Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Doctor Who, just the plot to this story.
Chapter 8: Brave, Loyal, Witty, or Cunning?
~ AMY ~
Amy's muggle alarm clock went off and she woke with a start, turning it off. The clock read 8:15 AM. She jumped out of bed, looked around her room, and made her way towards her closet; looking for the most exceptional thing she could. Today was the day she was finally going to Hogwarts; she would finally get to walk through those hallways, walk onto the Quidditch Pitch, and walk into the Great Hall. Tonks had told Amy stories about the Great Hall; starting with when she first stepped foot into it. Amy could not seem to find words to describe what Tonks had told her.
Amy put on the best muggle clothes she could find: a white button-down shirt, black jeans, and knee-high boots. She put her hair up into a high ponytail, put her wand in her pocket, and walked into the hallway. Before she could reach the stairs, she was stopped by Fred and George, who were just exiting their own bedroom.
"Amy, where are you going looking all nice? A job interview?" said George.
"No, George. She's going to Hogwarts today to get sorted. She's trying to look all impressive for Dumbledore." Fred said in a mocking tone.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you got sorted into Slytherin, Amy," started George chuckling, "You know, when Ginny started her first year at Hogwarts we ran a pool because we thought she would be Slytherin."
"I know, George, I was in that pool. And I lost 15 Sickles from it." Amy wormed her way around them and walked towards the stairs, being stopped once again by Fred and George who had apparated in front of her.
"Now, now, Amy, don't be so rude. I was only wondering if you wanted some company when you went to Hogwarts," said Fred.
"Yeah, Fred, because roaming the halls of Hogwarts alone can be very scary sometimes." George now mocked Fred. Amy laughed along with him and Fred blushed.
"Thanks, Fred, but I'll be fine. Like you said I'm not the same person I was eight years ago when you first met me. Besides, Remus is coming with me."
"Alright, Amy. Let me know if you change your mind." Fred put his hand on her shoulder before walking away. Amy pretended not to seem like she just felt a jolt of electricity shooting through her body from where Fred's hand touched her shoulder. With a POP! Fred and George apparated away and Amy finally walked down the stairs.
At the first floor landing, Amy was greeted with a grinning Molly and Sirius; but Remus and Tonks were off to the side speaking in whispers with disapproving looks on their faces. Amy knew that Tonks wouldn't be happy to see her go, but she would only be gone for that day to be Sorted, and would return back to Grimmauld Place right after.
Remus was a different story; he had always been around to watch Amy grow up, but not as much as Tonks. Especially when Amy was thirteen years old; Remus had gotten his job at Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. That was the only year at Grimmauld Place that he was never really around. The summer before what would have been Amy's third year at Hogwarts, Remus tried convincing Tonks to let Amy go that year. He kept saying things like: 'Tonks, I'll be there for her,' 'She'll be under my protection,' and 'She has all of the Weasleys' at Hogwarts.' Amy expected Remus to be happy that she was finally going to Hogwarts; but the fact that Remus was not going to be there must have made him uncertain.
"Remus, you really don't need to come with me. I'll be fine. Besides," Amy brought her tone down to a whisper, "it's a full moon tonight. You should go to the Shrieking Shack." "Amy, it's fine. I'll be there to walk you through the grounds and to Dumbledore's office, then I'll go to the Shrieking Shack through the Whomping Willow. There have also been a slight change to the plans." Remus led her to the chairs and they both sat down. "You'll be staying at Hogwarts overnight. Dumbledore and I believe it's best since I won't be able to bring you back tonight. You'll stay in the common room of whichever house you are sorted into.
"Then, tomorrow morning, you and I can return back here to Grimmauld Place." Amy noticed that Remus was nervous about this plan; he didn't want to leave her alone, and his being a werewolf was getting in the way of that. "Don't worry, Remus. I'll be fine while you're at the Shrieking Shack."
After all of the goodbyes from Molly, Arthur, Sirius, and Tonks, Amy began to go up the stairs to say goodbye to her friends when Molly stopped her. "I wouldn't bother them, dear. After all, you'll only be gone for a day."
"But Molly, they don't know that. They think I'm coming back later this afternoon."
"I'll let them know when they come downstairs. Off you go now."
Remus and Amy joined hands and turned on the spot with a POP! They landed in a forest that Amy knew to be the Forbidden Forest. "Come on, Amy. We don't want to be in here too long." They wove their way through the trees and Amy couldn't believe what she saw and her jaw dropped. In front of her stood a gigantic castle with many towers, many floors, and many entrances; Amy was looking at Hogwarts.
"Follow me." Amy obeyed, and followed Remus over a bridge, through a courtyard, and into the school. Amy was in awe from everything around her: long hallways, high ceilings,moving staircases; just how the Weasley's and Tonks had always described it. Her and Remus went up several staircases until they reached the seventh floor. The walked to the end of the hallway, and in front of them was a giant gargoyle. Amy wasn't sure how they were going to go in until Remus uttered the words, "Acid pops" and the gargoyle began to turn, revealing a staircase. Remus motioned for Amy to step onto it. She did, and he followed. They reached the top, and before Amy could knock on the big doors in front of her, a voice boomed from within.
"Enter."
Amy and Remus obeyed and walked through the door. Amy had met Dumbledore before, but when she did, she was only ten years old, and he had explained to her why she could not attend Hogwarts. But now, she was fifteen and wanted to show Dumbledore that she was ready to prove everyone wrong about Hogwarts being too dangerous for her.
"Thank you, Remus, for accompanying Miss Pond here to Hogwarts. It's greatly appreciated." Remus made a curt nod and took his leave without another word. "Welcome to Hogwarts Miss Pond. I'm sure that it has met your expectations."
"It's even better than I imagined it. The description I got from the Weasley's and Tonks are nothing compared to what Hogwarts is really like."
"You've grown up so much since our last visit, Amelia — or is it Amy now? I received an owl from a certain Fred Weasley this morning telling me specifically to refer to you as Amy. It seems you have become rather close with the Weasley family?"
"Yes, sir —"
"There's no need for that formal talk, Amy, if that's alright with you. I think you forget that I have known you since you were nothing more than a mere baby. I also knew both your parents from during and after their time at Hogwarts. There's no need to call me sir."
"I'm sorry, Dumbledore."
"That's quite alright. Professor McGonagall should be arriving any moment. She insisted on being the one to sort you; as you may know she is in charge of the sorting here." On that note McGonagall burst into the room looking flustered. "I'm so sorry Professor Dumbledore. I had some business to take care of dealing with the —" But she cut herself off when she made eye contact with Amy. "Miss Pond? You're early."
"Actually, Minerva, you are a couple moments late." McGonagall's gaze met Dumbledore's, and they stared at each other for a second. "Yes, of course. We will speak later, Albus. But for now, we shall see what house Amy will be in." Seeing the confused look from Amy, McGonagall explained. "I received an owl from Fred Weasley. I expect you did as well, Albus?"
"Indeed. Minerva, if you don't mind, I need to speak with Remus in the Shrieking Shack before — well you know." Dumbledore smiled at Amy and exited the room; leaving Amy alone with McGonagall, who had retrieved the Sorting Hat from off the shelf.
"Amy, if you'll please sit down."
Amy sat down on Dumbledore's desk and felt the Sorting Hat being placed on her head. At once, as Amy had heard from her friends, the Sorting Hat began to sing.
"In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still, I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still, I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
"Oh, it's not the start of a new year yet. I work on that song an entire year and it's wasted on one new student. Ahhh, but you're different. You're not the normal age of eleven, now, are you? You're fifteen. But I know why you haven't come to Hogwarts, Amelia Pond. I can read your thoughts and I know all about you. You have just recently befriended 'The Boy Who Lived' as some are now calling him; his muggle-born and Weasley friends — no — you've known those Weasley's for years now...the whole lot of them. But one of them has been pushed off to have his own section in your thoughts; so you can focus more on him I suspect?
"But that's not what I'm for. I believe you have carefully listened to my song and have in mind what House you belong in?"
"Umm, yes?"
"Of course you have! I know what you think! I can read your thoughts! But you're different than the rest. You don't mind which House you are put into. Most new students already have it set in their mind that they will not be in Slytherin — but you don't care.
"But wait, you do care. You need to keep an eye on Harry Potter and his friends this year — protect them — especially that one Weasley boy — you want to impress him. And the only way for these things to be possible is to put you in...GRYFFINDOR!"
McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat from Amy's head and put it back on its shelf. "Well, Amy, you will be in my House at Hogwarts from here on out. Welcome to Gryffindor. I believe that also means you will be sleeping in the Gryffindor Common Room tonight before returning to Grimmauld Place with Remus. I shall bring you there myself and provide you with the school robes and supplies you will need for the oncoming year. Come with me."
That night in the Common Room, Amy wrote a detailed letter about her Sorting (leaving out the part about 'that one Weasley boy'), addressed it to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Tonks, Sirius, Arthur, and Molly, and sent it to them using one of the schools owls.
Amy sighed, leaned back in her chair, and whispered to herself, "Welcome home, Amy."
A/N I'm so sorry, I know it's been a while since I last updated. Also, I know that we're in chapter 8 and they're still not at Hogwarts, but I promise they will be within the next two chapters.
Finally, I would like to thank Lizard21 for being my first reviewer! I loved your feedback and really appreciate it! Thank you so much!
