2. The Sorting Hat awakens.

Were Muggles that dumb to ignore, each 1st of September, those students walking through the station with their trolleys full of luggage and, sometimes, cats or owls? Kate was obsessed with this question as she walked through King's Cross. They had left Carlton at dawn to take the car to London. But the little girl didn't close an eye during the whole travel and had woken up in one bound, when her mother came and knocked at her door, upsetting at the same time poor SirSulkington who was barely taking its marks in its new home. It granted its new mistress with a full of contempt glance before going out of the bed, a haughty look on its face. Five minutes were enough for little Kate to dress up and go downstairs with her heavy trunks, without worrying about damaging them, whereas her parents were still trying to wake up by drinking coffee. Her father, apathetic, was stirring his spoon with the magic of his finger. Waking her up at the last minute would have been wiser...

Her initials, K.W., were nailed in metallic letters on her biggest trunk. On the top of it, there was a smaller one and SirSulkington's cage, which was, by the look on its face, hatching a plan to avenge itself on humans who dared to put him back behind bars. Kate deliberately refused her father to push the trolley in her place. That was part of the rite she invented. Nevertheless, Phil was holding her by the shoulder while rounding his wife's with his other arm. Grace was hiding her anxiety as best as she could by massaging her fingers. To see her daughter leave that far, that long, following the recent events, was sinking her into deep concern. But Phil assured her Kate would be safe at Hogwarts, more than anywhere else. Being a Muggle, Grace had to trust her husband, in spite of her fears.

'Is that it… that much-touted wall you used to talk me about so much?' she asked, curious, when they reached the magical barrier between platform 9 and 10.
'Itself!' he proclaimed, an ounce of nostalgia passing through his eyes. 'Ladies, ready to take the leap?'

He didn't give them the time to answer and pulled them towards the wall. While Grace let out what sounded like a laugh mingled with a yell of fright, Kate on the other hand, was widely smiling, and closed her eyes at the last second before impact. And when she opened them, her sight was bombarded with red, grey and brown tints. A red steam engine was spitting out white smoke. Number 5972 was stuck on its front, along with its name: Hogwarts Express. Platform 9 ¾.

'Come on, let's find you a seat', hurried her father while lightly pressing on her shoulder.

She was observing the students one by one. Some had already put their uniforms on, whereas she kept her pale pink blouse. Older students' suitcases were already adorned with houses emblems. Kate was daydreaming. The platform was so much crowded, it was difficult for them to make their way through. But in spite of the general enjoyment, she saw grief on some faces. Those who saw the horror at Hogwarts, who watched friends die in front of their eyes...

'Check that!' said proudly a pretty old student, wearing a black and yellow tie, while showing the badge on his chest. 'I'm prefect, buddy! Oh they will cry, those first years!'

Good. Now she had to pray not to end up in Hufflepuff.

'Dad, do you recognize those people?' asked the little girl, raising her face towards Phil.

He scanned the place in a brief look.

'Some by sight. It feels strange to see they're parents too. See that woman in a blue suit over there?'

A very elegant woman, in an immaculate, sophisticated style, was turning up her son's collar who was wearing Ravenclaw's uniform.

'I enchanted her Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and her bubble was so big, when it blew up, she had it all over her head! They had to cut her hair and make them grow back.'

They both burst out laughing, one for remembering, the other for imagining it, under Grace's despaired look.

'Fortunately, I still have hope for Kate to grow up or it would have been a lost cause', she sighed, smiling.

A train controller, a man with a gentle face with a Hogwarts magical badge on his vest, accosted them.

'You can leave your belongings here, miss, I'll take care of them.'
'Thanks', stammered Kate, giving her trolley up to him.

She was about to tell him to transfer SirSulkington's cage with great care, but he was already walking away with, onboard, a cat that was particularly unhappy to be handled like merchandise. She waved her hand at it, hoping it will forgive her someday.

The family stopped in front of one of the carriage's door and shared some looks.

'Well then... The beginning of the end!'
'Will you write to me?' she asked, worried.
'As often as we can, I promise', answered her father.

Another promise. Will he keep it, this time? She took the bet.

'It will mainly depend on Littleclaws' laziness', he specified, putting his hands in his jeans pockets.

Her mother was the first to hold her in her arms, as touched as her daughter. When they stepped away, Grace raised her hands to her neck and took off her necklace, a leather lace bearing an amethyst disk. A jewel Kate always saw her mother wearing, as if she was born with it. Grace lifted her daughter's curls in order to close the string's clasp, while Kate's fingers closed on the pendant.

'Even if we don't see each other in months... know I'll always be with you, sweetie... I may be just a Muggle, as your dumb father says, but mothers have this magical power to always being able to keep an eye on their children, witches or not.'
'Those Muggles are incredible', grumbled Phil. 'They don't see when there's magic, and when there's not, they make it up. They'll always surprise me!'

When she got up, she elbowed him with a little smile in the corner of her big lips. She was used to that kind of comment from her husband. Kate had always known and appreciated that rival complicity. Deep down, her parents were true kids and never really grew up.
Then, Phil crouched down in order to be slightly lower than his daughter, who was fixing him with her big grey eyes. He had never been really talented in talking in those kinds of moments; this cost him some difficulties to begin a proper sentence:

'I'll be brief... Don't be friend with those in touch with the Death Eaters and crack the nuts to boys who come too close, or I'll do it myself! With Bludgers!'
'Honey, she's too young to think about those things!'
'But attending classes and having good grades seems pretty good too!'

They shared a smile before Kate casted herself into his arms, almost bringing him down. Phil gently stroked his daughter's hair. If something happened to her, moreover if it's because of him, he would never forgive himself...
The locomotive whistled, ending their embrace. Phil caught her hand and slip some Sickles in her palm for her to buy some candies in the train.

'Now go! Hurry!'

He put down a kiss on Kate's forehead before she climbed up the stairs. She turned back one last time to wave at them and they answered back, a smile on their faces. Some students were talking in the narrow corridor, without taking seats in the compartments. With a brief look, Kate inspected the first one on her left: there was a girl with blond and curly hair, suspended by a green pin above her temple, like a doll. Her pretty, mischievous profile seemed familiar to Kate... Trying her best to ignore her shyness, she opened the sliding door and took place on the seat in front of her. The other girl ignored her a while, observing on the other side of the window, a couple that seemed to talk to her. Further in the background, Phil addressed a complicit look to his daughter before making discreetly fun of the too worried couple.

'Are they your parents?' Kate asked to the other girl.
'I'm afraid so', she replied without looking at her.

She was disregarding them with so much natural casualness, it was edifying.

'Hogwarts is liberation for me in comparison with those maniacs.'

The train began to move slowly. Kate bent to the window to share last goodbyes with her parents. The girl in front of her finally looked at her after she granted her parents – who were still following the train – with a cordial gesture:

'Your name's Kate, right?'

Kate tensed up and turned pale while the girl was staring at her with a growing smile.

'H-How do you know?' she stammered.
'I heard your father calling you in Madam Malkin's shop. We were there on the same day.'

She remembered now. The little blonde girl, whose parents were tracking every small detail that could be wrong, how did she forget?

'My name's Maggie Dawkins', she introduced herself.
'Kate Whisper.'

Maggie chuckled:

'You're gonna wait a long time during the repartition!'

In the alphabetic order, Kate would be, indeed, the last to put the Sorting Hat on. The wait would be unbearable...

'Unless you already know where you'll be sent.'
'I don't get it...'
'Wizards families, you know. They often go to the same house from generation to generation. For example, I'm almost certain to end up in Gryffindor. My family's been there since the 18th century!'

Kate thought about that assertion while the train was leaving the centre of London. Her father was in Slytherin and both her grand-parents on her father's side were in Ravenclaw, which didn't help her at all.

The noise of the sliding door hijacked her from her thoughts. A boy's square head passed through the doorway.

'Do you mind if we come in? They're too noisy in the compartment nearby!'

He didn't wait for their answer and walked in with another girl before sitting down next to Kate, who stared at him while getting closer to the window, as if contact scared her. His bronze hair was tidy with care on his large head. He didn't wear a uniform or a badge either. And yet, he seemed older than an eleven year old first year.

'But... you're welcome!' said Maggie in an almost sarcastic smile.
'What's happening nearby?' asked Kate in a small voice.
'Some are already getting along extremely well and are fooling around! I can't stand them during the whole seven hours travel!'

Kate bent a little to look at the little frail girl, who quietly sat farther. Her auburn hair was hold by sticks behind her head and was harmoniously cascading in curls behind her back emphasizing her pale baby face. Hitting her One thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi book, the young girl didn't provide them a single look or the slightest word.

'I didn't introduce myself, by the way!' exclaimed the boy, hitting his thigh. 'My name's Terry Diggle.'
'Diggle, Diggle', repeated Maggie, squinting, like if she was concentrating.

She looked like she choked on a Pepper Imp, as she turned red, and her ears seemed to be about to smoke out under her intense thinking.

'I saw your name in the Daily Prophet this summer!' she burst out.

Terry opened wide eyes when she screamed.

'Y-Yes, it's probable', he mumbled. 'My father works at the Ministry of Magic and was part of the Order of the Phoenix.'
'The Order of the Phoenix?' marvelled Kate. 'Your father's a hero!'
'Well, trust me, son of hero is not an easy task', he bitterly replied.

A light of sadness passed through his eyes, very soon replaced by a warm smile.

'But the way my father speaks of Harry Potter is incredible! When he first met him at the Leaky Cauldron...'

Terry launched into a speech about his father and the Chosen One who saved the wizarding world. Kate drank in his words, admiring, while Maggie grew tired of it very quickly, watching the grey and green landscape passing by the window. The little book-girl didn't seem to have moved from an inch the whole time.

'You know, you're not the only person who has a famous father', said Maggie when Terry had finished his speech about his father's battle at Hogwarts.
'Really?'
'My father is Hector Dawkins' son.'
'Who that is?' muttered Terry, frowning his thick blonde eyebrows.
'The inventor of the Omnioculars, you ignorant! You know those binoculars for Quidditch that allows you to replay and slow down actions.'
'Really?' gushed Kate, always astounded every time she discovers something about the magical world.
'So what?' retorted Terry, who didn't see Maggie's point. 'What's that got to do with your father?'
'Nothing. Just to say my father is very rich and that's enough.'

Terry and Kate shared a look, not knowing whether to laugh or say nothing so they wouldn't hurt her feelings. But the statements about her father seemed ridiculous compared to Terry's father and his adventures in the Order.

'What about you, Kate?' asked Terry. 'What does your father do?'
'He's a Tracker', she answered in a shy voice.
'Is he?' he gushed, his eyes sparkling. 'That's an awesome job! Which district?'
'Err... I don't know!'

Trackers were, indeed, given a ground bounded by the Ministry and any incident with Muggles done by magical creatures was their responsibility. That was a 31 miles sphere of operation.

'That's as exciting as a cockroach exterminator for Muggles', yawned Maggie.

Kate scowled, settling on her seat, but said nothing. Seeing such arrogance in that girl, there was no doubt she would break the family tradition and end up in Slytherin.

Terry turned towards the silent girl and was about to ask her the same question, when the service trolley showed itself in the corridor, pushed by an old hunched lady. They immediately all raised their heads. Putting forward wisdom before greed, Kate preferred to take only a Chocolate Frog, a little box of Cauldron Cakes and another one of SugarButterfly Wings[1], her favourites. Her father used to bring her some when she was a child, and she had great fun trying to catch the sweetie butterflies that flown around the house. To the great displeasure of her mother, who spent her time collecting the fallen items, the small knocked-down furniture or her own daughter who had sprained her ankle trying to catch on flight the butterfly on the shelter.

Next to her, Terry invested in a big package of Jelly Slugs and a huge stock of Bertie Bott's every flavour beans, Maggie just took an enormous Chocoball, holding out a Galleon to the old lady with a provocative look. As for the little girl with copper-coloured curls, she ordered Pumpkin Pasties in such a low and high-pitched voice that only the lady could understand her by reading her thin lips. Kate's clumsiness showed again when she opened up her Chocolate Frog package and let it slip at her feet. She looked a long time for it crawling under the seats before she could get her hands on the amphibian which was now standing still as its magic was cleared away. While biting the head, she returned to her seat and took the card in the package. Imagine her surprise, and her neighbour's, when she recognized the moving wizard on it...:

'Harry Potter?!' exclaimed Terry, his mouth full of Jelly Slugs. 'They finally released it?'
'Rumours have it; it will become a collector's edition', enlightened Maggie, nibbling her Chocoball she previously wiped with a handkerchief, as if trying to take away any trace of fingerprints on the candy. 'They only released a hundred cards. I suggest you to cast a protection spell on it, before someone steals it from you!'

Making slight rotations with the card, Kate considered the young well-known wizard. He had a slight teasing look behind his round glasses. Under his black hair, was hiding his so famous scar inflicted by the Dark Lord himself. How could a boy have defeated the greatest threat of the wizarding world in the space of a few years, while more experienced ones confronted their Nemesis during decades, sometimes by sacrificing their entire lives, before bringing them down.

The journey seemed endless to Kate who was hoping to see Hogwarts' silhouette behind each hill, while Terry and Maggie were discussing about Quidditch. A debate the young girl had difficulties to follow. They were complaining about the World Cup – which takes place every four years – that had been reported to next year because of the recent events. Kate saw, in a few occasions, some students passing by their compartment's door, becoming more and more excited as they were approaching Hogwarts. Putting her robe on made her shiver as the night was falling in the horizon.

'There! I can see it!' yelled Terry, stuck to the window.

Small lights, like little stars, were shining along the Hogwarts towers. Some repairing works, following the battle that took place last May, were visible. She couldn't enjoy the view more, when the building was swallowed by the trees. The train slowed down as it arrived to Hogsmeade station.
Students rushed out of the train and happiness could be seen on every single face. Older students, leaving their suitcases on the platform, took a path to the forest while a booming voice invited the first years to gather around:

'Firs' years! Over here!'

When she stepped out of the train with Maggie and Terry, Kate saw the huge silhouette of Hagrid, the gamekeeper.

'Firs' years, gather around!'

In the middle of the crowd, Kate tried not to stare at her new neighbours, too intimidated by their presence, but also by the half-giant who was watching the whole of them with a satisfied look. When all forty students were around him, he invited them to follow him, carrying his enormous lantern in his hand.

'Ev'ryone to the boats! Hurry! Reception's waitin'!'

They took a wet underground passage, which was leading to the boathouse in a creek. Five by five, they took on board. Maggie followed Kate, who almost threw herself in the first boat. Another girl completed the trio – tall and slim, her long black hair glowing like hematite –, followed by two boys.

'Good, we can go now?' Hagrid verified, from a boat of his own, scanning the students with his large lantern. 'Let's go!'

Immediately, the boats started to move by themselves on the surface, staying close to each other. The clear, starry sky revealed itself as soon as they came out of the cave. On its rock, the Hogwarts castle gleamed in the light, its silhouette underlined by tens of orange lights which covered the walls with coloured shadows. A magical fire was burning at the top of the astronomy tower, thin and hail in the middle of the place. An impressive tower overhung the Great Hall location, remarkable by its gothic arched surmounted with pointed pinnacles. For the occasion, small lights had been released and were dotting the shimmering black surface of the lake. Kate, wishing to touch one of them, bent over the edge and lost her balance. She would have fallen, if it wasn't for Maggie, who grabbed her by the collar to bring her back on the boat.

'Are you a natural clumsy?' she reproached with her usual straight-talk.
'Seems so!' replied Kate, catching her breath. 'Thank you!'
'You're welcome.'

When they arrived on the shore, the students went off the boats, overflowing with excitement. A tiny, goblin height, man welcomed them on the quay. He was wearing glasses, a wagging moustache and a custom-made suit. He looked truly thrilled as he was rubbing his hands.

'Welcome to Hogwarts, dear young students!' he announced in a high voice, loud enough for everyone to hear him. 'Let me introduce myself: I'm professor Flitwick, new deputy headmaster and you'll have the opportunity to have me as your Charms class teacher. It is necessary, before I bring you in the Great Hall, to remind you of some points.'

Some students in the back whispered about the houses they knew by reputation, teachers and many other things. But Kate, in the front, was drinking in her future professor's words.

'After putting the Sorting Hat on your head, you'll be sorted into different houses. There are four of them: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. You will, then, join your housemates at the corresponding table and, after the reception, your common rooms. During your seven years here, you will remain in the house you were attributed by the Hat and have to earn points by your distinctions and implication in classes. Because at the end of each year, the house that gathers the most points wins the House Cup. Do you have any questions?'

A young girl raised her hand and the professor, all smiling, questioned her.

'Professor, where are our luggage?'
'We stored them in the hall for the moment, but they will be brought to your dormitories as soon the repartition ceremony is finished.'

After one last look to the student's assembly, professor Flitwick clapped his hands.

'If there's no more question, let's go!'

Even though everyone wanted to push each other in order to arrive first in the Great Hall, the group climbed up in an organized row. In the back, Hagrid locked up the rear. They went through the main courtyard, lit up with torches. Some broken paving stones, from last May's battle, were still strewed over the ground. In the entrance hall, all had the tied throat. Kate in particular; she was so anxious, she stumbled over a step. The Great Hall had taken on its more beautiful assets to celebrate this new year under the sign of freedom and rebirth for the school. Golden candles were floating in midair, the ceiling was displaying a brown sky with sparkling stars, just like the ones during those hot summer nights near big metropolises. The group of students crossed the Great Hall, between delight and apprehension. Kate discreetly watched the elder's faces, who were already installed at their tables. Some were encouraging them with a glance, or a sign of their hand, some were completely ignoring them, as they weren't very different from the first years that preceded them. They stopped in front of the steps that separated the teachers' table from the students, under their tiny Charms teacher's order. In the middle of his colleagues, an old witch with a pinched air, her tight bun under her dark green ornamented with eagle feathers hat, was standing still in her impressing seat, while Hagrid took place near her, exceeding from several inches all of the other teachers. After Voldemort's defeat and the death of the former Headmaster, Severus Snape, the job had been given to the deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. This year, a little stepladder was placed near the Sorting Hat that was standing at its usual emplacement. Professor Flitwick certainly was responsible for the role of putting the magical hat on the students' heads. This one, all patched up and still covered with its one year nap's dust, opened its large crack and sang:

'In your ancestors' far-off day
I was a beautiful hat without equal
My masters, whose love wasn't to weigh
And to whom, in respect, I was not really frugal
Sorting Hat, that's what they called me
All gave me the word, the role which fell to me
To award to each new apprentice his house
That'll fit him and make his qualities rouse

Hogwarts was built on highly skilled values
To welcome within the apprentices
In the middle of a field of autumn crocus
Alongside a large lake full of fishes

For the noble Gryffindor, bravery was first
And courage was the key of each gesture and each thought
Because his students never can back up
That is a virtue that cannot be taught
The kind Ravenclaw extolled intelligence
Source of benefaction and great discoveries
Her students had no place for chance
And that's what hard work guarantees
Sweet Hufflepuff acted in fairness
Tolerance was her irrefutable credo
And to her more is better than less
In kindness, Hufflepuffs always forego
The cunning Slytherin advocated mischievousness
Trickery and ambition above all
Between themselves, his followers were partners
Their dreams of success were never too small

So put my humble self on your head
Because young wizards, from this day forth
Your hearts' choice will be said
For you are Hogwarts students thenceforth [3]'

A thunderous applause burst out to salute the Sorting Hat's song. But it muddled up Kate's thought more than ever. None of these qualities seemed acquired, except clumsiness. For the moment, she was pretty sure to be sorted in Hufflepuff, with the non-reassuring prefect she met at the station. Climbing on the stepladder, professor Flitwick unrolled the parchment on which the new students' names were written.

'Beckett, Emeric', he called.

Kate immediately recognized the boy who stepped out of the crowd. She had met him at Madam Malkin's; he was the boy desperately trying to get out of his robe that was too large. She noticed he finally found one at his size! Emeric straightened his glasses, hands shaking and then took place on the stool. It only took a few seconds before the Sorting Hat made its decision:

'Ravenclaw!'

A round of applause welcomed the student under the blue banners while Emeric, embarrassed by all those looks, joined them at the table. Those who followed were sorted into Ravenclaw too, or Hufflepuff. The girl who was in the boat with Kate and Maggie was named Calypso Curtiss. She was the first sent to Slytherin.

'Dawkins, Maggie', continued Flitwick while Calypso was fluidly and gracefully walking to the Slytherin table.

The little girl tensed up a moment, pale, and went towards the stool. This time, the Sorting Hat took longer than for the others to make its decision while Maggie was still looking terrified, like if she saw a Grim. Finally, the Hat spoke up:

'Gryffindor!'

So, in spite of her personality which would have been a very good reason for the Hat's hesitation, she was right back in the train. Her plump cheeks regained some colours and she scampered along towards the Gryffindors, making her pretty blonde curls rebound.

'Diggle, Terrence', the professor carried on.

Terry looked more confident than his predecessors and was smiling, as if he had waited for this moment his entire life. Flitwick put the hat on his brown with blonde highlights mop of hair.

'Hufflepuff!'

Kate regretted that Terry and Maggie weren't in the same house. Be with them would have been the chance of a lifetime. Repartition kept going. A certain Griffin Gale was sorted into Gryffindor, and Kate wished it would have been Terry. She found Griffin was a lot like her father, a younger version of him, with his short hair, his assured look and his show off smile. Some students later, Kate met the Ledger twins, of which the boy was the reason of the noise Terry talked about in the train. He was sorted in Slytherin, while his sister, a lot more calm and shy, went to Ravenclaw.

'MacNair, Morgana.'

Hearing that name, a racket pierced through the silence. In fact, it was just Hagrid who hopped off his chair. However, his astonished look didn't reassure little Kate, who knew it was a bad sign. The girl who stepped out of the group caught her eyes. She had a pale complexion, short and glowing dark hair. She had a cute little face with her turned-up nose, nevertheless, her steely grey eyes, just like the Whisper's, were so sinister and expressionless that it was properly terrifying.

'Slytherin!' claimed the hat which had barely been put on her head.

That didn't bode well... Kate had to get some information on her as soon as she could. She suspected the girl to be a Pure Blood and even a Death Eater's relative...

'Miller, Moira.'

To the general surprise, a dwarf girl walked out of the reduced group. Some whispers rose from the tables and little Moira looked at them with a half-contempt gaze down from the steps, knowing and used to their mutters. Professor Flitwick, who shared her handicap, was very accommodating with her, particularly when it came to help her climb the stool.

'Gryffindor!'

Cheers doubled at the Gryffindors' table and even professor Flitwick applauded. However, Kate had difficulty to imagine Moira sharing a room with a particularly haughty and arrogant Maggie. Everything was here to make things degenerate quickly between those two. A girl called Juno Nightingal burst into tears when she was sorted into Slytherin, which cost her taunts from some of her housemates, while some others, more understanding, welcomed her to the table. While more students were sorted, Kate kept an attentive look on the red haired little girl, who was with them during the journey on the Hogwarts Express and who still didn't say a word. She had to wait far in the list to finally hear her name:

'Smethwyck, Hygie.'
'She's St Mango's manager's daughter', whispered a boy to his friend, next to Kate.

So, this shy little girl was the daughter of a reputed wizard at the head of the greatest hospital in the magical world? That must certainly explain her quiet passion for her Herbology book in the train.

'Ravenclaw!'

She got up with a slight smile and moved away in small footsteps. Kate really feared to be the last one when there were still two of them – she and a dark skinned boy – waiting in front of the steps.

'Watson, Jason.'

He abandoned her there, at the mercy of solitude and the other students' attention, who were tired of the repartition and waiting for the banquet. Once Jason was sorted into Gryffindor, professor Flitwick looked at her, then at the list, before calling her:

'Whisper, Katelyna.'

She climbed the steps very carefully to not trip over the red carpet. Her whole body was shaking when she took place on the stool and felt the Sorting Hat on her head.

'Oh, very, very interesting', whispered the Hat in her ear. 'I've been waiting for you for centuries, dear child. Long and endless centuries, during which, I couldn't fully accomplish the mission that was given to me. My liberation finally comes with you, thanks to your blood. And I see in your mind the virtues of the person who ordered me to remain faithful to her. Because your personality is the result of injustices, that were committed against you as a child. You possess as much Gryffindors' bravery, Hufflepuffs' altruism, Ravenclaws' wittiness and Slytherins' cunning. You're hiding each and every one of those facets deep down in your heart... But let me help you to assert them...'

What did all of this mean?! Kate was shuddering and hesitated to take the Sorting Hat off because of the disturbance it raised in her. But then, it let out the cry that long resounded in the Great Hall and changed her life forever:

'Shatterfly!'

First, a long silence took place, then surprised whispers and stupefied hiccups, followed by one single laugh from the Slytherin table. McGonagall, for a moment, hesitated to overreact. Flitwick, who almost fell off his stepladder from surprise, took the hat off Kate's head, examined it and then replaced it on her, hoping it was nothing but a mistake. And yet, the Sorting Hat remained silent. Annoyed, the Charms class teacher discreetly tried on some mumbled spells, but nothing succeeded in waking the hat up. Kate felt tears coming up but, under all those looks, she had to contain herself. What was that masquerade? It was a nightmare, or a very bad joke. Why couldn't the hat send her into a house, like everybody else? She would even accept to go to Hufflepuff if she really had to, if it avoids her to be humiliated.

While the whispers were gaining in intensity in the Great Hall, the Headmistress shared some looks with her colleagues before standing up and walking towards the scene, facing the students and hiding an overwhelmed Kate's view. McGonagall acted as if nothing happened:

'Dear students, young wizards and witches, welcome to Hogwarts', she began, hiding her confusion by holding her bony hands. 'Seeing the recent events, I must draw your attention to the fact that some parts of the school are closed because of high damages. We ask you to be very careful... Remember that the Forbidden Forest is still forbidden. But before I introduce you to your new teachers, I'd like us to pay tribute.'

Her voice was sad and hoarse. Kate was shaking on her stool, still decked out in the Sorting Hat.

'Many of you suffered the occupation Hogwarts endured during months. More than students, some of you acted as heroes. And this school is forever thankful for your fight. Unfortunately... Some of you... didn't have your chance. Let's never forget the wizards, witches and students who lost their lives to save yours...'

Sobs were heard through the place. Some had lost their friends, brothers, sisters, cousins under their eyes... From her point of view, Kate didn't manage to see further than McGonagall's thick green taffeta dress, relieved, for a time, no to have to see her schoolmates' sad, haggard faces. But she well imagined the grief that was reigning over the four tables as the Headmistress listed the names of the lost ones... Was it an act of bravery, or guilt, that she remembered all of them?

'As last year's program didn't match with the various apprenticeships' expectations', McGonagall went on, tensing up after the minute of silence. 'We have the regret to announce that certain classes will have to work hard and show determination in order to catch up.'

A wave of moderate disapprovals rose, but the Headmistress immediately resumed:

'However, the teachers will be available anytime to help you as best as they can, for we are well aware of your particular situation. The staff had a few changes, but not the least, for you will have carefully selected teachers at the top of their game. Professor Flitwick here, head of the Ravenclaw house and Charms class teacher, is replacing me as Deputy Headmaster.'

Noisy applauses greeted the tiny professor who was still on his stepladder, repeatedly bowing, with a proud and satisfied look on his face.

'Replacing me in Transfiguration class, professor Wolffhart, coming straight from continental Europe, who accepted to take the job. Thank you for welcoming him properly.'

McGonagall turned towards the table on her left where a sinister and expressionless man with abundant and greying hair, dressed in a long black coat and a bright red scarf, got up. He nodded and grabbed his collar, frowning his dark thick eyebrows, while students were politely applauding this new teacher no one knew.

'As professor Sprout retired, following the events that soiled our school', continued the Headmistress with her usual pinched voice. 'This time, as a teacher and not as a student, I introduce you to Mr Longbottom, who will take Herbology classes in charge.'

Immediately, a thunderous ovation resounded in the Great Hall. Neville Longbottom wasn't unknown for anybody, even Kate, who had read about him on numerous Daily Prophets' editions, this summer. He was one of Hogwarts' heroes and best friend with the boy-who-lived. Kate, who had never been interested in him until today, turned towards him to see that clumsy young man, waving with enjoyment at the crowd, who knew him well for his exploits. Only a few shy boos were coming from Slytherins' table.

'It seems judicious to me to add that professor Longbottom, besides teaching Herbology, is given the title of new head of Gryffindor.'

Gryffindors' table went crazy, applauding so hard their hands could have bleed! They were shouting, whistling and banging their fists on the wood, expressing their happiness like never before.

'As professor Slughorn is now head of the Slytherin house, Hufflepuffs will have professor Sinistra as their new head of house.'

They both just nodded.

'As for your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher', declared McGonagall, shaking the eagle feathers of her emerald green hat, 'he asks you to forgive his absence. For professional reasons, he couldn't manage to be here for the ceremony.'

One of the chairs next to Neville was, indeed, empty. New whispers rose. A very slight smile, almost imperceptible, appeared on the strict and wrinkled Headmistress' face.

'However, he won't miss the occasion to introduce himself during your first classes with him. And now, enjoy your meal!'

Large, well-served dishes appeared on the tables, under all the students' ecstatic sighs, along with pumpkin juice's carafes. Having now diverted their attention, McGonagall turned towards Kate and, after she took back the hat, ordered her to follow her. Professor Flitwick followed too, jumping off his stepladder, while the Headmistress told the other heads of houses to come with her, in spite of the dinner. They took a little door, hidden behind the teachers' table, which took them to narrow and dark stairs that led to an antechamber. Many portraits were suspended on the wall. A wizard, with a moustache that made him look like a walrus, stared at Kate when she entered the room, stroking his chin with his fingertips.

'Sit down, miss Whisper', asked McGonagall, making a chair and a table approach with a move of her wand.

Kate, pale, did what she was told, while professor Slughorn was closing the door as everyone was inside.

'You may be hungry!' pointed out professor Sinistra with an accommodating voice.

She pulled out her wand too and drawn a circle on the table. Immediately, a well-served plate from the kitchens appeared under her amazed look.

'What happened, Filius?' asked the Headmistress as much taken aback as strict.
'I can't tell, Minerva!' he stammered, fervently shaking his head from left to right. 'The Sorting Hat refuses to answer! And, believe me, I'd rather not abuse with spells on it!'
'Is that the first time that kind of thing happens, professor McGonagall?' asked Neville.

She gave him a stern look which made him look even paler than he already was.

'Mister Longbottom, we are colleagues now, I'd ask you not to call me "professor" anymore when we're between us.'
'Very well, professor... I mean... Minerva!' stammered Longbottom, embarrassed.
'To my knowledge', interfered professor Slughorn, clutching his suspenders under his brown-greyish vest, 'the Sorting Hat never talked about a house with such a grotesque name as... Shatterfly? Is that right?'
'Even if it did mention a fifth house', McGonagall pointed out staring at little Kate who was enjoying her stew.

She was listening with great interest what they were saying but pretended not to be.

'I'm not even sure the oldest ghosts here could deny it... No record refers to a fifth house, we would have known!'
'Miss Whisper... Can you tell us what the Sorting Hat said to you?' squealed Flitwick.

Kate raised her head, a big cut of stew still in her mouth, and stopped chewing when noticing all five professors were staring at her. Uncomfortable, she swallowed and gave a brief look to the hat that was put in front of her.

'He said... he's been waiting for me for a very long time. And that he was faithful to someone...'
'To who?'
'I don't know', she said, shaking. 'He just said "she", but... that's it!'
'That's it?!' repeated Slughorn.
'But do you have any idea why he sent you into that house?' continued Sinistra.
'He told me that... I activated something. That there was something in my blood, I think...!'

Some part of her refused her to talk about what she endured in the past, what the hat had mentioned.

'Do you have any famous ascendency?' asked the Potions master.
'I-I don't think so! My father is a wizard and my mother is a Muggle.'
'Of course, how foolish of me!' he claimed. 'Whisper! As in Philippus Whisper, your father! I should have remembered him. He was in my house, back in my old days at Hogwarts! A bundle of fun he was! Not very good in Potions but I must admit he had a certain sense of humour and repartee!'

He had a fat laugh, his lips closed, but when he noticed his colleagues' looks, he stopped:

'But I'm digressing...'
'You knew him as a student, Horace', added McGonagall, who saw so many generations of young wizards that a Slytherin student totally disappeared from her memory as soon he left Hogwarts.
'Indeed. And I can certify he had no famous ancestors...'

Slughorn always made a point in his students' reputations. He invited them to his meetings, known as "The Slug Club". He was in the best position to say that.[3]

'However, the legitimacy of such a house cannot be accepted without proves', snapped McGonagall.
'But... where will I go?' worried Kate with a small voice, after she finished her plate.
'The Sorting Hat sent only four girls into Gryffindor this year and there are five beds', declared Neville. 'Miss Whisper certainly can join them until...'
'Until what? We are not going to give her a dormitory on her own! For the moment, Shatterfly is nothing but a word leaving a lot of doubts.'
'Nevertheless, we must make researches about this unlikely phenomenon in order to properly react if it happens again next years... And measures have to be taken for Miss Whisper.'

When they went to the Great Hall, a lot of students already had finished their dinner and were gone to their common rooms. Kate noticed that all the first years were gone, probably guided by their prefects. She crossed the alley without trying to hide from her older schoolmates' inquisitive looks, grabbed some marshmallows into Hufflepuffs' salad bowl, causing three of them to fall, and went out of the dining room. She chose by instinct to follow a small group of students into the stairs. Nothing went as she planned. She always dreamt about integration and a warming feeling. But she ended alone, wandering about in the school, searching for the Gryffindor common room. Around the corner of some corridors, she chose to ask some portraits. Some laughed at her, going back to their activities, from dragon hunt to stichstock[4], the Quidditch's ancestor. But the portrait of a witch wearing a brown dress and a red cape nicely showed her the way. On the third floor, as she passed under some armours' gazes, a white light coming from the wall swooped down and stole her marshmallows. An acrid laughter resounded in her ears. Surprised and annoyed, the little girl raised her head towards the sly spirit with a bright orange bowtie who was juggling with her sweets.

'Give me my candies back!' she complained.
'You're gonna be fatter, chap!' cackled the poltergeist, opening wider its large mouth, floating nine stairs above.

He capered towards her, taunting her by placing the marshmallows above her head.

'Aren't you the first year no one wants?'

He concluded his sentence with a sarcastic chuckle.

'Houseless! Houseless!'

Furious and close to tears, Kate ran in the stairs, leaving her candies and hoping to lose the poltergeist. But Peeves was singing behind her, repeating the same words before bombarding her with her own marshmallows.
When she reached the fat lady portrait, Kate realized she didn't know the password. Even though she insisted, the portrait refused to move and even threatened her to call other portraits to the rescue if she didn't go away. Sullen, Kate sat, legs crossed, in front of the portrait, ignoring the warnings the fat lady was throwing at her from time to time in her outraged, rattled voice.

'Neville told me I would find you here.'

Hearing the voice, Kate jumped and turned back. She got up on her feet when she saw the young woman with dull brown, untidy hair, wearing dapper clothes and her Gryffindor well-knotted tie. By the look of her, she seemed to be a seven year...

'You were looking for me?' stammered an intimidated Kate.
'I was, yes. What an idea to rush like that without asking for the password. Still... You have a marshmallow in your hair.'

She tried to smile but it didn't really reassure Kate, who grabbed her candy before swallowing it without further ado. Then, the young woman turned towards the fat lady's portrait and said:

'Mimbulus mimbletonia.'

At the mention of the password, the frame slid, opening a narrow passageway into which she slipped, followed by a sick with fear Kate. The Gryffindor common room emanated soothing warmth by its gold and red hangings on the walls as well as the huge fireplace in which ashes were crackling. When they saw her coming in, some students who were talking in the comfortable sofas, stopped their conversations and started to whisper.

'By my great-aunt's owls, what is she doing here?'
'She finally chose the best house!'
'Oh, shut up! Don't you think she's already been through a lot?'

The seven year student led her to the staircase entrance and stopped against the rib stone frame.

'Your dormitory is on the first floor', she said.
'Thanks a lot', stammered Kate, grateful.
'That's no problem. Good night, Katelyna.'
'Wait!'

The young lady turned back and raised an eyebrow.

'What is your name?'

She smiled and waited a few seconds before she answered:

'Hermione. Hermione Granger.'

Kate's mouth opened so widely a Quaffle could have entered in with no difficulty. This war hero, there, in front of her, today, who accompanied her. It was more than she hoped for.

'Her-Hermione Granger?! That... That's a honour!'
'It's nothing!' she blushed.
'But I thought you weren't at Hogwarts anymore! How was it like to defeat You-Know-Who? How is Harry Potter?'
'Calm down', laughed Hermione, interrupting her tsunami of questions. 'Yes, I'm here to pass my N.E.W.T.s, it's important to me. But we can talk about that another day. We'll certainly meet here or at the library. I well intend to make some researches on your... house! I find it intriguing. It really wasn't... normal! I know Hogwarts, a history by heart and never, ever, the Sorting Hat talked about a fifth house! It's regrettable the library opens only tomorrow, I would have go tonight! Still...! If you wish, you can help me into my researches! You're the first concerned, after all!'

Kate's cheeks blushed with glee. Then, she said goodbye to the young witch before she climbed the stairs two by two. The welcome she received when she opened the door seemed to live up to this evening:

'Ah!' claimed a wrathful Maggie, not surprised to see her, accusingly pointing her out with her pillow. 'I knew that horrible, furry thing was yours! Look at the crime he dared to commit against me!'

SirSulkington, that was brought here, had decided to scratch Maggie's trunk and had taken down the metallic "D", which he had begun to chew, nonchalantly laid on the edge of the window, his tail swinging like a white furry metronome.

'Did the Sorting Hat finally send you into Gryffindor?' asked shyly a tall girl, with mahogany hair and a rounded face, who was reading a small book, laid on her bed.
'No, it did as it pleases', admitted Kate while she closed the door. 'Professors decided I would stay with you for the moment...'

As professor Longbottom suggested, there was an empty bed on the extreme left, near the door. The circular room was provided with long diagonally barred windows between each bed. There was two candlesticks hung on the wall at each side of the door and orange red coloured candles had been placed on each bedside table.

'I think those beds are high', grumbled Moira, who let herself fall on her cover, her legs swinging in the space, too small to touch the floor. 'I should have been sorted into Ravenclaw. Apparently, their beds are closer to the ground.'
'For the sake of one-legged goblins, where did I put my pyjamas?!' worried a fourth girl with long and silky blonde, perfectly curled hair, who was searching into her luggage on her bed.
'So no one has the decency to stand up for me about my trunk that had been devastated by this monster?!' said Maggie in the middle, outraged and on the borders of hysteria.

A light smile tickled the corner of Kate's lips. Maybe it wasn't the evening she expected so much, it wasn't any less a new beginning...

[1] Even if SugarButterfly Wings aren't mentionned in the books , they belong to the HP universe.
[2] I tried my best to stay faithful to the French version. Ielenna did a great job with her Sortin Hat's song, I didn't want to ruin it.
[3] And for those who wonder: no, Phil never joined the Slug Club! He would rather die than do that.
[4] Stichstock is a German sport that is practiced on broomsticks. A dragon's bladder is swelled and placed on the top of a very tall mast and a wizard guards it. The other 15 players must try to pierce it. The winner is either the guardian if he succeeds in defeating his 15 opponents, either the 15 players if they pierce the bladder. Judged too dangerous, it was forbidden during the 15th century.