Chapter 3 – Sortings and Settling In
Disclaimer - Don't own it, it being Harry Potter
When the train stopped the four of them stumbled out, all a little uneasy on their legs and wandered over to where Hagrid was calling for first years.
"Hey Evie, Jimmie, little Weasley, and…"
"Ethan." Ethan said, not giving his last name. Hagrid didn't seem to think much on it.
"And Ethan. Ere's a boat." He said. The four went on. Evie managed not to get too seasick, and they all managed to make it there without becoming completely soaked. Once at the castle, after being able to momentarily stare at in awe, they filed into a room where a strict, but kind looking woman was waiting.
"Hello students, I am Professor Lavender Brown. Now, after you follow me you will line up in a single line in front of the other students. I will then call your names in no particular order this year, and you will be placed into a house." She said. Whispers immediately filled the room of students telling others about the horrifying tales that theyhad been told about how first years were sorted. Evie, Jimmie, Jake and Ethan were relatively at ease about that part however. Their parents had told them it was nothing to worry about. It was which house they would be sorted into that they were nervous about.
They were soon filed in, and student upon student were staring at them. Jimmie let his eyes wander the crowd, and they led to the teacher's table where he saw many people he recognized, but some he surprisingly didn't.
Professor Brown hushed everyone and got out a hat and sat it on the stool before them and it began to sing. Jimmie, along with several other first years lost interest after the thrill of seeing a singing hat was over. However others, like Evie, were entranced the entire time. Once it was over, Professor Brown began to call names.
"Avers, Gregory." was called. The hat was placed on his head, and within thirty seconds it screamed out Hufflepuff and the small boy ran towards the cheering table coated in yellow and black.
The first of their group that was called was Evie, and she of course was nearly immediately placed in Gryffindor as was a relieved Jake soon after. He smiled as his older siblings screamed for him. Before he knew it, Jimmie was next.
"Potter, James." A few of the older teacher's eyes softened at hearing his name, becoming lost in the past. This was the entire reason that he liked being called Jimmie better; he wasn't his father, or his grandfather. But, nonetheless he stepped up, sat on the stool and let the hat fall into his eyes.
"Hmm, potter next generation number 2. Well you certainly are your father's son aren't you, nearly enough to get you put into Gryffindor alone…"
"I don't want to be put in Gryffindor just because of my father, I want it for myself." He thought back to the hat.
"Well, well, looking to be our own person are we? Well, you are very eager to prove yourself in that regard, a Gryffindor quality. Now, where to place you? Unlike your father, strange, you don't seem to have any of the Slytherin qualities. You are kind and considerate, but far too stone faced to be in Hufflepuff. You are extremely intelligent, and would undoubtedly do well in Ravenclaw. However, you have the bravery of a GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally screamed. Jimmie grinned and went to sit next to his cousin and sister and a few other first years that had already been sorted into Gryffindor.
"Malfoy, Vulcan." Ms. Brown said, only a slight hint of distaste in her mouth.
"Knew that a Malfoy couldn't have a name as simple as Ethan." muttered Jake off at the Gryffindor table. The young Malfoy strode toward the stool and placed the hat on his head. It was silent for a while before it screamed…
"GRYFFINDOR." The whole hall was silent for a moment before the Gryffindor table broke into a slight clap. However, Jimmie, Jake and Evie were cheering abnormally harder than the rest of the table for him. He sat down slightly sullenly next to them.
"Hey be happy!" Evie cried, slapping his arm slightly. "You're in Gryffindor with us." He offered her a small smile.
"Yeah." She frowned.
"Did you really want to be in Slytherin?" she asked. Jimmie and Jake looked at him expectantly as well. He shrugged, but she looked at him harder.
"Well, no, okay, I didn't. But my father…he's going to be furious." He mumbled. The three exchanged glances. Then Jake smiled at the food that suddenly appeared in front of him, and he wrapped up the discussion quickly.
"Well look at it this way mate. You got sorted into a house that has your only semi friends in it – well I'm assuming we're your only friends – you've got oodles of good food right in front of you. Sure daddy may be a little miffed, but hey you aren't going to see him for months. The worst you can expect, at least till then, is a howler, so buck up." Ethan offered a smile and broke into his own food.
"So…" Jimmie started. "Do you wish to remain being called Ethan, or should we start calling you Vulcan?"
"Perhaps Vulcy." said Jake through a mouthful of potatoes, making Evie wince in disgust. The two burst out laughing, and soon Evie and Ethan were as well.
Once completely full, McGonagall made her every year speech – very reminiscent of what Dumbledore's had been like – and the students were sent off to bed.
"Oh ickle first years, would you please follow me! Ickle first years! Oh come on your little shrimps, follow me, come on now! Oh hey, Jake, Evie, Jimmie…Malfoy."
"Hey Aaron." said Jake casually to his older brother. Aaron shook his head, eyes darting towards the young Malfoy then back to his little brother.
"Honestly brother." He said, sounding disappointed. "Well whatever, follow me like the rest." Jake looked at him, head cocked to the side in confusion.
"Well, whatever that was about." He muttered. They were led up to the Gryffindor common room.
"OK little ones, girls are to the right, boys to the left. There are six doors, each with a number on them, now who knows which number you guys will be in…you there with the shockingly white hair." said Aaron.
"Number one." The girl said meekly. Aaron smiled brilliantly.
"Very good, teachers will love you dear. Now you all might want to get to sleep, as I've heard that you small people need more of it. Big day tomorrow ickle firsties!" he said, and then walked off. The first years – all rather intimidated by the common room – scrambled up the stairs to get settled. Evie eyed the boys in slight worry. Jimmie squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.
"You'll be fine Ev." He said. She smiled then, and walked the opposite way.
The three boys walked up the stairs and into the first door. There they found three other boys unpacking their stuff and picking out beds. The three picked beds next to each other. They were set up in a semicircle around the room. Ethan compliantly took the one closest to the wall, Jimmie in the middle and Jake to his side. Jimmie lay on his bed for a moment before sitting up and examining the three other boys bustling around him.
There was one rather nervous looking thin boy who was sitting on his bed looking very confused, and couldn't stop staring at the moving picture to his right. He was obviously a Muggle born.
There was another boy who was proudly unpacking his quidditch poster and sighing, undoubtedly mad that he couldn't be as good as Harry Potter and get on the house team in first year.
The last boy was reasonably average and seemed very comfortable in Hogwarts – but so highly out of place for some reason. Jimmie heard him talk and found it was because he was Australian.
Jimmie – too tired to try and make any new friends curled back up his bed. Jake and Ethan soon followed suite and the lights followed soon after. Jimmie closed his eyes, unsure of what lay next.
Evie walked into her dorm room much more unsure than the three boys had – she felt all alone.
It had always been hard for her to go out and seek friends. The few she had had sort of just happened. It was more that they had come to her.
So she was walking, highly uncertain, into the beautiful dorm that had beds around the wall in a semicircle. She bit her lip in nervousness.
"Hey, your Evie right?" she heard a voice from her side ask. She turned around to face a nice looking, rather plain girl with straight brown hair and hazel eyes and loads of freckles covering her nose. Evie nodded.
"Evangeline Potter, you can call me Evie." She said softly. The girl smiled.
"Jessica Newport, you can call me Jess." She said, extending her hand, which Evie shook. "Here, you want the bunk next to me?" she asked. Evie shrugged, now smiling.
"Sure." Jess plopped herself down on the bed. Evie sat down on the bed next to her.
"It's weird to finally be here isn't it." Jess said. Evie nodded.
"Yeah, it's like I've been waiting my whole life, but now that I'm here I'm terrified." Evie said softly.
"You're telling me." Said the girl to her other side, Evie rolled slightly, and Jess sat up on one elbow. "You think it's terrifying for you, try being muggle born. I'm Alexandrea Prescott by the way, call me Drea though."
"Evie Potter." Evie found herself saying kindly, already wanting to make the girl feel more comfortable. She heard Jess introduce herself behind her.
"You don't mind if I sleep here right?" the girl asked slightly nervously, brushing some loose dirty blonde hair out of her blue eyes. Evie smiled wider.
"Of course not." Her and Jess said at the same time. They all started laughing.
AN - please review.