Chapter 17: The Sorting
Chapter 17
The Sorting
As the boats made their way around the bend, Hailee prepared herself for her first glimpse of Hogwarts. Harry so loved this place she could tell when he spoke about it. She hoped that she loved it too. Her first sight of Hogwarts took her breath away. The place was so regal and majestic, she couldn't help but shutter in its ominous presence.
The boats went under some ivies and made their way to a dock that seemed to be right under the castle. Hagrid climbed out of the boat he had to himself and knocked on the large wooden door. It was opened by Professor McGonagall. She ushered the first years into the castle.
Professor McGonagall told the group to wait in this empty hall. She then turned to Hailee and said, " The others are being told about your transfer and that you will be sorted. So you shouldn't have questions thrown at you." She turned and went through the other door in the room. Hailee took a deep breath while the other students looked at her.
Professor McGonagall walked into the great hall carrying a stool upon which sat the all-important sorting hat. The Weasley's, Harry, and Hermione were all sitting together. They looked from one another as if they just realized that Hailee was about to be sorted. What house would she be in? the question that was weighing heavily on all of their minds. They had just taken for granted that she would be with them in Gryffindor but what would it mean if she wasn't.
The sorting hat started the ceremony words:
"I've spoken to you all in riddle and rhyme As you all have heard it is now time.
You must take heed
And develop your own creed.
To be loyal to each other
Treat all like your brother.
For dangers lay ahead
And we don't want terror to spread.
United the world is strongest
And goodwill live longest.
Take my warning to heart
For this is only the start.
I will do as you ask
And go forward with the task.
You chose to separate yourselves
But let us not fool ourselves.
We are here to learn
Not deal with my concern.
LET THE SORTING BEGIN."
The great hall had never been so quiet after the sorting hats speech. It seemed to leave everyone in awe.
Dumbledore rose from his seat. " Before we have our new students brought forward for sorting, I have an announcement. We will have a new student among us as a transfer student. She has come to us late in your studies here but has met every test the ministry and we your teachers have given her. She will enter her 6th year with her brother. I ask you all to welcome Miss Hailee Potter and further ask that she not be bombarded with questions as I am sure she will volunteer the information that she feels comfortable within due time. That said Professor McGonagal please continue. " Dumbledore took his seat.
Professor McGonagall came into the hall she nodded to the nervous first years and said. " Follow me. Hailee, you will be sorted first."
The first years seemed too scared to move so Hailee moved forward. They fell in line behind her. As they entered the great hall all eyes were scanning the first years., looking for this Hailee Potter. Even the Slytherin table was looking. Hailee scanned the crowd looking for familiar faces. Then she found George and just to his left was Harry. She stared at him not knowing what exactly was to come.
A loud murmur broke out in the great hall as the first years made their way forward to the front. When they all reached the front, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and the room went silent.
"Hailee Potter" Hailee stepped forward. She took her seat on the stool and Professor McGonagal placed the hat on her head. The last thing that Hailee saw before the hat went over her eyes was her brother smiling at her. Hailee jumped when in her head she started to hear a voice.
"Ah, so I meet yet another Potter. A brilliant mind yes. Loyal and true….. You
would fit in all places …. Ravenclaw would suit you well… your mind is full like
hers….. Slytherin yes I think you would do well there too… the great power you
posses ….. Where do you belong Potter…. Loyal and true makes you right for
Hufflepuff… Brave at heart makes you ready to be a Gryffindor…. But dear Potter
girl where ever do you belong…"
This seemed to go on forever the hat telling her where she would fit in and how. Finally, in her mind, she thought. "Put me where I belong the most. I am not afraid of your choice. I know who I am." With that, the hat yelled out " BETTER BE GRYFFINDOR". The entire Gryffindor table erupted in applause. Harry was beaming at his sister as she moved in next to him and sat proudly at the Gryffindor table. She turned in time to meet eyes with Dumbledore. He nodded and raised his glass slightly so only she would notice.
Hailee breathed a bit easier throughout the remaining sorting. The hat yelling the different houses for each student. Surprisingly only a few went to Slytherin. No one seemed to notice because as Professor McGonagal took the stool with the hat back out of the great hall the tables filled with tremendous amounts of food. As the meal went on Hailee thought she had not ever eaten so much in her life. Then to her surprise, as dinner ended a table full of sweet desserts. The one that shocked Hailee was her favourite Mississippi Mud pie.
As they moved on to their dorms that night Harry snuck off to go to the room of requirements. Harry walked past the spot in the wall that would turn into the door of the room. He thought, " What I need most is to talk to Sirius."
To his shock the door appeared. Slowly he turned the knob and opened the door. It was like walking into the outdoors. Harry Immediately recognized it as the mountain where he had met Sirius during the Triwizard Tournament Harry slowly stepped in or out whatever you want to call it. A hand reached and grabbed Harry's shoulder.
"This is impossible," Harry's brain was racing. Surely someone would have told him that this was possible."