One Body...Two lives...A Harry Potter Romance/Mystery

Chapter 16

Authors note: So I'm wanting to start a 4th story, not right away bit some time in the near future. Also, I'm stuck at two ideas and I'm not sure which one to start now and which one to wait until I've finished a story to start. If you're interested at all message me and I'll tell you what they are! Give me your opinion and when time comes I'll take popular vote to choose!

Recap:

Something just didn't feel right, thinking that way, I felt like there was something more to this...to him...I hate it when my insides confuse me so

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

I finally made it inside, and so far, I wasn't sure what to think.

We headed up a hidden flight of stairs, in which Hagrid actually made me cover my ears like a little girl, before entering.

While we were heading up the stairs a far off crash rang out. After that Hagrid was gone the first chance he got...said something about hypogriphs running loose on the grounds.

I was then left to wait alone for the headmistress to come back from the main sorting ceremony.

I tried waiting in one of the seats opposite the empty desk, but after a while I grew anxious. I knew I had been waiting at least an hour, but exactly how long I wasn't too sure.

I was sure of one thing-boredom!

Pushing up out of the chair, I cringed back when it pushed back just a little too hard, screeching across the floor. Shaking off the goose bumps, I took it upon myself to take a little tour.

Pictures of former headmasters/mistresses one just as animated as the one before it, covered almost every inch of the walls from floor to ceiling...if there was a ceiling that is. It reached up so high, I almost couldn't tell.

Cabinets and furniture were stuffed with knick knacks, crammed to keep them together. It actually looked more like a child’s piece of work and in attempts of 'cleaning' their room, had stuffed everything into the closets and under the bed. The only thing that resembled what I would have imagined to be in a principal, or 'headmistress's' office was a little round table in the corner plated and ready for tea and sandwiches, surrounded by 4 little wooden chairs with plush cushions.

Circling around the desk, I noticed another odd little object. It couldn't have been a coat rack, or else it would have been the worst one that I'd every laid eyes on. It was a dark wooden post, probably made for a pet to sit upon, most likely a bird...but where was it? It wasn't loose in the room, getting ready to fly and peck my head off for snooping around, was it?

I really hope not...I doubt the teachers would just let it run wild around the castle anyway...Yes, I am no longer referring to this place as just a school. I may be able to get an education here, but this place is by far the only structure that I'd ever find such happenings to be in; so I like to think that, before it became a dull and drab boarding school, that it was occupied with the tales of a fantasy and adventure, and I would have liked such an experience myself.

"Hello, Ms. Stone."

I didn't hear her walk up, and well, thanks to my claustrophobia, I also easily scare at times.

I winced as the post clattered to the ground noisily. "Sorry." I mumbled, hurrying to right it back up.

"No problem, dear." I wasn't sure if she was trying to give me a reassuring smile or if her face twitched. Everything about her image and manner was tight and strict. Though, I imagine she has her own fun moments time to time.

"I should be a bit sorry myself. I very well couldn't sort you at the same time as the first years in two different rooms." she stated matter of factly.

As if I knew what she meant, she set down a ragged old hat down on her desk in front of me. It looked like the kind of hat you'd buy with a witch’s costume, but tattered and browned with age. The perfect match, how ironic...

"Now, if you could have a seat here, I'll try not to take up any more of your time." She waited for me to take a seat before continuing. "Don’t be worried. I know this is all knew to you, so please bare with me just a few minutes and you'll be on your way to your new house in no time." she finally finished, sitting the old hat atop my head.

What exactly was this supposed to do anyway?

"What's all this about? Trying to play ‘trick the sorting hat’ on me now, professor?" an old voice rasped out, "Fine, fine...though it's a little odd to be holding a reunion not even an hour after the starting off the school year, but I'll play your game. Uhm...1980, I believe."

"Sorting hat, what are you going on about? This is a new student and she needs a house. Besides, she's too young to be a graduate of any school. She wasn't even anywhere near being in the womb in 1980!" She exasperated, surprised that a hat could be wrong.

"This is a test, right? See just how the old hat is holding up? Well, you're not fooling me! I only sort a student once and I never forget once it's final." I could just imagine an aged wrinkly finger wagging itself at her as if she'd done something wrong, to match his tone of voice.

I just sat back, wondering if everyone had to sit through this; probably just my luck.

Now, if they could just keep it simple, girls on this side of the castle, boys on the other, this would have been over before I had to cover my ears. Anything with eyes could clearly see that I was 16, not 39.

"Sorting hat, this is no joke. I assure you, she's a new student here at Hogwarts, though a little older than most first years, I will give you that. Now please, we've all been through a long day, and the sooner you stop dillydallying the sooner we can all get some rest." It came out almost more of an order this time, clearly struggling to hold onto her patience. Guess she really meant it when she said it was a long day.

"As much as it frays my hem to say this, I guess I could be wrong, professor. Maybe my age really is getting to me. Fine then."

I thought he was finished when he stopped talking for a bit of time, that the ordeal was finally done, until it started up again; but this time his voice sounded as if it came from speakers inside the hat, made so that only I could hear.

"Well now, you are quite different from whom I'd presumed you to be. Oh yes, quite...you long to be able to show your true self to others and be accepted, but feel somewhat caged. Before, you were always too scared, but now there's a new courage inside of you-slowly gaining with the new people you meet, new friends. The loyalty you hold for them is strong. Yes, a perfect candidate for Gryffindor. But, what's this...maybe you aren't too different from what I thought you were. Yes, yes. I can sense it...Deep down, there's something more hidden by your soul, engraved into it far back. Something quite different from what everyone sees- what you see yourself. It holds high qualities to the Slytherin household. My, they would be proud of what's inside you, too bad it's dormant…I wonder, should I place you for your present, or get you ready for your future? Hmmm...the only choice that'd be best is....Gryffindor!"

"My, my. Seems congratulations are in order!" Removing the hat from my head, she placed it on a shelf farther in the back and turned to me, a brightness finally reaching her eyes. "I imagine you're in a hurry to get the news out to a friend." she added, spying a glance from over her glasses.