A/N: Sorry I don't update that often. (It's not like anyone is reading this
anyway.) But I only update when I finish posting a chapter on hp.com.
Though I doubt anyone cares, if you want to read as I go along, I try to
post everyday on my thread on hp.com. I'd put the link here, but it seems
that I am stupid and am unable to figure out how to make a link work on
ff.net. So, I guess that was pointless saying what I just did. Oh well. :-
D
Brooke: No, this is not just Lily's first year. It's going to be all seven years.
Chapter 2
The Sorting Hat
The next few weeks passed quickly. I spent my time wandering around Diagon Alley and reading my textbooks, and I even practiced a few spells. It gave me endless amounts of delight when I actually got one to work.
It was a week before September 1st when Tom, the bartender, brought up a problem.
"So, Lily, are your parents going to be picking you up for school?" he asked me casually. I think he had suspicions that I had run away or done something like that, although I had not told him.
"Err-I think they're going to be busy," I said hesitantly.
Tom frowned. "Well I suppose I could arrange for a ride for you if you are in need."
"Would you please?" looking at him with my best puppy-dog eyes.
He laughed, "I supposed I can arrange for a muggle-err, car to pick you up." He was clearly not familiar with the concept of cars.
"Thank you, so much!" I cried happily; glad that now I wouldn't have to find a way there on my own.
"You're very welcome," he told me, smiling. As I walked away, though, out of the corner of my eye I saw a suspicious look on his face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
On September 1st, a muggle taxi arrived, and helped me load my trunk of supplies into the car. I was glad to get out of the Leaky Cauldron, for the last few days Tom had been pressing me more and more about my family and where I lived.
Arriving at King's Cross, I glanced down at the ticket that Tom had given me. The train left at eleven o'clock from platform nine and three quarters.
I started walking. Platform nine. Platform ten. I stared. Now what was I supposed to do?
I didn't want to ask anyone because they might think I'm insane or something, after all there obviously was not a platform nine and three quarters. I don't believe most people are used to the concept of magic either, which I supposed was how I was supposed to get onto the platform someway.
Then I noticed a woman and her children standing there. They were wearing robes, which, as I had found out in Diagon Alley, were what most witches and wizards wore.
I moved closer to here what the woman was saying.
"Bellatrix, Narcissa, you two go first."
I watched carefully as the two of them started walking towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. I frowned as they suddenly seemed to disappear. What had they done?
"Regulus, you next," she said fondly. He too walked towards the barrier. I tried to watch closer, but just as he neared the barrier, a crowd blocked the way.
I looked back at the woman, who was now focusing her attention on the remaining boy.
"Okay, Sirius, this is your chance. You may have made some foolish mistakes, but this is where the truth will come out. If you get into Slytherin I will be relieved. I suppose it is all right to get into Ravenclaw, but if that hat even considers putting you in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor..." her voice trailed off dangerously. "Now, then, just walk through the barrier between platforms nine and ten and you'll find Hogwarts Express. Go on."
I watched as the boy walked calmly through the barrier. Glad that I wouldn't have to ask the woman how to get to the platform, she didn't seem very friendly, I followed the boy.
On the other side of the barrier, I saw a scarlet steam engine. The platform was packed full of students and parents.
Feeling a bit left out, I just kept walking through the crowd until I found an empty compartment near the end of the train.
I attempted to heave my trunk full of the things I had bought in Diagon Alley onto the train, but only succeeded in getting a few steps.
"Oy, there!" A boy called. "Want some help?"
I smiled at him. "Thanks," I answered as he helped lift the trunk up and into the corner of the compartment. Looking at the boy, I saw he had the most untidy black hair that I had ever seen; it seemed to stick out in every direction. He had hazel eyes, and a long nose. He wasn't ugly, but defiantly no match for the handsome boy I had followed through the barrier.
"I'm Lily Evans, by the way," I introduced myself.
"James-James Potter," he said, flashing a grin at me. "Well I'll see you at school," and he went to a different compartment.
I sat down and pulled out a book that I had bought with some of my remaining money, while I was staying at the Leaky Cauldron. It was quite interesting, as it gave the history of not only the founders of the school, but also the school's protections and history of other great headmasters, and even rumors about secret rooms and passageways.
"Hello," a voice said tentatively.
I looked up. A girl with long auburn hair, a bit darker than my own bright red, was standing the compartment door.
"Do you mind if I sit here? All the other compartments are full."
"Go ahead. I'm Lily Evans."
"Kirsten-Kirsten Mignone," she said. "So, what house do you want to be in?"
"I'm hoping for Gryffindor. Ravenclaw would be good too, I suppose. You?" I asked?
"I'd like to be in Gryffindor, too."
We were chatting happily together when a tall woman appeared. "Would you two like anything off the cart?" she asked us.
I shook my head, knowing that I shouldn't spend the last little money I had.
Kirsten seemed to have no such dilemma and pulled out a bunch of silver coins to pay for the chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts every flavor beans, and Pumpkin Pasties.
"Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans," I read allowed. "Is there really every flavor?"
"Sure is, my dad won't touch them because he swears he got a bugar flavored one once."
I laughed, as she offered me some and we once again began to chat happily.
The compartment door suddenly slid open, two other girls standing in the doorway. One had strait blond hair and blue eyes. The other had curly brown hair and dark brown eyes.
The one with blond hair asked, "Can we sit here? Some other kids got mad at us and all the other compartments are full."
"Sure," Kirsten answered. "I'm Kirsten Mignone."
"Lily Evans," I put in.
The blond haired girl smiled, "Nice to meet you two, I'm Kelly Thomas."
"And I'm Christina Tracy," the Brown-haired girl said.
"So, who threw you out?" I asked.
The two looked at each other. Then Kelly answered, "Some other first year girls."
"Yeah," Christina, "Megan Adams, Michelle Tinette, Nicole Stanton, and Kelsey Pierce."
"That sucks," I said. "Anyway, do you think we should change into our robes now?"
We had all just finished changing when the train finally came to a stop.
It was a clear night outside, the stars shining brightly, and a full moon out.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" the largest man I had ever seen called. "Firs' years, follow me," he called. We all followed him down a narrow winding path. Then, just as we turned a bend, Hogwarts came into sight.
It was a large castle, with many turrets and towers. It was perched high atop a mountain on the other side of the lake that now stood in their way.
"Everyone, in a boat," the man called. "And no more'n four to a boat."
Kirsten, Kelly, Christina, who had said she wanted to be called Chris, and I all got into one of the boats.
"Ready?" Hagrid asked. "FORWARD!" he commanded, and the fleet of little boats began gliding smoothly towards the castle.
Then they entered a dark tunnel, and were finally taken to a kind of underground harbor. I guessed that we were underneath the castle right now.
"Everyone here?" the man giant-man asked. "Righ' then," and he walked and pounded three times on a large wooden door.
Immediately the door opened, to reveal a tall black-haired witch, who looked extremely strict.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said as she pulled the door farther open to reveal the entrance hall.
It was defiantly the largest room I had ever been in, with ceilings so high that you could barely see the top. Torches lined the walls, giving the hall an eerie glow. On the other side of the room was a large, marble staircase.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast shall begin shortly, but before it does, you must be sorted into your houses. This is a very important ceremony, for while you are at Hogwarts, your house shall be like your family. Classes shall be with your house, you will sleep in your house, and any free time you have, may be spent in you house common room.
"As you may already know, the four houses are called Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house has its own history, and all have produced amazing witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, victories shall earn you house points, whereas rule-breaking shall lose house points. At the end of the year, the person with the most house points is awarded the House Cup.
"The Sorting Ceremony shall begin shortly, in front of the rest of the school. I shall return when you are ready to be sorted. Please, wait quietly." Then she walked off up the marble staircase.
"How do you suppose we get sorted," Kirsten asked uncertainly.
"All you have to do is put on a hat and it does it for you," I said, laughing at them.
"How do you know that?" Chris asked.
"It's in Hogwarts: A History. You should read it; it has everything you would ever want to know about Hogwarts in it, and it's interesting at the same time," I answered her.
"My brother said that it was painful!" Kirsten protested.
"Your brother?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, he graduated from Hogwarts last year."
"Sure sounds like a brother joking, to me," I laughed at her, Chris and Kelly joining in.
She blushed, and then decided that I was better to just laugh along.
"Alright everyone!" a sharp voice called. Professor McGonagall had returned. "Form a line, and follow me," she commanded.
Everyone followed her up the marble steps.
I gaped in amazement as we entered the great hall. And I had thought that the entrance hall was large! Thousands of tiny candles floated in the air, lighting up the whole room. The ceiling was clear was a dark blue, littered with thousands of tiny, glowing dots. I knew from reading Hogwarts: A History that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. The rest of the students were sitting at four tables, lined with shining golden plates and goblets. Near the top of the hall was another table, at which the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led us up there until we were standing in front of the teachers table and facing the students.
I watched as Professor McGonagall put a four-legged stool in front of us, and placed on in a pointed black hat, that was patched and looked to be extremely dirty.
Then suddenly, the brim of the hat opened like a mouth, and to my complete amazement in began to sing!
"A thousand years have passed, Since I was newly made. By the founders that lived in the past, That gave me my thinking brains! Gryffindor, where the brave ones lie, So daring, with such nerve. This is where courage is high, Those so kind at heart are best served. Or perhaps you belong in Ravenclaw, Those who are the cleverest. With minds that bring such awe, They are definitely the smartest. Then there is Hufflepuff, Those who are loyal and true at heart. Where belong, those who are tough, For they are hard-workers from the start. Slytherin, for those who seek power, Always full of great ambition. They are full cunning every hour, For power is what sets them apart. So try me on, and let me choose, I'll look into your brain and see Where it is you belong. For I have never yet been wrong!"
The great hall broke out in applause as the sorting hat finished its song.
The Professor McGonagall, who was holding a long roll of parchment, stepped forward and began speaking. "When I call you name, please step forward, place the hat on your head and sit on the stool to be sorted. Adams, Megan."
A girl with her dirty blond hair braided down her back walked forward. She sat there for quite a while before the hat finally shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Andrews, Damon!"
A short boy with brown hair and blue eyes walked forward. He had barely put the hat on when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius."
The handsome boy that I had followed through the barrier walked forward. It seemed like nearly five minutes before the hat shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" My mind drifted back to what his mother had said about him being in Slytherin. I felt sorry for him.
"Davis, Tyler," became the first Hufflepuff, along with, "Dawson, Dylan"
I swallowed hard as she called my name, "Evans, Lily." Slowly, I moved forward, and put the hat on.
'Ahh!' a voice said in my head. 'I've never had an Evans' before. Where to put you.'
'Gryffindor, in Gryffindor,' I thought over and over.'
'Gryffindor, eh? Are you sure, you would do excellent in Ravenclaw. Or perhaps Slytherin? Slytherin would suit you well also, even if you aren't pureblood, you could become very great. I sense much ambition from you.'
'Well if you are certain, then it had best be,' its voice was suddenly magnified as it shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'
I walked weakly over to the table and watched as the rest of the first years were sorted.
"Florez, Keili...Fragger, Chloe...Huddleson, Connor." Professor McGonagall continued to name students until finally, "Lupin, Remus," became a Gryffindor, and "Mignone, Kirsten" was next.
Nervously she walked forward and sat on the stool. It wasn't long before she was joining me at the Gryffindor table.
"Newbold, Zoe," became a Ravenclaw. "Pethel, Sarah," was a Hufflepuff.
"Pettigrew, Peter," a short boy with brown hair and watery blue eyes became a Gryffindor.
"Potter, James," was next. It was the boy with the messy black hair who had helped me with my trunk. I felt a smile coming onto my face as he became a Gryffindor.
The next two, "Pierce Kelsey," and "Rosier, Mark," were Slytherins.
"Sampson, Jonathon" became a Ravenclaw.
Two more were sorted into Slytherin, "Smith, Terrance," and "Snape, Severus," whom I notice, to my disgust, had very greasy hair, as if he never washed it.
"Snider, Eleanor," was a Ravenclaw.
Then Professor McGonagall called, "Thomson, Kelly," and my friend walked forward. I crossed my fingers for good luck, but it apparently wasn't needed as she immediately became a Gryffindor.
"Tinette, Michelle," became a Slytherin. I frowned suddenly remembering that Kelly and Chris had named the people who were bothering them. I was pretty sure that Michelle Tinette was one of those names.
"Tracy, Christina," was called, and Chris stepped up. The hat took a while with her, and when she was finally sorted into Gryffindor, I realized that I had been holding my breath.
The rest of the sorting went by quickly, finally ending with, "Walter, Larry," who became a Ravenclaw.
An old man with a long white beard and white hair stood up smiling. I guessed that this was the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
"Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts, everyone. It is a new year, and hopefully shall be just as successful as the last. And without any further ado, I shall let you eat." He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles. "In other words, dig in."
And food suddenly filled the golden plates set on the tables. It was more food than I had ever seen cooked and ready in my life. Everything imaginable was here. Roast beef, chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, bacon, steak, sausages, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, peas, ketchup, gravy, and every other food imaginable.
I stared at all the food in amazement for a moment then decided to do exactly what the headmaster had said: Dig in.
Finally, when everyone was done eating, the headmaster once again stood up.
He cleared his throat, than began to speak. "First years should note that the forbidden forest is indeed, forbidden, as it is to all students.
"I have also been asked to remind you, by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, that magic should not be used between classes in the corridors.
"For second years and up, Quidditch trials shall be in the second week of the term. Anyone wishing to be on their house team should contact Madam Hooch.
"And now, off to bed with you all!" he cried.
A redheaded boy stood up and called, "First years, follow me, this way." We followed the boy through the corridors until we finally reached the portrait of a Fat Lady, and he stopped.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked. I felt my jaw drop. Did that picture just move, not to mention talk? As the boy gave the password, 'unicorn', and the portrait swung aside, I wondered if I would ever get used to this magic.
Brooke: No, this is not just Lily's first year. It's going to be all seven years.
Chapter 2
The Sorting Hat
The next few weeks passed quickly. I spent my time wandering around Diagon Alley and reading my textbooks, and I even practiced a few spells. It gave me endless amounts of delight when I actually got one to work.
It was a week before September 1st when Tom, the bartender, brought up a problem.
"So, Lily, are your parents going to be picking you up for school?" he asked me casually. I think he had suspicions that I had run away or done something like that, although I had not told him.
"Err-I think they're going to be busy," I said hesitantly.
Tom frowned. "Well I suppose I could arrange for a ride for you if you are in need."
"Would you please?" looking at him with my best puppy-dog eyes.
He laughed, "I supposed I can arrange for a muggle-err, car to pick you up." He was clearly not familiar with the concept of cars.
"Thank you, so much!" I cried happily; glad that now I wouldn't have to find a way there on my own.
"You're very welcome," he told me, smiling. As I walked away, though, out of the corner of my eye I saw a suspicious look on his face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~
On September 1st, a muggle taxi arrived, and helped me load my trunk of supplies into the car. I was glad to get out of the Leaky Cauldron, for the last few days Tom had been pressing me more and more about my family and where I lived.
Arriving at King's Cross, I glanced down at the ticket that Tom had given me. The train left at eleven o'clock from platform nine and three quarters.
I started walking. Platform nine. Platform ten. I stared. Now what was I supposed to do?
I didn't want to ask anyone because they might think I'm insane or something, after all there obviously was not a platform nine and three quarters. I don't believe most people are used to the concept of magic either, which I supposed was how I was supposed to get onto the platform someway.
Then I noticed a woman and her children standing there. They were wearing robes, which, as I had found out in Diagon Alley, were what most witches and wizards wore.
I moved closer to here what the woman was saying.
"Bellatrix, Narcissa, you two go first."
I watched carefully as the two of them started walking towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. I frowned as they suddenly seemed to disappear. What had they done?
"Regulus, you next," she said fondly. He too walked towards the barrier. I tried to watch closer, but just as he neared the barrier, a crowd blocked the way.
I looked back at the woman, who was now focusing her attention on the remaining boy.
"Okay, Sirius, this is your chance. You may have made some foolish mistakes, but this is where the truth will come out. If you get into Slytherin I will be relieved. I suppose it is all right to get into Ravenclaw, but if that hat even considers putting you in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor..." her voice trailed off dangerously. "Now, then, just walk through the barrier between platforms nine and ten and you'll find Hogwarts Express. Go on."
I watched as the boy walked calmly through the barrier. Glad that I wouldn't have to ask the woman how to get to the platform, she didn't seem very friendly, I followed the boy.
On the other side of the barrier, I saw a scarlet steam engine. The platform was packed full of students and parents.
Feeling a bit left out, I just kept walking through the crowd until I found an empty compartment near the end of the train.
I attempted to heave my trunk full of the things I had bought in Diagon Alley onto the train, but only succeeded in getting a few steps.
"Oy, there!" A boy called. "Want some help?"
I smiled at him. "Thanks," I answered as he helped lift the trunk up and into the corner of the compartment. Looking at the boy, I saw he had the most untidy black hair that I had ever seen; it seemed to stick out in every direction. He had hazel eyes, and a long nose. He wasn't ugly, but defiantly no match for the handsome boy I had followed through the barrier.
"I'm Lily Evans, by the way," I introduced myself.
"James-James Potter," he said, flashing a grin at me. "Well I'll see you at school," and he went to a different compartment.
I sat down and pulled out a book that I had bought with some of my remaining money, while I was staying at the Leaky Cauldron. It was quite interesting, as it gave the history of not only the founders of the school, but also the school's protections and history of other great headmasters, and even rumors about secret rooms and passageways.
"Hello," a voice said tentatively.
I looked up. A girl with long auburn hair, a bit darker than my own bright red, was standing the compartment door.
"Do you mind if I sit here? All the other compartments are full."
"Go ahead. I'm Lily Evans."
"Kirsten-Kirsten Mignone," she said. "So, what house do you want to be in?"
"I'm hoping for Gryffindor. Ravenclaw would be good too, I suppose. You?" I asked?
"I'd like to be in Gryffindor, too."
We were chatting happily together when a tall woman appeared. "Would you two like anything off the cart?" she asked us.
I shook my head, knowing that I shouldn't spend the last little money I had.
Kirsten seemed to have no such dilemma and pulled out a bunch of silver coins to pay for the chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts every flavor beans, and Pumpkin Pasties.
"Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans," I read allowed. "Is there really every flavor?"
"Sure is, my dad won't touch them because he swears he got a bugar flavored one once."
I laughed, as she offered me some and we once again began to chat happily.
The compartment door suddenly slid open, two other girls standing in the doorway. One had strait blond hair and blue eyes. The other had curly brown hair and dark brown eyes.
The one with blond hair asked, "Can we sit here? Some other kids got mad at us and all the other compartments are full."
"Sure," Kirsten answered. "I'm Kirsten Mignone."
"Lily Evans," I put in.
The blond haired girl smiled, "Nice to meet you two, I'm Kelly Thomas."
"And I'm Christina Tracy," the Brown-haired girl said.
"So, who threw you out?" I asked.
The two looked at each other. Then Kelly answered, "Some other first year girls."
"Yeah," Christina, "Megan Adams, Michelle Tinette, Nicole Stanton, and Kelsey Pierce."
"That sucks," I said. "Anyway, do you think we should change into our robes now?"
We had all just finished changing when the train finally came to a stop.
It was a clear night outside, the stars shining brightly, and a full moon out.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" the largest man I had ever seen called. "Firs' years, follow me," he called. We all followed him down a narrow winding path. Then, just as we turned a bend, Hogwarts came into sight.
It was a large castle, with many turrets and towers. It was perched high atop a mountain on the other side of the lake that now stood in their way.
"Everyone, in a boat," the man called. "And no more'n four to a boat."
Kirsten, Kelly, Christina, who had said she wanted to be called Chris, and I all got into one of the boats.
"Ready?" Hagrid asked. "FORWARD!" he commanded, and the fleet of little boats began gliding smoothly towards the castle.
Then they entered a dark tunnel, and were finally taken to a kind of underground harbor. I guessed that we were underneath the castle right now.
"Everyone here?" the man giant-man asked. "Righ' then," and he walked and pounded three times on a large wooden door.
Immediately the door opened, to reveal a tall black-haired witch, who looked extremely strict.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said as she pulled the door farther open to reveal the entrance hall.
It was defiantly the largest room I had ever been in, with ceilings so high that you could barely see the top. Torches lined the walls, giving the hall an eerie glow. On the other side of the room was a large, marble staircase.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast shall begin shortly, but before it does, you must be sorted into your houses. This is a very important ceremony, for while you are at Hogwarts, your house shall be like your family. Classes shall be with your house, you will sleep in your house, and any free time you have, may be spent in you house common room.
"As you may already know, the four houses are called Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house has its own history, and all have produced amazing witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, victories shall earn you house points, whereas rule-breaking shall lose house points. At the end of the year, the person with the most house points is awarded the House Cup.
"The Sorting Ceremony shall begin shortly, in front of the rest of the school. I shall return when you are ready to be sorted. Please, wait quietly." Then she walked off up the marble staircase.
"How do you suppose we get sorted," Kirsten asked uncertainly.
"All you have to do is put on a hat and it does it for you," I said, laughing at them.
"How do you know that?" Chris asked.
"It's in Hogwarts: A History. You should read it; it has everything you would ever want to know about Hogwarts in it, and it's interesting at the same time," I answered her.
"My brother said that it was painful!" Kirsten protested.
"Your brother?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, he graduated from Hogwarts last year."
"Sure sounds like a brother joking, to me," I laughed at her, Chris and Kelly joining in.
She blushed, and then decided that I was better to just laugh along.
"Alright everyone!" a sharp voice called. Professor McGonagall had returned. "Form a line, and follow me," she commanded.
Everyone followed her up the marble steps.
I gaped in amazement as we entered the great hall. And I had thought that the entrance hall was large! Thousands of tiny candles floated in the air, lighting up the whole room. The ceiling was clear was a dark blue, littered with thousands of tiny, glowing dots. I knew from reading Hogwarts: A History that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. The rest of the students were sitting at four tables, lined with shining golden plates and goblets. Near the top of the hall was another table, at which the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led us up there until we were standing in front of the teachers table and facing the students.
I watched as Professor McGonagall put a four-legged stool in front of us, and placed on in a pointed black hat, that was patched and looked to be extremely dirty.
Then suddenly, the brim of the hat opened like a mouth, and to my complete amazement in began to sing!
"A thousand years have passed, Since I was newly made. By the founders that lived in the past, That gave me my thinking brains! Gryffindor, where the brave ones lie, So daring, with such nerve. This is where courage is high, Those so kind at heart are best served. Or perhaps you belong in Ravenclaw, Those who are the cleverest. With minds that bring such awe, They are definitely the smartest. Then there is Hufflepuff, Those who are loyal and true at heart. Where belong, those who are tough, For they are hard-workers from the start. Slytherin, for those who seek power, Always full of great ambition. They are full cunning every hour, For power is what sets them apart. So try me on, and let me choose, I'll look into your brain and see Where it is you belong. For I have never yet been wrong!"
The great hall broke out in applause as the sorting hat finished its song.
The Professor McGonagall, who was holding a long roll of parchment, stepped forward and began speaking. "When I call you name, please step forward, place the hat on your head and sit on the stool to be sorted. Adams, Megan."
A girl with her dirty blond hair braided down her back walked forward. She sat there for quite a while before the hat finally shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Andrews, Damon!"
A short boy with brown hair and blue eyes walked forward. He had barely put the hat on when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius."
The handsome boy that I had followed through the barrier walked forward. It seemed like nearly five minutes before the hat shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" My mind drifted back to what his mother had said about him being in Slytherin. I felt sorry for him.
"Davis, Tyler," became the first Hufflepuff, along with, "Dawson, Dylan"
I swallowed hard as she called my name, "Evans, Lily." Slowly, I moved forward, and put the hat on.
'Ahh!' a voice said in my head. 'I've never had an Evans' before. Where to put you.'
'Gryffindor, in Gryffindor,' I thought over and over.'
'Gryffindor, eh? Are you sure, you would do excellent in Ravenclaw. Or perhaps Slytherin? Slytherin would suit you well also, even if you aren't pureblood, you could become very great. I sense much ambition from you.'
'Well if you are certain, then it had best be,' its voice was suddenly magnified as it shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'
I walked weakly over to the table and watched as the rest of the first years were sorted.
"Florez, Keili...Fragger, Chloe...Huddleson, Connor." Professor McGonagall continued to name students until finally, "Lupin, Remus," became a Gryffindor, and "Mignone, Kirsten" was next.
Nervously she walked forward and sat on the stool. It wasn't long before she was joining me at the Gryffindor table.
"Newbold, Zoe," became a Ravenclaw. "Pethel, Sarah," was a Hufflepuff.
"Pettigrew, Peter," a short boy with brown hair and watery blue eyes became a Gryffindor.
"Potter, James," was next. It was the boy with the messy black hair who had helped me with my trunk. I felt a smile coming onto my face as he became a Gryffindor.
The next two, "Pierce Kelsey," and "Rosier, Mark," were Slytherins.
"Sampson, Jonathon" became a Ravenclaw.
Two more were sorted into Slytherin, "Smith, Terrance," and "Snape, Severus," whom I notice, to my disgust, had very greasy hair, as if he never washed it.
"Snider, Eleanor," was a Ravenclaw.
Then Professor McGonagall called, "Thomson, Kelly," and my friend walked forward. I crossed my fingers for good luck, but it apparently wasn't needed as she immediately became a Gryffindor.
"Tinette, Michelle," became a Slytherin. I frowned suddenly remembering that Kelly and Chris had named the people who were bothering them. I was pretty sure that Michelle Tinette was one of those names.
"Tracy, Christina," was called, and Chris stepped up. The hat took a while with her, and when she was finally sorted into Gryffindor, I realized that I had been holding my breath.
The rest of the sorting went by quickly, finally ending with, "Walter, Larry," who became a Ravenclaw.
An old man with a long white beard and white hair stood up smiling. I guessed that this was the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
"Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts, everyone. It is a new year, and hopefully shall be just as successful as the last. And without any further ado, I shall let you eat." He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles. "In other words, dig in."
And food suddenly filled the golden plates set on the tables. It was more food than I had ever seen cooked and ready in my life. Everything imaginable was here. Roast beef, chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, bacon, steak, sausages, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, peas, ketchup, gravy, and every other food imaginable.
I stared at all the food in amazement for a moment then decided to do exactly what the headmaster had said: Dig in.
Finally, when everyone was done eating, the headmaster once again stood up.
He cleared his throat, than began to speak. "First years should note that the forbidden forest is indeed, forbidden, as it is to all students.
"I have also been asked to remind you, by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, that magic should not be used between classes in the corridors.
"For second years and up, Quidditch trials shall be in the second week of the term. Anyone wishing to be on their house team should contact Madam Hooch.
"And now, off to bed with you all!" he cried.
A redheaded boy stood up and called, "First years, follow me, this way." We followed the boy through the corridors until we finally reached the portrait of a Fat Lady, and he stopped.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked. I felt my jaw drop. Did that picture just move, not to mention talk? As the boy gave the password, 'unicorn', and the portrait swung aside, I wondered if I would ever get used to this magic.