Hally Potter

Chapter Seven

Sorting Hat and First Night

"When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Hermione Granger." Professor McGonagall says. I give Hermione an encouraging look as she stands up and goes up. "Mental, that one, I'm telling you." Ron says, making me glare at him.

Harey nods to his friend, making me hit him slightly before focusing my attention on the smart girl. Hermione sits on the stool, and McGonagall places the sorting hat on her head. The sorting hat takes a minute before shouting Gryffindor. The Gryffindor table cheers, and Hermione runs off, smiling wide.

Draco Malfoy is called next by McGonagall, so he strides up proudly, and the hat hardly touches him before shouting Slytherin. The students cheer, not as loudly.

"There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin." Ron says, stating something the twins loosely told her. Susan Bones is called next, A small redhead walks up to the Sorting Hat. Hally looks around, trying to find the twins and spots them. Fred waves rapidly as he hits George to gain his attention. When George looks, he smiles wide and waves. I wave once before focusing back, I heard Susan be placed in Hufflepuff.

Ronald Weasley is called next. Ron gulps and walks up. He sits down, and the hat is put on. "Ha! Another Weasley. I know just what to do with you. Gryffindor!" The hat says making Ron sigh in relief. The students cheer but not for long.

Harry Potter is called next, making the room grow silent, Harry walks up and sits down on the stool. The sorting hat is placed on his head. "Hmm... difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?" The hat hesitates.

Harry whispers to himself, but the hat calls him out, "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness! There's no doubt about that. No?" The hat asks. Harry's face morphs to his pleading one, "Well, if you're sure. Better be... GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouts. I clap for her, smiling wide as there is an immense cheering, and Harry gets sent to the Gryffindor table.

"We got a Potter! We got a Potter!" The twins cheer, making me giggle as Harry sits down at the table. The room goes silent again as my name is called. I shakingly walk up to the hat and sit down. The hat goes back and forth between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw before officially settling on Ravenclaw.

As I look up to walk to my table, I hear cheering from everyone all over again and see the twins looking at me shocked but happy. I smile at them before sitting in an empty spot. Everyone welcomes me. I smile and wave.

Later, when all of the first years were sorted in their houses, all of the students were talking to each other. McGonagall dings on a cup, "Your attention, please." She says. Professor Dumbledore rises from his chair, "Let the feast... begin." He says, waving his wand. Suddenly, mountains for food appears making my jaw drop. A girl next to me sees my face. "Lotta food, eh?" She asks.

I nod, "Not used to it?" She asks again, making me nod again. "I recommend the chicken. I've been here almost 5 years, and it's my favorite," she says. "I've been here about 3, and I think the potatoes are the best. We get different kinds each night." A girl across from me says. I grab a chicken leg and scoop some mashed potatoes on my plate before showing them the words 'thank you' on my notebook.

"My name's Mai, I'm a 6th year." The girl next to me says, I smile at her, taking a small bit of chicken. "And I'm Kimiko, you can call me Kim," the other girl says. I wave slowly, taking bites, not wanting to overeat. We talked for the entire dinner with me eating about half my plate.

" Ravenclaws, follow me. This way." A boy says, "That's Robert Hilliard. He's nice but stern." Mai tells me as we follow him to our quarters. He shows us how to get in. A bronze eagle knocker at the entrance will give you a riddle, and you must solve it before he'll allow you in.

I frown, wondering if he can read, Kimiko notices my look. "Don't worry, I'll find my 1st year sister, and she'll buddy with you. Her name is Akemi," Kimiko says. I thank her again as we get led into the stunning common room. As if on que a girl runs over, "Mo, I did it!" The girl shouts happily.

Kimiko congratulates her, "Mi, this is Hally. She is hoping to buddy with you," she introduces. "Oh, thank God, yes, please." Akemi says. I smile graciously and thank them both, "I'll go see where you girls will be sleeping," Kimiko says. I wave bye and turn to Akemi, "Can you speak?" She asks. I give her the short answer and shake my head no.

"Hmm, wanna learn sign language?" She asks, I hesitate before nodding. "Great, my mom was teaching me the basics, so I'll teach you what I learn," she says, dragging me to a corner table. She teaches me 'hello', 'goodbye', 'yes', 'no', 'please' and 'thank you'. Halfway through her sister told us we are in the same dorm with girls named Piper and Zuri.

Kimiko shows us the way to our dorm before telling us goodnight and Goodluck, I thank her before walking in after Akemi. "Hello girls, I am Akemi. Please call me that or Kemi," my new friend introduces. An african american girl walks over to us and holds her hand out, "Zuri, nice to meet you." She says, smiling.

I smile back and wave, "This is Hally. She is mute. I suggest we all learn sign language," Akemi says, making me smile wide at her. Zuri agrees, and they offer the left sides of beds to us. I sit on a bed, and my trunk and cages magically appear as does Akemi's stuff. "Wow! Snakes!" Zuri shouts, looking from a far, I write down their names and show the girls. "I'll research how to sign those tomorrow," Zuri says, walking to her bed. I smile and sign thank you to Akemi and Zuri as I grab a set of pj's.

"I'm Piper," our last roommate says from her place, lying on her bed. I wave as does Akemi before we walk to the bathroom. She faces one way and I the other, and we quickly change before going out and lying down. "We'll get our schedule tomorrow at breakfast my sister says," Akemi tells us. We say our goodnights to each other, and I say goodnight to the snakes near my bed by petting them. Akemi quickly falls asleep as the other two girls slowly fall asleep as I stare at the ceiling.