(Chapter 10 edited 12/31/2006)
September 1, 1989
(Water makes his mark. And becomes a Hufflepuff.)
My mother and father were quite excited this morning. I think they had more butterflies in their stomach than I did. I know they wanted me anywhere but Slytherin. They never outright said it but I had a feeling that was something that was not going to happen if I wanted to live to graduate.
I made my way to King's Cross with my parents in silence. They didn't say much but my mother kept fiddling with my hair and my father slipped a few galleons to me. He had never been overly emotional or affectionate with me. A handshake was his version of a hug. That did not however stop my mother from doing so.
Not many words were exchanged besides that. The two soon left after my father put my trunk on the train and my mother wished my luck on the train and was awaiting post. I knew I just had to be sorted into a house with one of those two boys from that party. I had forgotten their names by names by now, but knew they were in Slytherin and Gryffindor and I remembered how they looked like.
The rest of the ride was blown by quickly. I was soon joined in my empty compartment by two black girls who introduced themselves as Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet and a blonde boy named Zacharias Smith who I already knew did not think before he spoke. The four of us got along for most of the ride. I was disappointed I had not seen my friends but I had a feeling we would see each other soon.
The ride in the boats with the other first years was actually fairly dry compared to the tales I have heard from other people. I was so nervous. I rode the boat with Zacharias and the two girls. The sun had not completely set by the time we departed for school on the boats so I was tempted to go for a swim. It was so long since I had gone surfing as my dad has called it unfit for a wizard during the beginning of the summer. He wanted me to take my studies more seriously, but he just doesn't understand…
I was the first of the four of us to be sorted. Then again I was one of the first to be sorted period. I was very anxious to have my fate determined. The sorting hat looked older than Professor Dumbledore and that is saying something.
I had begun to drift off and search for my friends when it was my turn. Someone had poked me as it was my turn to walk up the middle aisle to the head table.
xXxXxXx The Four xXxXxXx
The deputy headmistress shouted "Diggory, Cedric".
I walked up and as I did I saw those two boys from the banquet. The dark haired one was in Slytherin. The one that "stole my heart" was in Gryffindor. I know that sounds weird for me to say about another boy. He was just everything I wanted to be if that makes sense. I was an only child and my father was always working so I didn't really have a male influence growing up. I didn't have any romantic feelings for him. It was just that I really looked up to him despite not really knowing him.
I would never be in Ravenclaw. I am quite bright, but I don't enjoy the work. That came out wrong. I am not lazy and I don't dislike doing work. I just don't like doing excessive amounts of work and obsessing every little detail of what I have read and written. Ravenclaw would never be a good match for me for I do not possess enough wit to be a Ravenclaw.
So I have a one in three chance to be with him. Gryffindor, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff. I also had a two in three chance of being with someone I knew. But I really wanted to be with the Gryffindor. I put on the hat, and the hat immediately surprised me.
"Warrior of water, Ravenclaw is out of the running"
I was immediately taken back by what was happening. I had no clue the hat was a sentient being. I thought it was just done randomly. I was not ready for what I was about to hear.
"You are brave, but you are no Gryffindor. You will face the epitome of evil head on, but will not back down. But it is not in your future to be in the den of the lions. And alas don't worry you'll see him soon enough."
"You are ambitious and cunning…"
'No Slytherin!' I thought. As much as I wanted to be with someone I knew I didn't want to be with the black haired kid with the horrible teeth. He seemed nice enough but I really didn't want to be with him for the next few years.
"But you could do well. You could go far there."
'No!' I replied.
"Dedicated and stubborn, better be HUFFLEPUFF" it announced to the Great Hall.
The Gryffindor boy looked crest fallen while the Slytherin had a smirk on his face. I knew everything would work out in the end. It just had to. The sorting hat said so…
Oh no. Then it sunk in as I finally sat down at the Hufflepuff table.
'I won't be with him.'
After some self doubt I began to put everything back into perspective.
'Maybe the hat is right after all" I said as I had begun to eat.
The possibility of becoming friends was not out of the running, but it was unlikely with the housing situations. And then it hit me. His name was Oliver and the Slytherin was Marcus.
I don't know why I spaced like that but then all of a sudden I could think of their names again. All of this has to be happening for a reason. We are all in different houses as part of a bigger plan or something…
xXxXxXx The Four xXxXxXx
Author's note
Sorry that this one is shorter than the other two so far, but my wrist is killing me. Well I thought it was shorter… I just did a word count and the text itself is about 1000 words give or take. I was going to leave it at 800 but decided I mind as well finish it off "properly."
I plan on revising the chapters a third time possibly in the future. I don't have much going for Cedric besides his admiration for Oliver so I thought I would keep his sorting short. I did foreshadow a few events to come but they could be interpreted for canon purposes or for the purposes of this fic.
This is really on the skimpy side compared to the other chapters. I really wanted to get this one done. I need to go to bed I have to go to work on New Year's Eve in like 12 hours so I hope you enjoyed this.
This is by far my least favorite of the updates so far because I really didn't know what to right. I thought I would introduce Zacharias early on…there is a reason why he mistrusts Harry so easily… I think he may be more than jealous… I was tempted to make him racist too but that would be too easy.
I am not trying to condone actions like that, but I wanted to cause some conflict in this chapter but I think I will do so with Katie's sorting.
I hope this made your day/ night whatever. More updates are on the way! Chapter 32 is now up!
-Keeper