A/N. Please forgive the time it took to put this up! But I believe you'll find it was worth the wait. I'd like to go ahead and acknowledge that the Sorting ceremony is not like that of the new Harry Potter movie (yay! it's out!) nor that of the book. It's how I envisioned it in my mind, so...please pretend with me ;)



8. Sorting, Songs, and Suspenseful Scenarios

It took a moment for Rio to recover, but when she did, she was quite her usual self. "That? That is the Sorting Hat? It looks filthy and torn...do have to put that thing on my HEAD?!"

"Tais-toi!" Vivianne rebuked her sister as Lupin satisfied the need to snort into his napkin again.

Above them all, the ceiling reflected a rapidly darkening sky. Then, seemingly of their own accord, the candles in the wrought-iron candelabras lit with small, dancing flames. The flickering candlelight glittered off the golden plates on the house tables as half the newly-lit candles rose into the air and floated lazily about thirty feet above the floor.

Abruptly all conversation at the staff table ceased. Rio turned and looked down the oaken table just in time to see Headmaster Dumbledore lower his right hand back to his knee. The tension in the air turned Rio's nerves to spandex. In the dim, glowing light Rio's eyes settled on the only movement in the room. Watching Professor McGonagall pull a long, scrolled up piece of parchment from her robe sleeve, Rio felt a vague apprehension slowly wrap around her like a noxious mist, making her feel light-headed. Perhaps it was merely the candle smoke...

To clear her mind, Rio found herself focusing very hard on the Transfiguration teacher. Professor McGonagall looked little like the kind, encouraging woman Rio had met a few days ago. Her features were set and solemn, yet a glimmer of anticipation could be seen in her gray, Athenian eyes. Rio didn't know what it was about that look in her eyes. It was fierce and prideful...competitive...

Just then the sound of footsteps muffled on flagstones echoed in the hall. All heads turned to the left door as Hagrid entered a line of new, frightened looking students vanishing down the long hall behind him. He made a gesture for the first years to wait where they were.

Rio dug her fingernails into her palms to keep them from trembling. Her focus swept almost feverishly to the massive double doors down at the end of the Great Hall as they swung open, and students of all ages filed nearly noiselessly inside and seated themselves at each of the four long tables. When the last student sat down, the banners behind each table bearing the house insignia unfurled of one accord. The hall was filled with silent majesty.

It was then that Rio understood the magnitude of greatness and honour that defined the history and future of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her lips parted in awe as she stared at the magnificent scene before her. It was as though she had been transported back to the time of noble kings, brave knights, and their faithful ladies. Magic--ancient and powerful--was all but palpable in the air. Every breath was an intake of electricity, heightening her awareness and weaving a sense of the unreal.

But the moment only lasted a few seconds before Professor McGonagall made an affirmative sign to Hagrid, who then lead the first years in to be Sorted. Rio studied the boys and girls within her range of vision. They all looked as terrified and bewildered as she felt, which was strangely comforting. Rio glanced to her left at Vivianne, who was watching the ratty-looking Sorting Hat intently. All vestiges of concern and anxiousness had smoothed themselves from her face, leaving her looking tranquil and confident. Perhaps, Rio thought, it was like coming home to her.



Rio followed Vivianne's line of vision and also stared at the hat...which suddenly began to sing in a jovial, cockney accent:

Another year begins anew

And we remember and review

And right what summer put askew

To cleanse your minds of dust and dew.

Welcome, all, to Hoggy Warts

The magic here is in your hearts

We've room for all you different sorts

And I will tell you how to start.

You may begin in Gryffindor

A brave and honour-laden lot

Who always strive for what is fair

The Knights of modern Camelot.

Or yet endearing Hufflepuff

So kind and true and loyal

They're always there to buck you up

And settle your turmoil.

Perhaps you'll dwell in Ravenclaw

If learning is your art

Unrav'ling many a puzzle hard

With rapier wit so smart.

You might belong in Slytherin

With cunning like a fox

Their dazzeling complexity

Of living paradox.

Your futures lie ahead of you

So place me on your noggin

I'll search all your intentions, for

Your future bears unfoggin!



Rio gaped while everyone else cheered and clapped merrily. Vivianne caught her sister's eye and gave her an encouraging smile. An amused grin worked its way across Rio's mouth. Perhaps this wouldn't be so difficult after all, she thought hopefully, even as whispers began to resonate around the Great Hall. No doubt people were noticing Vivianne and herself at the staff table.



Professor McGonagall stepped forward as the applause died off, unrolling the scroll she had taken out a few minutes ago. Without further preamble, she began reading off the name of the first student. "Abbington, Ansley," she called out, crisp and clear.

A shaking little girl with flaxen brown hair trotted nervously forward, picking up the Sorting Hat with trembling fingers. Rio watched closely as Ansley Abbington plopped the hat down on her head and sat on the small wooden stool. For a few seconds nothing happened, and then the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!" so loudly that Rio started. The table under the yellow banner burst into warm applause, and Ansley Abbington quickly removed the hat and ran off to find a seat with her new housemates.

'Is it really that simple?' Rio wondered, 'just sit on the stool for a few seconds with the hat on your head and then it yells out a house? How bizarre...'

Rio spent the next ten minutes watching first years get Sorted. It was actually an interesting process. But as Zabinouski, Trenton ("SLYTHERIN!") padded off to join his new housemates, Rio felt the butterflies zoom back down her throat and into her stomach.

Vivianne tugged at Rio's sleeve and jerked her chin toward Dumbledore, who was rising to address those assembled. 'Oh dear Lord!' Rio thought as her hands went icy cold with apprehension. Her frantic stare locked with Dumbledore's for a moment, and he gave her an encouraging smile. Then he turned to face the students.

"Welcome everyone, to a new year at Hogwarts! No doubt you all are simply dying to tuck into the lovely feast that's been prepared, but I beg you all control the water-flow for just another few minutes." His eyes twinkled as he continued, "I would like to introduce our interim Charms professor and head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Vivianne Tessyier!"

Automatically Vivianne stood, smiling confidently at the student body before her. The Great Hall was flooded with cheers, especially from the Ravenclaw table. Colouring faintly, Vivianne resumed her seat and let out a relieved sigh, barely audible from where Rio sat.

When the cheers died down, Dumbledore resumed his speech. "And also joining us this evening is Professor Tessyiur's younger sister, Cathriona, who is transferring from Beauxbatons Academy."

All eyes shifted to Rio, who stood up almost spastically. Polite applause accompanied the curious stares as Dumbledore continued, "Miss Cathriona will now proceed to the Sorting Hat as well." So saying, he turned to face Rio, who stared back at him like a mental patient being told she had to go back to the little white room. Dumbledore's brows furrowed compassionately and he whispered, "Go ahead, Cathriona," as Vivianne twined her foot around the leg of her chair to deliver a nudge to Rio's foot.



"Ergmph," Rio said against her teeth as the chair behind her vanished. Without looking at anyone, Rio moved down the right side of the staff table, rounded the corners, and strode numbly toward Professor McGonagall. 'Dieu, help me,' Rio thought, not even noticing that her inner-voice spoke Frenglish. With a last, desperate look at the Transfiguration professor's kind expression, Rio sat on the little wooden stool, letting the Sorting Hat drop over her eyes.

"Hmm," said a little voice in her head.

Rio, obviously, was not prepared to handle hearing little voices. "Ack!" she squeaked, leaping off the stool and drawing her wand reflexively, the hat still on her head. Rio heard thunderous laughter from outside her fabricated prison (A/N: get it? Heheh. Whoa hey now! No rotten fruit, please!), and felt herself blush. Shrinking apologetically into her shoulders, Rio murmured, "Oh, okay, I get it," and sat back down. Later she would reflect on how lucky she was she didn't miss the stool entirely and land with a graceless thunk on the floor.

"Yay Cathriona!" someone yelled. Rio barely recognized it as the voice of the boy she met in Flourish and Blotts. Ron Measly or something like that.

She felt herself relax even as other student voices reached her ears in whispers. Whispers that said things like, "Left-handed, probably a Slytherin," or "Got to be a Ravenclaw, it's in her family," and even "She looks like the Gray Lady, Ravenclaw's house ghost."

'Great,' Rio thought sarcastically, 'I look like a cadaver.' But that was the last thought she had before the voice of the hat spoke again.



"Jumpy, aren't you? Impressive reflexes, I must admit. Now, let's have a look at you. Ahhh, impressive legacy: conglomerate if there ever was one. There have been Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins in your family. But now let's look at you. Ambitious, very ambitious, and cunning in social situations. There is bravery also, and kindness--oh this will be difficult!"

'I'd never fit in Slytherin,' Rio thought desperately, remembering all the sombre faces and not in the least forgetting Snape, 'Nor Hufflepuff...I'd be the only mischief-maker!'

"Never fit in?" the Hat questioned, causing Rio to start almost visibly. "Well then. You are cerebral, like your immediate family, and you learn quickly. Your judgments seem to coordinate with mine. Very well then, best you be in RAVENCLAW!"

Thunderous cheers shook the hall as Professor McGonagall plucked the Sorting Hat off Rio's beaming face. Turning, Rio saw Vivianne hopping up and down in her seat, clapping like a delighted child. Rio grinned even wider and whisked over the house table below the blue and bronze banner. "Bloody thwacking brilliant!" a girl with long, curly blonde hair greeted Rio as she sat down, nearly knocking the latter over with a powerful back-slapping.



"We get the transfer girl!" another enthusiastic face congratulated. This girl was obviously of Middle-Eastern heritage, with shining black hair and lively black eyes. Rio was about to ask their names, when Dumbledore spoke again.

"Congratulations to all the newly Sorted pupils,"--he let his approving eyes rest fractionally longer on Rio before continuing--"and now I have only one last announcement, I swear." This statement was followed by good-natured groans of hunger. "There will be magical dueling lessons available again this year, for the fourth years and up."

Was Rio mistaken, or were there groans of loathing echoing around the hall? She thought she could distinguish the name "Lockheart" among the many voiced apprehensions. What could that possibly be about? Dumbledore held up a silencing hand, a smile twitching at the corner of his white mustache. "It will be taught by part-time auror and professional fencer Methos de la Ferre, who has agreed to teach the proper and practical aspects of wand-to-wand combat."

At this the reaction changed to resounding approval. 'Wow,' Rio thought, 'I'm going to have to sign up for that!'

"Sign up sheets will be in your house dormitories. And now," Dumbledore concluded, "may the long-overdue feast commence!"

Rio shifted her gaze to the table just in time to see the empty baskets and platters fill themselves with delicious food. 'Am I drooling yet?' Rio wondered as she stared down the long table.

Suddenly her line of vision was interrupted by a long, narrow hand being thrust at her face. "Welcome to Ravenclaw!" the blonde girl smiled jovially, as Rio shyly took the proffered handshake. "I'm Ayden Hooch, the Flying professor's niece."

Rio grinned back, "Rio Tessyiur, it's nice to meet you, Ayden."

"And I'm Sparrow Patil, youngest daughter of the Patil family. My oldest sister, Parvati, is a fifth-year Gryffindor, and Padma is a fourth-year in this house."

"Delighted," Rio responded, extending her hand to Sparrow.

"What year are you in? Accio!" Ayden said, moving the conversation along while summoning a roll across the table. Catching it deftly, Ayden replaced her wand and focused back on Rio.

"I'm a sixth year," Rio said.

"Great!" Ayden exclaimed, "so am I! That means we'll have all our classes together, so I can show you around."

"Sweet," Rio agreed. "Are you a sixth-year too, Sparrow?"

"Oi, no! I'm a third-year. But I'll still see you about, at meal-times leastwise."

"Welcome to Ravenclaw House," said a soft voice behind her.

Rio turned around to see a tall boy with lovely indigo eyes and an easy smile. It was a good thing Ayden spoke up so quickly, because Rio was momentarily struck dumb. 'Blast that sticky pumpkin juice,' Rio thought lamely.

"Oh, hey Berrenger! Rio, this is Berrenger Malcolm, Ravenclaw Prefect. He's really bookish, so if you need help with your homework, he's the one to mooch off of."

Berrenger feigned an irritated look at Ayden, who winked impishly. "Anyway," he continued in his smooth baritone, turning back to Rio, "I'll be around to help if you need directions to a class and such. Have a nice evening."

"Thanks," Rio muttered as he turned on his heel and strode down the table to his seat.

Sparrow was the first to comment. "Hot, isn't he?" she said point-blank.

"Sizzling," Rio responded shamelessly.

"I don't know about that," Ayden said in a mock-thoughtful pose, "Zesty is more the trick of it."

"Berrenger and Ayden have been friends for five years, so she can't think of him like that," Sparrow explained. Then an evil grin lit up her face, "Thankfully, I bear no such constraints--"

"Sparrow!" Ayden cut in, gaping at her and tossing a piece of potato. "Honestly!"

Rio giggled a moment before dissolving into pitches of laughter.

Now it was Ayden's turn to feign annoyance. "What?" she said dryly, before succumbing to a chuckling fit herself.

"Nothing," Rio assured in a calming voice, "It's just...I think I'm going to like it here."

Identical half-grins spread across Ayden and Sparrow's faces. "That's the way of Ravenclaw," Ayden said.

"House of the peanut-butter nutters!" Sparrow chirped gleefully, and they all raised a glass of pumpkin juice.

"To Ravenclaw!" the girls chorused.

End notes: Kudos to Viv for revising my Sorting song, and cheers to the rest of my beta network: Uni, Sparrow, Ayden, and Sam!