Chapter 7
"Hey, Emily. Don't look so nervous. It's only school," joked Jon. He still didn't know the whole of Emily's story. If he had, maybe he'd be a little more serious.
Emily shrugged and looked again at the castle. Why had she come here? Her mother didn't want her to, but why? Was there actually a reason? After the rat-man had come looking for Leila, Emily had started to suspect that a lot of secrets were being kept from her.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" asked a strange sounding voice from inside the gate. A very short man scrambled into view. His appearance immediately reminded Emily of a goblin (she had seen one once in a map book of the wizarding world, but had never actually been to Diagon Alley).
"Hello, Professor Flitwick," Mr. Granger greeted the assistant headmaster of Hogwarts.
The small man jumped. "I say, Phillip, is that really you? You've grown so much since you were at school."
Phillip smiled down at his former teacher who was unlocking the gates to the school.
"Sorry about that," apologized Flitwick. "You know what happened to Hogwarts last year, I presume. Jon's dad solemnly nodded his head.
Emily was confused. "What happened last year?" she asked, curiously, thinking 'Great! More secrets!'
Flitwick jumped again. "Why...You-Know-Who entered…I'll leave that to Minerva to tell you that. Professor McGonnagal's been waiting to see you. She'll explain everything you need to know. Well, maybe not everything." He chuckled. "Oh look! We're almost at the school. Granger, are you coming in or leaving now?" he asked Mr. Granger.
Jon's dad hugged his son goodbye. Afterwards, Jon gave Emily a hopeful look. "Guess we're in the hands of the school now."
Emily shrugged and looked back up at the enormous castle. If it weren't for her own eyes she would never believe that a building could be that enourmous.
Flitwick hurried the children into the school. They walked past magnificent portraits that moved and spoke, students in black robes giving them questioning looks, and up moving staircases that seemed to lead everywhere. Hogwarts was an amazing place compared to everything Emily had seen before in her life.
Finally they arrived at a stone gargoyle.
"Acid pops," said Flitwick confidently. Emily was momentarily confused by this odd statement until the gargoyle moved aside to allow the three into an office.
In the middle of the office sat a stern looking woman with her brown hair in a tight bun. She wore witch robes and a tall, hat. She seemed very cross, but the way she smiled at Jon and Emily and waved for them to sit down in the chairs facing her desk was reassuring.
"Now, Mr. Granger, Hogwarts has accommodated for your arrival. Your classes, however, because you weren't sorted when we had to make room for you, are with all four of the Hogwarts houses. I'm sure your dad has told you about the houses- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff."
Jon nodded. Emily was totally lost.
"Miss Lupin, Hogwarts was not ready for you so we don't even have any plans for your classes. I suppose you could just go to the same classes as Jon. That may be easiest on the teachers. Now, to see which house both of you will be in, we'll need the sorting hat." She reached behind her desk and pulled out a beat-up, old wizards hat. She stared at it expectantly.
Suddenly a mouth broke out of the folds in the hat. "Sorting two more, I see."
McGonagall replied curtly, "Yes. Please sort Mr. Granger and Miss Lupin." She placed the hat on Jon's head. Both the hat and Jon sat in silence for a minute. A puzzled look appeared on Jon's face after a while. A few seconds later the hat exclaimed, "Gryffindor!"
Jon rubbed his head as the Headmistress placed the hat on Emily's head.
"A Lupin, I see. Your father would be very proud of you coming here."
Emily was shocked. Even this old hat knew more about her dad then she did. 'What do you know about him?' She asked in thought.
"Oh, I don't' think I could tell you that," said the hat, sounding amused. It seemed that only Emily could hear what it was saying for the teachers and Jon didn't have any reaction to what the hat was saying. "You'll find out soon enough anyway. Just because I sit in this office all day doesn't mean I'm not aware of the people who have been in this school. Anyhow, I think your sorting is a simple one. You're not aware of any of the houses. I know you wouldn't want to be in Slytherin. They're not your type at all. You're almost a mix of the rest of the houses. Brave Gryffindor, brainy Ravenclaw, loyal and friendly Hufflepuff. Hmm…but you are a one of a kind girl. How about…" The hat cleared it's nonexistent throat so it could pronounce the house Emily would be in. "She should be in…"