Thanks for all the reviews, everybody! I really appreciate it! I've been wanting to write this chapter, (there's a cute, subtle VicTed moment in here). Victa gets Sorted! Yay!
Chapter 4
An hour later, we'd all changed into our robes and talking together. Odysseia told us about how she'd been born in Greece but had moved to England when she was three. She was fluent in Greek, just like I was fluent in French. I thought it was extremely cool, having something like that in common.
Tracy had her nose pressed up against the window pane, and started squealing excitedly as she saw Hogsmeade coming up.
All of us, except Delaney, joined her. The train jumped to a stop, and the horn went off. I jumped up and grabbed Vanna's cage. We opened the door to our compartment and fought the crowds of other students as we left the train.
"Here, I'll take your owl," said a Prefect next to me. "She'll be taken to the Owlery, and then the cage will be put in your dormitory." She smiled at me, as I handed Vanna's cage to her.
"Firs' years, this way! Firs' years, over here!" called a booming voice from nearby. I looked up to see Rubeus Hagrid, a friend of the family's, calling and beckoning with a platter-sized hand.
I motioned to Joelle, Tracy, and Odysseia (Delaney had disappeared) to follow me.
"Hello, Hagrid!" I shouted, raising my hand.
"Is that you, Victa?" he called. "Well, yeh've gotten taller since the last time I saw you! You and your friends find a boat now!"
I nodded and led my friends to a boat. We all piled in, and the boats began to float across the lake toward the grand castle. Tracy grasped my arm. "Is it real?" she whispered. I nodded.
Before long, we'd reached the opposite shore. We all clambered out of our boats and moved in a large crowd up the stone steps. When we reached the top, we saw a tall man with dark hair and a round face.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said, smiling. "My name is Professor Longbottom. I'm Deputy Headmaster here and I teach Herbology. I'm also head of Gryffindor house. In a few minutes, we'll take you into the Great Hall to be Sorted into your houses. Here's an advance welcome for any Gryffindors," he said, winking.
He went back into the Great Hall and chatter broke out among us. I knew perfectly well that there was a Sorting Hat. But some other students (possibly Muggle-born) were speculating. Some were worried that they'd have to do spells already. I wanted to tell them, but I didn't want to spoil it for them.
"You may come in now," said Professor Longbottom. I jumped in excitement and walked with Joelle, Odysseia, and Tracy into the hall. Several heads turned toward us. I felt my ears heat up and turn red. That was one trait of my father's that I did inherit, but I wasn't necessarily happy about it. I brushed my hair over my ears so people wouldn't be able to tell.
"We will now begin the Sorting," said Professor Longbottom. "First up! Adamson, Joelle!"
Joelle jumped. "Why oh why did my last name have to start with A?" Joelle groaned.
She walked tentatively up to the Hat and Professor Longbottom placed it on her head. A few moments passed, and then the Hat cried out "GRYFFINDOR!"
The hall broke out in applause as Joelle skipped to the Gryffindor table, relief etched on her face.
Next was "Archelly, Brendan," and he was Sorted in Slytherin. Many people went by, being Sorted into different houses. Then Professor Longbottom called a name that I knew.
"Goyle, Delaney!" Delaney flounced up to the Hat. Before the Hat even touched her head, it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" Looking satisfied, Delaney went over to the Slytherin table.
More and more people left the crowd of Unsorted first years. Then Tracy's name was called. It took the Hat a while to decide on her, but it chose Hufflepuff. By the look on her face, I could tell Tracy had wanted Hufflepuff all along, but had said Gryffindor to try to fit in. I felt bad about it, but at least she'd gotten what she'd wanted.
I grasped Odysseia's hand as the crowd narrowed even further. Then, her name was called. "Papadakis, Odysseia!" She winced as she walked up the steps to the Hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat exclaimed. Odysseia squeaked with relief and hurried over to sit by Joelle.
A few more names were called, and then it was just me and another boy standing there. My ears were burning hot now, and I had to push my hair back behind them to cool them off. It felt like a giant beacon, "Look at the puny French girl with the flaming ears!"
"Weasley, Victoire!" I sighed as Professor Longbottom pronounced my name correctly. He'd saved us both from embarrassment.
He placed the hat on my head.
"My, my!" said the Hat's voice in my ear. "You're an interesting one! Your mother didn't even attend Hogwarts, did she? But your father, yes, a noble Gryffindor! You are clever, I can see that, and kind-hearted. But you are noble, like your father. Good, good, I know where to put you!..."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I nearly fainted. The Hat was taken off my head and hurried over next to Odysseia and Joelle. I was greeted by a hug from each and several pats on the back from people I didn't know. I looked over across the table and recognized the boy who I'd nearly run into on the train. And yes, his hair was turquoise. I'd never seen anything like it!
Our eyes met. With a sly grin, his hair turned scarlet and gold, sticking up all over his head. I smiled. He must be a Metamorphmagus! I'd never met one before. I wondered what his name was.
"Welcome, students, to a new year at Hogwarts!" exclaimed the headmaster. His name was Julius Orion. Any thought about the Metamorphmagus boy was wiped from my mind. At least, that was true until I felt a strange sensation, as if someone as watching me. And, without even looking, I knew it was him.
After Professor Orion's speech, we were sent up to our dormitories. I was astonished to see all my things already there, packed neatly in the chest of drawers. I also saw Vanna's cage, just as the Prefect had told me.
I couldn't do much thinking, however, simply because I was so exhausted. I changed into my nightgown and fell onto my bed. I was consumed by a deep sleep in the wink of an eye.