Emilla Potter

The Sorting Ceremony

The train slowly stopped. Evelynn Grace Prince was extremely nervous in the last five minutes already, but now it started to be worse. She was shivering, and felt nauseous. Fred and George were planning to prank somebody in this year, then Fred saw her state.
- Calm down! - he sat next to her - We already lived through this and we are still alive! - he smiled. Then George took the place to talk.
- Sure! 'Cause we are exeptional wizards! - he sat on her other side - Only few of us beated the troll!
She started to laugh. She felt way better now. The jokes helped her a lot. They got off the train together. A loud low voice shouted around.
- First years! First year students, come here! - he had a lamp way above their heads. A giant man called the youngest students. The Weasley twins waved goodbye to her, and Emilla felt horribly alone.
- Is ev'ryone here? - the man asked - I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Guard of Gounds and Keys at Hogwarts! Follow me! - he turned around and showed the way. The sky was clear, had a few tiny clouds, with a lot of stars winking at them. She looked around while followed the crowd. A girl next to her smiled sheepishly, and she smiled back.
- Hi! I'm Cho - she said quietly- What's your name?
- My name is Evelynn - she answered the question in a shaking voice. She laughed with the black haired girl next her. They were both incredibly scared of what is going to come. They got to a lake, where Hagrid turned to them.
- All of you can see these boats. - he gestured to those - Be careful when you sit in!
Cho, Evelynn, a dark blonde boy, and a curly haired girl.
- I'm Cormac McLaggen - the boy introduced himself, Emilla took his hand. He looked smug - I'm Evelynn. She smiled at the boy, than at the girl.
- I'm Marietta. - she nodded as a greeting, her red curls were almost jumping around her head. The boats started to float on the water. Hagrid was in the first boat. He showed where they are going.
- Y'all can look at the ol' Hogwarts in a second - he said loudly with a smile. And there was it. The huge castle above the lake. It looked like the memories Snape showed her. But it was so much better! He showed really few memories of his time at Hogwarts. This was one of those few. As they floated closer and closer to the castle, it felt more and more like a dream. All of the soon to be students eyes grew three times bigger, as if they were about to draw the school from their memories.
They got to the other side of the lake. Hagrid helped them get out of the boats.
Another girl got to the four that introduced themself in the little boat.
They looked at each other. The new girl smiled at them excitedly. Then everbody wandered after the guard of Hogwart's Grounds and Keys. As they walked in the school a weird feeling caught Emilla. As if someone was watching...
- Professor McGonagall, the first year students. - Hagrid smiled at the woman in front of the group.
- Thank you Hagrid, I take them from here - she gave him a nod. Emilla still felt that weird ticklish feeling. She looked up and just quickly pushed Cormac McLaggen away while she stepped back, and in the second McLaggen wasn't standing where he was before, a balloon splashed into the ground full of purple paint. McGonagall looked at her surprised then turned to look up to the orange hatted, coloured clothed ghost, which almost looked like a fool from Merlin's time.
- Peeves! - the professor shouted - Go away! Or I'm calling the Baron!
Peeves laughed witch sounded more like howling than an actual laugh. It floated away but tried to push an armor on the professor, but she quickly put it back with a flick of her wand. Another flick and the paint-lake is nowhere to be found. She turned around and gestured for the students to follow her. Her dark green robe flew after her as she turned around They went into an empty classroom. The forty-something kid and the professor stopped. The woman started to talk.
- I am Professor McGonagall. Tonight you all going to be sorted into one of Hogwart's four houses. - she looked at the students incredibly seriously - These are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you learn here, your classmates and house will be your family - her presence was creating more nervousness then before. Then surprisingly she smiled at all of them. - Give me a second, I'll be back.
The girl who not long ago got out of her boat with huge excitment, started shaking. Mila turned to her, and offered her hand.
- I'm Evelynn Grace Prince - she smiled. The girl smiled back at her and shook her hand.
- I'm Katie Bell. Nice to meet you Evelynn.
The sound of the opening door washed away their smiles. They were anxious again. McGonagall was back.
- Follow me! - she said. Mila was walking next to Katie, behind Cho. They were somewhere in the middle of everyone. They walked in a huge room. The Great Hall. Four long tables waited for them with students around. A fifth table was across to these in the other end of the Hall. There sat Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid, and a bunch of other teacher. An empty seat showed professor McGonagall's place. In front of the teachers table there stood a three-legged stool. On the top of it a dusty old hat. Mila almost laughed at Severus's serious face.
- As I call your name, come up and sit on the chair - McGonagall pointed at it - I put the Sorting Hat on your head, and the Hat will choose your house - she said taking the hat off of the chair, while levitated a piece of paper.
Mila/Evelynn didn't really caught the names. She focused on their reaction more. For an example, Roger Davies tried not to look excited. He accepted Ravenclaw as if, he was okay with it.
Cho was really happy to get into Ravenclaw, with them Marietta got into the same house. Michael Corner got into Hufflepuff, he was shaking even after he got sorted. Katie Bell smiled brightly as she got into Gryffindor. McLaggen acted proud to go after Katie.
Miles Betchley and Flora Carrow got places in Slytherin. Flora seemed way calmer after she got into the house.
- Evelynn Grace Prince - McGonagall asked her to walk up to the chair. She walked up and sat down. As she got the Sorting Hat it blocked her eyes. It was way too big. Then a quiet voice talked.
- Lot of interests, likes to learn. Bravery is also there and you have ambitions too, and I see somekind of a huge secret... which one is the best house for you... - the Hat thought. Mila was waiting. A memory jumped in her thinking. Lily and James were dancing and singing. She smiled. She missed them a lot. She wanted to be with them again.
- Oh I can see now, clearly... - the Hat almost sounded emotional in her ears. - Let's put you in... HUFFLEPUFF.
The last word was the only, that everyone heard in the Great Hall. She got the Hat off and went to the table which was clapping, welcoming her in their house.
She sat down accross to a taller older girl with light brown hair and a few freckles.
- Hello, Evelynn! - she greeted her silently - I'm Samantha - she introduced herself, then turned back to the students still in waiting to get sorted.
As Mila looked around she saw Katie behind her at the Gryffindor table, talking to McLaggen. Fred waved to her and she smiled back. Cho was looking at the sorting hat from two tables away while she was talking to Marietta. The last student to sit down was Amelie Wright, she got into Slytherin. As everyone greeted the last student Albus Dumbledore stood up. In seconds the Great Hall was full quiet.
- Welcome everyone! I have to say a few words! - his calm voice broke the silence, as a thunder in the spring rain - Enjoy your meal! - then he sat back down. Mila laughed. She liked Dumbledore's weirdness. She turned back to look at the food, and was in total surprise. Snape told her about the huge feasts in the Great Hall, but she wouldn't even dare to dream about the amount of food that appeared on the five long table. Next to her a short green eyed girl looked just as amazed as Evelynn was. They laughed at each other.
- Hi! I'm Jessica. - she offered a hand- Runcorn - she said quickly. Her dark blonde hair was put in a braid, her robe and blouse was perfectly ironed. She looked way more composed as she acted. Mila took the hand.
- I'm Evelynn Prince. Did you want to be in Hufflepuff? - she asked. Jessica smiled with a little sadness in it.
- I'm really happy to be in Hufflepuff, but my parents... they wanted me to be in Ravenclaw. They are going to be really sad and kinda mad as I know them... - she sighed - I think they'll send me an owl tomorrow morning. Everybody from my family was a Ravenclaw... They'll be disappointed.
- Don't be like that! - Mila shutted her quickly - If you wanted be here, then live in the moment! You are here! - she smiled. The blonde looked a bit happier than before. While they ate, the two of them talked about where they are living, what is the subject they are most curious about... etc.
After a fenomenal dinner Dumbledore stood up.
- Now, that everyone can listen, I would like to tell you... and remind some of you... - he winked at the Gryffindor table - that the Forest next to the school is Forbidden. - he smiled mostly at the Weasley twins as Mila could tell. - And Mr. Filch asked me to remind everyone that the list of forbidden games and tools can be checked on his door - he nodded to Filch - I would also like to introduce the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Malie Beck. - he gesturet to the woman sitting between Sprout and Snape. The students clapped to welcome her.
- And now everyone goes to sleep. Prefects, please help the first years now and in the first few weeks. - he said, than just sat back down to talk to the Head teachers of the houses. Samantha, the girl across from Mila stood up and put up her hand in the air.
- First years! - she called out - First years, come here please!
As she called the group slowly listened to the call. Mila and Jessica were right in front of her, behind them there was Michael Corner. He was way calmer then before. Next to him was another boy, he had curly black hair and blue eyes. They smiled at them timidly.
- Hello everyone! I'm Samantha. In the back, there is Derek, we are on our fifth year at Hogwarts. We are Hufflepuff's Prefects - she introduced herself and the tall, freckled boy behind the group. - Now please follow me!
As they walked out of the Great Hall Mila saw the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws heading upstairs. The Slytherins walked with them for a while, but then they turned to the left. Samantha turned to the right. They went downstairs, walked a little more, then arrived to a bare stone wall, with some barrels next to it. Then Samantha waited for everyone to get there.
- I show you, how to enter to the common room. - she said, then went to the second barrel from the right. Then nocked in a rhythm. After the nocking a door opened from the stone wall. All of the students walked in. Samantha stayed to be the last one. Derek was the first.
- Welcome in Hufflepuff! - he greeted them with a grinn. The room was yellow, green, and orange mostly. It felt like a "happy place" - Girls can find their rooms to the right. It's upstairs, the first room - he pointed at the door - Boys can find theirs to the left, same logical pattern - he smiled.
- Tomorrow morning, at 7 please be here, we are going to tell you a few things before you get to go to class. - Samantha informed them. - And now, good night everyone! - she said, and waved as she walked to her dorm room. Evelynn walked up to the dorm room, to find her trunk already there, next to a bed. She took out a few things, then went straight to bed. She was insanely tired, and she had to get up early tomorrow.