Golden Girl; 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

Third Year: The Sorting Ceremony

Bambi had been led to the front of the Gryffindor Table, where she sat in the spot nearest to the Head Table. She looked at her future Professors, seeing they all looked rather agreeable, other than the one she thought looked alarmingly similar to the colony of Vampires her father and she stumbled across.

Students quickly began filing in, filling the open tables with many voices that echoed through the Great Hall. She could see down from where she sat, Lee and the Twins who were waving at her. Bambi waved back.

The gigantic double doors opened again once most of the students were seated at their respective tables. About 30 or so little first years walked in, looking scared. Bambi was glad that she didn't have to walk with them, feeling much more secure at the table.

"That one there is Harry Potter," Percy pointed out the small skinny boy with jet black hair, his green eyes dancing around the hall in awe.

Bambi nodded, glad she at least knew who he was talking about now. Harry glanced over at the Gryffindor table, catching her eye by accident. Bambi smiled, and he gave a nervous smile back.

Bambi was sure she was looking around the same way when she first walked into the Great Hall. Hundreds of floating candles overhead made the inky black ceiling look alive with motion and stars. Long banners with moving animals hung overhead, and she could still feel the strange icy sensation from when the house ghosts flew down the tables.

Everyone watched as Professor McGonagall, as Percy called her, placed a tall wooden stool in front of the group of first years. On top of the stool, she placed a very old frayed pointed wizard's hat. Bambi thought it looked like some ancient artifact her father would have tried to find.

The hat began to move, and a tear near the wide brim opened wide like a mouth. Bambi watched, awestruck and curiously as the hat began to sing.

"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 darling 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 folk 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!"

There was a brief moment of silence as the hat finished before the whole room burst into applause and hoots. Professor McGonagall clapped politely as she waited for the rest of the room to finish their applauding. Under her one arm, she held a very wide scroll.