Chapter 9 - Ally
When the ghosts swooped into the room through the wall, Ally barely even blinked. She had seen ghosts before. Her dad's job was to help round up ghosts that caused trouble. Sort of like a ghost policeman.
Vivia, on the other hand, jumped and let out a small scream.
"It's fine, don't worry," Ally assured her. "They won't hurt you. Just don't walk through them. It's rather uncomfortable." Ally shivered as she recalled the icy feeling.
Ally and Vivia continued talking about random things (e.g. life, the newest wizarding fashion trends, Hogwarts houses) while the ghosts made cheesy comments about how this house is the best, Hogwarts is really fun, I hope you enjoy it here.
Then, Professor McGonagall appeared again and led them into the room off of the Great Hall where everyone was eating. There were four long tables crowded with people. At the end of the room was another table with a bunch of adults (presumably teachers) sitting around it.
The ceiling was - well, was there even a ceiling? It was hard to tell. It looked exactly like the sky outside, starry and glittering.
As the first years walked in, everyone turned to stare at them as they made their way toward the front of the room.
Professor McGonagall sat a stool at the front of the hall, and on top of it she set down the most disgusting looking hat Ally had ever seen. What the heck were they supposed to do with that?!
Then, incredibly, 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 top 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 steady 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!"
Everyone applauded, so Ally flowed suit.
McGonagall stepped in front of them with a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she told them. "Abbot, Hannah!"
A tiny, blonde-haired girl, wearing pigtails put on the hat and sat on the stool.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" called the hat.
Hannah went and sat down with the Hufflepuffs, who were applauding furiously.
"Black, Abigail!"
There were a few murmurs at the surname, but they died down almost immediately. Abby confidently walked up to the stool, sat on it, and put the hat over her head. About 15 seconds, and then,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Abby almost swaggered over to the Gryffindor table. Sheesh, she was annoying.
Next, McGonagall called, "Black, Alison!"
Ally gulped as Vivia whispered, "Good luck!" She tried to walk up to the stool with as much confidence as Abby (not swaggering, but confidently all the same). But when you have at least 3,000 people staring at you, it's not easy.
She sat on the stool and shakily pulled the hat over her head.
"Hmmm," she heard a little voice in her ear say. "You've got cunning. You would do well in Slytherin. But ooh, what's this? Loyalty. Lots of loyalty. But also stubborn determination, a very Slytherin trait. Loyalty, or determination and cunning? I think you're more of a SLYTHERIN!"
This last word the hat shouted to the whole room. There was a lot of cheering from the Slytherin table as Ally pulled the hat off and trotted over to the table. She found an empty seat somewhere in the middle and sat down.
"Black, Amelia!"
Poor girl, thought Ally as Amy walked up the few steps. Amy was visibly shaking, and almost tripped on the last step. She pushed up her glasses and sat on the stool, putting on the hat.
After about three seconds, the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
Amy looked almost relieved as she walked (very quickly) down to the Ravenclaw table. Someone scooted over to make room for her; Ally assumed it was the friend she mentioned earlier.
"Black, Annabel!"
Annie cheerfully bounded up the steps and plopped the hat on. It had barely touched her head before it yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Annie happily skipped down to the Hufflepuff table, where she was warmly welcomed.
Ally zoned out during a lot of the sorting, but she perked up when she heard Vivia's name called.
"Bluder, Suzana!"
The next person had the curliest, wildest hair Ally had ever seen. After about thirty seconds, she was deemed fit for Slytherin.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat announced after several seconds. Ally scooted over to make room for her.
A few people later, Abby's friend Gina was called.
The hat was silent for almost four whole minutes before it finally called . . .
"SLYTHERIN!"
What?! Slytherin?! Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I'm waiting for a few more OC's before I continue. So if any of you who have read this, but not followed it want more, submit a character.
R&R, and ciao!
