To Gild a Lily- 6
Lily drew in breath; this was it. The doors swung open to theGreat Hall and Lily heard Eva attempt to sustain a shriek on her right, but Lily couldn't blame her. Lily had never even imagined such a splendid room. There were what looked like millions of candles floating above them in midair, casting a generous light into every corner of the Hall. There were four long, wooden tables where all of the other students were sitting in their respective houses. Over the table on the far left were banners and flags of brilliant scarlet and gold, a lion emblem displayed upon the breathtaking scene. Lily assumed such was Gryffindor, based on James's description.
The next table was undeniably Ravenclaw, royal blue and bronze colored beautifully while displaying the insignia of an eagle upon the banners and flags. First to her right would be Hufflepuff, with its dazzling array of yellow and black, badger sported proudly upon the numerous flags. That meant only Slytherin was left. On Lily's far right sat the Slytherins, green and silver snake glaring in what looked as though a malicious manner. Peering at the menacing looking students, Lily recognized the bully that had ambushed her in Diagon Alley. Expectedly, his two cronies that assisted him were aside him; they didn't look like the brightest people that Lily had ever seen.
Professor McGonagall led them along in between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, all of the other students staring up at them as though they were exhibits in the zoo. Lily felt a sudden jab in her right arm; unsurprisingly, it was Eva. She pointed up, and Lily gasped. It seemed as though there was no ceiling. The gleaming stars and dark, indigo blue sky was displayed instead.
"It's just a spell," James whispered from her left, "It's bewitched to look like whatever the sky outside looks like." She saw two shooting stars overhead and grinned up at him, he was smiling brightly.
The group to be sorted was lead up to the front of the hall where the teachers were sitting. Lily gulped.
This is really it.
Professor McGonagall then stepped out from in front of the group and retrieved a shabby looking stool from inside a cupboard. She placed in front of the first years and then brought out an old looking wizards hat that was patched and frayed and horrifyingly filthy. Lily almost laughed to wonder what Petunia would think of it. Professor McGonagall then sat the pointed hat on the stool. Lily blinked and stared, looking and feeling confused. She looked at Eva, who shrugged. Lily turned back when-
"What is in a hat, you say?
A clever question pondered.
Think whatever thoughts you may,
And let thee never wander.
Thoughts of houses, only four
Will ever cross these stitches
Perhaps a wish, but never more
To sort young wizards and witches
Gryffindor perhaps for you
Where courage and nerve are welcomed
Where bold chivalry is housed anew
And cowardice is seldom.
Or maybe even Hufflepuff
For those loyal and true
Their hearts are strong, faithful, tough,
The allegiant, dependable few.
Perchance in Ravenclaw you'll go
Where wit and logic approved
The clever, here, will always grow
A competence ensued
Conceivably in Slytherin,
Where dwell the powerful
Where blood and past will always win
And ambition always pulls
So try me on, no I won't bite,
Unless you bite me first
Your future is almost here in sight,
Lets hope it's not the worst."
Professor McGonagall then pulled out her yellow parchment scroll and unrolled it carefully.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Anders, Alice!"
A blonde haired girl with a round face stepped carefully out of line and walked clear up to the stool without looking back. She placed the hat gingerly on her head. It fell over her eyes while she was sitting down.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table gave a distinct round of applause as Alice made her way grinning to the table on the left.
"Black, Narcissa!"
The girl that Lily had seen in the boats strutted up to the stool, nose in the air. She sat delicately down on the battered old stool and had barely placed the hat on her fair head before the hat screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" Narcissa gave a wicked smirk and flounced her way over to the Slytherin table, which was cheering immensely. Lily noticed that her would-be captors seemed to be cheering quite loudly, especially the leader.
"Black, Sirius!"
Sirius, now quite pale, clumsily made his way out of line and swaggered up to the stool looking almost like he was going to be sick. He picked up the hat and sat down on the stool, looking grim. He placed the hat on his head. Lily was watching Sirius intently; she looked at James and saw that he too seemed to be concentrating excessively upon him as well. Thirty seconds passed; Sirius looked as though petrified.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius's face split into a manic grin. He jumped off the stool, shoved the hate into Professor McGonagall's arms and practically skipped to the Gryffindor table, where he was greeted with applause. Lily glanced over to Narcissa. She was sitting, mouth hung open and eyes boggled, staring at her cousin. Lily almost chuckled, but was afraid she might vomit.
"Carmichael, Derrick!"
A handsome boy from somewhere in the back of the line made his way to the stool where he was almost immediately declared a Ravenclaw.
"Evans, Lily!"
Lily froze. She knew that her name had just been called, but she felt petrified with fear. It wasn't until Eva pushed her a bit that she even moved at all. She very clumsily made her way up to the stool, tripping slightly on the second step. Upon reaching the stool, she carefully picked up the hat and sat down, shaking. She then placed the dirty hat on her auburn head, letting it slip down over her eyes. She waited.
"Hm," said a low voice in her ear, causing her to jump, "A very quick mind, undoubtedly hardworking. Great leadership skills I see, and amazing courage. But where to put you,"
Lily gripped the edges of the stool in fear that she might fall off.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily practically threw off the hat and scurried down to her right to join Sirius, who gave her a one armed hug around the shoulders. Lily began to grin uncontrollably; she was in Gryffindor! She didn't even here the next few people become sorted in her ecstasy; the next name that she heard and recognized was,
"Kent, Fiona!"
Fiona looked just as nervous as Lily had been. She stumbled apprehensively up to the stool and placed the hat upon her braided head. (On the train, Eva had insisted on French braiding it, despite Lily's protests that it looked fine) Immediately the hat screamed "GRYFFINDOR!" and she made a beeline to sit next to Lily who gave her a warm smile.
"Knight, Evangeline!"
Dark hair all over the place, Eva hastily made her way up to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. Lily could almost feel the eye roll coming from Sirius. After only about ten seconds, the hat screamed:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily heard Sirius groan as Eva scampered down to sit next to Alice Anders and across from Lily. Lily clapped along with the other Gryffindors as Eva sat down, wide-eyed and grinning.
"Lupin, Remus!"
Remus made his way carefully up to the stool, giving Sirius a thumbs-up before sitting down and pulling on the hat. It was almost a minute before,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus was shaking as he made his way to the Gryffindor table. He gave Sirius a high-five and sat down next to Eva. "McKinnon, Marlene" then became and Gryffindor and "Nott, Theodore" became a Slytherin.
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
A small boy with a pasty face made his way quickly up to the stool. He sat there for almost two minutes before he was sorted into Gryffindor. He sat down next to Remus and gave him a sheepish grin, causing Remus to smirk and Sirius to roll his eyes. Lily noticed that he did that a lot.
"Potter, James!"
James took a step forward, following the same path to the stool that Lily, Sirius, Fiona, Eva and Remus had taken. He shakily picked up the hat and placed it on his head, and sat down on the stool. He needn't have sat down though, because halfway in bending his knees the hat screamed,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James gave a lopsided grin and jauntily made his way to the Gryffindor table to sit next to Fiona. He smiled at Lily; she smiled back.
They were all in Gryffindor.
A/N: Okay, first and foremost I would like to thank Aleana for helping me with everything having to do with the story so far and after you review.. (and you shall..?) you should go read her stories too and review. Because, and I will say this many more times to come, Revies are life.
Also, I just wanted to let everyone know that I WROTE THAT SORTING HAT SONG AND IT TOOK ME A FRIGGIN LONG TIME. So yeah. Just to let you know. heh.
This is more a developmental chapter as well; chapter 7 will be too. Chapter 9 is where it's at. But you'll have to wait, because I haven't written it yet, heh.
REVIEWW! now. thanks!