Till Forever Falls Apart

Chapter Two: The Sorting

September 1, 1991

Val had never felt more prideful than when she had walked alongside Harry with the group of first years towards the stool where the Sorting Hat lay. Catching sight of the Gryffindor table, she imagined her fathers who had sat there over ten years ago and was ready for the hat to shout the house's name as soon as it was put on her head.

    The older woman, who Hermione had told her was Professor McGonagall, stood next to the battered hat as it sang a song, a little off tune for Val's taste, and nothing at all compared to the music she heard at home. But the rest of the students cheered as the hat sang on, belting a tune about house pride and what one would discover if they were sorted into each of the houses.

    The hat finished the last note with a flourish before silencing itself. McGonagall took her place and held a piece of parchment in her hand, beginning to call out students one by one.
    "Abbott!"

    A young girl scurried to the front, eagerly swinging her feet on the stool as she waited for the hat's decision. It didn't take long for the hat to declare that she was meant to be in Hufflepuff, where she ran over to join the rest of her house.

    Val tapped her foot nervously, waiting for her name to be called. Harry noticed her anxious state and moved past Ron to stand next to her.

    "Lucky we're not at the bottom, right?"

    "Hey!" Ron narrowed his eyes. "I can't help that my name is Weasley."

    "It's a fine name, Ron," Val complimented him. She gave him a small smile before returning to her conversation with Harry.

    "What letter are they on now?" She strained her neck to see who was sitting on the stool. His last name, Val remembered, was Goldstein.

    "G," Hermione whispered excitedly. "I'm after Goyle!"

    No less than ten seconds had passed between Anthony Goldstein leaving the chair and Goyle shuffling up the stairs to take his place, and when the hat had not even grazed his close-cut hair, the hat made its decree, and Goyle joined the table of Slytherins.

    "No surprise there," Harry rolled his eyes. "The hat probably didn't want his germs."

"Harry!"

"You're going to stand here and not tell me it's true?"

Hermione flitted up the stone steps and sat down eagerly, smiling at Val as the hat took its time. About a minute had passed, and the hat had made its decision.

    "GRYFFINDOR!"

    Val cheered, pumping her fist in the air as Hermione took her place at the table, eyeing their red and gold ties. She could not wait to put on hers and walk around proudly, knowing she would have Harry, Hermione, and Ron at her side, who explained that everyone in his family was a Gryffindor, and he was most likely to be one himself.

    The next few letters passed quickly, seeing that barely anyone had last names in the "I" through "K" categories, which meant that Val's turn would be in just a few moments.

    Don't worry yourself sick, she chastised herself. You're going to be fine.

    "Longbottom!" McGonagall proclaimed, and the small boy passed Val by gently tapping her shoulder, asking to be let through. Sitting down with a look of uncertainty on his face, Neville seemed to be talking to the Sorting Hat, although Val could not make out what he had been saying.

    "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted once more. A wave of relief and cheer settled over Neville's face as he jumped from the last two stairs with a loud thud, sitting opposite Hermione at the Gryffindor table.