Sorting Ceromony
Sunday 1, September 1991
After what felt like a short amount of time, the train pulled to a stop. As I climbed out of the train and onto the platform my breath was taken away as I looked around and could see part of the castle. It looked absolutely enormous, and looked kinda spooky, but I loved it as soon as I saw it.
“FIRST YEARS, OVER HERE WITH ME,” a booming voice said beaconing us over to the edge of the platform. “Alright now is every first year here?” all of us nodded our heads at the giant of a man. “Now my name is Hagrid, and I will be escorting you to the castle. Now everyone picks a boat, each one can hold up to four.”
As Draco, Pansy, Mettheo, and I clambered onto the boats with a nervous sort of energy Draco whispered in my ear “Getting nervous are you?” I jump as he’s talking, being too wrapped up in my own thoughts. He chuckled before asking “Did I startle you?” I rolled my eyes before saying jokingly “wasn’t that much obvious?”
“Yes it was, but I was just making sure.”
“Mhm”
“You never answered my question.”
“Maybe I am…but what about you Malfoy? Are you getting nervous?”
“Maybe I am as well.”
We leave it at that as we finally find a boat and climb aboard. It felt like almost as soon as we were on the boat that it started moving. As we were sailing the board turned around the bend. Everyone could see the entirety of the castle; everyone was awestruck by the beauty of the castle.
I’m not entirely sure when but at some point during our trance the boats came to a stop and we all clambered off. I am once again standing next to Draco as we walk up to the castle; the rest of our group from the train have found other kids they know and are now striking up conversations with them.
As we continue walking up to the castle, Draco says to me “You know… whatever house we end up in,even if they're different, I want us to stay friends.” I turned to look at him smiling slightly before saying “I do too” and with that we both stayed quite the rest of the walk, just enjoying each other's company.
After about a half hour long walk, all of the first years are guided into a chamber – per Professor McGonigals instructions. While we waited a girl I didn’t know came strolling up and said “Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. It’s a pleasure to meet you” as she said that she stuck out her hand. I grabbed it and replied “My name is Samara, Samara Snape.”
“Ohh that’s a really pretty name.”
“Oh why thank you…but your name is too. Hermione, it has a nice ring to it.”
We both smiled, then she asked “What class are you most excited for. Personally, I’m intrigued by transfiguration. You know the process of transforming one thing into another.”
“Transfiguration is pretty cool, but I’m excited for defense against the dark arts or potions.”
“Those are good ones, but why?”
“Because defense against the dark arts is a really interesting subject I think. You get to learn about a bunch of interesting topics like different species and spells. As for potions, I grew up around it. My dad teaches it, so he has already taught me some of the basics.”
“Fair enough…wait, is your dad a teacher here?”
“Yeah…you don’t think people see that as a bad thing, do you?”
Before she could respond McGonigal came back into the room. She laid down the rules, be in your common room by curfew, wear your uniform, and you won’t lose points for your house. Whichever house has the most points by the end of the year wins the house cup.
After she explained the rules she led us into the great hall to be sorted into our house. By this point I was buzzing with nervous energy. What house would I end up in? Do people like me? Will they continue to be friends with me when they learn my dad is a teacher? My mind kept circling back to these thoughts throughout the ceremony.
Occasionally I heard the hat scream “HUFFLEPUFF!” or “RAVENCLAW”. The hat took its time with some people, but not others. I knew I would be one of the last people called but the wait was pure agony.
Finally McGonigal announced: “Snape, Samara!” When people heard my name the older student at the tables looked surprised and where whispering among themselves. As I made my way up to the stool I heard her call for silence.
When I got to stool, before I sat down my dad caught my eye and gave me a reassuring smile. I took a deep breath and sat down, No sooner had my butt touched the stool, then the hat was on my head. After a moment a small voice entered my head saying “mhmm, what have we got here, lets see…Ohh yes, you’ve got ambition. But your selflessness is a good contestor…difficult, very difficult, but it ought to be – SLYTHERIN!”
After hearing that I released my breath, not realizing I had been holding it. After I get down from the stool I look at my father with a big grin as he returns as I go to take my seat by Draco, Asotria, and Pansy as we wait for the ceremony to finish, and the feast to begin.