The Tale of a Hogwarts Student

Chapter Five: The Sorting Hat

"I am Professor McGonagall," she said as she led the student through the hall, "the start-of-term banquet will begin shortly but before you can join that you will be sorted into your houses. Your house will be like your family here. The houses are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Each house has a vast history and produced many great wizards and witches. While at Hogwarts, your triumphs and downfalls will reflect upon your houses, so I'd be sure to take care with your behaviour. Any rule breaking will cause a loss in house points."
She gazed sternly at all the students. Meredith tried to look as innocent as possible.
Mafalda turned Meredith towards her and started straightening her collar.
"What are you doing," Meredith snarked, fighting out of her sister's grip.
Mafalda grabbed her again, "we need to look presentable for the sorting. The whole school will be staring at us."
Meredith rolled her eyes. Ron next to her started rubbing aggressively at the mark on his nose while Harry tried his hardest to have his messy cowlick stay down.
"This way please," McGonagall said to them. The doors behind her swang open in a dramatic ark and they headed into the great hall. The ceiling above their heads was imitating the sky above it.
"I read in Hogwarts: A History that it's bewitched to look like the sky at all times," whispered Mafalda. Meredith stared up in awe, stumbling over her robe.
"Form a line," instructed Professor McGonagall.
Meredith shuffled with the rest of the first years and stood behind Mafalda and in front of Neville- he'd wormed his way over to her side, thanking her again for finding Trevor.
Meredith noticed candles floating all around her and the tables. Tables which were set with golden plates and goblets. Noticing the tables also made Meredith notice all the eyes that were on them. She saw Fred and George give her a wave.
Up ahead McGonagall placed a ratty wizard's hat on a three legged stool.
"I do not want that touching my hair," groaned Mafalda. Meredith gave her a kick to be quiet.
"When I call your name you will come forward and sit on the chair. The Sorting Hat will then tell you which house you belong in. First up; Abbot, Hannah!"
Meredith heard Ron whisper, "George told me we'd have to fight a troll."
A girl with straw coloured pigtails made her way to the stool. The hat was on her head for less than a minute when it yelled: "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table of yellow and bronze let out a cheer that shook the hall. The first student had been sorted.
A few more students went up, going into different houses. Lavender Brown being the first to Gryffindor. Next to follow her was Hermione, which Meredith clapped for even though she heard Ron groan. Someone wasn't happy about her being sorted into his family's house.
Neville, to Meredith's surprise, got sorted into Gryffindor too. He seemed as uncertain as she felt.
There weren't many people left to sort now.
"Potter, Harry!"
The whole hall went quiet and then burst into a static noise of whispers. Meredith could bet that every house wanted the famous Harry Potter to join them. He sat on the chair, visibly nervous, and pulled the hat over his head. Everyone waited with bated breath as the hat determined which house to place him in.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat exclaimed. The table of red and gold exploded with noise, going on longer than any of their previous cheers. Fred and George could be heard chanting "we got Potter! We got Potter!"
After the hall had quieted down again, McGonagall called out, "Prewett, Mafalda."
Mafalda squeezed Meredith's hand and then moved her way through the last remaining pupils.
She sat on the stool, chin raised in false bravado. The hat sat on her head for thirty seconds -Meredith counted- before yelling "SLYTHERIN".
Meredith sighed sadly as Mafalda skipped over to the cheering green and silver table, sitting next to Malfoy, who looked genuinely happy to see her. Mafalda didn't even look back at Meredith.
"Prewett, Meredith!"
Meredith sat on the chair with shaking legs, feeling like her stomach was doing flips. The hat gently rested on her head, sliding easily over her eyes. She was suddenly in darkness.
"Such a different mind to your sister," said a small voice in her ear. "You might be just as analysing as she is but you let loyalty to others come first. There is a bravery in giving up your own wants and dreams for others, so I think... yes... it would only be right that you're sorted into - GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat lifted off of Meredith's eyes and she blinked at the sudden light. The Gryffindor table was cheering for her and, after one sorrowful glance in Mafalda's direction, she basically ran over, receiving back slaps and warm smiles from her new housemates.
She slipped in next to Harry and they shared a grin.
"Hopefully Ron joins us," Harry said to her.
"He's a Weasley," she said back confidently, "he'll be a Gryffindor for sure."
There were now only three people to be sorted- Terry Boot going to Ravenclaw- it wasn't a long wait until Ron joined them at the Gryffindor table.
He flopped down on Harry's other side and said, "I'm starved!"
He looked relieved to be there.
With Blaise Zabini being sorted into Slytherin, the sorting ceremony had finally ended. Despite Ron's wish for food, they all had to sit through a speech from Dumbledore. He stood up and smiled at the students. He wore blue robes with dancing gold stars and moons scattered over it. His beard and hair were a silvery white that was tucked into a purple belt. His kind eyes sparkled as he spread his hands in welcome.
"Welcome and welcome back! It's so good to see you but I know you must be too hungry to hear an old man go on so I will keep this brief. I would like to remind everyone that the Forest on the school grounds is strictly off limits as well as the third floor corridor. Entering that corridor will lead to a very painful death."
Harry started to laugh and then realised no one else was. Meredith listened with rapt attention as Dumbledore continued welcoming them.
"I won't make you wait any longer," he said happily, "without further ado, dig in!"
The dishes instantly filled up with all sorts of food, there was something for everyone. Meredith went straight for a beef pie, stomach growling in sync with Ron's.
For a moment there was only the sound of cutlery as the hall tucked into their dinner, then when desserts came the chatter started.
Meredith was listening to Seamus tell the story of how his dad found out his mum was a witch when Neville tapped her on the shoulder.
She grimaced but turned towards him with a smile, "hey Neville, what's up?"
"Ah... nothing, I just...ah ... wanted to say thanks again and that I'm happy we're in the same house. I don't know how I managed it though, I'm not brave at all!"
Meredith couldn't help but agree but instead said, "the hat knew what it was doing, Nev. I'm sure you'll feel right at home soon."
Neville smiled at the nickname and was just about to start up another conversation when the tables cleared of all food and Percy stood up calling for the first years to follow him.
Meredith stood quickly and escaped Neville's adoring attention. She felt that he might become a bit of a bother if she let him.
Meredith sidled up to Hermione and followed Percy. He explained many things about the castle, like a pompous tour guide, as they made their way to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione added any interesting facts she knew that by the time Meredith was in front of the portrait of the fat lady, she felt very well informed indeed.
"The password is Caput Draconis," Percy said.
The painting swung open, revealing a large common room in all shades of red. The fireplace was warmly crackling on one side, where a few stragglers were lingering.
"Girls to the left," explained Percy, "and boys to the right."
Saying goodnight to Ron and Harry, Meredith dashed up the stairs with the other girls.
Meredith sleepily made conversation with the other girls in her dorm as she changed into her nightgown. Other than Hermione, there was Lavender Brown who had a sly smile and loud laugh, Parvati Patil with her beautiful face was always ready to gossip, and lastly Fay Dunbar; who was so shy that Meredith hadn't heard her speak yet.
As the girls settled down and stopped giggling and talking, Meredith rested her head back on her pillow with a silly smile on her face. Hogwarts was more than she ever dreamed it would be. She mostly liked her roommates and adored her four poster bed with its long curtains hanging down.
Yet to Meredith's annoyance, one insidious, unhappy thought kept worming its way in.
I miss Mafalda.
Meredith attempted to ignore it but it was true. They had always shared a room and now they were probably on other sides of the castle. They didn't even get to say goodnight to each other, which was something they always did. Hopefully Meredith would have some classes with her tomorrow.
I hope I don't embarrass myself, was Meredith's last thought before finally falling asleep.