Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Charmed. I am just a fan. The only thing I own is my own Characters such as Phoenix.
A/N: Okay just wanted to tell yeah that the majority of what is italicized is thoughts. Right now it is only limited to Phoenix's thoughts.
The Other Magical World
Chapter 10: Let the Sorting Begin!
With a loud creak the door swung open and behind it a tall black-haired witch stood there. Phoenix couldn't help but shiver some more for this woman was not someone she wanted to cross.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Said Hagrid.
'This woman is a Professor? I thought she was the greeter!' Phoenix couldn't help but think.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Phoenix followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione as Professor McGonagall opened the door even wider and walked inside followed by the students. Phoenix looked around the hall as the others did the same.
'This is much more impressive than Magic School!' She then heard voices, hundreds of them, as they came closer to a doorway they passed. 'Is the rest of the school already here?' As Phoenix bumped into Neville, she realized they all stopped in a small empty chamber.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted in your houses."
'Houses? Is that what Hermione was blabbering about on the train? She said so much so fast I couldn't grasp it all. And what does Professor McGonagall mean by being sorted?'
"The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
'Wow! This will take sometime getting used to. Though I guess it is no different than any other boarding school.'
"The four houses are called: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points."
'Okay Now what does she mean by house points? Do we get anything for having so much?'
"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor."
'Okay I spoke to soon. Maybe if I was patient I would have known.'
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
'In front of the whole school! Wouldn't it be better to be sorted in private? I mean what if something happened and you didn't want anybody else to see it?' This above all did not help Phoenix. She got warmer from being inside, but the shaking continued caused by nerves more than the cold.
"I shall return when we are ready for you." Said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
Phoenix continued to look at her surroundings as everyone around her began to shuffle. Professor McGonagall left which just made the dread of waiting even worse.
"Ron exactly how do they sort us into houses?" Phoenix heard Harry ask Ron.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
'A test? What kind of test? I don't know any of these people's type of magic! Heck, I don't even know how to use a wand! '
"I wonder which spell I would need to use." Hermione whispered as she looked at Phoenix with fright.
"I'm sure there is some other way to be sorted besides a test." Phoenix told Hermione hoping it would ease not only Hermione's nerves but her own.
A small scream was heard behind them. Everyone turned around and gasped, well besides Phoenix, as she has been accustomed in seeing dead people before. Twenty or so ghosts came streaming through the wall. They seemed not to of noticed the first years even being there.
'You mean to tell me that none of them have ever seen ghosts?' Phoenix just shook her head in disbelief. 'They would have something to really be afraid of if they see a demon!'
"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall returned as one by one the ghosts floated away. Phoenix couldn't help but wave at a couple floating by.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Phoenix got behind Ron as Hermione got behind her. Now the butterflies fluttered their wings faster. The double doors to the Great Hall opened, and in they went. The other students sat in four long tables each having hundreds of candles floating over it. Looking forward Phoenix saw another table where older witches and wizards were sitting.
'They must be the teachers. So, that is where the teachers' table must be.' Phoenix wasn't use to that. 'Normally the teachers had their own room they went and ate at.'
They came up to the front of the hall and formed a line. The hundreds of eyes looking directly at them made the first years even more nervous. Phoenix glanced up not noticing what was above her and also trying to ignore the eyes.
'Is there no ceiling in this room? Or is this just a really cool painting. It makes since it is an old castle.'
Hermione noticing, Phoenix was looking at the ceiling and also trying to ignore the people, leaned over and whispered
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside."
'Bewitched? Now that is something. In fact it almost reminds me of a Gothic cathedral mom took me to. Hmm I wander if that ceiling is bewitched?'
"I read about it in……"
"Let me guess Hogwarts A History?" Phoenix said starting to get a little tired.
"Well yes, of course."
They stopped talking as soon as they heard a small clunk. Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On the top of the stool, she placed a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was all patched up and extremely dirty.
"What are we suppose to do with that?" Phoenix leaned over and asked Hermione.
"I don't know." She said.
They both stopped as they heard the hat twitch a little. Then a mouth opened by a rip near the brim and it started 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 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 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 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 in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
'We got to put that ugly hat on!' Phoenix couldn't believe it as the whole hall burst into applause. 'I think a test would be better than that filthy thing. Good thing Katie is not here. I think she would have just walked out.'
Just then Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She said. Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment and began. "Abbott, Hannah!"
Phoenix watched as the blonde pigtail girl came out from behind her, put on the huge hat, and sat down. Phoenix couldn't help but wonder what they are suppose to be waiting for until the mouth of the hat opened up and yelled.
"Hufflepuff!"
'Okay, so you put the hat on, and you get sorted. Well, that is not as bad as I thought. I wonder though, how exactly does this hat know where to put people simply by putting it on?'
Another girl went to Hufflepuff followed by two new Ravenclaws. A girl named Lavender Brown was next. Phoenix watched eagerly trying to figure the magic behind the hat. Lavender became the first new Gryffindor. Then two more people went until.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione took one look at Phoenix who gave her a reassuring and good-luck smile, ran to the stool, and jammed the hat on her head.
"Gryffindor!"
Phoenix gave a loud cheer as Hermione ran to the Gryffindor table. Ron groaned as she went by.
"Hey!" Phoenix whispered.
"Sorry! It's just she is so annoying!" said Ron in a whining voice.
"She is not that annoying Ron! And you can be annoying by your whining!"
While Phoenix and Ron was arguing, Neville went up to the stool.
"Gryffindor!" yelled the hat.
Phoenix and Ron immediately became quiet when they heard Professor McGonagall yell out Malfoy's name.
'Oh I hope he gets Slytherin!'
In perfect timing, Draco was sorted into Slytherin.
"Matthews, Phoenix!"
When Phoenix heard her name, her face went completely white. Ron gave her a courage smile as did Harry. She slowly walked to the hat, gave a huge sigh, sat down, and shakingly put the hat on.
'Well this is it! It is my turn!'
The hat opened his mouth……….
A/N: Okay, so this chapter for some reason couldn't come to me. So most is out of the book, sorry. But I did want to include the song any way. So, what is the hat going to say about Phoenix? Hmmm, 'til next Friday!!!!!