Chapter 9: Being Sorted…Again
Walking outside with the throng of people, Maeve quickly got separated from her new friends.
"Harry? Hermione? Ron? Where'd you all go?" she called.
Great, now what? She thought. As if it wasn't bad enough that she couldn't find her way out of a paper bag (it wasn't an exaggeration; she had even gotten lost in an airport bathroom) she had no idea where she was supposed to go anyway. She hadn't noticed she had been walking until she ran right into the biggest, wildest looking man she'd ever seen. She thought he was awesome!
"Firs' years! Oer ere! Firs' ye…" the man cut off his shouting and looked down with kind black eyes.
"Um, sorry, sir wasn't paying attention…" she faded off and looked up at him.
"Don't believe I know you, what's yer name?" he asked, smiling down.
"Maeve…what's yours?"
"Maeve…Maeve…that name sounds familiar…OH! I was sposed to get you special, yer a fifth year, right?"
"Yeah…um, who are you?" she asked.
"Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of the Grounds and Keys. It's a pleasure," he said with a wink before turning back and calling for the first years again.
Maeve joined the crowd of first years as they headed down to a large lake with a number of little jolly boats sitting on the shore. She climbed into one with a bunch of little kiddies and was shocked as the boats started off with a jerk. Some of the little ones screamed. The ones in her boat stared at her, they new she wasn't one of them. She could see others whispering and looking in her direction. Great, bunch of curious midgets, just what she needed.
"Now just as we go round this bend, you'll get yer firs' view of ogwarts!" Hagrid called.
All the students gasped. On top of a monster face of rock stood the COOLEST castle Maeve had ever seen. It stood proud and tall, its lights glowing welcomingly. Newtgalls had NOTHING on this place!
All the students spent the rest of the trip in nervous silence.
"DUCK!" cried Hagrid as the boats entered a sort of cave.
The groups reached an underground harbor. They followed Hagrid up a set of stone steps. Hagrid banged a fist on the door. It creaked open, revealing a tall, strict looking woman with her brown-and-quickly-graying-hair pulled tightly back in a bun. Maeve recognized her immediately from the Order as Professor McGonagall.
"All, right, I'll take them, Hagrid, hurry and get back to the feast now," she said in a voice that matched her looks perfectly.
As she walked past, Hagrid patted Maeve on the shoulder, gave her another wink and whispered happily, "Don't look so nervous, you'll do fine!"
Maeve stared, along with the midgets, with her mouth gaping. The hall was HUGE! Gi-normous! She shuffled after the professor along with everyone else. The sound of voices came from a doorway off to the right. The rest of the school, Maeve guessed. She expected to be led there, but instead they ended up in a small, empty room. When they were all in, Professor McGonagall started to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The banquet will begin shortly, at which time you will enter the Great Hall. Before you sit, you will be sorted into your houses. Whether you are in Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw, your house will serve as a family. Triumphs will earn you points, while rule-breaking…"
Maeve kind of zoned out at this point. Professor McG. gave the speech like it was well practiced, like she'd said the same thing for too many years to count. Maeve wondered why Dumbledore had her do this, she already knew she would be in Gryffindor. It was probably so she would blend in more. Suddenly, whispers broke out around the room. When Maeve looked around, Professor McG. had left the room. One of the first year midgets pointed at her.
"You don't look like a first year!" he exclaimed, sounding proud of himself to have deduced this.
A girl next to him elbowed him and whispered, loud enough for the room to hear, "Be nice! She might be really stupid and got held back! It's not her fault!"
"What ever gave you the idea I'm not a first year?" Maeve retorted, with just a hint of sarcasm, before looking at the girl with a grin, "And sadly, little midget, I'm not stupid, although you'd have some trouble convincing my family that…I'm a fifth year, actually."
"You talk funny," said another first year.
"What is this, an interrogation? My, my, I feel like I'm at Customs of something!" she grinned at their puzzled expressions (well, the ones from Muggle families knew what she was talking about, anyway), she did love kids, "I'm an American exchange student, for your information."
Before they could question her any farther, Professor McG. entered the room again. It was time for the sorting.
Maeve hopped from one foot to the other as she waited nervously with the others. The little midgets slowly trickled away.
This is a mistake! She thought What was I thinking?! They'll fry me…that dumb old hat'll roast me over a fire and tell the world what I'm about…shoulda been nicer to the stupid thing!
"Maeve Phoenix!" Professor McG. called out.
Maeve gave a little jump and looked around as some of the older students chuckled. She was the last one to be sorted. She made her way to the little stool and somehow managed to sit without her shaking knees knocking her or anything else over.
You again? Asked the hat, sounding amused, I thought I already sorted you.
No, that was my twin sister, she thought with venom Get on with it, would you? We already know I'm in Gryffindor!
Still have that temper, I see. I thought you LIKED our little chats. No? Alright. GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled out to the crowd.
Maeve made her way over the cheering table, grinning. She took the seat next to Harry that he had saved for her. All three of her friends from the train were grinning at her.