Chapter 4 – The Sorting

Hagrid the enormous half giant stood above the first years. Some of them gasped. Lil' and Jess grinned at him. He saw them and smiled back. They had met before. Their parents had been friends with him at school.

"Firs' years follow me!" He bellowed. He turned and led them towards the direction of the lake

"Hey!" came a yell. Lily and Jessica turned around. Running up to them was Venus and Octavias, in their brand spanking new Hogwarts robes.

"Hi again" said Jessica

"I'm so excited about being sorted!" said Venus "Me and Squid are bound to be in Slytherin. All our family have been."

"It seems plausible" said Lily coolly. Her Father had commonly go on about how dreadful the Slytherin house were

Venus did not catch the coldness she held on to Octavias' arm closely. He seemed not to care, Lil' guessed he was used to it.

The Hogwarts castle drew closer as they drifted across the water in the little boats. Lil' gasped. She had heard of the majestic beauty of Hogwarts from her parents and relatives. But it was nothing to witnessing it for her self. She looked at Jessica, her eyes were bright with awe and her mouth was in an open smile. Lily looked back at Venus and Octavias who were wearing, identical, looks of glee up at the castle.

Hagrid led the first years to the antechamber. There, an extremely pretty witch with long golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes met them. She wore soft turquoise green robes and held a total attitude of sincere air headiness. Still she seemed good-natured enough

"Welcome to Hogwarts" she said with a light American accent revealing her perfect white teeth "I am the deputy head Professor Sorax. In a few moments I will lead you through these doors into the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into your houses. Now there is nothing to worry about, as long as you don't trip up the hall way…like I did"

The first years giggled. Professor Sorax simply smiled her perfect smile and fluttered her eyelashes girlishly. "Now the houses are, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hugglepuff"

Octavias leaned closer to Venus and Lily overheard him whisper

"Three guesses which one she was in"

Venus suppressed a laugh

"Follow me" Professor Sorax said. Turning and opening the great wooden doors she led them into a large Hall.

The large Hall was more beautiful that Lily could even imagine, the bewitched ceiling showed the delightful twilight evening sky, with the floating candles scattered amongst the magical stars. The room was full of students in matching black robes at four long tables. The tables were spread under the four house colours, green, yellow, red and blue. At the end of the hall lay a long table where the teachers sat. In the middle of the table sat the Headmistress. Professor McGonagall.

Professor Sorax waited for the chattering students to quiet down before she said

"May I introduce to you the Sorting hat." She said presenting her hands out like a showgirl advertising a large prize on a game show.

Lil' smiled as she distinctively saw the Headmistress roll her eyes disapprovingly. McGonagall obviously disapproved of Sorax and it made Lily wonder why she employed her.

And yet another year draws near

Or so to speak I know

The year will go so smoothly as Hogwarts has no foes

A long time ago

In the ancients times I know

Their lived four different founders

And Hogwarts school was so

"Oh merry days"

As students had arrived

"We have them all to teach and learn of potions and of rhymes"

"We'll teach them tricks of bravery"

"We'll teach them spells untold"

"We'll teach them all of many things"

"As their year unfurls"

Said Slytherin "We first must check,

That their blood runs clear"

Said Godric then "Of course not no

As I am very sure,

The ones with pure blood in their veins

Have always known such fears."

"But what of those with the sun bright brains

The ones which come to matter, should they not be parted from

The rest? The ones which are no seers?"

"Oh damn you all" said Hufflepuff "Let this not tear our ways

We'll take each one and nurture them,

Every one the same"

And with one great swoop she took her hat and cast a simple spell

Along came I the sorting hat who put them where they'd will"

The song ended and the Great Hall cheered. As Lily cheered with everyone else she remembered how her parents had said that the sorting hat thought of a new song each year.

Professor Sorax held out a long parchment and smiled as she began to call the names out

"Accie, Kerri"

A small dark haired girl walked up to the platform and placed on the old ragged hat. It instantly jumped into motion. It pressed its head forward thoughtfully for a few minutes before shouting out

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor house cheered. The small girl took off the hat and jumped happily over to the Gryffindor.

Lily enjoyed watching the expressions of the teachers when which students were sorted into which house.

Professor McGonagall and a tall lady Professor with long black hair and snow white skin seemed to be most happy about Gryffindor. A Professor with short curly brown hair seemed most happy about Ravenclaws. A handsome Professor with a dark crew cut seemed most pleased with Hufflepuffs. Funnily enough Professor Sorax seemed most happy with Slytherins. Lily could not imagine a more unlikely Slytherin. It made Lily wonder if she just knew the students.

The crowd of first years slowly grew smaller and the sweets Lily had bought on the train began to feel farther and farther off now. She was very hungry. Suddenly-

"Malfoy, Octavias" came the Professor Sorax's voice. Her eyes narrowed on the name on the parchment and she gave a sort of lopsided smile. Lily saw her mouth something silently. How strange. Not only that but Lily noticed all the Hall seemed to be muttering something. She heard the words; Draco, Dumbledore and Snape

Octavias grinned at Jess, Lil' and Venus. He then walked coolly onto the platform placing the sorting hat on his sleek blonde hair.

The hat seemed thoughtful for a moment and then without falter shouted out

"SLYTHERIN!" the Slytherin table gave a polite cheer. Lily knew that the name 'Malfoy' was no longer popular even with them. But Venus was cheering with glee for her brother.

Professor Sorax gave another quick smirk and said

"Malfoy, Venus"

Venus took a dramatically deep breath and marched elegantly up to the platform and placed on the hat.

It sat in though. Saying nothing barely moving. Venus looked up at the rim of the hat confused. Lily guessed that Venus was expecting to be sorted into Slytherin immediately. The hat moved to one side, and again. Suddenly Venus mumbled something very quietly and the hat nodded and said

"SLYTHERIN" Lily clapped and Venus, looking extremely relieved ran over and joined her brother.

Lily wondered why it had taken the hat so long to sort her. She was the identical twin of her brother who had been very quick to sort. Surely they were not so different

Before she knew it the pretty blonde Professor called out

"Potter, Lily!"

There was much excited chatter through out the Hall. She distinctively heard 'Harry Potter!' mentioned. Oh well what could be expected?

Lily placed the hat on her head and she suddenly heard a strange voice in her head

"Well well well. Harry Potters child…well Gryffindor is in your blood…but ah…this is something I would like to have looked at more with your father…yes veeeryy interesting well I know just where to put you…'

"SLYTHERIN" it yelled

There was a gasp…

Slytherin?