Once again, I do not own Tom Riddle, Hogwarts, or any other noticeable things.
Also, I would like to apologize for the not so riveting title of this chapter. I am well aware that nearly every story has this title, but I could not think of a more fitting title. I am sorry. Please read/review anyway.
Chapter 6
The Sorting
"I think we've arrived." Ana said leaning over Doug to glance out the window, "Yes see, the train's slowing down." Doug's bottom lip began trembling.
"Relax Dougie, I'm sure no one's goin' to hurt you. Though I have heard Filch rather enjoys torturing the students a bit." Samirah said with a smirk.
"Who's Filch?" Doug asked his eyes growing ever larger.
"The caretaker of Hogwarts. He actually roams around the school just so he can catch students breaking the rules so he can have them in the dungeons for detention. My older cousin left Hogwarts this past year. She said one time when Filch tricked her into getting detention, he hung her by her ankles with hooks and…"
"Knock it off Samirah." Ana cried harshly. "You aren't helping him one little bit by making up these ridiculous stories."
"They aren't just stories, they're true." Samirah smiled slyly. "But I wouldn't worry so much Dougie, I'm sure the hooks won't dig to deeply in the skin…"
"Don't believe one word she says Doug. I'm sure the headmaster would never allow anyone to do those kinds of things to students." Samirah laughed.
"Okay then, I guess we'll just have to see won't we?" The train finally came to a complete stop and Tom was more than relieved. The girl's endless bickering had been quite irritating and if that weren't enough, Doug's sniffles would turn into brief periods of sobs every now and then. It was definitely not how Tom had imagined his approach to Hogwarts would be, not at all in fact.
"Hogwarts students, please leave all your luggage on the train. It will be brought up to your assigned dormitories for you." A loud voice boomed over the intercom of the train. Tom obediently left his belongings in the overhead compartment, as did the other riders of his compartment. They got off the train and before they could even wonder where they were suppose to go a loud voice could be heard.
"First years over here! First years, come this way!" Tom and the other first years hurried to the spot that was transmitting the voice. The source was a tall man with short curly black hair and dark eyes. The man looked actually more like a boy, a late teen or early twenty sort of guy. He was very muscular and was wearing a faded pair of overalls that were douched in dirt. The pants fell just above his ankles and were ragged and torn. He wore no shirt. "All right is this everyone?" He asked looking around. "Good. Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Oggirus Kain; most folk call me Ogg. I am the game keeper and keeper of keys at Hogwarts. I will be leading you to the castle; we'll go by boat. Over this way please." Ogg turned and led the first years to the lake. On the shore of the lake a little over a dozen boats lay floating in the water. "Get in, four to a boat please. Do be careful!" Ogg called sharply as a girl nearly fell into the lake trying to get into her boat. Tom got in and was followed by Samirah, Ana, and of course, Doug. Tom hoped that the three of them would not be following him everywhere he went when they actually arrived at the school. Tom didn't think he could take seven years of bickering between Samirah and Ana and the pitiful wining of Doug. "Everyone in a boat? Well done, lets go." Ogg waved his hand the boats began magically moving forward. "And this will be your first look of Hogwarts." Ogg said from the head of the boats. As the boats turned the bend, sure enough, an enormous castle loomed a head. There were an uncountable amount of floors, and one could see many towers branching off of the main building. There were many hushed and excited whispers coming from the boats. Everyone was pointing at the school their faces full of wonder and pure excitement.
"Can you believe it? It's amazing." Ana breathed. "Come on Doug, you have to admit it's magnificent."
"Well, I guess it's a bit terrific looking." He said looking at the castle.
"Yeah, I can't wait to actually get inside." Samirah said with an anxious grin. Tom said nothing, but thought that Hogwarts was easily the most incredible and gorgeous thing he had ever seen. They soon reached the shore and got out of the boats. Before Tom even knew it, he along with his new classmates, had entered Hogwarts.
Ogg led the students up a staircase. He was saying something about a feast and a sorting, but Tom was too busy looking about the castle to listen to what he was saying, and by the looks of the other students, they too were more engrossed by the school then Ogg's speech. At the very top of the stairs, a young woman was waiting for them. She was wearing long robes of sky blue that matched her eyes perfectly. She had flowing strawberry blonde hair that draped just below her shoulders. She smiled brightly when she saw them approaching.
"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Professor Lydia Dellian (Del-yen). I am the Headmistress of Hogwarts and will be your Potions teacher. I am also head of Hufflepuff house. Hufflepuff is one of the four houses. The others are: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. When you walk through these doors you will go to the front of the Great Hall and will one by one be sorted into your houses. While you are at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. Points will be awarded for any excellent behavior, and will be taken for any disobedience. At the end of the year there will be a grand feast in honor of the house with the most points and they will be awarded the house cup. (Sorry about that everyone, I know it was really boring, but it had to be said.) Now please follow me." She flashed them an encouraging smile then turned and led them in to the Great Hall.
As the first years entered the Hall, Tom could feel the gazes of all the other students on them. Everyone was gazing around fearfully, trying to guess how they would be sorted into there houses.
"Whatever it is I'm sure I can handle it. I'm fully prepared to take on any sort of challenge." A boy whispered to someone behind Tom. Tom glanced back and saw a tall lanky boy with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes.
"You sure," Tom whispered to the boy. "I hear hats are pretty ferocious." The boy looked at Tom dumbly.
"Excuse me, but I don't believe I was speaking to you." Tom shrugged and looked forward again, but noted that the boy had stopped bragging.
"Oh look, the ceiling it's just like the sky!" Ana hissed to Doug. "That's neat isn't it?"
"Yeah, kind of." Doug mumbled.
"All right first years listen here. I'll call your name and you will come up to the front, then I will place this sorting hat on your head and it shall place you in your house." Professor Dellian explained. Tom heard the boy behind gasp.
"How did he know?!?" Tom shook his head, this boy needed to get over himself.
"Adkins, Zander." A tall heavyset boy with dark hair walked up to the front. The hat was on the boy's head for several seconds before it bellowed "Ravenclaw!" Everyone cheered, especially the Ravenclaw table. "Ardren, Christina!" A short stocky girl with curly red hair and thick glasses walked forward. She had dark glaring green eyes and her lips were fixed in a determined thin line. The hat was on her head for a bit longer until "Slytherin!" Her lips transformed into a broad grin. She walked happily and swiftly to sit at the Slytherin table. "Biggs, Hayden." It was the cocky boy who made the comment about the sorting previously. He strolled forward with his head held high and his backbone straighter than a metal rod. He sat, with perfect posture for no more than three seconds when, "Ravenclaw!" Biggs smiled shook his head once the hat was removed to ensure his hair was proper. Tom tried not to grimace. Birks, Penny was the first Gryffindor then Cash, Liza became a Hufflepuff. Delmaur, Luke was a Slytherin, Irke, Lyzer a Gryffindor and Johnson, Lyndsay a Slytherin. "Kellen, Samirah!" Tom couldn't help be interested in where she was placed. "Slytherin!" It yelled almost instantly. Tom actually applauded, but was unsure why. Kovendice, Oliver was a Hufflepuff then Landover, Lucille was placed in Slytherin. Mitchell, Kerrie was now in Gryffindor and Piddly, Joseph was in Slytherin. Joseph started to sit at the Hufflepuff table because he couldn't remember which table was Slytherin's. When he was finally seated "Riddle, Tom!" Tom walked to the front with eyes on the floor. The hat was place on his.
"Oh my…" The hat said in a low voice inside Tom's head. "Isn't this interesting. You'll be something won't you? But what sort of something? That'll be for you to decide. But then it seems you all ready have hmm? Well…you seem pretty sure so…Slytherin!" Tom smiled slyly and walked to the table and sat next to Samirah.
"Nice ta see ya Tom." She said quietly. Tom nodded but said nothing.
"Roth, Biana!"
"Anything but Slytherin, anything but Slytherin." Samirah whispered closing her eyes and crossing her fingers, but nonetheless, Ana Roth soon was heading towards the Slytherin table. "How could a girl like that get into Slytherin?" Samirah whispered.
"She doesn't seem the type does she?" Tom said quietly. Samirah looked at him surprised.
"Wow, he speaks."
"Yes, I speak, when I find the need." Samirah laughed. Ana came and sat across from Samirah.
"Hi guys, neat to be in the same house huh?"
"Oh yes, super neat." Samirah smirked sarcastically. Ana frowned sadly and put her focus back on the sorting just as Tonkett, Sylvia became a Ravenclaw. "Williams, Doug!" Taking very large gasps of air, Doug hurried forward, nearly tripping as he sat on the stool.
"'Ey Jess, Simon, isn't that yer little brothar?" An older boy at the Slytherin table asked. When Tom turned he noticed the teenage girl and boy he had seen at the train station looking down.
"Well, ya, so?" The boy, Simon, answered quickly.
"Hey wait a minute, wasn't he the boy who was sobbing at on the platform?" Asked Lyndsay Johnson, tilting her head so her huge brown curls were now at an angle.
"He was crying?" The same boy asked. "What a loser!" He began laughing.
"Hey shut up! That is our kid brother you're talkin' about."
"Hush down won't will you Jess." Simon hissed.
"Look, he's still up there." Christian Ardren said pointing. And it was true. It had been an entire minute and Doug was still on the stool. Several people started giggling and by the time the hat yelled 'Hufflepuff!' the giggles were coming from every table. Ana stood up and cheered Doug loudly. After sitting at his new table he looked over fearfully at his brother and sister as they both averted their eyes.
"Now," began Professor Dellian, "the headmaster has a few words for you."
"Ah yes, thank you Professor." A frail looking man of average height, who was nearly bald save several wisps of white hair stood. He was seated at the center of a long row of teachers. He cleared his throat. "I would just like to remind our old students and inform the first years that the Forbidden Forrest is off limits to all students. Ah…I believe that is all…" he glanced at Professor Dellian who nodded, "yes, that's it. Enjoy your meal!" He clapped his hands and platters and platters full of delicious looking food magically appeared. Everyone began eating at once and there was suddenly a very large amount of chatter going about the Great Hall. As Tom reached for a dinner roll, he glanced up at the teacher's table and though there was several different teachers one in particular caught Tom's eye. The wizard appeared to be tall, though it was difficult to because he was sitting down, and had long sweeping auburn hair and a very long beard. He had very bright crystal blue eyes that were sparkling as he spoke to another professor. This man disturbed Tom, and made him frown.
"Somethin' wrong Tom?" Samirah asked glancing at him.
"No, of course not." He replied glancing once again at the teacher. Tom shook his head, no need to get excited over nothing, he assured himself. Tom looked about the Great Hall and couldn't help but smile. Finally, after all his waiting, he was actually at Hogwarts. Right then Tom promised himself he would do his absolute best to succeed at this school so he could one day succeed at his goals and that he wouldn't let anyone get in his way. Nobody at all.