Chapter 8: The
Ceremony
Hagrid pounded on the door then a blacked haired
witch wearing a green robe opened the door.
"The firs' years, Professor
McGonagall." Said Hagrid
"Thanks Hagrid I'll take care of them here."
replied Professor McGonagall opening the door wider to let the children
in.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." said Professor McGonagall.
"The start-of-terms
banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall,
you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is very important ceremony
because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family
within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in
your house dormitory, and spend free time in your houses common
room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff,
Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has
produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your
triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house
points.
At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the
house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house
becomes yours.
"The sorting Ceremony will take place in a few
minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves
up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on
Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged
nose.
Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair and thought, why does my hair
always stay like this I swear I should cut it all off! While Chris flattened his
cloak, Ayumi ran a hand though her hair to get rid of the tangles, and Melissa
was fixing her cloak too and stood there chewing her gum and observing the
school with interest, and Hermione was fluffing up her hair (not like it needed
to be fluffed anymore) and chatting away about the history of the school to
Neville.
Minutes later the first years stood waiting
for Professor McGonagall to arrive. Harry nervously kept his eyes at the door
awaiting Professor McGonagall to arrive, Ron desperately tried to get rid of his
smug by trying to rob it away until his skin came raw, Ayumi tried to free her
hand from her hair which was tangled in, Chris was nervously rocking back and
forward eyes on the door, and Melissa was just chewing gum.
Professor McGonagall came in and Melissa spat up her gum
quickly.
"Line up single file the Ceremony is about to begin." Professor
McGonagall said smiling.
Once inside everyone gasped
what they saw amazed them it was a big room with four long tables and when you
look up you could see candles floating and the ceiling looked like the night
sky.
"They put a spell on the ceiling to look like the night sky." Whispered
Hermione to anyone who was willing
to listen. They walked down the aisle all eyes were on them.
I looked up as we were walking to the front and I noticed a
stool with an old hat on it.
I wonder what's for.
I thought. Then I was
startled when it started to move.
Well duh Ayumi get a hold of yourself what
would you expect you're in a school of magic!
I thought shaking my head.
"You okay Ayumi?" Mel asked with concern.
"Yeah I'm okay just thinking
how weird this school's probably going to be."
I explained smiling.
"Well
that's good." Mel said smiled.
A talking hat weird (I know) caught my
attention and what it said freaked me out even more.
It opened its rim
and said…
"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 then me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top 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 the brave at 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 in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where
those wait and learning,
We'll always find their kind;
Or perhaps
Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks will use any
means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't
get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!"
Everyone
applauded for the hat when it finished its song.
Professor McGonagall walked
on the stage with a scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name please step
up here to try on the hat to find out what house you will stay at." explained
Professor McGonagall after a few name were called it was finally Chris's turn.
"Brown, Christopher."
"Brown, Christopher."
Well here goes
nothing I thought to myself as I walked up the stairs (which felt like forever I
might add) but when I finally reached the top I sighed in relief. Finally now
for the hard part. As I sat on the stool I saw the whole school all staring and
Ayumi was smiling at me and I felt some of my sacredness go away. Well this is
it, here goes nothing I thought as Professor McGonagall
placed the hat on my head.
Then I was in total darkness.
Ah let me see
what's in this young lads head shall we the hat commented in my head.
"I see
that you're very intelligent, brave, and daring um let’s put you
in…GRYFFINDOR!!!" The far end table busted into cheers and applause Chris smiled
as he sat next to someone who resembled Ron.
"Draco, Malfoy."
Draco walked by winked at Mel and climbed the steps.
"He sickens me" Mel
whispered shivering
"Yeah I know" Ayumi answered, "and I'm glad it's you and
not me" Ayumi said teasingly, and Mel shot her a look.
Malfoy sat on the
stool the, and the hat didn't even touch his head when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!!"
Cheers where heard from the Slytherin table Malfoy smiled and joined one of his
buddies.
"Johnson, Ayumi" At the sound of my name I walked up the
stairs and flicked my hair as if nothing bothered me but deep down I was
terrified.
As I reached the stage I faced the school and gulped Mel was
smiling at me and waved, I smiled back then sat on the stool. Then I was in
total darkness
"Ah a very smart girl very smart indeed I see some bravery in
her too, some attitude. Let's put you in Huffle- no GRYFFINDOR!!!"
Burst of
cheers where head again from Gryffindor.
I smiled and sat next to Chris I
think I felt him shudder but I just brushed it off and flicked my
hair.
"Granger, Hermione"
Professor McGonagall said I gulped at
the sound of my name as I walked up the stairs I walked to the stool and sat on
it then I was in total darkness.
"HMMMMM Very smart very smart indeed I see
some bravery and a good heart lets put you in…GRYFFINDOR!!" As the hat finished
his sentence I heard a burst of cheers and applause. I smiled and joined the
rest of the table and I smiled the whole night.
I stood there next to Ron
and Mel as they talked about which house they wanted.
"I would probably end
up in Gryffindor" Ron stated
"Why?" Mel asked with curiosity in her eyes.
"Well everyone in my family has ended up in Gryffindor so I know I'll be
going there." Ron explained.
"Well at least you know what house your
going to" I said
"I still have to find out house there're going to put my in
an well I sort of scared." I said.
"Well I for one want to go to
Slytherin because it looks like all the bad kids go there or at least Gryffindor
cause I guess I'm brave and stuff.” Mel exclaimed flicking her hair (a habit she
picked up from Ayumi).
"Why Slytherin?" Ron asked with curiosity
"You
know that's where You- know- who was at." Ron whispered.
"One I don't really
care and two who the hell is you-know-who?" Mel asked
"He's Lord Voldemort"
I answered
"Okay but I still don't know who he is though" Mel said.
"He killed my parents," I answered hurt know in my voice. Mel froze.
"Oh, Harry…¦ I'm so sorry I didn't know" she whispered. "I know how
you feel I lost my parents too in a plane crush" Mel whispered tears in her eyes
she remembered the day she found out that her parents died, she was only three
too…
Flashback
A little girl sat on the floor playing with some
toys and the orphanage mistress came in looking a little sad.
"Melissa
darling I need to tell you something, you how we were trying to find what
happened to your Mum and Dad? Well we found out."
"You found Mummy and Daddy
where are they?" girl asked with excitement in her voice as she looked around
the room to see if they were there.
"Melissa there dead they got killed in
an air plane crush a couple months back." The girl stopped dead in her tracks
"They’re…They’re…d-d-d-d dead" the little girl asked tears streaming her
face. The mistress nodded sadly, and the little girl broke out I tears. "No! No!
They can't be who's going to take care of me!" The girl wailed. "Mummy Daddy
come back I need you, I love you!! Please come back!"
The little girl
screamed while tears streamed down her face
"Oh, Melissa I so sorry but we
have to send you to
"No, I don't want to please let me stay! I hate you Mum! I hate you Dad!
Why did you leave me why, why did you let this happen to me, why, why,
why!!!" The girl screamed and collapsed on the floor in tears.
"No!"
Melissa whispered as Harry and Ron just stared at her, as she stood
there silent for quiet sometime now.
"Yoo-hoo Mel wake up." Ron said while
he waved his hand in her face.
"Uh, what" Melissa exclaimed snapping out her
daydream.
"Uh you were um very quiet and we were wondering what you were
thinking about?" Harry asked
"Oh, um nothing you know just stuff that's
all." Mel answered smiling trying hard to hide her real feelings.
"Well,
okay but if you have trouble, and you want to talk to someone there's always
me." Harry offered
"...Thanks I'll consider that okay?" Mel answered and
smiled a little,
"Potter, Harry" Professor McGonagall interrupted them.
"Well that's you, good luck Harry" Mel said smiling.
"Um thanks" Harry
said unsure why she was all of a sudden nice but he liked it.
I
noticed when Professor McGonagall said my name every one gasped and whispers
were heard throughout the room Harry Potter? The Harry potter?
Now
that's weird I thought as I reached the top really scared I turned to the school
and I found Ron, Mel, Ayumi, Chris, and even Hermione were smiling and giving me
the thumbs up. I smiled and my sacredness vanished as I sat on the stool still a
little nervous then.
I was in total darkness as the hat covered my head.
"Ah I see you're the great Harry Potter you have some intelligence, lots of
bravery, courage and a good heart. I think you would do good in Slytherin"
"Please not Slytherin anything but Slytherin"
"Not Slytherin uh I think
you would do good in Slytherin, but if you don't want it then I'll put you
in…GRYFFINDOR!!"
Then I heard a burst of screams and cheers I smiled and I
sat next to Hermione. Well I'm glad that's over I thought thankfully and I
watched the rest of the Ceremony.
Me and Mel were talking about how
exciting the school year might be when Professor McGonagall called, "Weasley,
Ronald"
"Bye Mel I'll see you later that's if you make it to Gryffindor" I
said, and I climbed up the stairs. When I finally reached the top I sat on the
stool and sat on it
"Ah I another Weasley I know where to put you... GRYFFINDOR!!"
I heard cheers and I saw brothers whistling
I smiled and I joined Harry and the rest.
There I was
standing now alone (There were some people but I didn't know then so basically I
was alone)
"Williams, Melissa" Finally!! I thought smiling I reached the
stool and sat on it
"AH I see a very smart girl here a lot of attitude brave
too.
How about Ravenclaw?"
"No I really want Gryffindor" I said.
“Tsk, Tsk I see you succeeding
in Ravenclaw but okay I'll put you in…GRYFFINDOR!!"
I heard people
screaming and cheering I smiled. Ayumi was smiling happily and I smiled more as
I sat next to Ron.
"So Mel you made it to Gryffindor!" Ron said happily,
"Yeah I guess your right" I said flicking my hair and smiling and I watched
the rest of the Ceremony.