The Sorting Ceremony
When the train finally came to a stop, and she had grabbed her small bag of carry on stuff, she was separated from her newfound friends. They were all above first year, and so were led into carriages, while she had to ride across the lake to the castle. Fortunately, no major mishaps occured while they crossed the glassy surface, and they were all herded into the entrance hall of the palace not long after they'd left the train.
They stood in the entrance, and waited for instructions. A soft buzz went around the crowd as they stood there, until an older looking woman who wore a peaked black hat, and long dark blue robes walked out of the entrance hall. "Welcome Firstyears, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, and head of Gryffindor House. Now, in just a moment, I'll be asking all of you to enter the great hall. Please wait while everything is prepared." she disappeared back behind the door, and the students who had grown silent at her appearance, came to life again, as a loud buzz of conversation whirled through the group.
Only a short time later, McGonagall opened the huge doors again, and motioned for them to enter after her. As they all walked neatly along the isles between the tables, a hush fell over the already seated older students.
Ahead of them, at the opposite end of the room from where they'd entered, was a large table that ran the length of the room but for gaps on either end where those seated there might rise and walk among the groups of students.
At one end was the large half-giant who had ridden with them across the lake, who seemed very frightening at first glance, but who seemed to be a little less intimidating when he was seated at the table among the other witches and wizards there. His name was Hagrid, or so it said on the small tag by his seat. Beside him, was a small pudgy woman who had plants tucked into her hair, and a wart on her cheek. This was professor Sprout, she was sure, the witch who would be teaching her Herbology.
Along the line were various other people whose faces did not yet gain her attention, but there were a few on the other end of the table who caught her gaze. One dark looking wizard looked at Harry Potter with such a look of hatred that Penny could not help but suppress the anger at him that she felt. He had no right to show such enmity against a student, especially in such an important school.
As she stood, Professor McGonagall had collected a stool, and a hat, which appeared to have been worn a few too many times, which she placed upon the seat of the stool, and waited in silence, hands folded in front of her.
Penny gasped as the Sorting Hat began it's song.
A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly made there lived four magic men whose names are often said Bold Gryffindoor from wild moor Fair Ravenclaw from glen sweet hufflepuff from valley broad shrewd slytherin from fen.
They all sought to teach the youth the things that they all knew to educate young sorcerers So they knew what to do Now each of these four founders formed their own house, for each did value different virtues in the ones they had to teach Courageous were the Gryffindors who settled in the school and Ravenclaws the cleverest would always follow rules The Slytherins were full of lust for power they might gain and Hufflepuffs would always work to reach their goals again While still alive they did divide their favorites from the croud yet how to pick the worthy ones, when they were not around?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way he pulled me off his top the founders put some brains in me so I could choose the lot now slip me snug about your head I've never placed amiss I'll have a look inside your skull and put you where you fit!
Penny could not help but look dumbfounded, along with half of the other first years standing there waiting for instructions. Professor McGonagall silenced the round of applause that erupted from the older students at their various tables, with her orders.
"No, each of your names will be called off. As you hear your name, you are to step forward and sit on the stool, placing the Sorting Hat upon your head. It will then sort you into your house, where you will spend the rest of your time here at Hogwarts."
With another small round of applause from the other students, the names began being called. Penny didn't listen. She was so occupied by the grandness of the great hall that when she heard her name called it sounded like it was from the other side of a wall of fog. She snapped out of her dreamy exploration of the hall and moved forward to the stool. She lifted the hat and took a seat silently.
Once she placed the Sorting Hat on her head, she felt it tighten over her scalp. It was an odd sensation and she felt the hair on her neck rise as it started to speak to her.
"Mmm...well well, miss Phoenix!" Penny frowned "Phoenix?" she thought, and the sorting hat's response surprised her "Too pure of heart for Slytherin, too clever still for hufflepuff, fair ravenclaw might be your home, yet bravery's your stuff. Which family will you then calls yours? Might as well be Gryffindor!"
The last word was all that was spoken outside of her mind, the only word the rest of the school heard, but as she removed the hat from her head, the words rang through her mind. Phoenix? Was that her true name? She did not know, to her knowledge she'd never heard her true name spoken but she'd always been called Penny at the orphanage.
To a loud round of applause from Gryffindor she joined the rest of the house under the red and gold banners, and took her seat before a golden plate and goblet, waiting for the rest of the ceremony to finish as Ron congratulated her on her sorting, and Ginny giggled while holding Neville's hand under the table but tried to do it under the pretext of welcoming her.
At last the ceremony came to an end, and the elderly wizard sitting at the center of the large staff table rose to his feet, his long silver gray beard reaching below the tabletop. His voice was whispery, almost as if very little force could be behind it, but his words were heard throughout the hall as everyone grew silent. "I have only a few words to you all. "Firstly, I would like to welcome each of you to your houses. Secondly, the forest surrounding the castle are out of bounds for ALL of Hogwarts students, there will be no exceptions. And lastly, I hope you all enjoy your feast!"
With a wave of his hands food seemed to appear on their plates, various sorts of food that all seemed to be exactly what everyone wanted. Before here was a confusion of various foods, as it had been apparent that she had only had gruel for two days, and eagerly sought a real meal, any real food was welcomed.
When the train finally came to a stop, and she had grabbed her small bag of carry on stuff, she was separated from her newfound friends. They were all above first year, and so were led into carriages, while she had to ride across the lake to the castle. Fortunately, no major mishaps occured while they crossed the glassy surface, and they were all herded into the entrance hall of the palace not long after they'd left the train.
They stood in the entrance, and waited for instructions. A soft buzz went around the crowd as they stood there, until an older looking woman who wore a peaked black hat, and long dark blue robes walked out of the entrance hall. "Welcome Firstyears, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, and head of Gryffindor House. Now, in just a moment, I'll be asking all of you to enter the great hall. Please wait while everything is prepared." she disappeared back behind the door, and the students who had grown silent at her appearance, came to life again, as a loud buzz of conversation whirled through the group.
Only a short time later, McGonagall opened the huge doors again, and motioned for them to enter after her. As they all walked neatly along the isles between the tables, a hush fell over the already seated older students.
Ahead of them, at the opposite end of the room from where they'd entered, was a large table that ran the length of the room but for gaps on either end where those seated there might rise and walk among the groups of students.
At one end was the large half-giant who had ridden with them across the lake, who seemed very frightening at first glance, but who seemed to be a little less intimidating when he was seated at the table among the other witches and wizards there. His name was Hagrid, or so it said on the small tag by his seat. Beside him, was a small pudgy woman who had plants tucked into her hair, and a wart on her cheek. This was professor Sprout, she was sure, the witch who would be teaching her Herbology.
Along the line were various other people whose faces did not yet gain her attention, but there were a few on the other end of the table who caught her gaze. One dark looking wizard looked at Harry Potter with such a look of hatred that Penny could not help but suppress the anger at him that she felt. He had no right to show such enmity against a student, especially in such an important school.
As she stood, Professor McGonagall had collected a stool, and a hat, which appeared to have been worn a few too many times, which she placed upon the seat of the stool, and waited in silence, hands folded in front of her.
Penny gasped as the Sorting Hat began it's song.
A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly made there lived four magic men whose names are often said Bold Gryffindoor from wild moor Fair Ravenclaw from glen sweet hufflepuff from valley broad shrewd slytherin from fen.
They all sought to teach the youth the things that they all knew to educate young sorcerers So they knew what to do Now each of these four founders formed their own house, for each did value different virtues in the ones they had to teach Courageous were the Gryffindors who settled in the school and Ravenclaws the cleverest would always follow rules The Slytherins were full of lust for power they might gain and Hufflepuffs would always work to reach their goals again While still alive they did divide their favorites from the croud yet how to pick the worthy ones, when they were not around?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way he pulled me off his top the founders put some brains in me so I could choose the lot now slip me snug about your head I've never placed amiss I'll have a look inside your skull and put you where you fit!
Penny could not help but look dumbfounded, along with half of the other first years standing there waiting for instructions. Professor McGonagall silenced the round of applause that erupted from the older students at their various tables, with her orders.
"No, each of your names will be called off. As you hear your name, you are to step forward and sit on the stool, placing the Sorting Hat upon your head. It will then sort you into your house, where you will spend the rest of your time here at Hogwarts."
With another small round of applause from the other students, the names began being called. Penny didn't listen. She was so occupied by the grandness of the great hall that when she heard her name called it sounded like it was from the other side of a wall of fog. She snapped out of her dreamy exploration of the hall and moved forward to the stool. She lifted the hat and took a seat silently.
Once she placed the Sorting Hat on her head, she felt it tighten over her scalp. It was an odd sensation and she felt the hair on her neck rise as it started to speak to her.
"Mmm...well well, miss Phoenix!" Penny frowned "Phoenix?" she thought, and the sorting hat's response surprised her "Too pure of heart for Slytherin, too clever still for hufflepuff, fair ravenclaw might be your home, yet bravery's your stuff. Which family will you then calls yours? Might as well be Gryffindor!"
The last word was all that was spoken outside of her mind, the only word the rest of the school heard, but as she removed the hat from her head, the words rang through her mind. Phoenix? Was that her true name? She did not know, to her knowledge she'd never heard her true name spoken but she'd always been called Penny at the orphanage.
To a loud round of applause from Gryffindor she joined the rest of the house under the red and gold banners, and took her seat before a golden plate and goblet, waiting for the rest of the ceremony to finish as Ron congratulated her on her sorting, and Ginny giggled while holding Neville's hand under the table but tried to do it under the pretext of welcoming her.
At last the ceremony came to an end, and the elderly wizard sitting at the center of the large staff table rose to his feet, his long silver gray beard reaching below the tabletop. His voice was whispery, almost as if very little force could be behind it, but his words were heard throughout the hall as everyone grew silent. "I have only a few words to you all. "Firstly, I would like to welcome each of you to your houses. Secondly, the forest surrounding the castle are out of bounds for ALL of Hogwarts students, there will be no exceptions. And lastly, I hope you all enjoy your feast!"
With a wave of his hands food seemed to appear on their plates, various sorts of food that all seemed to be exactly what everyone wanted. Before here was a confusion of various foods, as it had been apparent that she had only had gruel for two days, and eagerly sought a real meal, any real food was welcomed.