017LS
Chapter Seventeen

An Extremely Long Sorting

Everyone took their seats in the Great Hall. The staff table was full with familiar faces, including one Professor Snape, who glared at Harry as he entered to take his seat.

"Oh, damn, he's back again," Harry scowled to Ron who sat next to him, "You'd think that Voldemort who kill him and make our lives easier.

Hermione gasped, "Harry...! you can't really mean that!" she said, hinting with her eyes for him to say no.

"Give it up, Hermione, everyone hates Snape. He should go and feed himself to the giant squid and make our lives a lot easier." Ron said, pointing out some strong facts.

"He'd never do anything that nice," Harry said with a laugh.

"We could only be so lucky," said Ron, looking inside his empty goblet, "Come on, lets get this over with. I'm hungry!"

"You know what's even funnier," Harry said, turning to his tall friend, "He missed out on the Dark Arts job again!" They both looked at each other a moment and burst out into laughter. Several chuckles were heard from Hermione direction, but when they looked at her she resumed her stern expression.

A girl in a bright yellow sun dress walked into the room, hand and hand with Draco Malfoy. She gasped as she saw the beautiful ceiling, which many didn't even notice before. It was painted like the setting sun, sparkled with orange and pink clouds. She pointed out every detail she found miraculous, and was nearly dragged away from the centre isle and over towards the Slytherin table. Once joining them, several people began to gawk at her bright appearance amongst the blackness of nearly everyone's robes.

The first years walked in. Most were shacking and scared. Professor McGonagall stood up from the staff table, lifted the same three legged stool, and placed the sorting hat in it's centre.

The brim tore open and it began to sing;

Another job for me I see
The Hogwarts thinking cap
Many a night ago you be
The first years back at last
Will you be in Gryffindor?
The brave and cunning kind
While Gryffindors full of chivalry
Have a heart met mind;
Or you could be in Hufflepuff
All are loyal right and true
And even with the loss of Cedric
Never will be blue;
There is always Ravenclaw
For those who are quick with their heads
The cleverest of all four houses
Remain a smarter set;
And last not least is Slytherin
For those with power thirst
Very ambitious Slytherin
Were never last but first!
Just place me upon your head
And I look at your brain
Putting everyone in their place
No matter wind, or rain.

The Great Hall clapped with applause and if the sorting hat could, it would have taken a bow. McGonagall withdrew a long list from her hand and read off the first name.

"Astley, Majestica," she read. A blond pale- skinned girl ran forwards, and took maybe three seconds before the hat had decided.

"RAVENCLAW!"

She joined the Ravenclaw table, who clapped her as she took a seat.

The sorting hat proceeded through the first years quickly. It didn't seem to take as much time as it had in years past. Then Dumbledore stood up and addressed the school like he usually did.

"Welcome, students, back to another year of Hogwarts. I would like to announce with the untimely retirement of one Professor Moody... we have another Defense Against Dark Arts Teacher. Please stand up," Dumbledore said ushering for Sirius to take it applause, "Professor Chagny."

The Great Hall exploded with claps, the loudest from the Gryffindor table. Sirius was wearing elegant satin black robes, which disgusted him completely from the only ragged man that was captured by Severus Snape. And despite the fact that he had a different look, and his hair was now dark blond, he still gave Harry that feeling of family. Sirius sat back down, while Dumbledore raised his hands for silence.

"Now, without further ado, I'd like to introduce three new foreign exchange students to Hogwarts this year. All of them will be joining the fifth years and will participate with regular classes and schedules." Dumbledore explained. Several whispers went through the room from the different tables.

"I hope one of them is a cute girl," a third year Hufflepuff boy said to his friend. The girls were wooed with giggles thinking about the possibilities of a cute boy. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked around the room and waited for people to stand up.

"Please come forward," Dumbledore said lowering the lights a bit.

At once, kissing Draco quickly, Victoria walked forward and took her seat, "Excuse me," a male voice said behind Harry, who was leaning backwards to look up at the stage. A rather tall brown haired boy was standing behind him. He looked strong but still had a familiar look to him that Harry couldn't place in his mind. York was walking behind him, leaning on his shoulder like a love sick kitten.

"Hello, Harry," she said as they walked by. The boy didn't look down at him, but continued staring straight forward. When they finally reached their seats on the stage, York and the boy bowed their heads lightly at Dumbledore's presents.

"I would like to introduce Victoria Pythia, Jolon, and Yorkshire." he said, addressing the students. As the newcomers names were called, they stepped forward and bowed lightly.

"Please, Minerva, please bring the sorting hat back out."

Professor McGonagall looked seriously confused, but followed Dumbledore's order, and brought out the ragged patched hat.

"If you would please sit down and try on the Sorting Hat?" Dumbledore sat back down at the staff table and waited patiently for the three students to get sorted.

Victoria looked over at York and Jolon. They nodded for her to go first. She approached the hat with great caution, like it would catch on fire if she got anywhere near it. Eventually, creeping forward, she lifted the hat and slowly sat down on the bench.

She didn't sit there for ten seconds when the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherins clapped for her as she took the hat of quickly and stood patiently for Dumbledore to excuse her.

York and Jolon looked at each other. He nodded to her and she stepped forward, placing the sorting hat on her like it was nothing. She waited patiently for the hat to choose her destiny.

Minutes dragged by. York began to look at her fingernails, and tuck hair behind her ears, "How long is this supposed to take?" she asked Dumbledore.

"Can't you hear the hat talking to you?" he asked, stepping towards her.

"No.... am I supposed too?" she asked, touching the hat on her head. It didn't respond, and it was almost like the sorting hat had finally died, although being a powerful magical item, this was impossible.

Dumbledore slowly stepped forward plucked the hat off her head, removed his long wizard's cap and replaced it with the sorting hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it screamed a moment after, a rather amusing look on Dumbledore's face, "Well he says he's in perfect working order." Dumbledore confirmed giving the hat back to her.

"All right, I'll try again," she said tucking the hat lightly over her ears. After another eerie silence, the hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

York lifted herself slowly off the seat, and stood next to Victoria. Jolon walked forward, sat down and up the hat on his head tightly. There was another five minute pause before it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" The tables went into claps, whilst the new students took their seats.

As Victoria headed back to the Slytherin table. Several people began moving their seats, and it was getting difficult to get across the Great Hall. It almost looked intentional but couldn't have been, like someone altered her balance and forced her to do it. Victoria crashed into the Gryffindor table in front of Harry. His goblet of pumpkin juice splashed across the table, and although it magically disappeared from the tables surface, the remains of it spilled down the front of his robes and speckled his glasses.

"I'm so, sorry," she said, quickly lifting the goblet up by the rim, "Someone, pushed, me." Barely anyone stopped to notice that anything had happened. Hermione and Ron looked irritated, but didn't speak. Footsteps came towards their table as Draco appeared and helped Victoria up to her feet.

"Are you all right?" he asked instantly, as she brushed off the front of her yellow dress.

"I'm just fine," she said smiling, "Someone pushed, me and I, crashed into, the table." Draco let out a sigh of relief and didn't ever once look at Harry or his friends. Calmly taking Victoria by the hand he led her away.

"That's the second time Malfoy hasn't insulted us," Hermione said, spooning some pureed potatoes into her mouth. Harry and Ron just shrugged it off, with his goblet refilling magically and the food tempting anyone, even anyone who was on a diet, as they feasted.

York and Jolon came and sat next to them about half way through the meal. "How have things been?" York still talked with a different accent. She was acting just like any normal fifteen year old girl with a boyfriend.

"All right," Harry said, taking a quick drink, "When did you two get here?"

"Not long ago," she leaned in a little closer so only they would receive the message, "We apparated to Hogsmeade and took a carriage like you did. I don't want your class mates finding out who I am just yet, if something comes up then I won't bother hiding it. But until then you all keep your trap shut." she explained sitting back up. The plate in front of her remained empty, she didn't drink, or even suggest anyone passing her anything. Her friend whom sat next to her mimicked her habits to a T.

"Now, everyone, we'll be heading up to the dormitories. Please follow your perfects so you receive the password. Good night and be prepared for classing first thing in the morning." Dumbledore announced, erasing the plates clean. Hermione stood up quickly and trotted ahead in front of everyone.

"All right, follow me," she said, ushering some first years to pay attention. Ron and Harry hadn't noticed but a small silver P badge was pinned to the front of her black robes. They didn't take it as much of a surprise though, Hermione was A* on all her exams and was barely ever late for any class. Harry got up from his seat, when an all to familiar tingling filled his head. He paused and touched his scar, tracing it with his finger. He didn't feel any warmth or pain. Shaking off the feeling, after York gave him a concerned look, he smiled and followed the other students up to the Gryffindor common room.