Chapter 5: Sorting
Jonathan looked around him in awe! He had never been any place like this before! The castle that housed Hogwarts was enormous! It was the biggest and most amazing building Jonathan had ever seen!
As the boy stood gazing up at castle, bathed in soft moonlight, with wide eyes, he felt Professor Grayson's hand on his shoulder. "What do you think?" he asked quietly.
"It's amazing," Jonathan said breathlessly. "I've never seen anything like it."
"This is only the outside," the older wizard said grinning. "Just wait until you see the inside! Oh that reminds me," he said suddenly jerking out of his reverie, "we need to get inside for the sorting ceremony. They'll be waiting for me," he said looking a bit wistful. "Come along," he called to the boy as he walked quickly to the giant wooden doors that formed the entrance to Hogwarts. Jonathan followed the Headmaster, dragging his trunk and book bag behind him.
As he approached the giant doors he suddenly felt small and very alone. When he was directly in front of them he stopped as if frozen. He was terrified! This marvelous place that had captivated him only moments before, now filled him with a terror! All his previous uncertainties returned to him. What if he didn't like it here? What if he wasn't a good wizard? Would he make any friends? What if…
Voices from the other side of the door drew him out of his terrified thoughts. He could hear children laughing and talking. He could hear voices shouting instructions and telling the children to "Leave your things here in the entrance hall. You may take them to your dormitories after the sorting ceremony."
Slowly with great effort the small boy pulled the great doors open and squeezed in. His jaw dropped in amazement at what he saw. The entrance hall was gigantic and lit by hundreds of candles giving it a very old, yet rather cozy feeling. More than the size of the hall amazed him. He was stunned and amazed to see how many students were actually in the hall waiting to be admitted to the ceremony. He didn't know that many students attended Hogwarts. He'd never seen so many other children in his life!
In fact he'd never really seen many children at all. Most of his time up until now had been spent at home with his uncle. After the scandal at Hogwarts, Gilderoy had become isolated. He was embarrassed by his own cowardice and felt guilty about what he had done. He also feared the ridicule of the wizarding community, so he had simply shut himself and his young nephew away in his home, away from the scorn and mistrust of others. He was a loving guardian to Jonathan, but his own fears and his lack of knowledge about children, doomed Jonathan to a lonely, isolated childhood. Yet now, in this great hallway were hundreds of children, boys and girls, all potential friends for the shy youngster. This thought filled his frightened brain with joy and hope. Maybe he would like Hogwarts after all. Maybe he would have many, many friends. Perhaps this would be a wonderful experience after all!
At last the crowd of students began to shift and move towards the door to the Great Hall. An old man stood in front of them leaning heavily on an ancient looking cane. The old man's white beard was shaggy and ragged. He wore black robes that were old and faded to a shade of black that was almost gray. He seemed as if he had been standing in that same spot since the castle was built, so ragged, thin, and ancient did he look. Slowly, ever so slowly, did the ancient one open his mouth to speak. "Children," he rasped. Then seeing that no one had heard him he cleared his throat and tried again in a voice that although raspy was louder than one would except and carried a power and energy that caused all the children to fall silent and fix their eyes on him as if transfixed. "Children," he continued in a softer, wheezy voice that sounded as if had been a very long time since he had used it, "welcome to Hogwarts. Please go in and stand in an orderly line to be sorted into your houses." Then he coughed and looked very tired as if this short speech had exhausted him. Jonathan felt an immense pity for the old man. He wanted to go to his side and help him to a seat, but he was trapped on all sides by children and couldn't move at all.
The old man, apparently recovered from the strain of his speech, smiled at all the new students and hobbled slowly to the side and with a great effort he pushed open the door to the Great Hall and all the first years gasped and the older children grinned. The Great Hall was enormous as were the four great tables that occupied it. These tables were surrounded by hundreds of chairs. One for each student in the school! He spotted Alfred sitting at the table that stood under a giant banner of a raven and Pete was sitting at the table under the banner bearing a large golden lion. At the front of the room was a fifth long table at which sat adults clad in black Hogwarts robes and wearing welcoming expressions upon their faces. His observations were interrupted by someone tapping his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Lucie.
"Jonathan… Jonathan look up," she whispered her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Jonathan looked up and immediately saw why she was staring so intently at the ceiling. Where the ceiling should have been the stars winked and twinkled in the night sky.
"It's an enchanted ceiling," Lucie whispered. "My brother told me about it, but I never thought it could be this beaut… err… real looking," she stammered.
Jonathan chuckled softly to himself at the little witch's attempt to hide her sentimentality. He thought it beautiful as well, but before he could say so a side door slammed shut and in rushed Professor Grayson, robes flapping behind him, face flushed and looking quite embarrassed at being late. Jonathan noticed the several of the professors, frowning and shaking their heads.
By then Professor Grayson had caught his breath and was standing calmly on a podium in front of all the students waiting for them to quiet down. "Welcome to Hogwarts one and all!" he said cheerfully. "Welcome back to all of you who have attended before and a very special welcome to all our first years. Now, I would just like to say a something before we begin sorting our first years. As you all know, Professor Gedwich, the previous headmaster," he added for the benefit of the first years, "passed away last year. It has been a terrible loss," he said softly as a small tear trickled down his cheek. "He was a wonderful person and a good friend to all. We shall all miss him dearly, I know I will." The young man cleared his throat and wiped a tear away from his dark eyes. "Nevertheless, he wouldn't want us to spend this year in mourning and sadness, so let us put this sadness behind us and enjoy the start of a brand new year," he said brightening. "If you would care to do the honors, Professor McGonagall," he said politely, "let the ceremony begin!"
A very old, but still pleasant looking woman with half-moon spectacles, stepped forward holding a tattered bundle of clothe under her arm. She pulled a stool out from a corner and placed right in front of the table at which the professors sat. She set the crumpled bit of cloth, which Jonathan could now see was a derelict old wizard's hat, on top of it. Then she turned to the children standing in a line and nodded as she unfurled a very long roll of parchment filled with the names of the new students. "Killean Aimes," she called.
A small girl stepped forward. McGonagall motioned for her to sit down on the stool and place the hat on her head. The girl's face turned red and she giggled nervously as the hat began to twitch and show signs of being alive! Jonathan was dumbfounded! He had heard of the ceremony before, but he hadn't really believed that a hat could come to life and choose the house you were in! The hat twitched and wiggled some more, then in a loud voice shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" A cheer erupted from one of the tables and several students rushed to lead the girl to that table.
"Davey Allens," McGonagall called out. A burly boy stepped out of the crowd and placed the hat on his head. After a few moments thought the hat cried, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Jennifer Bonbotten, Leslie Bronson, Lewis Canfield," the list went on and on until at last she came to a familiar name, "Jonathan Lockhart," she called out a business-like tone. Jonathan walked, stiff kneed, towards the stool. His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty though the fingers were cold. He nervously sat on the stool and with shaking hands placed the ratty old hat on his head. He jumped slightly as he felt it come to life and wiggle around to get itself situated comfortably. Then all was silent in the hall as they waited for the hat to speak.
Jonathan could hear mumbling vaguely to itself. "Good heart, but a bit cowardly, awfully shy but obviously friendly, hmm… I know… HUFFLEPUFF!" it shouted. Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief as the table under the gigantic banner with a badger on it erupted into cheers. Children waved and motioned for him to join them! He walked quickly over to the table and sat at the end, heaving a great sigh.
He was able to watch the rest of the ceremony contentedly, now that he knew where he belonged. He watched child after child, of every shape and color, put the hat on their heads and dash to the appointed table. He was a bit disappointed when he saw that Lucie was appointed to Gryffindor. He'd hoped she'd be in Hufflepuff with him, but he assumed he'd probably be seeing a lot of the Gryffindors anyway, so he didn't mind too badly.
At last the name was read and the final child was sorted. Professor Grayson stood up from his place in the center of the large table in front and cleared his throat. "Why don't we all show Professor McGonagall our appreciation?" The Great Hall erupted into cheering and whistling as the witch with the half-moon spectacles smiled benevolently and returned to her seat.
"Welcome to your new houses first years," Grayson said smiling broadly. "I hope you are all pleased with your designated house. Get to know the other young men and women in your house well! They will be your family for the next ten months so be sure to get on their good sides," he said winking. A few students chuckled and a few teachers just rolled their eyes. "Now as the sorting is over," Grayson continued, "and as I have no further announcements, let us eat."
Applause resounded throughout the hall as the empty tables were miraculously overflowing with food of every kind! Jonathan smiled broadly. If the rest of the year was to be anything like this, he was really going to like it here after all!
