Forever... Always

Year 3 - Sorting Ceremony

The first years went ahead of everyone with Hagrid while the rest of us found our friends and waited for all the new students to clear. Once they'd all gotten on the trail to the lake, the rest of us headed for the carriages. The four of us got into one and just like every year, I stared out at the castle in wonder.
So many witches and wizards have learnt magic here, so many went on to do incredible things and fought in a war to keep us safe. I don't remember much of the war, I mean, it's understandable because I was just 2 or 3 years old. What I do remember is that my mom cried a lot and my dad wasn't really around, I suppose because he was fighting in the war.
Once we arrived outside Hogwarts, Cedric, Fred, George and I made our way closer to the front to see Ron, Harry and Neville. We said hi to Ron and Harry, Fred and George teased Ron a little and Cedric told them that no matter what house they'd be sorted into, he's sure they'll bring pride to it.
"I'll catch up with you guys, I'm going to talk with my new friend Neville." I told them. I turned to face him, "Hey Neville, you seem nervous, don't be. You wanna know something that might help bring down your nerves?"
"I'll accept anything right now, I'm a mess!"
"Well, the Dutchman family is a long line of Gryffindors with a few Ravenclaws here and there, mostly through marriage. I'm the first ever Hufflepuff in the Dutchman family tree. This is what I'm getting at, you'll make your family proud no matter what house you're in. If you become a Gryffindor like I think you will, I think your parents will be especially proud. Either way, I can be like an older sister for you. I'll even ask George and Fred to not pull pranks on you. I'll look out for you no matter." I said to him with a smile, I want him to be alright, I remember being new, though I had Fred and George already.
"Thank you Rayne, I'm so glad you're my first friend, well, besides Hermione." He said calmly with a little chuckle.
"I should let you go for right now, just relax and Professor McGonagall will tell you everything you need to know."
I walked back through the crowd to where I found Amber as Professor McGonagall appeared at the top of the steps, telling the first years to follow her. We talked a bit while going up the steps until I saw Ron and Harry, along with a pale boy with platinum blond hair slicked back. There seemed to be some tension between them when I overheard the pale boy say something that would confirm it.
"A hand-me-down robe and red hair, you must be a Weasley." He said in a snarky tone.
"Shut it Malfoy!" Ron told him.
Malfoy. That was the family name the twins told me about when I was told my mom is a muggle. That people like the Malfoys, and obviously most of the Cassowarys, would possibly make fun of me for being halfblood. I was completely lost in thought until I heard Malfoy tell Harry to not go making friends with the wrong sort, implying the Weasleys weren't the right people for Harry to get involved with, which made me cross.
"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." Harry told him while ignoring Malfoy's hand that waited for Harry's to shake it.
"Malfoy is it?" I asked the pale boy, trying to sound calm and collected though I wanted to punch him for making fun of the Weasleys, who are basically my family. "Be careful or you'll spoil the fun of having the sorting ceremony. You're already making it clear to everyone you'll be a Slytherin. I'll be shocked if you're sorted into any other house." I told him, letting Ron and Harry leave without another word from Malfoy.
"You better watch yourself whoever you are, I'm Draco Malfoy, don't speak to me like that or my father will hear about it." Draco told me trying to sound threatening but to be rather honest, he just looked like a cute little boy.
"You seem mischievous as a young ferret, that's it! I'll call you Ferret. You'd better catch up with the other first years. I'll see you around Ferret." I said as I disappeared into the crowd leaving him with a look of shock on his face.
"That was wicked Rayne!" Jelly bean said from behind me.
I bumped into him not realizing that he was that close to me. I tripped on a step but he caught me before I fell.
"Thanks, wait- what was wicked?"
"How you just told Draco off!" Fred added.
"Are you actually going to call him ferret?" Cedric asked curiously.
"Of course, why else would I have said it? Also, I couldn't let him disrespect you guys, but Harry kind of got to defending the Weasleys first."
"All good darling, we'd better head into the feast." Georgie told us all.
We headed into the Great Hall and once everyone made their way in, Professor McGonagall led the first years in. Neville waved to me with a huge grin, Hermione gave me a quick smile and Harry seemed to be just absorbing everything, he didn't look my way so I didn't wave to him. Ron looked my way, giving me a smile and waved before having the twins steal his attention. Professor McGonagall explained to the students how the sorting hat would tell them their house and started calling names, starting with A. Name after name was called, A, B, then C, onto D. Soon they got to G.
"Granger, Hermione." Professor McGonagall called.
We sat for probably five minutes before the sorting hat finally decided whether to place her in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat boomed.
More names, one after another the student went up and the sorting hat called out their house.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Longbottom, Neville."
He ran up nervously, sat down and the hat almost immediately knew which house he'd spend his next seven years apart of.
"GRYFFINDOR!" It boomed.
"What? There's no way! Are you sure?" Neville asked the hat.
"I DON'T MAKE MISTAKES!" It shouted, egotistical much.
Neville scurried off to the Gryffindor table next to Hermione.
M was next, Draco Malfoy was called and just as I'd predicted, he was sorted into Slytherin. I caught his eye at the Hufflepuff table, he gave me this hilarious nose scrunch 'threatening' look and followed it with an eye roll. Then N, onto O and P. P was the letter that got everyone's attention when Professor McGonagall called out his name.
"Potter, Harry."
Harry walked up as the room fell silent and then whispers arose. Could it really be? Was that really him? He's really here? The hat sat on his head for what felt like forever, simply because the hall was the quietest it's ever been until it finally decided.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry seemed almost relieved to hear Gryffindor and joyful made his way to the table. Again names were being called one by one, after a long time, we had at last made it to W.
"Weasley, Ronald."
He walked up clumsily and the hat barely touched his head before it yelled,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
He hopped up and made his way to sit across from the twins and beside Harry. The last couple students were sorted and we all ate the feast. Dessert came but as soon as I saw the chocolate pudding, my appetite was completely drained. Cedric had noticed it too.
"What's wrong? You have one of the biggest sweet tooths."
"The pudding, uh- it makes me think of mud and it reminded me of what Sage called me." I said in a whisper, I don't need everyone hearing.
"Here, I grabbed one too many, I can't finish 'em all." Linden told me as he tossed a powdered donut onto my plate.
"Thanks Linden."
"See, he could have given that donut to anyone, but he gave it to you. You stand out Rayne, in a good way. We're all really lucky to have you in our lives, I'm sure even Malfoy will realize he's lucky to have you around." Cedric told me. "Don't think about what Sage said, she is obviously jealous of you."
After the tables cleared, our prefects lead us to our common rooms. The new Hufflepuffs were in awe of the common room and I offered my help to get some girls set up in their dorms. After I finished with them, I went to set up my own dorm with Amber. We specifically asked Professor Sprout to keep us as dorm mates and she agreed as we hadn't been troublesome together and she saw no harm in it.
"Goodnight Amber." I said rolling over under the covers.
"Goodnight Rayne, it's great to be back."
I may have said goodnight, but there was no way I was sleeping. I couldn't stop thinking of what Sage called me. Then how Jelly bean had called me darling after threatening Sage. My brain then jumped to what Cedric told me at the feast, to Harry Potter and Linden giving me that donut. I thought of Neville, how clumsy and sweet he was and how I wanted to be like an older sister to him, as I am for Ron. I finally started to fall asleep thinking of how I gave Draco the nickname 'ferret' and how I'll make sure he sees that my teasing is out of friendliness and joy. It is great to be back.