Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing you two, much appreciation. I hope you enjoy this boring chap. ^-^ Things will get going in the next chap.
Chapter 2: The Sorting Ceremony
The little boats followed their guide's across the smooth black lake, everyone watching in anticipation as the cliff neared. The boats swept into a dark tunnel leading to an underground harbor where the boats collided with a gentle bump. Once out they looked up a flight of stone steps to see a giant oak door. After the giant man knocked, the door swung open at once and they were led inside.
A tall, severe young woman in emerald green robes stood before them. Her black hair was done up in a tight bun and an emerald pointed hat sat atop her head.
She peered down on each first year through her square-rimmed glasses before speaking.
"Thank you Hagrid, I'll take them from here."
"Me pleasure, Professor." And the first years followed her swishing robes into the entrance hall. There they stood speechless, gapping at the grand marble staircase, the ceiling that went on forever--the whole room really.
The students could hear the rest of the school next door and they shuffled their feet anxiously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," the stern professor began, drawing in their attention. "Before you can take your seats in the Great Hall you must first be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses. These are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. While you are here these houses will be your family so to speak. You will take classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitory, eat with your house and spend free time in your house common room.
Your triumphs will gain house points while rule breaking loses points. At the end of the year the house with the most points will be awarded the house cup. I'm sure you will each be a wonderful addition to your house and will do your best to gain points.
Now the Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly, so if you'll line up and follow me," She opened the huge doors and led them passed the house tables, all eyes on them, and stopped at the front before the head table where the rest of the professors sat. They stood in their line facing their classmates while the professor walked to a side room and brought out a stool and sat an old pointy hat on it. Some of the first years gasped when it began to sing through a rip near its brim.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black, your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none) for I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The hall burst into applause though many of the first years did so reluctantly still taken aback by the singing hat. Everyone quieted when their professor cleared her throat, holding a long piece of parchment in front of her.
"When your name is called you are to put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted.
Andrews, Scott!"
A black boy with dread locks took his place on the stool, nervous and excited at being the first to be sorted.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat bellowed just as soon as it touched Scott's head. The table second from the left burst into cheers as he joined them.
"Arbin, Blake!"
He marched forward and sat happily on the stool thrusting the hat upon his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat said after three seconds. Blake whooped and hurried to his house table on the far left where he received much applause.
"Black, Narcissa!"
She took a deep breath, her heart racing, as she placed herself daintily on the stool and the hat on her head in the same manner.
Narcissa thought wistfully, "I want to be with Sirius. Please put me in Slytherin, I'll be a disgrace if I'm not." she pleaded.
"Quite the colliding thoughts there." the hat's voice said in her ear so that only she could hear. "You'd do well in Ravenclaw, my dear. But if you're sure--better be SLYTHERIN!"
She took off the hat and, smiling, she walked shakily to the cheering Slytherin table and took a seat between her sister and Lucius.
"Black, Sirius!"
He sighed as he sat down and placed the hat lightly on his head.
"Hmm, a tough decision," said the hat. "You have attributes of all the houses, but you are most definitely best as a--GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindors and Slytherins who knew his family, more importantly their reputation, gasped. While the other Gryffindors cheered as he joined them at their table, he sat in a daze. He, Sirius Black, was a Gryffindor? There had to be some mistake, but there couldn't be. He was now a Gryffindor and he had no idea how that would shape his future.
"Duncan, Paul," became the first Hufflepuff, and "Dwyer, Alexander," became another Slytherin, "Evans, Lily," became a Gryffindor and "Haslam, Keri," became a Hufflepuff.
"Lestrange, Rabastan!"
He strode forward and sat on the stool, the hat on his head for no more than five seconds before he became a, "SLYTHERIN!"
Grinning from ear to ear he sat beside his brother.
"Lupin, Remus!"
"Here it goes, this moment will decide everything."
Before placing the hat on his head he glanced back at James, who smiled and gave him a thumbs up. Remus placed the hat on his head holding his breath.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus sighed happily as he made his way to the welcoming Gryffindor table, sitting beside Blake.
"Madigan, Willow!"
A long black-haired girl walked forward, not nervous in the least as she sat on the stool and placed the hat on her head; where it fell promptly down over her eyes. It took nearly a minute and a half to decide where she would end up.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat finally announced and their table applauded.
"Orson, Marcus!"
The brown haired boy sat barely a minute before he was declared, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
Was a short and plump, sandy blonde haired boy who was so nervous he nearly tripped on his way to the stool. He looked very anxious as he waited for the hat to deal his fate.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat cried and Peter nearly burst into tears of happiness on his way to sit with his house.
"Potter, James!"
James gulped stepping forward. He had to be in Gryffindor, his whole family had been in Gryffindor, and now his only friends were in it as well. He placed the hat on his head sitting down. What would they think if he wasn't?
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat roared and James leapt from the stool. The Gryffindor table cheered; Remus and Blake the loudest. James swung his legs over the bench sitting between the two.
"Rogers, Angelina" went to Hufflepuff, "Snape, Severus" went to Slytherin, "Stewart, Celia" also joined Slytherin, "Trenholm, Veronica" went to Hufflepuff, "Vickers, Mason" went to Ravenclaw and "Whetman, Kolbi" also went to Ravenclaw. The professor picked up the stool and hat and strode from the room.
The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, stood and the hall fell silent. He was a tall, thin, old man with a long silver beard. Who wore long sweeping midnight-blue robes and blue eyes that shown brightly behind the half-moon spectacles sitting on his crooked nose. Dumbledore beamed at the students before him. Every first year perked their ears as he began,
"Welcome! It is another fine year at Hogwarts! We have new students who will make a wonderful addition to our already superb school!"
Everyone clapped and cheered.
"As you may have already guessed, this is my first year as Headmaster, I do hope you will go easy on me."
The students laughed and booed light-heartedly except for a few Slytherins. Dumbledore didn't show any signs that he heard the rude remarks and continued, "Because of this there will be some changes. First, Professor McGonagall shall be our new Deputy Headmistress."
The woman who had led them there had returned and was sitting at the staff table on Dumbledore's right. She stood and everyone applauded.
"Joining us this year, taking over my position of Defense Against the Dark Arts, is Professor Pearce," He beckoned the young, shabby robed man to stand, which he did so to a luke warm welcome. "He shall also be Head of Gryffindor House." The older Gryffindors began buzzing about this but Dumbledore over road them, "You may have noticed the new tree outside, it's called a Whomping Willow and I advise those who do not wish to be 'whomped' to stay away. The forest, as always, is off limits to all students, no exceptions. Quidditch trials will start the second week of term, as always, contact Madame Hooch. And now, on with the feast!"
Everyone cheered and clapped the loudest when these words were spoken and the plates before them filled with an assortment of food. The Great Hall was full of laughter, talk and the clinking of silverware.
After dessert had been served Dumbledore stood once more.
"Now tomorrow is your first day of classes so I advise you to get straight to bed. Before that, join me in singing our school song! Pick a favourite tune," Dumbledore swept his wand in the air and giant words formed above them. "Begin!"
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be old and bald Or young with scabby knees, Our heads could do with filling With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff, So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, Just do your best, we'll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot."
Dumbledore clapped loudly once everyone was done.
"Marvelous! Now first years, your house prefects will show you the way to your dormitory, I bid you a fond farewell." And with those last words the Great Hall began to empty. The first years exchanged yawns and stretches as they got in line behind their house Prefects. As the Slytherins passed the Gryffindors, Bellatrix hissed:
"You're a tarnish on the family name! Wait 'til your mother finds out!"
"Yeah like I care what that old bat thinks." Sirius growled under his breath.
The Gryffindor first years branched off from the others as they made their way up Gryffindor tower. At the end of the corridor hung a portrait of a knight leaning on his spear, guarding a giant gateway.
"Password?"
"Gobledygook." Their Prefect, Timothy Macmillan said, and the painting swung forward admitting them into the Gryffindor common room. Timothy showed the girls to their staircase then the boys to their own dormitory. Inside were five four-poster beds, scarlet velvet curtains shrouded the inhabitants from the others, and their trunks were laid at the foot of each. Well fed and by now tired, they changed into their pajamas quietly and climbed in-between the scarlet sheets, drifting off as their heads touched their silky pillows.
A/N: I know I cheated by using the 1st book's song when the hat is supposed to sing a different one every year, but hey, I'm lazy and not creative enough to come up with my own. The next chap will most likely be posted next week so look out for it, but until then, review peeps!