The Sorting...
Suzan lugged her heavy trunk towards the barrier. She and the Weasleys were preparing to step through. The trip to the platform with the Weasleys had been rather tense for Suzan. She was always rather shy in front of them; after all, one of them had saved her life! But now Suzan was no longer tense, instead she was scared. What if she couldn't go through the barrier or something had gone wrong and they had made a mistake. What if she really didn't have magic? Suzan suddenly started to tremble in fright. She continued to pull her trunk closer and closer to her fate, while beads of sweat poured down her face. Now she was only inches away from the hard, smooth surface of the barrier. Suzan took a deep breath and leaned against it. Suddenly she felt the oddest sensation. It was almost as if she didn't exist. Like she had no weight or substance. She smoothly slid through the barrier and found herself on the other side. Suzan sighed with relief. Then quickly straightened. One of the Weasleys had just come through the barrier. She didn't want them to know that she had been worried. Suzan got on the train in silence. I've gotten this far, she thought to herself, how much harder could it get?
Suzan woke with a start. She hadn't even known she was asleep. I must have drifted off after I ate those beans, she thought. The memory of a horrible green one floated into her mind and she was nearly sick. (Author: Use your imaginations.) Suzan hurried off the train along with a large group of children about her age. Most of them looked just as scared as she did. Suzan smiled. At least they could be miserable together. She slowly followed the kids into a huge hall. In the center was a small stool with a battered black hat on it. Suddenly a tear in the hat opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing!
Oh, I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat. Yes, the Sorting Hat, that's me!
I pick which house you live in. They all have history.
Take Slytherin, this horrid house, holds evil in its heart.
Or Gryffindor, where only brave are chosen to take part.
In Ravenclaw, the witty house, dwell only the smartest youth.
In Huffelpuff, lie our loyal boys, they always tell the truth.
So pick me up, and put me on. I'll tell you where to go.
Which house do you belong in? I promise I will know!
All of the students in the hall clapped wildly. Suzan did, too. The hat looked kind enough, and at least it couldn't embarrass her like a test would. A tall woman started calling names out. "Arnest, Tom!" She would call, and the boy would hurry forward. He sat down on the stool and slipped the hat over his head. After about a minute the hat would shout out, "RAVENCLAW!" And the woman would call out another name. It went on like this for some time until suddenly, "Kellar, Suzan!" was called out.
Suzan slowly walked forward. It was hard to walk, she felt like each foot was made of lead. It took a great effort to lift the hat from the stool, and, as she dropped it over her head, she found it was hard to breathe. Taking deep, steady breaths, Suzan waited for something to happen. Suddenly something did. A little voice, rather like a whisper, found it's way to Suzan's ear. The voice sounded high and a bit squeaky, but comforting all the same. It reminded Suzan of her great aunt Mary, who was quite short and rather forgetful, but Suzan loved her aunt and she liked the sound of this voice.
"Well, well, well. What have we here? Hmmm...I see you have no wizarding experience, well you'll have to learn...hm...Ravenclaw doesn't seem right for you, though. Not Huffelpuff, you aren't really that loyal..."
Hey! Thought Suzan. You're being a bit unfair there. I am loyal! I'm smart, too. I think I would fit right in in Ravenclaw.
"Well, I suppose if you insist, but you could have done quite well in Gryffindor. You could have been one of the best witches of your time. Are you sure?"
What do you mean, 'could have been'? I'm going to be one of the best witches of my time anyway! What does being in Gryffindor have to do with it?
"You're being quite cheeky, there, Suzan. I don't believe I will tell you. You'll have to find out yourself. As for being one of the best witches of your time, I shouldn't be surprised, for you're quite magical and you have great talent." And with that the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" and Suzan had to take it off and return it to the stool, blushing slightly because of what the hat had said, Suzan walked back to her seat muttering, Aunt Mary's exactly the same...
Suzan lugged her heavy trunk towards the barrier. She and the Weasleys were preparing to step through. The trip to the platform with the Weasleys had been rather tense for Suzan. She was always rather shy in front of them; after all, one of them had saved her life! But now Suzan was no longer tense, instead she was scared. What if she couldn't go through the barrier or something had gone wrong and they had made a mistake. What if she really didn't have magic? Suzan suddenly started to tremble in fright. She continued to pull her trunk closer and closer to her fate, while beads of sweat poured down her face. Now she was only inches away from the hard, smooth surface of the barrier. Suzan took a deep breath and leaned against it. Suddenly she felt the oddest sensation. It was almost as if she didn't exist. Like she had no weight or substance. She smoothly slid through the barrier and found herself on the other side. Suzan sighed with relief. Then quickly straightened. One of the Weasleys had just come through the barrier. She didn't want them to know that she had been worried. Suzan got on the train in silence. I've gotten this far, she thought to herself, how much harder could it get?
Suzan woke with a start. She hadn't even known she was asleep. I must have drifted off after I ate those beans, she thought. The memory of a horrible green one floated into her mind and she was nearly sick. (Author: Use your imaginations.) Suzan hurried off the train along with a large group of children about her age. Most of them looked just as scared as she did. Suzan smiled. At least they could be miserable together. She slowly followed the kids into a huge hall. In the center was a small stool with a battered black hat on it. Suddenly a tear in the hat opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing!
Oh, I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat. Yes, the Sorting Hat, that's me!
I pick which house you live in. They all have history.
Take Slytherin, this horrid house, holds evil in its heart.
Or Gryffindor, where only brave are chosen to take part.
In Ravenclaw, the witty house, dwell only the smartest youth.
In Huffelpuff, lie our loyal boys, they always tell the truth.
So pick me up, and put me on. I'll tell you where to go.
Which house do you belong in? I promise I will know!
All of the students in the hall clapped wildly. Suzan did, too. The hat looked kind enough, and at least it couldn't embarrass her like a test would. A tall woman started calling names out. "Arnest, Tom!" She would call, and the boy would hurry forward. He sat down on the stool and slipped the hat over his head. After about a minute the hat would shout out, "RAVENCLAW!" And the woman would call out another name. It went on like this for some time until suddenly, "Kellar, Suzan!" was called out.
Suzan slowly walked forward. It was hard to walk, she felt like each foot was made of lead. It took a great effort to lift the hat from the stool, and, as she dropped it over her head, she found it was hard to breathe. Taking deep, steady breaths, Suzan waited for something to happen. Suddenly something did. A little voice, rather like a whisper, found it's way to Suzan's ear. The voice sounded high and a bit squeaky, but comforting all the same. It reminded Suzan of her great aunt Mary, who was quite short and rather forgetful, but Suzan loved her aunt and she liked the sound of this voice.
"Well, well, well. What have we here? Hmmm...I see you have no wizarding experience, well you'll have to learn...hm...Ravenclaw doesn't seem right for you, though. Not Huffelpuff, you aren't really that loyal..."
Hey! Thought Suzan. You're being a bit unfair there. I am loyal! I'm smart, too. I think I would fit right in in Ravenclaw.
"Well, I suppose if you insist, but you could have done quite well in Gryffindor. You could have been one of the best witches of your time. Are you sure?"
What do you mean, 'could have been'? I'm going to be one of the best witches of my time anyway! What does being in Gryffindor have to do with it?
"You're being quite cheeky, there, Suzan. I don't believe I will tell you. You'll have to find out yourself. As for being one of the best witches of your time, I shouldn't be surprised, for you're quite magical and you have great talent." And with that the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" and Suzan had to take it off and return it to the stool, blushing slightly because of what the hat had said, Suzan walked back to her seat muttering, Aunt Mary's exactly the same...
