Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the Harry Potter series, the privilage resides with the almighty J.K. Rowling. I do, however, own the plot, the character Oura, (not her last name, again from the mind of J.K. Rowling) and my favorite cat Sterling
Chapter 2
Oura sat, petting Sterling, in the carriage as it rumbled down the worn path to Hogwarts. Being the first transfer student in the history of Hogwarts, she was unsure what to do once she got off the train. A giant man with a long mane of shaggy black hair and a beard that covered most of his face had been calling all the first years to go to him, while the rest of students headed to black carriages. She had stood there hesitantly, until the first years followed the great man down a small path. And so, she was stuck with taking the carriages.
There was only one other person in her carriage. She had introduced herself as Luna Lovegood, and was reading a copy of the magazine "The Quibbler" upside down, and apparently backwards. Luna was a nice girl with straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows, and prominent eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. As she was reading, she gave Oura some advice about the castle.
"The school is full of ghosts," This hadn't surprised Oura. Ghost roamed Beauxbatons similarly to the way they did at Hogwarts. Luna began to list off things that Harry and his friends had already told her, so Oura, not wanting to be rude, tuned her out, listening to the quiet rumble of the wheels and wondering where she would go to be placed in a House. The frizzy haired girl, Hermione, had told her there were 4 houses she could be sorted into.
There was Slytherin, traditionally home to students who exhibit such traits as cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition. Slytherin, they said, is composed mostly of pure-blood students, due to its founder's mistrust of Muggle-born witches and wizards. Slytherin house has a negative reputation, with many claiming that it is the source of most Dark Wizards in Britain.
There was Hufflepuff, which is the most inclusive among the four houses, valuing hard work, patience, loyalty, and fair play rather than a particular aptitude in its members.
There was Gryffindor, whose particular characteristics are courage, chivalry and determination. This was Harry, Ron, and Hermione's House. They spoke very highly of it, almost with as much passion as they hated Slytherin.
Finally, there was Ravenclaw. Members of this house are characterized by their wit, learning, and wisdom. Its house colors are blue and bronze, and its symbol is the eagle. This seemed to puzzle Ron; he thought the symbol should be a Raven. It was Luna's House. Oura kind of hoped she would be in Ravenclaw. She always found that she excelled in her lessons, and she took great interest in Defense of the Dark Arts. She mastered many a spell through her own private studies before she was accepted into Beauxbatons. Her mother was quite proud that she got the highest grades in the school in just her first year. Oura had all O's and all the teachers were blown away at her ability.
"Oh, look the Castle." Luna broke through her thoughts. Oura looked out the window and watched as Hogwarts came into view, glowing on the cliff with windows looking like small flames in the distance. Even though she came to the Castle last year for the Tri-wizard Tournament, the view still took Oura's breath away.
Within minutes, she was walking up to the huge oak doors and entered her new school. The beautiful marble staircase reached upward and spilt at the top, turning back towards the door and disappeared from view.
"Sometimes I forget how beautiful Hogwarts really is." Luna stood beside and watched her taking in the beauty of the Castle. Oura glanced at her and nodded silently. She watched all the students head right, filing into Great Hall and taking their seats at their respective tables. Luna saw some of her friends and waved goodbye to Oura, who just waved back. Then she just stood there, alone and unsure of where to go.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whipped around, hand on her wand, only to find A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face, but smiled down at the Oura.
"The new transfer student, I take it?"
"Yes, ma'am" Oura curtsied best she could in the large robes.
"No need to curtsy to me. Now come with me, you'll wait with the first years."
She turned on her heel and marched down the hall away from the Great Hall and into an empty antechamber. The first years eyed her and shuffled back, so she would have a place to stand. She flashed them all an award-winning smile and watched the boys blush. She shook her head gently. First years were always adorable.
Soon, they were led back out, single file with Oura in the back, and into the Great Hall. The first years looked up, amazed, at the enchanted ceiling, which reflected the sky above. The kids fidgeted as the old Sorting Hat was placed on the stool.
Suddenly, a tear ripped, just above the base like a mouth and it began to sing its song:
In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest"
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the Houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
Oura's mouth fell open. She didn't know how she was going to be sorted, maybe take a test, but this is something she never expected. A singing hat. Huh, That's new.