The Sorting Hat
Hagrid led the first years to the Hogwarts gates by the means of small boats. Hayley climbed in with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
As they drifted through the lake, Hogwarts castle came into view. Her mouth fell open as she beheld the sight before her. Perched atop a high mountain was the castle, its windows sparking with many high towers and turrets. The stars shone above their heads, the ancient castle shining in the starlight.
Hagrid steered the boats onto a small harbour and they got out. They followed the gamekeeper to the castle's door and he knocked. The door swung open and a tall, black-haired witch in emerald robes stood before them. She observed the first years with a stern look as Hagrid greeted her.
"The first years, Professor McGonagall."
McGonagall...
She's the one who wrote the letters! She's Deputy Headmistress.
She thanked Hagrid and led them to a small, empty chamber.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuf, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
She eyed them carefully, then told them to wait here quietly. They all started to adjust their appearances, Hayley too tried to smooth out her hair. Her long wavy hair reached just above her waist and she nervously tucked two strands behind each ear. She noticed Harry flattening his hair as well.
As they waited, ghosts appeared. Yes actual ghosts. A funny looking clown and a transparent looking man. Later urging them to join his house, Hufflepuff.
Professor McGonagall came back and told them to follow her. They rushed after her, forming two lines. They entered the Great Hall and once again she couldn't keep her jaw from dropping to the floor. She looked in awe as the brightly lit hall welcomed them with warmth and a starry sky. Countless candles hung in the air, floating above their heads. She vaguely heard Hermoine Granger telling them the ceiling was bewitched to look like that. Older students turned to look at them. There were fours long tables and their occupants clapped as they entered and paused at the front of the hall.
She peered over Ron's shoulder to see Professor McGonagall place a stool in front of them and an old dirty looking hat. She looked at that with batted breath, waiting for some test that will determine which House they'll be getting in.
But then, a tear appeared at the rim of the hat and it came to life, singing. It sang a song about Hogwarts houses. As soon as it stopped singing, Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding 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.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down.
A moment's pause, "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time, several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy," went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; she could see Ron's twin brothers catcalling.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin. She looked over at their table and they welcomed her with claps and applause. But a lot of older students looked as if they would rather be somewhere else than here. She then looked at her brother and he looked like he was starting to feel sick now.
She took his hand in hers, and smiled. Everything's going to be fine. He nodded.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
She had missed a few names and now McGonagall was calling Hermoine Granger.
The young witch came up to the stool and the hat bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron groaned.
A horrible thought struck Hayley, as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous.
What if she and Harry weren't chosen to be in the same House? What then? What will they do then? Will she even be able to sleep without him?
When Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to "MacDougal, Morag."
Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.
There weren't many people left now. "Moon" "Nott" "Parkinson" then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil" then "Perks, Sally-Anne" and then, at last- "Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
The hall full of people were craning to get a good look at him. She stood on her tip toes and saw Harry, his face in deep concentration. Several minutes went by and the Sorting Hat had not given an answer.
Then all of a sudden, "GRYFFINDOR!"
A huge grin formed onto Harry's face as he joined the Gryffindor table, the Weasley twins seemed to be over the moon. Ron had started to shake now.
She was still watching her brother when her name was called. "Potter, Hayley."
Her stomach dropped and she felt her legs go numb. She could hear the murmurs that went around the hall.
"Potter?"
"Another Potter?"
"A twin? Have you heard about her?"
"Yes but not much."
She swallowed, her mouth and throat going dry. She walked up to the stool and sat. The hat fell onto her head, covering her eyes.
"Hmm... I see..." She jumped when a small voice reached her ears. The hat was talking to her, she realised with both astonishment and disblief.
"Where to put you? Where to put you?" It seemed to mumble. Anywhere they could help and protect each other, she and Harry, and have the best years while at Hogwarts. She wanted to achieve so much in life. She thought she wouldn't be able to when she was with the Durselys but now with a whole new world at her feet, she couldn't help but dream. But protecting Harry was her first priority.
"You wish to protect your brother, eh?" The hat said, "Hmm... Very ambitious... Smart... A thirst to prove yourself and to belong somewhere. I know exactly where you can achieve all that you want."
It seemed the hat had made its decision and she waited, her eyes closed.
"SLYTHERIN!" Her heart sank.
No! That's not what she wanted. How can she protect her brother from a different house!?
She didn't move so McGonagall cleared her throat and Hayley reluctantly made her way to the Slytherin table. She sneaked a glance at Gryffindor table and saw Harry's face was pale with shock. She gave him a forced smile.
She was greeted by her housemates with smiles and hand shakes. Well at least she was welcomed. She sat down beside a black-haired girl who was also a first year. She smiled at Hayley and introduced herself as Pansy Parkinson.
"I am Hayley Potter." Returning her smile, and offering her hand to the witch to shake. She was about to shake her hand when a cold drawl sounded just opposite her, "Don't go making friends with uncultured swines, Parkinson."
She whipped her head in his direction and found the pale brat sneering at her. Pansy looked between them, and hesitated but Hayley didn't give the witch time to rethink and grabbed her hand, shaking it firmly.
Pansy nervously but quickly let go. Hayley turned her attention fully to Malfoy. "Thanks, Malfoy. I'll heed your advice and stay away from you."
His sneer instantly dropped and a cough sounded from her right. She glanced in that direction and found a curly haired boy hiding his face from view.
She distantly heard Ron's name being called and focused her attention on him. Ron stumbled forward and sat on the stool.
"I also do not want..." Malfoy began but she cut him off.
"Shhh! Be quiet! I need to hear this." She scolded the brat, craning her neck to see Ron looking paler than before. She saw out of the corner of her eyes, that the curly haired boy now had rested his elbows on the table, buried his face in arms as his shoulders shook violently as he laughed. She ignored him.
Relief washed over Ron's features as the hat announced, "GRYFFINDOR!" He all but ran towards the Gryffindor table. She also sagged with relief. At least Harry would have Ron now and even the Weasely twins.
"How dare you talk to me like that?" Malfoy had recovered from his shock and now was fuming at her like a crazed bull. She rolled her eyes and ignored him. That infuriated him even more. But suddenly his pale face went white as a sheet, as a ghost came beside him. Malfoy turned his head to look at the ghost and shivered.
Hayley's eyes met the ghost's and there was nothing in his eyes. No light. No emotion. His robes were stained with silver blood.
The ghost did not stop staring. She gulped and tried to smile, "Umm... Hello?"
The ghost did not reply. An older student leaned closer to Hayley, whispering, "That's Bloody Baron. The Ghost of Slytherin House. He doesn't talk much, just be respectful to him alright?"
The first years around the table nodded grimly.
Last of the students were sorted and the last one sat down at the Slytherin table.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new 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!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. In a blink of an eye, the empty golden plates in front of her were filled with food. She had never seen so many things she liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.
They were also Harry's favourite. She wished Harry was also here with her.
The Dursleys had never exactly starved them, but they'd never been allowed to eat as much as they liked. Hayley started to pile up her plate with numerous dishes that lined the table, trying to taste everything. It was all delicious!
It was even more delicious than those sausages Hagrid had given them. Then she did something that would've had Aunt Petunia in a fit. She took a hold of a piece of roast beef in one hand and stuffed her face and saw Malfoy doing the same.
She swallowed and grinned at him, her lips stained with gravy, "And here I thought you weren't an uncultured swine, Malfoy."
The pointy brat went red. He straightened in his seat, and took a fork and started to take small bites like a dignified noble.
"It's alright, Draco!" That same curly haired boy from before said to him, his mouth filled with food as he tried to speak, "Even my House-elves don't cook anything delicious like this."
House-elves?
"Shut up, Theo." Malfoy grumbled, his ears still tinged with pink. Theo turned his eyes to her and nodded.
"Theodore Nott. But you can call me Theo." His grin was contagious. She grinned back.
"Hayley Potter. Nice to meet you, Theo."
Malfoy didn't speak to her for the rest of the dinner and she also didn't speak to others, simply trying to enjoy this wonderful, delicious dinner. Then desserts appeared and she regretted filling herself with roast beef that she hardly had any space for dessert.
At last, the desserts disappeared too, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Just a few more 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's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Gryffindor table, more particularly the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam 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."
A very few students laughed but she wasn't one of them. Aren't they suppose to be safe in here? Apparently danger inside the school. Any first year student who does not know their way will eventually going to be stumbling upon that corridor.
She'd have to make sure she wasn't the one to do so.
Dumbledore demanded their attention once more and told them to pick their favourite tune. The students broke into a song, everyone singing differently to the words that were displayed at the front of hall.
It was the most bizarre school anthem she'd ever witnessed. Her fellow first year Slytherins felt the same as they all had the same weirded out expression.
As the Weasely twins finished last, Dumbledore and the rest applauded. With a final word, they were led by the Slytherin Prefects to their comman room. They headed towards the dungeons as their guide, one of the Prefects, told them everything necessary about their House.
"Our common room and dormitories are located in the dungeons. To access the common room you all need to say the password and no other houses' members know where our common room is exactly and I shall like to keep it that way. Come on... This way..."
They further moved inside the dungeons, the grey old stones turning cold and dark.
Well at least it's not narrow. She thought gratefully.
"Our Head of House is Professor Severus Snape. He is the Potion's Master. If any of you step one toe out of line, you'll be facing him directly. And he is hardly marciful, he will not hesitate to feed you to the Giant Squid. We don't want failures in our house!"
The Prefect girl had done her job- scaring the wits out of first years as Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass and even Crabbe and Goyle were whimpering with fear. She too gulped with nerves. She took a glance at Malfoy and he also did not look pleased at all.
They reached a rather ordinary looking wall and the Prefect loudly and clearly said the password so that they could hear it too.
"Surpensortia."
What? Sur-surpen... What?
How in the actual hell are the first years suppose to remember that!? Hayley panicked inwardly.
Suddenly the wall morphed into a door and it slid open. They followed the Prefect inside and found themselves in a luxurious common room. It was dark, as the lights were dim, there were various leather sofas adorning the space, a few study desks lining the far walls along with book shelves and portraits of sleepy looking wizards and witches, and two long corridors stood on opposite sides of each other.
"To your right is the way to the girls' dormitories," Said the Prefect, pointing to the corridor on the right. "Left for the boys' dormitories.
You each will be sharing a dorm room with your fellow first years, five in each room. Your belongings are already in your designated dorms."
As the older girl finished, a chorus of complaints rose from the small crowd.
"Share a room? Is she serious?"
"We are not some common peasants!"
"We are pureblood!"
"My father will hear about this!"
"Silence." A cold drawling voice that definitely did not belong to Draco Malfoy, reached her ears and she turned her head to look at a tall, sallow faced wizard with greazy black hair.
"Professor Snape," The Prefect greeted her Head of House. The wizard did not even acknowledge her and slowly, he looked over the first years one by one.
His eyes met hers, and lingered. Then his eyes turned soft but just for a moment, and he looked at her with distaste. His gaze sharpened as he addressed the room.
"You will do as you are told. These are the rules for every house dormitory and if you do not like these rules, then you are not needed in my house. Of course you can write to your parents but it will not change anything."
He paused, daring them to speak. He turned to the Prefect, "Miss Glenn. If anyone complains then feel free to toss them outside. You have my permission."
With that, he left through the common room door.
"Well, that went well." Hayley muttered sarcastically to herself but Theo heard her.
"I have heard rumours about him. That actually went well."