom diagonally, crashing into me.

I saw as Ron, with wide eyes ran towards mass heap of me and Neville, tangled on the ground. He pushed Neville off of me and asked if I was okay while he checked for any cuts on my arms and face.

"I'm fine, Ron," I said as I simply dusted myself off and sat up, looking towards Neville. What could have been a fatal fall was broken by me as he only got away with a broken wrist.

"Ms. Prewett, are you alright?" Madam Hooch asked as she helped Neville up.

"I feel fine, Professor," I assured her.

"Well, come to the hospital wing with us just in case," she said, dragging reluctant me with her, not noticing the pair of icy blue eyes trailing behind me.


(A/N) Another sort of a filler chapter.

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