A FIT OF GIGGLES AND SOME DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS

The heavy doors of the Great Hall swung open and the first years were ushered through into the hall, where they looked around them in awe. The ceiling was a dark, stormy grey, the same colour as the sky outside, but the light from the hundreds of candles that decorated the hall made it look beautiful. Faces stared at the students as they passed, and one or two older pupils waved, including Luke, who called out to them, grinning, but this was stopped immediately with a steely glare from Professor McGonagall.

When the line reached the front of the hall, the students gathered around an old three-legged stool, on which was placed a rather moth-eaten hat with a rip at the brim. It certainly looked the worse for wear and Andrea found herself wondering why an old hat was sitting in the middle of the grand hall. The answer was revealed to her and to the others, who had been clearly thinking the same thing, when the rip in the hat opened and it began to speak.

It cleared its throat and began.

"Good evening all new students

Please listen carefully

For I'm a sorting hat, I sort you

Into houses, that is me.

I hear every single thought you think

When you sit and put me on,

I've seen each student who's attended

And heard every Hogwarts song.

I put you in the right house,

The one that suits you best,

I judge on you alone,

And forget about the rest.

You may be placed in Gryffindor,

Courageous folk are these

They are daring, also brave folk

And will fight, be it dragons or bees.

You may be put in Ravenclaw,

Where they are wise of mind.

Yes, Ravenclaws are clever, and

In here you may find your kind.

Hufflepuff may be where you're put

If you are loyal and just

Those Hufflepuffs are hard working

And'll carry on when they know they must.

Last we come to Slytherin,

But of course they're not the least!

Slytherins are sly and cunning

And'll continue 'till the world has ceased.

So let's get down to business,

Try me on and you will see

That I always tell your proper place

In the Hogwarts community."

There was tumultuous applause when the Sorting Hat had finished, and Andrea finally understood what the hat actually did, and why it was there.

Eventually, when the pupils had quietened down and the clapping had ceased, Professor McGonagall stepped forwards with a long roll of parchment, which she began to unwind.

Stepping up onto the platform at the front of the hall, where the teachers were seated, she started to read out the names of the students.

"Abbot, Rebecca," Professor McGonagall called out, and a small girl with long, chestnut coloured hair stepped up shakily to the platform.

"That's Hannah Abbot's daughter, I know her," Beth whispered to Andrea. "Her father left them so she kept her mother's name."

The two of them lifted their heads in time to hear the hat shout, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Rebecca stumbled off the platform and headed towards the Hufflepuff table.

"Applebrook, Mary," was next, and she was sorted into Hufflepuff as well, followed by "Amleigh, Sarah," who ended up in Slytherin.

"Atton, Henry," was the last of the 'A's and the first of the Ravenclaws, followed by two more Hufflepuffs.

Beth raised her eyebrows at the number of Hufflepuffs and wiggled them at Andrea, who turned red with the effort of trying not to laugh.

Another Slytherin ("Clarendon, Jacqueline") was sorted before "Coman, Vicky" became the first Gryffindor.

Natalie Corner, the unpleasant girl who Andrea, Beth and Patrick had met while walking to the boats, was next. Hearing her name called, she walked confidently up to the stool and sat serenely down with a smug smirk on her face. The hat was placed on her head, and, just as Andrea had turned to Beth to tell her which house she thought she'd be in, the hat shouted,

"SLYTHERIN!" Natalie smiled and made her way towards the mass of green at the Slytherin table.

Andrea felt her mind wandering as more names were read out.

There were a few more Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin before the next Gryffindor was sorted. "Finch-Fletchley, Roberta," was a very innocent looking girl with long, reddish-brown plaits and scared eyes set in a small, pale face.

"Her father was at Hogwarts before," Andrea whispered to Patrick.

"I know," came the reply, "He thought your dad was setting a snake on him."

Andrea laughed quietly. "Well, yes…but he wasn't. Wonder who her mother is?"

Patrick shrugged and turned back to face the front. They had missed a few names while they were talking, but it appeared that there were even more Hufflepuffs.

"Surprising number of Hufflepuffs," Beth whispered.

"Yes, you've already made that point with the eyebrow thing," Andrea answered, trying not to laugh.

Beth took one look at Andrea's expression and snorted loudly, causing quite a few heads to turn.

"Shhh!" Andrea whispered as Beth doubled over with laughter.

By this time, a few of the teachers had noticed as well, including Professor McGonagall.

"Elizabeth Weasley," came a sharp voice, and Beth looked up, still giggling, into a very angry face. "Pull yourself together or leave the hall. Which is it to be?"

Beth appeared to be biting her cheeks to try and stop herself laughing, but by this time half of the students in the hall were smiling.

"I… I'll stop…well, I'll try, anyway…" she answered.

Andrea caught sight of Luke howling with laughter over at the Gryffindor table along with his friends, and she hurriedly repressed a giggle.

Beth finally managed to take a deep breath and keep a straight face, but one glance at Andrea trying not to laugh set her off again, and she was told to leave the hall until it was her turn to be sorted.

Beth left the hall, red in the face but still giggling uncontrollably, and McGonagall turned to the rest of the pupils, her face like stone.

"The next person I see laughing will go to bed without any supper," she stated plainly, and waited for the message to sink in, which took a few seconds but had the desired effect. The students once again fell quiet and the Professor returned to her place by the Sorting Hat, which was quietly chuckling to itself.

"Jacobs, Kathryn," became a Gryffindor, followed by "Langdon, Nikolaus." Both of the names were read out with the same severity, and any traces of smiles left on the students' faces were wiped off.

Andrea sighed and grinned at Patrick, who rolled his eyes and nodded at McGonagall to signal that Andrea should listen.

"Longbottom, Mirabel," was the next name, and Mabs walked nervously up to the stool and sat down.

"I had no idea she was a Longbottom!" Andrea whispered, and an answering nod from Patrick confirmed that he had not known either.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat had finally come to a decision, and Mabs hurried to join the Hufflepuff table, which was already heaving with students.

"Macabley, Sandra." McGonagall's voice rang through the hall, and a blonde girl scuttled up to the stool. She was sorted into Ravenclaw, but she did not seem at all happy about it. She looked longingly over at the Gryffindor table as she reached her own, but sat down where she was with a sigh.

Professor McGonagall paused at the next name before reading it out.

"Malfoy, Alexander," she said sourly. Nobody moved. Professor McGonagall repeated the name in a louder voice, frowning. "Malfoy, Alexander."

There was no movement in the crowd of first years.

"Malfoy!" read out McGonagall yet again, this time almost shouting, and there was a slight movement next to Natalie Corner and muffled whispers, before a sigh was heard and the tall, dark haired boy who Andrea and Luke had shared a carriage with was pushed forwards to the stool.

"Him!?" Andrea muttered scornfully.

"What do you mean, 'Him'?" came a whisper from beside her.

Andrea turned to Patrick, who had spoken. "I'll explain later."

Alexander Malfoy was now seated, and the hat was being placed on his head. Andrea could see Malfoy's lips moving, and the hat's mouth asking the boy questions in a hushed voice.

Finally, the hat opened its mouth and shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

There was no answering applause, only a stunned silence. Malfoy either did not seem to notice this or did not care, and he slid off the stool and walked slowly towards the Ravenclaw table.

Dumbledore started clapping loudly, followed by McGonagall, and the rest of the school gradually joined in.

McGonagall stepped forward again with raised eyebrows, and read out the next name on the list. This student became another Gryffindor, and there was rather more applause for her than for Malfoy.

A tall boy with dark hair and pale skin was called up next. He had intense green eyes; the same colour as Andrea's father's eyes, but instead of mischief there was an icy hostility in the eyes of the boy. Andrea shuddered and looked away quickly as he sat on the stool, back straight and head held high.

'His name suits him,' Andrea thought to herself. Indeed it did, for he was the very picture of death.

"Karl Mortis," Patrick whispered thoughtfully. "Strange name, never heard it before, though he looks…somewhat familiar."

Andrea nodded and, watching the boy, she knew exactly which house he'd be in.

"Bet he's in Slytherin," Patrick muttered, voicing her opinion.

Andrea looked up at the boy, who was still sitting on the stool, whispering furiously under his breath. His voice was getting louder and louder, and Andrea, who was in the second row, could now hear him clearly.

"I won't! You can't make me! What is wrong with you, you stupid hat! No! I won't! I-" This last aggressive comment was cut short as the hat shouted in an incredibly loud voice, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The same silence fell as it had for Malfoy. This boy, this spiteful, evil-looking boy had been sorted into the most noble House in the school.

Karl Mortis rose from the stool, kicked it over and marched straight over to the Slytherin table, where he was welcomed gladly.

Dumbledore, the Headmaster, rose from his seat, looking furious.

"Mr Mortis," he said, calmly but severely, "You will join the Gryffindor table for your meal."

The boy put his chin in the air and completely ignored Professor Dumbledore.

"Mr Mortis, I know you heard me. You will join the Gryffindor table for your meal."

The boy turned suddenly and looked directly at Dumbledore.

"I won't."

There was a gasp from everyone except for the Slytherin students who applauded as the first year spoke these words defiantly.

"You will join the Gryffindor table for your meal," Dumbledore repeated slowly. "Or you will go without."

The boy scowled. "Fine. I'll go without."

Professor McGonagall's face was like thunder. With a shaking finger, she pointed to the door. "Out," she shouted. "Out! Wait for me outside! You will stand out there for the rest of the mealtime. And tell Miss Weasley she can return."

After the boy's display of bad behaviour, Beth's fit of giggles seemed utterly trivial.

Karl Mortis rose from his seat with dignity, walked the full length of the hall to the large wooden doors, which sprung open on being approached, and strode out of the hall. There was a yell outside, and presently Beth hopped back into the hall, clutching her leg in pain. The doors slammed shut behind her as she approached Professor McGonagall.

"I'm very sorry, Professor, for disgracing myself and others in the way I did. I will never do it again," Beth recited immediately, "…and I promise-"

"No matter, Weasley," McGonagall replied briskly. "Why are you hopping?"

"There was a boy- he just appeared, kicked me, told me to go inside and walked off."

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, eyebrows raised. "Thank you, Miss Weasley. Return to stand in your position please."

Beth gratefully did so with a curious look at Andrea, who was looking extremely shocked and pale, as she resumed her position.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Obley, Nicola," she read in a trembling voice.

The named student walked quickly up to the stool and sat down.

"Let's hope we can do this without any disruption," McGonagall said, placing the hat on the girl's head.

The hat did not take much time considering which house the girl was to belong to, and, before long, opened its mouth and said, rather shakily, "Slytherin."

"Obley, Persephone," was called next. A girl with the same dark hair and grey eyes as the first year before her stepped up to the stool and the hat was placed on her head.

"Ravenclaw," the Sorting Hat called, slightly more confidently, and the girl jumped off the chair and almost skipped down the hall to the Ravenclaw table.

The next pupil was, again, a Slytherin, with small eyes and a sneering expression.

Professor McGonagall sighed as she watched him join the applauding Slytherins, and looked at the next name on the list. She smiled slightly and announced the name.

"Potter, Andrea."

Andrea tried to ignore the whispers and nods as she passed other first years, and the mutters behind her from the long House Tables. Her heart was pounding and she could feel herself shaking. Her vision was slightly blurred and her hands felt clammy.

Taking a deep breath, Andrea passed Professor McGonagall and sat down. The Professor smiled and placed the Sorting Hat on Andrea's head.

"Hello there!"

Andrea looked around to see who had spoken, before realising that the hat was talking to her.

"Potter. Potter. James Potter, Lily Evans, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley. All Gryffindors. But what about you? I take it you would rather not be put into Slytherin."

"No thank you," Andrea whispered.

"No, you could go far like your father but you're certainly not a Slytherin. Congratulate him for me on his defeat of 'You Know Who', won't you?"

"I will, he'll be pleased."

"Like all of us. Well now, the sorting. Not a Slytherin, definitely not a Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw would suit you, I should think. Or… no, Ravenclaw isn't right. That only leaves one House."

Andrea grinned, and she could see Beth give her a thumbs up.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat's voice was back to normal now.

As Professor McGonagall stepped forward to retrieve the hat, it whispered,

"Remember what I said, congratulate your father for me. I'm very grateful."

"And-" Andrea started, pleading with Professor McGonagall with her eyes not to take the hat off yet.

Professor McGonagall sighed, frowned, and then turned around to address the rest of the hall.

"It appears that the Sorting Hat wishes to talk to Andrea, just for a moment longer. Please be patient."

"And," Andrea continued, "Why did you put that boy in Gryffindor?"

"That is between him and myself. Yes, and do congratulate your mother as well. I've heard a lot about her and her Quidditch successes."

"I will," Andrea answered.

The hat sighed and Andrea nodded to Professor McGonagall, who stepped forwards again.

"You can do just as well as your father. Remember that, Andrea. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise," the Sorting Hat continued.

Andrea nodded solemnly and let Professor McGonagall take the hat from her.

The whole hall seemed to be looking at her when Andrea finally looked up. She blushed, embarrassed, and walked hurriedly down the aisle to the Gryffindor table, which greeted her with cheers.

Spotting Luke waving, Andrea joined him, and Ginger moved to sit on her other side. Both of them patted her on the back and she grinned and turned to watch the rest of the sorting.

Next came a Hufflepuff, Slytherin and another Gryffindor before Beth's name was read out, and she stumbled over to the stool and sat down. She did not look very nervous, only rather ashamed at her outburst earlier, and she did not look at any of the other students, instead staring at her clasped hands.

The Sorting Hat opened its mouth immediately, and shouted,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Beth grinned, jumped off the stool and ran towards the Gryffindor table.

Patrick was next, and, when the hat announced him a true Gryffindor, he walked to the Gryffindor Table in a far more dignified way than Beth had, sliding in next to Beth opposite Andrea.

Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and the scroll, hat and stool disappeared. Sighing, she took her place next to Dumbledore at the head table, breathing rather more heavily than she had before the affair with Karl Mortis.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands for silence, and he was obeyed immediately. All talking ceased and all heads turned expectantly towards the Headmaster.

"Good evening, students. Welcome back to those of you who have already spent time with us, and welcome to the new students who have just joined us. I expect you are all rather hungry?" He paused as the students murmured their agreement.

"Well, I have some bad news for you. The kitchens had a slight problem earlier, so for dinner there are only a few bits of old meat-sorry, did I say old, I meant cold…"

Most of the students were looking worried now. Beth's mouth was actually hanging open and some of the students were shaking their heads in disapproval of the school service. Luke, however, was laughing with his friends.

"So. We've scraped the mould off the cold meat for you, and you can have half a piece each for dinner. I'm so sorry. The service is usually better than this, I know."

Gasps went up from the pupils, but Andrea suddenly noticed that Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling, and she began laughing along with Luke.

"Unless…" Dumbledore began, "Unless I could try…waving my wand about a bit, see what I can make."

He proceeded to 'wave his wand around a bit', but nothing happened.

"Oh dear. Looks like it's the old meat option, I'm afraid."

Dumbledore gave his wand one last (what looked very feeble) wave, and then smiled as plates appeared on the staff table and began to fill themselves.

"Right. That's us dealt with. Now for your meals."

Dumbledore waved his wand again, and shining silver dishes appeared on all of the House Tables. The pupils watched in anticipation, but no food appeared.

"Well. Tuck in!" Dumbledore said, chuckling.

He surveyed the hall for a moment, taking in the horrified faces.

"Oh, wait, I've forgotten something. Here we are!" Dumbledore waved his wand again, and the plates were magically filled with all sorts of wonderful food.

"I didn't know I could do that!" Dumbledore exclaimed, shaking his head in mock disbelief, before laughing openly and saying, "You should have seen your faces! Now, if you'll excuse my little joke, I suppose you'd better start!"

The pupils began to laugh and talk again before proceeding to pile their plates with food and starting to eat.