Hey chums :)
Once again I must apologize for the delay in posting. Real life does so like to get in the way of fanfiction doesn't it?
I shan't waffle on any further, you are after all only here for one reason-
Enjoy...
IV: The Sorting
Hermione was tired but her still mounting excitement about everything she was going to learn at her new school kept her from flagging. She had wandered the halls of the castle for a while before Professor McGonagall had appeared to bring her to Diagon Alley for the second time- to purchase the right set books for the year. They had purchased the entire list, on Dumbledore's recommendation apparently.
When they'd returned to Hogwarts the Professor offered her a smile and showed her to the kitchen; saying that a light snack wouldn't hurt before the feast. She was charmed by the happy, overgrown-Smurf-like creatures that ran the kitchens; creatures that Professor McGonagall told her were called House Elves. After she'd eaten, the professor showed her to a room that she had no doubt would become her home away from home in the castle- the library.
"Wait here dear; and I shall come back for you when the train arrives with the rest of the first years."
Hermione picked up a copy of fantastic beasts and where to find them and before too long Professor McGonagall returned telling her that her fellow first years had just arrived and it was time for her to prepare for the sorting. Professor McGonagall left her in an antechamber for a few moments and when she returned she was leading a group of children all Hermione's age.
She slipped into the group of her future classmates and found herself standing beside a pretty red haired girl with green eyes and a matching ribbon in her auburn tresses and a pale boy with shoulder length greasy black hair.
"Hello," the girl smiled prettily. "I don't think I saw you on the train, I'm Lily, Lily Evans and this is Severus Snape."
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione replied. "And no, I uh... missed the train."
Well it was the truth- she had missed the train.
Hazel stared around the Entrance Hall of the castle in awe- the place was huge- as Professor McGonagall, the stern looking Deputy Headmistress led them through to an antechamber.
"You must all wait here until we are ready to commence the sorting ceremony," she told them. "Once you enter the hall you shall be sorted into one of the four Houses which are: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin; your houses shall be like your family while you are here. Good behaviour shall earn you House Points, while any rule breaking shall result in the loss there-of."
With that, she left them.
Hazel scanned the group first years, looking for Lily; she was, standing with Severus and a tired looking, bushy haired girl, knowing him, he was trying to coerce Lily into Slytherin.
"It was nice meeting you three." Sirius said suddenly.
Hazel, James, and Remus all looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Hazel asked.
"I'm a Black," he replied. "The Black Heir, I'm bound for Slytherin- you guys are probably all going to get sorted into Gryffindor, we can't be friends."
"Why not?" Hazel asked, frowning. "My sister, Lily is starting too, and her best friend wants to be a Slytherin- I doubt Lily will be in that house as we're muggle born, but that won't stop her being his friend."
Sirius wanted so much to believe that the same would be true of the four of them, but he couldn't quite bring himself to. He managed to smile at her, noticing the slightly guilty look on James' face. Sirius might have questioned the other black haired boy's expression if it weren't for the return of Professor McGonagall.
"We're ready for you now,"
Professor McGonagall led the first years out of the antechamber and into the Great Hall. There were four long tables running parallel along most of the length of the hall. There was a fifth table, at which the teachers sat, stood at the far end of the hall. Professor McGonagall led them up through the middle of the hall, next to the staff table to where stood a three legged stool with an ancient, heavily patched, pointy hat sitting on it.
All of the students were looking at the hat with interest; Hazel supposed that this must be the enchanted hat which Sirius had mentioned. All of a sudden a mouth like rip opened in the hat and it began to sing.
The hat sang a song all about the characteristics valued by the four houses: bravery for Gryffindor; intelligence for Ravenclaw; cunning for Slytherin and loyalty for Hufflepuff. It finished its song to a loud applause from the staff and older students and Professor McGonagall stepped forwards, carrying a roll of parchment.
"Barker, Elliot." Professor McGonagall began and a tall blonde boy with a long nose stumbled forwards and after nearly five minutes with the sorting hat on his head was placed in Ravenclaw.
When the cheering from the Ravenclaw table died down Professor McGonagall returned her attention to the scroll in her hand and read.
"Black, Sirius."
Sirius didn't like the silence which fell as his names was called. It felt like the whole hall had its eyes on him; just waiting to be proven right about his Black blood. Walking up to be sorted felt more like wading through thick treacle as he thought about his three new friends turning on him once he ended up with the other snakes, despite what Hazel had said when they were in the antechamber.
"Ah," said a small voice in his ear as the hat covered his eyes. "Second one of the year and another challenge."
"How am I a challenge?" Sirius whispered. "All my family…"
"Are very different to you my boy," the hat interrupted him. "Slytherin is the only house where you wouldn't fit in. But the question is: where to put you. You're a smart and loyal boy so Ravenclaw perhaps like your cousin Andromeda- but no, there is too much of a penchant for mischief; and such bravery, why a weaker man than you would have cracked under the pressure of trying to be something that he most definitely is not. So, as everyone deserves a break, there is only one place I can put you in good conscience, GRYFFINDOR!"
There was no cheering as Sirius emerged from under the hat, only a stunned silence. He took a deep breath and made his way over to the Gryffindor table; as he did so he caught Andromeda's eye, his favourite cousin shot him a sympathetic glance- her being sorted into Ravenclaw had caused enough of a riot within their family. He didn't want to think of the ramifications of him, the heir to the Noble and most ancient house of Black, being sorted into Gryffindor.
Hazel looked over at Sirius; her new friend sat, with his head down, as far away from the other students in his house as it was possible for him to be. He looked so lonely, which only strengthened her desire to be in Gryffindor herself, if only to support Sirius.
She was vaguely aware of Bode, Amanda becoming the first Slytherin, then of Bones, Amelia and Burgess, Zoe going to Hufflepuff. Chang, Lee was placed in Ravenclaw; followed by Crabbe, Robert going to Slytherin, the second the patched old hat touched his head; then Diggory, Bertram and Dorian, Gregory were sorted into Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw respectively.
"Evans, Hazel." Professor McGonagall called, startling the ten year old out of her reverie
Hazel padded up to the sorting hat, chanting Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, over and over in her head like a mantra.
"Gryffindor eh?" chuckled the hat in her ear. "Well then, I see no reason why not. After all, I wouldn't put it past a girl like you to defect if I were to place you anywhere else… GRYFFINDOR!"
There was applause from the Gryffindor table as she trotted over to her new housemates; she couldn't help wondering why Sirius hadn't received such a warm reception following his sorting. The boy in question grinned at her as she sat beside him.
"Merlin, I almost thought I was going to be the only First year in Gryffindor this year." Sirius muttered as she sat beside him.
Hazel swatted him playfully and turned her attention to Professor McGonagall as she called for Lily to be sorted.
Lily sat delicately on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head; Hazel crossed her fingers under the table, hoping that her twin would be joining her in Gryffindor. After a period that could have been seconds or hours, Hazel really wasn't sure, the rip in the hat opened and proclaimed that Lily be sorted into Gryffindor. The entire table erupted into clamorous applause, Hazel the loudest of the lot; she watched her sister shoot an apologetic look to Severus, whose face was a mask of betrayal, Hazel had to admit that she felt sorry for him- but then, perhaps he'd get into Gryffindor too… she supposed that there could be magical flying pigs out there somewhere.
"Shove up a bit Hazel, let your sister sit down." Sirius encouraged, sliding over a bit, creating space for Hazel to do the same. Lily saw the space they'd made for her but chose a seat at the opposite end of the table to them.
"She's still upset with me," Hazel realized with a pang.
"What?" Sirius frowned, making her realize that she'd spoken aloud.
"Lily," she told him. "She met James on the train and he didn't make the best of impressions on her- she's upset that I stayed with him and Remus instead of leaving the compartment with her."
"Oh," he nodded; his expression one of understanding.
Hazel had lost interest in the sorting and was only dimly aware of where her fellow first years were being placed. Fletcher, Mundungus, was placed in Hufflepuff; Flint, Ruben went to Slytherin and a girl called Penelope French joined Mundungus. Goyle twins, Benjamin and Charlotte became Slytherins the moment the hat touched their Neanderthal-like heads.
"Granger, Hermione," Professor McGonagall read.
Hermione looked at Severus, the boy she had met in the antechamber was still looking betrayed at the loss of Lily Evans to the same house as her twin sister- short haired Hazel.
"Go on then," he mouthed and Hermione took a breath and stepped up to the sorting hat.
"Well, well Miss Granger this is a surprise," said the hat in her ear. "I've never sorted a time traveller before."
"Well there's a first time for everything." Hermione reasoned.
The hat chuckled. "Right you are Miss Granger, but where to put you? You're clearly smart enough for Ravenclaw- if you keep this up you'll be hailed as the brightest witch of the age."
Hermione thought of Lily; and the expression on her face when she had placed in Gryffindor. While her twin sister was in the same house the girls didn't seem close given that Hazel chose a seat next to Sirius Black. She'd wanted to be in Gryffindor anyway, even before she'd been thrown back in time- the first time Professor McGonagall had taken her to Diagon Alley she had expressed a hope of having Hermione join her house- Hermione was only too happy to oblige.
"Ooh such loyalty, to a girl you hadn't met until about five minutes ago," the hat remarked. "Perhaps but Hufflepuff isn't right for you."
"Gryffindor?" she asked, hopefully.
"Another eager for the lion's den?" the hat queried. "No, I think you'd be happier in Ravenclaw…"
"No, please not Ravenclaw," she all but begged. "Let me be in Gryffindor."
The hat sighed. "Not Ravenclaw eh? Alright, if you insist GRYFFINDOR!"
"I'm sensing a pattern here." Sirius muttered as Hollinghurst, Marie was sorted into Hufflepuff.
However the pattern was disrupted by Jones Hestia joining them in Gryffindor. Karrett, Marissa was promptly placed in Slytherin and Hufflepuff got Kinsella, Anna and Lockhart, Gilderoy.
"Hope James and Remus come to Gryffindor," Hazel remarked, joining in with the applause as Longbottom, Frank joined their table.
"Just as long as that guy doesn't," he pointed to Lovegood, Xenophilius (a small thin boy with dishwater blonde hair) as he sat on the stool. Nearly five minutes later the hat proclaimed him a Ravenclaw. "Oh thank Merlin."
"Lupin, Remus." Professor McGonagall called and Hazel's interest was piqued. Remus was clever; clever enough for Ravenclaw, but Hazel truly hoped he'd get into Gryffindor like her and Sirius. The hat remained silent for a whole minute… two…
Then the mouth opened…
"Lupin, Remus."
Remus heart began pounding at the sound of his name. His feet felt like they were encased in concrete as he picked his way up towards the sorting hat. He could feel every eye in the room upon him. As he sat on the stool it tipped backwards, and it was only his werewolf reflexes that kept him from making a total prat of himself in front of the entire population of Hogwarts, and it was only the hat that hid his blush.
"Well," the voice of the hat spoke in his ear. "I never thought I'd ever meet someone who's had to go through what you have."
"What…?"
But the hat interrupted him. "Don't worry though Mr Lupin, your secret is safe with me- I am, after all naught but a hat; now, where shall I put you… you're not ambitious, no indeed you couldn't really afford to be; and you're hardly loyal enough for Hufflepuff."
"Ravenclaw then?" he whispered.
"Oh no indeed." the hat replied. "There's only one place I can put a young wizard as brave as you…"
"I'm not brave." Remus protested.
"Of course you are; how many others of your age could survive what you have to live with?" Remus had no answer to that; the hat chuckled. "I thought as much, so that's it then, GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into applause, though none clapped louder than Hazel. She threw her arms around Remus as he joined her and Sirius.
"Now we just need James to join us," she grinned.
"Yeah," Remus nodded, still looking a little shell-shocked.
Straight after Remus joined them Macdonald, Mary; a girl with blonde ringlets, followed suit, drawing the three friends' attention back to the sorting. McFarrick, Faye; a willowy girl with short black hair went to Ravenclaw, along with a girl with long brown plait and glasses, Mckinnon, Marlene. After that Patil, Mohinder was sorted into Hufflepuff and Parkinson, Paul; a black haired boy with a face like a pug ended up in Slytherin.
"Pettigrew, Peter." Professor McGonagall read and a fat little boy with prominent front teeth and ended up sitting under the sorting hat for nearly five minutes before it ended up placing him in Gryffindor and then…
"Potter, James,"
James took a steadying breath and strode up to Professor McGonagall, cast a fleeting glance at Hazel, Remus and Sirius who smiled encouragingly at him, sat on the three legged stool. The hat was lowered onto his head and, just as it touched his messy black mop it cried out. "GRYFFINDOR!"
James leaped off the stool, whooped and practically ran over to his three friends, sliding into place beside Sirius.
"Great," Sirius grinned. "You made it."
"Touch and go for a second there though." he grinned back.
James, Sirius and Hazel laughed and a small smile crept over Remus' face- all four of them sure that they were going to be friends forever.
Around them, the sorting was continuing as it had for years. Prell, Karla was sorted into Ravenclaw; Prewitt, Alice became a fellow Gryffindor; Rowling, Joanna went to Ravenclaw; Russell, Karen was named a Slytherin; Saunders, Clair also went to Ravenclaw. Skeeter, Rita; a scrawny girl with mousy hair and huge spectacles that made her face look disproportionate to the rest of her body became a Slytherin; as did Severus, Hazel shot a sideways glance at Lily, wondering how she felt about ending up in the rival house to her best friend- Lily looked strangely pleased by the outcome. In the meantime, Turk, Christopher was placed in Ravenclaw and mere moments after the hat was placed on Wood, Philip's sandy head, it declared that he should spend the next seven years in Hufflepuff.
Now that everyone was sorted Professor McGonagall rolled up the list of names and carried the sorting hat and the stool out of the great hall. As she disappeared, the old wizard (whom Hazel presumed was Professor Dumbledore) who sat at the centre of the teachers' table, rose.
"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts," he smiled. "Before we tuck into our sumptuous feast and all become far too full to listen to the prattling of an old man, I have a few announcements. First years should be aware that the forest in the grounds is strictly forbidden. Mr Filch, our caretaker reminds you that the list of banned items can be seen on his office door.
"And I would like you all to welcome Professor Crispen Bailey, professor Bailey has kindly agreed to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher this year."
A greying man with a deep scar across one eye rose and nodded, he received a polite applause and sat back down
"Now," Dumbledore smiled. "Tuck in."
~V~
AN: Well guys, that was the Sorting. Please don't think I'm neglecting Hermione's parents here- the girl is eleven, she's excited; she's in the moment; we will return to the Drs Granger shortly.
I shall try to update soon, I have two weeks off now but I do have course work to concentrate on.
In the meantime my dears, do please take the time to leave a review; I try to reply to them all.
Until next time...