Disclaimer: I do not own any locations or characters (except for Jade and James Meniker), they all belong our beloved J.K. Rowling. Please do not use my characters for anything without asking me first (I'll let you use them, but you've got to ask me first!). And sadly, I don't own the Mario song.......-sighs wistfully-

Author's Note: Okay, here's Chapter two! It's a bit strange, but it took me FOREVER to write the hat's song (and I had a lot of editing help on it!). I'd like to mention that this story now has a "sister-story" (mwahahaha Hayley), which is called "The Red Shadow" by Rouge Magie. Please check that out as well, it's fabulous. If you don't know what sister-story is, read at the bottom of page. Please Read and Review!

P.S. Edited version!! Yay...

The Sorting and The Feast

The doors of the Great Hall were thrown open, and Professor McGonagall briskly led the new First Years forward. Hagrid lumbered up the side of the hall, waving to a few students before taking his place at the teacher's table.

The Hall was silent as the first years walked up the aisle to the front. The little kids milled around nervously, wondering what was going to happen. Professor McGonagall disappeared for a moment, then came back carrying the old stool and the ratty Sorting Hat. Jade smiled, and waited with anticipation for it to begin its song. As it opened its musty mouth, there was a collective gasp from the first years. Jade smiled. The hat exercised its "jaw" a bit, and took a deep breath.

"Look at me, a ratty old hat,

But you can see I'm more than that.

I can talk and I can sing,

I'm really quite a clever thing.

For in me are four different minds,

They used me to choose their kinds.

Just jam me down upon you head,

And I will sort you in their stead.

Gryffindor loved those with nerve,

Who from their duty never swerved.

If you have courage and are strong,

It could be there that you belong.

Ravenclaw preferred the wise,

It's there you'll have academic ties.

If you are smart and quick of wit,

It could be there that you should fit.

Or Hufflepuff, you could go there,

Where they are loyal and always fair.

For Helga loved the trustworthy,

Do you fit there? That's up to me.

Slytherin took on the cunning and shrewd,

And though this sometimes made them rude,

They're really a bunch of ambitious souls,

Who'll do anything to reach their goals.

You can't choose your place so don't try

You go where you fit, there's a reason why

Your house should be like family,

Though you may sometimes disagree

I never have been wrong before,

For I can see right to your core.

So where do you go? I'll look inside,

Just put me on and I'll decide!

The Hat finished his song and fell silent. The Hall burst into appreciative applause while the Hat did a sort of bow. Professor McGonagall then began to call out the names.

"Adams, Laura!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Alby, Tyler!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Bernard, Joseph!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Bodkins, Mary!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

Jade clapped along with her classmates for the first Ravenclaw of the year. As John Dackeridge became the first Gryffindor, she drifted off into her own thoughts. As she watched the first years go up one by one and put on the Sorting Hat, Jade's mind drifted to memories of her own sorting five years ago, her thoughts only interrupted by her clapping whenever a Ravenclaw was named. She closed her eyes, remembering the old hat's voice in her head clearly.

"Oh, an interesting one...yes...hmm...where to put you...where to put you...brilliant mind, oh yes, yes indeed, rather more like reckless than most too, you are... Hardworking...yes, for what you truly desire...yes, yes, you're relentless! You could be...no...no... Too intelligent...too....logical. There's no real way I could put you anywhere except... "RAVENCLAW!"

She sighed and clapped as the final first year ("Janelle Whitby!" "GRYFFINDOR") took off the hat and sat down. Dumbledore stood up and began his start-of-year speech.

"I would like to welcome our first years. May this be the start of a great new enterprise for you. As a few matters of business, though most of you well know, the forest on the school grounds is forbidden to all students. Please refrain from bringing banned objects to school, such as Fanged Frisbees and Screaming Yo-yo's. If anyone would like to check the full list, it is hanging in Mr. Filch's office."

He spoke the last remark with a slight smile and an almost imperceptible nod towards the Weasley twins.

"Hogsmeade, as usual, is only open to third years and above. You will only be allowed if you have your permission slip signed."

There was a small pause and a bright smile came to Dumbledore's face.

"Now, with these few notices out of the way, I cordially invite you all to stuff your faces."

There was a sparkle in Dumbledore's eye, and the empty platters in front of everyone were suddenly filled with delightful foods of every kind.

There were steaks and pork chops and grilled chicken fillets, and salads with every dressing you could think of. There were dumplings and Yorkshire puddings and baked potatoes. There was roast beef and lamb chops and sausages and bacon, stewed peas, carrots, and large boats of thick, hot gravy every three feet. The goblets had been filled with pumpkin juice and the plates around Jade were quickly filling up. She felt herself salivating and eagerly grabbed for roast beef, piling food on her plate.

The food was delicious as usual, and the Hall was filled with chatter. Soon, everyone had eaten all they could, and the plates were wiped clean, only to be instantly refilled with desserts and treats of every kind. There were cakes and apple pies and treacle tarts; puddings and spotted dick and chocolate gateau were on the platters, along with many other tasty desserts. Jade had thought she couldn't eat one more bite....she was wrong. Along with her fellow students, she stuffed her face as invited.

When, finally, everyone was finished and the plates were sparkling clean again, Dumbledore stood.

"I hope that this year will be as good as the food was,"

He paused as choruses of "Hear, hear," and satisfied sighs could be heard around the Hall. When they finally died away, he continued.

"The Inter-House Quidditch Cup will take place this year as normal,"

He smiled warmly at some of the Quidditch players around the Hall, including herself and Cho.

" But please remember that we are no longer as safe as we were. With the events of last year..."

He stopped. "I imagine that you all remember, or that you first years have heard about it, so there is no need to recount the tale."

He paused again. "Please stay safe and have a good year. Now," his voice lifted, "we shall do something we have not done in awhile. Everyone, pick your favorite tune!"

A shot of gold came from the tip of his wand, and the Hogwarts song was spelled out in the air. Jade smiled and began to sing the words to the Mario Bros.(a Muggle game she enjoyed) Theme. Jade laughed as Hannah and Cho picked and Irish jig melody and danced together. After the last singers had fallen silent, Dumbledore smiled and dismissed the school. Everyone headed to their dormitories for a good night's rest before school started.

Note: Okay, I know, this is a bit boring right now, but I promise it will get more exciting! Okay, definition of sister-stories: Two or more stories that relate to each other and have references to each other but do not focus on the same main plot. This story has only one sister, "The Red Shadow" by Rouge Magie. Please check it out because it is really wonderful!