Snow Day

Chapter 44: Riley's Big Moment

The rest of the time went on without a hitch as Sophia nudged her sister forward.

"Go on" she encouraged, "It's okay, I'll be right here rooting for you"

"oh— okay" Riley whispered, their conversation earlier clearly forgotten. Thank heavens she thought. It's probably for the best she concluded as she awaited for the head to call her name.

It didn't take long for Riley to catch someone standing and beginning to walk towards the front, standing by a stool which sat a very tattered light brown hat.

"Attention everyone" she announced with a clap of her hands. Instantly the whole crowd hushed as she continued on with her speech. "We have a new witch joining us, at least that is if she wants to... she's traveled all the way from San Francisco, and from what I've heard she wasn't aware of any of this until now— please come on up, Riley" All eyes immediately stir towards the back of the room, as Riley began to walk forward nervously. Once she got up to where she guessed she was supposed to be, she looked at the wooden stool with questioning eyes— the woman quickly removed the hat from its perch. Riley sat down nervously on the stool's round seat, hoping no one could see the panic that was plastered on her face. "Now, then" the woman began as she placed the hat onto the girl's head. "Let's see where you belong then, shall we?" Suddenly, the hat grew eyes and a mouth.

"Ahhh, another Anderson, Well... You should be easy to place. Wait? Now, that is interesting-- you've suddenly become very difficult... Hmmm-- I say... You'd most likely do well in all the houses... hmmm, some bravery signs... Hmmm... loyal, along with good, solid cunning abilities, and yet overall shows talent in creativity... Hmmm, oh... Very well then... promising in fact" the hat on her head grew silent. For a while, Riley was really worried. Had she done something wrong? It didn't take long for... all her stress to turn out to be in vain for the old hat finally blurted. "Better be: Ravenclaw!" Everyone screamed and applauded excitedly. Looking out at the crowd of faces that stood before her, Riley suddenly became aware of her surroundings-- although, it suddenly became clear to her that she had completely forgotten to ask her sister what her Hogwarts house is. Hopping off the stool, Riley set off on a mission to go find her sister.

Riley found her sister sitting among one of the tables, Gryffindor by the looks of it. She was sitting directly across from a boy whom Riley recognized must be one of Harry's sons-- James by the looks of it.

Wanting to desperately sit by her sister, she casually walked over and sat down beside her, but instead of being okay with her sister, whom likes to embrace her individually-- Sophia turned to her sister in surprise, "R- Riley, wha- what are you doing here? You should be sitting with the other Ravenclaws"

"Hmmm? Oh, but I-- I just realized that I don't really know anything about your first year Hogwarts experience"

"I know, and I'll be glad to tell you everything I know later on, but... now you just need to go sit with the rest of your house okay?"

"Okay...?"

"Okay, look there, the ones in the black robes with the twinge of blue in the collar-- now, go" she pointed to a group that seemed to be motioning to their newest member. "Look, they're motioning to you," she gave her sis a little nudge.

"Oh-- wait! Can I have your attention please, the sorting hat has informed me of a great injustice, the woman known as Professor McGonagall announced, standing up at the front once more. Oh, no! Riley's thoughts raced, My secret! How did... Just then it hit her like a ton of bricks? Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no, NO!

Instantly everyone in her mind began to freak out, Fear especially.

"Oh, no! This is even worse than that time the teacher back in San Francisco called on us OUT OF THE DATE." he panicked, moving slowly towards the control panel. Instantly, almost if driven by a machine, he was pushing buttons and pulling levers, making the girl's whole chest instantly tense up in fear-- Riley, unable to breathe, just stared straight, focusing on the road ahead of her.

"The Sorting hat has revealed to me a great secret that, when revealed, could probably affect how one of our students learns, now according to my own personal principles I can't and would tell you all the name of this particular student. However, I think it would be rather wise to inform you all as to her condition," she continued. "Now, I won't get into specifics but this particular student has... Let's just say, a special and might I say a very unique mindset, and I'd advise you all to check out some books from the school library on this subject. The subject of Learning, Mental, and Physical Disabilities-- as for you all, I'd love for this to be made a--a little contest... I'd personally like you all to think of it as one, and so, that means that the first one to get back to me with an answer will either reserve or lose about 50 points for their given house depending on if the answer's right or wrong, that'll be all" the whole room erupted in applause, all agreeing that this was to be a blast.

As the Professor strolled back to her seat, Riley ran up to her.

"Yes, what is it?"

"... I- I just want to say, thank you... Thank you, for not revealing my secret... to everyone here," the girl leaned in and whispered in the Professor's ear.

The Professor said nothing, only looked at the small girl and nodded.