Time Can Fix All Things
Chapter 2 - The Sorting Hat and New Friends
September 1, 1976
The little group I found myself in; the Marauders plus Lily and I, were huddled close together in the huge mass of kids that were filing into the castle and into the Great Hall. (James was practically on top of Lily, much to her annoyment.)
I couldn't help myself, I looked around at the castle in awe. It was really old, but it seemed to have this magical aura about it. The only other buildings that I remembered feeling this way was the old Salem Witches Muesems, which our school had gone on a field trip to the last year.
"Welcome to your new home," Sirius said smiling from beside me, "Well, for as long as you come to school here, anyway."
We entered the Great Hall, and I saw five large tables, four were arranged on the center for the students (one for each house, I assumed, from what Lily had explained to me about Hogwarts' houses), and one was along the back wall, where all the teachers were sitting.
There were candles suspended in midair and the ceiling looked like it was open; reveiling the beautiful night sky. Remus laughed at my amazment.
"It's only enchanted to look like that," he explained. "Now come sit with us at the Gryffindor table, I'm sure Dumbledore won't mind until you get sorted."
With those words, a pang of nervousness hit me. I really enjoyed the Marauder's company. What would happen if I wasn't sorted with them?
After everyone was seated, the doors of the Great Hall opened again and a strict middle-aged looking woman with her hair pulled back tightly into a bun, was carrying a stool and a very old and battered hat. She was leading a scared looking group of first years into the hall.
The woman sat the stool inbetween the staff's table and the student tables, and placed the hat on top of it. She stepped back, and a rip was visible in the brim of the hat, and much to my surprise it opened wider forming a mouth. The hat began to chant.
(There was originally a song here, but due to ff dot net's new rules, I had to remove it. I'll write up my own chant and have it up as soon as I can.)
The hat finished his song with that and became silent once more. The woman looked a bit shocked, and as I looked around the room, I saw similar expressions on the faces of the older students and the rest of the teachers as well; except an old man with a long glistining white beard and half-moon spectacles placed on his crooked nose. He sat there calmly, with a faint smile upon his lips, then looked directly where I was sitting and nodded.
I stared at him numbly for a moment, then turned my attention back to my new friends.
"What's the matter?" I asked to the group of startled faces. Even James and Sirius, who have been goofy since the moment I met them a few hours ago, and from what I've heard from Lily and Remus they always are; even the troublesome pair seemed to be taking this seriously.
Lily sighed. "Every year the sorting hat sings a song or recites a poem at this time. Every year it's different, but it's always about the school. Always."
"Alright," the strict woman began composing herself, "we will now begin the sorting of the first years. When I call your name, please sit on the stool and put on the sorting hat. And after you have been sorted, please go and have a seat at the house's table in which you have been sorted." she took out a scroll from one of the pockets of her robes and began to read off the names. "Adam, Michelle."
Lily leaned across the table so I could hear her better. "Except for once, about thirty years ago," she whispered.
"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why everyone's so afraid," I said.
"Well, that same year something terrible happened - a muggle born died," Remus replied from his seat beside me.
"Died!" I asked in shock. "How?" Peter and James shock their heads.
"We don't know" Sirius explained, "Just that it supposedly has something to do with this legand - some sort of secret chamber that holds a monster."
"Yes, but the problem is," Lily cut in, "The school's been searched many times, and no such 'chamber' has been found." The Marauders shared a look and nodded, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "And now it's happened again. I really hope nothing bad happens this year."
James nodded. "So do we all."
"And that concludes the sorting," the woman said as she rolled the scroll back up. The old man that nodded to me before stood up from his seat at the staff table.
"I beg to differ, Professer McGonagal," he said. McGonagal raised an eyebrow in question. "I would like to introduce Miss Nicole Richardson, an American exchange student who will be joining us as a sixth year. We hope that she'll be a pleasant addition to whatever house she is sorted in." He smiled at me once more and gestured to the stool and hat.
"Richardson, Nicole."
I took a deep breath. "Well, this is it," I said as I took one last glance at my friends.
Lily nodded and gave me a weak smile. "You'll do fine."
I could hear people whisper as I passed, but I only held my head high. I approached the stool, McGonagal studying my every move. I took a seat on the stool and placed that hat on my head. I could hear the hat talking in my head.
'Ah, an exchange student, I see. Hum, you have brains, a quality for a good Ravenclaw. But you are loyal, and very brave. These are key qaulities that you are going to need in your future, my dear. Yes, there is only one house suited just for you...' "Gryffindor!" the hat shouted out loudly.
I released the breath that I didn't realize I had been holding. I looked over the Marauders and Lily, who were all cheering along with the rest of the Gryffindor table. I stood up and placed the hat back on the stool. McGonagal smiled at me and I made my way back to my seat.
a/n:
So, how is this coming so far? It didn't come out exactly the way I wanted it, but I tried my best. I had this pretty much written up for a while, just never really got around to type it up. :P
And I also wish to thank the only reviewer for last chapter, Pen D. Fox. :-)
-Rocky-