Hello again! (Cheep, as usual) Thanx for the reviews!
The door opened to reveal a stern and strict looking witch dressed in green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." Says the giant.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She says. She opens it for us to go in. The entrance hall is gigantic! You could fit my old school hall in here with room to spare! She leads us into a side door, past a noisy room which I can only guess is where everyone else is. We crowd in, standing close. I can see Hermione over everyone else.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." The Professor says. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses…" she explains about the houses, the common rooms, the points, and so on. She leaves us alone.
"(This sounds alright, doesn't it?)" I whisper to Lavender, elbowing her gently.
"(Yeah, especially the Banquet.)" She says, rubbing her stomach hungrily. She looks up, and then gives a soft scream along with a few other people, jumping back. I look up and freeze.
Passing above us, float a few pearly white ghosts, chatting overtly. Then one notices us, trying to give us a half-hearted chat. Then McGonagall comes back, leading us out of there and through the Great Hall.
…Whoa. That's a lodda people! There are four long tables, each with about 250 kids around each of them, staring at us. At the top of the hall, the staff sit around a long table as well. We reach the front. I hear Hermione whisper;
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." I look up, wondering what she's talking about. The sky- no, ceiling, is velvety black with stars dotted about it.
Professor McGonagall puts a three-legged stool down, then puts a ragged, old, pointed wizard's hat on it. What's that thing for? And why's everyone staring at it? Suddenly, a rip on the brim opens- and the hat begins to sing:
"#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 want to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry Set Griffindors 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 folks 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!#"
I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. Who of my friends would believe I've seen a singing hat?!? It then bows to the four tables amid applause, then sits still. Professor McGonagall steps forward holding a sheet of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!" A pink-faced, pigtailed girl runs forward, puts the hat on, then sits down. A few seconds later, the hat shouts;
"HUFFELPUFF!" One of the tables starts cheering as she sits down. Then a few people go until she shouts "Brown, Lavender!"
"(Good luck!)" I whisper, tapping her on the shoulder. She shoots me a cheery smile, then sits down. The hat thinks for a while, then yells;
"GRIFFINDOR!" A different table cheers as she sits down. She grins at me, giving me a thumbs-up. After her comes "Finch-Fletchly, Justin!" then "Finnigan, Seamus!" then-
"Granger, Hermione." My stomach twirls as she eagerly puts it on her head. It thinks, then shouts;
"GRYFFINDOR!"
She sits down. Uh-oh, it's-
"Hunter, Seth!" I gulp, walk forward, put the hat on, and then wait in darkness.
'Hmm…' I hear in my head. 'Considerable intellect… Willingness to learn… Quite a bit of talent… not that brave… Yes… Hmm… What do you say? Any additional opinions or preferences?'
'Hey, you're the sorting hat!' I think, looking at the black inside of the hat. 'It's really up to you in the end.'
'Hmm… I haven't heard something like that in a while! Usually it's 'not this' or 'not the other'… Very astute of you. Alright. I'll put you in-!'
"RAVENCLAW!" it yells. The table second from the left starts cheering as I take the hat off. I jog to the table, people shaking hands with me and congratulating me.
"Well done, Seth!" says a second-year girl, patting me on the arm. She looks like she's from an Oriental origin, with sleek black hair, partially narrow eyes and smooth skin. "I'm Cho Chang."
"Hi! Great to be here!" I reply. I turn back to the front, my heart calming down, watching the others. That's it. I'm now a Ravenclaw. But Hermione and Lavender aren't! We're against each other in the house cup. Oh, well. Doesn't mean we can't still be friends. After a while, the list gets to the 'P's, and one name catches everyone's attention.
"Potter, Harry." Huh?
"Potter, did she say?" I ask Cho. She nods, looking up to the front. The Harry Potter everyone's talking about? I godda get a look at this Boy Wonder guy. I lean out slightly to see past the row of heads.
He's about 5", Green eyes, Black, messy hair, Round, black glasses and on his forehead- The scar. …Are they sure that's him? I was expecting someone a bit more impressive looking if he's that famous.
The hat goes on his head, and I can't help but hope that he's a Ravenclaw. Harry Potter: Ravenclaw. It would give us all a bit of publicity. The hat's quiet for a while, then opens its mouth-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Oh. The Gryffindors go nuts at this news, two shouting 'We Got Potter! We Got Potter!' at the top of their voices. Oh, well. It happens.
After a while, the last person is called, (Slytherin) and the headmaster gets up. He's very tall, I think he's got blue eyes, a long, very long, white beard and is wearing multi-coloured robes.
"Welcome!" he says, beaming around. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He sits back down.
I just clap along with the rest of them. He seems likeable, for a nutter! "Is he usually like that?" I ask Cho.
"Oh yeah." She says, glancing at him. "He's usually a bit funnier. Probably because it's the start of the year. Chicken?"
I can't believe my eyes! The golden, empty plates have now become golden, nearly-buckling-because-of-all-the-food plates! There's everything here! Including Mint-! Hum. Bugs? (Mint humb-? I don't get it either.) I'll skip to after the feast and song, (I'm a messy eater and a bad singer.) right to where we're being led to our common rooms. (Boy, those staircases are confusing! 142 of them?!?)
"Now, to prove your Ravenclaw logic, you have to remember two passwords," Said Penelope Clearwater, one of the prefects leading us. "One for the tapestry and one for the door to get into the common room." She walks down a corridor decked with tapestries. "Either will do for each one." Great(!) I have enough trouble remembering my 'net passwords! "Here we are!" she says, pointing at one.
It has a picture of an eagle stood on a mountain-top, back to us, looking over a vast forest. Above it on each side, there are two stone ravens watching us, shaking their wings now and again and cawing. The eagle in the picture turns its head, looking at us with a wicked eye.
"Ingressus." She says to the eagle. The eagle nods and the tapestry rolls up, revealing a triangular door. "Perplaceo." She says to the two stone ravens. They settle back down, silent and the door underneath opens. She leads us in.
Who-hooh! Classy! Wide room, deep carpet, blazing fire in a marbled fireplace, several bronze-edged chairs and couches, - The business!
"The girls' dormitories are down there," she says, indicating a corridor. "The boys' are down there." She points down at another. "It would be preferable if you would go up now, it's getting late."
At the near end, there's a plaque saying First Year: Boys. Inside, there are five 4-poster beds with red velvet curtains. At the base of the nearest one, I can see my trunk. Along with my owl-cage on the bedside table. She's probably gone to the Owlery.
Everyone gets their nightwear on, chatting stridently. I can't be bothered, I'm too tired. I look at the cuckoo-clock on the wall. It's- Blimey! It's half-twelve already! Talk about time flying! (Of course, if you disloged the clock... Get it?)
About ten minutes later, everyone's quiet. I lie back, thinking about today. Heh. This morning, I didn't know what You-Know-Who meant. Now look at me. I hope this is going to be better than Brimscone…
Now for reviewer thanks.
DeathWynd: Thanx!
Moony05: Thanx and… MEEP!
Professor D. S. Silvers: 'Professional writing'! I'm happy!
Moon Archer: Thanx.
Cinnamin911: That's just the kind of guy Seth is.
Gboyary: This is gonna have at least one.
LadySchala: Thanx! Hey, whaddya' mean 'lost cause'(?!?)
Alright! See ya' next chap!
The door opened to reveal a stern and strict looking witch dressed in green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." Says the giant.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She says. She opens it for us to go in. The entrance hall is gigantic! You could fit my old school hall in here with room to spare! She leads us into a side door, past a noisy room which I can only guess is where everyone else is. We crowd in, standing close. I can see Hermione over everyone else.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." The Professor says. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses…" she explains about the houses, the common rooms, the points, and so on. She leaves us alone.
"(This sounds alright, doesn't it?)" I whisper to Lavender, elbowing her gently.
"(Yeah, especially the Banquet.)" She says, rubbing her stomach hungrily. She looks up, and then gives a soft scream along with a few other people, jumping back. I look up and freeze.
Passing above us, float a few pearly white ghosts, chatting overtly. Then one notices us, trying to give us a half-hearted chat. Then McGonagall comes back, leading us out of there and through the Great Hall.
…Whoa. That's a lodda people! There are four long tables, each with about 250 kids around each of them, staring at us. At the top of the hall, the staff sit around a long table as well. We reach the front. I hear Hermione whisper;
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." I look up, wondering what she's talking about. The sky- no, ceiling, is velvety black with stars dotted about it.
Professor McGonagall puts a three-legged stool down, then puts a ragged, old, pointed wizard's hat on it. What's that thing for? And why's everyone staring at it? Suddenly, a rip on the brim opens- and the hat begins to sing:
"#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 want to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry Set Griffindors 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 folks 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!#"
I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. Who of my friends would believe I've seen a singing hat?!? It then bows to the four tables amid applause, then sits still. Professor McGonagall steps forward holding a sheet of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!" A pink-faced, pigtailed girl runs forward, puts the hat on, then sits down. A few seconds later, the hat shouts;
"HUFFELPUFF!" One of the tables starts cheering as she sits down. Then a few people go until she shouts "Brown, Lavender!"
"(Good luck!)" I whisper, tapping her on the shoulder. She shoots me a cheery smile, then sits down. The hat thinks for a while, then yells;
"GRIFFINDOR!" A different table cheers as she sits down. She grins at me, giving me a thumbs-up. After her comes "Finch-Fletchly, Justin!" then "Finnigan, Seamus!" then-
"Granger, Hermione." My stomach twirls as she eagerly puts it on her head. It thinks, then shouts;
"GRYFFINDOR!"
She sits down. Uh-oh, it's-
"Hunter, Seth!" I gulp, walk forward, put the hat on, and then wait in darkness.
'Hmm…' I hear in my head. 'Considerable intellect… Willingness to learn… Quite a bit of talent… not that brave… Yes… Hmm… What do you say? Any additional opinions or preferences?'
'Hey, you're the sorting hat!' I think, looking at the black inside of the hat. 'It's really up to you in the end.'
'Hmm… I haven't heard something like that in a while! Usually it's 'not this' or 'not the other'… Very astute of you. Alright. I'll put you in-!'
"RAVENCLAW!" it yells. The table second from the left starts cheering as I take the hat off. I jog to the table, people shaking hands with me and congratulating me.
"Well done, Seth!" says a second-year girl, patting me on the arm. She looks like she's from an Oriental origin, with sleek black hair, partially narrow eyes and smooth skin. "I'm Cho Chang."
"Hi! Great to be here!" I reply. I turn back to the front, my heart calming down, watching the others. That's it. I'm now a Ravenclaw. But Hermione and Lavender aren't! We're against each other in the house cup. Oh, well. Doesn't mean we can't still be friends. After a while, the list gets to the 'P's, and one name catches everyone's attention.
"Potter, Harry." Huh?
"Potter, did she say?" I ask Cho. She nods, looking up to the front. The Harry Potter everyone's talking about? I godda get a look at this Boy Wonder guy. I lean out slightly to see past the row of heads.
He's about 5", Green eyes, Black, messy hair, Round, black glasses and on his forehead- The scar. …Are they sure that's him? I was expecting someone a bit more impressive looking if he's that famous.
The hat goes on his head, and I can't help but hope that he's a Ravenclaw. Harry Potter: Ravenclaw. It would give us all a bit of publicity. The hat's quiet for a while, then opens its mouth-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Oh. The Gryffindors go nuts at this news, two shouting 'We Got Potter! We Got Potter!' at the top of their voices. Oh, well. It happens.
After a while, the last person is called, (Slytherin) and the headmaster gets up. He's very tall, I think he's got blue eyes, a long, very long, white beard and is wearing multi-coloured robes.
"Welcome!" he says, beaming around. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He sits back down.
I just clap along with the rest of them. He seems likeable, for a nutter! "Is he usually like that?" I ask Cho.
"Oh yeah." She says, glancing at him. "He's usually a bit funnier. Probably because it's the start of the year. Chicken?"
I can't believe my eyes! The golden, empty plates have now become golden, nearly-buckling-because-of-all-the-food plates! There's everything here! Including Mint-! Hum. Bugs? (Mint humb-? I don't get it either.) I'll skip to after the feast and song, (I'm a messy eater and a bad singer.) right to where we're being led to our common rooms. (Boy, those staircases are confusing! 142 of them?!?)
"Now, to prove your Ravenclaw logic, you have to remember two passwords," Said Penelope Clearwater, one of the prefects leading us. "One for the tapestry and one for the door to get into the common room." She walks down a corridor decked with tapestries. "Either will do for each one." Great(!) I have enough trouble remembering my 'net passwords! "Here we are!" she says, pointing at one.
It has a picture of an eagle stood on a mountain-top, back to us, looking over a vast forest. Above it on each side, there are two stone ravens watching us, shaking their wings now and again and cawing. The eagle in the picture turns its head, looking at us with a wicked eye.
"Ingressus." She says to the eagle. The eagle nods and the tapestry rolls up, revealing a triangular door. "Perplaceo." She says to the two stone ravens. They settle back down, silent and the door underneath opens. She leads us in.
Who-hooh! Classy! Wide room, deep carpet, blazing fire in a marbled fireplace, several bronze-edged chairs and couches, - The business!
"The girls' dormitories are down there," she says, indicating a corridor. "The boys' are down there." She points down at another. "It would be preferable if you would go up now, it's getting late."
At the near end, there's a plaque saying First Year: Boys. Inside, there are five 4-poster beds with red velvet curtains. At the base of the nearest one, I can see my trunk. Along with my owl-cage on the bedside table. She's probably gone to the Owlery.
Everyone gets their nightwear on, chatting stridently. I can't be bothered, I'm too tired. I look at the cuckoo-clock on the wall. It's- Blimey! It's half-twelve already! Talk about time flying! (Of course, if you disloged the clock... Get it?)
About ten minutes later, everyone's quiet. I lie back, thinking about today. Heh. This morning, I didn't know what You-Know-Who meant. Now look at me. I hope this is going to be better than Brimscone…
Now for reviewer thanks.
DeathWynd: Thanx!
Moony05: Thanx and… MEEP!
Professor D. S. Silvers: 'Professional writing'! I'm happy!
Moon Archer: Thanx.
Cinnamin911: That's just the kind of guy Seth is.
Gboyary: This is gonna have at least one.
LadySchala: Thanx! Hey, whaddya' mean 'lost cause'(?!?)
Alright! See ya' next chap!