A.N. I just want to thank everyone that has read and/or visited! Please review! They make me happy.
Chapter 3 - Expect the Unexpected
Scorpius, Gelert, Albus, and Rose quickly, and not to mention excitedly, exited the compartment and got off of the train.
"Firs' years! Follow me!" An unreasonably tall, bearded man shouted from the end of the platform. He was waving around a large lantern so that he could be seen. The four friends joined the group of first years that were gathering in front of the man. "Now if ya'll were wonderin' my name is Hagrid. I'm tha keeper of keys an' grounds here at Hogwarts," he announced loudly. Once Hagrid was sure that all of the first years were assembled he led them down to the shore of the Black Lake. "Okay everyone! Go on an' board a boat!" He instructed. Scorpius ended up riding in the boat with Rose, while Gelert and Albus were in another.
When all of the students had boarded the boats, the little fleet began to move across the expanse of water. The eyes of every first year lit up as Hogwarts Castle loomed towards them on the horizon. The castle was all a-glow and had a magical air about it. Its massive reflection in the Black Lake seems to sparkle.
Finally, all of the little boats reached the opposite shore of the lake. The students got out of their boats and were escorted by Hagrid towards the castle. They entered the school through its huge front doors and were led into the Great Hall. Many gasps of awe could be heard when the first years walked into the Great Hall. On this night, the ceiling depicted the most radiant night sky with a few occasional shooting stars. The praise that it got from the new students was well deserved. The first years all stood in a great line in the center of the Great Hall, all anxiously awaiting for their fates to be decided. Professor Blackwood, who was the Headmistress of Hogwarts, stood in front of the teacher's table. Next to her was a plain wooden stool, and on top of it was an old ragged hat. Professor Blackwood picked up the Sorting Hat with one hand and with the other started to open the roll of parchment that she was holding. She then read the first name that was on the list.
"Abastian, Karen," she announced loudly. Karen Abastian could feel the butterflies of anticipation in her stomach as she walked up to the front of the Great Hall. When she was seated on the wooden stool, Professor Blackwood placed the Sorting Hat on top of her head. After a few moments of silence, the Sorting Hat spoke.
"RAVENCLAW!" It shouted so loud that its voice echoed on the stone walls of the enormous Hall. With a sigh of relief, Karen Abastian got off of the stool and took her place at the Ravenclaw table with her fellow House-mates. The process continued for many other students. Then finally, a familiar name was called.
"Goyle, Gelert," Professor Blackwood announced. Gelert's eyes grew wide with surprise. Scorpius gave his friend a reassuring pat on the back and gestured for Gelert to go to the front of the hall. Gelert walked up to the front and sat down on the stool. Professor Blackwood placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Sorting Hat shouted almost as soon as it was placed on Gelert's head. Scorpius looked just as surprised as Gelert did. With a rather confused expression, Gelert walked over to the Hufflepuff table and sat with the other first years that were there. Many more first years were sorted after Gelert, and then finally, the moment that Scorpius has been awaiting had arrived.
"Malfoy, Scorpius," Professor Blackwood announced loudly. An eerie silence fell over the Great Hall. Suddenly, Scorpius became very aware that everyone was staring at him while he walked up to the front of the Hall. He slowly sat down on the stool and closed his eyes so that he didn't have to see the burning gazes of his peers. When the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, he could hear a whispering voice in his ear.
"Ah, you simply reek of Malfoy, I see. Plenty of courage, unlike your predecessors, but lots of ambition. A very profound sense of longing...you feel as if you need purpose...you want to feel needed...wanted even. Now where to put you? It's hard to be sure..." The Sorting Hat mumbled. The Hat fell silent for a few seconds, as if it was thinking very hard. Professor Blackwood started to become a little concerned; the Hat hadn't even taken this long to sort Harry Potter all those years ago. Suddenly, the Hat stood straight up on Scorpius' head as if to show that it had made its decision.
"SLYTHERIN!" It shouted.
Scorpius was thoroughly surprised. How could the Sorting Hat have put him in Slytherin? He wasn't at all like what Slytherins were usually described as being. As he walked towards the Slytherin table, he again felt the burning stares of the other students. All Scorpius wanted to do was to shrivel up and hide from all of the people. While he was sitting at the Slytherin table, he could barely pick up a conversation that a couple of Ravenclaw girls where having at the table behind him.
"I told you he'd get into Slytherin. He fits the bill perfectly. His dad...," the girl whispered. 'What about my dad?' Scorpius thought. He could not hear the last part of the sentence that she had been saying as Professor Blackwood had gone back to saying names. Not long after Scorpius had been called up, it was Albus' turn to be sorted.
"Potter, Albus," Professor Blackwood called. Most of the students, especially those at the Gryffindor table, stared whispering amongst themselves. Would the second Potter child follow in his family's footsteps? Albus nervously walked up to the stool, clearly having heard the whispering of the other students. He winced slightly when Professor Blackwood put the Sorting Hat on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat quickly yelled out.
A small cheer broke out from the Gryffindor table. Albus smiled brightly and swiftly got off of the wooden stool to join his new Gryffindor House-mates at the table. He sat next to his brother James who then proceeded to ruffle his little brother's hair. Many more students were sorted after Albus. Finally, almost all of the students had been sorted and only ten or so remained.
"Weasley, Rose," Professor Blackwood announced. Rose's eyes lit up and was certain of where she was going to be sorted. She gingerly sat down on the stool and waited for the Sorting hat to be placed on her head.
"Another Weasley, eh? But you're much different from all of the others. Very, very bright. Almost too bright. But very rash as well. Where to put you?" The Hat whispered in her ear. After a few seconds of quick deliberation, the Sorting Hat came to a conclusion.
"RAVENCLAW!" The Sorting Hat shouted.
Rose was beaming with pride that she was the first Weasley to be in a different House other than Gryffindor, but she was also a little nervous. It was likely that her father wouldn't be extremely keen on Rose's being in Ravenclaw. However, she quickly remembered her father once jokingly telling her that if she got into Slytherin that he would disown her. Remembering this, she broke into a smile and quickly walked to the Ravenclaw table.
Once all of the rest of the students had been sorted, Professor Blackwood returned to her seat and then proceeded to give a small speech to the students.
"Students, the faculty and I hope that you all endeavor to do well this year here at Hogwarts. We have a few new faces this year. Joining our team of staff is Professor Luna Lovegood, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures due to Professor Tinsley's retirement at the end of the last school year," Professor Blackwood said. At the mention of her name, Luna Lovegood, stood up. Her elbow-length light blonde hair and striking blue eyes made her look very youthful even though she was in her thirties. It was clear that she was one of the youngest teachers at Hogwarts. When Professor Lovegood had sat back down, Professor Blackwood continued her speech.
"Also, another new development this year is that there has been an increased presence of spiders within and around the castle. If you see a spider that looks unusually large, please contact a teacher. That is all," she finished. As soon as Professor Blackwood had finished her speech, the Prefects began to round up the first years of their Houses. Scorpius could only watch as his only friends were led out of the Great Hall in their House groups.