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.