"Aaron, Naomi!" was the first name to be called. Naomi took a deep breath and sat on the stool, jumping slightly as the hat was placed on her head. Caitlin watched nervously as her best friend twirled her hair, a habit she had.
"Gryffindor!" the hat finally called out. Naomi smiled and gave Caitlin a thumbs-up as she took her seat.
Black, Sirius was also made a Gryffindor, and Bride, Gabby was the first Hufflepuff. Caitlin tuned out until the next name she recognized was called.
"Evans, Lily!" Lily appeared to be having a serious debate with the hat, which she must have won, because her smile was very wide when the hat proclaimed her a Gryffindor.
Caitlin was getting nervous. Ella, the girl from their boat, was made a Hufflepuff, and shot a disappointed look over her shoulder to Naomi and Lily, who were sitting next to each other. Caitlin felt a pang of jealousy.
Finally, "O'Connor, Caitlin!" was called. Caitlin pushed her way up to the stool, smoothing her skirt out as she sat down.
Hmm… interesting…fascinating… said a small voice in her head.
So happy to amuse you, can we please get on with the sorting? Caitlin thought.
Hmph. The hat humphed. Be careful. I hold grudges.
Caitlin smiled. Maybe I do too.
What could you possibly do to me? The hat scoffed.
Tons of things. Please just sort me into Gryffindor and be done.
Oh, no! The hat chuckled. You don't belong in Gryffindor! You belong in Slytherin.
No! Caitlin screamed internally. No, no, please, no! If not Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff! Not Slytherin!
Sorry. The hat smirked. You'll do well in Slytherin!
The hat shouted out the last word for the whole hall to here. Caitlin grabbed it off her head, shook it, threw it on the ground, stomped on it, and handed it back to the Professor before storming over to the Slytherin table, muttering the whole way about grudge-holding hats. Naomi glanced at her and gave her a look that clearly said, "Oh well."
Caitlin bit her lip and tried not to cry as she saw Naomi saying something to Lily that made her laugh. She should be the one sitting there, laughing with Naomi. She was Naomi's best friend since as long as she could remember! Not Lily. Stupid flippin' Lily!
Caitlin only picked at her dinner, and as soon as they reached the Slytherin dungeons, she flung herself facedown on her bed, which was quilted with silver and green, and burst into tears.
Everything had gone so completely wrong in one word! By saying that one word, the hat had sentenced Caitlin to seven years of complete hell! Why did that hat have so much power over her? Why did Dumbledore trust that thing that was probably infested with lice?
Caitlin sat straight up. Dumbledore. She could tell Dumbledore that there must have been a mistake, that she didn't truly belong in Slytherin. She tried to imagine his reaction and slumped back in her pillows.
Of course Dumbledore would say, "I am certain you are in the correct house. The sorting hat is never wrong." And the sorting hat would be there, sitting on a shelf, and laughing at her. And Caitlin would have to fight the urge to rip that hat into pieces so small that it would be beyond repair, even to a genius like Dumbledore.
Everything was ruined! Caitlin let out a sob, and immediately after, realized she wasn't alone. A couple of girls she would be living with for the next seven years were giggling. One said, "If she thinks sobbing will get her into Gryffindor, she's mistaken. Gryffindor doesn't accept crybabies." The other one laughed.
"What's your name, crybaby?" The first one jeered.
"Caitlin O'Connor," Caitlin mumbled. "What're yours?"
"I'm Mary Kate, and this is my best friend Madalyn. You don't have any friends here," The second sneered at her.
"If she is in need of a friend, we'd be happy to help that need as best we can." Came a voice from the doorway. Caitlin whipped around, as did Madalyn and Mary Kate. Two girls stood in the doorway.
"Hello Caitlin," one said. "My name is Rhonwen and this is my twin Aphrodite, but you can call me Ronnie and her Aphro."
"Hi," Caitlin muttered, suddenly shy.
"You don't want to be friends with those losers," Madalyn scoffed.
"Yes, I do. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to go to bed," Caitlin said, recovering her bravery. She climbed in bed after changing into her pajamas, and thought about why the hat could possibly see her as Slytherin material. The Slytherin Quidditch team came to mind, which brought on another thought.
Caitlin wasn't as much of a jock as Naomi, but they had even planned to be Beaters together! How could they be Beaters together, when they were playing on different teams?
Suddenly Caitlin sat straight up in bed, hit with an idea. She wrote it down so she wouldn't forget and fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Maybe being in Slytherin wouldn't be so bad after all.