Chapter 7

The Sorting

We continued on, the rain pouring on us, but at least the water had calmed down a bit with the squid's departure.

"Look!" Cheyenne called, and indeed up ahead the site was grand to see. A huge stone castle glistening with torches stood proudly up on top of the hill.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor Hagrid announced. I gazed up, stunned that this was where Alicon and Iris had been going away to every September. So this is where Mum spent her younger days, I thought. I glanced at my friends who grinned excitedly.

Once we had reached the shore, Hagrid led us up a set of stone steps and through the huge double doors. They were magnificently tall and the halls of the castle were lined with paintings.

"hey it's moving!" Mina had caught up with us. Along with her were two girls, evidently twins.

"Well, it's magic," one twin suggested. She noticed me.

"Hi. I'm Magnolia Peterough," she introduced herself, "and this is my sister, Mona, though if you want to be technical about it, Desdemona, but she hates when anyone calls her that,"

"Pleasure," I said, "Katerina Pettinato,"

We came to another huge set of double doors, where a which in green robes was waiting. She seemed strict, her hair piled into a tight bun, standing tall and not cracking a smile.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"Professor McGonagall," Mona told me. I nodded. The name rang a bell. She was the deputy headmistress. Her name was on my Hogwarts letter.

"Welcome students, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress," She carried on, explaining the basic school rules and the point system before leading us through the next set of doors.

The great hall was amazing. Four long tables represented the four houses and the staff had their own table at the front of the hall. The most amazing part by far was the ceiling, which looked like the night sky.

"Troy wasn't kidding when he said this place was amazing," Cheyenne said. I nodded in agreement. I peered down the tables. I saw Alicon with her friends Patricia and Hazel. She grinned as I caught her eye. I turned to the Gryffindor table, which we were walking past.

"Good luck," Iris grinned as I passed her.

My heart caught in my chest.

Seamus was turned towards me. I caught his eye, and he grinned.

"Hey,"

"Hi," I managed. I turned to Cheyenne.

"He said hi!" I squealed once we were out of earshot.

She smiled, "you should talk to him after dinner," she said.

We made it to the front of the hall, where Professor McGonigall was waiting with a long sheet of parchment. Next to her was a stool with a dusty old hat on top. The Sorting Hat. It sprang to life, bursting into song about the four founders of Hogwarts. That hall applauded at the song's conclusion and the hat bowed. Professor McGonagall grabbed it's tip.

"Now when I call your name, you will sit on this stool. I will place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses," She glanced at her list.

"Ackerly, Stuart!" A brown haired boy emerged from the crowd and nervously sat down, waiting to be sorted.

"Ravenclaw!" The hat shouted and the farthest table burst into applause. Stuart looked relieved and headed off to sit down.

"Baddock, Malcom!" A tall, rather unpleasant looking boy took to the stool.

"Slytherin!"

"I'd bet," Cheyenne said, "he doesn't look that nice,"

"Ravenclaw!" the hat called as Zetta Bridges headed towards the table.

"Crawford Cheryl!"

"Ravenclaw!" the hat called again.

"Looks like we're going to have a pretty big first year class," Cheyenne observed. We were barely into the alphabet and we already had three Ravenclaws.

A few names later the boy who had fallen into the lake emerged, wrapped in Professor Hagrid's huge overcoat.

"Creevey, Dennis!"

"Gryffindor!" Dennis headed excitedly over to the Gryffindor table, jabbering excitedly to a boy I assumed to be his older brother.

"Creston, Jason!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Davies, Caitlyn!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"It's going to be a while before we get sorted," I told Cheyenne.

"Yeah, your last name starts with an M, mine with P," We had a long way to go. Finally, we heard a familiar name.

"Dodd, Wilhelmina!" Mina shakily headed up to the stool, a look of absolute fear on her face. However, she brightened as the hat placed her into Gryffindor.

"Estovic, Allegra!"

"Go!" Cheyenne gave her a push and she stumbled up to the hat. The hat took a moment, then reached it's verdict.

"Ravenclaw!" She grinned happily and joined the table. About ten minutes later, Lisa was called to the stool.

"Goyle, Lisa," the hat was placed on her head and she sat there for almost a minute.

"Slytherin!" It finally called. I glanced at Cheyenne, who wasn't surprised.

"Well, he brother's there," I glanced over and she took a seat next to a beefy boy who patted her on the back proudly. Next to him I caught a glimpse of blonde hair. Malfoy, I thought.

"Hart, Beatrice!"

"Slytherin!"

"Helzer, Barry"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Ibens, John!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Jackson, Casey,"

"Hufflepuff!"

The sorting continued.

"Lung, Alan!" Alan ran up to the stool, jamming the hat eagerly on his head.

"Ravenclaw!' Alan had predicted his fate correctly, and went (or rather danced) over to the Ravenclaw table, taking a seat next to Allegra.
"MacDonald, Natalie!"

Cheyenne turned to me, "Oh my god, they're starting the M's!" she looked panicked.

"Don't worry," I tried to comfort her. She took a deep breath as Laura Madly became a Hufflepuff.

"Martinez, Cheyenne,"

"Best of luck," I wished her and she sat on the stool. It was only a moment before the hat announced:

'Ravenclaw!"

"Yes!" I cried and clapped along with the crowd. Seven more students were sorted into their houses before we hit P.

"Patten, Emery!" He joined the Gryffindor table,

"Peterough, Desdemona!" Mona pushed past and headed to the stool.

"Slytherin!" She sat for a moment in shock before Professor McGonagall removed the hat from her head.

"Peterough, Magnolia!"

"Gryffindor!" the sisters exchanged confused glances, wondering if the hat had made a mistake. I really hoped that they wouldn't let the house rivalry get to them.

"Pettinato, Katerina!" I froze and Patrick came up behind me.

"Go, you'll be okay,"

Shakily, I made my way up to the stool and the hat was placed on my head.

"Well, well," the hat said, "the third Pettinato sister," I jumped at the way his voice crept into my head.

"Yes," I thought.

"Your sisters couldn't be more different; Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. But you, I don't believe you fir the same characteristics as both of them,"

"Oh?"

"You're quite intelligent, always thinking. Proceeding with caution in all situations. Weighing the consequences of your actions before taking them. And a ready mind! But…"

"but what?"

"I also see a bravery here, unselfishness and loyalty. I see someone who would put others before yourself and take care of everyone else first. However, your mother was a Ravenclaw, and there is a desire to follow in her footsteps, is that so?"

"Yes,"

"Then better be, Ravenclaw!" I sighed with relief and my sisters both clapped for me as I headed to take the seat next to Cheyenne.

"What took so long?" she asked after she had congratulated me.

"What?"

"You sat there even longer then Lisa!" Allegra exclaimed.

"I'll tell you later," Thoughts poured into my mind. I was almost sorted into Gryffindor, I thought. Maybe because of Iris….but the hat did say what I always knew. I was different from my sisters.