The Sorting
A few kids snickered and giggled at my comment while others glared. "Shove off, Potters," Ron said. Harry and I just smirked at each other.
"Right, then," Hagrid said. "This way to the boats. Come on now, follow me." Hagrid led us to the boats and Harry and I got in next to one another as a brown-haired boy sat in front of us and a blonde-haired girl sat behind us.
"Hi," the blonde-haired girl said. "I'm Daphne Greengrass. I liked what you said to that Weasley boy."
"Thanks," I said. "I'm Emma Potter and this is my brother, Harry."
"Hi," Harry said.
"I'm Theodore Nott but I prefer Theo," the brown-haired boy said. "It's nice to meet you. I agree with Daphne, by the way. Weasley needed to be brought down a peg. You know, I heard his brother, Percy, just made Gryffindor Prefect."
"His oldest brother, Bill, was Gryffindor Prefect and Head Boy and his second eldest brother, Charlie, was Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor team," Daphne added.
"What is Gryffindor?" Harry asked.
"And what's Quidditch?" I added. Theo explained Quidditch and then Daphne explained the four Hogwarts Houses: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
...
We made our way to the top of the stairs and there was a woman waiting for us. "Welcome to Hogwarts," the woman said. "Now, in a few moments, you'll pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be Sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now, while you're here, your House will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule-breaking and you will lose points." We started to hear croaking as the woman talked. "At the end of the year, the House with the most points will be awarded the House Cup."
"Trevor!" A brown-haired boy yelled as he ran to the toad on the floor in front of the woman as we laughed at him. She gave him a look. "Sorry." He took the toad and moved back into the crowd.
"The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily," the woman said before walking into the room behind the doors and closing them again after her.
"It's true then," a blonde boy said. "What they're saying on the train. The Potters have come to Hogwarts." Everyone started whispering our names. "This is Crabbe," he said as he gestured to the fat boy behind him. "And Goyle." He gestured to the other boy as he walked over to stand in front of us. "And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." Ron snickered and Harry, Draco and I glared at him. "Think my name's funny, do you? I've no need to ask yours. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." He looked back at us. "You'll soon find out that some Wizarding families are better than others, Potters. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort," he said as he glared at Ron before turning back to us. He stuck his hand out. "I can help you there." Harry looked at Draco's hand before looking at Draco.
"I think we can tell the wrong sort for ourselves, thanks," I said.
"And Ron is definitely the wrong sort," Harry said before shaking Draco's hand.
"You should've seen how he acted on the train," I said as I shook Draco's hand when Harry had finished. I let go of Draco's hand and the woman tapped Draco on his shoulder with a rolled-up scroll. Draco moved out of the way.
"We're ready for you now. Follow me," the woman said. The doors behind her opened and we walked through them. All of the students were staring at us and Harry gasped in awe as he looked up. I looked at the ceiling and saw loads of flying candles and the dark sky outside.
"It's not real, the ceiling," Hermione told the girl next to her. "It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts," she made a weird noise as she said 'A' that was between a hiccup and a word. "History."
"Shut up, Know-It-All," Harry said.
"Just because you know something, doesn't mean you have to tell everyone. You're not the only one that read that book but you're the only one bragging about it," I said.
"Other people can read too, you know," Harry said.
"Of course, she knows that, Harry. You said it yourself, she's a Know-It-All," I said and the girl next to Hermione chuckled. We approached the Staff table and there was a small stool on it with an old hat on the stool.
"Will you wait along here, please?" The woman requested and we all spread out a little more in front of the stool. "Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." The old guy in a golden chair at the Staff table stood up and the woman turned to face him.
That's Dumbledore. The Headmaster and the guy mentioned in my dream, Harry.
Headmaster?
It said in our letter that he was Headmaster, remember?
Oh, yeah.
"I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce," Dumbledore said. "The first years, please note, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our Caretaker, Mr Filtch, has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." He sat back down and the woman turned to face us. She unravelled the scroll, looked at it for a second and then looked back at us.
"When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be Sorted into your Houses," the woman said before looking at the scroll. "Hannah Abbott." Hannah walked over and sat down on the stool facing us. After about half a minute, the Sorting Hat yelled out.
"Hufflepuff!"
Did that Hat just talk, Em?
It did, Harry. I think the Hat talks to you in your head like we do each other to decide where to put you.
Should we keep the link open as we get Sorted so we can hear what the Hat says and discuss what House we should go in together?
Of course, Harry. Something this important in our lives is something we should both be a part of. Susan Bones went to Hufflepuff, Terry Boot went to Ravenclaw and Lavender Brown went to Gryffindor with disgusting catcalls coming from the two ginger twins (Fred and George) and their friend.
Those boys are disgusting.
I agree with you, Em.
Mandy Brocklehurst went to Ravenclaw, Millicent Bulstrode went to Slytherin, Michael Corner went to Ravenclaw, Vincent Crabbe went to Slytherin, Tracey Davis went to Slytherin, Fay Dunbar went to Gryffindor, Justin Finch-Fletchley went to Hufflepuff, Seamus Finnigan went to Gryffindor, Anthony Goldstein went to Ravenclaw, Gregory Goyle went to Slytherin, Hermione Granger went to Gryffindor, Daphne Greengrass went to Slytherin, Jackson Hawke went to Gryffindor, Wayne Hopkins went to Hufflepuff, Megan Jones went to Hufflepuff, Sue Li went to Ravenclaw, Winter Lestrange went to Slytherin, Neville Longbottom went to Gryffindor, Isobel MacDougal went to Ravenclaw, Ernie MacMillan went to Hufflepuff, Draco Malfoy went to Slytherin, Theodore Nott went to Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson (the girl Hermione had been talking to about Hogwarts: A History) went to Slytherin, Padma Patil went to Ravenclaw and Parvati Patil went to Gryffindor.
"Emma Potter," the woman called and everyone started whispering and Dumbledore sat up straighter in his chair. I walked over and sat on the stool. Harry shot me an encouraging look and the Hat was placed on my head.
Hello.
Hello, Miss Potter. Isn't this interesting? You're very intelligent and your love of learning would do well in Ravenclaw. However, you're loyalty to your brother is also very admirable. That paired with your hard-working nature means you're a perfect fit for Hufflepuff. You're also very brave and have a lot of courage. Both are necessary in Gryffindor... But... Your ambition, cunning streak, determination, resourcefulness and leadership qualities make you perfect for Slytherin.
Slytherin, Em?
Well, why not?
Okay.
"Slytherin!" The Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were silent as the Slytherin table politely clapped. Harry clapped really loudly and grinned at me. I sat down at the second-last place from the end of the table.
"Hi, Emma," Daphne said and Theo nodded to me.
"Hey." I focused on the Sorting knowing that Harry would be next.
"Harry Potter." Everyone started whispering and Harry looked at me. I gave him a smile and he smiled back. He walked over and sat on the stool. The woman placed the Hat on his head.
Hm, difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?
Slytherin. Please. Slytherin.
Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? Well, you could be great, you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness. There's no doubt about that. Yes. Well, if you're sure.
Please, Slytherin.
"Better be... Slytherin!" Once again, every table but the Slytherin table was silent and the Slytherins were politely clapping. I clapped loudly for Harry as he walked over. Harry sat down next to me on the last place on this side of the table. On one side of the table was Harry, me, Theo, Draco, Goyle, Crabbe and then the older students. On the other was an empty space opposite Harry, then Winter opposite me, then Daphne opposite Theo, Pansy, Tracey, Millicent and then the older students. I gave Harry a high-five and then we focused back on the Sorting. Amanda Quinn went to Hufflepuff, Tyler Rowan went to Ravenclaw, Zacharias Smith went to Hufflepuff, Dean Thomas went to Gryffindor, Lisa Turpin went to Ravenclaw, Leanne Underwood went to Hufflepuff, Ben Upton went to Ravenclaw, Kenny Vaughn went to Hufflepuff, Charlotte Valentine went to Gryffindor, Ronald Weasley went to Gryffindor and Blaise Zabini went to Slytherin and sat next to Winter.
"Your attention, please," the woman called. Dumbledore stood up and held his hands out.
"Let the feast begin," he said. Food appeared on almost every inch of each of the tables. Harry and I looked at the tables in shock. Winter, Daphne and Pansy started talking about what the teachers were wearing, Tracey and Millicent started talking about their summers, Theo and Blaise started talking about Quidditch and Crabbe and Goyle were just stuffing their faces. Draco turned to face us.
"So, I'm surprised you two were Sorted into Slytherin," he said. "But I am happy about it. Now, if there's anything you want to know, ask me. I am a Malfoy after all." Harry and I asked a few questions about Quidditch, the teachers and Dumbledore. Apparently, the woman who had called out the names is Professor McGonagall and she's Deputy Headmistress and the Transfiguration Professor.
Should we ask him about Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix?
Definitely not, Harry. We don't know him. We should make sure he's trustworthy first.
Got it, Em.
"So what class are you looking forward to most?" Theo asked us all. "I'm looking forward to Potions."
"Flying," Draco and Daphne said.
"Yeah, Flying!" Harry said.
"Same," I agreed.
"Well, I'm looking forward to Astronomy," Tracey said.
"Me too," Winter said.
"Herbology," Millie (as Millicent had told us to call her) said. "It would be Care of Magical Creatures but unfortunately, we can't take that until the third year."
"I'm looking forward to Charms," Pansy said.
"History of Magic," Crabbe said and Goyle nodded. "Heard it was taught by a ghost who doesn't care in you fall asleep in class." Ghosts started flying around the room and we heard Ron and Hermione talking to a ghost called Nearly Headless Nick.