Hey there! Here's chapter two! Thanks so much for reading.
Disclaimer: If was J.K. Rowling, I'd have written Draco Malfoy as the main character, and made the books not very suitable for the younger audiences. ;) But sadly, I'm not Rowling, so I don't own her characters. But I do own mine. And the plot. Sort of…
The witch turned and told them, "Now, form a line, and follow me." She opened the double doors and they entered a hall of many candles and much splendor. Hazel processed everything at once. She peered out of the corners of her eyes at the other students with golden plates and glasses at their places. Their attention was fixed on all the first years. The ghosts were in this hall, too, with the students. The ceiling seemed to be part of the sky as she followed the fingers of those pointing.
Prof. McGonagall placed a hat in front of them on a stool, and then she stepped away. If Hazel was correct, it twitched once or twice. Then a rip appeared, and to Hazel's amazement, it began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
to achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Everyone started clapping and cheering, but that didn't stop Haze
l from having butterflies exploding in her stomach.
Prof. McGonagall stepped forward with a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She said. "Abbot, Hannah!"
A blond girl with a pink face stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes and sat down. After a moments pause, the hat bellowed, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
One table applauded as Hannah ran to them.
"Bones, Susan."
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted again, and Susan sat down next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry."
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat yelled once again. As Terry went to join his house, many of them reached out and shook his hand.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" was another Ravenclaw, but "Brown, Lavender" became a Gryffindor. "Bulstrode, Millicent" was a Slytherin, a very stout girl that looked quite frightening to Hazel. "Finch-Fletchley, Justin" became another Hufflepuff while a sandy haired boy, "Finnigan, Seamus" became a Gryffindor after an entire minute of deliberation.
The next one, "Granger, Hermione", seemed to be quite eager when she put the hat on her head. She was a Gryffindor, and a boy near Hazel and Blaze groaned.
"Guillory, Hazel."
Hazel tentatively stepped up to the stool and softly placed the hat on her head. The hat slipped over her eyes and she heard it speak. "Well, isn't this unusual. You've got the capacity for Hufflepuff kindness, but you have the Slytherin ancestry in you. What to do, what to do..."
Hazel whispered, "Please, hat, let me join my family. I must be a Slytherin. I simply must!"
The at chuckled softly. "You're going to have to do better than that, my dear, if you ever hope to be Slytherin material. Yes, I do believe that it may be a bit much for you."
"Then I demand to be put in Slytherin, you old bewitched rag!"
More soft chuckles came to Hazel's ears, and then after a whispered, "Good luck my dear," it shouted out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Hazel grinned, but remembered what the hat had said and smirked as she took it off. She ran over to the Slytherin table, trying to be as true a Slytherin as she could ever be. From here she watched as her table filled up. A blonde boy sat across from her with slicked back hair, and two fat kids sat on either side of him. Hazel shivered as she heard the boys laugh at the first years put into other houses.
Harry Potter, sadly, would not be joining them, but Gryffindor. When "Sparks, Blake" was called, though, Blaze came to sit next to her after only a moment's hesitation on the hat's part.
Soon the last person sat down, and the headmaster stood, Albus Dumbledore. He spread his arms out and beamed. "Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
Hazel and Blaze's giggles were stopped cold when they saw the marvelous food lined up in generous amounts at their table. The food did not discourage conversation, however. As they ate, an agreeable girl of about sixteen explained every part of the school. She introduced herself as Jane.
When no one could eat any more, the food vanished. The headmaster rose to his feet. "Ahem - just a few words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore looked at a few choice students at the tables. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madame Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
There was some scattered laughter in the room at that, and it stopped after a few seconds. "And now," Dumbledore cried, "before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" A golden ribbon flew out of his wand as he flicked it, and twisted itself into words, magnificent and a bit frightening. "Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young w/scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies, and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everyone finished at different times, the last being two boys singing a very slow funeral march at the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore conducted the last few lines, and he clapped the loudest once they were finished. "Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here. And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Everyone got up and talk filled the hall again. The first years came to the entrance and left with Jane, who was a prefect for Slytherin house. She led them down to a portrait, and gave them the password. The first years then filed into the sleek Slytherin common room. The light had a greenish color, and the furniture was black, either soft with velvet or leather and shining with the firelight. Despite its appearance, the room was pleasantly warm, and the carpet and pillows were plush and soft. It seemed that Hazel was the only one transfixed, because the others went straight up to the dormitories.
Hazel ascended the black stairs, and noticed the green veins in the stone. She decided that she liked them. Only then did she realize how the fatigue of the day was catching up with her, and she fell into the bed next to her trunk. She buried herself in the warm sheets and drifted off to dreams filled with black water and snakes: lots and lots of snakes.
Please review! I appreciate it, especially if you catch anything or have anything to critique. On the other hand, I'll be happy if you just say that you like the story.
Hazel's cat doesn't eat until you review. Feed the poor kitty. *glittery warlock wink*