AN: I like this chapter. Someone who read it was mad at me for the ending but tough noogies! (love ya) Just stick with me and it will all come together.

Disclaimer: still not mine unfortunately except Faith and the Plot (ask for permission to use)

Chapter Seven: An Unlikely Sorting

The Malfoy family followed the head master into the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The hall was lit with many candles. The large staff table had been replaced with a much smaller one to seat only the staff that was present. Another small table was set up before the steps to the staff table for the Malfoys. There was a stool on the steps that would be occupied by the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.

When Faith got her first good look at the hall she was speechless and, well, stop and marvel at the concept. Dumbledore introduced her to the heads of the houses and her family said hello as well. Narcissa made small talk with one of the professors while another went to retrieve the sorting hat. Draco had told Faith what would happen during the ceremony.

Professor Minerva McGonagall entered the Great Hall carrying the shabby looking hat. She motioned for Faith to come forward and placed the hat onto the stool. The other professors and the Malfoys all took their seats. Faith started to move to the stool. Before she reached it the hat began to speak. It took her off guard; Draco had forgotten to mention that little bit of information. She listened to the hat as it recited a poem.

"Long ago and far away

That's when and where I was made

Now I sit here, and if I may

I would like to apply my trade

Just place me on your head my dear

And don't you worry..."

"Bugger this!"

Everyone was surprised by Draco Malfoy's outburst. Dumbledore looked at him questioningly, McGonagall's eyes were wide, Faith tried not to laugh, and Narcissa tried to hush him.

"Something wrong Mr. Malfoy?" Professor Snape asked

"I'd say so." Draco replied. "This hat is going to rattle on forever and I find it quite irritating."

"Humph" to Draco's, and everyone else's shock, the noise was made by the hat. "I was almost at the end of my poem young man and it is a grand school tradition for this to take place and I would appreciate it if you would let me finish."

Faith gave Draco a warning look and Narcissa and Lucius both glared at him. "By all means" Draco said as he waved his hand indicating to get on with it.

The Sorting Hat cleared its throat before starting again. "Long ago and far away, that's when and where I was..."

"Sweet suffering Zeus!" Draco wailed. "We already heard this part."

The Sorting Hat wrinkled the flaps of fabrics that looked like eyebrows in frustration. "Well, you threw off my rhythm."

Lucius looked like he wanted to scold his son but couldn't find the right words to punish him for fighting with a hat. Dumbledore, on the other hand, seemed amused by the situation. "Draco," the Head Master said, "perhaps it would be best to let the hat finish without anymore interruptions." Draco nodded in compliance.

"I would have been finished by now if I hadn't been so rudely stopped, twice." The hat sneered.

"How could I have done such a horrible thing?" Draco said sarcastically. "I'm always so riveted by your poems and I for one would just like to say: Get on with it already!"

"Draco!" Narcissa hissed. "Stop it."

"I just got attitude from a bloody hat! What am I supposed to do, sit here and take it?"

"YES!" answered all three Malfoys in unison.

"If there's nothing further" McGonagall said "let's get on with this."

"Thank you Minerva." The Sorting Hat said sweetly. "Long ago and far away..." There was a loud thud as Draco threw his head down on the table.

"Just put the damn hat on her head already!" Someone cried out.

Albus Dumbledore slowly turned his head with a look of complete amusement on his face as he looked at his Potion's Master.

"Forgive me Head Master. Don't know what got into me" Snape said quietly as he sat back down.

"Don't worry about it Severus. I must say that I agree with you. Minerva, proceed" Dumbledore instructed.

Minerva picked up the hat and motioned for Faith to sit down. As she placed the hat on Faith's, it made one last remark before starting the sorting. "If you don't' want this done right, fine by me, but I don't' know why you brought me all the way down here if you didn't intend for me to follow tradition and I would like a warning next time this happens so I can decline from participating."

"Oh, button up and sort the girl already." Minerva hissed.

Faith didn't moved a muscle as the hat made little sounds of 'hmmm' and 'ahhhh' and 'isn't that interesting, didn't' expect that'. The hat searched for another moment before filling the Great Hall with a roar of "GRYFFINDOR!"

What happened next was a blur of shock and confusion. Lucius yelled in protest, Narcissa gasped, Draco slid off his chair, McGonagall stumbled backwards, Snape knocked over a pitcher of water, the other professors' jaws dropped, Dumbledore simply said "well then" and Faith just sat there.

"RESORT!" Lucius yelled as Draco rose off the floor.

"I'm sorry Lucius, there's no such thing as a resort." Dumbledore informed him.

Lucius stepped around the table. "I don't care, we'll have a resort right now, and no daughter of mine belongs in Gryffindor!"

"I'm inclined to agree sir." Snape said.

"Sorry, it can't be done. The Sorting Hat has spoken and we are bound to that decision."

Faith stood up and placed the hat on the stool. "Oh no you don't!" Lucius shouted. "Put that hat back on, we're not finished yet!"

"Father I don't think that..."

"Sabotage!" Draco screamed.

"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asked.

"That's what this is, sabotage. The hat's mad it didn't' get to say it's poem so this is some sort of sick joke. Make him do it right!"

"I'm afraid you don't understand Draco." McGonagall tried to explain. "The hat, albeit feisty, isn't capable of rigging a sorting to its liking, what it says is truth so your sister..."

"Wont be caught dead in Gryffindor!" Draco yelled.

Faith spoke next. "Look, Drake, maybe we just have to face it."

"No, that's unacceptable" Lucius said loudly. He then turned to his wife who still looked shocked. "Don't you have anything to say about this?" he roared.

Narcissa looked at him and without as much as a change of expression rose and answered. "I'll have her bags sent to Gryffindor Tower." Narcissa turned slowly and left the Great Hall.

"Minerva. Would you be so kind as to place the Sorting Hat back in my office?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not until you fix this Dumbledore." Lucius said menacingly.

"There's nothing to fix Lucius. Faith is in Gryffindor. Now, the children are welcome to stay here until term starts if..."

Lucius slammed his staff on the table. Everyone fell silent. "This isn't over." He said softly. Lucius stalked out of the Great Hall.

The staff began to clear out, not quite sure what to make of the night. Faith walked over to Draco. She looked into his eyes. They were filled with disbelief and distress. She tried to smile at him. He shook his head and said 'no'.

"Come one Drake. Let's go find mum and dad." Faith took her brother by the arm, he was in total shock.

As they entered the foyer they saw Lucius pacing up and down the long hallway as Narcissa stood out of his way.

"What now?" Draco asked.

"Shut your mouth!" Lucius shouted. Draco took a step back. Faith reached out for her brother's hand but he pulled away from her.

"We're leaving." Lucius ordered. Draco walked passed his father towards the door. Faith started to follow him but Lucius stopped her. "Not you Faith."

"What?" she hissed.

"You're staying here." Lucius started for the door. Faith looked to her mother in desperation.

"Lucius!" Narcissa called. He turned to face his wife. "What are you doing?"

"I'm taking my family home. Come along Narcissa." He held out his hand for her.

"Don't do this." Narcissa begged. "This isn't right!"

"I know Narcissa. But I didn't put her in Gryffindor, now come along."

Narcissa stood still. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the man she thought she had loved. "I can't."

"Excuse me?" Lucius asked in horror.

Narcissa looked at her daughter. "If Faith isn't' allowed at the manor then I wont be there either."

Draco was standing at the door and Faith was behind her mother. "I'm sorry to hear that." Lucius said dryly. He turned and walked to the door.

"DAD!" Faith cried out,

"Let him go." Narcissa instructed.

Draco looked at his mother and sister. "Draco, we're leaving." Lucius said as he stepped through the door. Draco stood for another moment before following his father.

Narcissa clasped her hands to her heart before letting out a sob.

Faith and Narcissa both looked at the door as it slammed shut. They remained silent and hear the horses whiney as the carriage started to move.

"What the hell just happened?" Faith asked slowly as she approached her mother.

"I'm not entirely sure" was all Narcissa said on the matter. After a moment in which she collected her thoughts Narcissa spoke again "Let's go get you settled."

AN: sorry for any spelling errors but technology sucks sometimes, and this is one of those times.