The Sorting
Xx- Change of Perspective – Dalia -xX
The summer months passed quickly, especially since I’d been allowed to stay at the castle. Under normal circumstances such a thing would not have been permitted but my circumstances were far from normal.
The teachers tried often to talk to me about what happened, all with the exception of the potions master. Their attempts were always futile anyways, I wouldn’t answer, they didn’t need to know, it was behind me. Instead, I’d find myself gazing out the window or finding particular interest in whatever book was laid in front of me as they grew frustrated with my lack of answers.
They stopped asking eventually, sending pitying looks my way instead, but these too dissipated as they watched my rapid improvement. I was caught up in no time, and some of the professors even left the castle to go home, leaving just a reading list and school supplies as they had for their fourth years.
It was my memory really; I could read anything once and never forget it. It was so easy to make connections, see links between the subjects and grasping the theory because all the information was just there in my mind. After that the practical applications came easily too. Professor Flitwick was sure I’d be sorted into his house, though McGonagall said it would likely be Gryffindor like my parents and brother. I couldn’t stop myself from grimacing at the idea.
I wondered through the halls, my hand grazing along the stone, enjoying the peace before it was gone.
Reaching my room, I walked through to sit on the window ledge and look out for the masses of children that would soon be arriving. I had been told last night that the first years cross the lake to the at dinner, Professor Sprout had bemoaned the fact that I would never get to see it, suggesting I go down with Hagrid to join them, but Dumbledore had refused. ‘It’s for the young ones’ he had said.
Truthfully, I would have loved to go.
Only when most the students had arrived did I leave my room, following the sound of bubbling laughter as I went to the Great Hall. Slipping behind the first years who had followed in Professor McGonagall I entered the Great Hall and just stopped. It was full. Full of people, and noise, and light, every table was stacked with mounds of food. I’d never seen anything like it.
Harry was watching the doors intently as I walked in, his face busting out into a shy smile as he waved at me. Clearly the boy had been told. I scowled as I saw him, his smile dropped, and he had the nerve to appear hurt. Hatred filled my mind and the goblet beside him exploded drenching him in orange liquid. Then I smiled at him, he turned back around, dropping his head down.
Dumbledore approached the plinth at the front of the Great Hall and the noise died down.
“Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I’d like to make a few announcements before the feast begins, first I’d like welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor R.J Lupin.” The man said, gesturing to an almost dishevelled looking man sat at the staff table as the hall clapped.
From where I stood, I could just about make out the terrible scarring that ran across the man’s face, the man stood and awkwardly bowed before sitting and hiding behind his goblet. A shy defence against the dark arts teacher? How promising.
I then glanced at Professor Snape sat beside the man, who seemed uncharacteristically uncomfortable, shifting away from the man as much as he could without it being obvious. Strange.
“And secondly, our Grounds Keeper, Rubeus Hagrid will be taking over for Care of Magical Creatures.”
The hall erupted into clapping and laughter as Hagrid stood, almost knocking the table over.
“Yes, congratulations Hagrid,” The headmaster continued before his smile fell, “On a more serious note I must warn you that Hogwarts will be hosting the dementors of Azkaban until Sirius Black is found. I must warn all of you to give them no reason to harm you, they do not distinguish between the one they hunt and those who get in their way.”
The room fell into hushed murmurs, the students looking nervously between one another, I too looked around uncertainly, but not because of the dementors. Sirius Black. BLACK. My father was a dangerous and convicted criminal. I looked down and crossed my arms against my chest. As if I needed more reasons to stick out.
“Now let the sorting begin.” He called as Professor McGonagall walked to the front carrying a ragged brown hat, as she stopped a stool appeared next to her. She called name after name and all the little first years anxiously trod up to the stool before beaming and running to their house table.
“And lastly, our new fifth year, Dalia Black.” As expected, the hall exploded into speculative whispers as they looked on at me with suspicion. I stood tall, and walked to the front of the hall with as much purpose as I could muster. Daring them to say something.
I sat, staring out at the hall that was staring right back at me. Just breathe, I thought. The hat falling onto my head. It debated, I don’t know for how long. Going back and forth. Intelligence, loyalty, bravery, cunning, and round again.
Eventually though it shouted. “SLYTHERIN!”
McGonagall looked down on me, concern written all over her face as I made my way down to the Slytherin table. A young blonde boy attempted to beckon me over to him, but I sat at the end, alone. The first years inching away from me. Then the feast began.
I looked up to the staff table, catching the eyes of Snape, I couldn’t tell from here, but I thought he looked relieved. We had never spoken about whether I would be sorted into his house, barely spoke at all really, but now I thought back it seemed he’d treated me as though he’d always assumed I’d be in Slytherin. He nodded at me ever so slightly before I returned to my plate, but I still felt his gaze.