Chapter Two
Sorting
A few hours later, after all the students changed into their robes, the train began to slow down. When it reached the Hogsmade Station, James and Oliver collected their things and left the train.
It was very hectic outside but a voice to the boys' left was calling "First years, line up over here please! First years!"
James and Oliver followed the voice. Professor Grubby-Plank (Hagrid's successor) was standing with a lantern at the other side of the platform calling for the first years.
Lily and Sarah met up with James and Oliver in Professor Grubby-Plank's group of first years. They were told that they were going to sail across the lake to Hogwarts.
Lily, James, Sarah and Oliver shared a boat. As they rounded a corner, the Professor told them that they would be getting their first glimpse of the school soon; and they did. It was a huge, magnificent castle with many towers and lights gleamed from almost every window.
Once out of the boats and inside the castle, the first years met up with Professor McGonagall, the headmistress of the school.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, "In a few moments, you will walk though these doors and join your classmates, but first, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are here, your house will be like your family. You will eat at your house table, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. Your triumphs will earn you house points, any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded the house cup. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily."
After a few minutes, McGonagall came back. "We are ready for you now," she said.
She led them into the beautiful Great Hall. A three-legged stool with an old patched wizard's hat on top of it had been placed in front of the staff table.
"Now when I call your name," said McGonagall, "I will place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Arbor, Peter."
Student after student were sorted. Then came "King, Sarah." Lily hugged Sarah and let her go up to the stool. The hat was on her head for about fifteen seconds, and then it yelled "GRYFINDOR!"
Sarah smiled, hopped off the stool and headed to the Gryffindor table. She flashed Lily a thumbs-up sign, which Lily returned.
The next name that was called caught both Lily and James's attention. It was a name that their father hated. A name that caused James to flinch at the sound of it…
" Malfoy, Warren," called McGonagall.
Warren Malfoy had his father's slick white-blond hair and cool gray eyes. The hat barely touched his head when it shouted " SLYTHRIN!" Malfoy smirked and walked over to the Slytherin table.
About five more students were sorted, then McGonagall called "Potter, Lillian."
The whole hall filled with whispers. Everyone was anxious to see Harry Potter's daughter sorted.
Lily took a deep breath, walked up the steps and sat down on the stool as McGonagall placed the hat on her head. Lily waited, then heard the hat whisper in her ear…
"Hmm, difficult, just like your father before you. Ah, a lot of courage, but yet, a strong mind, plenty of talent, oh yes. An excellent choice would be Gryffindor - "Yes, oh yes, please!" Lily thought. - You'd like that, wouldn't you? Alright, make it Gryffindor!"
Lily heard the last word shouted out to the whole hall. She gleefully left the stool and went to join Sarah at the Gryffindor table.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, Lily!" said Jamie Weasley. Jamie was another one of Lily's cousins (Bill and Fleur's daughter). She looked just like her veela mother, was head girl and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team (Jamie played seeker).
Lily watched up at the staff table, James was about to be sorted.
"Potter, James"
More whispering filled the Great Hall. James walked slowly up to the stool and sat down. The hat was placed upon his head.
"Another Potter? Hmm, your placement is obvious; of course, it's in your blood, GRYFINDOR!"
James gave a satisfied look as he headed toward the table. He knew there was no way he could be placed in any other house. He sat down next to Lily who congratulated him and waited for Oliver to be sorted.
Oliver was on the stool for about five seconds before that hat declared him a Gryffindor.
McGonagall gave a short speech, forbidding students to go into the Forbidden Forest and things like that, and then the students had dinner. After the feast was over, Jamie led all of them upstairs to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she said.
"Wattlebird," said Jamie.
The portrait opened reveling the Gryffindor common room. It was filled with armchairs, couches, coffee tables and three fireplaces.
"Welcome to Gryffindor tower. The boys' dormitories are the staircases on the left and the girls on the right. All of your belongings have already been brought up."
Lily and Sarah bade James and Oliver goodnight and the four of them went up to bed.