After the ride, I immediately ran off to find Harry and Ron. Yes, I knew adults might remember me, but I have never met an adult so open about it.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron said as I reached the two. I was breathing hard, and it wasn't from the running.
"Nothing. I just don't like boat rides." I said quickly. Both could tell that I was lying.
"Follow me!" I heard Hagrid yell as students began to walk forward.
Harry, Ron, and I followed as well. They continued to give me odd looks.
I knew I needed to change the subject before the whole situation ate me up.
"So, how was ride with Hermione?" I said with a smile.
They both knew what I was trying to do, but Harry decided it was best to go along.
"It was dreadful. She wouldn't stop talking about all that she's read about Hogwarts –"
"- And about him. You were right, April; she is a stalker." Ron said with a laugh as he was now distracted.
We all then stopped at a pair of double doors. It was obviously the entrance to Hogwarts.
In front of the large doors stood a tall, black-haired witch. Her facial expression showed that she was getting tired of having to introduce the First Years year after year.
She nodded her head to Hagrid as he then walked through the double doors.
Everyone was silent as she stared at the crowd.
"Follow me." She said as she then walked in the building. We all followed.
I heard the students in the front of the crowd gasp as they stepped into the building. Everyone was now rushing in to see what was inside.
I stepped in and found myself with my mouth open. Sure, it was just an entrance to a building, but it was one heck of an entrance;
The room was so enormous that half of the students could probably fit in it. There were stone walls, stone floors, and lit torches, both attached to the wall and some floating in the air. I stared up at the ceiling to see that the ceiling was up so high that no one could even see the details whatsoever.
In the center of the room was a beautiful marble staircase. There stood the witch, waiting for us to calm down.
Once we all did, we crowded around the staircase.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, First Years. My name is Professor McGonagall and I teach Transfiguration here. Through those doors is the Great Hall -"
I stared to the right to see a large set of double doors.
It was the Great Hall; the place where we would be sorted.
This was all happening extremely fast.
Professor McGonagall began to talk about the Houses and how equally great they were. I wasn't listening to the details though since I was so drawn to the noise of the Great Hall. There was chattering, dishes clinging, laughing, people yelling for food. Nerves were beginning to get to me.
My attention was grabbed though when Professor McGonagall began talking about House points;
"While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points." She said as she gave a strict stare at the crowd. I gave a smile as I pictured myself punching Flint again. That, for certain, wasn't going to give me any House points although I believe I would deserve some.
"At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
She then walked down the staircase and entered the Great Hall. The nerves got to me again, but I wasn't the only one who was nervous.
Everyone was shaking, patting their clothes, fixing their hair, and some were even about to cry (well, that's what it looked like to me).
I stared at Harry to see the pallor on his face. Ron was patting Harry's back, attempting to make him feel better.
I then looked at the crowd again and realized how horrible everyone looked; Robes were wrinkled, everyone's hair was frizzy, and some had black under their eyes from just waking up from the long ride.
"Harry, I need you."
I pulled Harry right in front of me as I attempted to get my reflection from his glasses. He pulled away from me though.
"You look fine, April." Harry said as he rolled his eyes.
I sighed and looked at Ron. There was something black on his nose…
"Ron, you do know you have something on your nose, right?"
Ron gave me an annoyed look, but nodded.
"Hermione mentioned it when we were getting off the boat."
I waited for him to rub it off, but he didn't even bother with it.
"Ron. Rub it off."
He and Harry gave me a surprised look.
"Sorry, Mum, I didn't know it bothered you so much." Ron said as he made no attempt whatsoever to get the dirt off his nose.
I was getting OCD about it. I needed that dirt to be gone.
I grabbed a handkerchief from my robe pocket and held it to Ron's mouth.
"Lick it." I ordered.
Ron looked around and hesitated for a moment, but he eventually licked it.
I began rubbing it off his nose as Harry laughed. I then realized Harry wasn't the only one laughing.
"I knew you wouldn't go long without your mum, Weasley."
I turned around to see another first year.
He was shorter than I, around the same height as Ron and Harry. He was very pale and had extremely light blonde hair that was slicked back.
The boy was giving us a smirk while Harry and Ron glared at him.
I just smiled.
"Oh, hey. He's pretty cute…This is going to be a good year."
"Watch it, Malfoy. You already caused enough on the train." Harry snapped at him.
My smile immediately went away and my eyes widened.
"Malfoy?! Oh, how disgusting! Shame on you, April!"
I was completely grossed out from my thoughts. I just thought that my cousin's son, Draco Malfoy, was attractive.
I almost laughed at my stupidity. I should have recognized that mini-Lucius.
I didn't realize until a second too late that, while I was going through my crazy thoughts, I was staring directly at him. He gave me a little smile and a wink.
I wanted to vomit.
He walked towards me and held out his hand.
"I'm Draco Malfoy. I don't believe we've met. We should have though. Someone like you shouldn't be around those two." He said as he tilted his head towards Harry and Ron. They stared at me with wide eyes. This was obviously disturbing to them, too.
"Oh, he's hitting on me…"
I took his hand and shook it. I suppose if I grossed him out by telling him who I was, he would stop grossing me out.
"I'm April Black." I said as I emphasized "Black."
He quickly let go of my hand and stumbled back slightly.
I stared into his gray eyes, silently telling him to back off.
He seemed to understand.
"…Nice to meet you." He said as he gave me a little nod. He then quickly walked off into the crowd without looking back.
I definitely grossed him out.
"Well, that was different." Ron said as he gave me a curious look. I acted innocent.
"What was? Introducing myself to someone I've never met?"
"No. You two know each other." Ron said as he walked closer, staring into my eyes.
"Ron, he's a Malfoy. I've heard of him. Why does it even matter who I know and who I don't know?" I said pushing him away. He continued to give me that same look.
"Sorry for interrupting your pointless argument, but how exactly do you get sorted into a House?" Harry said as he stepped between Ron and I.
Ron gave me one last look, but shook it off.
"It's some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot."
Ron was just being hilarious today. First it was the 'magical spell' and now this.
I was, of course, laughing.
"Ron, once again, you're being an idiot. Someone will put a magical hat on you. The hat basically goes through your mind and chooses what House you're destined to be in. It doesn't hurt at all."
"I'm not an idiot! Fred and George tell me all these things. It's not my fault."
"Don't blame them for you being gullible."
Ron was about to say something back, but Harry interrupted.
"I swear, if I have to deal with you two and your pointless arguments all year long - "
Harry was then interrupted by Professor McGonagall.
"Move along! The Sorting Ceremony is about to start. Now, form a line. Quickly."
She stood by the opened doors of the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, and I rushed to get in the line. We then found ourselves standing right behind Hermione.
"Ladies first." Ron said as he pushed me towards Hermione.
I stared at the boys; Ron nodded his head and Harry gave me a thumb's up.
I wanted to kill them both.
The students began to walk into the now quiet Great Hall. I nervously followed, knowing that we were going to be sorted in minutes.
However, the Great Hall itself distracted me from my thoughts as soon as I walked in.
The room was much larger than the entrance. Four long tables lay in the room where the students sat, while a fifth at the end for the teachers. I stared up at the ceiling to see floating, bright candles and flags of the Houses.
The ceiling itself, however, was what grabbed my attention the most.
My mouth fell open when I saw that the room was roofless. Above the flags and candles was the glittering night sky.
I stared in amazement as we all continued to walk forward.
Hermione noticed how intrigued I was with the sky and leaned towards me;
"You know, it's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
"I know." I responded.
I actually didn't know. I just wanted her to shut up.
Everyone suddenly then stopped. I immediately took my eyes off the ceiling and stared at the scene in front of me. There stood Professor McGonagall and a three legged stool.
On top of that stool was a hat.
The hat.
Once all talking stopped and there was no movement in the room, a rip on the hat appeared, and that rip began to sing.
"Oh, you may 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'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 Gryffindor 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'm a Thinking Cap!"
The room exploded with cheers and applauds. The first years, on the other hand, made no movement whatsoever.
This was it. We were going to be sorted.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!"
A young girl stepped from the crowd as she slowly and nervously walked to the stool. When she sat down, McGonagall placed the hat on her.
There was a short pause.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat yelled out.
The Hufflepuff table cheered and clapped. I stared at them to see if I could find Cedric.
And there he was; smiling and clapping.
"Black, April!"
I immediately turned my head back to the stool.
"Why was I second? Why second?"
I quickly gained control of my thoughts and walked up the stairs and to the stool.
I slowly sat down, staring at the Great Hall;
In the first year crowd was Harry and Ron, who both gave me comforting smiles.
In the Gryffindor House, Fred and George were standing up and giving me two (or four) thumbs up.
In the Hufflepuff House was Cedric, smiling ever so sweetly.
In the Ravenclaw House were Cho Chang and her friends, nodding and waving to me.
And in the Slytherin House was Flint, who gave me a glare.
He was probably the most comforting, of course.
The hat was then placed on my head. I braced myself, waiting for the answer.
To my surprise, it turned out that the hat would actually talk to me;
"Shocking, isn't it? I suppose no one ever shared the fact that I could actually talk to you. Did you really believe I just yelled out a House randomly?" The hat said quite loudly. My eyes widened.
"Don't worry; you're the only one who can hear me. The only thing the crowd will hear is the House you're given. Well, let's see, let's see…"
I was horrified of what it was going to tell me.
"April Black! April Black! I haven't seen one of you in a while! How's Regulus? Sirius? Oh! You poor dear, you've never even met the boys. Regulus died before you were born, and Sirius was sent off to Azkaban before you were even able to speak."
"I am very aware of what happened to my brothers. Please continue." I whispered harshly to it.
I saw McGonagall's curious look as she obviously heard me. Hopefully she was the only one who did.
"Well, my apologies. Now, let's see. What a talented, magnificent family tree you have! Many of your ancestors were great Slytherin wizards and witches. Well except Sirius, but he ended up in Azkaban, so let's forget about him. I suppose you must be a true Slytherin as well?"
"No." I whispered more quietly and harshly this time. McGonagall still heard me.
"No? But you're quite the Slytherin! Strong willed, cunning – you'd be perfect. It runs in your blood, you know? Oh, so he's the real reason you don't want to go. You know, if you joined Slytherin, Mr. Flint wouldn't do a thing to you. You'd be a part of his family."
I shuddered. That was a disturbing thought.
"Why not Gryffindor? Sirius -"
" – ended up in Azkaban. Great Gryffindor he was."
It was hard to ignore the sarcasm.
"But I have no right to say anything about that." The Hat continued.
"No, you don't."
"But let's do talk about Gryffindor. You are indeed a brave one. You'd do anything for a loved one, even if it were to put your life in danger. Of course you knew that already since you continue to stay with Remus. But let's see… Very loyal, trusting – oh my, I believe I'm describing a Hufflepuff! But then I see you are also quite the intelligent one, especially in Potions. Professor Snape will like you. Well, maybe. He never really liked Sirius, now did he?"
"Why are you talking about Snape?"
"Very good question since I do not know myself. You are quite the difficult one. I would just ask you which House you would like to join, but that wouldn't be helpful since you clearly made friends in every House. But, you know, while you think you shouldn't be in Slytherin, I honestly believe you would fit right in. You have the characteristics, personality, and family tree. My dear, do you not see it runs in your blood? Do you not see how well you'd fit in? Your family is famous! You'll be successful and great…"
"Please don't. Oh, please don't…"
It didn't respond.
That was it.
This was it. I was a Slytherin.
I was in Slytherin; The House that would cause Harry, Ron, the twins, Cedric, and Cho Chang to dislike me.
I was in Slytherin; The House that would make Remus disappointed in me, no matter how hard he would try to persuade himself and I that he was happy.
I stared at Flint, my new 'brother.'
I noticed that his glare was gone. He now had a curious look on his face.
Everyone actually had an odd expression on their faces. How long was this taking?
I knew it must be a long time since one boy began to stare at his watch.
I sighed.
"Just say it. Get this over with." I whispered. This time I was even quiet enough where McGonagall couldn't hear.
I heard the hat take a breath.
I closed my eyes, knowing my fate.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
My eyes immediately opened up from shock. The Gryffindors jumped up as they clapped and cheered for me.
I stayed seated, as I was too surprised to move.
"Why?" I was able to spit out.
"Because you wanted it," The hat said as if it was the most obvious thing. It then it added something more meaningful;
"And because I found that you truly do belong in Gryffindor."
I felt the hat being lifted off my head as I slowly stood up and stared at the cheering Gryffindors.
I then stared at the hat in McGonagall's arms and mouthed the words 'thank you' before I ran off to join my new family.
Author's Note: I'm going to leave a note on the end of every chapter to mention some things;
Please excuse any grammar errors. I do proof read my work, but I always seem to miss a couple of things.
And, of course, the actual story line of the Stone, all of the characters (except April), and certain lines (such as when McGonagall was speaking and the Sorting Hat's song) is not my work. It is clearly J.K. Rowling's creations and I give full credit to her.
As I said in the first chapter, I wrote this series a while ago while reading the book. I do not have the time to re-read it and check if I took lines from the book. If you notice that I have, please forgive me. I honestly try to write my own, original lines as much as I can.