~Chapter Three- The Sorting of Cari Green~
Severus Snape watched impassively as the first years began to get sorted. Every year it was the same thing, and he was admittedly rather bored. He looked idly through the line, trying to make guesses as to whether there would be any good Slytherins therein.
No one was really jumping out at him, until his eyes fell upon one slightly taller and quite a bit older than the others. Ah, so this was one of the new students Dumbledore had mentioned to them. He studied her momentarily. She stood up straight in her new black robes, her shoulder-length reddish-brown hair neatly brushed and shiny, and her cheeks pink. Although not very tall she was slender and well proportioned. She seemed the kind of girl with a bright spirit and a lot of charisma, confidence, and potential. The kind that made him sick. He grudgingly admitted to himself that she was quite pretty, but most of the pretty students he could think of were as dumb as mud. She didn't strike him as Slytherin material, on the surface at least, although he could see the trademark shrewd gleam in her green-brown eyes.
The Hat had now started sorting the C's as Snape's eyes skipped over the other nondescript first years to pick out the other new arrival. This one was quite a bit down the line, and much easier to spot. She was very tall, but also painfully thin and slightly awkward. Her short, choppy hair was jet black and hung lankly in her face. Her skin was pale, almost completely colorless. Her robes were a dull, worn, tired black, and were ridiculously long, even for her. Snape almost disregarded her then and there as being just another nobody… until she finally glanced up.
She looked right at him and he caught her eye for the briefest of seconds before she cast her eyes back down at her shoes. If everything else about her was plain, colorless, and shy, her eyes were alive and burning like fire, even in that tiny flash he had had of them. They were black, or perhaps darkest brown, and full of life and calculating intelligence. Oh, this one must be a Slytherin, he thought.
* * *
Cari walked proudly to the stool, sat down primly, and placed the hat on her head self-assuredly. Instantly a voice sounded as if in her own head which would have made her jump had she not been prepared.
"So, a new student, ey?" the voice murmured. "Let's see, from America, hmmmm..." There was a pause. "Well, I can tell right away that you're very smart, perfect Ravenclaw material. Then again, you're also very brave and courageous, Gryffindor traits. On the other hand, you've got quite a cunning wit and ambition- ideal Slytherin. And I can also sense your unending loyalty which would make you a grand Hufflepuff; got a friend still waiting to be sorted, perhaps… well, no matter. Let me see now, you are a tough one… haven't had one that could be in all four houses in some time. But no, I think you'll get along best in… RAVENCLAW!"
The last word was shouted across the hall, as it had been for all the other students, and Cari took off the hat beaming with pride. She had secretly been hoping to get in that House. Cari slid gracefully off the stool and stole a glance at Lindsey as she walked towards the Ravenclaw tables, erupting in cheers, and saw her flash a rare grin.
* * *
Lindsey had finally looked up for more than a furtive glance when she heard her friend's name called. She tried not to laugh as she saw her puff up more and more as whatever was going on under that hat filled her with pride.
The hat stayed on for about five minutes, then finally the hat yelled out, "Ravenclaw!" and the Hall echoed with cheers. Lindsey allowed the corner of her mouth to turn up as Cari caught her eye and applauded along with the others. Now however, her nervousness increased. She had to be sorted into Ravenclaw, she had to. She was dreadfully shy and loathed meeting new people all alone. However, if Cari was with her…
She shook her head and hoped upon hope that she would get into Ravenclaw.