Chapter 2:
Lily walked through the large wooden doors to enter the Great Hall. The first thing that caught her eye was the enchanted ceiling that depicted the beautiful stars that were present outside. She noticed the separate tables that were each occupied by the different houses. She then saw the Headmistress of Hogwarts, who she recognized as the one and only Minerva McGonagall
As Lily and the other 1st years made their way to the front of the Great Hall, Professor Longbottom placed a very weathered and ragged old hat onto a stool. The old hat suddenly burst to life and delivered a song wishing them all a peaceful and wonderful school year.
When the song was finished Professor Longbottom announced that the sorting ceremony was about to begin.
"I will call you all up individually, and each of you will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will sort you into your houses." Professor Longbottom told the 1st years. "Okay, let's get started then, Abercrombie, Sarah you are up first.
Abercrombie, Sarah nervously approached the stool, sat down and placed the Sorting Hat on her head. It didn't take extremely long for the Hat to shout, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table burst into cheers, and Lily saw some of the older students exchanging sickles at tables. It occurred to Lily that some students bet on which house the first 1st year would be sorted into.
"Able, Justin," was the next name Professor Longbottom called. A scrawny boy with mousey brown hair jumped up to the stool and placed the hat on his head.
"Hufflepuff," the Hat announced.
As Justin made his way to the Hufflepuff table, Lily couldn't help but let her mind wander to thoughts about the kind of magic that could've brought the Hat to life. Lily had been told by her father to never trust anything that you can't see where it keeps its brain, so Lily couldn't help but be wary towards the Hat.
Lily brought her attention back to the sorting just as Professor Longbottom called out Gates, Parker to be sorted.
This time the Hat took a lot longer to declare which house the boy would be in. After about five minutes the Hat yelled, "Slytherin," and the boy awkwardly made his way over to the Slytherin table.
After him a few more students were put in their houses. Lily knew her name was about to be called and was trying to mentally prepare herself.
When Lily's name was called. The whole Great Hall went completely silent to see which house famous Harry Potter's daughter would be sorted into. Lily made her way up to the stool and placed the Hat on her head.
"Well, looks like we have another Potter at Hogwarts," said the Sorting Hat in Lily's head. "Where to put you?"
Any normal person would have been dying to know which house they would be sorted into, but Lily was still very curious as to what kind of spell could have brought the Hat to life. She was thinking of this as the Hat contemplated which house to put her in.
"Incredibly curious, I see," the Hat said with a chuckle. "I think we both know where you belong, don't we?" Lily internally agreed with the hat, and knew what he was going to say before he said it.
"RAVENCLAW," the Hat announced to the Great Hall. The Ravenclaw table went into a thunderous round of cheering.
Lily made her way over to the Ravenclaw table to join her house. After she sat down many people shook her hand and introduced themselves, but Lily didn't pay much attention because she was too busy trying to spot James in the crowd at the Gryffindor table.
She finally spotted him and was able to catch his eye. She gave him a weak smile, but he just shook his head solemnly at her and turned back to watch the sorting. James' reaction made Lily feel bad about being in Ravenclaw, although deep down she knew it was the right thing to do in the long run. Ravenclaw would help her become the kind of witch she wanted to be some day.
The next to be sorted was Lorcan, who went into Ravenclaw, and right after him was his brother who went to Gryffindor.
Lily then turned around to find Albus at the Slytherin table. He was already looking at her, and he gave her the same weak smile she had given to James. Lily knew that if there was anyone who knew what she was feeling, it was Albus. He had been the only Potter/Weasely to not be in Gryffindor, and now Lily was the 2nd.
She knew her parents would be okay with it. She just knew it would make her feel more distant from her family, but maybe she needed that distance to find out who she truly was. In Ravenclaw Lily would have the freedom to be who she wanted to be; not who her family thought she was.
Lily was yanked out of her thoughts by Hugo's name being called. The Hat sat on his head and then yelled, "Gryffindor."
Lily was not surprised by this.
"Well, that concludes the sorting ceremony," Professor Longbottom said, "I believe Professor McGonagall has some start of term words."
"Thank you, Professor," McGonagall said, "Welcome to Hogwarts everyone. I hope you all had great summers. I just have some short announcements before the feast," she said. "All students are forbidden from going in the forest," as she said this she looked straight at the Gryffindor tabled that housed the Weaselys and a Potter.
"Everyone will get their schedules in the morning at breakfast. I expect everyone to behave this year, and of course still have fun. We will have a great year! Please enjoy the feast!"
Right after she said this, food started to appear on the table. It was more food than Lily had ever eaten. It was also some of the best tasting food, however, Lily would never tell Grandma Molly that.
Just as Lily was piling her plate full of food a much older Ravenclaw boy introduced himself. "I'm Eli James, Headboy of Hogwarts this year, I am so happy you will be joining us this year as a Raveclaw."
"Oh, you know what this means, Eli?" said about a girl the same age as Eli, maybe younger, "We may actually have a chance for the Quidditch Cup this year!" The girl said excitedly. Lily didn't really want hurt the girl's feelings by telling her that she didn't play Quidditch, and never really planned to. Lily just didn't say anything, and hoped the girl would understand when she didn't show up for tryouts.
"What position do you play, Lily?" Eli had asked her curiously.
Lily knew then that her plan of avoiding the subject was completely falling through. Then she realized she had to actually talk to them, which she was not very good at.
Lily had grown used to not talking when being spoken to because there was always a family member to take over when she was at a loss for words, which was quite often. Lily was incredibly bright, she just didn't know how to interact with people very well. James often made fun of her for it, and said that she suffers from "Extreme Awkwardness Syndrome".
"Well, you see, the thing is… I don't really play Quidditch," Lily said trying to get straight to the point.
"But you're a Potter… I thought all Potters played Quidditch," the girl said sounding surprised.
"Amber, obviously not all Potters play Quidditch because Lily doesn't," Eli said chuckling
"Well," said Amber, "we are going to change that! I mean you're a Potter, so it'll come naturally for you. All you need is some practice, and we'll have you flying circles around James!"
"Thanks for the offer, but honestly, you'll be much better off without me," Lily said declining Amber's offer.
"If you say so," Amber said solemnly, "but if you change your mind come straight to me and I'll get you some practice on the pitch."
Lily just nodded and went back to eating. The boy next to her, who was also a first year, caught Lily's attention when he laughed. His laugh was one of those laughs that made everyone around him start laughing, even though they had no idea what he was laughing about.
The boy noticed Lily laughing and smiled at her. Lily decided to introduce herself.
"I'm Lily Potter," Lily said in a friendly voice.
"Hi, Lily, I'm Mikey Fitz," the boy with golden brown hair and green eyes said in an Irish accent.
"Are you excited for classes tomorrow?" Mikey asked.
"Very excited," Lily responded, "especially for Transfiguration.
"I'm most excited for potions. They say Professor Slughorn is so old that he's gone loopy," said Mikey.
"I think he's always been kind of loopy said Lily," and the two first years both started to laugh. Mikey's laugh, of course, made the other students around them join in with the laugh even though they didn't know why they were laughing.
As they all laughed together dessert started to appear on the table, and Lily had a bowl of ice-cream that was bigger than she was. At this point Lily was full, tired and actually happy. She was ready to write a letter to her parents and then go to bed.
Professor McGonagall ended the feast with a short speech about good behavior and exceling in classes and then they were dismissed.
Lily and the rest of the first years followed Eli to Ravenclaw tower. When they approached the door asked, "What magical creature's tears have healing properties?"
"Phoenix," Lily blurted out before she could stop herself. Eli looked at her and smiled before going through the door.
"This is the common room," Eli said. "It's a great place to do homework or hangout."
Lily looked around the common room. There were bookshelves on all the walls, which were curved because they were in a tower. Lily was happy to know that the Ravenclaws had their own library. Eli pointed to the stair case that lead to the left, and said the girl's dormitories were that way. Lily headed up the stairs and through the door with a one and the Ravenclaw emblem on it. Lily knew she should write to her parents, but she was tired and just wanted to go to bed. So that's what she did. As Lily was falling asleep she thought about the day's events, and fell to sleep with a smile on her face.