Magical Encounters

Chapter eight- The Sorting

As the crowd congealed around the exit of the train Ariana was shoved through the opening roughly and stumbled awkwardly off the train before righting herself and attempting to play it off as a jump with a bad landing. She heard a snicker to her left and whirled around suddenly terrified that someone was going to start calling her a Klutz. Her eyes wandered around crazily for a moment before locking on a pair of bright brown eyes.

"Roxie!" Arianna yelled, tightening her hold on the kitten in her arms before walking hurriedly to Roxanne. "Thank gosh that was just you. I thought for sure some stranger had seen me fall, just then."

Roxanne looked at her with a look of mock astonishment. "You fell? Really? I didn't even notice."

"Ha ha, very funny." Ariana began, before she noticed that the boy who had previously been introduced to her as Albus was standing at Roxanne's hip. He was trying very hard not to call attention to himself and that just made Ariana want to talk to him even more. "Hi, Albus right?"

The boy looked up from the ground in horror, his eyes as wide as saucers. He opened his mouth as if to say something, and then shut it quickly looking anywhere but at Ariana. Ariana raised her eyebrows and looked back to Roxanne, who was looking at Albus with sympathy. "Sorry Ariana, Albus tends to be a little shy."

"No worries," Ariana said, smiling at Albus. "I think shy people are really just people who are afraid to talk because their awesomeness might be too much for the world to handle."

Albus made a quiet choking noise and Ariana saw his shoulders shake slightly. Yes, Ariana thought I made him laugh. The thought filled her with happiness. Ariana knew what it was like to be shy and even though she had gotten better over the years she still had moments where she stayed silent in the presence of others.

Ariana looked around them and noticed that the crowd coming out of the train was beginning to thin. She noticed that the crowd had split into two groups and she cocked her head to the side before focusing in on Roxanne once again. "What's going on right now? Where are we anyway?"

"This is Hogsmead station." Albus said looking at Ariana fiercely, making Roxanne jump back as if she had never heard his voice before. "Hogsmead is like a little town near the school's ground. There is all type of stuff here, but we only get to visit in third year."

"Um, yeah." Roxanne said, still a little shocked. "The people going that way"-She gestured to a mass of people gathering to their left- "are returning students second year and up. And the people going over here"- she drew an invisible circle around them- "are first years. Although, there should be someon-"

Roxanne was interrupted by a booming voice. "First years ov'r here. First years this way."

Ariana looked to find the source of the voice as she, Albus, and Roxanne stepped off toward the crowd of first years simultaneously. Ariana didn't have to look for long before she saw that source of the loud voice. He was the only adult within the crowd of children but that's not what drew Ariana's attention. The characteristic that made Ariana's mouth drop open in shock was not his beard or unkempt dark hair. What caught her attention was his size.

"Is he a giant?" Ariana whispered as the man began to lead the first years away from the station.

Roxanne shrugged her shoulders. "Only half giant, that's Hagrid."

As if sensing Ariana's confusion Albus spoke again. "He is a teacher at the school but he is also the gamekeeper. He's really nice. Our dads know him from when they were in school."

"How are you guys related anyway?" Ariana questioned as the crowd of students neared their destination and stopped.

Roxanne opened her mouth as if to speak but shut it quickly as Hagrid began to speak. "Alright. Yer the first years, huh?" There was a murmur that spilled throughout the crowd. "Well itsa tradition here that firs' years go up to the school by a boat ride across the Black lake. So, err, get a group together and um get in a boat."

Ariana, Roxanne, and Albus walked through the crowd quickly not exactly knowing who else to sit with. As they neared the lake Ariana reached the shore first where an empty boat waited. She reached out a hand to pull the boat closer to her when the water's gleam caught her attention.

She looked out at the water and cocked her head to the side. The lake was a huge expanse of dark water which shone in the moonlight. Its surface was smooth like that of a mirror except for the spots where some boats floated on the surface. As Roxanne and Albus climbed onto the boat Ariana began to climb into the small wooden boat only to look out across the lake to see a tail swish. She looked again after settling into the boat, but the tail was gone.

Roxanne was about to push the boat off the shore when a figure came running up to them. "Hey guys. Sorry I lost you before." The girl climbed into the boat and smiled at Ariana while patting down her curly mousy brown hair. She looked up toward the sky and took a deep breath as if to calm herself. Her dark green eyes glinted in the moonlight before she shut them, basking in the light of the stars.

"Hey Rosie," Albus said with a smile before turning toward Ariana. "You met rose right? On the train? Well, she's my cousin and so is Roxanne, we have a really big family."

"That's so cool," Ariana said before mumbling. "I wish I had family like that."

At that point Rose was done basking in the moonlight and pointed toward something in the distance. "I don't mean to interrupt but look."

Three heads snapped to the direction Rose had pointed out and instantly Ariana gasped. There on a cliff across the lake was an enormous castle. It was made of what Ariana guessed was black stone and towers jutted out of it in different places. Lights were shinning through windows placed all around the castle and Ariana could feel her excitement building up within her.

The cliff on which the Hogwarts campus resided sloped down into a flat shore on which the boats slowly pulled up to. Ariana's boat hit the shore lightly and she climbed out quickly enough that her companions were still just standing by the time her feet hit the green grass on the shore of the lake. She hurried forward with the other first years before stopping herself and waiting for her new friends to catch up. The three cousins reached Ariana and all four of them set off toward the castle following closely behind Hagrid.

The group walked up toward the castle in near silence, only their shoes make scuffling noises in the grass. All the first years then reached a dirt path which led up a slope to what Ariana believed must be the main entrance to the school. All around her Ariana saw trees, some of them reaching up toward the sky while others squatted pathetically toward the ground. She continuously glanced around her, looking at her peers trying to see if she had seen any of them on the train.

The crowd itself stopped in front of huge doors which seemed to be made of a dark wood. Ariana looked at them in wonder. There were many designs on the doors all carved beautifully into the wood itself. Ariana cocked her head at the many creatures that were carved into the stone, most of them she had never seen before. Hagrid brought the crowd to a stop in front of those large, dark double doors and turned to face them.

"Alrigh'," he began clearing his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. "We are going to go through these doors into the school now. Once we reach the great hall another teacher will you yer how the sorting goes on. Stay close to me in there and don't wander off."

He turned back to the doors and as if on cue they opened slowly, revealing a brightly lit room. He stepped through the doors and gestured for the first years to follow. Ariana instantly took in her surroundings as she passed the threshold of the school. The tiles on the floor shown as if they had been recently waxed, and the stone walls were covered on all sides by paintings which, Ariana could tell from just a cursory glance, were all moving. Above Ariana hung beautiful chandeliers which used candles to illuminate the scene beneath them.

"They must be old fashioned here." Ariana said to herself not expecting anyone to answer.

"Look like it, huh?" Albus said from her side at which point Ariana noticed that they had separated from Rose and Roxanne. "I think it's nice though."

Ariana smiled at him, glad to see he was making conversation before a question bubbled through her. "So, do you want to be in Slytherin too?"

"What?!" Albus whispered, looking horrified. "Of course not. Why? Do you?"

"I don't know I just heard that it was a good house or whatever." Ariana replied calmly.

"It's not Ariana." Albus looked at her sternly before continuing. "Slytherins call themselves cunning and keen- minded, but in truth, although they might be all those things, they aren't very nice."

Ariana cocked her head at Albus, her thoughts going to Drake on the train and his kind smile. "What do you mean? The guy I met on the train seemed nice enough."

"Well, not all Slytherins are mean but the truth is that almost every bad witch or wizard has been in Slytherin. I mean, you–know-who was in Slytherin, and he was evil. But also they tend to think they are better than everyone else. You know how there are muggle borns that can get magical powers?"- Ariana nodded- "Well, a lot of Slytherins are pure-blooded which means that a lot of them have only had magical people in their family for a long time. That makes them think they are better than other people. Even half-bloods in Slytherin sometimes make fun of muggle borns, even though they themselves aren't purely magical."

Ariana looked at Albus for long time, his tiny face intent on making her believe what he was saying. "So what house do you want to be in?"

"Gryffindor of course," Albus beamed at Ariana. "Where the brave and loyal reside, but there are other house too. Don't worry; the sorting hat will put you in the right house Ariana."

Before Ariana could ask what he meant, the crowd of first years stopped and Ariana looked forward to see the double doors in front of her open to let Hagrid inside and another friendly face outside. The man who stepped out smiled brightly at the students and stepped nearer to them only to get caught on the hem of his robes and stumble slightly.

He chuckled slightly at himself before straightening. "Hello everyone, I'm professor Longbottom. In a moment these doors behind me will open and you lot will enter the great hall. Inside the hall there are four tables representing the four houses, and further into the hall, on a slightly raised platform is the staff table. Once inside you will all stand in the middle of the hall. I will then step in front of you and call your names one by one to be sorted into one of the four houses. The houses of Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, or Salazar Slytherin. Follow me inside now so we may begin."

Ariana saw the doors open quietly and a nervous whisper went through the crowd. Ariana felt her own nerves bubble up inside her as she stepped inside the great hall and took note of her surroundings. There were, as Neville had said four long tables going length-wise down the hall. These tables were filled with empty goblets and plates and bowls as well as the other students who looked at the first years curiously.

On the raised platform sat the teachers on only one side of their table looking out into the mass of students. In the center sat an old woman who looked very intently at the new students. However, in front of that platform, was a hat placed simply on top of a stool. Ariana stared at it for a moment wondering if this was some kind of initiation joke. Neville stepped up and stood next to the stool with a roll of parchment on his hands. He stared out at the students excitedly and just as a soft murmur had started to spread among the first years, the old, wrinkly brown hat perked up and moved a little.

The hat took a second to clear its throat before beginning to speak, causing Ariana to gasp and let Abby fall from her arms in surprise. The hat said- no sang- in a raspy yet clear voice:

Today we gather here

In these so hallowed halls

And you may be surprised

That I can sort you all.

For those of kind and loyal heart

You will be sure to find

The fair and patient Hufflepuffs

Will surely be your kind.

While those of you who long to learn

And hold wisdom so high

Will find that clever Ravenclaws

Are those with which you lie.

Or maybe some of you will see

That Slytherin's your home

Where those of cunning, sneaky minds

Prefer things left unknown.

As of yet you might have found

That none of these three houses

Fit your brave and chivalrous heart

Thus Gryffindor arises.

Now nearly twenty years ago

These houses stood divided

Then when the greatest danger called

They fought and stood united.

Nowadays the houses drift

Back to where they were

While I sit here sorting you all

And praying to be heard.

We must stay together

And unified for good

I hope that that you will listen

As well, I know you should.

But looking at the task at hand

The sorting must be started

So pull me snug about your ears

I'll never be outsmarted.

Let me see your deepest fears

And the things for which you long

And I will listen to you dears

And put you where you belong.

There was scattered applause throughout the room as people reacted to the song. Ariana stood in the throng of first years with her mouth agape and eyes wide. Her shock had only begun to fade away when Neville cleared his throat and spoke to the students. "I will call your name and you will sit here"-he indicated to the stool- "while I put the sorting hat upon your head. After deliberating within your mind, the sorting hat will shout out the house you belong to and you will step down from the stool and walk to your new house as indicated by the banners above you. Now let's begin."

Ariana looked up at the ceiling to find that banners hung above the four house tables. These banners not only had the name of the house by its symbol as well. Ariana was taking a mental note to ask someone how the banners and the candles held themselves up without strings and how the ceiling looked like the beautiful night sky, when she heard her name being called.

Ariana blinked and looked at Albus, who had a shocked expression on his face. She walked through the crowd of first years to the stool and all around her whispers jumped around. A Dumbledore? How is that possible? Some kids said, while others simply looked at her in shock. She reached Neville quickly and sat down as her beamed at her. The faces in front of her were all curious as she felt the hat be slip onto her head.

A Dumbledore huh? The hat said inside her mind. Well you certainly don't feel like one. So much darkness and stolen memories lay here in your head. A cloudy past as well, no mother and a dead father. What do you have to say for yourself girl? Anything you think I shall hear it?

I lived in an orphanage all my life and I often have dreams that I can't understand but I don't think I'm a dark person. Ariana thought defiantly. I mean, sure I have made mistakes but I'm I nice person.

You personality indeed shines like any other. But your soul, it is unclean and unnatural. As is your body, you are an anomaly. A controversy within yourself. I kind heart however does not compensate for a dark soul, and as I have said you indeed have a dark soul. One full of fear and hatred and even death.

But, Ariana began. I have never even seen death.

But your soul has. Perhaps it is a past life slipping out of the seams of this life, but as it is you yourself might be engulfed in darkness if you do not learn how to control these dreams. These dreams that I can see here, in your head. Ariana Dumbledore there is darkness within you and it seems as though the contrast of your heart to your soul makes you very difficult to place. Not a Hufflepuff for you are anything but ordinary, and although you have the potentially for brilliance the Ravenclaws will never give you what you need to past the demons of your past. The Gryffindors will accept you for whatever you are, but what you need is not acceptance, but strength. Strength to face the battles that are sure to come in your future. To overcome the obstacles you are sure to face in the future you must first face the smaller obstacles of finding where you belong in the world and face those against you in every aspect of your life. Survive the hardships that will come with this year, and you will find a way to unlock your past and clear the darkness in your soul so that you may face your future.

Wait. Ariana thought. If I'm not in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw that that means-

"Slytherin!" The sorting hat's voice called out to the Great Hall and Ariana felt the hat being lifted off her head.

Ariana rose off the stool and looked up at Neville who seemed as stunned as she felt. She walked toward the Slytherin table looking straight ahead to avoiding looking at the numerous faces who were staring at her in bewilderment. In the background she heard Neville clear his throat and call the next student to the stool. Ariana reached the table and sat down numbly watching as the sorting continued. Albus, Rose, and Roxanne were all put into Gryffindor where they were warmly welcomed by some of the other people Ariana had met on the train. She guessed they were all either related or childhood friends.

Ariana became aware that many of the Slytherins were glaring at her. She resolutely stared at the sorting and hoped that they would get the message and look away. Then, she noticed one particular face that was staring at her from the crowd of first years. Scorpius. He walked up to Neville quickly and sat on the stool. The hat had barely touched his head when it yelled out Slytherin and he came down to the table and sat beside Ariana. He was smirking, obviously pleased with himself and Ariana looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

The sorting went on for a while longer before Neville rolled up the scroll and went up to the staff table sitting down quickly and turning his attention to the woman who was now standing and going up to a wooden podium that had appeared magically in front of her. She looked around the room and cleared her throat which silenced the entire hall all at once.

She smiled briskly and looked out to her students, her square framed glasses glinting in the candlelight. "First years welcome, everyone else welcome back. As always I am glad to be starting a new term with you. I am Professor McGonagall, the headmistress here at Hogwarts School for witchcraft and wizardry. As always I must remind you that the forbidden forest on the grounds is indeed forbidden and that after dinner everyone is to follow their prefects to their house common rooms. Well, that's enough talk for now. Everyone enjoy the feast."

As she finished speaking the Hall broke into chatter as the plates on the table filled up with every type of food imaginable. Ariana looked around astonished. She heard a chuckle to her side and saw Scorpius smirking at her with his eyebrows raised.

"What's the matter Dumbledore? All this a bit too much for you?" He rolled his eyes and looked at her with a look of disinterest. "I can't wait to your face when the ghosts come down."

Ariana gasped and looked at him in horror. "Ghosts?"

He smirked once again and Ariana felt her stomach drop, he wasn't kidding. Before she could think about it too hard Ariana began piling food on to her plate and dug in quickly. After a few bites Ariana noticed how starved she was ate more readily forgetting everything that had happened that night and what the sorting hat had told her. Now this, Ariana thought spooning some mashed potatoes into her mouth. This I could get used to.

Hey everyone I hope you like this chapter. Thanks for reading.

Becca Bear