|Lily Potter - A Harry Potter Fanfiction|

Chapter 2 - The Sorting

Neville Longbottom smiled at Lily and Hugo when they waved and led them into a magnificent torch-lit entrance hall.

"Good morning and welcome to Hogwarts! I know you all must be starving, but before you can start on the banquet that awaits you, you must be sorted into your houses."

There was some nervous muttering but Neville carried on.

"While you are here, your house will be like your family. You will stay in your house dormitory, and you can either help or hinder your house when it comes to points. There are four different houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I'm the head of Gryffindor, Professor Addison is head Hufflepuff, Professor Ballentine is head of Ravenclaw and Professor Blakewood is head of Slytherin. That is all for now, I'll be back when we're ready for you." and with that, Neville left.

Lily turned, terrified, to Hugo.

"What do you think it is? The test for the sorting?" she squeaked.

"Dunno, Rose wouldn't tell me."

"James said you have to fight loads of creatures like boggarts and banshees and even vampires!"

Lily was trembling when Neville came back. She hardly heard him say that they were ready for them, she couldn't help imagining ugly, smelly trolls, the shrieks of a banshee, a pair of steadily dripping bloody fangs...but not a hat! A patched and frayed one at that! Neville stood next to it holding a roll of parchment, and then the hat began to sing!

Oh, don't judge a book by it's cover,

Don't judge a hat on what you see;

For I'm not your average witches hat,

But the sorting hat, that's me!

Just pop me on your head,

And then sit still and quiet;

Watch as I shout out your house,

And they start up a riot!

You may 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 faithful 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 your kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means,

To achieve their ends.

So whilst at Hogwarts, have some fun,

Make sure you do your best,

So come sit down and don't worry,

And I will do the rest!

The hall burst into applause.

"So all we have to do is try on the hat!" exclaimed Hugo.

"Yeah! I should have known not to trust James." and, sure enough when she looked towards the tables, she saw James and George Weasley's eldest son, Fred, laughing, but still everyone was staring! She was about to ask Hugo about it when Neville announced that it was time to try on the sorting hat. He unrolled the parchment in his hand and read: