Title: Jade Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: Queen Serenity
Fandom: Harry Potter
Chapter: Six – The Sorting Ceremony
The door swung open not two moments after Hagrid knocked. A tall woman with black hair stood there; she was wearing emerald-green robes which Jade thought quite beautiful when she laid eyes on them. The woman's face was quite stern; she was obviously not someone that Jade would want to cross.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
Professor McGonagall's gaze swept over the students, her gaze lingering for just a moment on Jade. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." With this, she pulled the door wide open.
The entrance hall, Jade thought, was huge; she practically felt like a mouse in it. The Dursley's whole house could have fit in it with room to spare. The light in the room was provided by the many flaming torches on the walls, and the ceiling was so high up that Jade couldn't make out any detail of it. Facing them was a magnificent marble staircase which let to the upper floors. As Jade herself looked around, she could feel Solluna shift slightly in her backpack as the werecat peeked out through the bag's opening to see.
This place… is big, isn't it, Jade?
Jade nodded and muttered, "Tell me about it."
The crowd of students all followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Jade could hear tons of voices through a doorway to the right, but that's not where the professor took them; instead, she led them into a small, empty chamber off the hall. Once in, they all stood closer to each other than they normally would have, obviously rather nervous.
Professor McGonagall than proceeded to welcome them all to Hogwarts, and to explain to them that before joining the other students they must be sorted into their respective houses. She went on to explain more about the houses, listing them off and such.
Before leaving the room, she told them that the Sorting Ceremony would start in a few minutes, and suggested to them that they smarten up.
Once Professor McGonagall left the room, Jade turned to look at Hermione, who looked rather nervous.
"I do wonder how they'll sort us," the bushy-haired girl said, biting her lip slightly. "Maybe they'll test us on spells. I've learned a few already, and if that's the case, then I do hope that I know the right ones."
Jade smiled slightly, despite her own anxiety. "It's nothing like that. I read in Hogwarts, a History that there's this old hat called the Sorting Hat. At the ceremony, you wear it and it looks into your mind to decide which house you'd be best suited for."
Hermione brightened a bit. "Really?"
Jade nodded. "Uh huh. Still, I wonder if it's ever made a mistake and misplaced someone…"
Her train of thought was interrupted at what happened next. Jade jumped about a foot in the air because of it; about twenty pearly-white but transparent ghosts had streamed through the back wall. They appeared to be arguing… arguing about someone named Peeves.
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?" The one who had been speaking, a ghost wearing a ruff and tights, had suddenly noticed the first years.
Nobody answered them.
"New students!" said another ghost, the Fat Friar. He smiled around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" the jovial ghost said. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," a sharp voice cut through the astonishment the first years felt, seeing ghosts. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts left the room, floating through the wall opposite of that through which they came.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall instructed them, "and follow me."
Jade couldn't help it… maybe it was all the excitement getting to her, but she suddenly felt a wave of anxiety; she couldn't breathe, it seemed, and her legs had turned to lead… she was barely able to force herself to get into line between Hermione and Lisa.
Jade?
"Hmm?"
Calm down. You have no reason to be nervous… okay? It was obvious that the werecat was worried about her.
Jade swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to murmur a reply to her familiar, "You don't have to worry, Solluna, I'll be fine."
Who said I was worried? I just do not want you fainting and perhaps falling on me.
Rolling her eyes, Jade followed Hermione as they all walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Once inside, Jade had to catch her breath; this was just like a scene out of one of her fantasy-adventure books! It was beyond her wildest dreams… The room (if it could be called that… it was big enough to fit several houses in it) was lit by thousands and thousands of candles, floating in midair over four long tables, where all the older students were sitting. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the end of the hall was another huge table, this one with the teachers seated at it. This was where Professor McGonagall led the first years, halting them in a line facing the other students, the teacher's table behind them. The hundred of faces staring at the new students looked eerily like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Here and there among the students, the ghosts shined like moonlight streaming through fog, adding to the eerie look of the place. Curious and anxious all at once, Jade studied her surroundings, looking up and seeing a velvety black veiling dotted with glittering stars; staring up at it, she remembered reading about it in Hogwarts, a History, and dimly heard Hermione whispering to Lisa about it, since she'd had seen it in that particular book when she glanced at it in the bookshop.
Staring up, Jade was amazed at the enchantment… it looked so real. It was hard to believe that there was even a ceiling there; she wondered what it looked like when it rained.
Tearing her gaze away from the beautiful ceiling, Jade looked down again to see Professor McGonagall place a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat, obviously the one which Jade had read about. The hat was all patched up, and was frayed and quite dirty. Jade giggled to think of what Petunia's reaction would be if she saw it… though with how old the hat looked, it'd probably fall apart if anyone even put it near a washing machine.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence as everyone stared at the battered old hat. The hat twitched, then a rip near the brim opened like a mouth, and the hat began to sing. In the song, it told about itself, and about each of the houses, and, when it finished, everyone burst into applause. As the hat bowed to each of the tables, Hermione turned to Jade and grinned, whispering.
"It looks like you were right. I only had a chance to glance at it at the bookstore, but I really shall have the check out a copy of that book from the library here."
Jade nodded, whispering back. "You should… it's quite fascinating, really."
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a long roll of parchment. She adjusted her reading glasses, surveying them all. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbot, Hannah!"
It was only a moment that the girl had had the hat on her head before the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The table of Hufflepuffs cheered and clapped as the girl went over to them.
It was in this manner that several more names were called out, and the students were sorted into their respective houses.
Watching, Jade noticed that while sometimes the hat placed people very quickly, sometimes it took a minute. Probably, she figured, because it had to figure out which traits in that particular person were strongest.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione moved quickly and excitedly towards the stool, almost running, and shoved the hat eagerly on her head. Once it was on her head, it took a minute for the hat to decide, but then it finally shouted out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Spotting Ron, Jade thought she spied a look of relief upon his face.
Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, tripped on the way to the stool. It took several minutes for him to be placed, and when the hat finally shouted out Gryffindor, he accidentally ran off with it. A sheepish look was on his face as he jogged back up to give it to the next person.
As Malfoy had predicted, he was placed in Slytherin… the hat had barely even had to touch his head before it called out his house. As he walked to his respective table, smirking arrogantly, he winked at Jade as he passed her. He joined his lackeys Crabbe and Goyle, looking rather pleased with himself.
Several more people were sorted, and then, almost surprising Jade –
"Potter, Jade!"
When Jade stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall. She felt herself blush in embarrassment, and felt a twinge of annoyance as she could hear the whispers.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Jade Potter?"
The scene Jade glimpsed before the hat blocked her vision was everyone in the hall straining to get a better look at her. Then all was dark. She waited, expectant.
"Hmm," a small voice said in her ear. "A difficult one to place, you are, Jade Potter. I see plenty of courage, but it's not the usual blind kind… no, your eyes see very much. You're very observant, with an excellent mind. Oh, my goodness, there's much power here… talent and power, yes – and you've got a nice thirst to prove yourself, I see… very interesting… So where shall I put you?"
Jade shrugged slightly, thinking. I dunno. Isn't it your job to figure it out? Wherever I'd be best suited for.
"Well, let's see… You're not for Gryffindor; you have courage, and you're rather righteous… you could get along fine there, but you'd never become the best you could be."
Well, then, I don't wanna be there, of course…
"You're not for Hufflepuff, no, definitely not Hufflepuff. You would go to waste there, too. Perhaps Slytherin? You'd find the means to much power there…"
As I said, whichever I'd be best suited for. I was thinking either that or perhaps –
"Yes, yes, that'd be perfect for you! With your inquisitive mind and keen eye, and your philosophy, 'knowledge is power', you're perfect for RAVENCLAW!"
The last word was shouted out to the hall, and Jade grinned. As she took off the hat and walked over to the Ravenclaw table, getting the loudest cheer yet, she heard her familiar in her mind again.
See? I told you that you would be fine.
Jade rolled her eyes as she sat down. "Who said I was worried?" she muttered back.
The cheering at her table continued for a minute, everyone grinning at Jade, before the noise died down.
Now that she was sitting, Jade could see the High Table properly. At one end sat Hagrid, who caught Jade's eye and gave her the thumbs up sign. In the center of the High Table sat the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Jade recognized him from the card she'd gotten on the train. Dumbledore's silver hair was the only thing in the room which shone as brightly as the ghosts. At his left, in stark contrast, sat the dark and gloomy-looking Professor Snape, looking for all the world as though he wished he were anywhere else but here. Jade caught his eye, and nodded her head in greeting, and he subtly nodded his head back. Lastly, she noticed Professor Quirrell, that nervous young professor who Jade had refused to touch. He looked quite odd in a large purple turban.
Lisa Turpin ended up being sorted into Ravenclaw as she'd predicted. She came to sit by Jade so that Jade was between her and Hermione.
After that was Ron's turn. Jade watched as the second youngest Weasley made his way up to the hat, his red hair contrasting sharply with his now pale green face. A couple of seconds passed, then the hat shouted out Gryffindor.
After the last person was placed, Jade looked down at her empty plate, her stomach rumbling slightly. She realized suddenly how hungry she was, and how very long ago the train treats seemed.
The headmaster had gotten to his feet. He welcomed them all, seeming to mean it, and said a few odd words. When he sat back down, everyone clapped and cheered. A moment later, the dishes on the table became piled with food. Jade's jaw dropped; she'd never seen so much good stuff to eat on one table! Not even when she'd been taken to her favorite restaurants!
Piling her plate high with the delicious food, Jade dug in. A few minutes later, Jade heard something; the sound of appreciative sniffing coming from her bag, which she had set beside her upon the floor.
A moment later, Solluna poked her head out of the bag, and her body quickly followed as she climbed out. After taking a moment to stretch, she got up on her hind legs, putting her paws in Jade's lap and staring up at her. You know, you are not the only one around here who is hungry… or need I remind you?
Giggling slightly, Jade plucked a small steak from one of the dishes she could reach and passed it down to Solluna. "Here ya go. Enjoy."
As the werecat obligingly dug in, Jade had the weirdest feeling that someone was staring at her. Looking around, she found that dog-faced girl, Pansy Parkinson, the new Slytherin, staring at her and Solluna. A devious look came over the girl's face and she got up, going over to the High Table to whisper something in Snape's ear.
Looking startled, Professor Snape looked towards Jade's feet, spotting a happily munching Solluna. Shooting Jade an inquisitive look, Snape moved over to mutter in Dumbledore's ear, and then Solluna had Dumbledore's eyes on her, as well.
After everyone had finished eating, and a rather full Solluna had returned to the backpack, the food faded and then desserts appeared! Jade helped herself to her favorite dessert, strawberries and whipped cream.
As they were eating, Jade, Lisa, and Hermione started talking about the house ghosts. Jade and Hermione knew nothing about them, really, but Lisa had been told about them by her parents. First, she told them about the Grey Lady, their own resident ghost, and then Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, then the Fat Friar, the Hufflepuff ghost, and, lastly, she pointed at a creepy-looking ghost at the Slytherin table. The ghost had blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood. Jade felt sorry for Malfoy, who was seated right next to him, and looked not too pleased at the seating arrangements. "That's the Bloody Baron," she said. "No one knows how on earth he got covered in blood, and everyone's too afraid to ask. He's pretty much the only one able to keep the castle's poltergeist, Peeves, in line."
After that, they talked about lessons, and what they each were looking forward to the most.
Jade, who was starting to feel very full and warm and sleepy, glanced up at the high table again. Snape looked just as grim as ever, even as he was engaged in talked to Quirrell. Watching them, Jade suddenly felt a sharp pain in her forehead, as though someone had pressed a hot iron to her scar.
What's wrong? Solluna asked when Jade pressed her fingertips to her scar. The werecat sensed her mistress's distress.
"Nothing," Jade mumbled. She'd figure it out later.
When the desserts were finished, Dumbledore got to his feet again, and made several announcements. After that, everyone sang the school song. After that, he dismissed them, and everyone stood, ready to make their ways to their respective dorms. Jade, picking up her bag and shouldering it, started to follow Hermione and Lisa, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
She turned to see Dumbledore gazing at her, a twinkle in his eye. Looking over at Pansy, Jade saw the girl throw a malicious grin over her shoulder as she followed the rest of her house out of the room.
"Care to have a talk with me, Miss Potter?" His voice sounded cheery, and no indication that she was in trouble rested in it.
"Ummm… sure, Sir." She replied, a bit nervous. Her first night here, and she was already having to have a one-on-one chat with the headmaster!
Once everyone was out of the Great Hall, Dumbledore motioned for her to sit down. Jelly-legged, she did.
"So," he began, comfortably. "May I see it?"
"Huh?" Jade asked, blankly.
"The werecat. Please. Could you let it out so that I may meet it?"
Jade shrugged. "Sure." Obligingly, she let Solluna out, and the werecat sat on the table, her crimson eyes staring up at Dumbledore inquisitively.
For several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Dumbledore and the cat stared at each other. Then he smiled slightly. "You do know," he said, "that werecats are not on the approved list of familiars?"
Jade nodded, and started to speak, but Dumbledore interrupted her. "However," he continued, "it's mainly because werecats are so rare, and they can't be tamed. They're far too intelligent to be tamed, if you understand my meaning. Sometimes, though, they pick a master or mistress, or, more specifically, a companion. A friend. And, when they do, the werecat stays loyal to the end. I see no reason why Solluna cannot stay here with you… in fact, she insists that she is allowed to go with you to your classes." He smiled reassuringly. "She says that you saved her. I give her special permission to remain here with you, at Hogwarts, and to go with you wherever you wish her to go. Alright?"
Numbly, Jade nodded. Glancing at Solluna, Jade could've sworn that it appeared as thought the familiar has smirked. The werecat climbed back into the backpack, and Jade shouldered it.
"Since I kept you, I'll show you to your dorm, Jade."
He led her down several corridors, through many twists and turns, and then to the hall containing the library. Here, on the left wall, was a small painting of a young girl seated under a tree, absorbed in a book. When Dumbledore approached, she looked up, irritated at having been interrupted.
"Password?" she inquired.
Dumbledore smiled obligingly. "Chaotic tranquility."
The painting swung forward and, waving goodbye to Dumbledore, Jade climbed through the hole revealed. Once through, she found herself in the Ravenclaw common room.
The room was quite beautiful. The walls were all lined with bookcases, except for where the doors leading to the dorms were. Everything was all done up in deep blue, and had a very tranquil, soothing quality about it. There were several squashy armchairs, two long tables for studying and a fireplace with a merrily crackling fire in it. The Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope, had waited up for Jade, and pointed her towards the girls' dormitory.
Once in, Jade saw five four-poster beds hung with deep blue, velvet curtains. Four of the beds' curtains were drawn shut already, as the other girls had already gone to bed. Jade went to the only remaining bed, which had her trunk by it, and let Solluna out of the backpack onto the bed. Quickly changing into her pajamas, Jade made her way into bed, curling up under the soft covers. With her familiar curled up contently on the pillow beside her, Jade fell asleep, exhausted and happy.
Some of the stuff Jade had eaten hadn't mixed with each other, it seemed, as she had a rather odd dream. She was wearing that hideous turban of Professor Quirrell's. It kept talking to her, saying she must transfer immediately to Slytherin, 'cause it was her destiny. Jade argued, saying that she'd trust the Sorting Hat's judgment; that was, after all, the job of the Sorting Hat, and not this turban. As she argued with it, it got heavier and heavier, falling over her eyes and obscuring her vision. Then, she was able to lift it a little and saw Solluna in front of her, her crimson eyes glowing creepily. "Stay true to your reflection," the werecat mouthed, gesturing to behind Jade. Still struggling to keep the heavier-and-heavier turban from obstructing her vision, Jade turned to see her reflection in the mirror behind her… when she saw her reflection, she let out a shriek – there was a bright flash of green light and Jade awoke, sweating and shaking.
QS: Please, please tell me… what did you think of Jade's dream? I wanted it to be a bit different from Harry's. Please, I need an opinion.