A/N: I'm going to apologise now for using J.K's 'McGonagall Speech' and J.K's 'sorting song'. I'm too lazy and un-creative to make one up. Sorry!
CHAPTER: 4 -Sorting
There were many 'ooos' and 'ahhs' as the castle came into view. As the first years got out of the boats the giant-man lead them up a grand staircase and left them with a very stern looking teacher.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank-you, Hagrid."
She lead them along a corridor and into a small room next to the great hall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." said Professor McGonagall. "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. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common-room.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
The Sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on Emirial's hair, which was very messy and tangled due to her near fall out of the boat.
"I shall return when I am ready for you." said Professor McGonagall, "Please wait quietly." and with that she left the chamber.
A loud babble broke out amongst the students who were talking excitedly or nervously with their new made friends. Allysa, Lily and Jo were running their fingers through Emirial's long black hair in an attempt to make it straight.
"I wonder what we are going to do?" Jo asked Lucy, who shrugged in reply. She was one among few who weren't afraid of the sorting ahead.
"Come now, we are ready for you." said a stern voice somewhere to the left of Lily. Professor McGonagall had returned, "Form one line and follow me."
Lily got into the line behind Miranda and the first years were lead into the Great Hall. Many 'wows' and 'cools' could be heard behind Lily as she too looked up at the ceiling. They stopped at the front of the hall and many of the older students stared at the hat, so Lily stared at it too.
"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 back,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing in your head
The sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You may belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindor apart;
You may 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 folk use any means
To archive 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!"
The hall burst into applause as the hat finished it's song.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit in the stool to be sorted." explained Professor McGonagall.
"Andrews, Dominic." A tall boy with light brown hair ran forwards.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Black, Sirius." A tall, handsome boy with black hair and dark eyes came forward.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Bones, Patricia."
"RAVENCLAW!"
Daly, Andrew became the first Hufflepuff...
....and too soon it was Lily's turn.
"Evans, Lillian." Lily stumbled forwards and put the hat on her head.
'Hmm' said a little voice in her head, 'hmm, a thirst to prove yourself, a quality of Slytherin, in fact, Slytherin would do you good, don't you agree?'
"No!" Lily whispered hoarsely. She couldn't be put in Slytherin after all she'd heard about that house.
'No? You sure? Well I guess we'll have to put you somewhere else. Let's see, a great mind full of knowledge, maybe Ravenclaw, aha, interesting ... very interesting ... bravery hidden well, but not forgotten. You still sure about Slytherin? You could be great -'
"No! Please! Anything but Slytherin!" Lily whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
'I guess there's only one other option, GRYFFINDOR!' The hat screamed the last word to the rest of the hall and Lily went and sat down opposite Sirius Black, wiping her eyes on the back of her sleeve. Lily looked up at the other people being sorted, hoping, wishing for a friend to join her in Gryffindor.
"Justy, Laura."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Katyns, Lucinda."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Lang, Emirial." She strolled forward elegantly, looking like she was gliding over to the stool.
And then she tripped, nearly falling flat on her face, but she managed to get to her feet still smiling.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Lily uncrossed her finger and sighed, two down. Two perfectly good could-be friends, down.
She looked up again when she heard the hat scream out Gryffindor and was joined by a short girl with large hazel eyes, short, wavy, mousey brown hair and freckles scattered across her skin.
"Amber Lorearmi." She said as she sat down next to Lily, smiling warmly
"Lily Evans." said Lily, returning the smile. They both nodded and continued to watch the sorting.
"Lupin, Remus." Lily looked up to see a very timid boy come forwards, a look of pure terror on his face. His dark blonde hair was falling, limp around his face and his large hazel eyes were wide, with bags underneath. Overall he looked very sickly indeed. He stumbled forward to the stool, slowly sitting down, griping the seat tightly.
"GRYFFINDOR!" A huge look of relief swept across his face as he jogged forward to the Gryffindor table, sliding into the seat next to Sirius Black.
"Mance, Isabelle." The tall blonde walked forward amongst cat-calls and wolf whistles, her long blonde hair swishing behind her. She let a small smile escape her lips before the hat was placed on her head, covering most of her face, including her sparkling blue eyes. In Lily's opinion she looked like a Barbie doll.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Matthews, Allysa."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"McMorri, Ella."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Paltrow, Stephanie."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Pettigrew, Peter." He was fairly short, with blonde hair plastered to his head and watery blue eyes that looked ready to spill with tears. He reminded Lily strongly of a pig.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Potter, James." Lily looked up anxiously when she heard his name. He strolled forward, trying not to grin, his chocolate-brown eyes glowing with mischief.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Pragasty, Sky." The very pretty Asian scuttled forward nervously, fidgeting with her hands. Her black hair sat neatly on her shoulders, her small black eyes darting around.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Walker, Joanna."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Walker, Miranda."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
And finally. "Zabiv, Axel."
"SLYTHERIN!"
Processor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away. Lily stared down at her plate, boy was she hungry.
The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore got up and was beaming at his students.
"Welcome!" he said. "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!" and he sat back down. Everyone cheered loudly and then a babble of talk broke out.
Lily looked down at the dishes of food in front of her."Wow!" she said softly as she stared, wide-eyed at all the food and then helped herself to a few pieces of chicken.
"Name's Isabelle Mance, youse can call me Issy though." The girl smiled at the other five girls, including Lily, with her perfectly white, straight teeth.
"Amber Lorearmi." said the girl that Lily had met before.
"Jo Walker." said one of the twins enthusiastically. She and her twin had deep blue eyes, pale skin and shiny black hair that came to their waist. "And this clone, here, is my twin sister, Miranda." she started eating again as the other girl introduced herself.
"Sky Pragasty." The girl mumbled as she tucked her black hair behind her ear.
"Lily Evans." Lily said as she shovelled some salad into her mouth.
Little did they know that this was the start of a wonderful friendship.
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