Chapter 11

The Sorting Hat

Having grown quite sick of Pansy's gossiping and bragging, I decided to join Draco along with Crabbe and Goyle as we got off the bus. I saw that same giant man, Hagrid, from Diagon Alley, calling the first years to follow him.

"We shouldn't have to take orders from a servant," Draco muttered in disgust.

"He's a servant?" I asked curiously remembering Aunt Becky only said he worked at the school. "I thought that's what house elves were for."

"Dad told me that he got expelled from Hogwarts and is not aloud to use magic so his only option is to be a servant."

"What did he get expelled for?"

Draco shrugged. "I dunno."

"Hey, Chamberson! There you are!"

I turned around to see Lenora heading in our direction.

"Hey!" I returned the greeting. "I was looking for you on the train."

"Yeah, my dad forgot that he was suppose to take me to Kings Cross today so we barely made it in time. Anyway, I heard you got stuck on the train with pug-faced Pansy. That must have sucked!"

I rolled my eyes. "That's an understatement. She spent most of the time gossiping and bragging about how her parents bought her these special designer dress robes."

Lenora laughed. "We don't even need dress robes. When would we ever where them? So I'll bet she said something bad about me, didn't she?"

"Well, um…" I considered my words carefully. I didn't want to tell Lenora what Pansy said about her mother possibly being a muggle. That may just strike a nerve. "She only warned me that you are a trouble maker."

Lenora giggle once again. "She's damn right about that."

We followed Hagrid to the lake where apparently we were supposed to board these boats and ride them to the castle. The giant man instructed only four people to each boat. Draco, Crabbed, Goyle, and Lenora got into the boat. I sighed, dreading that I might get stuck with Pansy yet again.

"Come on, Melanie. Get in." Lenora patted the seat on the boat.

I was still hesitant. "He said only four to each boat."

"So? You don't have to listen to him," Lenora persisted.

I sighed. Normally I didn't take care to follow school rules, but before this I never wanted so bad to stay at the school. I wonder what Hagrid did to get expelled. Surely, it must have been something more than this.

"Are you coming?" Lenora demanded impatiently.

"I don't think there's room for me," I protested eyeing the boat.

"Just sit on Goyle's lap," Draco suggested with exasperation.

Goyle, though he did not appear pleased willingly let me sit lap. It seems like both Crabbe and Goyle just did whatever Draco would tell them. I wonder if I can get them to do the same for me.

Fortunately for the five of us, our boat floated close to the back so Hagrid did not notice us. Once we reached the other side of the lake, we were shown to the castle. We then saw a woman in green robes with a stern look on her face. The first years followed her down the entrance hall, which was huge, and then to a smaller empty chamber. She then introduced herself as Professor McGonagall and explained to us about the four houses and that we will each sorted into one of them. She then instructed us to wait here until the ceremony begins.

I gulped and whispered to Draco, "So how exactly do we get sorted?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. Don't worry. Dad says if your pureblood and proud, you're almost guaranteed to be sorted into Slytherin."

But how do they determine who's pureblood, I wanted to ask but couldn't.

I listened to other first years talk about possibly taking a test. That really doesn't sound good. I don't even know any magic yet and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of the whole school.

"Look!" Lenora said suddenly pointing up.

As I gazed, I observed what appeared to be ghosts. I gasped, partially terrified and partially fascinated. The ghosts briefly commented about us first years before Professor McGonagall returned to show us to the Great Hall.

This place is amazing! Candles floated about in midair and the ceiling looked like the night sky. I overheard the girl Pansy wouldn't let sit with us on the train whisper that she read the ceiling was bewitched to appear like the sky.

We were led down the hall by these four long tables. We then saw a witch hat sitting on a stool and it began to sing.

As I listened to the words I commented in a whisper, "So this hat determines which house we will be in."

"That's what it sounds like," Lenora agreed and then smirked. "So much for taking a test. Did you hear what it said about Gryffindor? We might get put there because we're daring."

Draco then added, "Gryffindors are just a bunch of eggheads who think they're all that. They're not really all that brave."

Everyone applauded as the hat finished its song. Professor McGonagall then stepped up and said that she will call our names and we will try on the sorting hat.

Though I was relieved we didn't have to take a test, I still felt nervous. How exactly does this hat determine which house you belong in? Oh, I hope I get put in Slytherin.

I watched as one by one, us first years were called up. The first two girls were put in Huffelpuff. The next boy was put in Ravenclaw. After a couple more, it was Millicent's turn. I knew I must be next since they seemed to go in alphabetical order. Millicent was then put in Slytherin.

"Chamberson, Melanie," McGonagall called.

"If you get put in Gryffindor, I try to think that house too when I try on the hat," Lenora whispered. "Just try to avoid Huffelpuff. I heard that house is for losers."

"She'll definitely get into Slytherin," Draco whispered with assurance. "After all, she can talk to snakes."

"Chamberson, Melanie!" McGonagall announced, this time sounding more impatient.

Draco shoved me forward saying I'll be fine. I gulped as I walked to the hat. Okay, all I need to do is get into Slytherin and then it will be smooth sailings as far as my reputation goes.

McGonagall looked at me sternly but said, "No need to be nervous dear. The hat will place you in what it feels is the most appropriate house."

I only nodded as I sat on the stool. She then placed the hat on my head.

"Hmmm," a voice spoke in my ear. "You are one of those difficult students, are you not? There is more than one house here at Hogwarts in which you would fit in rather well. You have plenty of courage I see, but you are also quite cunning. So where should I put you?"

Slytherin, I thought in my head. Please put me in Slytherin.

The voice continued, "Slytherin, eh. That does seem like the appropriate choice at this moment, but that may change in due time. You may come to regret this decision."

No I won't! I want to be in Slytherin. My thoughts grew even louder in my head.

"Very well then, but don't say I didn't warn you," the hat finished before announcing out loud, "SLYTHERIN!"

I sighed in relief as I walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Millicent. Most of the students at this table clapped for me, but few of them smiled. I just shrugged it off.

Millicent leaned over to me and asked, "Why did it take so long for you?"

I couldn't think of a good lie so I just said, "It wanted to put me in Gryffindor since I'm brave, but it decided that since I'm pureblood and can talk to snakes, I best belong in Slytherin."

"You can talk to snakes?" A boy a couple years older commented looking at me in awe and shock.

I smiled with confidence. "I sure can. I'll prove it to you later in out common room if you like."

"Cool!" the boy said.

Soon Crabbe came and sat on the other side of me, immediately looking for food on the table, which was not there yet. I noticed that frizzy haired girl I from the train, Hermione Granger, got put in Gryffindor after Goyle joined us at the Slytherin table. Daphne then came to our table as well and smiled at me as she sat down across from me. I anxiously waited for both Draco and Lenora, hoping they would both be in Slytherin.

"Lane, Lenora."

I smiled at Lenora as she walked up and placed herself on the stool. If she was nervous, she did a lot better at hiding it than I did.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Lenora smirked proudly as she walked over to the table to join us. After a few more students Draco got called up. The hat barely touched his head before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!"

Looking incredibly pleased with himself, Draco joined the table, seating himself between Crabbe and Goyle, shooting a grin in my direction which I returned.

To both Lenora's and my despair, Pansy Parkinson was put in Slytherin as well. Soon after that, Harry Potter was called. The Great Hall went quiet with only whispers.

"So it's true," one girl said in a hushed voice. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. I can't believe it."

I sighed slightly annoyed. I wonder if I would be this famous if all I did was survive someone's attack. Though I suppose from what Aunt Becky told me about this Lord Voldemort, that wasn't so easy.

Harry Potter seemed to be the only one in which the hat spent a longer time with than me. At least I'm not the only person the sorting hat had trouble with. After a few long moments, the hat placed him in Gryffindor. That house seemed to cheer louder for him than anyone else, which annoyed me even more. I noticed two red-haired twins shouting, "We got Potter, we got Potter!"

At the end, Ron Weasley was put in Gryffindor and last, Blaise Zabini made his way to our table, and that ended the sorting ceremony.

Dumbledore, the headmaster then arose, and welcomed us. He then announced that he would like to say a few words, Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, and Tweak. Everyone applauded once he finished.

I looked at Lenora with uncertainty. She only rolled her eyes and clapped. Before I had a chance to say anything, the feast began. I stared at the table, amazed. Never in my life had I seen so much delicious food!

The ghost then entered the Great Hall. One with silver blood came and sat down next to us. Draco appeared rather uncomfortable.

To my surprise, I felt pretty calm as I asked the ghost, "What's your name?"

"I'm the Bloody Baron, the ghost of Slytherin."

"How did you get covered in so much blood?" Lenora demanded eagerly.

The Bloody Baron answered, "That's a rather unpleasant story, I'm afraid."

"Oh come on, tell us!" I pleaded with excitement. "Is that how you died? Did it hurt terribly?"

"Do all wizards become ghosts when they die?" Lenora chimed in.

Having grown tired of our interrogations, the ghost rose up and floated away to the other end of the table.

"Wait, come back!" I called.

"Don't call him back, Melanie!" Draco grabbed my hand and pushed it down.

"Why not? He's only a ghost. He can't do anything to us, right?" I looked to Lenora for confirmation, but she only shrugged.

I guess I do have some courage after all, just as the hat said, though I partially felt this it was mainly because now that I got put in Slytherin, I had nothing more to worry about. I just knew in my heart this is going be a great year at Hogwarts.