Chapter 3: The Sorting Hat and A Secret
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Adrienne stepped off the train and took in their surroundings. "It's lovely..." Adrienne seemed to whisper. "Yeah, it is," Ron said with his cute, crooked smile. They all stepped into a carriage to take them up to the school. When they arrived in front of the great doors, Adrienne was almost speechless. "I can't believe I'm finally here! This is so exciting!" she nearly squealed. Ron and Harry exchanged looks while Hermione and Adrienne made their ways through the doors.
"So, um, where should I go?" she asked Hermione. Hermione looked for Professor McGonagall and spotted her coming in the door with the 1st years. "Come with me," she told her. Adrienne did as told and followed Hermione. "Hello, Professor," Hermione stated. "Hello, Hermione. Good to see you, dear! Who might I ask is this? I don't believe I've seen her before," McGonagall said while looking at Adrienne. "Yes, Professor. This is Adrienne Love. She's a transfer from Drumstrang," Hermione replied, beckoning Adrienne forward. Adrienne stepped toward McGonagall. "Oh, yes, dear! I've been looking all over for you. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house. Follow me and you will be sorted along with the 1st years," McGonagall said with a beaming smile. Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor table and sat in between Harry and Ron. Adrienne nervously followed McGonagall. "I sure hope she makes Gryffindor," Ron said almost to the air as he stared mindlessly at Adrienne. Hermione looked down at the table as not to catch Harry's eyes. It was apparent Harry knew something was wrong when he said, "Hermione, meet me in the common room after dinner. I need to talk to you." She nodded and looked up to watch the ceremony.
On the large platform in front of the teachers' table was a three- legged, wooden stool with a worn, old, brown hat sitting on top of it. The hat immediately chimed out with a new song. Every year the sorting hat sang a song before the sorting. Harry and Ron had missed the songs in their 2nd and 3rd years because of certain incidents that prevented them from being able to attend the start-of-term feasts. As the sorting hat finished, McGonagall unrolled a long piece of parchment and said loudly, "Now, when I call your name come forth and I will place the sorting hat on your head."
"Angela Allensworth." The hat pondered for only a moment before shouting out, "Ravenclaw!" The Ravenclaw table burst into cheers and she smiled and walked to the table to sit down.
"Robert Barnes." Needing almost no time to think, the hat shouted loudly, "Slytherin!" The Slytherin table hooted and cheered for their new house member.
"Annaliese Codswollop." "Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat after a minute or two. Expressions of joy and happiness rang through the hall as the Hufflepuffs greeted the new member of their house.
Many more names were called when finally, "We have a new student who is actually a transfer from Drumstrang. Please welcome this student with graciousness and show her that Hogwarts is just as welcoming and kind as her old school. Adrienne Love!" She slowly stepped onto the platform and sat on the chair. The hat was then placed on her head. "Hm...ah, yes...I see...Well, dear, you are a very difficult pupil to place. You're determined, honest, caring, intelligent, and brave, but you also have a darker side, one more cunning than the attitude you normally display. You remind me a bit of Mr. Potter, also a very hard one. Now, then, I think I shall leave the decision up to you. I have a house in mind, but which would you prefer?" Adrienne looked surprised, and thought to herself 'Gryffindor, please, Gryffindor.' "Well, then, your wish will be granted! Better be...GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. The Gryffindor table stood and cheered loudly, as did Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, leaving scowls on the Slytherins' faces. She smiled happily and placed the hat on the stool as she hopped down and went to sit by Ron.
"Brilliant!" Ron said with a smile. Harry and Hermione both congratulated her. Dumbledore announced his start-of-term announcements, the students of Hogwarts ate and chattered away, and finally the night was concluded. "Get some rest so you can all be prepared for your first, next, or last year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore told the students all as they left the Great Hall. "I can't wait to start the year!" Adrienne told them, excitement filling her lovely eyes. "Me either!" Hermione squealed. Harry and Ron groaned at this. "Please, don't remind us," Ron told them. "Don't be so lazy, Ron. This is our 6th year! We've only got a year left after this. Take time and enjoy it before you have to get out in the real world and get a job!" Hermione said sternly. Harry intervened, "She's right, Ron. We've got it easy now. Just wait until we actually have to do something with ourselves. No more teachers to give us chances or grades to make up. We'll have to take responsibility for ourselves." "Scary..." Ron said with a shiver. "Personally, I can't wait to finish school. I think it'll be rather exciting to get to be on my own and independent!" Adrienne exclaimed. "You truly are a woman after my own heart," Hermione said with a smile toward Adrienne. Adrienne smiled back as they made their way to the common room.
When they arrived, Ron told the three, "I'm exhausted. I'll be heading off to bed now. Night." "Me too. I'm completely worn out. G'night all," Adrienne started after Ron. Both headed up the separate staircases to their dormitories. "So, Harry, what did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione asked as they sat on the couch in front of the fire. "Well, I saw how you looked when Ron was everlastingly staring at Adrienne. Do you...well..." he started. "Do I fancy him?" she suggested. "Well, yeah," he said shyly. "That's a very personal question, Harry, though I can answer it. I...I mean, I don't fancy Ron at all. We're just friends, like you and I. I think he fancies Adrienne. She is rather pretty," she said very matter-of-factly. "Yes, she is beautiful. But, so are you. He might fancy you, Hermione. You never know," Harry encouraged. "Well, that still doesn't mean I have feelings for Ron!" she told him with a teasing smile. Harry smiled back and said, "Alright, Hermione. We'd better be off to bed." Hermione agreed with a nod. They said their goodnights and walked up the opposite staircases to their dormitories.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Adrienne stepped off the train and took in their surroundings. "It's lovely..." Adrienne seemed to whisper. "Yeah, it is," Ron said with his cute, crooked smile. They all stepped into a carriage to take them up to the school. When they arrived in front of the great doors, Adrienne was almost speechless. "I can't believe I'm finally here! This is so exciting!" she nearly squealed. Ron and Harry exchanged looks while Hermione and Adrienne made their ways through the doors.
"So, um, where should I go?" she asked Hermione. Hermione looked for Professor McGonagall and spotted her coming in the door with the 1st years. "Come with me," she told her. Adrienne did as told and followed Hermione. "Hello, Professor," Hermione stated. "Hello, Hermione. Good to see you, dear! Who might I ask is this? I don't believe I've seen her before," McGonagall said while looking at Adrienne. "Yes, Professor. This is Adrienne Love. She's a transfer from Drumstrang," Hermione replied, beckoning Adrienne forward. Adrienne stepped toward McGonagall. "Oh, yes, dear! I've been looking all over for you. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house. Follow me and you will be sorted along with the 1st years," McGonagall said with a beaming smile. Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor table and sat in between Harry and Ron. Adrienne nervously followed McGonagall. "I sure hope she makes Gryffindor," Ron said almost to the air as he stared mindlessly at Adrienne. Hermione looked down at the table as not to catch Harry's eyes. It was apparent Harry knew something was wrong when he said, "Hermione, meet me in the common room after dinner. I need to talk to you." She nodded and looked up to watch the ceremony.
On the large platform in front of the teachers' table was a three- legged, wooden stool with a worn, old, brown hat sitting on top of it. The hat immediately chimed out with a new song. Every year the sorting hat sang a song before the sorting. Harry and Ron had missed the songs in their 2nd and 3rd years because of certain incidents that prevented them from being able to attend the start-of-term feasts. As the sorting hat finished, McGonagall unrolled a long piece of parchment and said loudly, "Now, when I call your name come forth and I will place the sorting hat on your head."
"Angela Allensworth." The hat pondered for only a moment before shouting out, "Ravenclaw!" The Ravenclaw table burst into cheers and she smiled and walked to the table to sit down.
"Robert Barnes." Needing almost no time to think, the hat shouted loudly, "Slytherin!" The Slytherin table hooted and cheered for their new house member.
"Annaliese Codswollop." "Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat after a minute or two. Expressions of joy and happiness rang through the hall as the Hufflepuffs greeted the new member of their house.
Many more names were called when finally, "We have a new student who is actually a transfer from Drumstrang. Please welcome this student with graciousness and show her that Hogwarts is just as welcoming and kind as her old school. Adrienne Love!" She slowly stepped onto the platform and sat on the chair. The hat was then placed on her head. "Hm...ah, yes...I see...Well, dear, you are a very difficult pupil to place. You're determined, honest, caring, intelligent, and brave, but you also have a darker side, one more cunning than the attitude you normally display. You remind me a bit of Mr. Potter, also a very hard one. Now, then, I think I shall leave the decision up to you. I have a house in mind, but which would you prefer?" Adrienne looked surprised, and thought to herself 'Gryffindor, please, Gryffindor.' "Well, then, your wish will be granted! Better be...GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. The Gryffindor table stood and cheered loudly, as did Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, leaving scowls on the Slytherins' faces. She smiled happily and placed the hat on the stool as she hopped down and went to sit by Ron.
"Brilliant!" Ron said with a smile. Harry and Hermione both congratulated her. Dumbledore announced his start-of-term announcements, the students of Hogwarts ate and chattered away, and finally the night was concluded. "Get some rest so you can all be prepared for your first, next, or last year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore told the students all as they left the Great Hall. "I can't wait to start the year!" Adrienne told them, excitement filling her lovely eyes. "Me either!" Hermione squealed. Harry and Ron groaned at this. "Please, don't remind us," Ron told them. "Don't be so lazy, Ron. This is our 6th year! We've only got a year left after this. Take time and enjoy it before you have to get out in the real world and get a job!" Hermione said sternly. Harry intervened, "She's right, Ron. We've got it easy now. Just wait until we actually have to do something with ourselves. No more teachers to give us chances or grades to make up. We'll have to take responsibility for ourselves." "Scary..." Ron said with a shiver. "Personally, I can't wait to finish school. I think it'll be rather exciting to get to be on my own and independent!" Adrienne exclaimed. "You truly are a woman after my own heart," Hermione said with a smile toward Adrienne. Adrienne smiled back as they made their way to the common room.
When they arrived, Ron told the three, "I'm exhausted. I'll be heading off to bed now. Night." "Me too. I'm completely worn out. G'night all," Adrienne started after Ron. Both headed up the separate staircases to their dormitories. "So, Harry, what did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione asked as they sat on the couch in front of the fire. "Well, I saw how you looked when Ron was everlastingly staring at Adrienne. Do you...well..." he started. "Do I fancy him?" she suggested. "Well, yeah," he said shyly. "That's a very personal question, Harry, though I can answer it. I...I mean, I don't fancy Ron at all. We're just friends, like you and I. I think he fancies Adrienne. She is rather pretty," she said very matter-of-factly. "Yes, she is beautiful. But, so are you. He might fancy you, Hermione. You never know," Harry encouraged. "Well, that still doesn't mean I have feelings for Ron!" she told him with a teasing smile. Harry smiled back and said, "Alright, Hermione. We'd better be off to bed." Hermione agreed with a nod. They said their goodnights and walked up the opposite staircases to their dormitories.