Chapter 12 The Sorting Ceremony
Here is Chapter 12. Get ready for a surprise everybody!! Enjoy!
The great big doors swung open slowly, as the old woman walked towards them, the first years scuttled closely behind her trying not to act afraid. The Great Hall was bright when Jeanne entered; the walls were a bright tan color with windows as big as Jeanne's house. The ceiling was a midnight sky Jeanne remembered in a book that the ceiling was enchanted to look like the dark mysterious sky, there was tables almost as long as her little street, kids from second years up were seated chatting quietly amongst themselves point to some of the first years. Candles were hanging in the air on an invisible thread swaying here and there, then there was the main table that rested in the back of the Great Hall, which, according the Hermione were the teachers sat during meal times, an old man sat in the biggest chair in the center of the table looking confidently at the small first years.
The old woman stopped the first years, telling them to wait in front of the small step that lead onto this 4 inch high platform which upon it was a three legged stool with an old raggedy hat upon it. "Now, before we begin Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." The woman say clasping her hands together then looking back to the old man, who had stood up as though he was twenty years old, and looked down upon the first years with a great smile. "I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce." Professor Dumbledore started with a strong, loud, booming voice, "The first years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to al students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Flich, has asked me to remind to you that the third floor corridor is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." He ending nodding towards the great massive doors they came through to introduce the caretaker, who looked more like a bum than anything. Harry and Ron, as Jeanne saw over the heads of the students since she was the tallest first year, turn to each other giving a couple of scared looks, Professor Dumbledore sat gently back down. The old woman opened the scroll and cleared her throat and spoke clearly, "When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the sorting hat on your head and you'll be sorted into your houses. Hermione Granger?!" she boomed looking amongst the faces. Hermione looks back at Jeanne and smiles weakly, Jeanne rolled her eyes and mouthed the words 'Go On' to her and gave her a thumbs up, Hermione turned and started walking up, the woman picked up the hat, and Hermione sat on the stool.
Hermione stiffened when she had the hat place on her head, but only a couple seconds later you saw the hat moving the it's magical voice rang in the air, "Gryffindor!" the whole Gryffindor table started cheering and clapping there hands, Hermione hopped off the stool and trooted over to the table where she was welcomed with hands. The Great Hall got quiet fast though as the woman called out the next name, "Draco Malfoy!?" the platinum blonde boy walked up with his head held high up to the stool, once he sat down, the old woman didn't put the hat fully on his head when you heard, "Slytherin!" this time the Slytherin table started to cheer as Draco fast walked over to his house table. Jeanne then looked at Harry and Ron who were whispering between themselves when the next name was called, "Susan Bones?!" a brownish, redish haired girl stumbled up onto the platform and onto the stool, Jeanne could see that Susan was turning red beneath the hat as the hat called out, "Hufflepuff!" Jeanne looks at all of the teachers at the main table and stared with an awed expression, there were short, tall (none as tall as Hagrid of course!) fat, and skinny teachers. Jeanne smiled though when she settled on one particular teacher, who had spiky short gray hair and yellow cat-like eyes, "Ronald Weasley?!" she heard another named called, Jeanne watched as Ron walk slowly up to the stool swaying as he walked as if he was going to be sick, he finally made it to the stool and was just a split second later placed in, "Gryffindor!" house, Ron ran to the table where he was greeted by twins and a 'prefect' who were cheering the most.
"Harry Potter?!" it was Harry's turn next, Jeanne looked around and say many people turning their heads to whisper to their friends, Harry looked back as he walked up, at Jeanne who just gave him a comforting smile. Harry smiled back and sat down, it took a total of a minute to figure out where he should go but finally the answer everybody was waiting for was, "Gryffindor!" The cheers were extra loud for him as he joined Ron and Hermione at his house table. Jeanne bit her thumbnail as she waited to be called, the group got smaller and smaller by the minute, after five minutes passes there was only two people left; a boy who was too skinny and her.
"Daniel Shinider?!" the woman called looking directly at the boy mentioning for him to come up. Daniel walked up and looked at the old woman for a moment the looked at the stool, Daniel was too short also, he needed some help from the woman to get upon the stool. The woman was very fragile with him, Jeanne guessed that she thought the boy would be a breakable thing too, seconds passes before the boy took a deep breath, "Ravenclaw!" the voice echoed bouncing off the walls of the Great Hall, Daniel exhaled and walked over to the Ravenclaw table plopping down in the spot that was open for him. "Finally, Jeanne Hawkins please step up dear." The woman smiled closing the scroll and picking up the old hat, Jeanne walked up there though each step she took felt like and hour, finally she got up there and just knelt down for the stool was far to short for her. Jeanne felt the cool hat touch her scalp then her ears, Jeanne jumped slightly when she heard a small voice in her ear, "Difficult, difficult like Mr. Potter was. You have an excellent mind and great amounts of courage but to prove yourself is your biggest thirst. I wonder where to put you? Hmmmmm........... I know you better be...."
"Slytherin!"
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