Chapter 10: The Sorting
Harry, Dudley and the girls were sent down to the platform to meet up with the other first years. Surprisingly enough, Harry noticed none of the second years had missed the train; only a few third, fourth and sixth years.
"Are you guys excited to be coming to Hogwarts? What house do you think you'll be in?" one of the boys Harry recognised as Ced from the Floo asked.
"Yea, I hope I'm in Slytherin," Faith Wilmoth answered.
"Oh? That's cool, I know some great Slytherin fourth years, funny blokes,'" the fourth year Hufflepuff answered.
"I thought the houses didn't get along?" Harry asked.
"Gryffindor is the only house that has problems; they think that they're better because they're the "House of the Brave" and the house that has Harry Potter and his parents," a Ravenclaw Harry didn't know the name of told him.
"Well that seems stupid," Dudley admitted.
"It didn't help that Harry Potter doesn't speak to anyone other than his to toady, bullying friends, or that Malfoy fellow, the one that gives Slytherin a bad name," a Slytherin sixth year said.
"Wait, Malfoy? I was told his mother sent him to Beauxbatons; that was the only reason I said I'd come here. Little rotten maggot still here? I am so angry at my parents right now," Faith fumed.
"You know Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Yea, how do you know him?" she replied sceptically.
"We met him at Diagon Alley getting our robes," Dudley covered for Harry.
"His Grandmother and mine are friends, they come to things sometimes, right piece of work he is. He's like two months older than me and thinks he's better because he just made the cut to go to school a year early than me," she rolled her eyes.
"I know right, such a little ponce," Skylar Johannsen scoffed.
"Here comes the train," one of the sixth years said. Sure enough the train was pulling into the station, a dark, shiny crimson with brilliant gold lettering. Behind it was a puff of pure white smoke. The first years were amazed, "Wow," breathed Skylar.
Hagrid came over to them so he knew where they were and started his yearly chant of "firs years, over here, firs years."
Before they knew it they were making their way down a decrepit, narrow, windy path onto little boats. Harry stayed with Dudley, Faith and Skylar on the boats, making appropriate sounds of astonishment at the right times. They waited in the same room that Harry waited in the year prior and the ghosts scared the first years again. Finally McGonagall came to collect them to be sorted. They walked up the middle of the tables, looking around nervously. Harry was especially worried. 'What if the Sorting Hat outs me?' he thought, worry lines creasing his forehead through the make-up. Soon the cat animagus called "Dursley, Dudley." Dudley stepped up to the stool and put the hat on his head, sitting down. After a few moments the hat cried out "Hufflepuff." Dudley grinned at Harry and went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Then it was Harry's named being called out, "Dursley, Hunter". He walked to the stool, as if in a daze out the hat on and sat down.
'Ah, I saw you last year. Gryffindor not all it's cracked up to be, eh?' the hat said.
'Put me wherever you want, except Gryffindor," Harry told the hat.
"Well then, since you asked, Slytherin!" shouted the hat. Harry was relieved. He had hoped for Slytherin, even though Malfoy was a member of the house. He had realised over the summer that the hat was right, Slytherin would help him achieve any ambitions he had, Gryffindor was proving that he couldn't make any connections outside the house. He walked over to the table and sat down.
"Hello, I'm Draco Malfoy," his neighbour told him.
"I know, we met at the robe shop," Harry replied smiling. He had decided to be polite to Malfoy, who knows where his connections could get Harry.
"Shh I want to hear the sorting," an older student said.
The sorting was up to G with Grand, Lucas joining Gryffindor. Skylar joined Slytherin. Then McGonagall called out "Peirs, Carys." Harry and Dudley were very surprised. They hadn't seen her on the way to the sorting, they had even forgotten that she may have been a witch. After about thirty seconds the Sorting Hat announced "Ravenclaw," she smiled and went over to sit with the last Ravenclaw that was sorted, Luna Lovegood. She gave a little wave to Dudley, who pointed out Harry and mouthed 'wave,' she did, with a giggle.
"Do you know that girl, Hunter?" Skylar asked from beside him.
"Yea, she lives on my street, I'm friends with her brother, but Carys is cool," Harry told her. Finally Faith was sorted into Slytherin.
"Ergh," she whispered to Harry and Skylar, "In Malfoy's house."
"Well good thing you already have me, Dudley and Skylar as friends," Harry comforted.
"Yea. Hey isn't Harry Potter supposed to be here?" Skylar asked.
"Potter isn't here? Probably thinks he won't get in trouble if he misses the first day," Malfoy sneered. Ron and Hermione were looking panicked because Harry was missing, however Dumbledore was looking at Harry with intent.
A/n: Sorry for the delay. I had planned to have this chapter out before Christmas (last year) but Christmas happened, and then last week I was busy. So tell me how you like the sorting, more reviews may encourage me to right more.
Until next time,
Saelu