A/N: It's been loooooooooooooong I know. Please except my apology- especially since my apology offering is this chappie! It's the longest I've ever written!!!!!! I like the end, myself. - My poll for the week is... What's your favorite KIND of story, or your favorite EVENT in a story? Please reply, because you just might see something like it occuring here in my story!
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Reborn Ashes- Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat
"The generous and the brave lead the best lives."
Norwegian Proverbs
The First years gazed in awe at the beautiful craftsmanship of the sculptures in the gigantic castle called Hogwarts.
In the foyer they found four statues standing each in front of a beautifully woven tapestry, which either read Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. For these were the four houses at Hogwarts.
The statue of Gryffindor was a sturdy man, with a long robe, holding a sword, with his name engraved upon it in one hand, and grasping an envelope in his other.
Helga Hufflepuff sat at a wonderfully carved stone table, with a teacup in her hand, which matched the tea set on the table. She sat regally with her back straight and a grandmotherly smile on her face.
Rowena Ravenclaw was found standing amongst piles of stone books, and gracing the tip of her wand in her slender hands. Her face sculpted with the utmost care, in a exceedingly wise expression.
And, finally, a serpent coiled at the base of a cauldron, next to Salazar Slytherin who issued a piercing stare towards the center of the room, as if he could tell (though he was made of stone) if you were truly a worthy wizard.
"Welcome First years, to your new home." A slightly familiar voice echoed, as none other than Professor McGonagall slid down the stairs.
"I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor house, and your transfiguration teacher here at the school. The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses." The Professor motioned to each of the statues as she recited their name.
"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.
"Your house here will be like your family. You will attend classes with them, sleep in your house dormitories, and share your house common room together." The First years listened intently.
"Also, whilst you are here, your accomplishments, and triumphs will earn you points for your house. However, rule breaking will result in the loss of your points.
"At the end of the year, whichever house has the most points will be awarded the house cup." Many of the First years grinned excitedly at each other.
"The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily."
Immediately after the grand doors were opened to the Great Hall, Lily understood why her hands were shaking. She was very nervous, and eventually, her knees started quivering.
She looked to both Charlotte and Maggie, and at their creased eyebrows, and goose bumps, Lily knew she was not alone.
When they'd come in, Lily had tried to find James, and Sirius. She had not seen them since they parted on the train. Even with James' rumpled hair…she could not seem to find them.
Although Lily hadn't found James, or Sirius, James had had no difficulty whatsoever spying Lily. (Her carrot red hair sort of gave her away.)
He had meant to wave to her, so that she'd spot them, but he'd thought better of it when Sirius began to investigate in just who he was looking for so desperately.
James was nervous too, walking into the Great Hall had suddenly made James feel very small. All the students would, of course, be older than he and his friends. Not to mention how gigantic the room was in comparison to him. It did have to fit them all inside after all.
In front of the room now, Professor McGonagall placed a ragged, old, over patched hat, with many tears and frays on a wooden stool. And then…
Everything went silent. The hat was talking!
Oh you may not think I'm prettyBut don't judge on what you see
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in old wise Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!The First years stood confused for a moment, but joined in clapping with the other students as the hat finished it's 'song'.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, "When I call you name, you will put the sorting hat n your head, and be sorted into your houses.
"Abbott, Brett!" A short stubby blonde boy immerged from the crowd of First years. He set the sorting hat, though timidly as if it would bite him and gobble him up, upon his head, and jumped as a faint murmur erupted in his mind.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The sorting hat shouted, and one of the long tables burst into applause.
"Alisson, Kiara!" McGonagall announced, and a surly girl, with a dull, expressionless face stepped up to the hat. Undaunted as it shouted,
"SLYTHERIN!"
James observed as the many First years were sorted.
"Allred, Elina!" was sorted into Hufflepuff, and "Avery, Erebus!" easily became a Slytherin. But then…
"Black, Sirius!"
James gave his mate the thumbs up, and a 'little' push, as Sirius trudged up the steps.
In his mind Sirius heard the sorting hat mutter, "A clean blood line for sure, but unfailing courage lies deep within your skin. A fair bit of cunning though either…what's this? Against your destiny are we? We'll see how you do, then, in…GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!" Sirius shot James an amused look, and sauntered over to the Gryffindor table. James wanted Gryffindor even more now.
Dumbledore watched as Minerva wrote down the houses of each student…
Bridgeman, Aden - Ravenclaw
Crabbe, Irene - Slytherin
Dearer, Bob - Hufflepuff
And then…Lily Evans was called.
Lily was only half-awake when she heard her name. But her legs guided her up the stairs to the sorting hat, while her arms, as if someone else's, put the sorting hat on her head. It whispered…
"Here! Another pure heart! A brilliant mind, loyalty, kindness, and mounds of courage, only needing a key to unlock your treasures! And of course, look here! You posses very unique virtues as well. I believe your place is in GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lily beamed!
The Gryffindor table cheered. When she saw James as she ran, she saw him grin broadly at her, and she smiled brilliantly back as she found a seat near to Sirius'.
Dumbledore smiled. He'd heard the sorting hats words. An intent ear helps in such things! Young Miss Evans would obviously be more than just a grand student for the next seven years.
Everett, Emmy –Ravenclaw
Farrows, Keegan – Ravenclaw
Gleason, Eve – Gryffindor
Harvey, Darin – Ravenclaw
Holland, Loraine – Slytherin
Iverson, Julie – Hufflepuff
Jennings, Annie – Ravenclaw
Johansen, Toby – Hufflepuff
Kihn, Zeldazina – Hufflepuff
Kihn, Zibunysa – Hufflepuff
"Longbottom, Frank" James watched go to Gryffindor. As did another young boy, with a pale moon face, a bony body, two sad eyes, and his grayish-brown hair. James hoped he'd be able to sit at the same table as this young boy. As he'd seen Lily walk to Gryffindor, he found his yearn for Gryffindor that much stronger.
Meadowes, Dorcas – Raveclaw
Nottt, Hester – Slytherin
Ottis, Abigale – Hufflepuff
Parkinson, Mark – Slytherin
Parkinson, Max – Slytherin
Peterson, Jazel – Slytherin
"Pettigrew, Peter!" Astonishingly also went to Gryffindor. He was chubby, with flat, dull hair, colorless eyes, and a jittery disposition as he tottered up the stairs, chewing his already gnawed off fingernails.
Then, finally…"Potter, James!"
Lily smiled as James walked to the stool, and put the hat over his frizzled hair. It made her wonder as they sat there, what exactly the hat was saying up in his head. But she didn't get much of a chance to really think about that, because…
"GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!"
Lily cheered!
Sirius whooped!
And James just sprinted down the steps to take the seat next to Sirius, and across from Lily, who smiled wonderfully back at him, even when they sat down.
Lily, James, and Sirius watched as Maggie was also sorted into Gryffindor. Maggie seemed pleased, but a little out of spirits as she noticed James across from Lily. Lily wondered back to the day at Diagon Alley, but was forced not too, when Charlotte came careening down the aisle squealing. Throwing herself at Maggie and Lily in a huge hug she said, "We made it! We made it! We're all in Gryffindor!"
The headmaster smiled as he saw the young girls huddle together. Already making friends. He thought smiling kindly.
Professor McGonagall was copying down the last of the students and their houses.
Potter, Margaret - Gryffindor
Prewett, Alice – Gryffindor
Quincy, Cole – Ravenclaw
Rookwood, Augustus – Slytherin
Snape, Severus – Slytherin
Turner, Charlotte – Gryffindor
Urvine, Brady – Hufflepuff
Walch, Winter – Ravenclaw
Worth, Holly – Ravenclaw
Young, Graysen – Ravenclaw
Zunk, Joshua – Hufflepuff
Professor Dumbledore looked up with silver eyes as the last of the students were sorted. A very promising year- both good and bad- he observed. But it was now time for the Start of Term words.
"Welcome, everyone, to Hogwarts!"
James quieted down, with the other students as the best wizard of all time stood to address the students.
It was the man his father had always spoken so admirably of: Albus Dumbledore.
"I'm sure we're all in for a spectacular year! But there are a few people I'd like the students to recognize for their services.
"Our Professors and faculty always work very hard to supply the students, with the things they need. We are very grateful to the time and effort they present every year." The students all clapped politely.
"This year, I am glad to announce Joseph Potter, and Miranda Watson as our Head Boy and Girl. Good luck to you." The Gryffindors clapped and whooped the loudest, until the Professor put his hand up for silence.
"…And also, to our Prefects." All the houses screamed in support for their prefects (and Charlotte gave an uninterested look towards her sister in the neighboring table.)
Dumbledore smiled, "But enough of that! I'm sure you will all come to discover, or re-discover, just how great everybody at Hogwarts is. However, I believe it is time for the feast!"
Looking back at their tables, the students found stuffed turkeys, chicken legs, roast beef, sausages, steak, boiled potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, steamed carrots, corn, gravy, dinner rolls with honey-butter, salads, fruits with marshmallow dip, wild rice, mint jelly, even peppermint humbugs!
Sirius' eyes widened, and he exchanged glances, with one of the Gryffindor boys, Frank Longbottom.
"Dig in!" Sirius shouted, and piled everything and anything he could reach, onto his plate.
James and Lily smirked at this, and Lily daintily forked a grape, while James took to slicing up a few porkchops.
Lily felt a nudge at her side. "Do you know them?" Charlotte asked her, in her normal volume- loud!
Overhearing, James stopped trying to spear some peas, and answered for her. "Oh! We met at Diagon Alley, getting our wands and all that. Say, which wand did you get Lily?" James turned to Lily curiously.
"Willow, ten and a quarter inches, with a phoenix feather. Why?" Lily placed some turkey in her mouth.
She has very good manners, James noticed- the napkin was on her lap and her elbows never touched the table! Sounds like someone his mum would like, he thought.
"No reason, how about you – 'er."
Lily realized she hadn't introduced Charlotte to him, but, of course, Charlotte didn't give her the chance.
"I'm Charlotte Turner, I met Lily on the train this afternoon. My sister Lydia is a chaser on the quidditch team, although Scottie will probably be the new beater that they're looking for. He's really good! I want to be seeker next year, Lily's going to be chaser, and Maggie's going to be keeper and-"
James interrupted ("Smart guy. Daring too, interupting Charlotte of all people." Lily thought.), "Planning to be chaser are we? Do you normally play that position?" He directed at Lily.
Again, Charlotte was not one to be, without her share in the conversation (or more), "No, silly, she's never even played before! But I'm going to teach her! She'll be fantastic, unless of course she has no quidditch skill whatsoever-" Lily looked very downtrodden.
"- but she's too smart, and nice to be that bad!" Lily grinned exquisitely.
Gorgeous smile, James thought again.
"I might be able to give a few pointers." James smiled, "My dad was on the quidditch team – captain even – when he was here. He was in Gryffindor too! He taught me how to fly. I don't mind being chaser or seeker myself, but I'll have to be a chaser, since seeker is already taken." James teased, Lily smiled, and Charlotte spoke up.
"Indeed it is! Wow! The whole team is already set up for next year! Brilliant!" And she popped a blueberry in her mouth, and took a breath to speak again, when Sirius exclaimed at the thousands of desserts at the table.
James laughed.
Lily giggled.
And they both bent for the cherry pie, grabbing the knife at the same time.
James' eyes darted away, and he let her cut the pie.
Lily blushed and handed him the first, biggest piece
"This year is going to be perfect." Lily thought
The years ahead looked bright to James, and he took the piece of pie from her, soft, slender, white hands.
A/N: Like I said, I like the end! Hope you liked it! Plez drop a review! And answer the poll!
What is your favorite kind of story? Or your favorite event in a story?
Reviews should make me post faster! Winter break is in a few days!
-Hermione-lilypotter1234
