Next Generation





Chapter Three: The Sorting Hat



Once inside the entrance hall, curiously following behind the Professor that had greeted them at the door, and was leading them inside. Voices chattering from some doorway that didn't seem to be a distance away. Lily sighed, taking in all the sights and scenes of the lovely and large area. Torches flickered, and the flames brightened the hallways. James was taken back by the crests of each house resting high over head to see.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your houses' dormitory, and spend free time in your common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding wizards and witches. Your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of this year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor."
(--HPAPS, pp114)

James' face twitched, as they filed up the stairs leading into the Great Hall. "Sounds like a lot of work." He said, while nudging Gerald. Gerald remained silent, and nodded with a short smile. The doors burst open, towards the great Hall. "Form a line, now and stay behind." McGonagall stated, as James hurried in line behind Gerald, whom Lily slipped in front of.

The hall was lit by candles that were suspended in midair, causing Violet to burst into giggles. As well as four tables, all with curious students eyeing the first years. Another long table was at the front of the hall, and that's where the teachers were. McGonagall led them up there, James was so busy looking around, and he bumped into Gerald in front of him.

Lily was watching McGonagall intently, as she pulled out a four-legged stool in front of the first years. They're layed a ragged old hat, which seemed to be much older and dirty then it looked. Violet stared. What would they have to do to be sorted? The question boggled their minds. The hat bounced suddenly, causing Lily to jump back, then it began to sing.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat then me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindor apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends.
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
(HPATPS - pp 118)


The hall burst out into applause. Daniel was slapping his side in great amusement and clapping at the same time. "A hat! How great!" Violet chipped up, smiling brightly at the ol' hat. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long piece of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put the hat on and be sorted," She looked down at her list. "Abbott, Selenity!"

The small blonde girl marched out of the line, with curious bright blue eyes walked up to the stool, sat and put on the hat. She closed her eyes and carefully waited for the result. The hat paused and screamed, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hufflepuff table was in an uproar of cheering as Selenity got down and ran to join her new founded house.

"Bones, Patty!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Obviously friendly with each other, the black haired girl ran at top speed to be seated next to Selenity.

"Chang, Ricky!"
"RAVENCLAW!"

"Finch-Fletchley, Marie!"
"RAVENCLAW!"

Lily was humming, and cheering along with everyone who got sorted. Daniel looked sickly. Where was he going to go? He gulped and pondered the thought in his mind some more.

"Longbottom, Carol!"
"RAVENCLAW!"

"Longbottom, Xavier!"
"RAVENCLAW!"

"Lupin, Gerald!"
Poor Gerald looked as if he was hit with a brick. Shakily, he walked up, sat down and put on the hat. After a minute or so it finally bellowed --
"GRYFFINDOR!" And the gryffindor table exploded with cheering upon their first new student.

"Malfoy, Daniel!"
Once again the hall grew in silence when the thought of a Malfoy was sighted. Nervously, the pale blonde-haired brown-eyed boy sat down and placed the hat on his head. Now, his sorting took well up to five minutes before shocking everyone, with it's bellowing choice.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Once again, the table cheered, as a shocked Daniel went to take his seat.

"Malfoy, Gabby!"
The red head walked up smirking; looking rather pleased with her. She sat down and placed the hat on her head. Took only a moment before the hat screamed. "SLYTHERIN!" Of course, this was expected...somewhat. Gabby stood up and walked over to the Slytherin table.

"Potter, James!"
Whispering broke out across the hall, as the black-haired boy walked upward and placed the hat on to be sorted. Another, very long sorting James held. Before the hat finally yelped.
"GRYFFINDOR!" James stood up and walked smoothly to the cheering gryffindor table.

"Potter, Lily!"
Two? Of course. The shocked look on Professor Snape's face said it all when she stood up and placed the hat on her head. She was sorted in a few seconds. "GRYFFINDOR!" Lily hurried to her feet, and ran to her new house.

It went on like that. Violet and Katelyn were sorted into Gryffindor. Seth Thomas became a Ravenclaw; Turpin Lara became a Slytherin. And finally, Snape Steven became another Slytherin. Of course once settled, Lily and James clapped wildly for the rest of the first years getting sorted. "I thought I wasn't going to make it." James' head slammed against the table. Chuckling, the other Gryffindors happily greeted the new arrivals.

Dumbledore stood up, and calmed the hall, his face beaming with pride. "Welcome to a fresh New Year at Hogwarts! All students are to be reminded, that First Years are not permitted to wander off the grounds towards the forbidden forest." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Quidditch tryouts begin next week. Please contact Madam Hooch if interested in playing for your house."

"Thank you! Let the feast begin!"

The tables were litered with food as Lily's jaw dropped. Once again, she began to help herself to potatoes and chicken. A few of the older gryffindors were chattering about what the summer was like. "No of course not. Blimey, I've been training to play Quidditch for the past month!" Piped a second year, talking to a black haired girl seated across from her.

"What are you?" The discussion was high and very mild. "Muggleborn." Replied a boy. "I'm pureblood." Lily spooned her potatoes listening only halfly. She was busily gazing around the Great Hall up and around at the bewitched sky above them, which twinkled with stars.

"LILY!" Lily dropped her spoon and looked over to Violet, eyes wide. Her friend merely laughed. "I said, do you want any peas?" Lily shook her head, and nibbled on a chicken strip. "Are you really Harry Potter's daughter?" Lily looked back up to find a curly-haired blonde boy staring at her. Lily nodded, sipping from her goblet of iced pumpkin juice. He gasped, but Lily was used to it.

Once everyone had finished with dinner, plates clattered and disappeared as quickly as they came. Desert followed, James flicked a spoonful of ice cream at Gerald, who was caught off guard and was whacked in the eye. The two began to laugh. Lily rolled her eyes, and decided on having a light piece of apple pie. She was already pretty full as it was.

"I want to play Quidditch, but I'm not sure I'll make it." When the laughter died down, Gerald was on the subject of quidditch. "I want to try out for Seeker." James shoved a piece of a cake stick into his mouth. " 'Ut I'll haf ta be as 'ood.., He swallowed the rest. "As good as my dad that is." Gerald helped himself to a ‚clair. "I bet you'll be great." He ate it quickly, and sipped on the contents of his goblet. The chatter went on for another fifteen minutes of Quidditch and through the ages of it.

At last, though the desserts disappeared and Dumbledore stood up as the hall fell silent again. He had his wand in his hands. "Now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" And a burst of sparkles emitted from the tip of his wand in the shape of words. Soon the school began to sing.


"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring us back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot!"
(--HPATPS pp, 128)

Laughter and cheering rung out across the hall again, as Dumbledore clapped his hands. "And now, bedtime off you trot!" Figures in robes fitted with shiny "P"'s on their robes stood up and began to lead their houses out of the Great Hall. A dark haired girl stood up, and she peered at the Gryffindor table with a hearty smile. "Alright gryffindors, line up and follow me please!"

And up the marble staircases walked the tired Gryffindor house. James began to breathe hard as soon as they reached the second floor. "How...much...longer." He was leaning against Gerald. Daniel was lagging behind a tired Violet. The portraits that hung in the corridors were smiling, and eagerly glancing over the first year students in delight. More staircases were climbed, and James thought his legs were going to break.

"Here we are, everyone!" Finally, once on the seventh floor she chimed as they came to a halt in front of a portrait of a Fat Lady with a smile on her face. "Password dear?" She asked. "Alohomora," Said the Prefect, and the portrait swung open, they all quickly piled into the Gryffindor Common Room.

Quickly, the girls were directed towards one door to their dorm rooms, as well as the boys through another. James, Daniel, and Gerald said goodnight to the girls before filing up a spiraling staircase to their tower dorms. As soon as they stepped through the door of their dorms, they found their trunks already there. James collapsed on a four-poster bed. "This bed is better then the one I have at home!" The others chuckled, hurrying to put on their pajamas. James was the last to change.

"Goodnight you guys." Gerald said, climbing into bed. A yawn and a g'night were exchanged before each boy fell asleep to the calm breezing of the wind tapping against the window.