A/N: Thank you to everyone that commented. This next chapter may raise a few eyebrows…the big mystery part will begin in the next chapter. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing…I promise…

Chapter 8: Sorting

The boats went through a dark tunnel, "Watch yer 'eads!" Hagrid cried.

"OW!" the boy sitting next to Alan cried.

"Too late!" Lily Jane shouted.

Then they came to a little harbour within the castle where the water level got lower until they were just resting on rocks. "Follow me," Hagrid said getting out of his boat, "Single file." The first years walked up a flight of stairs towards a huge door that lead them inside the castle. Hagrid opened the door and the kids scrambled inside.

"Well, firs' years…firs' stop, Professor Flitwick," Hagrid said. Lindy remembered that name from her letter but didn't see anyone in the room.

"Down here kids," a soft voice said.

Everyone looked down at the floor there stood a miniature man with a white beard and purple dress robes. Lindy thought he looked like a garden gnome. A couple of students (including Rubella, her posy, and Cole) laughed and pointed, "We're taking direction from an elf?" a girl in the back whispered.

"That's goblin to you," the little man retorted. Lindy figured he was only half goblin since he looked more human than the ones at Gringotts. "My name is Professor Flitwick and in just a few moments you will be sorted into your houses." Lindy realized he was using a spell to make his squeaky voice sound louder. "Here at Hogwarts your house is your family, if one of the members does something wrong points will be subtracted, if a good deed is done, points will be rewarded. At the end of the year the house with the most points wins the house cup and there flags will be hung in the Great Hall. There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. After you're sorted there will be a grand banquet to start off the new year."

Lindy felt tingles in her stomach. What if they tested her? She only knew one spell…Alohomora which wouldn't do her any good unless there was a door to open.

"Form a line!" Professor Flitwick ordered, "Follow me."

Everyone obeyed and followed him down the hall towards two big doors. Professor Flitwick opened them (with Alohomora) and motioned the kids to stop. Lindy was amazed by what she saw. The hall had four long tables: one for each house, no doubt. As well as a table in from where all the teachers were sitting. She counted thirteen in all. They were all shapes and sizes. Lindy smiled when she spotted a centaur, a half-man half-horse figure she had read about, then gasped when she saw the man from the leaky cauldron who looked straight at her then quickly turned away.

In the very middle of all of them sitting in a big throne-like chair was an elderly woman in emerald green robes and grey hair in a big bun. Lindy guessed she was McGonagall, the head mistress.

The grandest thing about the Great Hall was the ceiling. It was velvety black dotted with stars, bewitched to look like the night shy. In the middle of everyone's awe four pearly white reflections flew over them. "Pardon me!" one said. Lindy gasped.

"Ghosts!" Alan cried in a harsh whisper.

"Don't worry," Lily Jane assured him quietly, "I live with a ghost they're just dead people, not scary at all."

"Don't be so sure," one said and made a fake scary face at them. A few students giggled. The ghost stuck his tongue out and flew up towards the teachers.

Professor Flitwick then motioned the kids to go to the front near the table of teachers. Lindy guessed that he was standing on the side to avoid being trampled over.

What Lindy hadn't noticed before was that I n front of the table was a very small stool. On top of it was a pointed witch's hat. It was grey (most likely originally black) and dusty.

Suddenly the hat moved and a rip near the bottom opened like a mouth and it began singing:

A talking hat who reads your thoughts, preposterous you say.

But soon you'll find there couldn't be a more clever way.

Try to confuse me, go ahead and try.

The truth is there's more to me than meets your untrained eye.

But just how untrained are you? What lies deep with in your mind?

For there's nothing I, the thinking cap cannot find.

And when I do I'll place you in the house that fits you best.

Yes it's my job to find out what separates you from the rest.

Maybe you're a Gryffindor. Brave and noble there are it's true.

Could that brave a noble mind lie deep with in you?

Or maybe you belong in Hufflepuff. Yes they are just and loyal.

Yes old Hufflepuff believed that wizards shouldn't toil.

Then there are those Ravenclaws, full of wit and learning.

It's up to me to decide if you young minds are yearning.

The house of Slytherin is where the cunning folk are placed.

Yes those purebloods are still around and yet to be erased.

So put me one! Don't be shy!

I won't bite, please don't cry.

Don't you try and run.

For I promise you I'll make your stay at Hogwarts fun!

The hat bowed to each of the tables and the whole hall began clapping. The first years clapped quietly, their mouths open in amazement.

"So we put the on the hat and it reads our mind to decide which house we go to?" Lindy whispered to Lily Jane.

"It would appear so," she answered.

"It's not going to say our thoughts out loud is it?" Alan asked in a worried voice. Lily Jane shrugged. Lindy silently agreed.

Professor Flitwick stood up on the chair that had been empty for him at the teacher's table. He held a long scroll and announced, "I'll call each on of you up in alphabetical order. When you hear your name sit on the stool and put on the hat."

Lindy was never fond of alphabetical order. Since her name started with a "B" she was always one of the first ones called.

"Appleton, Alyssa!" Flitwick called. A short girl with golden locks in the back of the group tip-toed towards the stool and placed the sorting hat on her head. She just sat there biting her bottom lip until the hat finally shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Alyssa sighed and sat down at the table on the far right where everyone was cheering the loudest.

One more student was called and sorted into Ravenclaw then, "Beiner, Glinda," the goblin said. Everyone stared at Lindy.

"That's her!" someone whispered, "That's his daughter." Rubella Parkinson looked nervous and it appeared as if many students at the Slytherin table were muttering their house's name under their breathe.

Lindy slowly walked over to the stool, picked up the dust old hat, and placed it on her head slowly as if she was afraid it was going to burn her. The moment it touched her blonde hair she could hear a tiny voice whispering, "Mmmm…well we all know the obvious choice here."

"Slytherin," she thought.

"Yes, Slytherin," it hissed, "I know just where to place you…GRYFFINDOR!" It screamed even louder than last time. Lindy's mouth fell open and the entire room was silent. She just sat there, still amazed.

"No way," someone (that sounded like a teacher) whispered. After a few seconds (that felt like an hour) a boy with dark hair and pale sin sitting next to who appeared to be a Weasley cousin stood up and began clapping. After him everyone clapped and cheered, that is, except the Slytherin table of course. Lily Jane squealed and Liam Finnigan whistled. Jamie clapped but didn't stand up with the rest of the Gryffindors. Lindy hopped off the stool and sat next to Liam who gave her a low-five. Lindy felt herself blush for the second time that day.

"Now you get to sit back and watch everyone else be tortured," Gordon Weasley said quietly leaning across the table. She smiled as Boot, Lydia became the second Ravenclaw.

Crabbe, Quinton was the first sorted into Slytherin. Lindy watched him sit down at the table next to theirs and everyone. Everyone glared at her, she quickly looked back.

"Creevy, Celina!"

"Oh, that's me!" a girl with wheat-coloured-wavy hair holding a magazine announced in an anxious voice. She eagerly put on the hat that almost immediately cried, "RAVENCLAW!"

"I knew it!" she informed the whole room, "Just like my mum!" and happily waltzed over to the table on the far right.

Next, an unenthusiastic boy, Damien, Keith became the second Slytherin and Davies, Ireland continued the Ravenclaw streak.

Cole approached the stool after the second Hufflepuff: Finch-Fletchly, Connor. "GRYFFINDOR!' the hat cried without a surprise to anyone. Cole came up behind Lindy, "Can I sit there?" he asked. Lindy nodded disappointedly and let Cole squeeze in between her and Liam.

After Cole three other students including Ursula Goyle (Slytherin of course) were sorted after her Kerr, Dylan became a Ravenclaw and Jordan, Cynthia was pronounced the third Gryffindor.

"Longbottom, Declan!" Flitwick called. The heavy-set boy scuttled up to the hat and let it slide down over his yes. He smiled a crooked-tooth grin when it called, "GRYFFINDOR!" A male, dark haired teacher in blue robes stood up and cheered the loudest. (Lindy wondered if they were related) Declan took the hat off and attempted to run over to the Gryffindor table. Unfortunately he tripped and landed on his face in the process. Everyone giggled, Lily Jane helped him up.

After McNulty, Donald was sorted into Hufflepuff and Ogden, Priti to Ravenclaw Rubella's name was called. The hat didn't even touch a strand of hair before it cried, "SLYTHERIN!" Rubella still looked disgusted and purposely bumped into Alan (who's name was called next) on her way to the Slytherin table.

Lindy could tell Alan as nervous so she gave him a thumbs up as he slowly placed the hat on his head. After almost a minute it finally cried, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Lindy and Lily Jane both cheered very loudly and Alan smiled and sat next to Lindy. "I guess we were both surprised today," he said.

Lily Jane became a Gryffindor of course, "Congratulations," Jamie said as she took a seat next to him and across from Lindy. From there they watched Sheffield and Smith go to Hufflepuff, Thomas, Hemal as well as Adam go tot Gryffindor. Zambini, Ferguson and Alexia Zybrick were the last names and both became Slytherin.

The whole room was loud and talkative right after the sorting. Some were congratulating others, some were laughing about the outcomes, and others were still whispering about he shock with Lindy.

"Students!" the loud scratchy voice of Professor McGonagall cried as she stood up. Just then the whole room was silent. "Thank-you," she said, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. As a reminder to all: classes begin tomorrow and all of us expect good behaviour out of every…single…one of you." She paused and glared at everyone in the hall. Lindy already wouldn't think of crossing her. "All returning students know the rules, prefects be sure to inform the first years. First and foremost I'd like to say that no one is allowed out of bed after nine except under special circumstances and no one is allowed in the dark forest, at all.

"At all?" Liam asked, "In past years they've allowed us in with a teacher.

"Yes, Mr. Finnigan," McGonagall said, "Not at all. And speaking of teachers, as most of you have noticed, we have a new staff member. Give a big Hogwarts round of applause to Professor Godwin, you're new Potions teacher." A bald man with a humpback and round-think-glasses (more so than Mr. Potters) stood up and bowed.

"Another old geezer," on of the triplet boys whispered to the other.

"The one before was old Horace Slughorn, he was about a million years old, died over the summer no shock there," Isolde explained.

"Now," Professor McGonagall announced, "I do hope we're looking at another bright, adventurous, fun year. Now lets all join in singing our school song!"

Lindy saw the triplets along with many other students roll their eyes. Then they all broke out into cheesy melodies

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."

She and Alan exchanged glances before breaking out into giggles.

"No, we feast!" Professor McGonagall cried.

Everyone cheered. Lindy gasped and looked down at the table which was suddenly filled with enormous amounts of delicious looking food including steak, chicken, corn bread, cranberry sauce, green beans, squash, fish, meatloaf, and a huge tub of Yorkshire pudding. All appeared by magic. At that moment Lindy had forgotten all the terrible facts she had learned and all the people who saw her for something she was not. Now she was simply seeing the joys of magic.

The rest of the evening was very pleasant. The food tasted just as good as it looked. Lindy spent most of dinner talking with Lily Jane and Alan. She learned a lot of stuff about Lily Jane's siblings and cousins as well as good or bad rumours she's heard about Hogwarts. She and Alan mostly talked about their home life and how surprising it was to receive a letter to Hogwarts.

"My mum's still in denial I think," Alan said, "She's probably cooking dinner for me right now." Lindy giggled and finally felt that she wasn't the only one in her position.

Nobody at the Gryffindor table ran into Rubella Parkinson that night and Lindy was very glad. She couldn't imagine how mad that girl was and she didn't want to find out. Although, she somehow assumed this wasn't going to be the last she saw of Rubella and her group.

"Follow Lucinda," Gordon informed them. "She's the one with the neon blue hair." Lindy hadn't seen anyone with neon blue hair. Just then a light-brown haired girl sitting near Gordon stood up and her hair all of a sudden turned blue.

Lindy and a few of the other first years gasped. "How'd you do that!" a petite black-haired girl asked.

"I'm a metamorphmagus," she explained, "I can change my appearance at will."

"You were just…born that way?" Declan asked.

She laughed and nodded, "This way first timers." On their way out the door one of the ghosts few in front of Lucinda, "Good evening, children," he said.

"Sir Nick," Lucinda said. The ghost did look like a knight from perhaps the fifteenth or sixteenth century.

"Hey!" Adam cried, "You're nearly headless Nick!"

Lindy saw Alan make a nauseous face. The ghost frowned. "How can you be nearly headless?" the same black-haired girl asked.

"Not after eating," he answered. A chorus of "ewww"s came from the first years. "Carry on Lucinda," Nick said smiling.

Lucinda lead the kids up many stair cases. So many Lindy's feet began to get tired. All were out in the open, not protected by walls. Lindy was thankful she wasn't afraid of heights. Although, she thought Alan may be. He was clinging to the railings and whimpering along the way.

"I warn you," Lucinda said, "These staircases move, you must be extra careful. And a map may be helpful as well." Just as she said that the staircase they were just on moved to the right and attached to another doorway. Declan was about two steps away from being moved with it. "You'll get used to it," Lucinda added.

The Gryffindor commonroom was guarded by a picture of very fat lady in a pink gown. "Password?" she sang. Lindy thought Alan was going to topple over backwards but she wasn't surprised, she had read about talking pictures in the first chapter of Hogwarts: A History.

"Accipio," Lucinda said and the picture swung to the left out of the way to reveal the commonroom. "The boy's dorm is to the left, the girl's dorm is on the right," Lucinda informed t hem, "Boys head upstairs now, your things are there and so is Gordon ready to tell you the rules."

Alan, Adam, Cole, and the other three boys quickly headed upstairs to their dorm. "Now, girls," Lucinda said to the five of them, "As far as your dorm goes, you will be sharing it with the other girls in your year so try to keep it clean. Keep in mind that points can and will be deducted for fights and pranks. Oh, and one more thing…you ca go into the boy's dormitory if you wish but the boys can't be in yours. In fact if they try and do so the stairs will turn into a slide. We get our privacy." Everyone smiled at that.

Lindy and Lily Jane ended up getting beds together. Lindy's was by the window and Lily Jane got the bottom of the first bunk bed with the black-haired girl whose name was Ariel Grey. The other two girls were Cynthia Jordan and Ophelia Urchart.

"My parents are Muggles," Ophelia informed them, "I had no idea Hogwarts even existed."

"Me neither," Lindy said.

"But everyone knows that," Ariel said, "I was shocked when they put you in Gryffindor."

"So was the rest of the hall," Cynthia added.

"I wasn't," Lily Jane said, "You were brave enough to stand up to Rubella today. Plus, you never knew your wicked father, how on earth could you be at all like him?"

Lindy smiled and ran a brush through her long blonde hair. She had already gotten her pyjamas on so she climbed into bed clutching her old, tattered, baby blue blanket that her mother said she's had since she was a small baby.

"Good night," Ariel said turning off the lights. All five girls were obviously exhausted. Lindy fell asleep almost immediately. She usually dreamed the most unusual dreams but tonight nothing that she dreamed could compare to the reality she had lived that day.

A/N: So, what do you think? Anyone surprised? I take credit for that sorting hat song by the way  R&R!