A/N: So… you like the Author's Notes… I promise that Joanne will be in this chapter… but there was no room for her in the compartment last chapter.
Soting hat's song (c) J.K. Rowling.
Anyway… SORTING TIME! Make your guesses, folks. Let's see if you're right…
FYI, they're already off of the train and McGonagall has already given her speech.
How did I Get Here? How the &$#?
Chapter 2
"Oh my God," said Maureen as Professor McGonagall left them alone on the stairwell, "what if we're all separated?"
"Oh, come on, Mo," said Mark, "there's only four houses. And there are six of us. So there's a good chance that at least some of us will be in the same house."
"Oh good," said Maureen, getting her usual energy back.
Meanwhile, some blonde-haired guy and his cronies were harassing Angel.
"I saw you on the train," said the blonde. "Nice skirt. And the tights were a good touch," he sneered.
Mimi jumped up to fight with the blonde, but Angel held her back.
He walked up close to the blonde, so their faces were mere inches apart. "I'm more of a man then you'll ever be," said Angel, "and I'm more of a woman than you'll ever get."
Mimi grinned and playfully slapped him on the back.
Roger was talking to April. "So, you grew up in New York, too?"
"Yeah," said April.
"Well, um, how was it? I mean…"
"Oh, Roger, are you nervous about the sorting?"
"Why not?" intruded Tom. "I am."
McGonagall came back into the hall. "They're ready for you now."
The huge wooden doors opened and the students were ushered inside the Great hall.
Everyone's attention was on an ancient hat sitting on a three-legged stool. A wide rip opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing:
"Oh you may not think me 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'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 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 folks 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!"
"It doesn't have a very good singing voice," Maureen whispered to Mimi.
"Maureen!" Mimi gasped.
"Well, it doesn't."
They had already started calling people up to be sorted. They would put the hat on, the hat would shout a house, and the student's would sit at their respective tables. Easy.
Mark was the first of the NYC gang to get sorted. His knees were literally knocking as he sat on the stool and put the hat on his head.
"Ahh…" whispered a voice in Mark's ear. "A New Yorker."
"Who are you?" Mark thought.
"The hat. Now, your house… let's see. There's courage…"
"No."
"Yes. No one has ever told me I'm wrong. I can see inside your mind, remember?"
"Yeah, I guess… just hurry up. I feel like an idiot."
"Calm down, Cohen. You're definitely a GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the last word. Mark sighed in relief and joined the Gryffindors at their table.
When it became Tom's turn, the hat took about half the time to announce that he and Mark were in the same house. Mark cheered loudly for his friend, getting stares from the older students.
Roger was made a Gryffindor, too, along with April.
"Jefferson, Joanne," called McGonagall later.
A dark-skinned girl with puffy dark hair stumbled up to be sorted. She became a Ravenclaw.
Maureen was next. She shook off her fear and walked tall and proud up to the hat and confidently placed it on her head.
"All right, diva, what've we got for you?" asked the hat.
"As long as I'm with friends, I'm good."
"Devious. You would be a good Slytherin…"
"NO!"
There was laughter in the Great Hall. Had she said that aloud?
Maureen blushed.
"But, Johnson, I know best."
"Please, not Slytherin."
"Slytherin would help you be great, you know."
"I don't care about any of that."
"Well, then, it's GRYFFINDOR!"
Maureen relaxed and joined Mark, April, Roger and Tom at the table, shoving Tom aside so she could sit near Mark.
A bunch of other random students were sorted, and then the blonde boy who was bugging Angel was called. "Malfoy, Draco."
The hat barely touched his head before screaming, "SLYTHERIN!"
"I was almost a Slytherin," Maureen whispered to Mark over the clapping.
"You?" Mark was surprised.
"Yeah."
Next was Mimi. She was made a Ravenclaw, much to everyone's surprise. But they applauded for her all the same. Mimi got down, looking a bit deflated, and sat next to Joanne.
"Potter, Harry," was called and a hush fell over the room. Maureen, Mark, Roger, April, and Tom all looked at each other and shrugged. After a long silence, he was made a Gryffindor.
"It's the freaky guy from the train," whispered Mark to Roger, who grinned.
When Angel was finally sorted, he became a Gryffindor as automatically as Malfoy was made a Slytherin.
After the feast, they headed to their common room. They passed by the Ravenclaw table. Angel reached out and gave Mimi's hand a comforting squeeze.