Chapter 5: The Sorting

A/N Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been in a slight writing slump, which prevented me from finishing the chapter. Please take the time to review my story. It really helps in the writing process, and I like to receive constructive criticism from you readers. Many thanks to my wonderful Beta, ZriptideZ. Also, I have recently added a picture for my story and for my profile. The credit for those goes to my wonderful best friend, Milkshake and Cookies.

Neville and Rose talked for the next few hours. At some point, the brown haired boy fell asleep, and Rose pulled out her mother's diary. It was magically expanding, meaning that when closed, it shrunk to the size of a pocket dictionary; but when open, it was about one foot thick with a cover measuring 8" by 11". It had a featherlight-charm on it, as well as a locking ward that meant it could only be accessed by someone who shared your blood.

Rose had started reading it in her spare time at the Dursley's, which admittedly wasn't very often. She was only halfway through her mum's first year. There was one person mentioned quite frequently, someone named Severus. He was apparently her best friend, which surprised Rose. When she was little, her mum had only had a few best friends, Alice, Dorcas, and Marlene. She had never heard a Severus mentioned before.


It was nightfall by the time the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station. Rose had just finished changing into the school robes, and was trying to wake up Neville.

"Neville, wake up. We're at Hogwarts!" Rose couldn't believe it. She was finally at the school her parents had loved so much.

Blearily, Neville woke up and left the compartment to change. By the time he came back, most of the students were seen pushing their way out the train and crowding onto the platform.

As they got off the train, a booming voice called out, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here. All right there, Rosie?"

Hagrid dwarfed all the students around him, his lantern acting as a beacon for the lost first years.

"C'mon, follow me—anymore firs' years? Mind yer step, now. Firs' years follow me!"

The eleven year olds were led by the gamekeeper to a dock, where a fleet of rowboats rocked slightly in the lake.

Rose got her first glimpse of Hogwarts as the boats rounded a bend to face a cliff. The castle stood out magnificently against the inky black lake and the rough grey cliff. Candlelight illuminated all the windows that adorned its many turrets and towers.

The boats were magically guided towards the face of the cliff, which had a small section carved out. That tunnel led them inside the cliffs, to a small underground harbour where everyone got out of their vessels.

Hagrid led all the new students to a passageway that opened up to reveal two great oak doors. The gamekeeper raised his large hand and knocked three times. In response, a stern looking witch with black hair and emerald robes opened the door to greet them. Rose immediately recognized her as Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House.

"Firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

Professor McGonagall opened the doors wide and let the students inside. They stood in a cavernous entrance hall, lit with torches. The first years could hear a slight rumble from their right. There were two more doors, which Rose assumed held the rest of the students.

The professor led them across the hall to a side chamber, which they crowded into.

McGonagall began to speak to them in a lecturing tone, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.

The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rear of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while waiting." And with that, McGonagall exited back into the Great Hall.

Whispers broke out as soon as she closed the door.

"How exactly do they sort us into the Houses?" Neville asked as his toad Trevor continued poking its head out of his robe pocket.

"Some sort of test, I think. My older brother Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking," the red-haired boy of whom Rose had met on the train earlier, Ron, spoke up.

"Don't be ridiculous. All we have to do is try on the Sorting Hat. I read all about it in Hogwarts: A History." This time it was a girl who talked. She was of average size, with bushy brown hair and large teeth.

Before anyone could ask about the hat, Professor McGonagall came back in.

"The Sorting Ceremony is about to start. Now, form a line, and follow me." Rose headed towards the end of the line, right in front of Neville, with the bushy-haired witch in front of her. The first years were herded back out of the chamber and across the Entrance Hall.

The new students entered through the double doors. Floating candles illuminated the room, making the gold plates that adorned the tables sparkle. There were four tables, each one long enough to span the length of the hall. McGonagall led them to the front of the hall, where the teachers sat behind another table. The ceiling was a vision of a perfect night sky, dark inky black with glittering stars.

The professor placed a stool in front of the staff table, so that the sorting could be seen by the whole student body. On the stool was a patched, frayed old hat. Rose immediately recognized it as the Sorting Hat, having been described in her mum's journal.

The hat sang its song, and one by one the first years were sorted into their Houses. When Rose's name was called, the Hall erupted in whispers.

"Potter, did she say?"

"Not the Rose Potter?"

"That's her; that's the Girl-Who-Lived!"

The last thing Rose saw before the hat was placed over her eyes was the heads of hundreds of students craning to get a closer look at her.


Oooh, you've got a very bright mind. Fair bit of cunning as well. And what's this? You've got nerve, daring. Immense loyalty to those you love. Quite modest, too. Now, where to put you? Slytherin would be a bit too much. And Ravenclaw would be a good match, but I sense there is something more to you.

Now, Hufflepuff. You would be great. Just, loyal, hardworking, modest. You could bring greatness to the Badgers. Too long have they been shamed, thought to be useless.

"Please not Hufflepuff."

And why not Miss Potter? I know you have a high opinion of it, based on what you said to young Mister Malfoy about them.

"You know about that?"

Well, I will say that it did leave an impression on him. Too long has he been under the thumb of his parents, indoctrinated by their beliefs. But yes, I do see everything in the mind of whoever puts me on.

But back to you, Miss Potter. You would be great in Hufflepuff. Oh, I sense what is wrong now. It's your relatives, isn't it?

"I don't want to become what they've tried to make me. They expect me to be hardworking, humble, unobtrusive. I think that I can be more than that."

Very well put, Miss Potter. You will do well in life. Good luck with what shall lay ahead. Your new house is-

"GRYFFINDOR."

Rose felt a wave of relief wash over her as she took off the hat and walked to her new House table. Secretly, she had been hoping for Gryffindor, as cliche as it might sound. It was her parents' and uncles' house, and Neville had too been sorted there.

Rose really did not have anything against Hufflepuff, especially considering what she told Malfoy. It was more for her image, you'd say. Everyone would expect her to be in Gryffindor, it was her parents' House. And the whole 'defeating one of the evilest wizards in existence at the age of 1' thing she had going on.

The new Gryffindor was greeted with many exuberant handshakes as she sat down at the table. The Weasley twins were even shouting 'We got Potter!' along with a group of their fellow third years.

Rose waited while the rest of the firsties were sorted, and clapping politely each time a new Gryffindor was added. The green-eyed girl was starving by the time the Sorting had ended. All she had had that day was a few pieces of candy.

Finally, after the last student -Blaise Zabini- was sorted into Slytherin, the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore rose to give a speech.

Rose immediately recognized the Grand Sorcerer. He looked exactly the same as he had in the war, the same as he had when he left her on the doorstep that cold night in November.

Yes, the young Gryffindor was still slightly peeved about that. Seriously, what kind of adult leaves a 15 month old baby on the doorstep of a house in the middle of the night, in November, in England?

The emerald-eyed girl turned her attention to the Chief Warlock, little good that did her.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say as few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

Rose grinned to herself slightly. There was the barmy, lemon drop-loving old coot she remembered.

Dumbledore clapped his hands twice. Instantly, the golden serving dishes filled with every food imaginable. Steaks, chops, roasted chicken, roast beef, black pudding, shepherd's pie, roasted potatoes, boiled potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, cabbage, applesauce, gravy, and, of course, the infamous peppermint humbugs. According to Hogwarts: A History, they were added to the menu of the Opening Feast after a group of Muggleborns and Halfbloods staged a protest in the early 1900's.

Rose filled up her plate, and scarfed it all down. She hadn't had much to eat that day, nor that much the past month with the Dursleys.

While they were eating, the first years struck up a conversation.

"I'm half-and-half. Me dad's a Muggle. Mam didn't tell him till after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him," a sandy-haired boy with a thick Irish accent said. The raven-haired girl vaguely recognized him as Seamus Finengan from the Sorting.

So far, Rose hasn't really said anything. To be honest, she was quite nervous. The young Gryffindor was a bit scared of receiving a lot of attention. That was why she had tried to keep a low profile in Diagon Alley and on the express.

Eventually, the desserts came out and the feast ended. Dumbledore stood back up for a few parting words.

As Rose looked past him, she locked eyes with another teacher. He was pale, with greasy black hair hanging in front of his eyes, framing his blank face. He almost, almost looked surprised for a second, but had masked over so quickly that Rose wasn't even sure if she'd seen it.

The dark haired man sat next to a different teacher, this one with a large purple turban. A second after their eyes met, a sharp flair shot through Rose's infamous scar.

Her hand flew up to above her eyebrow, but no one noticed except Neville.

"Are you alright, Rose?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

The brown-haired boy still looked concerned, but didn't press the issue.

Inside, Rose's mind was whirring. The scar had lit up, if only for a brief second. It felt as it had that night, the green light burning into her skin, searing her brain. The new Gryffindor could also feel a slight headache forming in the back of her skull.

Luckily, the feast was drawing to a close. The last traces of food had vanished from the plates, leaving them pristine. Dumbledore had also arisen from his chair and was standing at the podium, which was adorned with a golden owl.

"Well, now that we are all fed and watered, we can begin the start of term announcements. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridor.

"Quidditch trials will be held on the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House team should contact Madam Hooch.

"Finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a painful death."

Murmurs erupted at this. Friends looked to one another, puzzling over why the new restriction had been set.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song. Now, everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go."

The Headmaster waved his wand like a conductor, and the lyrics floated in the air.

Everyone sang to a different beat, though most sang super fast, so that they could get through it as quickly as possible. Rose also noticed a lot of Muggleborns singing popular songs, which included a lot of Queen and Duran Duran.

When they were finally done, Dumble sent them all back to their new dormitories. Rose and the other first years followed Percy and Bridgette, the other Gryffindor fifth year prefect.

The students were led up and down many staircases, which all slowly revolved and shifted. They eventually found themselves outside a portrait of a lady in a pink dress, whom Rose recognized as the Fat Lady.

"Caput Draconis," the red-haired perfect said with a snooty voice. The picture swung forward on its hinges, revealing the room within.

The Common Room looked quite cozy in Rose's opinion. Stuffed armchairs sat around the large oak tables. Comfy looking couches were placed right in front of the fireplace, which was roaring.

The female prefect led the first year girls up to their new dormitory. She explained on the way up that the stairs were boy-proof, meaning that no male could walk up the stairs without them turning into one long stone slide.

After formally introducing themselves, the new Gryffindors got ready for bed and finally fell asleep.