Lindsey stood behind the first years waiting to be Sorted in the Great Hall. He really didn't know why he was even bothering to be Sorted, it was almost certain that he would be placed in Gryffindor like his mum and dad were. Still, he felt a chill when thoughts entered his head of being put in Slytherin. What if the hat put him in there by mistake? Lindsey felt a shiver of fear roll up his spine. That would truly be horrible.
Feeling distinctly colder, he shook his head in an attempt to gain focus. His name would be called soon. At that moment a girl about his age sidled up to him with a really nervous expression on her face. Lindsey raised an eyebrow at how pale she was; it was obvious that she was terrified. She bit her lip and looked up at him appraisingly. She gave a forced smile.
"Hey. You new here too? I have to say, I'm getting the nerves."
Lindsey smiled back warmly. "Yeah, I'm Lindsey. Starting sixth year. I'm not that nervous, I think I know where I'll be put."
The girl gave a bigger smile, gaining courage. "My name's Aurora. I'm sixth year too. Well, I think I know where I'll be put too, but that's not what I'm worried about. Truth is, I can't stand everyone looking at me. I hate being the centre of attention."
"Hey, smile. Be happy. You have nothing to worry about." Lindsey grinned at her supportively, and she was just about to reply when she noticed that the Hall had fallen silent. She looked over the row of terrified first years to see everyone was looking at a grubby hat perched on a stool at the front of the hall. She raised an eyebrow and giggled nervously when it started to sing in a deep, rumbly tone. The song was long and entertaining, telling of its origin and the school and, most importantly, the houses that students were Sorted into. Aurora thought that Slytherin and Gryffindor were given the most appraisal by the hat.
Aurora looked down at the four long tables running the length of the Hall and let her eyes wander over the students while the first years were being Sorted. First she looked at the Slytherin table, where Draco sat looking at her with a knowing smirk. She noticed that a few seats down there as a group of students about their age whispering and pointing at him. Aurora frowned slightly. She made a mental note to ask him about them later. She grinned back at him sheepishly, and he nodded encouragingly.
Looking on the opposite side of the hall, Aurora saw another table that she quickly assessed and labelled as Gryffindor from all the red and gold present. Scanning the table without much thought, her eyes locked onto three people seated there. It was those three she met in the Entrance Hall, Harry, Ron and Hermione!
Aurora gasped slightly. They were in Gryfffindor? Well, that was definitely not of the good. From what Draco told her, they weren't going to get along when they found out that she was a Malfoy. What was that he said? He despised Gryffindors? Well, that certainly didn't bode well.
Lindsey turned when she gasped. He followed her line of sight and saw her looking at the Gryffindor table, three individuals in particular. He looked at the three and frowned slightly. Now, where did he know that guy from? Lindsey wracked his brain as he tried to discern who that person was. Analysing quickly, he noted that the boy Aurora was looking at had thick, messed-up looking black hair. On anyone else it would have looked scruffy, but on him it looked okay.
You know who that is, don't you? came a sudden thought in Lindsey's head. He jerked visibly, and then relaxed.
"Uh, Rose?" he thought to himself…or, rather, to Rose.
Yeah, it's me. And you know who that is. Harry Potter. Say hi to him from me!
Lindsey felt like slapping himself in the head with stupidity, but thought it unadvisable since the whole hall was looking where he was standing. "Of course! I've seen his father like a billion times in photos. I should have known."
Uh-huh. Well, Good luck. Happy Sorting!
And then she was gone. Like a transistor radio, their connection fizzed out. Just in the nick of time, too, because at that moment Professor McGonnagal cleared her throat and stepped to the front of the room.
Everyone, may I have your attention please?" She paused for a while and gazed around the Hall for the students to cease their chatter and look up at her.
"I would like to announce that we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Let me present Professor Faith Wilshire!" Arabella stood up with a smile and took McGonnagal by the elbow and whispered something to her. Minerva smiled.
"Actually, she would prefer to be Professor Black." The students shrugged this off and applauded, but Harry cocked his head to the side questioningly. Hmm – Black was it? He wondered if there was any relation to Sirius, his Godfather. He felt a lump in his chest form when he thought about Sirius. Harry wished…Oh well. He let it go, though, when McGonnagal cleared her throat when the clapping died down, and continued.
"Now, we also have two new students starting in sixth year. I trust you will make them both welcome. Now it's time we Sorted them."
At this, Professor McGonnagal walked over to the side again where she had just been and pulled out another scroll. She called out in a loud voice,
"Black, Lindsey!" Lindsey had been lost in his own thoughts at the time and jerked visibly. He caught Aurora's amused gaze and looked puzzled for a second before a look of recognition dawned on his face. He opened his mouth and said 'oh!' under his breath. Stepping forward with a wide grin, he walked up to the stool, sat down and allowed McGonnagal to place the Sorting Hat over his head. He could tell straight away that because he was bigger than they were; he didn't look nearly as dopey as the first years did with the big hat on. He felt it envelop his head, and felt immediately relaxed. As a voice started to speak in his ear quietly.
It chuckled quietly. "Well, well - if it isn't Black Junior. I quite remember your father when he was here. I was wondering when you'd show up. Yes, I think there's really only one place for you, my boy."
Lindsey grew pale when the Sorting hat mentioned his father.
"So, you're putting me in Gryffindor like dad?" he said hopefully.
"Well, I can't deny that both of you have a devious nature that would be welcome in Slytherin…" At this Lindsey gaped, outraged.
"…But I will indeed put you in GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled out the last word to the whole Hall. Everyone in Gryffindor burst out in applause. He grinned and walked over to the table, sitting next to a girl with scarlet hair, across from Harry. He failed to notice the look she sent his way, and smiled at the dark-haired youth.
"Rose says hi," he whispered to Harry so no one else could hear, and sat back to watch Aurora's Sorting.
Harry looked at Lindsey, alarmed and confused, but reasoned that if Rose was talking to Lindsey, he must be an alright person. He looked up at the stage when Professor McGonnagal stepped forward yet again.
"Malfoy, Aurora!" Harry's heart thumped once, then stopped. The Hall was silent, then everyone burst out into muted whispers. What the HELL? There was no way in the WORLD that she was a Malfoy. She seemed so nice, and she actually talked to a Gryffindor. After a second, his heart resumed palpitating.
Harry's logical mind clicked. She was starting here with her cousin – that had to be Draco Malfoy. Harry grit his teeth. She was blonde. Common Malfoy trait. Porcelain skin, air of grace, pale eyes…it all added up now. He scowled to himself. He really liked that girl, and he'd be damned if Malfoy was going to ruin their friendship.
Harry would be friends with Aurora, no matter what. She would not be like the other Malfoys. She was different – Harry could tell.
Presently, Aurora was looking quite distressed about all the attention. She clasped her hands over her mouth in a very nervous gesture. There was a terrible feeling in her stomach and she made a sound like a mouse being trodden on as she stiffly glided towards the stool, ashen-faced.
Draco winced. He knew perfectly well that she hated crowds or being the centre of attention. Stage-fright til the end. She was incredibly shy, and what with everything that happened to her during the holidays, she was still very shaken up.
She sat on the stool with a feeling of complete and utter dread as the Hat slowly descended on her blonde head. To her relief, the brim of the overly-large hat covered her eyes and shielded her face from view. She relaxed visibly, but jerked when the hat started speaking to her.
"I'm honoured to serve you, my Lady. So, the Princess has come to Hogwarts at last."
Aurora's mind swam. No one but Lucius, Draco and her dead mother knew that she was the Water Sprite princess. Well, them and the Water Sprites themselves. If the hat knew that, it must also know that she wasn't human. She was about to ask a question when the hat went on.
"Yes…Your mother came here. I remember Morganna quite well. You'll be pleased to know that you take after her in a lot of respects, but her purpose in life was so much simpler than yours. You have danger written in your head, I can see the pain now. Do what you must, and trust all you can. Follow not in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Without a doubt, you will be put in SLYTHERIN!"
Aurora started breathing quickly, as the hat was taken off her head. Judging by the looks sent her way from everyone in the Hall, they had not heard what the Hat had been saying except the last word: where she was placed. She stood up gracefully. Aurora sniffed delicately and raised her head. Well, even though she wasn't evil, she was after all a Malfoy. Malfoys didn't let their emotions show, especially not fear. She took a deep steadying breath and walked over to join Draco with a calm smile in his direction. He grinned back.
"Bad luck. Looks like you're stuck with me now." He quipped, and laughed when she swept down to embrace him.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to get used to it," she joked. Professor McGonnagal picked up the hat and began to put it away as Dumbledore stood to address the students. He smiled broadly. As they sang the school song, and coughed to gain attention.
"Well, students, we are here again. I will state the notices briefly. No one is to go into the Forbidden Forest. I direct this especially to a certain group of three students in sixth year. Not mentioning any names, you know who you are."
His eyes twinkled merrily as he looked towards the Gryffindor table. Hermione turned bright red and slouched in her chair with embarrassment, while Harry and Ron fought not to laugh as they caught each other's gaze.
The, Dumbledore grew sober. "I would like to say that for many of you, this is going to be a stressful year. Voldemort," (there were numerous gasps here) "-is alive. He is a threat. However, I must stress to you all that no matter what happens, you WILL be safe at Hogwarts. I bid you all a happy and productive year. Before we start our meal, I must leave you with one thought:
'To think is to be human.
To feel is to be magical.'"
At this, he turned around and was walking back to his chair when he noticed with mild surprise that McGonnagal hadn't put the hat away yet. As a matter of fact, she seemed to be fighting with the hat. It was squirming and every time she went near it, it would jump out of her grasp. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. The Hat was starting to smoke at the seams. This was definitely not good.
With a ripping sound, the Hat jumped out of Professor McGonnagal's arms and, to the whole Hall's astonishment, (the students had forgotten the food on the tables while looking at the Hat), jumped back onto the stool.
It started to glow a dark red colour like strontium held over a flame. Then it froze and the tear in the brim opened up in a mouth for one last time. It spoke in a voice it had never spoken in before. High and melodical, it sounded like it was in a trance. The tone reminded Draco forcibly of when Aurora was delirious days before. The Hat spoke, and everyone in the Hall held their breath to listen to what it had to say:
"Eight will join, Eight will love;
The Puzzle they shall right.
The Bird of Flame will guide them
As they go and win the fight.
Sun marked of blanc Apollo
The fire inside him burns,
The Dawn and Moon will follow;
Two arcane loves take turns.
Mercury helps deliver the message,
Her role in this is true.
The last of six joins the Eight
To start our lives anew.
Stealthy superstition joins,
Justice must prevail.
The love of last yet first of seven
Shall never rightly fail.
Round and round the muse speaks sound
Echoes through columns non-standing.
Union with St. George's triumph
Will help defeat Enigma's forthcoming.
Sun, Dawn and Moon: Their power is greatest.
Mercury and Last: Their fealty is truest.
Superstition and First: The powers have spoken.
Muse and Triumph: The Puzzle is broken."
A/N
Well, I'm on the edge of my seat. Figure out the poem if you can.
Thanx everyone who reviewed. Plz send more, it makes me motivated!!!
Oh and tell me: do u people like my riddles? I am thinking of having a few more riddles and some literature put in here like Erl King – it may feature. Give me thoughts? Thanx!!!!!!