Chapter 3
“Now, in a few moments, you will 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, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Now while you are here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup.” We all nod in understanding to her. Just then a boy jumps in front of her.
“Trevor!” He exclaims. Hermione sighs and I look over at her.
“That’s Neville.”
“Oh.” I say. The boy who was looking for his frog. I wonder how it ended up here.
McGonagall stares down at Neville and he backs up. “Sorry.”
McGonagall clears her throat. “The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. Please wait here.” She says and scurries off.
“How’d you lose Trevor anyway?” I ask Neville and looks to me with a scared look.
“That’s the thing. He was in his box when I got on the train but as soon as I went to show him to Seamus,” He says and points to the boy next to him and continues.” After that he was gone.” I nod to him.
“Good thing he turned up here at the school.” I say and he turns back to Seamus.
“I wonder how the sorting works.” Says Harry as he looks around the room.
“My uncle told me they place the sorting hat on you, and it picks. Godric Gryffindor and the other founders added their knowledge to the hat before they passed. He told me they used to hand pick the houses and the hat used to sing a song. I wonder if it still does.” I say to him with a smile.
“I think we’re going to be good friends Emery.” Hermione pipes up and I turn to talk to her when a blond-haired kid saunters to the front of our group.
“It’s true then, what they’re saying on the train,” He says towards Harry’s direction.
“Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts.” Everyone around us starts to whisper. He smiles and points to the boys directly behind him.
“This is Crabbe and Goyle. I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” Ah that’s why he acted well, like that. Malfoy was a pureblood family. Their status meant quite a lot to them. Ron snickers at Draco.
“Think my name’s funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand me down robe? You must be a Weasley,” He says but I scoff. Weasley was also pureblood family. I didn’t understand why he would make fun of Ron. He eyes me.
”Who’s this, your twin? He asks and snickers at me. I roll my eyes but don’t say anything to him. It wasn’t worth starting an argument; besides I didn’t even know this kid. He looks over at Harry again.
“You’ll soon fine that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” Draco extends his hand.
“I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks.” Is all Harry says and I let out a breath. This earns him a glare from Draco. I see McGonagall coming towards us.
“Professor McGonagall.” I whisper and point in his direction. He quickly turns to be shoulder to shoulder with Harry.
“We’re ready for you now.” She says and leads us forward through two large doors and into a large room. It was lined with tables in four rows, students at each table.
“Look at that.” Someone says and points above our heads. The roof was charmed to look like the sky and there was also a bunch of floating candles. It was spectacular.
“It’s not real, the ceiling. It’s just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts A History.” Hermione says to us and I nod.
“She’s right. It’s an atmospheric charm. It’s supposed to mock the outside weather.” I say as we all walk forward. We beam at each other and turn to face McGonagall. To her right was a pointed leather hat sitting on a stool. Just then the sorting hat begins to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your tops hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands though I have none
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Everyone in the hall claps for it as it finishes.
“Alright, will you stand along here please? Now before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words.” She stands to the side as the headmaster takes her place.
“I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch,” He points behind us and I swivel my head around. There’s a ragged old man with a cat by the door.” 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 says and sits down. Huh Interesting. I look at Harry who has a grimace on his face and almost laugh.
McGonagall moves back to the front.” 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.” She gestures to it.
“Hermione Granger.” Hermione’s eyes widen.
“Oh no. Okay relax.” I pat her arm as she walks forward.
“Mental that one, I’m telling you.” Ron says and Harry nods.
“That’s rude guys. You’d be nervous too if you were first.” I say and smile towards our friend. She made eye contact with us. There’s mumbling from the hat then it shouts Gryffindor. Loud cheers are heard, and Hermione jumps off the chair with a smile, quickly heading towards Percy and the twins a few tables away. I think she knew the whole time it would say Gryffindor and she certainly seemed like it would be her house just looking at her.
“Draco Malfoy.” He saunters towards the stool. As soon as its lowered to his head it yells out Slytherin. More cheers are heard as Ron tips his head to the side.
“There isn’t a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin.” He says as a Susan Bones is called which was another fellow red head.
“You don’t know that Ron. There have been bad people from the other houses too, besides Merlin himself was in Slytherin. I say as Harry looks around.
“Ahh!” he hisses and puts a hand on his forehead.
“Harry? What is it?”
“Are you okay?” I ask and look around the room, my eyes finding, wait it couldn’t be. Harry says something but I don’t hear him. My full attention is drawn to the dais where Dumbledore is sat. On the far end sat someone that I thought must’ve been my father, but there was no way it could be him my father was dead. My locket felt heavy around my neck. The man at the table was one of the people pictured in my locket. My eyes met his and he seemed as alarmed as I felt.
“Ron who is that?” I ask but people cheer for whoever had just been sorted. “The one in Black, who is he.” I whisper again. Ron looked over.
“Oh, that’s Snape.”
“Who?” Harry asks.
“He’s the potions professor and head of Slytherin house.”
“Oh.” We both say as more cheers erupt.
“Fred and George have had em’ Say he’s the worst.” They continue to talk but I zone out. All I could think about was the strange man. Why was he in my locket. Maybe he was friends with my mother. Uncle never said anything about him though, so I just assumed he was my father. For some reason I had no photographs of them, only the locket. What was going on here?
The hat screams out another house and Ron is called next. He gulps and walks up. I grab Harry’s shoulder as Ron sits down and the hat is placed upon his head. I hear the words Weasley and then it yells Gryffindor. Ron sighs with a relieved look and leaps towards the Gryffindor table as the others cheer. Many more are called and eventually it’s just Harry and I left. We stand side by side in front of all our professors. McGonagall pauses for just a moment and I see a glint of something in her eye. I don’t have time to think anything more as my name is called. I let out a breath and make my way towards the stool. I glance in Snape’s direction. His eyes just like everyone else were trained right on me. As I sit and the hat is placed on my head, I hear it hum.
“Ahh, I see. A dash of wisdom and you’re a hard worker. Kind, just like your mother,” My eyes widen when it says that, and I try to look up at the hat but all I can see is the dark brim.” I sense something, cleverness perhaps. Hmm it seems you haven’t made up your mind.”
‘Well they all seem like great houses. Why should I choose one over the other, besides it would be beneficial to keep my options open.’ I think to the hat. My heart rate picks up as the hat seems to mull it over. I look down at my shoes waiting in anticipation.
“Alright then I know where you saw go… Slytherin.” The hat booms. I look up from the floor. At first, I see Harry’s shocked face and then hear cheers from the Slytherin table. I stand and the hat is taken off my head. Harry gives me a frown. I give him a smile and move over to my table. Before I sit down, I glance over at Ron. Him, Hermione, Percy and the twins were all on their feet with shocked looks. I give them all a little wave to say it’s okay, but it doesn’t seem to help. I turn towards my prefect and shake his hand.
“Hello Emery, I’m Axel, you’re prefect.” I nod and sit across the table from Draco.
Harry’s name is called, and the room goes silent. I could only hear the sound of my breathing as everyone looked on in anticipation. The hat is placed on his head and we wait quite a while; they must’ve been communicating like I had. Just then the hat screams Gryffindor and cheers erupt. He smiles and makes his way over to the Weasleys as they shout for him. He looked elated as he received many claps on the back.
“Knew that one for sure.” Someone says at my table. McGonagall steps forward and clinks her goblet.
“Your attention please,” Dumbledore says, ”Let the feast…begin.”