Chapter 2
When Faye opened her eyes again she was overwhelmed by what she saw. A magnificent castle rose high and regal, towers and turrets seemed to bloom for every direction.
"It's amazing." She murmured and she stepped down from the carriage. Draco led the way through the large wooden doors while Faye trailed behind still transfixed. No sooner had she stepped over the threshold that she was met by a stern older woman who stopped her in her tracks.
"The headmaster would like to see you before the feast begins." She said, her voice just as stern as her manner,
"Mr Goyle if you could please escort Ms Abbeton up to the headmaster's office for me."
With a grunt Gregory Goyle led Faye through a series of opulent corridors and marble staircases until they reached a large Gargoyle. Grunting the password the stern woman had mentioned the Gargoyle moved to reveal a hidden staircase twirling within the wall. With a farewell grunt Gregory left Faye standing at the entrance, rather apprehensive about what was to come. Climbing the staircase Faye reached knocked upon the door that appeared at the top.
"Come in Ms Abbeton." Said a kindly voice from inside. Faye pushed open the door to reveal a large circular study filled with all manner of mysterious magical curious. A wizened all wizard sat at the desk flanked by portraits of what Faye guessed to be his forbearers. A long white beard flowed to his lap and pleasant eyes sat behind a pair of half-moon spectacles.
"Good evening Ms Abbeton. I am pleased to see you have made it to Hogwarts safe and well. It would be a tragedy for something to happen to our first ever transfer student before she could even arrive here. I am Professor Dumbledore the headmaster of this school, and this is my office as I suppose you have already guessed." While saying all this, the professor pushed a rather old and ragged looking wizards across his desk towards Faye.
"Now how much do you know about the choosing of houses in our school?" he enquired. Speaking for the first time since entering the office Faye answered,
"I have heard about something called the sorting hat. It supposedly can pick the exact house you should be in, all first years are sorted when they first enter the school."
"Correct Ms Abbeton. Now I am sure you can see our predicament, you are a new student but you are not a first year. I did not think it would be quite fair to stand you up in the front of the whole school with the first years so I have decided to perform your sorting in the privacy of my office."
Nervously Faye reached for the hat that was being slid towards her. Ever so slowly she lifted it up, shut her eyes and placed it on her head. The brim covered her house and the darkness became more absolute.
"Hmmmm." A voice seemed to be thinking from within her head.
"Interesting mixture of characteristics you seem to posses my dear."It continued.
"You have the heart of a Hufflepuff, but the mind of a Slytherin. What to do?"
"Oh no not Hufflepuff." She thought frantically remembering what had been said on the train.
"You don't desire to be in Hufflepuff? It is really your choice you know."
"Put me in Slytherin, please anything but Hufflepuff." She shouted through her thoughts.
"Well if that's really what you want...then Slytherin it is". The final words spoken out loud by the hat.
"Well now that's sorted I see no reason for you to miss out on the rest of the delicious feast Ms Abbeton. Of you go, I will have your trunks directed to the Slytherin common room."
Faye exited with a hurried thank you and made her way back through the corridors to where she heard the noises of hundreds of students.