Disclaimer: I do not own anything familiar. I do not own JKR's work. I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
Faith was a bit unnerved after the boat ride across the lake. Oh yes, swimming was all fine and dandy, but she'd heard some dark stories of what lurked beneath those waters. She was thoroughly relieved that the only time she'd come in contact with water was when a boy named Neville Longbottom accidentally splashed her. Still, she shivered a bit as the heat from the castle met with her cold skin.
An elderly witch that the giant Hagrid called 'Professor McGonagall' told them that soon; they would enter the door leading to the Great Hall. There, they would undergo a Sorting Ceremony before the feast. She also explained points and mentioned an award call the house cup. Looking over at her brother, she saw he was nodding to Goyle confidently. Did he always have to be so full of himself?
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Faith watched the emerald cloak McGonagall wore shimmer elegantly in the dim light as she left their chamber.
"Hey, Draco," She asked her brother quietly, "How do they sort the houses?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders. "Some sort of test, I suppose. But I won't have any trouble. Remember, we're both going to be in Slytherin, right?" Many saw Draco Malfoy as an arrogant, snobby brat-which he was most of the time. However, few saw him as a big brother who, despite his attempts to hide it, genuinely cared for his sister.
"Yeah, I know. Malfoy family tradition." She rolled her eyes and Draco rebuked her quickly with a sharp elbow. He respected his family and their pureblood lineage, while Faith had never cared one way of the other. That was probably the reason Draco was the favorite of the family.
As Faith pondered this thoughtfully, she was forced onto the ground as all three boys backed into her. She barely held back a shriek as twenty ghosts streamed into the room. They talked happily to the first-years and a chubby little man wished them to be in Hufflepuff. The others gave them a little encouragement before McGonagall, who had come back amidst the panic, shooed off the pearly-white specters.
"Now form a line and follow me." The first years obeyed her without argument as they were escorted into the hall.
Four long tables occupied the hall, with another one at the front of the hall was for the teachers. The ceiling was blackish-blue like the night sky the students had seen moments before, small silver dots that looked oddly like stars twinkled along with the flames of thousands of candles. It was, in all, perfect for a place called the Great Hall.
The first years were all gathered together in a front in front of the teacher's table. They saw no signs of a test or anything, just a stool with a ratty old hat that looked to be centuries older than any student in this school. Then, to everyone's amazement, it began to sing!
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a steady mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Faith sighed in relief. A hat? That was all? Talk about low standards. She noticed the girl next to her seemed to be a little upset by this turn of events. She'd heard this girl's name, Hermione Granger. She was apparently a muggle-born.
"When I call out your name," stern-faced McGonagall began, "You will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" As the named blonde approached the hat, all the students watched as it fell over her eyes. For a second, the breathing of the first years ceased and watched.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat declared after what seemed a lifetime of waiting. They all loosened up a tad as one-by-one the Sorting Hat sorted them into their respective houses.
"Granger, Hermione" became a Gryffindor and Faith smiled sportingly as the girl was seated at the appropriate table.
"Malfoy, Draco" came a few minutes later. Faith was not surprised when, after barely touching her brother's scalp, the hat declared, "SLYTHERIN."
The name directly following Draco's sent shivers up her spine. "Malfoy, Faith," McGonagall peered around and looked on Faith's as she stepped forward. She held her head high and seemed confident, even bored, with the entire affair. It was a genetic capability Faith had undoubtedly inherited.
She sat gingerly on the stool and took a deep breath as the hat was lowered onto her head. As it made contact, she heard a low voice whispering. "Hmm, a Malfoy…"
Just say Slytherin, please! Faith pleaded in her mind. After spending years trying to impress her family, how could she redeem herself if she did not get into Slytherin?
"Yes" the voice came again, "Slytherin blood runs through your veins, but that does not seem right. What about Gryffindor? Gryffindor could take you far."
Yeah, in the wrong direction. Faith countered. A low chuckle reverberated in her ears. What?
Nothing, nothing. Well, if you think you know what you're doing…
"SLYTHERIN!" The declaration rang throughout the Great Hall, like a jury reaching a guilty verdict. Standing proudly, Faith made her way to the Slytherin table. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Draco give a slight nod of approval. Maybe, perhaps maybe, she'd finally done something right.
Me: I was planning to put her in Gryffindor originally, but I had a sudden inspiration this weekend and decided on Slytherin. I finally bought the Goblet of Fire DVD. It was great! Not as good as the book, mind you, but good. I laughed with the Trio as I watched the bouncing ferret. I yelled at Ron right along with Hermione when he didn't ask her to the ball. I even cried with Harry when Cedric died. I'm such a sucker. Now to wait for the seventh book and the fifth movie… (Goes back to shutting herself in the computer room, determined to write fanfiction until either said book or said movie is released.)