I don't own Harry Potter. The usual. Darn it...
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Chapter Five- Of Sing Hats and Houses
The oak doors swung open to reveal a very thin, tall, strict looking witch with black hair done in a tight bun clothed in emerald green. Hollis knew from what she sensed that this woman was fair, but definitely not a person to anger.
"The first years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said dutifully. McGonagall nodded curtly.
"Thank you, Hagrid. First years, follow me," McGonagall said. They followed quickly behind her. Hollis thought that the inside was grander than the outside. It was all stone, with a marble floor, and suits of armor were littered along the walls. Portraits hung on every inch of wall space that they had, and the stair cases were ornately carved. The foyer itself was enormous. Hollis did some mental math and calculated that Uncle Vernon's house could be fit in the foyer, four times over.
McGonagall was a brisk walker, but they didn't walk for very long. They stopped in front of a pair of intricately carved doors.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Before you take your seats in the Great Hall, let me explain a few things. There are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now, while you are here, your house will be like your family. You eat together, sleep together, and spend free time together. If you do well, you will earn house points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. These points will be tallied up at the end of the year and whichever house has the most, will win the House Cup.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place momentarily in front of the rest of the school. I suggest that you… tidy yourselves up a bit before I return," McGonagall said sternly. Here she stared at Ron's nose which still had dirt on it. Hollis tried to flatten her hair- it was up in a ponytail to keep it out of her face- but failed miserably.
"I will call you when we are ready," McGonagall said before opening the doors and walking out of the foyer. Hollis caught a quick glance of the Great Hall. She swallowed the lump in her throat. There were a lot of people in there…
"Ron? What is the Sorting Ceremony?" Hollis asked quietly to Ron, who was desperately trying to rub the dirt off his nose.
"I'm not entirely sure. George said it was really painful, though," Ron said, looking quite white underneath his red hair. Hollis started to feel queasy. She started thinking about what the sorting could be and she started thinking so hard, that she almost didn't notice people gasp or scream when silvery beings floated into the room with them. They were ghosts. Hollis felt her mouth drop open.
"I say we give Peeves another chance," one rather plump ghost said sincerely.
"Friar, we have given Peeves more than enough chances! Oh, I say who are all of you?" another ghost said, this one wearing a high collared ruffled shirt, just noticing the pale and jumpy soon to be first year students.
"Oh, it's the first year students! I'm the Fat Friar everyone! I hope to see you in Hufflepuff! It's my old house you know," the Fat Friar said good naturedly. The group of ghosts smiled at them kindly and floated into the Great Hall.
A moment later, McGonagall appeared before them once more. "We're ready for you now," she said while beckoning for them to follow her.
They walked into the Great Hall and Hollis felt her breath hitch in her throat. The Great Hall was an enormous dining hall with ornate arches covering most of the walls. Four long tables were placed methodically in the hall, according to houses. If Hollis was correct, then Slytherin was on the far right, Gryffindor on the far left, Ravenclaw next to the Gryffindors and Hufflepuff next to the Slytherins. The ceiling was very high and it seemed to open up to the night sky. But Hollis knew better. She had read Hogwarts, A History cover to cover and she knew that the ceiling was bewitched to look like the night sky. She heard Hermione whisper this to an Asian girl eagerly.
In front of them was a high table, the staff table. Hollis noticed Hagrid, Professor Quirrell, and Professor Dumbledore were sitting at the high table. There was an empty seat, presumably McGonagall's seat.
On the stage in front of the staff table was a three legged stool and a tattered old hat. Hollis and Ron looked at each other, their faces mirroring each other's confusion.
Did they have to pull a rabbit out of the hat?
That sounded stupid even in Hollis's head.
Suddenly, the seam split into a broad, lipless mouth, and it began to sing.
"Oh, you might not think I'm pretty,
But 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 am 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 out 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 wise old 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 am a thinking cap!"
When the school burst into applause, Hollis was torn between feeling slightly crazy or just as excited as the rest of the school. Ron gave her sidelong look, one that quite clearly said 'What was that'.
"When I call your name, you may take a seat on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat. Abbot, Hannah!" McGonagall called. A pigtailed, pink faced girl walked nervously onto the stage, sat on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat.
"We only have to try on a hat?! Fred was going on about wrestling a troll! I'm going to kill him the next time I see him!" Ron whispered to Hollis angrily. Hollis felt warm relief bubble in the pit of her stomach. Yes, trying on a hat seemed much better than performing in front of the school but… it was nerve wracking to say the least. Especially for the person sitting on the stool.
Hannah Abbot looked particularly ill underneath the ebony black hat and the Sorting Hat's pause had taken away what was left of her rosy complexion.
After a moment's deliberation, the Sorting Hat screeched, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hannah Abbot smiled and took off the hat shakily. She walked down to the Hufflepuff table and Hollis saw the Fat Friar smile at her kindly.
"Bones, Susan!"
Hollis thought that Bones sounded like a familiar surname but that thought slipped quickly from her mind as Bones, Susan was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Boot, Terry!"
Boot, Terry became the first Ravenclaw and moments later, Brocklehurst, Mandy went to Ravenclaw as well. However, Brown, Lavender became the first Gryffindor. Holly could see Ron's twin brothers cat calling.
Bulstrode, Millicent became the first Slytherin. Hollis didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It may have been her imagination, but Slytherin house did look like a nasty group of kids.
As Flinch-Fletchy, Justin was sorted into Hufflepuff, Hollis began to feel nauseous. She felt as if she was in muggle school again and was being picked for teams. Hollis was actually quite athletic but she was always picked last. It didn't matter if she was good or not; everyone was too afraid of Dudley to pick her first.
"Finnigan, Seamus!"
The sandy haired boy that had ridden in the boat with Ron and Hollis walked up to the stage and after nearly a whole minute was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione literally ran up the stage and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. Ron gave Hollis and incredulous look and Hollis just shrugged. She had sensed the first time she had met Hermione that she was quite passionate and a bit of an overachiever.
After a couple of seconds, Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor.
Ron groaned beside Hollis and she just gave him a sympathetic look. But something else was bothering Hollis other than Ron's misery and annoyance with one Hermione Granger. She was worried about the sorting itself. What if they had made a mistake? What if she was sent home back to the Dursley's? No… she was being irrational… but what if…?
She hardly noticed that Neville Longbottom, the toadless boy from the train, was sorted into Gryffindor and then proceeded to run off the stage with the hat on his head. The hat had squawked indignantly and everyone had laughed while he gave it to MacDougal, Morag.
It was Malfoy's turn next. He sauntered up to the stage and was sorted into Slytherin almost as soon as the hat touched his head. Hollis saw his wide smirk as he walked over to the table on the far right.
There weren't many left now until she was sorted.
Moon went to Ravenclaw, Nott went to Slytherin and a pug faced girl named Parkinson followed him. Next came a pair of twins, Patil and Patil, who went to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectfully, then a girl named Perks, Sallyanne went to Hufflepuff and then…
"Potter, Hollis!"
Hollis felt the stares of the student body piercing holes into the back of her head and whispers broke out in the hall as soon as she stepped forward bravely.
"Potter did she say?" one said rather loudly.
"The Hollis Potter?" another said in return.
Hollis ignored them all. She sat down on the stool carefully, lest her shaky knees give out on her. McGonagall dropped the hat over her eyes and the Great Hall was obscured by black folds of linen. She nearly jumped when she heard the oily voice of the Sorting Hat in her ear.
"Hmm, difficult… difficult… I haven't had this much of a challenge in years… You have plenty of courage, there's no doubt about that… not a bad mind either; in fact, you're rather curious and enjoy learning… there's a lot of talent here as well and a thirst to prove yourself… But where to put you?" said the Sorting Hat.
Not Slytherin, not Slytherin… Hollis chanted in her head, her hands griping the stool and her new robes.
"Not Slytherin, eh? But you'd fit in so well there… it's all right here in your head… and Slytherin could help you on your way to greatness… (Here Hollis started chanting again) Are you sure? Well, it better be…" the hat whispered.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat yelled out to the Great Hall. Hollis hardly noticed through her giddy relief that she had spent the most time on the stool and was receiving the loudest applause yet. She vaguely heard the Weasley twins start chanting 'We got Potter, we got Potter'.
She walked over shakily to the table on the far left where she was met by Percy the Prefect who shook her hand vigorously while saying something about becoming very good acquaintances or something or other. After being given a severe look by Professor McGonagall, the hall quieted down and the Sorting continued.
Many people had been sorted after Hollis but only one person had managed to make it into Gryffindor before Ron and Danny. It was a boy of African American descent who was actually taller than Ron himself named Dean Thomas. When Ron's name was called, Hollis crossed her fingers under the table. Though, she needn't have worried. The result of Ron's sorting was almost exactly like Malfoy's.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Sorting Hat. Ron looked extremely relieved as he sat down next to Hollis.
"Now, Danny and that really shifty looking kid are left," Ron murmured to her after all of Ron's brothers congratulated him on making Gryffindor.
"Prewet- Weasley, Daniel!"
Hollis looked at Ron with incredulous eyes.
"What's up with Danny's last name?" she whispered. Ron smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head.
"I forgot to tell you. Danny isn't really my brother. My parents took him in after his parents were killed in the war. Even though he is technically a Weasley, he still goes by his other surname 'Prewet'. Though it's strange they called him by 'Prewet- Weasley'. I've never heard that before," Ron explained carefully. Hollis nodded while blushing. She hadn't realized that Danny's parents had died in the war against Voldemort.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Sorting Hat moments later. Hollis applauded hard for Danny who was looking extraordinarily pale underneath his shock of ginger hair. It looked like he needed a major confidence boost.
A moment later, Zabini, Blaise was sorted into Slytherin and McGonagall took the stool and the Sorting Hat off the stage. Once McGonagall was back in her seat, Professor Dumbledore stood up.
Dumbledore was an odd looking man but Hollis felt strangely protected and calmed by his presence. He was thin, very thin, with white hair and a beard long enough to tuck into his belt to match. He wore half moon glasses and they sat upon a crooked nose that had been broken at least twice. His eyes were a piercing forget-me-not blue, and they twinkled benignly. He was wearing periwinkle colored robes with a matching conical hat. He seemed slightly eccentric and in mad in more ways than just one.
"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! First, I have a few start of term announcements to make before our minds become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First years should note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. And some of our older students should remember this as well," Dumbledore said kindly, his eyes flashing briefly in the Weasley twins' directions.
"Mr. Filch has also asked for me to remind you that magic is also forbidden in the corridors and in between classes." Once again, Dumbledore's eyes flickered over to the Weasley twins. Hollis caught quite a few people staring at them and the twins were just smiling coyly while Percy glowered at them.
"Quidditch Trials will be held in the second week of the term and anyone interested in playing for their house should contact Madame Hooch. I must also announce that this year, the third floor corridor is strictly forbidden to anyone… who does not wish to die a most painful death," Dumbledore said blandly. Hollis and Ron looked at each other. Hollis chuckled nervously but she was one of the few that did.
"Now, I just have a few more words to say. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" he said cheerfully.
Hollis stared. "Say Percy… is he a bit… mad?" Hollis asked, carefully choosing her words.
Percy laughed. "Mad? He's a genius! He's the best wizard in the world! But yes, to answer your question, he is a bit mad. Would you like potatoes, Hollis?" Percy said.
Hollis gaped. Along the table, was the most delicious looking food she had ever seen. Tureens of beans, platters of roast beef, pork chops, chicken, steaks, lamb, bowls of mashed potatoes, pies, and everything else under the sun graced the table and Hollis's mouth started to water.
It wasn't as if the Dursley's had starved her. She just never got to eat a lot of what she liked. No, Dudley had taken care of that. He had eaten everything that Hollis had liked, even if it made him ill the next day.
Hollis took a little bit of everything and listened and participated in a particularly interesting conversation between her, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Ron.
"I'm half and half. My mum's a witch and my dad's a muggle. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out," Seamus said. Everyone laughed at this.
"What about you Neville?" Dean asked. Neville turned bright red for some reason.
"Well, my Gran raised me and she's a witch. I'm pretty sure that my entire family is all Wizarding though. But the family thought I was all Muggle for ages, my great- Uncle Algie in particular. He used to do all sorts of mad stuff to me, just to scare the magic right out of me! He once dropped me off a pier… I was okay though. I didn't show any magic until I was eight. Great-Uncle Algie was holding me by my ankles out a second story window and someone offered him a piece of meringue pie and he accidentally dropped me. I bounced though, from the garden into the street. Everyone was so happy. Gran cried. Everyone was even happier when I got my Hogwarts letter. Everyone was sure that I wasn't going to have enough magic to get in here. Great- Uncle Algie was so happy that he bought me my toad!" Neville explained while indicating to a lump in his pocket.
Everyone laughed at Neville's story despite the fact that half of it shouldn't even be considered funny.
"Do you know your heritage, Holly?" Seamus asked eagerly. Hollis looked up from her plate. Almost immediately, the Gryffindors had picked up on Ron's nickname for her and started using it. Hollis was almost amazed at how fast she had learned to answer to the nickname.
"I'm actually not entirely sure. The muggles that I live with never told me anything about my parents. But I'm almost certain that my dad came from an all- Wizarding family and my mum was Muggle-Born. So I'm guessing that I'm like you, Seamus," Hollis explained.
Seamus looked a bit guilty for asking but Hollis didn't mind. She had never known her parents. Sure, she was sad about not having any but she couldn't remember them enough to miss them and mourn them.
She flitted in and out of conversations and managed to strike up a conversation between her, Percy Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Though Percy and Hermione were the ones who were doing all the talking.
"Personally, I'm rather intrigued by Transfiguration. The whole concept of turning something into another is just so fascinating! But I hear it's rather difficult," Hermione said, slightly breathless.
"We don't have to worry just yet though. We're starting off really simple, like turning a match into a needle. Once we get into larger things, then we should worry," Hollis said pointedly while spearing a piece of pork. Hermione scowled at her, almost angry at how Hollis outdid her.
"Hollis is right. You guys won't be transfiguring wardrobes into dogs and such for a long while. For the first couple weeks, you'll be studying wrist movements and spell pronunciations anyway," Percy told Hermione.
"What do you think is the most interesting subject, Holly?" Hermione said rather stiffly.
"I think Defense Against the Dark Arts is really interesting. There seems to be a lot of action in it and I like to move," Hollis said airily. Hermione looked slightly aghast but turned back around to face Percy. They were very deep in conversation and Hermione didn't turn to face Hollis again.
Hollis didn't mind though. It gave her more time to study the staff table.
There was a rather short, warlock like man sitting next to McGonagall. He had a shock of white hair on top of his head and he sat upon at least a half a dozen pillows. His aura was a bright blue, mixed with green.
Next to Dumbledore sat an earthy looking woman that was shrouded in a leafy and plant-like aura. She had a round but kind looking face and it was framed by short, curly locks of brown hair.
Next to the plant-lady, was a very stern but matronly woman dressed in what Hollis thought was a nurse's uniform. She was surrounded in a strong, lilac colored aura speckled with pinks and blues.
There was a lady with orange eyes that vaguely reminded Hollis of the wind, another who looked stern but fun loving at the same time, and many other teachers. She spotted Quirrell at the end of the table in his absurd purple turban next to a greasy haired man with a hooked nose. The hooked nosed man looked straight back at her and a strange emotion twisted in his sallow face. Hollis knew immediately that it was dislike. She could feel it coming off the man in waves.
Hollis thought for a split second that she had at least met the man before. She wasn't sure. But then it happened.
A searing pain split across her forehead and she clapped her hand to her forehead. It went almost as fast as it came, but it still worried Hollis.
"You okay?" Percy asked, looking at her strangely. She then realized that her hand was still clasped to her forehead.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a slight headache. But, who's that teacher sitting next to Professor Quirrell?" Hollis asked.
"Oh, you already know Quirrell do you? Well, he's sitting next to Professor Snape; he's the Potions Master and the Head of Slytherin. But we all know that it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years," Percy explained. Hollis nodded.
Dinner finished soon after and dessert started. Hollis managed to scarf down a treacle tart even though she was filled to the bursting. When the last of the tarts and sweets were gone, Dumbledore stood up again.
"Once again, welcome back to Hogwarts! Now that our feast is over, it is time to go off to bed! First years, the Prefects will show you to the dormitories for you respectful houses. Now off you go!" Dumbledore said merrily.
Hollis smiled in spite of herself. She got up and followed the rest of the first years who were following Percy.
"This way and keep up please!" he said while turning a corner and onto a landing leading to the staircases. Hollis looked up. She remembered reading that Hogwarts had at least one hundred and fifty two staircases. What she didn't know was that they liked to change.
When the first staircase moved, Hollis wasn't the only one who cried out. "Yes, be warned of the staircases. They have a tendency to move," Percy said with a wave of his hand as if it weren't important.
They climbed the staircases where Percy pointed out each of the trick stairs and each of the hidden alcoves that led to the Gryffindor Common Room. On the way to the seventh floor, they met Peeves, the Poltergeist.
"Oohh! Look! Ickle Firsties!" he cackled while pelting them with chalk.
"Peeves! Go away! Or shall I call the Headmaster? Or better yet, the Baron?" Percy said menacingly. Peeves chucked the rest of the chalk at them and then glided away, cackling maniacally.
"Don't mess with Peeves. He's the resident Poltergeist. He likes to torment people. The only person who can control him is the Bloody Baron. He won't even listen to us prefects. Ah, here we are," Percy explained to the slightly shocked group of eleven year olds. They came upon a picture of a rather fat lady in a dress that made people feel uncomfortable by looking at it. She smiled suddenly and asked, "Password?"
"Caput Draconis," Percy answered. The Fat Lady smiled again, and the door swung open to reveal a door way. They all scrambled through they doorway and into the Common Room.
The Common Room was a circular room warmed by a roaring fire and littered with tables, red and gold hangings, and overstuffed but squashy looking armchairs. The room gave off a very homey feeling and the compactness of the room intensified this feeling. In the background, Hollis could see a spiral staircase, which presumably led to the dormitories.
"This is the Gryffindor Common Room. The dormitories are just up the stairs. Boys, you have the room on the first level on the left, the girls, the same on your right. All of your stuff has been brought up and your new robes and uniforms tailored. Breakfast starts tomorrow at seven and classes begin and eight o'clock," Percy told them as he showed them the dorms.
"'Night," Ron said sleepily. Hollis yawned while trying to say 'Goodnight' but the 'good' and the 'n' got completely cut off. Ron got the message though. Hollis followed the girls into the girl's dormitory and was greeted by Artemus meowing from a curled up position on a very comfy looking four poster bed.
"Aw, she's such a pretty cat," Lavender Brown said with a quiet squeal.
"Thanks," Hollis said with another yawn. Hollis was thankful that everyone was tired. Otherwise, Hollis somehow knew that people would be badgering her to no end. They all changed in silence and crawled into bed after pulling on their pajamas. They all fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.
Hollis dreamt that night about Quirrell's turban, the hooked nosed teacher, Voldemort's laughter and a lot of green light. She wasn't entirely sure why she dreamed of that, but she was somewhat partial to the explanation that she had eaten too much. She had woken with a start and drenched in a cold sweat.
However, after a drink of cold water, Hollis went back to sleep and didn't dream of anything.
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Please review. I'm desperate here. I'll update faster... I think...