Chapter 3
Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table with Ron, saving a spot for Hermione and Elisabeth, provided she got into their house. He looked towards the door, not exactly sure why he was so confident that his new friend was a Gryffindor type. He'd known her all of eight hours after all...
Ron broke into his thoughts with a loud groan. "I'm so hungry! Why don't they just start the sorting?"
"They're probably waiting for Elisabeth to join --" Harry's argument was cut off as Professor McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on its traditional stool. As per usual, the hat opened the large rip on the brim and began to sing, awing the first years into silence.
In times of old when I was newand Hogwarts barely started
the founders of our noble school
thought never to be parted:
united by a common goal,
they had the selfsame yearning,
to make the world's best magic school
and pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
the four good friends decided
and never did they dream that they
might someday be divided,
for were there such friends anywhere
as Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
the whole sad sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
with brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
and treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
when first they came to light,
for each of the four founders had
a House in which they might
take only those they wanted, so,
for instance, Slytherin
took only pure-blood wizards
of great cunning, just like him,
and only those of sharpest mind
were taught by Ravenclaw,
while the bravest and the boldest
went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
and taught them all she knew,
thus the Houses and their founders
retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
had once held up our school,
now turned upon each other and,
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end,
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for,
but this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
Just as last year, the applause was scattered amid whispers. The hat had just sung the same song twice in a row! Not even Nearly Headless Nick could remember anything like that ever happening. The students were strangely silent for a moment, wondering if they were going to be told anything about what exactly had just happened. After everybody realized that Dumbledore wasn't going to tell them anything yet, they broke out in whispers once more. Finally Professor McGonagall started reading names off of her scroll, sending "Adams, Franklin" up to be sorted into Ravenclaw.
About halfway through the list (McDouglas, Rose -- HUFFLEPUFF!) a slight redhead and bushy-haired brunette slipped quietly into the hall unnoticed. Except for a certain pair of green eyes. Not to mention another pair of dark gray ones.
~*~*~*~
Elisabeth stood at the back of the line of first years waiting to be sorted, self-conscious of the people staring at her, no doubt wondering what she was doing there. Needless to say, she was even more grateful that Madame Pomfrey had healed all of her bruises as to not stand out any more.
As she pondered these things, the line was getting shorter and shorter. Finally Professor McGonagall called out "Zynkovski, Quentin" (Slytherin). As the Slytherin applause died down, Dumbledore stood up. "I would like to announce a sadly rare occurrence," he said in his deep voice. Ignoring the curious whispers he continued. "A transfer student. Traditionally and unfortunately, wizarding schools have guarded their halls of learning jealously, rarely, if ever, allowing students to transfer elsewhere. But under special circumstances, we have accepted one into Hogwarts. Elisabeth, if you would please go up and be sorted."
Elisabeth nervously walked the few steps to the ancient stool where the sorting hat was, sat down and put on the enchanted hat.
Hmmm, a little voice said in her head. No, dear, you're not crazy hearing voices like this. I'm just hear to sort you. And yes, I do this to everybody. Elisabeth sighed in relief. You know, you would do rather well in Slytherin. Quite cunning, and you would get a lot of respect for what you did to the Malfoy heir... *NO*, Elisabeth thought frantically. *I do NOT want to be in Slytherin. Besides, I didn't do that to Malfoy on purpose.* Humph, Slytherin isn't THAT bad. Time was NOBODY would argue with me. Anyway, if you don't want to go there, it'd better be, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Elisabeth took off the Sorting Hat, immensely relieved, barely noticing the applause. In a daze she walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Harry. Now all she had to do was eat, sleep and -- go see Professor McGonagall...
~*~*~*~
Yay! Done another chapter! I know that this is getting to be really slow and rather predictable, but I promise that there will be more action in the next couple of chapters. Also, sorting songs are still welcome ( not that I've gotten any), as are reviews. PLEASE. A beta reader would be nice too, but I may be asking too much...