Regrettably, in the reposting, we lose the original replies to comments made by reviewers. This does not mean I don't absolutely love your comments: I just don't have time to type out all those replies. I'll give you guys some new chapters instead, okay?

Sorting

Chapter Three

"How are you feeling, dear?" the matron woman asked, when Nym's shoulders stopped heaving.

Nym could only stare at the woman. Wasn't it obvious? "Been better."

"Headmaster, I'll have to take her upstairs to the infirmary."

"Not just yet, Poppy."

"But Professor…"

"No Poppy. She has to be Sorted." That's how he said it. Like it was capitalized. Nym wondered briefly what sort of thing this Sorting was, and even more fleetingly if she should be worried. No, she found, she was to tired to care, and too shaken to be worried.

"Surely that can wait. Spiced pumpkin juice can only do so much for so long, Professor. She needs a warm bed and medical attention."

"It most certainly cannot wait." The elderly man – the headmaster, according to the matron woman – didn't seem upset at all, only cheerful. He wasn't going to change his mind, though. Even she could see that. "We'll move her up in the line, is all."

He pulled a rod out of his sleeve. Wand, Nym corrected herself. It's called a wand. It's not a birch for punishing students, it's a wand for doing magic. Somehow, that made it even scarier. He waved it in some complicated motion, and a heavy upholstered chair appeared, rotating once in the air before drifting to the floor. Nym didn't even have time to be amazed, because Poppy was lifting her up into it, blanket, mug and all.

The chair was very soft, with a thick velvet cover, so she sank deep into it. It was so nice. She just wanted to go to sleep. She closed her eyes to that end, but something seemed wrong, so she opened them again. It was very easy to find the source of her discomfort. The chair – her thick, heavy, comfortable chair – was floating through the hall. Faces she didn't know, hundreds of them, drifted through her vision, blurring together. There was curiosity on some of them, interest on others, and boredom on yet others. One face jumped out at her. Rick. He smiled reassuringly at her. She wanted to laugh. How much time had he spent telling her nothing was going to happen?

Her chair stopped on a dais, and settled lightly to the floor. The stern faced woman was waiting, a tattered old hat in her hand. It looked so old and worn amongst all the splendor, like a family heirloom that's kept for sentimental value, or an old grandfather who everyone loves but secretly wants gone so he no longer mars the beauty. She at once loved and pitied the hat. Which, she told herself, was ridiculous. It was a hat, after all.

The woman gave her the tiniest smile before settling the hat on her head. It had belonged to someone much larger than her, and it fell down over her eyes.

"What's this?" asked a little voice in her ear. It sounded old, like the hat, worn through and tired. "You aren't Burnaby Bott."

"No," Nym replied quietly. "I'm Nym Tonks."

"I can see that," it said testily. "What will they do next, I wonder? Throw me to the crowd, first come, first serve?" Nym started to reply, but the hat cut her off. "Never mind, I know what you're thinking. It's all here in your head, you know." Of course it is, Nym thought. It's my thoughts, isn't it? Where else would it be? The hat gave a quiet little chuckle. "Don't mind me, child. Well, I think I know where to put you, indeed I do." It yelled something. Nym didn't catch it as her ears rang and her vision went dark. What a time to faint, she thought.

She forced her eyes open. She hadn't fainted after all, just sort of blacked out. A table to one side was applauding and cheering. Her new House, she supposed. Her chair was floating down from the dais, controlled by the tiny man. She looked down at him, and her new House, and tried to smile, but stopped short. Her tie should have been yellow and black, like Rick's. That's what she'd wanted. To be with her one friend here. Her badge, likewise, was not like his. It had changed from the Hogwarts seal, yes, as her tie had changed from plain black. But they were both red and gold. She lowered her head and cried, hoping no one would see her tears.