Chapter 11: The Unique and Difficult Student

The hat opened his mouth…. saying in a quizzical voice, "Interesting, very interesting you are. A very… unique one…. yes.. yes you are. A once in a lifetime. An old wizarding family you come from. You are the only one I have come across that has the potential to be in all four houses. Yes, unique. Child, you are wise beyond your years… yet… you do not realize it, always wanting to learn more. A perfect Ravenclaw you can be. Though you are very loyal to those around you and can easily make friends. Loyalty at heart you are. Hufflepuff would be wonderful for you.

But temptation always creeps in. A need to prove oneself. A thirst for a power you do not yet know. The house of Slytherin can help you achieve your goal. But it is courage that weaves you together. Bravery keeps you from falling apart. You are very special. One has already done and we shall continue to see such greatness. Such power you have, yes. All houses will benefit you nicely. Hmmm….. in that matter you shall be in….."

Phoenix squeezed her eyes tighter, letting down a huge thick lump in her throat. 'I don't care which house I am in! As long as it is not in Slytherin!'

"Gryffindor!"

Phoenix opened her eyes as Professor McGonagall took the hat off. The Gryffindor table went bursting with applause as Phoenix jumped off the stool. She ran over and took her seat next to Hermione and Neville. Everyone welcomed her to the table by congratulating her, patting her on her back, and shaking hands.

"Yeah, Phoenix! We are in the same house!" yelled Neville.

"Yes, I am so glad too!" said Hermione, giving Phoenix a weird look.

But Phoenix ignored it. Instead, she looked up at the teachers' table. She felt like someone was watching her. A silver haired old man with half-moon shaped glasses looked at her in surprise. Phoenix shifted under his gaze. She didn't feel threatened by him. She felt as if he was looking through her. As if he was trying to find what she was trying to hide.

When she took her attention back to the table, two red-head boys with a cheeky smile leaned over,

"Hey! Welcome to Gryffindor!" They both said to Phoenix.

"Thanks," she said, trying to shake away an odd feeling.

"I'm George and this is Fred."

"Or are you Fred and he is George?" Phoenix asked, not falling for their trick.

"Ah…. good one! Okay, you're good, I'm really Fred and he is George. I think you met our brother Ron."

"And this is our older, not very cool brother Percy. He thinks he is so important because he is a, "Prefect"." George finished as both twins looked at Percy.

Phoenix laughed as Percy's face twitched a little, while he continued to listen to the sorting.

"Hey, Fred." Phoenix asked as she knew Fred and George would know her answer, "who is that man sitting in the middle of the teachers' table?"

Fred was a little confused. Surely, she would know who that famous wizard was? Hermione saw the looks Fred, George, and Neville were giving. "Oh, she is not from around here."

"Well, that is our headmaster Dumbledore. Where exactly are you from?"

Before she could respond, Professor McGonagall hollered,

"Potter, Harry!"

The whole hall went into a hissing parade. Everyone was whispering about what they heard.

'Okay, what is up with Harry?'

Phoenix leaned over on Hermione to grab her attention, but before she could say anything, she heard the hat cry out loud,

"Gryffindor!"

Everyone around her jumped and cheered. The other tables groaned their disappointment. All around her she heard the congratulations from the older Gryffindors. Percy was shaking Harry's hand uncontrollably, and the Weasley twins behind her were yelling,

"We got Potter! We got Potter!"

As Harry sat down, Professor McGonagall continued on when the crowd died down. A boy named Dean Thomas joined the Gryffindor table as a girl named Lisa Turpin became part of Ravenclaw. Then it was Ron's turn.

"This won't be a surprise." Phoenix heard Percy say.

Hermione leaned over as did Harry with their fingers crossed, hoping Ron would join them in Gryffindor. Ron became the last of the Gryffindors and the last student went to join the Slytherin table.

Ron sat down next to Harry as Percy congratulated him.

"This is so cool! We are all in Gryffindor!" said Ron excitingly.

"Yeah, so whose homework are you going to be cheating on?" said Phoenix, laughing along with Ron and Harry.

Hermione looked at all three of them in surprise. "You should never allow someone to cheat! Much less encourage it!"

"Hermione, I was not being serious!" Phoenix said.

"Well, you shouldn't joke on something like that!"

All Phoenix could do was roll her eyes.