Welcome to Hogwarts School
Where we know what you are able to do
We know of your magical stuff
Because the rest of us all have it too!
So if you want to show it off
And prove that you're brave
Then, well, the strong live in Gryffindor!
Just please try to behave!
If, however, you prefer
A slightly more cunning plan
Then perhaps there"s Slytherin
And Salazar"s your man!
If you are too generous
And so loyal and so kind
Then head on over to Hufflepuff
To others with similar mind!
And if you appreciate the brain
And the smarts and the truth
Then you"ll find comfort in Ravenclaw
With the rest of the "wise" youth
That, then, is Hogwarts
Wrapped up in my song
And if I were to sing again
I"d expect you all to sing along
The Sorting Hat stopped singing as abruptly as it had started. Lily snapped out of her thoughts and began clapping with the rest of the student body.
The first years stood in a huddle directly in front of the raised platform where the hat was on a stool had a similar expression to the one on every first year"s face during this part of the feast. Sheer amazement at the fact that a hat could talk, let alone SING!
Professor McGonagall, a seemingly brisk and professional woman, began calling the names of the students to be sorted.
"Abersynth, Amy!"
A moment's pause and then the hat erupted.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The yellow-and-black clad group around the table on the end burst into applause, yelling and whooping and patting their new member on the back as she sat down. The rest of the hall politely clapped. This carried on for a while, and Lily began to run on autopilot, applauding when necessary, but thinking about something else, her mind totally focused elsewhere.
"And finally, Werner, Antony!"
The word "finally" finally brought Lily back to the moment she was meant to be in, and she paid attention as the last first year standing was sorted into Ravenclaw.
When the cheering had finally died down to a low roar, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up from his seat in the middle of the very large teachers' table and made his way to the podium, which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and replaced the hat"s stool on the platform.
The second he rose, silence struck. A small smile played at the corner of his lips as he began to speak.
"Welcome back, everyone. Except you new students. Welcome for the first time, for you. This year we attempt to better ourselves and each other, and we will learn. Yes, even us teachers will learn a thing or two." He chuckled as his smile spread to most of the tables in front of him. "This year we welcome back our teachers, and say a big hello to the newest addition to our family, Professor Helen Tierney, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Grubbly-Plank is on maternity leave. As for Defence Against The Dark Arts, Professor Slughorn will be taking lessons for our first and second years, Professor Sinistra will be teaching our OWL students, and I will personally be teaching all of our NEWT students. This is hopefully only temporary, until an obvious person suited to the role pops up, but until then, you'll have to put up with us." He began to laugh again, and was soon joined, however uneasily, by the students in front of him.
Lily's heart was racing. To be taught – actually taught – by Albus Dumbledore? The man who defeated Grindelwald? The only one He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was afraid of? Oh, this will be good. This will be very, very good!
"One last thing!" Dumbledore's voice reverberated around the room. "I wanted to introduce and congratulate our new Head Boy and Girl! So please will you stand up, to immense applause, I'm sure, Lily Evans, Gryffindor, and James Potter, also Gryffindor!"
Gryffindor House table was in riot. Screaming, hollering, banging fists on the table, stamping their feet. To have both Heads from the same house was almost unheard of. Somebody started a chant, very faintly at first. She was certain it was one of the Marauders, but others started catching on, and soon all of Gryffindor was shouting "James! James! James!" at the top of their lungs.
James?
Tears stinging at the back of her eyes at the lack of acknowledgement, Lily slowly sat down. The chant carried on. She was the one who was best in the year, and deserved Head Girl! More than him, at least. Why does he get all the credit when she does all the work?
"Quiet down, now." The headmaster muffled their cheer with just 3 words, and everyone was soon sitting properly again, paying attention to the man at the front. Except Lily. Eyes downcast, she was trying her very hardest not to burst out in tears. "I think we've exhausted ourselves now. Off to bed, all of you! First lessons tomorrow morning!"
And with that, everyone began to leave the Great Hall. Lily hung back, uncertain whether to actually join in the Gryffindor crowd or just go her own speed. She decided on the latter.
The staircases had decided tonight would be a good night to completely switch around, so the trek to Gryffindor Tower was long, and she had never felt more lonely.
