Chapter Two

A-woo-hoo! Chapter Two! Now, if you can think of a better German last name than 'Kohl' (cause I really want to change that… it's just a fill-in name), please review and tell me so! Whoever comes up with the best German name will get to dictate who I should write my next fic about, so please review for a chance to "Control-the-Author" - Big Brother all the way!! (nevermind me, I'm an Orwell freak!)

Okay… disclaimer time:

Disclaimer: Everything in this chapter, except for Alex, the Sorting Hat Song (that was cut so short - I'm sorry, I had little-to-no inspiration!), and the crazy, screaming Ravenclaw girls (hee… artistic license?) belong to JK Rowling. The little song at the beginning is called "Glorious", by Andreas Johnson, and it's a damn good song! As well, the whole "coffee with two sugars" belongs to the incredibly annoying Addison… who made me credit him that, although it was, in a reality, a joint-effort. Enjoy the chapter!!

Chapter Two

"The Sorting"

She's bringing me in,

Turning me on,

Making me glorious.

The entire school was sitting down to dinner one night in late October when a loud crashing was heard from outside the double doors. All eyes fixed on the doorway as Professor McGonagall rushed over and began to speak with someone on the other side. After a moment, she turned and addressed the hall, her face flushed and her voice flustered.

"We have a new student," she announced, and a tall, slim boy of seventeen sidled up next to the professor. "He has been abroad, so he was not able to join us at the beginning of the school year…" she trailed off as Hagrid, who had brought the boy up from Hogsmeade, whispered something into her ear. "…ah, yes. I would like to introduce you all to Alexander Kohl!"

A smattering of applause came from the female body of the school – as well as the occasional wolf-whistle! – and Alex shook his head, a slight smile playing at his lips from the attention. Professor McGonagall waited until the girls had controlled themselves, her lips pursed disapprovingly, before continuing on. "Mr. Kohl has been to a number of schools during his scholastic career, although his birthplace was originally… Germany?" she questioned, and at Alex's nod, she sighed slightly. "We hope that Alexander will find Hogwarts to be a warm, welcoming new home for him, and a place in which he will feel more comfortable than he has felt at his previous schools."

"Or, rather, she hopes that I won't get expelled from this fine institution."

Professor McGonagall, as the rest of the Great Hall, was rather taken aback by Alex's comment, and she faltered for several moments before deciding to continue her speech. "And, now, of course," she prattled, "we shall decide the sorting of Alexander into the house which best suits him!"

She gestured emphatically to Professor Flitwick, who was waiting at the side of the hall, a small stool cradled under his arm, along with the unmistakable Sorting Hat. Alex watched with amusement as Flitwick nearly tripped over his own feet in his hurry, and wondered exactly what the point of a simple hat and stool were in making the decision of which house he would live in for the next year. Thus, he was incredibly surprised when a rip near the brim of the hat opened and began to sing:

"Oh, yes I am a jolly hat!

Although life can be quite a bore!

One day a year I have some fun –

This year, I've got one more!

So, sonny, step on up,

You've no need to be shy!

For I'll not bite if you put me on

Just go on, have a try!

If you—mmph!"

The entire hall laughed as Professor McGonagall clamped her hand over the mouth of the Sorting Hat. It struggled under her grip, and she gestured to Alex to hurry before she lost control. He rushed over to the stool and sat down quickly as Professor McGonagall pushed the hat down on top of his head.

Darkness was all around him, and Alex heard a little voice muttering somewhere within the black. "Who's there?" he asked, rather perturbed by the situation thus far.

"Oh, hello!" he heard the voice exclaim. "Welcome to Hogwarts, my boy! I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish my song for you, but I guess we're running a little short on time… which reminds me, we ought to decide which house you're going into, oughtn't we?"

"Oh, yes," Alex agreed. "Which house were you thinking of?"

"Hmm… well, you've got the brains, you've got the sly mind… but I don't feel as if Slytherin would be your cup of coffee with two sugars, if you get my meaning." Actually, Alex didn't, but he wasn't about to argue with a talking, singing hat that was currently perched atop his head and quite capable of suffocating him. "Ah… let us see. Well, I think I'm done – this one's been a hard choice, but I feel that you'd be best in RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw girls applauded as the hat was pulled off Alex's head and he went to take his place at the table. Immediately, several girls began asking him questions, but Alex's eyes were elsewhere.

He stared across the room, over to a table which was decorated in red and gold, and saw the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen before in his life. Her hair was brown and fluffy, waves of chestnut masses that he longed to run his fingers through. Her skin looked creamy as milk and even softer to touch – but, her eyes were everything. Alex often said that eyes were what made a person – everything else can be dyed or charmed or tamed… but nothing was more like looking into the soul of another person than looking deep into their eyes.

The cinnamon depths locked onto his own blue-grey pools and her cheeks flushed slightly at his attention. She smiled softly, and the other girl she had been talking to turned to follow her gaze.

Recognition passed between the two. "Ginny?" he murmured, and then he waved to her, causing every other girl in the room to look at Ginny as if she were a scourge on humanity. She smiled softly back, nothing but her eyes betraying the pain she felt at his recognition… and his brush-off.

For she knew, as she glanced over her shoulder, that he had not seen the torment in her eyes; that he had fallen in love with the one girl Ginny always had to vie for attention with – Hermione.

She felt her heart sink as Hermione inquired, "Gin! How did you meet him?" Her eyes were sparkling with curiosity, something which undoubtedly made her even more attractive to Alexander.

"Uh… on the train today," she muttered softly, her eyes downcast.

"Oh, of course!" Hermione flushed again and smiled over Ginny's shoulder, and she knew that Alex was staring again. She couldn't force herself to do anything but concentrate whole-heartedly on the food in front of her.

Harry, who had ignored Ginny's presence at the table up till now, turned to her and spoke covertly. "What's up with Hermione?" he questioned.

Ginny felt cornered. "Uh…" she stuttered, and several other eyes, including those of Ron and Neville, were now staring at her, awaiting her answer. She became quite interested in the myriad of lines tracing her palms – certainly more so than three years of Divination lessons had made her! Luckily enough, the gong that signalled the end of dinner was struck and the race for the house common room began before Ginny could reply. She watched as the rest of the school bustled through the double doors, then resumed staring at her hands, still sitting at the house table.

She wondered exactly how she had gotten here – what was happening to her? Until she'd gotten on that train today she'd been perfectly happy… well, at least she knew what she wanted from her life. She wanted to be Head Girl, and although she knew that was impossible, not being a Prefect or having done anything useful for the school… she had, as far as she could see, done more harm than good in the lives of those around her. "I just want to be noticed," she whispered softly, a small tear escaping from her lashes and trailing down her freckled cheek. I used to want Head Girl, or Prefect – just some stupid title, but one that would help people notice me. I used to want Harry Potter to be more to me than just a friend… I mean, what's more prolific than being the girlfriend of the most famous boy in all England – maybe even in the world?

She heard footsteps behind her, and she stood. "I was just going," she murmured softly, not wanting to get into trouble for not heading up to Gryffindor Tower.

"Too bad… I was going to stay and sit with you a while."

Startled, she turned her head quickly and saw Alex standing there, smirking slightly at her. She sat back down again heavily, and a nervous smile crossed her face. "Oh! Well, if you want to stay and talk, we can… but don't you want to get to your common room? Have all those girls fawn over you…?"

Alex laughed. "No, because all those girls are boring. I'd rather sit and talk with you any day, Gin."

Ginny smiled at him – this time, a real smile… one full of hope, full of friendship…

"Plus, I've simply got to know who that girl was you were talking to during dinner… is she a friend of yours?"

Her smile faded slightly, but Ginny controlled herself. No matter…she thought. Just as long as he doesn't fall for one of those idiot Ravenclaws! But nothing could dispel the feeling that had settled on her heart, the feeling that this meeting would destroy everything she had ever really believed in, and would change her forever. She wanted to jump up and race out of the room, never say another word to him again – ignore him in the halls. But something stopped her from doing this.

I've fallen in love…

And, now, Virginia couldn't get up.

***

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