Hermione and April were walking up the castle steps toward the great hall.
"Great, we find the toad and lose the boy." Hermione complained. Professor McGonagall
had asked them to wait at the top of the stairs and there was some kind of commotion.
Probably some kind of pureblood prince finding out what it's like to wait. April stood on
her toes and scanned the group in front of her. Hermione sighed. "April, you've been doing
that since we got off the train, aren't your toes getting sore? Do you even remember what he
looks-"
"There he is." April smiled triumphantly and started weaving her way through the crowd.
"April, what are you doing?" Hermione asked as she followed.
"Giving him back his frog." She replied. April tapped the young wizard on the shoulder
"Neville?" he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Don't worry," April laughed, "it's just me. I
was wondering if this was yours?" when April opened her hands Neville beamed as professor
McGonagall came back through the doors.
"Trevor!" he yelled excitedly. Unfortunately the sudden noise startled the toad and he
jumped, right into the professor. Neville went bright red and looked like he wanted to sink
into the floor. April pushed past the row of first years and walked straight up to the professor.
Her hands were shaking with fear, but she knew Neville would most likely faint, giving
people another reason to tease him. Her knees almost buckled as McGonagall gave April a
look that made her feel as small as an ant and she gave back Trevor. With Toad in hand April
ran back to the crowd.
"H-here you go Neville." she said trying to keep her voice as stable as possible. He thanked
her and put Trevor in his pocket. April was too afraid of professor McGonagall to look back
at her and kept her eyes trained to the ground as she turned back.
As they filtered through the doors April looked up and at the four houses; Gryffindor,
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Suddenly April began to panic; she was a pureblood,
what if she got placed in Slytherin? April heard Hermione comment on the ceiling.
"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it
in 'Hogwarts: A History'." April giggled as they reached the front of the hall.
"You sound like a Ravenclaw." She whispered as professor Dumbledore stood up to speak.
"I have a few 'Start of term' notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the
dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr Filch has asked me to
remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who
does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." Hermione nudged April.
"What does he mean by that?" April shrugged.
"It probably means that there's something there that can to kill you." She said plainly. "It's
probably for the higher years Defence Against The Dark Arts classes." Before Hermione
could say anymore professor McGonagall addressed the other first years:
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and
you will be sorted into your houses. Hermione Granger?"
"Oh no, ok relax..." April heard her new friend whisper to herself as she walked toward the
sorting hat. When she turned and sat down April gave her an encouraging smile. As the old
hat began talking April looked at the Slytherin banner behind them. Why did she have to be a
pure blood? Couldn't she be at least a half blood?
"Gryffindor!" a cheer wrenched April from her thoughts. She applauded as Hermione
happily ran to the second table.
"Draco Malfoy." The professor called. The tattered hat barely touches his head before
shouting:
"Slytherin!"
"There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin." Someone beside her
said. April began to panic even more.
"April?" she nearly jumped out of her skin when Neville tapped her shoulder. "Don't worry,
it's just me. What's wrong?"
"I'm a pure blood Neville, as pure as the Malfoy's, my mum and dad were both from pure
wizard families. What if I get put in Slytherin?" They looked up to see a small girl run to the
Hufflepuff table, Ronald Weasley was called up and placed in Gryffindor.
"The Weasley's are pure bloods; maybe you'll get to be in Gryffindor?"
"Harry Potter." The entire hall went silent as a black haired boy walked up and sat down.
The sorting hat started speaking:
"Hmm...difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind, either. There's
talent, oh yes, and a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?" Harry began whispering
to himself and the sorting hat continued speaking; "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You
could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on your way
to greatness! There's no doubt about that! No? Well, if you're sure...better be...Gryffindor!"
The entire Gryffindor table erupted in cheers as the famous Boy-Who-Lived ran to sit near
Hermione. The Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables were a little upset, and the Gryffindor's
didn't see the next person walk up to the sorting hat, but on the far side of the hall the
Hufflepuff table barely shrugged as they watched who was going to be next.
After Harry Potter there were a couple people put in Ravenclaw, some in Gryffindor,
including Neville and several in Slytherin before someone was placed in Hufflepuff, her
name was Vayvar Willowwitch, she had long frizzy hair like Hermione but her eyes where
bright blue. April guessed that by her name she had to be purer in blood than the Malfoys and
for some reason she looked familiar. Vayvar stumbled a little as she went up the stairs and sat
under the sorting hat.
"Hmm, a good heart, yes, and a want to help others. Your control of magic is very flawed
but I doubt it will harm anyone… I know, Hufflepuff!" a cheer erupted from the corner of
the room but as Vayvar practically skipped over to her table her wand went off in her pocket
and sparrows fluttered around the Great Hall. Vayvar blushed slightly and grass sprouted
wherever she stepped the rest of the walk. Professor McGonagall followed the newest
Hufflepuff all the way to her seat and got rid of the grass.
A little while later April was finally called up. Nervously she sat down and the old hat was
placed on her head.
"Well, what have we here?" The sorting hat started. "Let's see; plenty of courage in your
heart, yes, but enough brains to keep you from trouble, though your skills with words would
do that anyway. However you would only use your talents to help others and barely think of
yourself. You are a hard worker and very patient. Well this is very easy: Hufflepuff."