Chapter Five

The Sorting Ceremony

The boats drifted under the castle and docked next to a large, weather-beaten oak door. The first years got out and stood trembling at the door, some from the chilling wind and some out of fear. They did not have to wait long.

A minute or so later, the door opened. The students scrambled inside to get out of the cold. A pretty witch with frizzy brown hair was standing on the staircase waiting for them.

"Follow me, please." She said she turned around and walked up the steps, the first years running to catch up.

The witch stopped in front of a large set of wooden doors, and turned around to face the students. "Hello, I am Professor Weasley. I teach Transfiguration here." She paused, resting her eyes on Addy and Rhea and smiled. "Behind these doors is the Great Hall. You will take your meals here. Now, once we go through these doors you are to for a straight line facing the other students. I will call you name and you will sit on the stool and put the hat on your head. Then you will be Sorted." Professor Weasley smiled once again and heaved the doors open.

The first years filed in. Jenna made sure to stay near Addy and Rhea. Jenna looked at the other students and noticed they were all looking at the same spot. She looked and saw what they were all staring at.

It was a hat. It was worn and frayed, and had a huge rip near the brim. Jenna stared too and the most amazing thing happened. It began to sing.

A thousand years ago or so,

When I was spanking new

Four people said that I must sort

New students into groups.

These houses were to be their homes

Throughout their school careers.

But how to find where they should go

Is why I'm sitting here.

Do you belong in Ravenclaw,

Where the clever ought to be?

Or maybe daring Gryffindor

Is the path you seek.

Slytherin is very fine

For those of great intent.

And Hufflepuff is the house for you

If you're true and constant.

So sit down children. I do not bite.

Just place me on you head.

And I will sort you one by one.

Exactly like I said.

The tables burst into applause as the hat bowed to each of the five tables, and then sat still. Professor Weasley cleared her throat and unraveled a sheet of parchment.

"Anders, Agnes!" A short blond girl with rosy cheeks stepped out of line. She put the hat on her head and waited. A second later... "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table on the middle left burst into applause.

"Azaria, Douglas!" was up next. A minute passed, then "SLYTHERIN!" The far left erupted in cheers.

Jenna was staring to get board. She looked up at the ceiling and saw stars. She blinked. "Stars?" She whispered. Addy heard and whispered back.

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." Rhea snickered.

"You sound just like Mum sometimes." Addy stuck her tongue out at Rhea.

"Malfoy, Vincent!" A boy with fair hair and an even fairer complexion strutted up to the hat. He barley placed it on his flaxen tresses when... "SLYTHERIN!" The boy smirked and went to sit at the cheering table. Jenna bit her lip. She knew she was next.

Professor Weasley glanced at the next name and furrowed her brows. After thinking for a moment, she shrugged her shoulders and read the name.

"Meyers, Jenna!"

Jenna took a deep breath and made her way to the stool. She could feel thousands of eyes staring at her as she sat. She gently placed the hat on her head. Instantly she heard a voice whispering in ear.

"Well, let's take look at what you have here. Hmmm...smart, yes very smart. You would do well in Ravenclaw. But I would have to take your fortitude into account. Yes, yes. I shall place you in "GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat shouted the last word for the whole hall to here. Jenna made her way to an empty seat at the end of the Gryffindor table. The Sorting continued. Jenna waited patiently for her friends to be Sorted.

"Pernilla, Dawn!" became a Ravenclaw. Jenna wondered when Addy and Rhea were going to be sorted.

"I don't even know their last names!" she realized.

Finally, "Weasley, Adina!" was called she sat on the chair and carefully positioned the hat on her curls. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Jenna cheered loudly for her friend as Addy ran towards her. She had barely sat down when "Weasley, Rhea!" was called. A moment later she joined her sister and friend at the Gryffindor table.

Lastly, "Zander, Kelly!" became a Hufflepuff. After the last of the clapping had subsided, the Headmistress stood up.

"I would like to welcome you all back to Hogwarts, and for those of you here for you first time, I welcome you to our wonderful school.' (Applause) "I would like to remind returning students and new ones that to go into the Forbidden Forest is to meet an untimely demise. Second, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin." A man with grey hair and grey eyes stood up and waved. "He has agreed to teach here again after a 19 year absence. Now, tuck in."

The golden plates that had been shining before now filled with food. The tables groaned under the weight as students stuffed themselves full. Jenna inhaled her roast beef and after swallowing a rather large mouthful, turned to her friends.

Are you two related to Professor Weasley?" They looked up at the same time. "Unph mmph." Addy gave her sister a disgusted look.

"She's our mother." She replied simply. Rhea swallowed her food.

"Yeah, I wish she wasn't our teacher though. She constantly tells us study and whatnot at home, and now we have to hear about it in school too!"

"Rhea, if you worked harder, Mother wouldn't have to chastise you." Rhea stuck her tongue out at Addy and immediately bit into a roll.

Soon, the food disappeared, and the plates returned to their previous sparkle. The three girls got up and headed towards the crowd of first years waiting to be led to their dormitories. A girl with strawberry blond hair and bright blue eyes stood in front of them.

"First years! First years this way, please!" Rhea grabbed Jenna's hand and made their way through the crowd to the girl. A shiny silver badge with the word 'prefect' stood out on her black robes. Addy, who had also come with them, tapped the girl on the shoulder.

"Désirée!" she called. The girl turned around and grinned, showing white, even teeth.

"Hello, Adine. Hello, Rhea. How were your summers?"

"Great!"

"It was fine."

Jenna laughed. "Do you know everyone here?" Désirée answered for them.

"I am their cousin. We have a rather large family."