Teddy's Daughter (A Harry Potter fanfic)

Chapter Two

"Firs years over here! Firs years!" 

Ally and I followed the yells. Soon a huge old man was towering over us, calling for first years. Once we were all gathered beneath him, he instructed us to get into little boats by a large lake. Ally and I hopped in one, and after a few moments another girl joined us. Suddenly the boats lurched forward and began to glide across the lake. I noticed the giant man had a boat all to himself, he was that big. 

We rode in silence, to awestruck by the Hogwarts castle to speak. When we neared the other side of the lake, the boats began to rock. Kids around us screamed. 

"S'all right, jus a little wind, won't hurt ya. Jus hang on tight." The giant man reassured us.

We all grabbed the sides as we neared the bank. Getting out of the boats, we were lead through the main doors and into the castle. Inside an extremely old wizard stood waiting for us. "Thank you Hagrid, I'll take it from here." She told the giant man, who headed through another set of doors. 

The old woman, named Professor Mcgonagal, turned out to be the headmistress of Hogwarts. She explained that we were to be called up to try on a hat. The hat would tell us our house, and we would go sit at our house table. 

We entered the doors Hagrid had went through. It was clearly a dining hall of some sort, with four long tables for the four houses, and another one for the staff. As we crowded down the aisle I caught a glimpse of an old, torn hat on a stool. One tear near the bottom opened wide and the hat began to sing. 

"I am the Hogwart sorting hat, your house I do seek.

You may be put in Hufflepuff, but only if you're meek.

Hufflepuffs are loyal too, and friendly to us all. 

But if it is the smarts you've got you'll be in Ravenclaw.

Gryffindors are the bravest ones, full of courage and pride.

Slytherins are cunning and can be a little snide. 

Long ago four wizards made these houses come alive.

They made them based on traits they thought were needed to survive.

So come on now and try me on, 

I'll tell you where you belong!"

Applause rang out throughout the hall. I started to get nervous. What if I was put in Slytherin? I thought McGonagall was joking, a hat is going to decide? Yikes!

McGonagall stood. "Alazi, Varina!" She called. The smirking girl from the compartment sat down on the stool. 

"Slytherin!" The hat called, and she went to join the Slytherin table. 

McGonagall went down the list, calling out names in alphabetical order. Ally Jennings was put into Gryffindor. I was glad of that.

"Lupin, Nellie" McGonagal announced that it was my turn. A few people gasped, but I didn't pay it any notice. I wobbled up to the stool and almost collapsed on it. The hat was on my head now. I could see myself trembling.

Mmmmm I see. You have some smarts, very humble. You can clearly also sneak around quite well. But you were brave to come here today. What the heck was going on with my head? I almost panicked until I realized it must be the sorting hat talking to me. You want to be with Ally now, don't you? Well, I suppose that will work.

"Gryffindor!" The hat screamed. I jumped up and ran to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Ally. Was my applause louder than everyone else's? I wondered. Or did it just seem that way?