Chapter 5
The sorting ceremony went as usual. The girls all sat together, welcoming the new additions to the house before the feast.
"The ceremony goes on longer every year," Marlene moaned
"It actually does, Marls," Mary agreed
The last two children were sorted
A small blonde girl and a slightly taller boy with long brown hair.
They held hands while waiting in anxiety.
The boy went first and was almost immediately sorted into Slytherin.
The girl's face crumpled at this, and she looked on the brink of tears.
"Ainsley Meadows," Mcgonagal called
The hat spent a good minute contemplating between the other three houses.
"Hmmmm, a kind heart easily a Hufflepuff, but there's a good brain in there. Ohhhh, now I see brave, loyal, determined you belong in...GRYFINDOR." The hat belted out.
The girl looked sadly at the brown-haired boy and walked to her new house table.
This reminded Lily painfully of her and Snape during their first year at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore then continued to his annual speech.
"Finally," Marlene exclaimed as the food appeared before them."I'm starved."
Everyone began digging in.
Lily hadn't much of an appetite after the last sorting.
She picked at her food and barely took two bites.
"Aren't you hungry, Lil?" Mary asked.
"Not really."
"Don't tell me this is about what the boys were saying. I'm sure they thought it was a compliment. Anyways, boys like a bit of something to hold onto." Mary winked
Lily had nearly forgotten about that.
She still needed a new uniform.
"No, of course not," Lily smiled
"Just not hungry." She lied.
"More for us, I guess ."Marlene joked.
As if the plates weren't endless.
Lily looked back at the little blonde girl Ainsley, who was now sobbing into her hankie.
Clearly missing her friend.
Her heart broke all over for the little girl
She decided to offer whatever comfort she could.
Carefully making her was through the benchs towards her.
Lighty tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hi, do you mind if I sit here?" she said gently
Ainsley looked up with her blotchy eyes and nodded her head.
"My name is Lily Evans," Lily said
"A-Ainsley," she stuttered, clearly trying to control her shaky voice.
"The sorting ceremony can be very hard." Lily said sympathetically.
"They must have done it wrong. T-t-they put him in Slytherin. I know about Slytherin they are mean, but Mav isn't mean. Not really. And it put me here, and I'm not brave at all right now!" She blubbered."I'm just scared, "
"Well, let me tell you something, Ainsley. Slytherins don't have to be mean, and Gryfindors don't have to be brave all the time.
Your house isn't who you are. Your house is your family at Hogwarts and will support and encourage you. But who you are as a witch is completely up to you."
"Maybe I'll be brave then." Ainsley paused."Are the ghosts here scary ?" She asked seemly, letting her curiosity outweigh her current fears.
Lily giggled a bit
"Not at all, but Peeves does cause a bit of hassle, so watch out." Lily gave the girl a joky wink.
Ainsley gave a very brave smile. "I will."
Out of the corner of her eye, Lily noticed
James Potter approach.
Here we go. She thought
He walked over with his usual cheeky grin plastered on his admittedly handsome face. Messy dark hair just covers the tops of his eyes.
"Hello Evans," he said, running his hand through his mess of locks, pulling them away from his face.
"Potter." she gave him a nod and turned away from him
He then looked over at Ainsley.
"Not too friendly, is she?" he said jokingly to Ainsley, raising his brow.
She giggled at this.
Traitor!! Lily thought
"Ainsley, is it? Welcome to Gryffindor. We are by far the best house you'll love it here."
She looked back at him, unsure
He continued, " I saw you had to leave your friend. That must have been pretty hard, but don't worry, you'll make lots of new friends here. You're obviously very brave for what you did, so you should fit right in."
Ainsley beamed, blushing a bit at all the compliments.
James tended to have that effect.
To make people feel better.