Chapter Five
Sorting, Snape, and Sorrow
The first years started to file in one by one looking nervous. For some reason, this year, the sorting had didn't have a song. It just sat there. Suddenly its eyes opened and it began to speak. "I have no song for you this year. But rest assured, I will have one for you next year," it said in a rough voice.
"Alright. I shall call you up one at a time for you to be sorted into your houses. They Are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Teferi Tahngarth," Professor McGonagall, an older looking witch with a green dress, a brown witches hat, and blue eyes and brown hair. A young girl stepped forward and sat down on the stool. Professor McGonagall put the hat on her head. It began to move again. "Hmm…this one has a funny name that makes it difficult. Hmm…I think…Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat said. Professor McGonagall took the hat off the girls head and she went to sit at the Gryffindor table. "Edgar Matopi," McGonagall said. A boy stepped forward, sat down, and the hat was placed on his head. "Hmm…I think…it better be…Ravenclaw!" the Sorting Hat said. The hat was taken off his head, and he went to join the Ravenclaw table. "Baki Greven," said McGonagall. Another girl stepped forward and the hat was placed on her head. "Hmm…I know where to put you. Hufflepuff!" exclaimed the Sorting Hat. The hat was taken off her head, and she joined the Hufflepuff table. "Gerrard Zeki," McGonagall called. A boy came forward and sat on the stool. "Aha! I think you belong in…Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed. The hat was removed and he joined his table.
The Sorting Ritual passed slowly, but finally it came to an end. Alex was about to fall asleep. He thought they were getting more and more first years every year. And he didn't like the sound of that. Every one looked at the table up in the front. Professor Dumbledore stood up. "Let the feast begin!" he said. He clapped his hands and food appeared. Everyone started eating then. Harry looked at Ron. "So where did you three get off to while Ginny and I were sleeping?" he asked. "We had a few Prefect duties to perform. That's all," Ron said. "Oh. It was just unexpected to see that you'd left. You know?" Harry said. "Yeah, sorry about that mate. They didn't give us a chance to tell you," said Ron. Harry nodded. "Its alright Ron," said Harry.
An hour later Dumbledore stood up. "House Prefects, you will now lead your house to their common room. Make sure they hear the password. Dismissed," said Dumbledore. Alex stood up. "Alright. Gryffindor lets go! And do try to keep up please!" he said. They walked out of the Great Hall, and walked up some stairs into a big room with lots of pictures and lots of stairs. They stopped for a moment. "First years, watch the stairs. They like to change around," Ron said, sounding a bit like Percy. The walked up stairs to their left, walked down a hall to a portrait of a fat lady. And conveniently, the portrait title was Fat Lady. She looked at Hermione. "Password," she said. "Manteo husk," said Hermione. The portrait opened revealing a door way. They walked through it and stopped just inside. "Welcome to the Gryffindor Common Room. This is a place you can lounge around and do nothing all day. But no sluffing classes in here, or you'll get detention," said Alex. "Now, the boys dormitories are upstairs and down to the left. Girls, the same on your right. The doors will be labeled 'First Years'," Alex finished. "Alright. Its bedtime, but you don't have be in your rooms. You can sit here in the common room for as long as you want. But I recommend that you get some sleep tonight. Your lessons begin tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Your stuff is already up in your rooms, next to your beds," Ron added. The first years all headed to the dormitories to go to sleep. "Well, I think I'm going to go on to bed as well. I am a bit tired. So are you two going to go to bed?" Ron asked. "I am," Hermione said. "Yeah. I'm beat. I need to get some sleep," Alex said. Then the portrait hole opened. Apparently the Fat Lady told them the password. They all knew that she wouldn't answer to any other students except Gryffindors.
The next morning Alex, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were heading to their potions class with Professor Snape. They, they being Alex, Ron, and Harry, didn't like Snape. He would always award Slytherin with points, but take points away from other houses that weren't his own. They got to his classroom, and sat down. Snape looked at them. "Do you have your homework assignments from over the summer Holiday?" he asked.
Alex and Hermione whipped theirs out, while Ron and Harry didn't have theirs. "Good. You know I am feeling strangely generous today. Price and Granger, you get 20 points to Gryffindor," he said. They all looked hopeful. "And minus 10 for Potter and Weasley not having their homework," he finished. They shrugged. At least Snape had given them 10 points.
About 20 minutes into the class period, Professor Dumbledore came in. "Severus, can I borrow Mr. Price for a moment?" he asked. "Yes. But only a moment. He has a potion to finish up," Snape replied. Dumbledore nodded and walked out, followed by Alex. When Alex got into the hall, he saw his father, Professor McGonagall, and Dumbledore all looking at him. Alex returned their gazes. "What?" he asked. His father looked at him for a moment, then sighed. "Albus, I can't do this. But Alex, whatever they tell you, promise me you'll stay here ok," Alex's father said. Alex nodded, and with that, Alex's father disapperated. McGonagall looked at Dumbledore, then to Alex. "Mr. Price, your mother was murdered by another wizard," McGonagall said sympathetically. Alex was taken aback. "When?" Alex said. "Two hours ago," said Dumbledore. "Did they catch the wizard that did it?" Alex asked. "Yes. He was tried, and is now serving time in Azkaban Prison," Dumbledore assured Alex. Alex looked down at the ground, then turned around. "I have a potion to finish," he said. He walked back into the classroom pretending like nothing was wrong. He took his seat next to Hermione again. She looked at him. "What was that about?" she asked. "Nothing important," said Alex in forced happy tone.
That night, at around two in the morning, Alex was laying on a common room couch looking up at the ceiling. Hermione, who had walked down stairs and seen that the fire wasn't out, looked over the back of the couch at Alex, who returned he look. "Alex what are you doing down here?" she asked. "And why are you still in your robes?" she continued. Alex looked at her. "Couldn't sleep, and I feel like wearing them," Alex said. "Well I think you should go to bed," Hermione said. Alex sat up. "I don't want to. I said I can't sleep," said Alex getting up and walking to the table. He picked up a statue of the Gryffindor lion. "Alex, what's the matter?" Hermione asked. "Nothing. I'm fine," Alex said, unconvincingly. "No Alex. I think there is something wrong," Hermione said. Alex looked at her, slammed the Gryffindor lion statue down, which shattered, walked over to Hermione and looked at her. "My mom is dead ok? There you got what you wanted. Now leave me alone ok?" Alex yelled at her. Hermione had back away from him, scared. He looked at her and was about to apologize when she took off back up the stairs. Alex sighed, and sat down on a chair, put his head in his hands, and began to cry.
The portrait hole opened, and Dumbledore walked in seeing Alex sitting the chair crying. Dumbledore walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Death is never easy. It is hard. But eventually you get over it. And when you do, it feels wonderful. Now I heard something break in here. What was it?" Dumbledore asked. "That pile of rubble over there on the table," Alex said, still looking at the floor. "Ah. That can be fixed. It is no problem," Dumbledore said, gathering up the pieces and putting them into a bag on his waist. Alex looked up at Dumbledore. "I yelled at Hermione, but it wasn't loud enough to hear. How did you hear it?" Alex asked. Dumbledore looked at Alex and smiled. "I do not sleep well now a days," he said. "Well…now Hermione is never going to talk to me again," Alex said. "I think she will. I think you have to approach her and tell her that you are sorry for yelling at her," Dumbledore said, with a smile at Alex. "Now. I want you to go upstairs and go to bed. I know it is Saturday tomorrow, but I have arranged for tomorrow to be a Hogsmeade visit," Dumbledore said. "So you will have a chance to apologize to Hermione," Dumbledore finished. "A Hogsmeade trip? This early in the year?" Alex asked. "Yes. Now go to bed," Dumbledore said. With that, Alex went up to his dormitory, laid down on the bed, and drifted off to sleep.