Forgotten Black

Chapter 3 - The Sorting

Right now is September 1st, 1991, and was Emily going to Hogwarts today!

At 10 o'clock, Noah and Emily apparated to Grimmauld place to say goodbye to Kreacher and grandma Walburga, and then at 10:30, they apparated to Kings Cross. They apparated somewhere hidden, and then walked towards king cross and they passed through the barrier. She said her goodbyes and went to find a free compartment. There was one and she sat in it, keeping her trunk at her feet, and Phoenix sat on her lap, as she played with him. 

After 5 minutes, a boy with messy, raven black hair came in and asked if he could sit there, as he pointed to one of the many free seats. She shrugged, and kept her head down. She knew who he was, even if he didn't know why, but she hated Harry Potter, as he stole her father from her. Harry took it as a yes and sat down. He asked multiple questions, but Emily stayed quiet, looking either out of the window, at Phoenix, or at the floor the whole time. 5 minutes later a red-headed by came in, with the name of Ron Weasley. 

After an uneventful train ride, the first years made it to a gigantic gamekeeper, who introduced himself as Hagrid. He instructed all of them to go in a boat, with 4 in them. Sadly, Emily shared a boat with Harry, Ron and a girl with bushy, brown hair. When Professor McGonagall informed them all about the houses, and then whispers started, with people saying in which houses they wanted to be in. Professor McGonagall left for a few minutes, and 5 minutes later she returned and said "They are ready for you," fear was written all over the first year's faces, except for Emily's as Noah already told her what was going to happen.

As they walked into the entrance hall, everybody was surprised, and Emily heard the girl with bushy-brown hair say that the ceiling is enchanted. 

They walked to the farthest bit of the entrance hall, next to the teacher table, and the Professor McGonagall said this "You will sit on the stool, and the hat will decide your house,", while indicating to a 4 legged stool with a old hat on it. 

Suddenly the hat began singing a song:

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

After a few names, Emily was called, "Black, Emily," and then the whispers started, and everybody stared at her.

"Lets see, very loyal and friendly, but not enough for hufflepuff, smart, but not enough for ravenclaw. Too kind for slytherin, and very, very brave. You are going along the same path as you father, GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.

The gryffindor's moaned and groaned. This made Emily sad. The other 3 houses cheered that they didn't have Emily in their house. She sat down at the gryffindor table, and everybody shuffled away from her. Emily looked down in disappointment and just ignored the rest of the sorting, and the speech that headmaster Dumbledore gave them.

After the feast everybody got up, ready to go to their allocated dorm, and the prefects were told to lead the first years. Every first year gryffindor followed a 5th year redhead, who introduced himself as Percy Weasley. "Follow me, s'cuse me, prefect and first years coming through," he said to the rest of the crowd. All the first years almost ran away from Emily, leaving her to try and catch up. After a few minutes they arrived by the gryffindor common room, and Percy Weasley said the password, which was 'caput draconis'. Everybody climbed in, and no one bothered to look at the small first year who tried to get in, but she failed miserably. Nobody helped her as she was Sirius Black's daughter, the daughter of the mass murderer. All of a sudden a hufflepuff boy came to her, he was older than her, and seemed kind. 

"Do you need some help, little one?" the boy asked softly. Emily nodded shyly. He helped her in and introduced himself, "I'm Cedric Diggory by the way, a 4th year."

"Thanks, I'm Emily," Cedric smiled, he already knew her last name, but she was tense about it. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Cedric asked with a smile. Emily's eyes widened and she smiled, nodding her head viciously. "Bye" he said cheerfully. The portrait closed and Emily was alone again. She felt everybody's eyes on her, but she ignored them. As she walked towards her dorm, she heard whispers about her. As she entered her dorm, the 3 girls in there were whispering avidly, probably about her, because when she came in, they all shut up, and went to 'sleep'.

The next day she walked out of the gryffindor common room with her head down. Just like with Harry, she too had whispers following her everywhere, but unlike Harry, her's were negative, and were things like ' She is probably a murderer too, just like her father,', and 'why is she even allowed to go to school? She is a murderer,'. These whispers hurt her. When she reached the entrance hall, the entire hall fell into negative whispers, Dumbledore saw this, but he let it happen. All of a sudden Cedric came to her and asked "Do you want to sit at the hufflepuff table?" Emily nodded softly. When they came there all the hufflepuffs started bombarding Cedric with questions, not bothering being quiet. "Why did you bring the murderer's daughter here? She is a murderer for Helga's sake!" 

"She is not a murderer!" Cedric defended, "and she is my friend," Emily smiled softly at those words, and sat down, ignoring all of the harsh glares. She got some pancakes and ate quietly. 

The year passed by too quickly, as did the second. Before she knew it, she was of to hogwarts in her 3rd year.