Disclamer: Yes, that's right. I don't own any characters that anyone else owns. And I don't own the sorting hat song, Katie made that up for me (cookies-will-invade). I'd say she's a wonderful person, but she keeps yelling things at me that start with up and end with dates... What are those, again?
Charms
Chapter Three
GO!
"First years, to me, please. First years!"
Lily went towards the multicolored sparks and the female voice sounding from near the edge of the lake. There were boats lining the shore, and it looked like this was what was going to take her to Hogwarts the rest of the way. She could see a bit of the castle from here.
Other first years were getting in the boats, so she got in an empty one. Shortly after, two girls got into the boat. One looked quite nervous, and had big glasses that she kept pushing back up her nose. The other looked nervous, maybe even more nervous than the first girl, but she was trying to hide it under overdone, intense stubbornness. Neither said a word to Lily as they were taken to the castle, although the second one glared at Lily the entire time.
When they got there, a giant of a man was wating at the gates to let them in. He nodded to their escort, and closed the gates after all of the first years were in. Once the middle-aged, stern faced teacher assembled them, she led them inside and adressed them as a whole.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, I'll be your Transfiguration teacher and head of house for those of you sorted into Gryffindor. Now, when we go into the Great Hall, you will be called one by one, in alphabetical order, to be sorted. Once you have been sorted, take a seat at the proper table. Before going in, place your bags by the door, they will be carried to your rooms after you are sorted."
All around her, she could here some of the students talking about what house they wanted to be in.
"-hope I get into Ravenclaw, all of my family was, would be horrified if I wasn't-"
"-don't get into Hufflepuff, I hear they're a bunch of duffers-"
"Blimey, hope for Gryffindor, they're the best house, and all-"
"-Obviously be Slytherin because-"
Lily didn't say a word, but hoped she was either in Gryffindor with Ria or Ravenclaw with Katie and Valerie. After a few minutes, they were led into the Great Hall. They all took seats at an empty table and waited.
Everyone quieted down, and looked expectantly at a battered old hat on a stool. To Lily's surprise, it burst into song!
Once, so long ago,
When I was not so smart,
T'were four friends of great renown
Who never thought to part.
They shared a goal, a common sight
And so Hogwarts came to be
And watching, silent, from the side
An innocent hat like me
First of all came Godric,
Noble, pure of mind,
Like-minded spirits he took in
And taught them in his kind
Sly Salazar there was,
Clever and sharp of wit,
Only those of purest blood
With whom he'd share his bit
Rowena came after,
Fair and knowledge filled.
Those with the sharpest brains
By her would be most thrilled.
Sweet Helga followed with,
Honest, just, and good,
With those leftover from the three,
She did all that she could.
Four houses named after each,
Four families to unite,
Which one do you resemble?
I'll put you in the right!
But for now, I'll say some words
You might take to heart
This term, before the rest,
Find loyal ones at start,
Make your friends so dear
And never let them fade
Trust them most, above yourself
And call them first for aid.
For coming up, not so far,
Will be a time for right
You'll need these friends,
So dear, so kind, to help you in the fight.
And now for fun, now for you
The suspense I'll throw away
And newcomers no more,
Shall join into our fray!
After that, there was a lot of clapping, and then Professor McGonagall stood back up and started reading off names authoritatively.
"Abbott, Sara."
A scrawny brown-haired girl made her way to the Sorting Hat, sat down, and jammed it on her head. Right after she did, the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Andrews, Michael."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Black, Sirius."
The hat took a little longer debating about the boy that just put him on.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The boy had a huge grin as he walked to the Gryffindor table.
A few more names were called before it was Lily's turn.
"Evans, Lily!"
She walked up nervously and put the hat on her head as she sat down on the stool.
Either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor! she thought to herself, and the hat.
Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, eh? Well, you certainly fit both. But, we'll go with...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
She made her way happily to go sit by Ria at the Gryffindor table.
"Congrats, Lil!" whispered Ria as Lily sat down kitty-corner from her. Lily grinned.
More names were called, including Davey Gudgeon (Hufflepuff), Remus Lupin (Gryffindor), Peter Pettigrew (Hufflepuff), James Potter (Gryffindor), and Severus Snape (Slytherin). And last of all, was a small girl by the name of Yvonne Zann(Ravenclaw).
Dumbledore finally stood up, and called for attention. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I'd like to say a few words before the feast. Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!"
Lily stared at Professor Dumbledore, and tried to not laugh. She could pick out the first years now, as the ones with the most stunned expression on their faces at their Headmaster's idea of 'a few words.'
Food started appearing on the table, and Lily helped herself to what was near, including pork chops, potato chips, fresh fruit, and peppermint humbugs. Everyone was quiet for a few moments as they took the first bite, but then the conversation came back in full force.
"Lily! Glad you could make it!" remarked Ria joyfully. Ria helped Lily to be introduced to the others near her.
"So, Lily! Ready for your first year at Hogwarts?" asked one fifth-year prefect, Garett Parse.
Lily nodded as she chewed a bite of roast beef. "I hope so."
"Have you ever flown, Lil?" asked a third year, Matilda Spice.
"No, I'm muggleborn. What's it like?"
"Amazing. You'll love learning how. I'm half, me mum's a witch. Boy, was dad surprised!" Lily grinned.
"Since you're muggleborn, Lil, I expect you've never played Quidditch?" Garret tilted his head as he asked Lily.
"Um, no. What is it?" Lily tried a bite of pork chop with unidentifiable gravy.
"The most amazing sport EVER, Lil. And I hear Ria here wants to try out?" Ria nodded casually. "Nick's our Captain, he's a chaser. I'm the Keeper. Tillie here is another Chaser along with Leon Lucian, a fourth year. My brother, Daniel, is a Beater, and Raven Seavert is our Seeker. And, most likely, Ria will be our other Beater. It's a wonderful game, Quidditch is, and-" Garrett was cut off as Dumbledore stood up.
"Now that we've eaten, I've a few more words to say. First off, the Forbidden Forest, as it's name implies, is FORBIDDEN. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Pringle, wants me to remind you that there will be no magic used in the corridors between classes. Quidditch tryouts will be the second week of the term, see Madam Hooch if you desire to try out."
Dumbledore paused a second before continuing. "Everyone, follow your prefects to your respective common rooms. Bed!"
The Gryffindors followed Garrett up a few staircases, in which one first year got stuck in a trick step and two fourth-years helped him back out, down a hall, and around a corner.
"Higglety-Pigglety!" said Garret to a portrait, a picture of a fat lady. It took a few moments, as the portrait seemed to be deep in discussion with another painting.
"Oh, whoops! School's started! That's it, dear!" The portrait swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common rooms, and everyone filed in.
Lily walked up the girl's staircase, and found a door labeled "First Years." She opened the door and stepped inside, to find her stuff on one of the red four-poster beds in the room. She pulled out her pajamas and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready to sleep.
Her other roomates weren't there when she got back from the bathrooms, so she collapsed on her bed and drifted quickly off into dreamland.