Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter, Jo Rowling does. I own Hailey and a few other people.
The students were quite silent. They were waiting for someone to say something, but everyone was much too nervous. The only one that didn't have any nervousness in them was the blonde boy with wet hair.
Hailey was nervous about which House she would be put into. Harry was nervous about a whole other thing. He was terrified that he wouldn't be very good at magic. Ron looked positively green.
Hailey looked back at the door as Professor McGonagall returned. "Move along now," she said in a sharp tone. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
"Now, form a line," She instructed, "And follow me."
The first years followed, all of them anxious. Hailey got in line behind a sandy haired boy as Harry and Ron followed behind her out of the chamber into the Great Hall.
Hailey looked around; a bright grin crossed her lips. There was hundreds—no—thousands of candles that lit the hall that was floating in midair above four long tables where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
Hailey looked up at the ceiling and stared in awe. It was a velvet black color that was dotted with twinkling stars. It reminded her of her room. She heard Hermione whispering to another girl, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
It was almost impossible to believe that there was a ceiling there at all! It was much easier to believe the Great Hall didn't just open up to the heavens above.
Hailey looked at McGonagall as she placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool was a pointed wizards' hat, almost like a stereo type hat in Muggle stories. It was patched and frayed and very dirty. Hailey could almost imagine Malfoy thinking, No way are they putting that dirty thing on my head! Hailey almost laughed out loud at this thought. Then she looked at Harry who was watching it with intense curiosity. She bit her lip and looked back at the Hat.
Suddenly, a rip near the brim of the Hat opened and started to sing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty
But don't judge by what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat then me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I am 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 be in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindor apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff are true
And unafraid to toil;
Or yet in wise Ravenclaw,
I 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 safe in hands (though I have none)
For I am a Thinking Cap!"© (1)
There was a rouse of applause. Hailey smiled brightly at the song. She felt she would understand which House she was put in. Hailey looked around. Most of the first years looked relieved. Apparently, they heard Ron telling Harry about the test and became nervous.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a long scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right over her eyes, and sat on the stool. There was a moment's pause—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted and a table to the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Hailey noticed a fat ghost waving to her merrily.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted yet again, then Susan scampered to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The second table to the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry when he joined.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lavender was the first Griffindor, and the table to the far left exploded with cheers.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Hailey made a mental note to avoid her as she watch Millicent stride over to the table. Hailey knew the Slytherins were known for more then their 'cunning'-ness.
"Elric, Edward!"
Hailey looked back at the hat and saw the blonde boy from the lake walk up to the stool. Actually, it didn't seem like he was walking, more like gliding—his movement was so smooth. He picked up the hat and put it on his head. As it fell over his eyes, he sat on the bench. It could have been two full minutes before the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
There was applause for him as he removed the hat, revealing bangs that covered his eyes, and glided over to the Gryffindor table.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly onto her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Hailey gave a sideways glace to Harry and suddenly felt very nervous. Hailey knew she shouldn't be nervous, she should be just as excited as Hermione! Hailey tried to get rid of the feeling of uneasiness as Professor McGonagall called more people to the hat. She shut her eyes very tightly and shook her head very inconspicuously to grab a hold onto her feelings. Why did she feel this way? She looked back at Harry who looked as anxious as she felt.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
The hat barely touched his head before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Should have been in Hufflepuff…." Hailey muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Harry and Ron to hear. They chuckled nervously in return.
Hailey heard a girl being sorted into a house just before—
"Potter, Hailey!"
Hailey scrambled towards the hat and heard a low murmuring as she also jammed it into her head just as Hermione had done. She took her seat on the stool and waited.
"Hmm…." said a voice in her ear. Hailey felt herself smiling. "You're difficult. Very difficult, indeed. Brave; smart; talented; and a thirst to prove yourself and help others. Where shall I put you?"
As long as I'm not in Slytherin, I'm happy. Hailey heard herself think.
"Not Slytherin? Dear, no. Maybe Ravenclaw?" the voice said.
As long as I'm with Harry (and not in Slytherin), I don't care. Hailey thought.
"Well, we aren't sure about your brother yet, Hailey. But, you could be very talented in Ravenclaw? You don't seem very sure for your brother. All right then—GRYFFINDOR!"
Hailey hoisted the hat off of her head and placed it back on the stool. She made her way, with a bright smile on her face. As Hailey passed Fred and George, they said, "Hailey, you owe us an explanation!" They said with stunned features across their faces.
Hailey laughed and took her seat next to Hermione.
The applause died down and Professor McGonagall continued.
"Potter, Harry!"
There was an even louder murmur around the hall.
"Potter, did she say?" she heard some people saying. She also heard disbelieving, "The Harry Potter?"
Hailey felt another sense of nerves over come her. What if Harry was sorted into another house? He may not have seemed very bright, but what if he really was? What if they were in separate Houses?
It took a full minute for the hat to shout, "GRYFFINDOR!" but to Hailey, it lasted like hours.
Hailey watched her brother make his way to the table. Percy Weasley shook his hand vigorously, and Fred and George sung, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
Harry took his seat next to Hailey, who was so relieved, she hugged him. He seemed more then shocked by this gesture. A split second before Hailey let him go; she shut her eyes and squeezed him tightly. She saw a flash of a blonde face before her eyes. She let go of Harry in a hurry and looked who she was sitting across from. It was the boy newly daubed Edward. She flashed him a sheepish smile before she looked back at the Sorting Hat.
There were several more students before Ron was called. When he was, his face turned a nice shade of green. He sat upon the stool, and after a few seconds—
"GRYFFINDOR!"
There were a couple people that asked if Hailey was going to be like James. All I'm gonna say is: you'll have to wait and see! O.-
1. I did not write this song, it was in the first book. I take no credit for it!
I'm very sorry I didn't update sooner! I was very sick. Plus, I lost the book for reference and who knows the book off of the top of their head? Anyway, it wasn't my fault it was lost. My little brother stole it and hid it behind the couch. And f.y.i, it's very hard to crack it's location from a two year old.
I have absolutely no sense of creativity, so I decided to name the boy after my favorite anime character, Edward Elric, from the Fullmetal Alchemist series (hence my signature).
"Real Facts" presented by Snapple!"
# 91
There are more telephones than people in Washington, D.C.
D.A.
-H.P. & F.M.A. Fanatic 4Eva
