Sorting

Chapter 6

Professor McGonagall steps forward with a scroll.

“When I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted.” She speaks before opening the scroll. “Abbert Hannah,” A girl with pigtails stumbles before walking over. 

A moment goes by,” Hufflepuff!” the hat yells out. The table to the far right cheers, the clapping erupts. Hannah goes to sit at the Hufflepuff table and the Fat Friar waves at her.

“Bones, Susan.”

“Hufflepuff!” The hat shouts.

“Boots, Terry.”

“Ravenclaw!” The second table to the left claps, clearly not as excited. I look down and hold my bag.

“Brocklehurst, Mandy.”

“Ravenclaw!”

“Brown, Lavender.” I look up and see the girl who is gonna drug Ron.

“Gryffindor!” The table to the far left explode in cheers. Now that is the way to cheer. I see Fred and george waving

“Bulstrode, Millicent,”

“Slytherin!” I glance over and see a Tom Riddle look alike.

“Finch Fletchley Justin.”

“Hufflepuff!” 

“Riddle, Mattheo.”

“Slytherin!”

“Finnigan Seamus.” The hat sits on his head and for almost a minute silence reigns until the hat speaks.

“Gryffindor!”

“Nott, Theodore.”

“Slytherin!”

“Berkshire, Lorenzo.”

“Slytherin!”

“Dovetail, Hazel.”

“Hufflepuff!”

“Granger, Hermione.” 

“Gryffindor!” I hear Ron groan. 

“Willow Mann.” Professor Mcgonagall calls me. I walk forward nervously, feeling my chest tighten at the prospect of sitting and being judged in front of hundreds of students. “Sit down dear.” 

I quickly sit,“ Oh sorry.” 

“Hmmm curious, Enough dedication, loyalty, and fairness to be a Hufflepuff. Enough thirst and curiosity to be a Ravenclaw. Yet also enough desire and ambition to be a Slytherin.” It speaks. After a while I get nervous, i’m just sitting here… Gryffindor, please. “Really why?” It speaks for the first time in a long time. I want to be brave enough to make my life not ordinary. After even more time the hat says,” Gryffindor!” I let out a sigh of relief. I excitedly walk to the table and the twins pull me down. 

A snicker leaves Fred’s mouth,” Welcome to Gryffindor.”   

“Longbottom, Neville.”

“Gryffindor!”

“Malfoy, Draco,”

“Slytherin!” Several more people put the hat on. 

“Potter, Harry.” The hall fills with whispers. I can’t hear the hat from how far I am. A long silence passes and I cast a silence charm on my pocket.

“Gryffindor!” The table around me erupts in loud yells and cheers. 

Percy stands and shakes hand as the twins chant,” We got Potter! We got Potter!” I keep my eyes down as the squirrel moves. I grab a napkin discreetly. Pulling out the baby squirrel i 

“Weasley, Ronald.” 

The hat shouts only a second later,” Gryffindor!”

“Good job, Ron.” Percy speaks. I rub the little squirrel’s stomach.

Dumbledore’s voice fills the hall,” Welcome!” I look up from the squirrel, my fingers rubbing small circles on its belly to help with digestion and defecation. “Welcome to another new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin out banquet I would like to say a few words and here they are, nitwit, blobbar, tweak. That is it.” He sits back down.

“Is he a bit mad?” I hear Harry ask.

Percy looks at him,” Mad? He’s a genius, best wizard in the world. He is a bit mad, yes.” With a flick of Dumbledore’s wand the table fills with foods of every kind. I start to ignore the things around me and put the magical earbuds and my ears fill with music. I eat dinner and dessert quietly. I wipe the squirrel's butt and open my bag. The small animal floats in and around the corner. Once the desserts disappear I peer up at the head table. 

“Here we go…” I murmur.

He clears his throat,“ Just a few more words now. Now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note the forest in the grounds is off limits to all pupils, a few of our older students are well to remember that as well.” Dumbledore looks at the Gryffindor table. “I’ve also been asked by Mr.Filch, the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term, anyone who is interested in playing for their house should contact Madam Hooch. Finally I must tell you this year 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.”

“He’s joking right?” Harry murmurs.

“Must be,” says Percy,” It’s odd he usually gives us a reason why we can’t go somewhere, the forest is full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I think he might have told us prefects at least.”

Dumbledore claps and I look back up at the table,” Now before we go to bed, let us sing the school song.” He flicks his wand and a golden ribbon flies out and floats high in the air. “Everyone pick their favorite tune. And off we go!” The hall bellows.

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

Teach us something please

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff

For now they’re bare and full of air

Dead flies and bits of fluff

So teach us things worth knowing

Bring back what we’ve forgot

Just do your best, we’ll do the rest

And learn until our brains all rot 

The last ones to finish are Fred and George, singing deeply to a slow tune. He finishes conducting and obviously claps the loudest.

“Ah, music,” He wipes a tear from his eye,” Beyond all the magic we do here. And now its time, off you trot.” 

Percy stands as people file out,” Gryffindor first years follow me!” We follow him through the bustling crowd and I bump into Ron. 

“Sorry,” I murmur as I feel my anxiety rise in the crowd. 

He looks back,” ‘s alright,” I gently reach my hand up and feel my pulse point. My heart rings in my ears,” You alright?” He asks. 

“Don’t like crowds, they scare me.” I tell him. 

Ron glances around then back to me,” Do you, uh want to walk with me and Harry?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck. “Crowds don’ bother me much, but Fred and George like to push me in em some times.” 

“Thank you.” I stick close to him. We go past talking portraits, through tapestry covered walkways when sudden the group stops. “What’s happening?” I ask. I glance up and see a bundle of walking sticks, ahhh Peeves.

Percy whispers something then raises his voice,” Peeves, show yourself!” The sound of air getting released from a balloon follows. “Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?” A little man with dark colored eyes appears floating criss-cross applesauce in the air, holding the bundle to his chest. A laugh leaves the little man.

“Ittle firsties, what fun!” He swoops down and I pull my wand out.

Percy glares at the little man,” Go away Peeves or the Baron will hear about this. I mean it.” He puts emphasis on his ‘P’s. I shyly put my wand away as the little man disappears. The sticks crash into Neville’s head. “You’ll want to watch out for Peeves. Bloody Baron’s the only one who can control him. He won’t even listen to us prefects!” Percy says slightly agitated. “Here we are.” I practically jump at the Fat lady.

“Password.” She asks.

Percy leans forward,” Caput Draconus.” The painting swings open revealing a rounded short hallway. I stumble and grab Ron’s shirt. 

He stabilizes me,” You good?” I nod, internally screaming. Why did I have to trip!  We get all the way in the see the full common room. We get gestured up a corridor and I walk up nervously. I go into my assigned dorm room and see Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and Hermione. I move to the bed with no items around it. 

“Hello, I’m Hermione Granger, Your Willow Mann right?” I nod as Hermione greets me. “ I remember you because you were the Hatstill.” I nod and pull my bag off. “Have you had that on the whole time?” She questions me.

I nod feeling flustered,” I have anxiety… I’ve never been to a place like this.” I say and get into bed in my robe.

“Where is your trunk?” She asks me.

I look at her,” It’s being shipped here, should be here in the morning.” I say to her.

“Do you have any other clothes?” I shake my head, lying… I reaches into her trunk and pulls a big plain black tee-shirt. “Do you want to wear this?” She asks. 

I tilt my head slightly,” Sure, thank you.” I change and go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day, Hopefully….