I'm trying to make it most like each character thinking as I tell it, so I'm going to jump to Riley for her sorting, and then to my other exchange student Melody for the rest of the chapter. Enjoy
Disclaimer : I own nothing but the two transfer girls and plot.
Part Four (Sorting)
"Riley Collins" Bloody Brilliant. Now I get to put on a ratty, dirty, old hat to be sorted. What a sucky day! The only good part had been when some genius lifted the Slytherin bastards who hexed us up by their ankles. Seeing the girls skirts fly up had been priceless. Note to self: Find out who did it and marry them.
I slowly made my way up the stage to the kindly lady who had told us about the sorting ceremony. I couldn't remember her name..Professor McSomething. As I passed her I grinned and whispered, "You could have told us how icky the hat was."
With as small grin she put the hat on my head and I shuddered with disgust.
'Think I'm gross do you?'
"Ahh! It talks" I jumped up and flung the hat away from me in surprise. The whole school erupted into laughter. I looked at the table that I had seen James, Remus, Sirius and Peter at and I saw them doubled over laughing at me. Jerks. But hey, I'll admit. I over reacted. When Melody can't hold herself up because she's laughing too hard, then I know I was really funny.
Professor Nice Lady picked up the hat and said "It's only been shouting all night long dear" with a small smile.
"Well I didn't think I would talk to me." I sighed as the school quieted down to hear our exchange. "It's probably gonna yell at me now."
"Probably dear." The Professor grinned as the giggles continued and she put the hat back on my head.
'Not bright enough for Ravenclaw then'
"Well that's just rude!" I exclaimed, as the hall broke out in laughter again "Just cause I didn't think you would talk to me doesn't mean a damn thing!"
'You know that you can just think it and I'll hear you?'
"Oh. Really?" I grinned sheepishly before turning to Professor Nice Lady grinning, "Apparently I can just think it...Who knew." I shrugged as the hall erupted into laughter yet again.
'You're gonna make me the laughing stock of the whole school you know' I thought with mirth.
'Yes Apparently, but let us see. You have had a bad day haven't you.'
'You think?' I replied sarcastically.
'Well, you do have quite the temper dear. And a self-righteous air about you'
'I just don't like being called a Death Eater. Mel's Dad was one.'
"SHIT!" I yelled, before clamping my hands over my mouth, even though I thought it. "I didn't mean to say that!" This came out pretty muffled
'Please don't tell her I said that! Please!!' I begged, oblivious to the fact that once again everyone was laughing at me.
'It was a thought dear. It doesn't mean you betrayed her.'
"She'll hate me if she knows I told anyone! Even on accident!' My hands were still clamped over my mouth and I was near crying now.
'I won't tell...the question is can you forgive yourself.'
'I doubt it. What kind of friend am I that I told her biggest secret that easily?'
'Don't be so harsh on yourself love. It was a stray thought, and who is an old hat gonna tell anyway?'
'Thats true I guess...the old part at least' I laughed as the hat 'Hurumph-ed' at me. Out loud none the less. Cue the laughter.
'It's clear to me that you value loyalty and friendship above anything else. This would make you wonderful for Hufflepuff. Yet how you value a laugh, even one at your own expense and after the way you stood up for yourself and best friend today, it is quite clear to me that you belong in '
"GRYFFINDOR"
"Thanks Hat," I grinned as I took it off and looked as the table that the boys were at stood up and cheered. Most of them were still laughing, but it was all good. I looked over to where Severus was sitting and my expression softened. Please don't back out, please don't back out. I grinned as he smiled and nodded at me, before I walked to my new table and sat down with the first years. Melody's turn!!
(Melody POV)
God I did love that girl. Ridiculously hilarious, and today had really shown every reason why she and I had been friends for so long. She supported me, defended me, and amused the hell out of me. I now knew more then anything that this year was going to be terrible if I was in any house but Gryffindor. But I would not ask for it.
'Melody O'Brien'
Here goes nothing. I walked up to the stool and as I passed by Professor McGonagall and she smiled as I said, for the whole Great Hall to hear, "I'm not gonna be as entertaining. Sorry."
'THANKS MEL!" Twitchy yelled from her new house table. I stuck my tongue out at her as the school started laughing again and the hat fall over my eyes.
'Oh my you are quite the intelligent one aren't you.'
'I guess.' I thought, not shocked at all by his voice as my zany friend had been,
'And humble. A good quality to have. Loyal as well. You two are like peas in a pod.'
I grinned as I replied, 'She's been my best friend for years.'
'Yes, that is what the loud girl said,' I couldn't help but laugh at this. 'And you appear to be carrying a huge burden. You have incredible strength to have made it through something like that.'
'Everyone has secrets.' I thought awkwardly. He must have pried that out of Riley, for I had never even thought about it. I couldn't expect her not to hate it though, and how could I hate her for thinking about it. She kept my secret when someone wasn't prying invasively around in her head.
'Loyal, and forgiving.' I could almost hear the hat smiling. 'I think that makes you perfect for'
"GRYFFINDOR"
I heard Riley's scream in glee before anyone else had a chance to react. She must have been on the edge of her seat, waiting for a reply.
'Thank you!!' I thought before ripping the hat off and running to my new table to hug my best friend as the rest of the table stood up and cheered.
'Never before," the headmaster had stood up, and the whole hall quieted. "have both transfer students been in the same house." He winked at us, and I couldn't help but grin. 'This should make for an interesting year. As always the forbidden forest is off limits to all..."
I turned to Riley and grinned. "Hello, best school year ever."
She smiled at this and said, "Well hopefully they don't kick us out before the year really gets good."
"Kick you out, you mean?" I asked innocently.
"Yeah," she smiled.
"At least you're telling the truth." I sighed
"I'm a hopeless case and you know it!" She smiled and all of a sudden the plates before us filled with food. "Sick! I guess he finished his speech...that was another thing I was supposed to pay attention to wasn't it?"
"Yeah it was, but I don't really care this time. Dig in!" We spent dinner getting to know the first years sitting around us. Riley spent all of her time talking with Bill Weasley. Nice kid, apparently he had two younger brothers who were insanely jealous of him coming to Hogwarts.
"Well siblings are hard enough to deal with anyway. I mean, I've got twin brothers and they are a huge pain in the ass." Riley was telling Bill.
"Worse then you?" I grinned at her as Bill choked on his chicken laughing, when all of a sudden two faces were at the edge of the table staring at us. My face went blank as I nudged Riley and pointed at them. Inside I was giddy. I knew they were sorry...but now Riley was gonna drag them through the ringer for it.
'What is it Mel...oh" She put down her knife and fork and crossed her hands over her knees.
But before she could say anything the two boys said "We're sorry!" in unison, and then put on the saddest puppy dog eyes I had ever seen. Shit...Riley was a sucker for puppy dog eyes, and I knew she had it bad for Sirius. She surprised me though.
"Oh you are, are you?" She said haughtily and turned away from their looks and glanced at me. I knew this wasn't gonna be as funny as I had hoped.
"We got back the Slytherins who tried to hex you." James said.
'That was you!?" I burst out in shock. Good thing I did too, cause Riley's eyes bulged and her lips twitched.
Riley's face quickly went stony again. "And you think that just a little prank will get you back in our good graces?"
They looked at each other abashedly and shrugged.
"Well it kinda does," Riley admitted sheepishly, "But only a little!" she quickly corrected and eyed them, gesturing with her thumb and forefinger to show how much.
The boys grinned, "Its a start" they said in unison.
"Wanna come sit with us?" This was from Sirius.
"Riley smiled and said, "I like my first year buddies. Maybe tomorrow." She then turned back to eating.
"Do you accept our apology though?" James look quite worried.
Riley just nodded as she now had a large amount of salad in her mouth. I grinned, nodded, and shooed them off as I took a sip of my pumpkin juice. 'This is gonna be a great year,' I thought as the boys walked away and I eyed Remus grinning at me from down the table. "a great year indeed'
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