"First years over here please," Professor McGonagall called from the top of the stone steps leading to the entrance hall of Hogwarts Castle. Aidan seemed a bit out of place among the children who were at least a head shorter than him. He thought he was probably the only fifteen-year-old to have ever been sorted.
"Please wait here. We have to get everything set up in the Great Hall before we are ready for the Sorting Ceremony." Professor McGonagall then turned on her heel and walked briskly into the Great Hall. Immediately the crowd of first years erupted into chatter.
"Who're you?" a particularly short boy with brown hair and freckles asked Aidan. He had to crane his neck to its full extent to see him properly.
"I'm Aidan O'Reilly," he answered.
"Why are you so tall?"
"Because I'm fifteen. I transferred here this year."
"Oh." The boy was still extremely confused. To Aidan's relief, Professor McGonagall returned to the entrance hall
"We are ready for you now."
Aidan stepped into the Hall and was pleased to see that it was everything he had imagined it. The starry night sky was reflected into the Hall, portraying the most breathtaking scene Aidan had ever seen. The candles that floated over the tables lit the whole room up and the four house tables made the Hall into a sea of black robes and hats. On a stool in front of the staff table sat the legendary Sorting Hat, as shabby as one could imagine. The Hall was suddenly quiet once the first years (and Aidan) entered. Aidan looked over at a far table and saw a blonde boy whispering to two larger boys and pointing to him. Malfoy, he thought.
Suddenly the silence was broken by the Sorting Hat which had broken into song.
I welcome you to Hogwarts
Though you may be scared at first
But putting me upon your head
Will be surely not the worst
I'll sort you into Houses
Your home for seven years
Yet you cannot count me in
As one of your big fears
If I put you into Gryffindor
It shall be no mistake
For the greatest of the Hogwarts four
Knew how to take the cake
Prized among the others
Are the brave lions at heart
So do not fear if I put you here
Though if I did than you will not
If into Ravenclaw you go
You must be very smart
For those of wit and cleverness
Are true Ravenclaws to start
The second greatest I might add
To start this special school
She wouldn't let just anyone in
Especially the fool
Ahh, Hufflepuff is where you'll go
If that is what I decide
For those who are just and loyal
Always show their pride
Canary yellow is your color
A hardworking color I might add
Honestly being a Hufflepuff
Is really not too bad
Last is cunning Slytherin
Who's power hunt never dies
Even years after he is gone
I cut his students down to size
The sly, amibitious, clever folk
Who walk through Slytherin's halls
Are always ready to find their power
If it should ever call
Now, alas, my song is done
So whip me on your lid
I've never been wrong (though close before)
And your secrets are well hid!
The hat ended its song loudly and the Hall burst into applause. All the first years looked extremely nervous. Aidan wasn't too scared though. He'd read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets enough times to know that if he asked to go to Gryffindor, he would go there.
Professor McGonagall then took out a long scroll of parchment and began to read off the names of the students to be sorted. "Bornes, Abby!" After a few minutes, the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Creighton, Mary!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Droyle, David!" became a Slytherin and "Drake, Melody" was the first new Gryffindor. After "Floyd, Ray!" and "Floyd, Ryan!" were called, Aidan was.
A few students snickered as Aidan made his way up to the stool. He was tall and gangly, basically a misfit among the eleven-year-olds around him. Aidan's eyes flickered over to the Slytherin table where Malfoy was yet again talking to Crabbe and Goyle. He nervously sat down on the stool and the last thing he saw before the hat covered his eyes were two girls sitting at the Gryffindor table laughing heartily behind semi-covering-up hands.
"O'Reilly, I sorted your mum and dad, boy. You should be no problem."
I was adopted, Aidan thought to the hat.
"Hufflepuff would work nicely, yes. I could see you there, now."
No, I need to be in Gryffindor.
"Gryffindor? Well, I suppose I can see that. You have the courage to ask me, after all."
Yes, Gryffindor.
"You are quite a bit older than my other 'Sortee's.' I suppose you know what you want. GRYFFINDOR!"
Aidan stood up, beaming from ear to ear. The Gryffindor table was applauding loudly. Hermione had stood up and was indicating for Aidan to sit down near herself, Harry, Ron, and Neville. "Great! Now we can study together!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Ooh! Study-buddies!" Ron cat-called.
"Can it, Ron, for just one minute!"
"Sorry."
Ginny had overheard the conversation. "Oh, 'Mione, don't mind him. He's become a mindless idiot, like Fred and George."
"We heard that!" Fred and George cried from across the table in unison.
"Good!"
"Ginny, he's always been a mindless idiot," Hermione answered.
"It's getting weirder, trust me."
Aidan took a long enough time to hear the last two students become Ravenclaw's ("Welch, Jayme!" and "Wimbin, Scott!") before the Sorting Hat was taken away.
"I liked the song," Aidan said.
"Oh, it's nothing. Really once you've been here for five years, it's no big deal," Harry said.
"Though you've only been present to three of them!" Hermione piped in.
"That's one less… oops, I mean you've been to…"
"See, 'Mione? He's losing brain cells," said Ginny.
"Yes, Ron. I have been to one more sorting than he has," Hermione said slowly. Ron made a face.
"Do you always get along this well?" Aidan asked, trying to sound like he didn't already know.
"Oh, yeah. This is an ongoing part of our relationship. 'Mione, you must not be so mean to me. You know how delicate I am. I'm just a rose petal hanging precariously at the end of the stem," Ron said. Aidan then turned to Ginny.
"You know, you don't give him enough credit," he said, slightly amused.
"Oh, he's just faking. Dad was fooling around one day with Mum and he said that. He hasn't the slightest idea what it means." Aidan laughed.
"Alright, then."
Dinner was almost complete when Dumbledore stood up to make a few announcements.
"Dear children, please note the Forbidden Forest is prohibited from all students and this year with, er, current circumstances, you will be accompanied to your Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures lessons by the teacher of the previous class.
"When dinner is complete, would Aidan O'Reilly please come to the High Table? I wish to speak to you just for a moment. Now I will give you a few words of wisdom before you head to your dormitories: Dickory, Jiggery, Dompo!"
Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing. Though feeble and few, I appreciate it. God! It is so freaking cold in my computer room. Please review more, I would like that. Sorry that this is such a short chapter, but I'm running out of inspiration. Please reviews=chapters! --Jo